Three academy students were leaving a high-end restaurant located in the heart of the city of Hazen.
The students, who had been given weekend outing passes by their professor, were Devay, Pacon, and Clea.
They were the three fools who had been harshly dealt with by Aster just before the Ordeal of the Tower incident.
As they left the restaurant, Pacion glanced back and burst out in admiration.
"Really... it was amazing."
"...Yeah."
Clea agreed with Pacion's admiration.
The three had been invited to the restaurant by Evelyn.
They had just finished their meal and were on their way out.
However, the restaurant was so luxurious.
Even for them, who had been born into wealthy families and had enjoyed all the luxuries life had to offer, they were left speechless.
"Did you see that? The coffee pot. It was from the Physis workshop."
"Physis workshop?"
"Yeah. It's the best after the three major workshops. I noticed that all the artifacts were from Physis."
There were so many exquisite items that they could have boasted about having just one.
"The head chef used to be the former royal chef, you know."
"...You mean, we ate the same food that His Majesty the Emperor eats?"
The chef was no ordinary person.
And that was not all.
The teacups and saucers, even the water served, were anything but ordinary.
It was a whole different world.
As the two were talking, they turned their heads at that moment.
"Devay."
"..."
Devay seemed to be in a daze for some reason.
Pacion glanced at him enviously and exchanged a look with Clea.
"That guy, he's completely out of it."
"He went to a private room with Miss Evelyn to eat. He must have had some amazing food."
"Hey, Devay! Say something. What did you eat? Huh? What was the private room like?"
At Pacion's call, Devay finally snapped out of it.
"...What?"
"You were eating with Miss Evelyn in a separate room. What, did you eat something so good that you're still in a daze? Did you eat dragon meat or something?"
"...What did I eat?"
Devay was dazed for a moment before his eyes refocused.
"What I ate... was a lot."
He hadn't really eaten dragon meat.
Given that it was uncertain whether dragons even existed, how could they obtain dragon meat?
However, he had indeed eaten luxurious food.
But.
The conversation they had after the meal was so shocking that it had completely erased the euphoria.
- Give me one more chance... Even though it can't be undone, are you sure it's okay?
After the Ordeal of the Tower.
Evelyn had become cold.
Although the Ordeal of the Tower had been taken over and the failure was no longer a failure, Evelyn's standards were extremely strict.
Thus, he had bowed his head to obtain a second chance.
However, this opportunity was far more dangerous than the first.
Actually, the first one was also dangerous.
‘I never thought that collecting bracelets would be such a simple test...’
At the time, there were some doubts.
Collect as many bracelets as possible? It was hard to understand.
If it was for passing the Ordeal of the Tower, a specific number would have been mentioned.
Just the more, the better.
But today, he finally learned the hidden background.
‘...A grade broker.’
Taking commissions from some noble families to improve the grades of academy students?
Of course, the Ordeal of the Tower bracelets were not exactly against the rules.
If a team formed and distributed the bracelets, who could say anything?
Money exchanged in the process? There were plenty of ways to deny it.
However.
‘This time...’
It was on a different level.
- I heard that the midterm evaluation test will be finalized by next week at the latest.
Evelyn, who seemed to have inside information about the academy's schedule.
- You can't be serious...
- What do you mean? What are you trying to say?
- You want me to steal the test papers, don't you?
- Have I ever said that? You're talking about something serious. However... I told you about my business. I hope Devay can help with my business. Just that. Do you understand?
Although there was no direct mention, it was essentially an order.
Steal the test papers to be finalized next week and bring them to her.
‘This is... this is really...’
Too dangerous.
He wanted to back out, but...
Swallowing hard, Devay glanced back at the restaurant.
‘She won't let me off easily.’
After hearing this much, could he back out?
It could also be a retaliation against his family's trading company.
Golddrin, or rather, Evelyn, had more than enough power to do so.
However, for a moment.
‘No, this could be a golden opportunity.’
Was what Evelyn obtained through noble commissions really physical items? No.
It didn't seem like it was to secure trading partners for the Golddrin company either.
Although he didn't fully understand her motives, what Evelyn was trying to obtain through these commissions was a relationship with the nobility.
Just that.
Forming a close relationship by sharing evil deeds was quite common in the upper echelons.
Then...
‘If I can handle this properly...’
He could also form such a relationship.
A relationship where they held each other's evil deeds and helped each other so that neither would fall.
If that happened...
Swallowing hard again, Devay's meaning was quite different this time.
Of course, if it didn't work out...
‘I'll take the fall and sink into the mire.’
Evelyn had revealed the hidden facts in preparation for that.
Or rather, she had given instructions on how to act if caught.
Act as if he was the mastermind and quietly die alone.
A terrifying situation.
However.
‘I'll do it.’
Devay steeled his resolve.
"Wh-what? Devay, where are you going?"
"I have somewhere to go for a bit."
Devay immediately crossed the alley.
- If you want to complete this task more diligently, try visiting this place.
- This is...
- I don't know exactly where, but there's someone who's good at this kind of thing.
In a quiet alley, Devay unfolded the note given by Evelyn and moved on.
There would likely be one of Evelyn's subordinates there.
And he would follow the plan they had prepared, moving like a puppet.
But, so what?
‘Last time, the damn street urchin messed things up...’