Greg had always avoided her before, but his sudden straightforwardness gave Catherine a small shock.
However, she didn't sense the fluctuations of a lie from him. This meant her gamble had paid off; Greg did indeed know about the existence of the Screech magic conduit.
The curve of her perfect, professional smile deepened slightly, and her tone became more sincere.
"Very well. Then, I'll be blunt."
She leaned forward slightly, her hands still folded on the desk, her gaze locked onto Greg as she spoke clearly: "I hope you can keep everything you saw in the deep area, as well as any information regarding that item, a secret. Do not mention it to anyone."
She paused, presenting the price she had prepared long ago.
"In exchange, I am willing to pay you the compensation listed here."
As she spoke, she gently rotated the draft paper covered in equations a hundred and eighty degrees and pushed it toward Greg. With a slender, fair fingertip, she tapped a number she had specifically circled in the bottom right corner.
Greg’s gaze followed her finger.
Then, his eyes involuntarily widened.
"O-One thousand gold coins!?"
What did a thousand gold coins represent?
It was enough for an average family of three to live a wealthy and respectable life in the royal capital for decades!
For Greg, who was currently scraping by on whatever he could scavenge from the dungeon, this was a massive sum that could instantly solve all his survival pressures.
To say he wasn't tempted would be a lie. Greg felt his heart skip a few beats.
Catherine wasn't surprised by Greg's reaction; it was exactly as she had anticipated.
She nodded slightly and added in a steady tone, "To be precise, it's one thousand gold coins in cash, plus... a five percent stake in the future net profits of the Screech project."
A five percent stake!
The number might sound small, but Greg knew exactly what the Screech series of magic conduits meant in the original story.
It was a revolution that would sweep through the magic item market of the entire continent. The profits it would generate would be astronomical!
The long-term value of this five percent stake absolutely dwarfed the one thousand gold coins in cash!
Actually, this five percent stake hadn't originally been part of Catherine's plan.
It was a future investment she had added on the fly, suspecting that someone high up in the academy might be standing behind Greg.
She wanted to use this stake not only to buy his silence but also to pull him—and whoever might be backing him—onto the Screech project's wagon, binding their interests together.
If that worked, the value of this five percent stake would be fully realized.
"This condition... is indeed very good. It's so generous it's hard to refuse," Greg said with a nod.
Especially for a fallen noble like him, it was an almost irresistible temptation.
Catherine’s teal-blue eyes watched him quietly, waiting for him to nod in agreement so she could bring out the magic contract she had already prepared.
However, Greg's next words caused the perfect smile on Catherine's face to momentarily freeze.
"But, I refuse." Greg shook his head, his tone calm and clear.
Perhaps someone who didn't understand Catherine's character would have accepted her terms long ago.
But Greg understood Catherine's nature. He knew the only reason she offered such favorable terms was because she absolutely had a way to extract even more profit from him in the future.
This was the method of the future Business Empress, Catherine Roman. It was for this very reason that Greg had always tried to avoid getting involved with her.
Catherine: "...?"
For the first time, a clear look of bewilderment and confusion appeared in those teal-blue eyes that were usually so calm and wise.
She had expected Greg to haggle, perhaps asking for more cash or a larger stake.
But she had never imagined that he would refuse so... decisively.
Why?
These conditions should have been impossible for him to refuse right now...
Or was he... planning to demand an exorbitant price?
Catherine's mind raced. Her professional smile vanished, replaced by the cold, calculating gaze of a merchant.
She began to re-evaluate Greg's intentions and consider her follow-up negotiation strategies.
As if sensing Catherine's confusion and wariness, Greg waved his hand and added casually, "Don't misunderstand, Miss Catherine. I'm not trying to ask for the moon or demand more. I don't have the appetite or the nerve to swallow something that exceeds my capabilities."
He paused, looking at Catherine as he stated his true thoughts: "I can sign a secrecy contract with you, guaranteeing that I won't leak any information regarding Screech. However, I would like to... change the terms of the exchange."
"Change the terms?" Catherine frowned slightly, her confusion deepening.
He didn't want gold coins, and he didn't want shares. What did he want?
"Yes." Greg nodded and voiced the request that left Catherine even more perplexed.
"I want you to provide whatever help you can to a freshman named Victoria Cecil when she needs it. It doesn't have to be much, nor is it unlimited. Just some assistance when she encounters difficulties or has reasonable needs. For example, an emergency loan, a discounted trade, or introducing her to a reliable commission channel... things like that."
Greg specifically emphasized: "Trust me, this won't cost you much. She isn't a greedy person, and she's very capable. There's a high probability she'll be able to pay you back with something of equal value soon. So, this is actually more like an angel investment."
Catherine: "...?"
She was completely stunned.
Her teal-blue eyes widened slightly, filled with unabashed confusion and disbelief.
She even blinked subconsciously, wondering if she had misheard or misunderstood Greg's meaning.
What... was he saying?
He had refused a combination of cash and shares that could potentially be worth tens or even hundreds of thousands of gold coins...
Just to trade it for a promise to a freshman?
And that freshman... wasn't she the commoner girl he had a conflict with during the entrance exam?
From what I know, they haven't had any close contact since the entrance exam, so why is he doing this?
Catherine's brain rapidly scanned all the intelligence she had regarding Greg and Victoria, trying to find a logical connection, but she found nothing.
This didn't fit any model of interest exchange she knew, and it exceeded her understanding of human nature.
To unconditionally transfer a massive benefit that should have been his to someone he wasn't close to—someone he even had a grudge against?
What was this? Selflessness? Devotion? Or atonement?
For the first time in a negotiation, Catherine felt things slipping from her control.
Greg's request was so abnormal and so irrational that for a moment, she didn't even know how to respond.
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