Chapter 103 Preparing for Transformation, Blueprint for the Future

"I know."

Su Ze's reaction was flat, as if what Jiang Yuwan had said was a trivial matter.

"I was just about to bring this up."

"Opening the shop but not announcing it, nor selling goods openly in the Public Channel, shows this person is cautious, or rather, clever."

No emotion could be discerned in Su Ze's tone.

"He probably wants to use the resources from the shop to quietly boost his own strength first, maybe engaging in small-scale trades only with people he trusts at most."

After listening to his analysis, a glint of understanding flashed in Jiang Yuwan's cool eyes.

Indeed, in this situation.

If the person who opened the shop made a big fuss, they would inevitably become a target, even possibly drawing Su Ze's direct attention.

And Su Ze's strength is such that he could kill him in a heartbeat.

Choosing to develop quietly and low-key is the wisest course of action.

But from another perspective, he isn't that smart.

Because once Su Ze finds out who it is...

He's finished!"

"Then... are we just going to ignore him?" Yao Qingya asked with some concern.

Having another competitor is never a good thing.

"The impact is minimal. I've already sent Zhou Kai to investigate."

Su Ze turned around, a cryptic smile playing on his face, "Besides, I'm also planning to change the game."

"Change the game?"

The six women in the room, including the newly joined Qiao Yunge, all looked over curiously.

Su Ze pulled over a chair and sat down, gesturing for them to sit as well.

"Our current model of monopolizing basic supplies to earn copper coins is indeed profitable, but it won't last much longer."

He glanced around the circle before speaking slowly.

"Suppressing others and delaying their progress in opening the shop isn't a long-term solution. It's better to guide than to block. Rather than waiting for more and more people to open shops, which would divert our business, we should take the initiative and accelerate the wealth accumulation of the entire Dormitory."

The women looked somewhat confused, not fully understanding his meaning.

Su Ze patiently explained.

"Why did I let Wang Meng, Zhuang Qianhao, and the others surrender?"

"Because I plan to support a few people, making them 'agents' for their respective floors."

"I'll provide them with weapon support, letting them organize people on their floors into sizable combat teams. They'll use ranged throwing or other more efficient methods to clear zombies inside or even outside the building, earning more copper coins."

"In return, I need to take a cut of their daily zombie-hunting profits as my share."

Su Meier's eyes lit up, and she was the first to catch on: "The Landlord means... we're transitioning from simply selling goods to 'collecting rent'?"

"You could put it that way." Su Ze snapped his fingers, "But more importantly, it's about letting others get rich first."

Let others get rich?

This idea struck all the women present, except Jiang Yuwan, as unbelievable.

Liu Qiaofei blinked her big eyes, her face full of question marks.

"Senior Su Ze, why let them get rich? Wouldn't they be more dependent on us the poorer they are?"

"Dependent? Right now, they can't even afford to be dependent."

Su Ze shook his head, pinpointing the core issue.

"Take the zombie serum in my hands, for example. One hundred copper coins per dose, doesn't sound expensive. The installment payment plan I set up earlier was also meant to make it more affordable for more people."

"But what was the result? Out of the hundreds of survivors in the whole building, how many actually had the ability to offer rare items as collateral and could afford the daily installments?"

"Over ninety percent of them are struggling to even eat, killing a few zombies each day, earning just enough copper coins to buy a bit of water, bread, and materials. What do they have for a 'down payment'? What do they have to pay the installments?"

"A market where people can't even eat their fill has no purchasing power."

"If they stay this poor, who am I supposed to sell these skill books, fine weapons, and zombie serum I swept up from the shop to?"

His words were like a sudden enlightenment, instantly making the women understand Su Ze's deeper meaning.

So he wasn't trying to be a philanthropist; he wanted to cultivate all the survivors in the Dormitory into 'leeks' capable of creating value for him!

You have to let the leeks grow fat before you can harvest them, one crop after another!

"I understand." Jiang Yuwan nodded, her cool voice carrying a hint of approval.

"This plan is feasible. By supporting agents, we can indirectly control most of the survivors, forming a pyramid-shaped chain of interests with us firmly at the top."

"What about the candidates for these agents?" she continued, "3rd Floor-333-Wang Meng (Room Owner) from the 3rd floor and Zhuang Qianhao from the 1st floor, they both have a group of people under them, and they just surrendered today. They're your first choices for development, right?"

"Mm-hmm." Su Ze nodded.

Just then, An Lan, who had been silent, suddenly spoke up.

"For the 8th floor, can we give Xu Feng a chance?"

Everyone's gaze focused on her.

An Lan's expression didn't change, her tone still flat: "He's quite capable and fairly upright. Back then, if he hadn't taken us in, my other sisters and I might not have survived until now."

"Agreed." Su Ze nodded.

He didn't care what kind of person the other party was, as long as they could create value for him and were obedient.

"Darling!" Seeing this, Qiao Yunge quickly grabbed Su Ze's arm, her eyes full of expectation as she cooed.

"Then... then for the 10th floor, can my younger brother be in charge? He's young, but he's obedient and very responsible!"

Looking at her lovestruck maiden act, Su Ze couldn't help but laugh.

He pinched Qiao Yunge's cheek: "I just said, I don't mind nepotism, as long as he has the ability and can bring me sufficient benefits."

"Yay! Thank you, darling!" Qiao Yunge was so happy she almost jumped up, hugging Su Ze's arm and planting a kiss on him.

Watching this scene, Yao Qingya silently pursed her lips, feeling a bit sour inside.

Su Meier just giggled.

Once the agent plan is implemented, the efficiency of copper coin production for the entire Dormitory will increase exponentially.

Then, a steady stream of copper coins will flow into his pocket through the profit-sharing system.

He will possess inexhaustible wealth, allowing him to sweep up more and better items from the shop in the future, further solidifying his unshakeable position.

However, just as everyone was immersed in this beautiful vision of the future...

*Beep! Beep!*

A series of urgent notification sounds suddenly rang from Su Ze's private chat.

It was a message from Zhou Kai.

Su Ze casually opened it.

[Private Chat · Zhou Kai: Boss! Found him!]

[Private Chat · Zhou Kai: That bastard who just opened a new shop, I found him! He hasn't been idle at all!]

[Private Chat · Zhou Kai: Damn it, he's been selling stuff secretly, at prices way lower than ours!]