“Milord.”
Annie was even faster than the answer itself.
Her figure materialized, holding in her hands a list still scented with fresh ink.
“This is Lord Romieu’s urgent list.”
Romieu’s next move came even quicker than Karenina’s answer.
Annie didn’t waste a single word, reporting everything that had happened at the dessert shop in clear and concise terms.
From the confrontation with Sylvia, to Romieu’s “heartfelt accusation,” and finally the rousing speech that introduced the so-called “Talent Cultivation Plan.”
“Well, what can I even say to that.”
Ibuki Rei had barely listened to half before the hand she’d raised to her forehead never came down again.
What a schemer!
Interest-free loans—of course they have to pay them back! Why dress it up as charity?
And not only under Kafnir’s name, but dumping all the remaining work onto me?!
For a moment, Ibuki Rei suspected she was being used as a “problem-solver,” but recalling Romieu’s methods…
His Excellency must have his reasons for this.
Yes, it must be so.
Karenina ignored Ibuki Rei and took the list, her eyes scanning over both familiar and unfamiliar names.
After several comparisons, she was certain.
All these people had outstanding performances in the last exam.
“In the name of the Chief Squad, we provide interest-free credit loans, with priority given to students who ranked highly in the class assessment…”
This was absolutely not just about making money or acting on a whim.
Each name represented a family, a potential. Romieu used “interest-free” as bait, targeting those outstanding students with strong pride and skills, but tight resources at the outset.
And being in debt meant… they had to accept the loan terms.
Once they accepted this “kindness” and signed the contract…
For quite a while, as creditors, the “Chief Squad” could not be targeted!
Otherwise, it would trigger forced collection, instantly reclaiming all the credits!
If it turned negative, according to the Academy Brooch’s mechanism, the person would be instantly transported away!
This tied the life of the squad, the student’s academy status, and their family title together as one!
“Is that all? These are all noble heirs, what if…”
Karenina thought of Romieu and Sylvia, and even the previous conflict with Beatrice.
These young nobles would all inherit family power one day.
Though credits would mostly be forgotten after leaving school, a corresponding, mechanism-independent memory would fill the gap.
A single transaction today could one day win the Russell Empire a neutral, even helpful, ally at a crucial moment.
Such shrewdness and foresight was already far beyond what one would expect from the son of a frontier count.
As expected, from the start, he was the examiner his mother had planted in the academy to pave the way for himself.
But… why?
At that thought, Karenina suddenly understood.
“Is this my reward for intercepting the merchant convoy?”
Is he tacitly approving me with his actions!?
Meanwhile, Annie simply stood quietly, head bowed in service.
“Do you know how many credits I could earn, Annie? This is the perfect early plan!”
“With credits, whether it’s the holes you’re facing or any hardships to come, it’s all manageable!”
She recalled how, when Romieu explained the plan, his hunger for credits nearly overflowed in every word.
Lord Romieu might just really want to make money, after all.
Of course, as a maid, Annie would never say such a blunt truth aloud.
Ibuki Rei leaned over, picking up the draft plan and spotting an unfamiliar term right away.
“Blind box… giveaway?”
She frowned:
“What does that mean?”
With doubt, Ibuki Rei quickly found the matching section in the draft. After reading, her eyes lit up:
“So there’s a move like this! As expected of Lord Romieu!”
With a sigh, Ibuki Rei realized the plan’s value:
“We use our surplus low-grade alchemy materials as the main content, and mix in a tiny amount of genuinely valuable materials.”
“Since it’s a free giveaway ‘to thank everyone for their support,’ no matter what anyone gets, they’ll only appreciate our generosity. No complaints at all.”
The more Ibuki Rei spoke, the brighter her eyes became.
“This will absolutely max out our squad’s reputation among all the freshmen—and stir up plenty of buzz as well!”
Ibuki Rei drew in a deep breath, then exhaled slowly, her gaze shifting to the entrance.
[Registration opens after noon tomorrow at the Eastern Dormitory District]
For someone who had just finished dealing with the convoy and hadn’t even rested an hour, this was not welcome news.
“……”
She looked at the immaculate hardwood floor in her dorm, thinking of certain possibilities, and closed her eyes.
Looks like renovations are in order.
*****
The next day, Monday.
Romieu awoke in the Secret Chamber of the Illusory Sea, feeling the ten credits that had just been deposited into his brooch, and stretched contentedly.
Just then, a burst of energetic shouting came from outside his door.
“Big Bro! Big Bro!!”
That sunny idiot again.
“Big Bro, I finished all my tasks and I’m here to pay you back!”
Just Kaecia, nothing to… wait, what?
Finished all of them?!
Romieu sat up, swiftly threw on an outer robe, and pulled open the door.
Outside, Kaecia was covered in mud, but her face shone with a bright, sunlike smile.
Behind her stood two teammates who looked utterly drained, their faces marked “burned out.”
Romieu’s gaze drifted down, passed Kaecia’s reassuringly flat chest, and finally landed on what she was carrying.
A whole basket, shimmering with a silvery glow—Silver Bell Marrow Elixir!
“Big Bro, you’re amazing! You must have predicted the material price hike, so you told us to take those tasks, right?!”
Kaecia looked at him with utter admiration, her voice loud and clear.
“No wonder it’s called the Talent Cultivation Plan—what a way to train people!”
“You’re saying you finished every related first-year task… all within a week?”
Romieu’s mouth twitched.
“In just… one week?”
“Yup.”
Kaecia nodded, as if it were the most natural thing:
“A bit tiring, but honestly not that bad. Three big missions and eight little hunts a day, piece of cake!”
As she spoke, she patted the brand-new heavy crossbow slung over her back.
Unlike before, this weapon was covered in intricate magical runes—a clear sign of great value.
“If you’re willing to work hard, good days will come!”
“No, I’m not well…”
“Me neither…”
Fanny and Rivu looked bewildered.
What kind of person is this?!
Ever since the price hike, she’d barely slept, taking missions non-stop!
A noble lady? More like a monster hunter!
“Incredible. Such strength!”
Romieu clapped his hands.
Hardworking legend!
He’d been calculating how to cover her penalty fees, but now—he’d just saved another unexpected sum!
“By the way, where did you get all these? Shouldn’t mission materials be delivered straight to your personal supply box? Why carry them around?”
“Oh, these?”
Kaecia grinned sheepishly:
“The three of us just snatched them up from the market. Fanny says the price will keep rising, and our mission credits are all in here!”
“Ahh… such foresight…”
Romieu sighed: even a pig could fly when the winds were right, but something felt off.
“You snatched them from the market? With prices like these? Really?”
“Really. Every day now, a few classmates are selling Silver Bell Marrow Elixir in the market corners. The prices aren’t pretty, but at this rate, there’s still money to be made!”
“Oh?”
Now Romieu was interested.
A new unknown supplier?
Selling now… are they planning to take a loss, or aiming to fleece Sylvia and the other students?
This wasn’t in the plan—better look into it right away.