The following morning, before heading to school, I took a moment to compose a brief note intended for someone residing in the school dormitories.
Carefully sealing it in an envelope along with a USB drive and 2500 groves, I reflected on the significance of such a sum.
In a place where 50 groves could sustain a family of four for a day, this amount was substantial, especially for a fellow student.
With everything prepared, I made my way to school, arriving earlier than usual. The campus was still relatively quiet, with only a handful of students present.
As I strolled beneath the warm rays of the sun, I mulled over the best way to discreetly deliver the envelope without attracting unwanted attention or leaving any trace back to me.
The school grounds were equipped with surveillance cameras, both outside and within the hallways of the student dormitory building, adding an extra layer of caution to my plan.
Upon entering the third building, where my locker and classroom were situated, I deposited my belongings before retrieving a small notebook and pen from my pocket.
With a focus, I sketched out a rough map pinpointing the location of the intended recipient within the fourth building.
I then headed out of the school, the security guard who noticed me raised an eyebrow, I told him I would go buy lunch and have breakfast so it'll take me a while.
To which he nodded. He did not stop me as I was a senior and school was yet to start.
After leaving the school grounds, I swiftly made my way to a nearby street away from the prying eyes of the security cameras.
Pulling out sunglasses, a cap, a hoodie, and a face mask from my bag, I quickly changed my appearance, ensuring I wouldn't be easily recognizable.
With my disguise in place, I scanned the area for someone in need, someone who seemed to be struggling to make ends meet.
After a brief search, my eyes settled on a young adult who appeared to be around the same age as me.
From a safe distance, I observed him, studying his demeanor and assessing his suitability for the task at hand.
There were several reasons why I chose him. He seemed cautious, yet desperate enough to entertain the prospect of earning some quick cash.
As he lingered near the shops in the street, his eyes darted nervously, not sure what to do for food today.
Approaching him cautiously, I inquired if he was willing to undertake a simple task in exchange for a hundred rubles.
His initial response was guarded, prompting him to question why such a generous sum was being offered and what the task entailed.
I explained that all he needed to do was enter the fourth building and slide an envelope under the door numbered 420 and 100 groves would be his.
However, his skepticism persisted as he voiced concerns about potential risks associated with the task.
He speculated about the contents of the envelope, fearing it might contain something dangerous or incriminating.
In response, I assured him that the task was straightforward and devoid of any nefarious intentions. Yet, when he hesitated, I gestured towards another passerby, implying that I could easily find someone else to carry out the task.
Panic flickered across his face at the thought of losing out on an easy opportunity for money. Reluctantly, he agreed to accept the task, but not without requesting insurance for his efforts.
After some negotiation, I agreed to pay him fifty groves upfront, with the promise of an additional fifty upon completion of the task.
Emphasizing the importance of delivering the envelope precisely to door 420, I warned him that others would be watching from a distance to ensure he didn't attempt anything suspicious.
In a moment of generosity, I mentioned that if he completed the task satisfactorily, he would receive a total of a hundred rubles instead of the agreed-upon fifty.
After he agreed to the task, I handed him a student ID that once belonged to a former Maple Wood Academy attendee, acquired for a mere 10 groves.
The student had long since graduated, rendering the ID obsolete. Additionally, I passed him my old school uniform to avoid arousing any suspicion.
Though he frowned at the unexpected request, he nodded in understanding and swiftly transformed his appearance to resemble that of a typical academy student.
Instructing him to use the student ID if stopped by the security guard, I emphasized that confidently presenting it should dissuade any inquiries.
I assured him that as long as he held out the ID and proceeded directly into the building, there should be no cause for concern.
I then Provided him with the rough sketch of the student's location and setting a time frame of 15 minutes for the task, I made it clear that any delay would result in forfeiture of the remaining payment.
I reminded him that the individuals tasked with overseeing his progress wouldn't hesitate to intervene if necessary.
Which I was blatently lying to invoke a factor of fear as well, so that, he does not try to pull something off.
Despite his evident nerves, he nodded with determination as he prepared to fulfill his end of the bargain.
As he departed at precisely 7:30 am, I noted the time before heading out to purchase lunch.
I had informed the security guard at the entrance of my intention to grab a bite to eat, ensuring no suspicion would fall upon me.
Twelve minutes later, the young man returned, confirming the successful delivery of the envelope. Without hesitation, I handed him his promised payment of 100 groves and swiftly walked away.
Reverting to my normal appearance before re-entering the school, I strolled back with lunch in hand.
I had purchased two burgers, one of which I offered to the security guard, who gratefully accepted. Glancing at the time—7:52 am—I had eight minutes remaining before classes commenced.
"Huuuuuu." Taking a deep breath, I acknowledged the imperfections in my scheme, but for the moment, it would have to suffice.
All hinged on whether the young man had successfully delivered the envelope as instructed.
If he followed through with the note I had penned earlier that morning, I would potentially gain access to the entire school's security camera system.
With that level of surveillance at my disposal... damn isn't it a little too easy?
Furthermore, there was the tantalizing prospect of obtaining access to the new exam papers for the upcoming midterms.
Shaking my head I walked towards my classroom. It's all up to 'that' student now.