“How much are you planning to put in?”
“I can put up at least a hundred and fifty points.”
“That’s quite a hefty sum.”
Although increasing the principal was a good thing, Lomio still shook his head.
“But now’s not the time to rush. Let the bullet… let the arrow fly for a while first.”
“What do you mean…”
This comment reminded Ibuki Mio of something. She pondered Lomio’s intent and asked,
“Not many people have figured out how to use credits yet. If we jump in too soon, won’t it just make everyone wary and guard their coin pouches?”
“If there’s no demand, can you really call it a market?”
Lomio smiled, nodding in affirmation.
“Rather than rushing into a plan, I think we should first summarize our current situation. Get the Alchemy Cards we need before others do, and improve our strength as much as possible.”
“But unfortunately, I’ve got a lot to handle next and might not have the time. If Miss Ibuki would be willing to run some errands for me, I’d be extremely grateful.”
He’s got another plan?
Ibuki Mio’s gaze became cautious.
But rather than dwell on whatever plan Lomio probably wouldn’t spell out, she shifted her focus to the tasks he wanted her to handle.
Buying materials. Running errands.
It sounded simple, but hearing it from Lomio gave it a whole different weight.
After witnessing so much during this class division test, Ibuki Mio had more than enough reason to believe that every word this man uttered carried some hidden purpose and meaning.
He was probably testing her resource management skills as the daughter of a merchant guild—to see if she could save the team as much money as possible.
Or maybe he already knew the market prices and wanted to test her loyalty through this small show of trust.
Or perhaps, it was both.
“No wonder Kafnir chose you.”
“…?”
Ibuki Mio’s sudden comment left Lomio a little puzzled.
She was probably talking about how his brother defended him during the class division scoring earlier?
“That’s an unspoken understanding between us.”
After replying, Lomio took out paper and pen.
Comparing the material list from the Alchemy Talent Tree and his memories of item prices in the game, he wrote down the materials he needed and the total price.
“I’ll have to trouble you with these, Miss Ibuki.”
“Alchemy materials? Why does our team need these?”
Ibuki Mio raised her eyebrows in confusion after looking at the list. “Without an alchemist’s help, we can’t make Alchemy Cards.”
“Or… is Mentor Ancat going to help?”
“As a mentor, he’s not supposed to personally assist students with these things.”
“But that’s not something to worry about.”
Lomio took a sip of tea, then continued, “Because all the trap cards I’ve used so far, I made myself.”
“……”
Lomio watched as Ibuki Mio’s expression changed: first confusion, then shock, and finally a dawning look of admiration as if she’d talked herself into acceptance.
“A side profession… I see…”
Now, Ibuki Mio understood.
This guy wasn’t just any ordinary freshman!
Most likely… he was a skilled expert hired by a high-ranking noble family, helping the heir behind the scenes!
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have investigated the Bian’an Merchant Guild so thoroughly, or figured out the credit trading system so early!
And…
Ibuki Mio looked at the list on the table, feeling her whole body go numb.
The list was frighteningly meticulous—each material’s price precise down to the last unit!
He even knew the school’s market rates inside and out!?
“I’ll get it done properly.”
Accepting this “test,” Ibuki Mio removed the brooch from her chest, set the amount, and tapped it to Lomio’s.
As thirty-five credits were transferred, Lomio finished the last sip of tea in his cup.
“I’ll leave it to you.”
Before Lomio could say anything more, Ibuki Mio drained her own cup, stood up at once, and headed for the door: “I’ll take my leave.”
Watching her bustle out the door, Lomio tidied up the table.
“Turns out she wanted to invest… This really is like a sleepyhead finding a pillow.”
“There’s still a Phantom Sea Key that needs a Tier Three Assassin skill to obtain. I’ll have to set that aside for now…”
“What’s most important now is to find that ring before heading to Ancat’s workshop to make cards.”
Having made up his mind, Lomio changed into simple clothes, put on gloves and the alchemy mask he’d bought earlier.
