Starting as dockworkers, they swept through Chongqing.

Golden Rooster Hotel, Room 302.

The copper gas lamp valve was turned on, and with a soft hiss, a pale blue flame leaped out, dispelling the darkness in the room.

Xilun took off his dusty coat and hung it on the coat rack behind the door.

It's warm inside.

Compared to that drafty, smelly, and snoring warehouse dormitory, this place is simply paradise.

A private bathroom, a soft bed, and a quiet, secluded space where the only sound is the burning of the gas lamp.

Xilun walked to the table, opened the drawer, and dumped all the silver coins and copper coins inside onto the table.

The crisp metallic clanging sound was particularly jarring in the quiet room.

He stretched out his fingers and carefully counted the coins one by one.

It was twelve shillings in total, plus a handful of copper coins.

This is all his current net worth.

"Twenty shillings..."

Xiren leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers lightly on the table, his brow slightly furrowed.

The inspector's face resurfaced in my mind—that arrogant look that he thought he had him completely under his thumb, and that bureaucratic tone he used...

That was a mess left behind by Morgan.

Why should he have to pay it back?

If they don't give it to us, future cargo inspections will be delayed, and we won't be able to explain it to Losas.

If given the money, he doesn't have enough right now.

Moreover, even if it were enough, he wouldn't want to pay for it.

We need to think of a way.

Xilun closed his eyes and tapped his fingers rhythmically on the table.

Just then, a soft footstep sound came from outside the door.

The footsteps stopped at the door.

Thump, thump, thump.

The knock was very soft, with a sense of tentativeness and caution.

Xilun opened his eyes, the thoughtful look in them instantly vanishing, replaced by a cold glint.

He reached for the "Pepperbox" pistol behind his waist, the cold grip of which eased his tense nerves slightly.

"Who?"

"Lord Siren, it is I."

A deliberately lowered voice came from outside the door, tinged with a hint of ingratiation, "I'm An Man, the one who moved the chair for you at the dock today."

Anman?

A lean, clever face flashed through Xilun's mind.

"Come in."

Xilun loosened his grip on the gun and said calmly.

The door was pushed open a crack.

An Man squeezed in sideways and gently closed the door behind her.

He was carrying a wicker basket covered with a piece of coarse blue cloth.

As soon as he entered, his face was filled with a humble smile, and he bent over at almost a ninety-degree angle.

"My lord, it is my fault for disturbing your rest so late."

An Man carefully walked to the table and gently put down the basket. "I heard that you just moved to a new house, and I don't have anything fancy, so I brought some local specialties from home for you to try."

Xilun glanced at the basket but said nothing.

Upon seeing this, Anman quickly lifted the coarse cloth covering it.

A faint, salty aroma wafted out.

Several pieces of dried rabbit meat, with a bright red color, were neatly arranged in the basket.

There was also a sealed can of milk and a dozen eggs lined with straw next to it.

In this resource-scarce downtown area, these things are not some "worthless local specialties".

These are all hard currency.

Especially that can of goat milk and eggs, which an ordinary laborer's family might not be able to afford even once a week.

"What do you mean by that?"

Xilun raised his head and calmly looked at Anman.

He rubbed his hands together, his smile becoming even more obsequious.

"I didn't mean anything by it, it's just... I'm just thanking you for taking care of me."

An Man swallowed hard, carefully choosing his words, "Today, the master didn't use the whip or scold anyone. The brothers all remember the master's kindness. I just want... to be able to work more under the master's command in the future, and to work there for a long time."

Xilun nodded slightly; Anman had come to "pay his respects."

"The stuff is good."

Xilun reached out and picked up a piece of dried rabbit meat, smelled it, and said, "That's thoughtful."

Upon hearing this, An Man's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down.

Being willing to accept something means being willing to give an opportunity.

"As long as the adults like it!"

An Man was overjoyed, then his gaze swept over Xi Lun's empty kettle, and he immediately said cleverly, "Sir, I see your kettle is empty. The hot water room in this inn is on the basement floor, and it's too much trouble to run up and down. Luckily, I live nearby too, I'll go get you some hot water!"

Before Xilun could speak, he nimbly picked up the copper kettle on the table and rushed out of the room like a gust of wind.

Xilun stared thoughtfully at the door that had been closed again.

A moment later, he tossed the rabbit meat back into the basket and leaned back.

No need for roaring or wielding whips; simply establish the rules and control the allocation of resources, and these people will automatically and eagerly offer their loyalty and interests.

Not long after, Anman returned carrying a full pot of hot water.

Water droplets still clung to the outside of the kettle, indicating that it had been brought up by a jog.

"Sir, the water has been prepared for you; it's right here."

An Man didn't linger. After putting down the kettle, he tactfully retreated to the doorway. "Then I won't disturb your rest any longer, sir. See you at the dock tomorrow."

"Um."

Xilun nodded slightly.

Just as Anman was about to close the door, Xilun suddenly asked, "Your name is Anman?"

An Man shuddered, then whirled around, his face beaming with delight: "Yes! My name is An Man! An as in 'docile,' and Man as in 'savage'!"

"Go."

"Hey! Hey!"

The door closed.

Not long after An Man left, footsteps echoed down the corridor again.

"Lord Sir, this is just a small token of our appreciation."

"This pound sterling even has your name engraved on it; I wonder when the wrong one was taken..."

It shimmered with silver light.

In addition to the original twelve shillings, there are now a total of twenty-five more shillings.

Most of them were small silver coins of one or two shillings, and there were even a handful of pennies.

"Thirty-seven shillings."

Xilun's fingers traced across the silver coins, the cold metallic touch giving him an unprecedented sense of security.

The 20 shillings that the inspector asked for, I have.

And there were quite a few more.

Morgan is a fool who only knows how to exploit people with violence. Although he can make money that way, it's short-sighted and will only breed hatred.

Now, Xiren has only slightly exploited the rules, and these people have voluntarily handed over their money to him.

They should even be grateful to him.

"This is what they call...filial piety."

Xilun grabbed a handful of silver coins and gripped them tightly.

He stood up, walked to the window, and drew back the curtains.

Outside the window, the night in Saint Laurent City remained deep.

Flames spewed from the factory chimneys in the distance, turning the sky a dark red. A cold wind howled, rattling against the glass windows.

Xilun gazed at the bizarre and dazzling city, his eyes deep and thoughtful.

With this money, we can settle things with that inspector tomorrow.

Once the goods clear customs, Losas will be satisfied.

His position was now secure.

As long as you hold this position, you'll have a steady stream of money coming in.

With money, you can buy potion ingredients and acquire more advanced extraordinary knowledge.

This is what he wanted.