Chapter 46: Sylvia, In Your Face

【Trial complete, Credits +10】

His consciousness withdrew from the Illusory Sea Chamber. Lok Miu opened his eyes.

“So this is the plain, monotonous life of the wealthy, huh?”

The fixed deposit of credits every morning at ten allowed his personal assets to steadily climb back up.

And those materials he’d bought—just by letting them pile up in the warehouse, their value kept increasing by the day.

This kind of feeling… was truly reassuring.

He’d checked the market info last night before bed.

The price curve of Silver Bell Marrow was still slowly but surely climbing upward.

The increase had already reached nearly thirty percent.

Very healthy.

Sylvia had clearly already consumed all of the market’s first-phase stock, and was still posting high-priced buy orders, trying to sweep up every last scrap.

Meanwhile, on Keixia’s side, she’d managed to lock up the Task Panel channel as well.

With the dual blockade, the market’s circulation was almost zero.

Those students eager to craft Tier Two Cards would soon be like ants on a hot pan.

When that time came, panic would become the best catalyst.

“One more week. Once the news about the second assessment is released, that’s when the harvest begins.”

Lok Miu cheerfully shut off the light screen.

When a plan is perfect and without a ripple, all that’s left is waiting—and waiting is always dull.

Maybe I should stroll around the commercial district, give myself a little reward.

And observe Sylvia’s reaction, too. Surely, that proud Dragon Girl is feeling quite smug at her “control over the situation” right now.

Poor child. She still doesn’t realize that every piece of material she buys is just building up her opponent’s assets.

Lok Miu changed into casual clothes, humming off-key, and pushed open the door.

He had just reached the dormitory entrance when a vibrant voice called out to him.

“Big Bro!”

Keixia, with her two teammates in tow, came running over excitedly.

A healthy flush colored the girl’s cheeks. The brand-new crossbow on her back bounced energetically with each step, radiating a sense of power.

“All your tasks done?” Lok Miu paused.

“Done and then some!” Keixia puffed out her chest, clearly angling for praise.

“In just these three days, we’ve completed the three easiest hunting missions! Look!”

She projected her brooch’s light screen, displaying a freshly-updated list of materials just credited to her account.

“Not only did we not spend your advance credits, we even earned an extra dozen units of Silver Bell Marrow!”

Fanny and Liv behind her nodded hard, unable to hide their excitement.

“Not bad.” Lok Miu gave a casual compliment.

No matter how small, meat is meat. An unexpected windfall.

“Big Bro, your ‘Talent Cultivation Plan’ is just amazing!” Keixia’s eyes sparkled.

“I never thought that by relying on our own efforts, we could really earn this many credits!”

“I always believed only challenging strong magical beasts counted as being a hunter. Now I understand—making smart use of the rules to create maximum value for the team, that’s true wisdom!”

The girl spoke passionately, getting more and more fired up as she went.

“We’ll work hard, and strive to become strong, capable talents!”

“……”

Lok Miu’s mind froze for a second.

Talent Cultivation Plan?

A great cause?

I just wanted to use you guys as tools to hit the task list. How did you turn this into a hot-blooded success story in your head?

“Oh, is that so? Do your best.”

He looked at Keixia’s face, flushed with excitement, and her two teammates beside her, looking helpless, and found it amusing.

With Silver Bell Marrow prices soaring this fiercely, this silly…sunny girl’s excess energy was at least better than none.

Besides, the “Talent Cultivation Plan” contract would bind them for at least half a year. Trying to repay early and go solo? Out of the question.

“Ahem.” Lok Miu cleared his throat. “I see your drive. Very good.”

He sent another fifteen credits their way.

“This is the agreed reward. Use it for supplies. New equipment needs maintenance too—don’t be stingy.”

“Big Bro!” Keixia looked at the incoming credits, nearly moved to tears.

“Don’t worry. We’ll definitely work hard, really hard!!”

Lok Miu nodded perfunctorily.

“Go on, be careful.”

