The Capitalists Set Him Up

But if it took a lot of time and effort to fight for points, scheme against others, and get caught up in complicated class politics...

Then forget it. He'd stick to the status quo and laze around—that was his life philosophy.

Sae Chabashira briefly explained some of the rules and things to keep in mind. Then she tapped the remaining items on the lectern with her finger, stressed that everyone should read them carefully, and said no more.

She gave one last glance at Class D, still basking in the joy of their points and growing restless. There wasn't the slightest trace of encouragement, warning, or expectation in her eyes—only an almost numb calm.

In her view, there was no point in telling Class D to live up to high expectations. Better to let them learn for themselves when they encountered the rules later—or let them run headfirst into a wall.

This academy valued strength above all else. It cared only about the final results, not the process, and had no interest in the struggles of individuals.

So she turned briskly, opened the classroom door, and walked out. The sound of her high heels quickly faded into the distance, and she didn't even leave them with a "Class dismissed" or "See you tomorrow."

As soon as their homeroom teacher left, the chatter that had just been suppressed surged through the classroom again, louder than before.

Everyone excitedly gathered into groups to discuss how to spend their "fortune" of a hundred thousand points.

Some were already eagerly checking the school store on their terminals, while others were enthusiastically debating which entertainment facility to try first...

The whole of Class D was filled with a festive atmosphere and boundless (and naïve) anticipation for the future.

Only a handful of Class D students remained calm. Lin Mu was one of them. In these circumstances, staying calm only made them seem like strange outsiders who didn't fit in.

Lin Mu leaned back in his seat at the rear of the classroom and slowly sucked on a lollipop, paying no attention to the commotion around him.

He silently reviewed what he knew, then reached much the same conclusion as Sae Chabashira: Yeah, those classmates who spend money so freely will probably come crashing back down to earth next month.

Time slipped by amid the din, and before long, it was time to go home.

Sae Chabashira didn't return or arrange any class meeting or other follow-up. It was as if her work on the first day of school was already done.

Seeing this, everyone began packing up and left the classroom, excited about their new surroundings and "enormous fortune."

Lin Mu stood up too and stretched, his bones giving a faint crack.

He followed the crowd out of the school building at an unhurried pace, but he had a clear destination—the school's general store.

For him, the most urgent thing wasn't studying the rules or making friends. It was stocking up on the "strategic supplies" he would need for the foreseeable future: lollipops.

That mattered more than anything else. Without sugar to keep some of his abilities "in check," he'd have to passively hear the thoughts of everyone around him all day. The thought alone was unbearable.

The school store was indeed as large as Sae Chabashira had said, and it had a wide range of goods.

It was stocked with everything from fresh produce and ingredients to all kinds of snacks and drinks, daily toiletries, basic stationery, and small appliances. It was almost as well-stocked as a large convenience store off campus.

Lin Mu ignored the other sections and headed straight for the snacks. He soon found what he was looking for: an entire shelf filled with all kinds of lollipops.

His eyes lit up a little. Lollipops from different brands, in different flavors and packages, were lined up in neat rows.

Fujiya's classic milk and fruit flavors, Alpenliebe's assorted flavors, and some imported brands... It was a paradise for candy lovers.

Without a word, Lin Mu began to "clear the shelves."

He grabbed a shopping cart and, like a composed procurement officer, swept his gaze across the display. His hands moved nonstop, plucking down pack after pack and row after row of lollipops and tossing them into the cart.

Fujiya's assorted flavors? In. Alpenliebe's classic and special flavors? In.

When he spotted some imported brands he hadn't tried before, he grabbed a few packs of those, too.

He chose everything quickly and precisely. Before long, the bottom of his shopping cart was covered in brightly colored candy wrappers.

Just the lollipops alone had cost him nearly ten thousand points by a rough estimate!

But he didn't even furrow his brow.

Lollipops were the key "fuel" and "buffer" that kept him at "full capacity," made sure his superpowers stayed stable and under control, and blocked out the mental noise around him.

No amount spent on that was a waste. It was the foundation of his quality of life as he lazed around.

Besides the lollipops, Lin Mu also noticed a few things while browsing the store.

Some products really were marked "free," most of them basic necessities.

Things like the most ordinary toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, towels, and toilet paper. The brands and quality were nothing special, but they cost nothing.

Lin Mu immediately switched into "frugal and practical" mode.

He pushed his cart back and took one of each of the free basic items, putting them inside.

Save where you can, spend where you must.

He knew full well that, given the rules in Sae Chabashira's memory and the current state of his classmates in Class D, next month's class assessment probably wouldn't go well.

If their class points were deducted, affecting the personal points they received—or even causing them to drop to zero—then these free supplies might be a lifeline.

If he didn't take advantage of the school's freebies now, would he regret it later when he was short on points?

Carrying two full bags of supplies—mostly lollipops, with the other free items stuffed into the gaps—Lin Mu walked along the tree-lined path back to the dormitory.

A complicated feeling, something like "down in the dumps," still welled up inside him.

What rotten luck. He'd ended up in the worst class of all, Class D.

He knew his own situation like the back of his hand. He'd carefully prepared his enrollment records and grades through "hard work" at the orphanage—with a little help from his superpowers, too.

By all rights, he should have met the standards for Class B. He might even have scraped into Class A.

There was no reason he should have been sorted into Class D, a "reformatory for problem children."

After turning it over in his mind, he could only blame the nefarious "capitalist setup" or "the school's shady backroom dealings."

Maybe the academy's higher-ups had deliberately stuffed an "outstanding student" like him into Class D to balance the numbers, using him as a "pawn" or "test subject" to adjust the classes' relative strengths.

(He'd been set up by the capitalists.)

Thinking of it made Lin Mu curse the damn rules and the unfairness under his breath.

But grumbling was one thing. What was done was done, and he had no interest or energy to appeal or make a fuss.

Might as well make the best of it.

"Forget it."

He muttered under his breath and popped a fresh lollipop into his mouth. "Lazing around in Class D is still lazing around, and lazing around in Class A is still lazing around. Besides, with my superpowers, no one's going to ruin my peaceful life."

The sweetness drove away the last of his irritation.

Carrying his bags, he ambled toward the dormitory, his short white hair fluttering gently in the evening breeze.