The Academy’s central plaza.
Everyone’s gaze was locked onto those two figures.
Elena and Lilith, the captains of the Black and White Queens, were currently standing before the Top Student Team.
Neither of their expressions looked particularly good.
Elena, in particular, had a look of utter reluctance written across her delicate face, her lips pressed together until they turned white.
Lilith’s expression was somewhat calmer, but her knuckles were white from gripping her alchemy card, clearly indicating that she was not as composed as she appeared.
“150 credits, principal plus interest, every single point is here,” Elena said as she handed over the alchemy card, her voice as cold as ice shards.
Lilith followed immediately after, handing over a card of her own.
Lomio took the two cards and weighed them in his hand, a satisfied smile appearing on his face.
“Repaying early? You have good credit.”
His tone was relaxed and casual, as if he were simply praising two good students for handing in their homework on time.
But those words fell upon the ears of the surrounding crowd like a sudden explosion.
“What’s the situation? The Black and White Queens owe a debt to the Top Student Team?”
“150 credits? With interest? How much did they borrow?”
“Wait, do you remember how the Black and White Queens suddenly became low-profile before the exam?”
“Right! Weren’t they always targeting the Top Student Team before? Why would they suddenly…”
“Could it be that they were already tamed long ago?”
The sounds of discussion surged forward like a tide.
Within the crowd, the students who had originally harbored hostility toward the Top Student Team now saw their expressions shift.
The Black and White Queens were a recognized powerhouse within the Academy.
Combined, the two teams possessed enough strength to rival any top-tier squad.
Yet now, under the watchful eyes of everyone, they were actually repaying a debt to the Top Student Team?
What did this mean?
It meant that the influence of the Top Student Team had already permeated every corner of the Academy!
“The Talent Development Program…”
Someone in the crowd murmured to themselves.
This term had been spreading widely throughout the Academy recently.
It was said that the Top Student Team had established a complete credit lending system specifically to ‘cultivate’ students who were short on credits.
Lending credits and collecting interest.
It sounded normal enough.
But the problem was —
The credits lent out by the Top Student Team often came with certain ‘conditions.’
For example, providing intelligence at a critical moment.
For example, remaining neutral on certain occasions.
Or perhaps… becoming a ‘partner’ of the Top Student Team.
And now, the Black and White Queens’ public repayment was undoubtedly a declaration to everyone —
They were already the Top Student Team’s people.
“Terrifying…”
Someone whispered.
This evaluation quickly spread through the crowd.
What was terrifying wasn’t the combat power of the Top Student Team.
It was their ability to strategize.
From credit lending, to social networks, to today’s public debt collection.
Every step was taken steadily and precisely.
It was like an invisible web that was silently enveloping the entire Academy.
—
On the other side of the crowd.
Beatrice Cromwell stood in the shadows, her expression panicked as she was cornered by several people.
Beside her stood several noble ladies from the Duchy.
“What are you doing? Didn’t you say there wouldn’t be a single problem?!”
A young girl from the capital’s social circle stared at her viciously, venting her dissatisfaction. “I really misjudged you. Give me back my credits!”
“Hurry up! Otherwise, don’t even dream of the Cromwell ships passing through my family’s territory!”
The group bombarded her with words, causing the girl’s face to turn pale.
What should she do?
Beatrice had never imagined this situation.
Her older brother’s plans never had loopholes — at least from her ten-plus years of life experience, that had always been the case.
But Lomio?
What was the deal with that guy!
How did he always manage to come up with some mysterious background, identity, and helpers every single time?!
‘It’s all that man from Russell! He must have manipulated everything from the shadows!’
‘To do such a thing! At this point, I can’t imagine anyone else besides that ice-cold Top Student Team captain, Cafnir, being capable of this.’
“How noisy.”
In the center of the plaza.
Lomio put away the two alchemy cards, feeling quite pleasant.
300 credits secured.
Combined with the 450 credits from the exam rewards, and subtracting the principal lent out, Lomio’s personal savings had reached the 600 mark again after being split with his team.
He had to admit, even stripping Sylvia of all her assets hadn’t filled his personal account this much before.
“Let’s go.”
He turned to leave, with Karenina and Annie following close behind.
Elena and Lilith stood in place, watching their departing figures.
“That’s it?” Elena grit her teeth. “He didn’t even say a single polite word?”
“What else did you want him to say?” Lilith sighed. “The debt is cleared. We’re free.”
“Free?” Elena sneered. “We still have to pay back 150 credits including interest next month!”
“Even if we can split it among four people, if we fail even one assessment, we’ll have to go beg him again!”
Lilith replied without thinking, “Yes, but didn’t we make it through today?”
“There will always be a way in the future.”
Elena looked at her with admiration. “I truly envy how you short-lived species live.”
“Give it a rest.” Lilith shook her head. “Instead of wasting time thinking about this, you’d better hurry up and prepare for the next test!”
That sentence effectively killed the conversation.
The two captains, who were completely different in style and only stood together out of necessity due to credits, each turned and went their separate ways.
—
The Top Student Team dormitory.
As soon as Lomio returned to his room, he immediately opened his system panel.
**[Current Credits: 630]**
**[Dragon Material Reserves: 1/10]**
‘It’s not enough.’
Lomio frowned.
Although his credits had surpassed 600, it was still far from his goal.
The auction for the Frost Dragon Soul would require at least 3,000 credits just as a starting bid.
And that was only the entry ticket.
If he truly wanted to win the dragon soul, it would be impossible without 5,000 credits.
‘Three years…’
Lomio rubbed his temples.
This was a long marathon.
He had to accumulate enough credits within three years while simultaneously maintaining his position as the top student of the year.
Only then could he unlock the highest-level auctions and obtain the Frost Dragon Soul.
And then —
Ensure Karenina never gets her hands on that item.
As long as she couldn’t get the dragon soul, she wouldn’t be able to cure the Empress’s curse.
Without the Empress’s support, she wouldn’t be able to inherit the throne.
At that time, the struggle for the throne of Russell would result in Cafnir’s natural succession.
At the very most, a civil war would break out.
And a civil war would mean they would have no time to launch external wars.
‘This is the way it should be.’
Thinking of this, Lomio finally felt a bit more at ease.
He didn’t need direct confrontation or explicit hostility.
He only needed to seize the key resources at the critical moment.
Then, he would quietly wait for the end to arrive —
Being a capable ‘salted fish,’ inheriting his Earldom, and living a carefree life on the border for the rest of his days!
“What a good brother I am,” Lomio sighed with emotion.
Then, he lay down on his bed and closed his eyes.
His consciousness sank into the Phantom Sea Secret Room.
“Kid, back to seek death again?” Tai Lan’s voice rang out.
“I’m here.”
Lomio drew his dragon sword.
The blade’s light flashed.
If you’re bad, practice more!
Just kidding — even if you’re not bad, you still practice!
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