"Still, Tina, it's best if others don't know that you and I are roommates. You know how things are."
As she said this, Leflina's expression darkened slightly. Even so, she didn't want her newly made friend to be dragged into trouble because of her.
She could easily imagine what would happen if Tina joined the Spark Society. Once the members learned that Tina was her roommate, Tina would be left with only two choices: either be bullied alongside her, or be forced to join them in bullying her.
Compared to the first option, the second might actually be better—because that way, only she would get hurt.
"If—just if—they really find out about our relationship, then you can just scold me a bit. Say some bad things about me. That way, they probably won't make things difficult for you."
"Hey…"
Tina let out a heavy sigh, stepped forward, and gently patted Leflina on the shoulder.
"Senior, do you know there's a saying in our Stray Dog Gang? 'A lone wolf dies, but a pack of wolves can fight a lion.'
"We're not fierce wolves. We're just abandoned stray dogs. That's why we understand unity better than anyone else.
"We have to stick together, pretend to be a wolf pack, and scare off those who want to prey on us.
"So, senior—since you've chosen to be my friend, try leaning on me for once."
"And me too!"
Hiness jumped in, patting Leflina's other shoulder. Hel simply smiled and nodded at Leflina, clearly stating her position.
Just as Leflina's eyes were welling up with tears—so moved that she almost wanted to swear sisterhood with her roommates—the dorm door was knocked from outside.
When it opened, the petite Anna entered the room, surrounded by a group of tall young women.
"Hello, Miss Tina. This is the job our young master has arranged for you."
Anna pulled a small notebook from her chest. Inside was a simple plan—something Hel had remotely instructed Anna to write on her behalf.
The outline was straightforward:
Hel would invest a large sum of gold for Tina to purchase shops and raw materials. Hel would supply massive quantities of products for her to sell.
"Our young master said you don't need to worry about production at all. He'll handle everything.
"Even if you sell the products at cost, he doesn't mind. Your only task is to rapidly open up the Savant City market."
"Th-this… isn't this a bit too much?"
Tina's voice trembled as she stared at the amount of gold written in the document.
One million gold coins.
One million.
Buying shops and materials wouldn't require anywhere near that amount.
At this moment, Tina felt like someone had handed her a hundred million just to rent a few storefronts.
"You can rent as many shops and plots of land outside the city as possible. Our young master wants full coverage of Savant City's magitech alchemy industries.
"Whether it's light industry like textiles or heavy industry like metal refining—anything factory-related, our young master wants a piece of it."
"And then use a price war to completely crush those black-hearted factories?"
Hel spoke up at just the right moment, playing along.
Anna gave Hel a strange look.
She knew this was all her mistress's plan, but working together with her like this to deceive three innocent girls… was this really okay?
Still, Anna had followed Hel long enough that her skin was thick by now. Even though her ears reddened slightly, she continued calmly:
"Yes. We'll completely overturn the industry—undercutting factories with lower prices, attracting their workers with better treatment, until they go bankrupt.
"After that, we'll establish industry standards: minimum wages for workers, and maximum working hours."
"But how can you guarantee that once you've crushed those black-hearted factories, you won't become the next black-hearted factory yourselves?"
Hel spoke again—this time not to support, but to challenge.
"After all, if you control all the factories, no matter how much you exploit the workers, they'll have no other choice."
"Th-this…"
Anna shot Hel a resentful look.
You didn't tell me this part, Mistress. How would I know the answer?
Just as Anna was about to secretly consult Hel through the soul network, another voice came from the doorway.
"Under normal circumstances, monopolies are extremely harmful to the market—whether by hindering technological progress or exploiting consumers."
Hel gently pushed the door open and walked in gracefully.
"They can even influence a nation's future through economic monopoly."
Step by step, Hel approached the girls, stopping before the most eye-catching one among them.
Not because she was overwhelmingly beautiful—but because she was the standout.
Yes. The one stuffing her cheeks like a hamster.
Hiness.
"So, I've decided to allocate a portion of the company's shares in Savant City to the royal family."
Hel stared straight at Hiness, making her feel so awkward that she hurriedly swallowed the pastry in her mouth.
She looked around, then pointed at herself in disbelief.
"You mean… me?"
"Yes."
Hel nodded.
But instead of happily accepting, Hiness dropped her usual bubbly demeanor and spoke seriously.
"Then what's the price?"
"Since you came looking for me, you should already know my situation."
She stepped closer to Hel and gently patted her shoulder, speaking earnestly.
"Investing in me will bring you no benefits. You should pick someone else."
"Of course, if it were anyone else, I might not say that."
Hel smiled.
"After all, this is just a welcome gift for my little niece."
"Pfft—cough, cough—what did you just say?!"
Hiness stared at Hel in disbelief, pointing at herself like she was being pranked.
"What did you call me?"
"Oh right, I almost forgot to introduce myself."
Hel spoke calmly.
"My name is Hel Heim, current head of the Heim family.
"And Lady Viola Skoll is effectively my half-grandmother—so…"
She paused and gave Hiness a meaningful look.
"You should understand now."
"So…"
Hiness's face went pale, looking like her world had just collapsed.
"I somehow… gained another uncle out of nowhere?"