Chapter 58: There Are No More Humans Here!

“Is this even a person?!”

“Oh no, from a certain point of view, it looks like I orchestrated all of this by myself?!”

No matter how you looked at it, it was way too suspicious!

Luo Miu was at his wits’ end: “I just wanted to make some money, not cause trouble!”

“Wait, no, refunds are still possible—thank goodness.”

At this thought, Luo Miu finally felt a bit more at ease.

No way anyone would insist on letting the Chief Squad make credits at a loss, right?

It’s not like this is a fan meet or something!

[Urgent Announcement: Due to an operation by the Russell Empire authorities, the Academy’s official partner convoy has safely secured itself amidst the blizzard.]

[At present, materials will be teleported within the Empire, and will arrive at the Academy by noon today.]

[A large quantity of basic alchemy materials will be restocked soon.]

The mechanical female voice, like a gospel from the heavens, echoed in everyone’s chest badges.

Just a moment ago, the students who had been overjoyed at snatching discounted materials from the Chief Squad suddenly looked… unable to maintain their composure.

“What do you mean? How did this happen?!”

The material shortage that had lasted for over half a month was completely over!

No longer would they be subject to anyone’s whims, no longer would they have to bow and scrape for a single Spirit-Calming Flower or a piece of basic ore!

The Academy’s official channels would always offer the lowest prices and the best authenticity!

But it also meant that the things they’d just bought instantly depreciated back to their original prices!

“Hey, I just bought those materials!”

“You can get a refund.”

Ibuki Rei reminded them with a smile:

“But the cultivation plan is non-refundable, just so you know…”

“Huh?!”

“R-Really? I can get a refund?!”

These words stunned all the students.

At that moment, nearly everyone had just one thought left in their minds.

The Chief Squad—they truly wanted to unite all the students!

Right after they finished selling, the convoy returns?

No matter how you look at it, this can’t possibly have anything to do with the Chief Squad!

Who would loot a burning house and then willingly offer explicit refunds?!

“Right, right! Hurry and refund!” Luo Miu wiped his brow. “Anyway, I’ve already signed contracts with the talents I wanted; with the loan agreements, I’ve already won. Even if they refund, it doesn’t matter…”

While Luo Miu was thinking this, an unremarkable girl stepped out from the crowd, stopped in front of the stall, and looked at everyone:

“Everyone, we may suffer a loss, but my pride as a noble tells me that the Chief Squad must not foot the bill for me this time!”

…

After a brief silence of a few seconds, more and more people began showing looks of either resolve or relief.

“Under these circumstances, you still want to refund? Are you even human?!”

“Who could’ve predicted the convoy’s return?”

“This was an entirely unforeseeable event!”

A tidal wave of praise came crashing down for no apparent reason.

After a brief moment of stunned silence, and confirming he’d heard correctly, Luo Miu felt his blood rush to his head:

“What the—where did all these saints come from?!”

The boy’s face was a little red.

Are you all nuts?!

Why are you acting all dramatic here?!

Nobles are supposed to avoid harm and seek benefit!

Not stand here acting like the fool of the landlord’s family, spending the most to get the least just for self-satisfaction!

“Bro! Did you hear?! The convoy is back! We won!”

Keshia grabbed his arm excitedly and shook him hard.

Luo Miu glanced at her, already unable to say a word.

Ever since yesterday’s blind box incident, those who joined the Talent Cultivation Plan had, to some extent, started to see themselves as “assistants” to the Chief Squad, rather than “customers.”

This was absurd.

As for… winning?

What am I winning anyway?!

Who really wants a total victory here—doesn’t that make me a full-blown villain?!

“But, Keshia, did you sell all the stuff you were hoarding?”

“Ah…”

Keshia’s smile froze, then turned to horror.

“Crap, no!!”

With a cloud of dust, the huntress dashed off at top speed.

“Heh, turns out she’s the only normal one here.”

Luo Miu let out a long sigh.

The news of the convoy’s return was the last straw, finally crushing all the inflated prices on the market.

He’d already emptied his inventory, and his credits had soared to an uncontrollable level.

“Good thing, I can’t satisfy the entire market anyway.”

“Sylvia’s got plenty of capital; she won’t be wiped out just by this.”

“As long as she hurries up and sells, there’s still a chance… the profit won’t be as lopsided as nine-to-one, so she won’t end up working for me.”

Giving himself this reassurance, Luo Miu gradually calmed down.

Until some sharp voices came from outside the window.

“They’re dumping! Look! They’re selling everything!”

“Not just them! All those scalpers! The ones who were price gouging yesterday are throwing everything out now!”

“Oh my god! The prices… the prices are about to fall back to normal!”

Cries of surprise erupted again and again from the crowd.

Luo Miu jerked his head up and looked in the direction of the voices.

He saw that in the market, dozens of small stalls—previously hoarding goods—had all, as if by agreement, put their materials up for sale!

The prices… were pressing right up against the official prices!

“You guys are trying to mess with me too?!”

This blow—a real, full-on, super discount—hit even harder and faster than the convoy’s return!

In an instant, the market completely collapsed!

All material prices plummeted, falling straight to the usual official prices!

“…There are still more pros out there?!”

Luo Miu felt a sweetness in his throat, nearly coughing up blood.

Even these scalpers were organized!

The Cromwell Family was going with the flow, too!!

They’d even take a loss just to ruin Sylvia?!

“I just wanted to test the waters—how did it turn into a total assault?!”

“The convoy returned at this time, scalpers started dumping, and then there’s a bunch of saints not asking for refunds!!”

