A man and a woman alone together—just hearing about it sounds dangerous.
Especially in this world ruled by women, with tigers and wolves lurking everywhere. Luomiu often sighed at how important it was for an innocent young man to protect himself when out and about.
But, Sylvia’s invitation was clearly something else entirely.
After all, she was the heir of House Valentin.
The dragon blood flowing in her veins was both her gift and her curse.
Behind her extraordinary mind and decisiveness was an ancient hunter’s instinct, a primal urge difficult to suppress.
After years of self-discipline and ascetic training, she hid this weakness well—so well that ordinary people never glimpsed it.
Unless…
It’s someone like the protagonist in a game, blessed by fate’s halo.
Or…
A destined villain who, time and again, snatches SSRs out from under the protagonist’s nose, nearly bankrupting the hero’s party, and naturally comes with a “charm halo.”
“A private one-on-one talk? With me?”
Luomiu didn’t think there was anything hormone-fueled or some ambiguous air that would inevitably escalate into a heated battle.
Only the unremarkable types, like that idiotic Luomiu from his past life, would be blinded by lust and their own advantages, step by step sliding toward the doom fated for them.
Making a dragon-blooded heir fall head-over-heels just for a fleeting moment of pleasure?
How is that any different from letting your little brother do the thinking for you?
But if it’s just using that so-called “charm” filter to unsettle your opponent at the negotiating table, gain an advantage, set up a trap, and make a killing in gold coins… now that sounds wonderful!
“Making money really is more thrilling.”
Recalling the game’s main storyline and Sylvia’s personal quests, Luomiu’s plans gradually took shape in his mind.
After all, is there anything more reassuring and fulfilling than watching the numbers in your credit account keep ticking up?
“…What a heavy topic!”
Ankat could not get a word in edgewise!
Ever since Sylvia started her Q&A, she hadn’t known what to say!
Credits? Aren’t they just for exchanging materials and buying booze?!
“I need some sedative…”
She was getting thirsty.
She desperately wanted a shot of that high-purity, body-and-mind-soothing, blood-warming water of life…
For the first class of the new semester, the most important part should have been the Q&A session.
Originally, she should have answered all these questions.
But unfortunately, aside from alchemy, Ankat’s understanding of all things campus-related lived at the bottom of a bottle!
Every agonizing second ticked by. Finally, after Sylvia patiently answered everything, the bell rang.
“Class dismissed!”
Ankat dashed out of the classroom like the wind, her eyes blazing with thirst for alcohol.
“That was close—almost had withdrawal symptoms… Eh, did I invite someone to the alchemy lab…? Oh well, who cares!”
Now, the whole classroom fell into silence.
The three members of Cassia’s team were still in shock from the crushing blow of their credit deficit, looking ashen and hopeless.
Ibuki Rei, meanwhile, was watching Luomiu, her gaze lingering on his impressively upright back. Sometimes her eyes seemed dazed, then immediately grew resolute.
Luomiu was packing up his books, ready to slip away.
Just then, Kalenina beside him reached out and tapped lightly on the desk in front of him.
Next, she began gesturing with her hands in a way he couldn’t understand.
Fingers bending, twisting, crossing.
What sort of code was this?
Luomiu was completely lost.
He could tell, vaguely, that this was Russell’s sign language, but Kafnir’s hand speed was far too fast—he couldn’t keep up.
He could only guess that some of the gestures involved a dragon-related swear word, which obviously referred to Sylvia.
“It must be about that woman.”
So deciding, Luomiu simply raised his right hand and rubbed his thumb and index finger together.
Money.
Simple, clear, direct.
Upon seeing the gesture, Kalenina’s expression changed.
Her curiosity melted into understanding, and even a touch of approval appeared amid her seriousness.
She got it.
Luomiu felt a wave of relief.
Thank goodness for body language—saving the day.
“The target is House Valentin—get credits out of Sylvia?”
To Kalenina, Luomiu’s gesture couldn’t have been more obvious.
He was planning a commercial war targeting Sylvia, even the entire Valentin family.
Admitting to being a “Disciple of the Luminous Sage” to draw Sylvia’s attention was just an entry point.
Everything that followed steered things toward a private meeting between the two of them.
So all his earlier arrangements were leading here!
A strange emotion rose in Kalenina’s heart.
It wasn’t the joy of being acknowledged, but rather… the satisfaction of finally keeping pace with his thoughts.
“What do you need?”
Kalenina spoke, her voice low but very clear.
“Hmm?”
Luomiu had been pondering how to ask his good buddy for some seed capital. He didn’t expect Kalenina to ask first.
“I need some funds.” Luomiu lowered his voice as well, looking as if he were discussing top-secret business.
“Fishing—the bigger the bait, the bigger the fish you’ll catch.”
By his reckoning, he had 140 credits, plus the 150 Ibuki Rei had invested, totaling 290.