Time for another round at the junkyard!
He jogged out of the dorm, not noticing the shadow in the hallway corner shift slightly.
“What’s he up to?”
Seeing him dressed like a scavenger, Annie trailed close behind.
*****
Alchemy Scrap Zone.
The main melody here was the acrid stench of acid and rot, accompanied by the ceaseless roar of machines.
Lomio clocked in at the golem at the entrance with practiced ease and plunged headfirst into a sea of garbage, starting a new round of treasure hunting.
Time ticked by, minute by minute.
Daylight faded to dusk; the dormitory lights in the distance came on one after another, and the commercial street flickered with its evening glow.
“A luck-based mission like this is trash game design!”
Annoyed, Lomio kicked the trash pile in front of him.
He seriously suspected that the time he got nine golds in ten pulls before crossing over had drained all his luck for this lifetime.
All he’d gotten today, aside from a measly two credits, was a sense of being trapped!
Beep beep!
The golem sounded a notification; today’s “garbage sorting” time was up, and staying longer wouldn’t net him any more rewards.
“Forget it.”
Lomio gave the overturned area one last look.
Comparing the dumping trajectories with the guide’s coordinates from memory, he’d narrowed the range to the few square meters in front of him.
The ring was here.
Just buried too deep, or maybe stuck on something.
Bad luck!
Annoyed, Lomio glanced around the perimeter of the junkyard.
After advancing to Tier Two Assassin, his perception had grown keener, allowing him to vaguely sense someone spying on him.
After comparing this feeling a few times, he was sure—a bored idiot had been watching him this whole time!
They must be nuts!?
Lomio didn’t need to think hard. Aside from that lunatic Annie, no one else would do this kind of thing!
How did Kafnir ever get involved with a woman like her?
Doesn’t he get chills down his spine at night?
Creepy.
Better go take a shower.
Clocking out, Lomio left the scrap zone without looking back.
No way to finish in one go anyway. He’d just come back tomorrow for another two credits—might as well take them.
After he left, Annie’s figure slowly emerged from the shadows.
She stood there, brow furrowed, replaying everything she’d just seen in her mind.
A man who’d just cleared the King’s Trial, holding a fortune in credits, actually spent a whole afternoon here for a mere two points?
That made no sense!
His actions, like his performance in the class exam, were filled with a baffling sense of dissonance!
Annie’s gaze fell on the pile of garbage Lomio had last kicked.
A black No. 8 ring…
His last complaint sounded less like talking to himself, more like he was deliberately saying it for someone to hear!
Annie tried approaching that pile of trash, mimicking Lomio’s earlier motions, and dug around a bit.
Does he really have a purpose behind everything he does?
How could that be…
Clink.
A pitch-black metallic ring engraved with a rabbit’s head rolled out of the debris, stopping at her feet.
If she hadn’t been highly focused, she might have missed even that tiny sound!
“There really was something!?”
After a moment’s shock, Annie instantly realized just how terrifying this was!
This couldn’t be a coincidence!
But then, why did he give up at the last moment? Why say those things?
Why… did he even glance at her hiding spot before leaving!
He knew I was here all along!?
Annie crouched down, picked up the cold ring, and fell into unprecedented confusion.
She’d thought her secret tailing was flawless.
But now, the ring was in her hand.
This meant that she couldn’t rely on anyone, couldn’t ask His Highness, but had to make her own decision.
And that was what she was worst at.
Imprisoned as a child, rescued by Princess Karenina, she’d been drifting along ever since.
A life that only required obedience, not much thinking, now seemed to be coming apart at the seams.
“Annie, don’t refuse to learn new things. It’s important to me.”
During the exams, Princess Karenina’s private words and worried look still echoed in Annie’s heart.
Loyalty alone was no longer enough to be of help to Her Highness.
“But what is the right answer… What should I do?”
She murmured softly into the evening breeze, questioning both herself and her heart.