“Help… Help me!”
A student with an arrogant look plastered himself tightly against a tree in the woods, covering his mouth as he listened to the miserable screams of his companions.
He never could have imagined that the guy he and the others had mocked and cursed at in the dueling arena just a few days ago would turn out to be so terrifying.
Wasn’t he supposed to be useless?
Who started the rumor that just by threatening him, you could get your gambling money back?
Come out and answer for it!
“We… we have to find a teacher! If a teac—”
Private duels were forbidden at Avelina.
As long as a teacher intervened, Lin Yue wouldn’t be able to act so recklessly anymore.
“Hey.”
A strange, low whisper sounded in his ear.
He jumped in fright and slowly turned his head, only to find the very terror he had been hiding from.
Lin Yue was holding his companion by the hair, then tossed him to the ground with a thud.
He rolled his neck and spoke to him lazily, “You wanna lie down now, or go through the formalities?”
“I… I…”
“Ok, got it.”
He promptly kicked him unconscious.
Lin Yue piled all these fools who didn’t know their place into a heap, which was already about as tall as a small hill.
“Didn’t expect you could fight so well. No wonder you and Miss Bella dared to rob the Church’s carriage with just the two of you.”
Sitting on a log nearby, it was none other than Mapel, the person Lin Yue had been looking for these past few days.
A few days ago, she had gone to the Imperial City to report everything to the upper management of the Keris Chamber of Commerce and her father, then hurriedly passed the news to Nightingale Intelligence.
When she returned, she found that a new rumor was spreading in Avelina.
[Anyone who lost money betting on Lin Yue in the dueling arena can come to the back hills of Avelina to take a shot at this pushover to minimize their losses.]
After arriving at the back hills, she was caught off guard when Lin Yue put a knife to her throat.
Luckily, Lin Yue had no intention of taking revenge on her, and quickly let her go.
It turned out Lin Yue had been treated like a pushover by too many people after the duel.
Since he happened to need money, he decided to play the fisherman and let the willing fall into his net.
He didn’t mind being targeted—except by Yuan.
That guy was too stubborn and a member of the main protagonist group; getting tangled up with him would be a real pain.
But these little nobodies who came looking for trouble—he didn’t fear them at all.
As Mapel, the go-to strategist, saw it, Lin Yue’s plan wasn’t nearly provocative enough—too few people came.
So, with Lin Yue’s permission, she changed the rumor: now, anyone dissatisfied with how cocky Lin Yue was, and how he was always surrounded by beauties, could earn a fat reward for beating him up.
Then, using her own information network, she aggressively promoted this seemingly simple little challenge.
Maybe it was the words of Allen and Gus that riled people up, but soon, plenty of challengers came after Lin Yue—some in groups, some solo, even a few who pulled in upperclassmen.
All of them were beaten until they wished they’d never come.
Thankfully, the strongest who came were only just at Tier Two—no stronger.
Beyond that, the strength and quality of magic were leagues ahead of those who hadn’t reached that level, and Lin Yue was only at the peak of Tier One; he couldn’t handle anything more.
Mapel set the reward just right—enough to tempt anyone below Tier Two, but not enough for anyone above it to bother.
After collecting all the spoils, Mapel used the Chamber of Commerce’s methods to sell everything on the black market.
There was no way for those guys to trace it back.
None of it was particularly precious, and since they had struck first, all they could do was swallow their losses.
Quite a few magic wands, portable magic arrays, swords, and tools were all snatched up, and Mapel made a nice cut from the profits too.
She got all the benefits.
“You’ve gone through so much trouble to help me. Why not just give me the money directly? I’m part of Nightingale too—can’t you at least pay me some wages?”
Looking at this man who had no sense of fun, Mapel sighed and counted off with her finger, explaining one by one:
“First, helping you lets me witness your abilities. Second, making trouble with you is fun. Third, the reward comes from the Keris Chamber of Commerce, and the information comes from Nightingale. Don’t mix them up.”
“By the way, if you’re out of money, just come back to work at the café. I’d be especially happy to have you back~”
“Forget it, I’m afraid you’ll set some new trap for me…”
Last time’s honey trap had already left him traumatized—he wouldn’t risk what other tricks this girl might pull.
“This is yours.”
Lin Yue handed the token back to Mapel, since she had taken the risk of the entire Chamber being implicated just to help him.
“You actually didn’t lose it? I thought you’d have dropped it in a panic while escaping.”
Mapel took the token back with an astonished look.
“More importantly, should I be getting to know you all over again? ‘Big shot’ of the Keris Chamber of Commerce?”
Lin Yue crossed his arms and said.
“Aiya, you found me out…”
Mapel feigned surprise, covered her mouth, then slowly took off her glasses and straightened her appearance.
Instantly, her looks shot up a notch.
She coughed twice and solemnly bowed to Lin Yue, introducing herself: “Mapel Kristoliel. Third daughter of the President of the Keris Chamber of Commerce, direct manager of the Avelina region, and also just a regular student in the general class…”
With a dazzling smile, Mapel looked at Lin Yue, shedding all her disguises completely.
“From now on, you’re the only man who knows all my secrets. Consider yourself honored.”
Members of Nightingale all used code names, and hardly anyone knew each other’s true identity.
The real reason she joined Nightingale was to gather more information beneficial to the Chamber.
As it turned out, she was absolutely right.
Thanks to accurate intelligence, the Chamber was flourishing more than ever.
“You know all my identities and my true face, and I know you’re the one who attacked the Church’s carriage and rescued a major criminal.”
“So, our fates are tied. You can’t betray me, and I won’t betray you…”
“That’s hard to say…”
Lin Yue muttered softly.
Who knew when this little devil might sell him out for some money?
“Aiya… I’ve done you such a big favor—shouldn’t you seriously consider officially joining the Keris Chamber of Commerce~?”
With a sweet smile, Mapel gently took Lin Yue’s arm, keeping just enough distance to be coy, as if she were stringing him along.
“And that thing I mentioned before about making me President—will you think about it? Even though I only said it back then to rope you in.”
Her methods might have been nasty at first, but she never washed her hands of things when it mattered.
And she was generous with her rewards.
If he didn’t want to go home early, he might have ended up working for this young lady for life.
No 996, no 007, flexible hours, high pay, and the boss is a beauty.
No real downside—except you’d better be competent.
“Fine, fine… But could you let go of me first?”
He was really afraid of whatever she’d pull next.
As for being President—no way she’d get that position, and if something unavoidable happened, there was nothing he could do.
He’d just take her help as a free ride.
Just as the two were tussling, a familiar voice tinged with helplessness came from behind them, “Charles! Lin Yue couldn’t possibly have done that! Where are you going… Ah, crap…”
They turned and saw the long-missing little villain Charles, and for some reason, following behind him, Airella.
“Found you…”
“Lin Yue.”
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.