"But!"
Qin Geng changed tack. "There's a catch to that thirty percent."
"Twenty percent goes to me, Qin Geng."
Qin Geng looked entirely at ease, but his tone brooked no argument. "I'm not taking that twenty percent for nothing. Once I take your money, I'll have your backs throughout South City."
"From now on, if anyone dares bully one of our South City Carriage Drivers on the street—Black Dogs, thugs, whoever—just give them my name. If that doesn't work, I'll come settle it myself!"
"That twenty percent buys your safety. It buys us the confidence to stand tall and take fares in South City. Tell me, shouldn't I take it?"
His words struck the ground with the weight of iron.
The shed bosses below exchanged glances. They were convinced.
"You should! Of course you should!"
A bushy-bearded shed boss stood and called out, "Fifth Master, we'd pay even if you hadn't said a word! Back when we handed over sixty percent, we were feeding dogs and still getting beaten and pushed around. Now we hand twenty percent to Fifth Master, and that buys protection! With someone of your strength watching over us, we can strut down the street. We'll pay gladly!"
"Exactly! Fifth Master is giving us something to be proud of! Twenty percent is too little. We'd accept giving you the whole thirty!"
Cheers broke out on all sides, and the mood grew fervent.
In a world where the weak were prey to the strong, being able to pay for a powerful backer who could kill and settle trouble was like a meat pie falling from the sky.
Qin Geng watched their reaction and nodded slightly.
This was how profit and power worked together. Only when the bargain was laid out in the open could everyone feel at ease.