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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: The Business Proposal
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If you've made a plan, you have to put it into action right away.
I'd asked Delia for information on Sion.
And confirmed that he was living his life without any major deviations from the original story.
Today, I was in the Imperial Academy's visiting room to meet Sion.
‘The academy's interior is pretty decent, probably because it's run by the imperial family.’
As I looked around the academy, craning my neck this way and that, a boy appeared.
He had striking green hair and clear blue eyes that were full of charm.
He looked a few years older than me, still with a boyish air about him.
Since it was a private visiting room, the boy approached me without hesitation.
He glanced back and forth between me and Billy before speaking to me.
"Are you the one who wanted to meet me?"
I liked how he immediately pegged me as the person he was supposed to talk to.
"Sion Widro?"
I asked even though I already knew, just to confirm.
"Yeah. How do you know me, and why did you come looking?"
Suspicion and annoyance rose on his face.
It was the reaction of someone who had no idea why he had to deal with this kid.
‘He's still a child who doesn't know how to hide his emotions.’
But I couldn't ignore him.
He was the guy who would later rake in money like crazy.
Sion Widro.
He was what you'd call a genius character.
Even as a poor commoner, he'd gotten into the Imperial Academy on a scholarship.
But as always in novels.
The life of a poor commoner genius is a tough one.
‘The national support only covers tuition, textbooks, and other academics-related stuff.’
He needed money for real life, so Sion had to work odd jobs in his spare time to make ends meet.
He could have taken sponsorship from nobles.
‘But that would mean selling his future.’
Naturally, Sion hadn't chosen that path.
Once he graduated, his livelihood was guaranteed.
And it was a huge step up from before entering the academy.
Hard work would change his future.
Believing in that future, Sion lived diligently.
But after about two years at the academy.
Sion's situation changed dramatically.
One of his high-ranking noble classmates had started bullying him.
‘It was because Sion was too smart.’
The noble realized he could never take the top spot as long as Sion was around, so he schemed.
Sion was baffled by the mockery and harassment from those around him, but he endured.
Graduating from the Imperial Academy guaranteed a national position.
And good grades meant assignment to better positions, of course.
If he just graduated, he could land a spot that would let him laugh at those guys.
But as the years advanced, the nobles' interference grew worse.
He could tolerate the kids' jealousy.
He knew they were lashing out from inferiority complexes despite having no real talent.
But one thing they did at the end—even he couldn't forgive that.
Due to their interference, Sion missed his final graduation exam.
Naturally, he was disqualified from graduation for not taking the exam.
‘No amount of pleading helped.’
Despite his stellar record throughout, there was no chance for a retake.
The academy had a grade repetition system, but scholarship opportunities weren't given to repeaters.
Seven years of effort vanished into nothing.
It was then, in his despair.
That Luciano reached out to Sion.
"Something like, 'Want to get revenge on the ones who looked down on you?'"
Anyway, it was around those lines.
Sion, crumbling under the frustration, grabbed that hand.
For revenge.
That was the gist of the backstory between Sion and Luciano.
But right now, it was still Sion's peaceful time.
‘No, actually, isn't this about when the bullying starts?’
At first glance, it might seem hard to win Sion over.
But surprisingly, it could be easy.
"I'm Espin Samuel. I came because I have a proposal for you."
I told him confidently, despite his ongoing skeptical gaze.
Sion's eyebrows shot up. He'd been stiff the whole time.
"Samuel as in the Samuel Count family?"
"The count is my father."
"Not sponsorship, but a proposal?"
Nobles often used the sponsorship system to snap up young talents early.
Given his abilities, Sion must have received sponsorship offers before.
He seemed to think I'd come to talk sponsorship too.
But my offer was different.
"I want to propose a partnership."
"A partnership? What are you talking about?"
It was a reaction like he'd never heard such a thing before.
"I'm planning to open a merchant company. I'll invest the money, and you'll handle the operations. I'll make the terms the best possible."
When I got that far, Sion realized I was serious about the partnership and asked calmly.
"We just met. What makes you trust me?"
"I've heard rumors that you're making a name for yourself at the academy. And that you're reliable with the tasks you take on."
"You've done quite a bit of research on me, huh?"
"It's an investment. So, what do you say? Want to run a merchant company?"
Sion seemed lost in thought.
It was understandable; it wasn't something to accept lightly, so I gave him time.
