Negut was smiling with satisfaction because his plan was progressing and his lifespan had been extended, making him even happier.
However, Alec didn't feel happy at all.
Since Negut sat down, Alec's eyes had been focused on him, paying attention to every expression on his face.
(￣ ￣ |||)
∑ (O_O;)
┐ (￣ ヘ ￣) ┌
(° ▽ °)
Negut's facial expressions kept changing, making Alec feel strange.
"Oy! Why are you looking at him so much? Or... are you gay?" Suddenly, a voice came from behind.
Alec didn't turn around but recognised who it was. He frowned and replied, "Do you want to die, Grove?"
"Hahahaha..." Grove laughed loudly.
He was a young man the same age as Alec, but his appearance was unusual. He was short and fat, weighing at least 130 kg, with every bit of fat on his body shaking with his laughter.
"I'm just kidding," Grove said. "So, did he cause trouble for you? Or is he planning to get revenge?"
Alec shook his head. "I don't know; he apologised to me just now."
"Ah! I see... wait!" Grove was startled, his mouth wide open. "You mean... he... Negut apologised to you?"
"Don't act so surprised; I was very surprised at first too," Alec sighed and said. "I thought he would bring some high-level survivors to get revenge on me or use his power to get me expelled."
"But... I couldn't believe he apologised to me. Look at those people over there..." Alec said, nodding towards the students opposite them. "They haven't even recovered from what just happened."
Grove looked at the students opposite, then back at Alec, laughing. "Hahaha... that's even better. If he doesn't get revenge on you, it means he's afraid of you."
Alec frowned. "You should be careful; I feel something is wrong. With Negut's personality, he would never do something like this."
"He must have some scheme; this is just the calm before a terrible storm."
"Ack!" Grove said, confused. "Are you overthinking this? I think Negut changing is normal."
"What do you mean..." Alec frowned.
"My point is clear," Grove explained with a smile. "After all, we are humans, and humans are animals that easily change to adapt to their environment."
"Just think about it: a hundred years ago, the 'Twilight of Humanity' brought humanity to the brink of extinction."
"But now we have found ways to face monsters and develop safe zones for people to live in."
"Is there any other creature in the world with this capability?"
"That's why Negut changing is normal; it's just that he adapted to this change too quickly, making you think he's abnormal."
Alec: (; ￣Д￣)
Alec felt something was wrong but couldn't pinpoint what it was. It felt both reasonable and unreasonable at the same time.
"You... I feel..."
"Alright!" Grove interrupted Alec. "You shouldn't doubt too much. No matter how powerful Negut is, he's still just a student."
"Does he want to kill you?"
Alec shook his head.
"Did he bring his bodyguards to beat you?"
Alec shook his head again.
"Is he still causing trouble for you?"
Alec continued to shake his head.
"Are you weaker than him?"
Alec shook his head once more.
"Then what are you afraid of?" Grove laughed disdainfully. "Come on! You're overthinking it. If Negut could do everything the rumours say, you'd have been expelled from the academy by now."
"Or worse, you'd be dead and stuffed in a sewer. How could you still be sitting here?"
Alec found Grove's words very reasonable. Suddenly, he realised something and frowned. "Oy! Are you my friend or his? I feel like you're defending him, aren't you?"
Grove shrugged. "It's up to you. I don't have to defend anyone. I just think you're overthinking it."
"Alright." Alec waved his hand, sighing. "Let's not worry about that anymore. Why did you skip school yesterday?"
"Well..." Grove grimaced, stammering. "I... I had some issues, but I've sorted them out."
Alec nodded, then asked, "I need to borrow some more money from you."
"What?! A week ago, I lent you 1,000 credit points, and now you want more?" Grove said, annoyed.
After the order of the safe zones was established, two types of currency were regulated.
The first type was 'Credit Points'. It's a virtual currency or digital money, as all transactions are done online through smartphones.
The nature and value of credit points are similar to the dollars, except people can't hold them like regular paper money.
