"The current test today was difficult."
"Yeah I noticed it's getting harder and harder these days."
"Why are they torturing us like this?"
"If you have more time to complain, why not study? I saw you guys hitting on girls yesterday."
"Tch, what do you know?"
"Yeah, yeah."
"You could say that because you have a girlfriend."
"Hmph, the wail of the losers.
"What did you say?"
After delaying my walking speed to arrive during the less student traffic I hear a group of boys complaining about the current exam.
'But that's strange. It wasn't that hard on my part and I made a calculative response so that my scores won't be too high.'
"Hopefully I won't fail."
Having second thoughts about my score I looked at the bulletin board and saw many names.
As I looked around I finally found mine.
"Oh thank goodness I passed."
"Oh, it's Cole."
"You're right. Cole hello."
"Hello Cole."
As I sighed with relief I suddenly heard a familiar voice and then followed by another familiar voice.
And when I turned to look I saw Kim and the others.
"Hey guys, are you here to see your scores?"
"You bet."
"What else would we be here for."
As they arrived we talked about how well we did well based on our point of view.
This became our pass time until all of us confirmed to have passed already.
"Great, we all passed."
"Let's go to the cafeteria and eat. I heard there is a new specialty there."
"Sure, let's go."
But as we were about to leave I suddenly felt a sense of connection when getting near an individual.
"And as expected it was her."
"Oh, are you guys going somewhere? Sorry but can we talk with Mr. Anlgos? We would like to discuss something with Mr. Anglos."
Hearing that the group of students around us were stunned
As well as the group with me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"So what can I do for lady Alicia and lady Alissa?"
Right now I am with the Lakewood sisters as they took me away from my group.
Currently we are in a private area within the cafeteria.
Which is exclusive to the teachers.
'How did they get to use this place?'
Well not like I need to know since they must have called me for a reason.
"Well since you have gone out of the city for this exam you must have known of the current situation."
Hearing that I suddenly thought of the current instability of the economy. Since they are the merchant king's daughters they should be talking about this.
But why me a person who does not even own a big business.
"Yes, the prices in the market seem to have risen quite a bit.
Hearing that they had strange expressions."
"It may seem quite a bit to you but to the general populace. Sis let's go."
Hearing my words seems to have poke the wrong button. Lady Alissa already wanted to leave.
"Wait Alissa, let's hear him out first. We need the help we can get."
"….Tch fine."
As they were about to leave the sain lady Alicia stopped her sister and returned back to their seat.
"I'm sorry about that but what you said is something we usually don't condone so could you please elaborate."
"I didn't mean to say something that could offend you, sorry. But you should understand I am only a small business man. I can't possibly support what you are going to do."
"Oh but I believe you can. Sis, can you please show him that?"
"Hmph. Here this is something we look for us to study but this was really unexpected on our part."
What they showed me are inventions and ideas that are composed in short details with images.
And what was written in it were my patents.
"These are mine. What of it?"
"We have experts look at it and they said it was ridiculous and that it is impossible."
"But later we learned that they may have plagiarized your work."
"So you helped them?"
"On the contrary we exposed them."
"They will be held accountable for all their lies."
Hearing that I was stunned and confused why they would do that.
'I mean I do understand but I was thinking of gaining benefits from it, a free advertisement and possibly payment from their plagiarism.'
So if they do this directly without a plan my plan will definitely bite the dust.
"Ehem. I think we are not on the same page here."
"What do you mean?"
"Yeah what's wrong aren't you going to do something about it. If I'm not wrong you still haven't sold these copyrights yet right?"
We really don't see eye to eye. But for now let's explain my part in this and maybe they will understand.
"I'm glad you are considerate to my business but I think you are being rash here."
"What do you mean?" Lady Alissa suddenly gave off a furious aura.
And her eyes may also be asking if I took these girls as an idiot.
"Okay from what I understand you two have a reason for asking for my help, right?"
Looking at them they nodded as they let me continue.
"Well you guys think that helping me could benefit you but please look at it from a different standpoint you guys need me I don't need you."
I may be rude right now but I have to say it. And they also seemed to not expect me to talk like this.
"But that doesn't mean we could not help each other. What would be helpful right now is to know each other's views on what is happening and what each other's plans are and Maybe we could reach a consensus."
Hearing that lady Alicia seems to understand and although unwilling lady Alissa seemed to calm down.
"Okay but you first we need to know your stance on this situation."
"Okay."
I guess they don't want to be at a disadvantage and wanted me to show my cards before they can show their own. Not like it's needed but let's just comply after all I was really rude earlier.
"My plan is to find proof and individuals connected to the plagiarism of my work and once everything is covered I would have a chance to win my case at court and gain more than what I could if it is early on."
This plan is a synonym to the saying, revenge is best serve cold. Preventing lose end and including those who are involved can help lessen future problems.
"That's a long term plan. Do you know that we might lose a lot before we discover what they want?"
"I do get where you come from but rushing things would result in the same thing."
"But we would lose less."
"And let the masterminds get away?"
""What do you mean?""
"You think this problem is not a well thought plan and it just happened because of the current situation."
The sisters turned silent.
"Are you saying the attack from before and what is happening now, connected to each other?"
"That I'm not sure of but this type of increase of price is strange in itself."
"What do you mean? This only happened recently."
"That's the thing, why didn't they slowly raise the price but instead they waited a long time and made a jump in the price."
"Won't they need to cover the cost of their resources? So having that much rise in price is understandable."
"Cover the cost that the government will pay?"
Hearing that they then understood.
"You're right. This is the heart of continental alliance of course the income will be recovered in an instant if needed."
"So they have an agenda and they are doing the same thing."
"I also believe they know that I will do something about my patents, so if they are using pawns they won't be targeted."
"How do you know this?"
"The auction is almost near."
"So that's why."
"Is there something in this auction that they want?"
"I don't know. I have not received an invitation after all. I only found out about this recently."
"If that's so, the first thing we should do is gather some evidence about their connection to these masterminds."
"There's that but I think it is better if we wait till the auction happens."
"Why will they get away by then?"
"Confiscating what they want would be much better than getting the money. Since the money in the auction usually has been sent to the public."
"So you also know of this rule huh?"
"Like I said I got my way to know things."
"I don't know how you will do this but we also can't join this auction."
Upon hearing this Dustin realized that they didn't know about the auction meaning they were not invited.
This then gave him a look of surprise
"How come?"
"Because the store manager of this place is not letting us get hold of any authority of our father's store."