After a not-insignificant pause, Sion spoke.
"You're saying I'd run the merchant company?"
"Yes. I'd give you full authority."
"I guess I'd have to drop out of the academy."
Running a company while studying would be tough.
"Right. But the rewards would be solid."
It was an outrageous offer for a young, inexperienced guy like Sion.
If I hadn't known the original Sion, I wouldn't have offered full operational control.
Having lived poor, Sion had an insane obsession with money.
He must be sick of scraping by with odd jobs, so this would be a pretty sweet deal.
I was sure he'd grab my hand.
As my smile deepened.
"You know I get good grades at the academy, and you're still making that offer?"
His voice dropped flat, and his eyes turned icy cold.
‘Uh, this isn't the reaction I expected.’
The atmosphere wasn't good.
"Precisely because you're capable, I'm making the offer. Tell me your terms. I'll meet them as best I can."
I kept the conversation going without panicking.
Sion snorted in disbelief.
"Hey, little miss. What do you take the Imperial Academy for?"
"A national talent incubator."
The academy here wasn't like a regular school for general knowledge; it was more like a training ground.
More precisely, an education center to select the talents the nation needed.
You had to graduate from the Imperial Academy to work in national affairs.
And your grades determined the department and position you could get.
In any case, academy students were provisional national employees.
"You know that and still?"
"Yes?"
"Why do you keep reacting like that? My grades are good. You think 'good' is all? I'm top of the class. Two years running."
Wow, first person besides me to brag so openly.
"Th-that's impressive."
"Exactly. I am impressive."
"......"
Was this how Nanny felt when she looked at me?
"I'll keep being top through graduation. After that, I'll apply for key positions in the palace. Why would I throw away my laid-out future for some new merchant company?"
Again, not the reaction I'd expected.
And from Sion's current perspective, he was right.
‘I know your damn future!’
Was something I couldn't say.
Right now, the bullying was just starting, so he wouldn't feel any crisis yet.
Had my life only been like this for a day or two?
I'd won over May and Bell too.
"Think about it again. A national job is great. Stable work, solid pension—it's attractive."
"Very attractive."
"But with a merchant company, you can earn as much as you put in. Even more than expected."
At "more than expected," Sion flinched for a second.
But he quickly hardened his expression.
"On the flip side, it could flop."
"I know solid investment spots. Don't you want to make big money? You could earn your annual salary in a month."
Annual salary in a month?
Sion's ears perked up.
He loved money as much as I did.
"You have the talent. You'll definitely make a fortune with the company."
Just a little more, and he'd bite.
I beckoned him closer.
Confirming his body leaning in, I opened my pouch.
A gleaming gold nugget appeared through the wide-open mouth.
"Th-this is!"
True to a money lover, Sion's eyes spun.
Yeah, I get that feeling.
Heart pounding like it's about to burst, right?
For people like this, nothing beats something tangible you can see.
I crowed triumphantly.
"Yes, a gold nugget. I bought it with my investment earnings."
Well, technically I found it.
But I lied to show I could make that kind of money.
I ignored Billy's scorching side-eye that screamed "con artist," for the sake of my goal.
"You really bought a gold nugget like that?"
His mouth dry, Sion gulped hard.
A sign his resolve was shaking.
"Yes, and this is just a fraction. Grab my hand, and you can be rich. You could have nuggets like this too."
Take a good look.
Pure gold.
Ever seen a chunk this big?
As I slowly shook the gold nugget in front of Sion's eyes, his gaze followed it.
He was totally hooked.
‘Got him!’
"So, what do you say? Want to start a company with me?"
I extended my hand to Sion.
Come on, grab it—I coaxed gently, and Sion muttered like he was entranced.
"Gold nugget...... merchant company...... academy......"
I thought he'd fully bitten.
"Drop out!"
Sion shouted like something had just hit him.
His eyes blazed like he'd snapped out of hypnosis.
Back to full senses.
‘Tch, I almost had him. Was gonna get him to stamp the contract right away.’
He shot to his feet urgently.
"Trying to tempt a hardworking guy like me with nonsense. You're a devil!"
His glare screamed "devil!" full of contempt.
"......"
I'd gotten con artist treatment from May and Bell, which was baffling enough, but now devil too.
I started doubting if I really was the rofan protagonist.
I Thought I Was the Protagonist