The second type of currency is 'Energy Crystals'. While credit points are the most common currency for ordinary people, 'Energy Crystals' is almost exclusively used by survivors.
Alec felt a bit embarrassed. He had borrowed money to buy a potion to enhance his strength, but he ended up being scammed.
Now, things were different. Alec possessed the hidden talent 'Insight', and he believed he could make a lot of money using it.
Naturally, the easiest place for him to make money was the gambling area.
He was confident that with a small amount of money, he could multiply it by 100 or even 1,000 times in a short period.
Alec tried to persuade Grove: "Trust me; this time I can definitely make a lot of money, but I need capital. Not much, just 1,000 credit points."
"What the heck?!" Grove shouted angrily. "Do you know how much you already owe me? Do you know how much 1,000 credit points are?"
"Well..." Alec stammered. "Of course I know, but I really need the money. This time I will definitely pay back all the money I owe you."
Seeing Alec's sincerity, combined with the protagonist's aura, even though Grove also needed money, he decided to lend Alec some.
"Alright!" Grove sighed. "I can lend you a bit more, but I don't have much money, only 300 credit points."
"300 Credit Points? That's so little?" Alec frowned.
"Hm?!" Grove shouted angrily. "If you think it's too little, then don't borrow money from me."
"Ack! Sorry, I said that because I really need the money." Alec smiled awkwardly. "Alright, 300 is fine; I will definitely pay you back."
They started the transaction, of course, through their smartphones.
Grove looked at his online bank account, which didn't have much money left, and felt a pang of pain.
He also didn't understand why he lent Alec money, but anyway, everything was done, and he couldn't ask Alec to pay him back.
"You... you remember to pay me back as soon as possible," Grove said dejectedly. "I really need the money, understand?"
"Of course!" Alec looked at the 300 credit points in his account, feeling a bit downhearted.
In reality, he needed much more than this 300.
Alec wasn't stupid; he knew that even though he had a hidden talent and would surely not lose any game, it would be dangerous for him.
A person who enters a casino and only wins will attract attention, and the casino owner will certainly not want that person to exist.
Therefore, Alec wanted a large sum of money, enough to maintain a reasonable win-loss ratio.
However, with only 300 credit points, it was too little; he needed at least 10 times this amount.
But looking at Grove's expression, Alec knew this was the maximum amount Grove could lend him.
Alec sighed, wondering where to get more money when the bell rang.
Ding dong!
Ding dong!
Everyone immediately settled into their seats instinctively upon hearing the bell.
A few minutes later, a skinny man wearing glasses walked into the classroom, looked around, and said, "Hm... today seems to be enough, and Selvia is still in the music room as usual?"
"Negut? About yesterday, I reported it to the principal, and he will definitely give you a satisfactory answer."
"Yesterday?" Negut was startled when he heard that, suddenly looking towards Alec.
Alec also looked at him with eyes full of anger, muttering, "Damn it! I knew he wouldn't let this go."
"Negut... if I get expelled, I swear... I will kill you, cut off your limbs, and hang them at the city gate."
Negut: "..."
At this moment, the countdown to his death immediately decreased, from 55 days to now only 17 days.
Negut: Σ (° ロ °)
'What the heck? Are you kidding me?' Negut cursed inwardly.
The skinny man was the homeroom teacher of this class, Mr. Smith. Mr. Smith always wanted to please Negut, so whoever was Negut's enemy, he would make things difficult for them.
After all, Negut's status was too noble; just a word from Negut could completely change a person's life.
This was a good opportunity for Mr. Smith to please Negut, so... he wouldn't miss this chance.
Even though Negut had never mentioned reporting Alec's attack to the principal, Mr. Smith had 'helped' him do it.
Mr. Smith's face showed a satisfied smile as he looked at him with eyes that seemed to say: 'Do you see how efficient I am? I helped you, so you have to help me in the future.'
Negut really wanted to cry; all his efforts completely vanished like bubbles.