“Who, who is sabotaging me?!”

Luo Miu’s gaze swept the area, landing on his good friend.

In the distance, Karenina stood at the second-floor window. Sensing Luo Miu’s gaze, she even raised her teacup at him, signaling, “Mission complete.”

…Why are you so pleased? I could die here!

But—it was already too late!

In just half an hour, Luo Miu watched helplessly as the credits in his chest badge, after another absurd spike, came to a complete halt.

One thousand eight hundred thirty-seven.

Principal was three hundred fifty, plus three hundred from the Silver Bell Marrow Liquid—six hundred fifty in total.

One thousand eight hundred thirty-seven…

Even factoring in all costs, his profit had nearly tripled…

And that’s not counting the long-term revenue from the Talent Cultivation Plan!

As for Sylvia…

Luo Miu didn’t dare think about it.

“Sell! Hurry up and sell!”

“I’m begging you, sis—if you dump your stock now, you can still break even!!”

At that moment, the noisy crowd suddenly quieted and parted to both sides, opening up a path.

Sylvia Valentine had arrived.

Strange, deep blue scales shimmered on the skin at the back of her neck, lending her an otherworldly beauty and danger.

She strode to the largest open area in the market. Her attendants quickly spread a luxurious carpet and arranged crates of exquisitely packaged materials.

“Valentine family’s materials, thirty percent off.”

The attendant announced in a low but clear enough voice for everyone to hear.

“Yeah, yeah! Thirty percent off and there’s still profit—way cheaper than mine!”

Luo Miu’s heart shot into his throat!

Hope! The last hope!

As long as someone buys, as long as she can recover a few hundred credits, he won’t have to take on a dragon maid!

There’s still a chance!

“She’s still trying to sell? The convoy’s back—who’s going to buy her overpriced goods?”

“Exactly, and don’t forget her contract with Luo Miu!”

“She’s just abusing her power! I wouldn’t buy from someone like her!”

“That’s right! I’d rather wait for the official restock at noon than let her earn a single credit!”

“Boycott Valentine! Support the Chief Squad!”

There were plenty of students watching, but not one stepped forward.

They just watched from a distance, pointing and whispering.

“Are you kidding me?!”

Luo Miu was totally lost.

What’s with these women, why is everyone buying with their emotions?

Even in a matriarchal yuri game world, there shouldn’t be this many idiots!

“The school convoy is back—don’t you hate me?! Hurry up and refund!!”

As the minutes ticked by, Sylvia’s stall remained deserted.

Meanwhile, Ibuki Rei and Karenina had already begun directing their attendants to pack up the now-empty boxes, looking triumphant as they prepared to leave.

“Haha, I must be dreaming—maybe I got knocked out by a clone in the Illusion Sea Secret Room and still haven’t woken up…”

Luo Miu felt the world spinning, his whole body weak.

“I’m not some celebrity—why are you throwing money at me… what do you people want…”

“Sir Luo Miu!”

Ibuki Rei’s crisp voice rang in his ears.

She and Karenina flanked Luo Miu, both faces full of victorious joy.

“We did it! According to your plan, we cleared all our stock before the convoy news broke, and with Lord Kafnir’s help, we wiped out all the imitators in one go!”

Ibuki Rei’s tone brimmed with admiration for Luo Miu’s masterful strategy.

Karenina nodded as well: “Sylvia now has no chance of making a comeback.”

“Cutting off her support, a single fatal strike. The Cromwell Family’s vassal guilds really know how to get things done.”

After they finished speaking, they noticed Luo Miu’s complexion was ghastly pale, his lips completely bloodless.

Ibuki Rei’s joy instantly chilled, and she began to reflect.

“My lord… did we do something wrong?”

“Was the timing of our sell-off… too late? If we’d gone half an hour earlier, maybe she’d have lost even more…”

Karenina frowned too,

“Or is there something unsatisfactory about the convoy’s arrival time?”

“I…”

Luo Miu opened his mouth, looking at the two “war god” teammates before him—one gaze clear and full of curiosity, the other full of concern and encouragement.

So it really was you two?!

What can I even say?

Say you’re too capable, and you’ve dug a hole for me?

Say please stop earning—if you keep this up, I’m going to turn into the destined villain?

The power of the contract had him utterly choked; Luo Miu couldn’t get a word out.

“No… you two… did very well.”

After a fierce inner struggle, Luo Miu’s voice came out dry and hoarse, lacking all strength.

“Really… very good. I just… suddenly feel a little dizzy, not feeling too well.”

This heartfelt “not feeling too well,” when heard by the two girls, took on a different meaning.

Ibuki Rei’s eyes instantly reddened.

“My lord…”

Her voice trembled slightly,

“You… you don’t have to comfort us like this.”

“We must have failed to fully understand your intentions. If there’s anything we didn’t do right, please instruct us…”

Even at a time like this, he still cared about their feelings, unwilling to blame them for any minor missteps!

What magnanimity! What gentleness!

Karenina’s heart trembled as well. She looked at Luo Miu’s pale face, patted his shoulder with genuine care:

“You’ve worked hard. Leave the rest to us.”

To be able to go this far for Russell… truly worthy of being an examiner.

After speaking, she and Ibuki Rei exchanged a glance, each seeing a deeper respect and resolve in the other’s eyes.

Supporting the “weakened” Luo Miu, they walked toward the dormitory area under the admiring gazes of the students.

“I’m not… I really didn’t have any intention…”

“If this triggers the bad ending, you’ll all have to pay with your lives…”