At noon, the academy’s public dining hall was filled with the aroma of rye bread and the salty smell of boiled beans. The long wooden tables were packed tightly with people—mostly minor nobles and lower-class students from commoner backgrounds.
They weren’t from prestigious families, nor could they enter the Duchy’s capital circle.
But here in the academy, the lower ranks among nobles and the upper ranks among commoners got along quite well—
After all, everyone was poor.
At a table by the window, four students from different teams sat together. They had just taken a bite of their rock-hard bread when someone spoke first.
“If it weren’t for Senior Lomio’s top team clearing out those Black Mage mobs blocking the exam checkpoint last time, I’d already be back in the countryside feeding pigs.”
The speaker was a young apprentice in a worn-out mage robe with torn sleeves, freckles still dotting his face from adolescence.
“My team couldn’t even handle a third-tier magical beast. I was already preparing to go home.”
“Exactly,” the swordsman across from him said, shaking his newly replaced sword blank.
“Not only did I keep my grades, I even got a low-interest credit loan to upgrade this. Back in the day, Beatrice’s group would’ve snatched my sword away already.”
At the mention of Beatrice, everyone at the table instantly perked up.
“Did you guys join that task-for-interest-reduction event?”
A girl carrying a hunting bow leaned in, slapping a task sheet onto the table.
“I helped the alchemy workshop move magic crystal ore all day yesterday. Not only did it cover this month’s interest, I even earned three credits!”
“No way?” someone beside her widened their eyes. “I thought it was a scam. If I’d known, I would’ve gone too!”
“A scam?” the girl scoffed.
“The rules from the top team are written clearly. Unlike Beatrice’s group!”
“They blocked exam checkpoints and even stole my healing alchemy card. Some ‘capital nobles’—they’re worse than street thugs collecting protection fees.”
“Exactly!” someone chimed in. “They talk about noble honor all day, but where’s that honor when they’re stealing our credits? They’re just stepping on others to live comfortably!”
The complaints grew louder and louder—until the dining hall doors were suddenly thrown open with a bang, and the entire hall fell silent.
Kexia rushed in, carrying a new hunting bow nearly as tall as herself, clutching a thick stack of task sheets. Her ponytail bounced wildly as she ran straight to a nearby table and jumped on top of it.
“Good news, good news!” Her voice was loud enough to shake the ceiling.
“To everyone participating in the talent development program—the top team has released new tasks!”
“The top three in completion can offset three months of credit interest! If you want in, sign up now!”
The moment she finished speaking, the entire hall erupted. People surged forward, crowding around her until the table creaked under the weight.
“Please don’t rush.”
At that moment, Ibuki Rei entered the dining hall after training, looking refreshed. She changed clothes, picked a table, and began organizing participants while announcing tasks.
“Everyone worked hard during the exams. To show our sincerity, there are additional credit rewards. No one will leave empty-handed.”
On the second floor, by the window, Lomio gnawed on a freshly bought roasted chicken leg, watching the lively scene below with a faint chuckle.
Wasn’t there anything more satisfying than doing nothing and watching others get everything done?
This plan hadn’t even been his idea.
“Now this is what you call business.”
Across from him, Karenina set down her teacup, her fingers brushing over the freshly delivered financial report, a smile in her eyes.
“In just three days, we’ve gathered nearly seventy percent of the lower-tier students. About eighty percent of Beatrice’s affiliated teams have already disbanded.”
“Oh? That fast?”
Lomio raised an eyebrow, flipping through the account book Cafnir handed him. He laughed.
“Three minor noble team leaders have already come over to pledge loyalty? That fast? No shame at all, huh?”
Standing behind him, Annie bowed slightly, her voice calm.
“Their credibility is low. But they have no other choice.”
“Fine,” Lomio whistled, tossing the ledger onto the table.
“Give them an eighty percent interest rate on credit loans. From now on, let them handle intelligence from the capital nobles. Recycling useless resources.”
“Should it be a real discount or just nominal?” Annie asked cautiously.
“You’re learning fast,” Lomio said with a grin.
“Understood.”
Annie said no more. She lifted her skirt slightly and disappeared.
Dogs will always be dogs. They never change.
Sitting nearby, Ibuki Rei held her teacup, hesitating.
“Wouldn’t this offend the core nobles of the capital too much? The Cromwell family controls most of the Duchy’s shipping routes…”
“What’s there to be afraid of?” Lomio waved his hand, finishing his chicken leg.
“Not every family can gather ships, you know.”
“…That’s true.”
Ibuki Rei was left speechless.
Whether it was recent events or the earlier business battle with Sylvia, she now had a basic understanding of Lomio’s target group.
They were mostly lesser nobles or commoners.
Otherwise, they would’ve already been absorbed by Beatrice.
“There’s one more thing,” Ibuki Rei added.
“Beatrice seems to have locked herself away.”
“She broke mentally?”
That surprised Lomio.
“I didn’t even go that hard on her. How did she break so easily?”
“I only took her alchemy cards and dismantled her group. Is she really that fragile?”
…
…
At that moment, Beatrice sat on the carpet in her private dormitory. Around her lay shattered vases and crystal ornaments. Expensive silk curtains hung crookedly, and glass shards littered the floor.
Her hair was disheveled, tear stains still visible on her face. Through the communication crystal earlier, the minor nobles who once surrounded her and called her “Lady Beatrice” had all turned on her.
Some cursed her incompetence.
Some blamed everything on the Cromwell family.
In just one exam, the alliance she had painstakingly built with immense effort and resources had already begun to collapse.
No—it was already dead in everything but name.
“Why…?”
Beatrice bit her lip, her fingers trembling as she reached for the communication crystal—only to hesitate.
Her brother.
The one who was perfect in everything.
What would he think of her now?
Remembering the disappointment in his eyes, Beatrice finally snapped. She hurled the crystal at the wall.
Bang!
The crystal shattered into pieces. She curled up on the carpet, hugging her knees, her shoulders shaking violently.
From childhood, she had always been the cherished eldest daughter of the Cromwell family.
She had never suffered such humiliation.
Just then, the silver pendant resting against her chest suddenly glowed with a faint blue light.
It was a birthday gift from her brother Camu when she was ten—a charm said to protect her. She had worn it for eight years, and it had never reacted before.
Beatrice froze.
As she reached for it, a chilling consciousness surged into her mind.
Memories and emotions that were not hers flooded in.
Her expression changed instantly.
Her once spoiled and panicked eyes turned cold and sinister—carrying the weight of an adult man.
A seductive, unfamiliar voice emerged from her throat.
“Useless trash. You couldn’t even handle a few lowly commoners.”
The girl slowly stood up.
She walked to the mirror, staring at the young, beautiful face reflected within. Her hand reached up, touching her cheek.
A cold smile curled at her lips.
A cherished little sister?
As a puppet, how naive.
“The heir of the Russell royal family… a minor noble from the border… what an interesting combination.”
He had already absorbed all the memories of this body. Naturally, he knew of Lomio and Karenina.
“So much entertainment in the first year…”
“It seems I’ll have to step in personally and play with them.”
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