If he could borrow another 100 from his buddy, making it 390, that should be enough to set a decent-sized trap.
Kalenina said nothing more.
She simply raised her hand and operated something on her own badge.
A second later, Luomiu’s badge grew warm.
[Credits +160]
“Bro, you…!”
Luomiu froze.
One hundred and sixty?
He shot a look at Kalenina.
Wasn’t this the exact credit reward she got as top student?
Leaving only forty for herself and giving the rest to him?
“Bro, you…”
Luomiu was left speechless for a moment.
This was 160 credits!
Enough for a student like Cassia to work several semesters!
She handed it over—without even blinking?
What kind of trust was this?
A surge of inexpressible emotion mixed with immense pressure crashed into Luomiu’s heart, which had grown somewhat numb in the game world.
He’d thought he was just using Kalenina as a meat shield, a gullible, good-natured buddy.
But she truly saw him as one of her own!
“Thanks, bro.”
Luomiu thanked her solemnly.
This thanks came straight from the heart.
But thinking about it, the origin of these funds wasn’t strange at all.
The curse the Empress of Russell bore was not one crafted by witches, but damage caused by the “Heart of Winter,” incurable by any medicine.
The only way to prolong her life was to obtain the Frost Dragon’s blessing.
But ever since House Valentin successfully contracted the dragons, all the dragons had followed the contract, defending the duchy’s borders—even the Frost Dragon who once guarded the North moved its lair.
In this respect, House Valentin had pretty much dug up the Empire’s ancestral grave!
As an imperial prince, how could he not fight for the royal court’s honor?!
His buddy might seem cold, but she’s a person of true feeling!
“This is my duty as team leader.”
Hearing him, Kalenina straightened her back.
Of course.
The examiner was asking her to state her motivation, to grade her decision.
“I’ve kept the credits I need. This extra 160 credits won’t help my strength in the short term.”
“Rather than letting it go to waste, it’s better to concentrate it when needed—for the team’s future.”
“I believe that, in your plan, these funds will have a value far beyond their face value.”
After speaking, she fell silent, awaiting Luomiu’s “assessment.”
Luomiu was dumbfounded.
What?
What is this?
Market disruption? Cornering supply? Investment pools? Resource allocation?
Bro, you really thought about all this?
Aren’t we just students at the Magic Martial Academy?
Did you awaken your past-life memories too?!
Luomiu’s brain spun as he tried to make sense of Kalenina’s logic.
“So my good buddy not only handed over all her assets, but, to keep me from feeling guilty, she even made up a very reasonable-sounding business theory to comfort me?!”
Holy—!
She’s telling me to go for it, no pressure!
What thoughtfulness!
What noble spirit!
Luomiu was nearly moved to tears.
What is a brother?
This is a brother!
He looked at “Kafnir’s” cold, handsome face, his heart in turmoil.
He’d been thinking of using her as a shield, even teasing her for being a Sigma tough guy.
But when she acted, it was trust—absolute trust!
Luomiu, what have I done to deserve such a good brother, such good teammates?
Ibuki Rei invested 150 for their cooperation.
His good buddy “Kafnir” gave all she had—160.
Add his own 140.
A total of 450 credits.
That’s no small sum.
This money carried not just the expectations of partners, but all the trust his teammates had in him!
He could not lose.
He would never lose!
The plan that was originally just to milk some benefits from Sylvia, at this moment, changed in nature completely.
“When the other teams realize the value of credits, they’ll definitely rush to raise their strength… That is, just like in the game’s plot, the entire credit market will get restless over the next week…”
Luomiu clenched his fist.
“450 credits is only enough to use as bait—it’s not enough to set the tone for the market.”
“The reserves must not be touched lightly.”
“At the very least, I need another hundred to make this setup foolproof… I have to hurry and unlock the Mirage Sea’s secret chamber…”
“Lord Luomiu.” Anne’s cool voice sounded from beside him.
“Hmm?” Before he could turn around, he felt something press against his chest.
[Credits +200]
“Huh?”
Luomiu was stunned.
Two hundred?!
Another expert, giving everything without keeping a single credit?!
“We’re not even that close, are we?!”
Unlike the brotherly feeling from “Kafnir,” looking at Anne’s calm, resolute expression, Luomiu just felt a chill down his spine, like he’d set foot in a Myanmar scam park!
Seeing his expression, Anne simply stood beside “Kafnir,” her figure beginning to fade as always:
“This is my own decision. I hope you won’t disappoint me.”
“My, what heartwarming team camaraderie.”
Sylvia gracefully descended from behind the podium and walked up to Luomiu:
“I’d like to borrow some of Luomiu’s private time. Do I need to check with the captain?”
“Go ahead.”
Kalenina offered a faint, indifferent smile, not looking back as she led Anne out of the classroom.
“I hope you two have a wonderful time together.”
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