Chapter Thirty: Make a Little Spending Money

Guderian left after offering a few more enthusiastic instructions regarding the 3E exam. Watching his light, airy gait and the rhythmic swaying of his shoulders, Lu Mingfei suspected he might break into a tap dance in the hallway at any moment.

What kind of man-child is this?

"Senior, is Professor Guderian always this youthful at heart?" Lu Mingfei asked, puzzled.

Finn leaned against his bed and replied offhandedly, "Youthful at heart? Hardly. The professor is a bit eccentric, but he’s perfectly sane. He’s just this happy because he’s finally about to shed the title of assistant professor."

"But he told me he’s a professor at Harvard?"

"Sure, but for a tenured professor from Harvard to transfer to a tenured position at Cassell College, they must have successfully mentored a student. Unfortunately, his last student just happens to be me, your dear senior."

"So, you’re saying Professor Guderian is counting on me to secure his tenure?"

"Surely you don't expect him to count on a loser like me?" Finn blinked his innocent, wide eyes at Lu Mingfei.

Guderian was, after all, a faculty member. If Lu Mingfei could leverage his position, it would likely provide him with plenty of convenience.

*Professor Guderian, surely you wouldn't want anything to happen to your tenure application...*

...

With Lu Mingfei leaving his messages unread, the dorm grew quiet. The window was open, and he sat on his bed, gazing at the beautiful full moon outside.

Moonlight bathed the red tiles of the chapel’s spire, and the crisp night breeze brushed against him. It was a beautiful place; he felt his sanity returning, if only by a fraction.

As the moon began to stir, Lu Mingfei withdrew his gaze and looked up at Finn on the top bunk.

In truth, he should interact with Finn more.

Although this "loser" senior had been held back for four years and lacked any sense of hygiene, how could he hide the incredible, abundant life energy and the scorching, venomous flames burning within his soul from Lu Mingfei?

Someone like this, holding their breath in the shadows for a dangerous purpose, was already standing at the edge of the abyss. Lu Mingfei only needed to give them a slight nudge, and they would jump willingly, becoming his fellow sufferer—or his sustenance.

But they hid their motives so deeply that to touch upon them rashly might backfire, triggering suspicion or even aggression.

He had to find the right way to draw them in.

Lu Mingfei thought for a moment, his eyes lighting up. "Senior, you're short on cash, right?"

Finn on the top bunk spoke lazily, "To be honest, my student ID only has an $80 credit limit, and I’m over $30,000 in debt. Any day now, these few hundred pounds of flesh might be hauled off to pay what I owe."

Lu Mingfei adopted the stance he used back when recruiting for his cult: "I happen to have a great opportunity for us to make a bundle together. Want to try?"

Hearing about money, Finn perked up. He sat up and poked his messy head over the edge. "Junior, you sound exactly like a pyramid scheme scammer trying to reel someone in."

Lu Mingfei’s mouth twitched, but he continued, "I’m currently trending on the academy forum, and it seems most people don't think much of me."

Finn nodded in agreement. "Most people here are already fans of Caesar or Chu Zihang. You showed up and made quite a splash, and with your erratic behavior, it’s only natural that some of their loyal followers aren't happy."

Lu Mingfei coaxed him: "Since I’m so popular and so many people can't stand me, why not open a betting pool on the forum? We can bet on whether I’ll successfully pass the 3E exam tomorrow."

Finn looked disappointed. "Is that it? Everyone isn't stupid. They all saw you use 'Time Zero' today. Who would believe you couldn't pass the 3E exam?"

Lu Mingfei grinned. "As my roommate, you can leak an 'exclusive' tip: claim that due to my unstable mental state, I’m incapable of properly resonating with the Dragon Text. Someone will believe it."

Finn’s eyes lit up, but he said, "Junior! Gambling on the forum violates school rules, and if people find out I’m in cahoots with you..."

Lu Mingfei was dismissive. "They have no way of knowing if I’m actually prone to unpredictable episodes, and isn't today 'Liberty Day' anyway?"

"But..."

"Just tell me what percentage you want."

Finn held up a hand the size of a palm-leaf fan. "Fifty percent!"

"Get down here and post the thread."

Lu Mingfei’s prestigious "S" grade student ID had a credit limit of $100,000. If he could double that with today's popularity, it would be plenty to spend—provided he didn't have to buy human sacrifices for his spellcasting materials.

Finn performed a high-difficulty flip off the bed, grabbed his laptop from the desk, and his fingers danced across the keyboard. A highlighted, red-tagged post was born, its popularity quickly chasing the top three discussion threads:

"SHOCKING! Top-tier newcomer unable to resonate with the Dragon Text due to mental illness!"

Lu Mingfei rubbed his hands in excitement. "I didn't realize you were a forum moderator, Senior."

"Heh, you think I spent eight years at this academy for nothing?"

The "loser" senior was a popular figure on the Cassell College network, in charge of the news channel. Replies began pouring in:

"First! Has Finn lost his mind? Didn't the newbie use 'Time Zero' under the 'Commandment' just today?"

"Agree with the above, Finn is an idiot."

"Not necessarily. Finn is his roommate, and looking at how crazy that guy acts, maybe he really does have a mental issue?"

"..."

The thread’s popularity soared, quickly catching up to the top posts. In just one night, Lu Mingfei’s background was dug up: his pathetic high school grades, the fact that he’d never had a girlfriend because no one wanted him, his poor sense of direction, his only talent being video games, and even rumors that he was a murderer.

They even unearthed the news that his romantic rival, Zhao Menghua, had gone missing.

Seeing the thread’s focus shifting toward "Is Lu Mingfei actually mentally ill?" and "Should a mentally ill murderer be held responsible?" Finn hurriedly typed a comment:

"Hey! Why not open a betting pool? Anyone want to bet that Lu Mingfei won't pass the 3E exam tomorrow? I think there’s a low chance he’ll pass, so I’ll start us off. $100 bet: he passes!" Finn activated the poll feature.

"Pfft, I bet he won't pass," someone immediately replied.

As soon as the poll went live, the "Yes" and "No" stakes soared, and the total pool quickly broke $20,000.

Finn excitedly reached out to people on campus willing to lend him money, hoping to rake in even more.

The best way to build a relationship is to do something questionable together, then gradually escalate the stakes.

Finn’s internal desires were so intense, and Lu Mingfei would be the one to seize them.

After all, there wasn't another person in this world to suffer the ravages of mythic magic alongside him. That wouldn't be very fair, would it?