Chapter 99 | Survival Guide for a Doomed Villain in the Academy Dungeon

"A finder's fee is in order, sister. I did put in some effort this time. Once you sell it, we'll split it seventy-thirty, how about that? Thirty for me, seventy for you."

While Yelena was busy bowing her head to record the details, Greg leaned in close to Victoria and whispered at a volume only the two of them could hear.

Victoria glanced at him.

"Hmph, give it a rest. Even if you hadn't meddled, I had my own ways of making her swallow that bitter pill. The item would have ended up mine anyway. You were just... the icing on the cake."

Despite her words, she remembered she still owed Greg several favors, so she didn't actually refuse.

Sensing the opening in her words, Greg immediately continued, "I knew it! You're the most loyal person I know! In that case, as a bonus, I'll give you a piece of intel for free—where to sell this thing for the highest price."

"Hmm?"

Victoria's ears perked up instantly. When it came to gold coins, she was always serious.

Greg continued, "Go outside the academy to the commercial district. On the third street, near the corner by the Old Clock Tower, there's a shop. The sign says 'Faded Iris.' If you sell it there and mention the original owner's name, I guarantee you'll get far more gold coins than at any other pawn shop."

Victoria frowned suspiciously, her gray eyes filled with confusion. "Why? Does that shop specialize in stolen goods? Or do they have a grudge against that girl's family?"

Greg shook his head.

"Neither. As for the specific reason... you don't need to look too deeply into it. You just need to remember one thing."

He paused, his tone becoming slightly more serious.

"If there's a mature lady in the shop who looks... well, like she has an artistic temperament, and she tries to strike up a conversation or even asks you personal questions—like if the socks you're wearing are comfortable, what material they're made of, or if you could take them off to let her see..."

"Oh? And then?" Victoria was getting a bit impatient with his mysterious act and urged him on.

"And then?"

Greg shrugged, using a tone that suggested he was doing this for her own good.

"Then, you only need to do one thing: ignore her. No matter what she says, what she asks, or how high a price she offers, pretend you didn't hear a thing. Only talk about the transaction itself. Once the deal is done, take the money and leave immediately. Don't linger, and definitely don't take off anything you're wearing to give to her."

This was a bit of inside information Greg knew from the original game in his past life.

On the surface, the shop called 'Faded Iris' was an ordinary store for antiques and magical trinkets.

However, the true owner was a female colleague with an extremely specific collection hobby and fetish.

She was particularly obsessed with collecting private items that had been in close contact with beautiful girls, or items that belonged to them. The more 'authentic' the scent or essence of the owner, the higher the price she would pay, sometimes even offering an emotional premium far exceeding the market value.

As for what she did with those things after buying them... that wasn't Greg's concern.

Either way, it was a willing buyer and a willing seller. Getting the gold coins was what mattered.

Victoria nodded half-doubtingly. Although Greg's advice felt incredibly strange, the prospect of selling it for a price far above the market was too tempting for a poor student like her, whose financial situation was still tight.

She silently committed the name 'Faded Iris' and Greg's warning to memory, deciding she would head there directly in a bit.

With the matter settled, Greg checked his pocket watch with a pleasant mood.

The hour hand was pointing exactly at six o'clock in the afternoon.

According to what Vivian had told him this morning, this was roughly the time the Student Council's daily work ended.

However, usually before dismissal, one would need to return to the Student Council room to give the President a brief report on the day's work, or at least say hello.

But Greg didn't want to stay on the surface for a single minute longer. He only wanted to dive back into the dungeon immediately, as that was his true safe zone.

Having made up his mind, Greg turned and walked toward Yelena, who was still diligently writing in her little notebook.

The Tiny senior seemed to be working hard to neatly record the mediation process and the regulatory basis for the recent incident, her round face full of focus.

"Senior Yelena."

Greg cleared his throat and spoke in as natural a tone as possible.

"In a bit... I won't be heading back to the Student Council room. Could I trouble you to relay today's work report to the President on your own?"

Yelena looked up at the sound of his voice, a hint of confusion in her round eyes. "Eh? You're not going back? I... I mean, I can do it... but is there something wrong? Why the rush?"

Greg had his excuse ready. A perfectly measured look of exhaustion and helplessness appeared on his face as he spoke sincerely:

"You know how it is, Senior Yelena. Right now... I've been officially expelled from my family. I'm practically a penniless commoner, maybe even worse off. Just to survive, there are a lot of things I simply have to do."

He sighed, his gaze drifting toward the distant, sinking embers of the sunset. His profile looked somewhat lonely in the dim yellow light.

"I was happy to be of help today, but I really have other matters I must attend to. I'm sorry."

He wasn't entirely lying.

The pressure to survive was real, and there were indeed many things he had to do—such as starting preparations to conquer the second layer of the dungeon as soon as possible.

The second stage of the system's mission explicitly stated: "Successfully conquer the second layer of the Academy Dungeon before the end of Act Two."

Yet, he hadn't even personally scouted the second layer yet.

Exploring, gathering intel, making plans, preparing supplies... all of these required time and energy.

As Yelena listened to Greg's words and looked at his profile—extraordinarily handsome in the sunset yet carrying a trace of imperceptible weariness—the softest part of her heart felt as if it had been gently touched.

The previous confusion in her round eyes was quickly replaced by deep sympathy and understanding.

That's right... things must be very difficult for him now...

He was once the son of a noble Duke, yet now he has to scramble just for basic survival...

And even in such a difficult situation, he still joined the Student Council and is trying to change himself...

He really is a good boy!

The thickness of the good-person filter Yelena had for Greg surged once again.

"If... if only my family were also a powerful, wealthy noble house..."

If that were the case, she could have given Greg some money to help him out, at least so he wouldn't have to worry about his livelihood and could focus more on his studies and work in the Student Council...

But unfortunately, Yelena's family was just a minor, obscure noble house on the kingdom's border, with barren lands and meager income.

Supporting her to study at a top-tier academy like Glory Cael had already taken the entire family's resources, and they had even taken on significant debt.

She truly had no surplus to subsidize another fallen noble.

This sense of powerlessness deepened her sympathy for Greg even further.

"He's working so hard despite how difficult things are... From now on, I must do everything I can to help him!"

At that thought, Yelena nodded vigorously, a determined look appearing on her small face. She spoke to Greg in a tone more serious than ever before:

"Mhm! I understand! Student Greg, leave the work report to me! I'll go report today's events to the President right now! You can go ahead and take care of your own business! If... if there's anything I can help with regarding Student Council work or... or anything else in the future, please don't be a stranger, just tell me!"

Like a little soldier who had accepted an important mission, she straightened her small chest and gave Greg a kind smile.

Then, without further delay, she carefully tucked away her notebook and pen, waved to Greg, and turned around. With steps that didn't match her petite frame, she jogged out of the Central Courtyard toward the Student Council building, her white skirt fluttering gently in the evening breeze.

Watching Yelena's receding back, Greg stood in place until she completely disappeared around the corner of the tree-lined path before letting out a complete sigh of relief.

He stretched luxuriously, feeling his bones let out satisfying little pops.

"Phew—finally dealt with one hassle... Now then, next..."

He turned, preparing to step toward the direction of the dungeon entrance.

However, just as Greg's foot lifted but before it could land, a pair of soft small hands suddenly reached out from his side and behind, firmly grasping his left wrist.