When it comes to attracting investment, what matters is having a thick enough skin and knowing how to boast.
As long as you can make a fancy PPT and spin grand visions, painting your project as something world-shaking, there will always be investors willing to take a gamble.
In her previous life, Lulumiya’s old company was just like that.
They couldn’t make a profit, but the boss was a master at pitching dreams to investors, securing round after round of funding.
In the end, though, they accidentally crossed a political red line and imploded overnight.
That’s why Lulumiya understood all too well—catching a wolf bare-handed isn’t just a joke.
Lost in these thoughts, Lulumiya wandered through Saint Istel Academy, observing the students bustling along the streets.
Anyone who could attend Saint Istel Academy was either born into nobility or an exceptionally gifted commoner.
Moreover, since most commoner students would be hired by noble families after graduation, except for some ill-bred nobles like Yean who liked to throw their weight around, most noble students didn’t mind mingling with commoners.
The conflicts between the two weren’t as sharp as one might imagine.
Students were the easiest to fool and the most easily incited group.
Even just for building connections, it was worth attending class now and then to get to know more people…
As she mulled this over, Lulumiya noticed that many students passing by would glance back at her.
At first, she thought it was her conspicuous dragon horns and tail, but when some students paused to smile at her, she realized it wasn’t so simple.
The answer lay in her clothing.
Lulumiya wasn’t wearing the red academy uniform, but a white and gold church gown.
Saint Istel Academy was jointly run by the Church and the Ounheim royal family.
Theology was a required subject, so everyone could recognize the golden patterns on Lulumiya’s gown, marking her as a member of the Istel Church.
Only now did Lulumiya truly understand what Eno had meant in the temple when she said, “In the Kingdom of Ounheim, revealing your identity as clergy will grant you special privileges.”
Unfortunately, she didn’t know any powerful noble heirs, and the person she needed to find today wouldn’t be impressed by the Church anyway.
Lulumiya sighed.
The person she needed to find was the Fourth Princess, Xinleira.
Although she really, really didn’t want to see that dangerous woman again, if she wanted to establish a newspaper, she had to get the Fourth Princess’s endorsement.
“Mia, what are you doing here? Not accompanying the Holy Child?”
Just as Lulumiya was worrying, a voice reached her ears.
She turned and saw it was Shor, the son of Carpenter Sean.
To be honest, Lulumiya didn’t have much of an impression of Shor.
But as soon as she saw the “Lickspittle” title hovering above his head, his character instantly became clear.
He was the honest guy secretly in love with Lijie.
She let her hands fall gently in front of her and smiled in reply.
“Eno is off training. I’m here today to find the Fourth Princess.”
“You still dare look for the Fourth Princess,” Shor said, full of respect.
“You already owe her so much money.”
“A heavy debt doesn’t weigh you down. Besides, now that I’m the Church’s puppet, she wouldn’t dare do anything to me.”
Though she said this, what Lulumiya was really thinking about was the half-year agreement.
Xinleira was clearly more interested in Eno than herself; if anything happened in the next six months, she wouldn’t be able to get close to Eno.
“Amazing,” Shor gave her a thumbs up.
“Everyone at the academy is deferential to the Fourth Princess. Even the Earl’s daughter keeps her head down and avoids her. Yet you owe her money and still dare approach her.”
After speaking, Shor blushed in embarrassment and scratched his head.
“Um… about the machine, sorry. Lijie asked me to help you for free, but in the end, I still took your money.”
“It’s fine. Mr. Sean’s craftsmanship is excellent and the materials are solid. I’d feel bad if I didn’t pay.”
Who was she kidding—such a big machine, of course it wasn’t going to be free.
And free things were always the most expensive.
Shor never had a say in the matter anyway.
“I-is that so?”
Shor, unable to withstand Lulumiya’s enchanting smile that made even the flowers pale in comparison, looked away shyly.
“If there’s anything else I can help with next time, just let me know. I’ll definitely get it done for you.”
“Alright, I’ll be counting on you then, Senior Shor.”
With a few polite words, Lulumiya continued toward the library deep within the academy.
But after a few steps, she realized Shor was still following her, so she stopped again.
“Is there something else, Senior Shor?”
“Uh, actually, I’m also looking for the Fourth Princess. Since I don’t know where she is, I thought I’d tag along with you…”
You want to borrow money too?
Seeing Lulumiya’s confusion, Shor’s face grew troubled as he waved a stack of notebooks in his hand.
“Some people from my department asked Lijie to turn in their homework for them. Lijie couldn’t refuse, but she’s too afraid to face the Fourth Princess, so she asked me to go.”
“And you agreed?”
“Lijie’s in trouble, so of course I should help her.”
Shor replied, shrinking his neck.
As expected of someone bearing the title “Lickspittle.”
Lulumiya clicked her tongue.
Xinleira’s aura was so overwhelming that not just students—even old foxes like Lyon would break into a sweat in her presence.
Being afraid of her was completely normal.
As for turning in homework to the Fourth Princess, Lulumiya vaguely recalled something about that.
The Seran Empire and the Ounheim Kingdom had always enjoyed good relations, with frequent royal intermarriage.
Every few years, they would send members of their royal families to each other’s countries under the guise of study or visiting relatives, fostering goodwill.
Xinleira’s visit to Ounheim this time was officially to see her aunt, but in truth, as a princess of both royal families, she was representing the Seran Empire.
This meant Xinleira would be staying in the Ounheim Kingdom for at least half a year.
With little to do, Xinleira set her sights on the library at Saint Istel Academy, run jointly by the Church and the royal family, and took up a nominal title of Professor so she could come and go as she pleased—the original Lulumiya’s borrowing money incident happened in that very library.
What’s more, the Dean had once been Xinleira’s father’s teacher and was known for his strictness.
So, even though Xinleira was only a Professor in name, she was required to give regular lectures.
The homework Shor mentioned was from those classes—Xinleira excelled at Fire Magic and Dark Magic, and Lijie and the others just happened to specialize in Fire Magic.
Just imagining a group of novices who’d just learned magic facing a prodigy like Xinleira, Lulumiya pictured little rabbits meeting a big, bad wolf.
She could practically see Xinleira frowning at their homework, making the students quake in their boots.
Still, this was a chance for her.
Lulumiya’s eyes sparkled, and she flashed a dazzling smile bright enough to pierce the clouds.
“Her Highness the Fourth Princess should be in the library. Senior Shor, let’s go look for her together?”
“Y-yeah!”
Shor’s gloom vanished instantly.
He’d been waiting for Lulumiya to say those words.
Having an extra person meant more courage.
Xinleira’s strictness and coldness were well known—everyone at the academy was afraid of her, terrified of being held accountable by her if they slipped up.
Shor was no different.
But with Lulumiya, who had already borrowed money from the Fourth Princess, by his side, he suddenly felt much less pressure.