The Author's POV

"Alright"

Sitting down on one of the chairs of the cafè, I patiently waited for Melissa to come.

To be honest. One of the reasons why I chose to directly go to the Leviathan building rather than section C to meet Melissa was so that I wouldn't be noticed.

Last time, although not much, I believe people did find out that I had met with Melissa. I did get stares here and there, but with people not knowing for sure what had happened, it ended there.

...but that was more than enough for me to feel annoyed. I was already getting plenty of unnecessary attention to begin with, I really didn't want any more.

In all fairness, their reaction was understandable, I mean, she was a very popular young girl after all. With how beautiful and smart she was, she was bound to be the center of attention from all of the boys in the academy. Be it junior or senior.

Fortunately, this time, I had come prepared.

I specifically chose to meet her at the Leviathan building. The most prestigious and high-end building in the whole academy.

Reason being?

Because, at the moment, only thirty students were officially part of this enormous building.

Yes.

Only thirty.

The top 10 from all years. First to third.

Moreover, with them being relatively prominent figures, respectively leaders or high ranking members of their own factions, they would rarely frequent this area. Meaning that this was at the moment, the safest and most unnoticeable place throughout the whole academy.

Plus, this was pretty much my only option.

Considering Melissa's personality, it's not like I could ask her to meet me somewhere in private. She would definitely reject it even she had goodwill towards me...which she definitely didn't.

Either way, although there weren't many students, there were still some, so I chose a rather secluded space inside of the cafè.

After all, even if exclude Melissa's popularity, we were going to talk about an extremely sensitive topic.

...Couldn't afford to let others know what our conversation was about.

As I was waiting for Melissa to come, after five minutes, I saw her figure in the distance. Raising my hand to let her know where I was, I said

"Over here!"

Spotting me from the distance, wearing a white blouse and long jeans, Melissa headed in my direction. Wearing thin gold-rimmed glasses, Melissa's elegant figure slowly walked in my direction.

As the sun brightly lit the surroundings, as she walked in her casual clothes, Melissa looked absolutely stunning. If not for her personality, I estimated that she would be even more popular.

Arriving before the area I was sitting in, taking a chair, she soon sat down and crossed her legs. Frowning, Melissa said

"Refrain from looking at me for any longer than five seconds please. The very image of you repulses me"

"..."

Speechless, before I had time to respond, glancing around, Melissa added

"I see, so you chose this place because you were afraid I'd do something to you?"

Shaking my head, with a smile on my face, I said

"Of course not"

She was spot on.

Damned witch.

Interlocking her hands together, Melissa rested her chin on top of her fingers. Looking at me, she said

"Anyways, let's skip all the pleasantries and tell me why you've called me here"

Nodding my head, rummaging through my pocket, I handed her the things I had worked on before.

Of course, the paper I had handed to her didn't contain everything that I wrote. Just a small percentage. After all, if the deal didn't go through, I didn't want her to steal my ideas.

...I just gave her a small fraction of the data.

"Right, here"

"What's this?"

I placed on the table, Melissa

been

brow, she skeptically looked

"...and?"

to open the paper

"Just look"

the frown on Melissa's face deepened. She was almost tempted to not open it, but in the end, curiosity got the best of her

"hmm...huh"

she skimmed through the paper, at first Melissa looked unimpressed. However, a minute later, her eyes opened wide and she sat up straight.

'Got her'

for the magic cards, a triumphant smile appeared on

"Y-ou, how much?"

solid minute, putting the paper down, Melissa tried her best

been researching in her past time...but it wasn't as detailed as this. Moreover, she could tell that

on my chair,

"How much for what?"

I

a reason why I specifically chose Melissa for the card development..and

I said she was the only person smart enough to create them...I

with the many other inventions she had made, Melissa created magic cards. If there was one person I could

the crap, stop beating around the bush and tell me how much

hand on my chin, I thought for a moment before shaking my

not looking to sell

help but raise a few pitches as

just come here to gloat to me about your brilliant

idea...but she didn't need to know

putting my hand forward, I

actually, I'm looking to cooperate with

after my words reached her

"Cooperate?"

"Yeah"

her chin,

our cooperation consist

Smiling, I said

care

on her chair, Melissa fell into deep thought. Altough Melissa had only caught a glimpse of the idea, she felt that if she had more data to work with, she could really

selling the cards, she could finance her more expensive projects...this was a win-win

her head, seemingly having come up with a decision, glancing at

"hmmm...60/40"

head to the side, I

and forty

head, she

me

I shook

"Sorry but no deal"

agree to such unfavorable terms. After all, the idea was pretty much almost

Melissa thought for a bit longer before

"50/50"

looked at

for me ten

"What!"

up, Melissa's ranked aura rose from her body.

bit, still sitting down with a smile on my

lot of money off of this, so don't ask too

percent, if the cards sold...the amount of money she could make would without a doubt

was just trying to test the waters, and I saw through her

clenching her teeth, Melissa's pressure decreased. After a bit of

ten is too little

*Sigh*

shoulders. Standing up

"Alright"

aback, Melissa couldn't

"You're leaving?"

head,

"Yup"

abrupt behavior, Melissa became slightly

Aren't you going to keep

already too much for

"Ah..."

I pretended to not notice