Unmoved, he watched as the fired-up girl and her two worried teammates hurried away.

“Motivated kids really are the cutest creatures in the world…”

He muttered, but Lok Miu understood very well.

In a good mood, he made for the commercial district.

Those three girls had clearly seen the material prices going crazy and wanted to earn some quick credits by doing tasks.

Naive.

Do you really know when the best time to sell is?

The commercial district was as lively as ever.

Lok Miu didn’t head for the material shops. Instead, he walked into a dessert shop and casually ordered his favorite ice cream flavor.

He picked a window seat, enjoying his dessert and leisurely opening the trading panel again.

A bit of after-meal entertainment—let’s see where today’s price rise will finally pause.

However—

The moment that familiar red price curve appeared on his light screen—

The spoon in Lok Miu’s hand froze midair.

On the light screen—

The curve that should’ve been climbing steadily was now nearly vertical, stabbing straight for the top of the screen.

Price—five credits!

No—

In the split second he was stunned, that number jumped again.

Five point five!

“Huh??”

Even Lok Miu was caught off guard for a moment!

In just a few days, not even to the weekend, and the price had more than doubled!

The buy orders in the trading list were stacked like a mountain, the highest already offering ten credits.

And the sell side? Completely empty.

Zero.

Not a single unit of Silver Bell Marrow was being sold in the whole Academy.

“Damn!”

Now Lok Miu understood why those three girls had been so fired up.

“No, wait!”

Suddenly, he realized—the price surge was far too abnormal! The Academy’s assessment plan hadn’t been announced yet, so panic shouldn’t be spreading this much!

He immediately switched to the Academy news section.

A pinned red message slammed into his eyes.

【Urgent Academy Notice: Due to a massive blizzard at the Russell border, the merchant caravan scheduled to arrive at the Academy on the 13th will be indefinitely delayed. New arrival time unknown.】

【This shipment included materials: Silver Bell Marrow, Frost Grass…】

【Please plan your advancement schedules accordingly and enjoy a healthy Academy life…】

“Caravan delayed… That much I did expect.”

“An in-game event, and the Academy makes it official? This speed of information…?”

Could it be… Ibuki Rei and his brother’s doing?

“If it really was those two, wouldn’t that mean the Russell Prince hijacked the caravan? No way.”

Lok Miu considered it for a moment, then relaxed and went back to eating his ice cream.

It must be Sylvia.

Only she could get the caravan news first through her family’s channels, use it to notify the Academy, and trigger the market’s final short squeeze!

“Such a classic tactic—does she really think it’ll work on me?”

Lok Miu almost wanted to laugh.

His current stock of materials had all been refined into Alchemy Cards—enough to arm several teams.

Even if Sylvia kept the secondary market in a vacuum, what did it matter to him?

He could even sell to teams for a slightly lower price and have them be grateful for it!

Or even…

Use credit loans to trap a few “talents” desperate to level up ahead of the rest.

“Oh dear, oh dear…”

Lok Miu’s expression grew even more relaxed.

“Now I can only thank Mother Nature for her gift, can’t I?”

At that moment, a graceful silhouette dressed in iris blue passed through the door, walking with calm precision to stop at his table.

Lifting her skirt, she gave a flawless lady’s curtsy.

“Good day, Lok Miu.”

“What a coincidence, Senior. Please, have a seat.”

Here she comes. Efficient, too.

Lok Miu smiled and looked up, showing not the slightest surprise at Sylvia’s arrival.

The moment she stepped in, his newly-awakened Tier Three Assassin senses had already detected several hidden gazes from different directions outside the window.

Now, all her followers—no need to investigate further.

Good.

Since she’s come to confront me face to face…

Now, how should I perform, to really rile up this proud little Dragon Girl, force her to grit her teeth and keep bottom-fishing the market at any cost?

Lok Miu’s gaze swept toward the coffee shop’s shadows.

With his enhanced vision, Annie’s figure flickered faintly in and out of view.

There’s still that little wildcat I can use, isn’t there?