Chapter 20: From Now On, You Are the Boss!

Lin Wendong casually pulled back his foot and swept a calm gaze over everyone present. "Is there anyone else who is dissatisfied?"

"This..."

Han Daniu and the others were silent for a moment, until a voice lacking confidence suddenly spoke up:

"If... if you have the guts, put down your weapon. What kind of ability is it to rely on firearms? If you can beat me with your bare hands, I'll be convinced!"

Following the direction of the voice, they saw a burly man speaking.

Lie Erye, whose gaze had been dull and fixed on the counterfeit banknote in his hand, was about to scold the man, but Lin Wendong had already nodded in agreement. "Alright."

With that, he tossed his weapon onto the ground.

"Good!"

The burly man, Ma Youli, gritted his teeth and sneered at the sight, taking a step forward.

"Brother Ma is the champion of our underground boxing matches. This guy is sure to lose without his weapon!" Han Daniu whispered to those around him.

For Lie Erye’s group, counterfeiting was merely a side business. They were involved in everything from currency exchange to collecting protection money and running gambling dens—all sorts of illegal activities. Although they hadn't seen clearly how this man had kicked Li Shan and Ma flying earlier, Ma Dali was confident. He was an underground boxing champion; surely he wouldn't lose to this guy? Bare-handed, the advantage was his!

"Ah!"

With a roar, he slammed his foot into the ground and lunged forward like a cannonball, his left fist aimed straight at Lin Wendong's forehead.

Then, before the shocked eyes of Han Daniu and the others, the once-imposing Ma Dali suddenly jerked his head back, spat out several teeth, and crashed heavily to the ground!

In his place, Lin Wendong calmly wiped his knuckles.

A one-punch knockout!

***

"This..."

At that moment, the confidence that had filled the others was doused like a bucket of cold water. Even their strongest, Ma Dali, had been taken out in a single blow; they would stand no chance even if they attacked all at once.

***

Beside Lin Wendong, Lie Erye’s eyes darted around. Through the banknote in his hand, he was now convinced that this man’s counterfeiting skills were top-tier. Partnering with him would mean a fortune!

But... he was demanding fifty percent. Was there any way to obtain his technology without giving him a cut?

As soon as this thought crossed Lie Erye’s mind, his peripheral vision caught sight of the AK-47 at Lin Wendong’s feet. He carefully stole a glance at Lin Wendong, and seeing the man looking calm and completely unaware of his movements, a bold idea surged in his mind.

He decided to act.

He took a deep breath and crouched down as quickly as he could. He thought he hadn't been noticed, but just as he reached out to grab the AK-47, a sharp *click* echoed above his head.

Lie Erye’s pupils contracted, and he slowly looked up.

He saw Lin Wendong looking down at him with a calm expression, a pistol appearing out of nowhere in his hand.

"How is this possible?!" Lie Erye screamed inwardly, terror washing over him. He had seen clearly that the man only had two guns, and both had been thrown on the ground. Where did this one come from?

***

"You... want to take my gun?" Lin Wendong asked in a flat tone.

Lie Erye hadn't even reacted, his mouth opening instinctively to say something.

*Bang!*

A gunshot rang out. Lie Erye’s pupils rolled upward, his consciousness fading as a bullet pierced through his forehead. A moment later, his body collapsed onto the ground with a thud.

"Boss...!" Han Daniu and the others cried out, but not a single person moved to avenge their leader. After all, the boss’s body wasn't even cold yet; stepping forward now would just be a waste of another bullet from this man.

Lin Wendong holstered the pistol and turned his gaze to Han Daniu. "Didn't you just tell me that Lie Erye constantly oppressed you?"

"Well, he’s dead now. From today on... you are the boss!"

"Ah... me?" Han Daniu froze, pointing at himself with a dazed expression.

***

Lie Erye had indeed been oppressive, and everyone had long been dissatisfied with him. Thus, seeing him killed, Han Daniu and the others had no desire for revenge. With the boss dead, they could all just pack up and go home.

"The money you earned for him—either he took the lion's share or he hoarded it all for himself, giving you nothing. Why would you keep working for him?" Lin Wendong cleared his throat and began to slowly sway them. "From now on, you all answer to Han Daniu. Cut out the other businesses and focus on printing counterfeit money. I will provide the technical expertise; half the profits go to me, and you split the rest equally!"

***

"This..."

The others were clearly moved. After all, a job is a job; why not choose the one that pays ten times more?

Han Daniu looked dazed, taking a long time to process it. "I’m the boss now?"

"If you don't want it, I can find someone else," Lin Wendong said coldly. Han Daniu trembled and quickly expressed his loyalty: "I, I want it! Please, don't worry, I will swear my life to you!"

"What about you all? I can't guarantee anything else, but every one of you will make at least fifty thousand US dollars a month."

"Fifty... fifty thousand dollars?!"

The crowd gasped in unison. To the impoverished people of the simple village, this was an astronomical sum! They couldn't earn that much in a year, or perhaps even ten years. Counterfeiting was one of the most lucrative industries in the world, and fifty thousand was a conservative estimate.

In an instant, the image of Lin Wendong changed in their eyes. He was nothing short of a god of wealth!

"We are willing to follow you!"

"That's right, Lie Erye deserved to die. Thank you, sir!"

"By the way... what should we call you?" Han Daniu asked tentatively.

Lin Wendong thought for a moment. "Just call me Zhang Youqian."