All-in on Some Points, the Rise of a Charlatan

The next morning, the sun was just right, casting dappled, dancing shadows across the ground through the gaps in the dense foliage lining the campus path.

Linmu Fujimiya had an Alpenliebe lollipop dangling from his mouth, his hands tucked into his uniform pockets as he strolled lazily toward the club recruitment area.

Today, his goal was clear: the club recruitment fair.

When others joined clubs, it was either to pursue an interest, pad their resumes, build connections, or at the very least, kill time.

Linmu Fujimiya, however, had a completely different scheme turning in his head: earning points while lying flat.

Yes, after basically figuring out the academy's brutal "points-to-assessment" binding rules, Linmu had decided to keep coasting, but that didn't stop him from using his own "advantages" to open up a stable and easy source of points.

After all, lollipops cost money, and occasionally he wanted to improve his diet or buy other things, which also cost money.

Relying entirely on the monthly point distribution, which could fluctuate or even drop to zero based on class performance, didn't fit his plans.

He needed a controllable way to earn points without expending too much energy.

And his superpower was undoubtedly the best "means of production."

Lying in bed last night, a brilliant idea flashed through his mind: become a fortune teller.

While he shouldn't use the "precognition" ability in his superpower library to peer into the distant or grand future (that consumed too much energy), looking into the short-term (like a few days or weeks) general fortune or key event nodes for a specific individual was quite easy and precise.

When the time came, he would set up a small stall at the recruitment fair, lay out some mysterious-looking props—tarot cards, a crystal ball, and the like—and then, by dropping a few ambiguous but inevitable "prophecies" at key moments, he wouldn't have to worry about a lack of lost lambs... ah, no, students coming to him.

Linmu's mental abacus clicked away: people, especially teenagers living in a highly competitive environment with an uncertain future, were mostly lost and insecure.

When they encountered issues—like exams, interpersonal conflicts, or choices about the future—they easily panicked and always wanted to find something to cling to.

Even if they knew fortune-telling was mystical and likely just psychological comfort, they were still willing to pay for that "potential guidance" and a moment of peace of mind.

After all, if real-world fortune-telling could truly determine success or failure, who would still be working themselves to the bone?

But he was different! A cunning arc couldn't help but curl the corner of Linmu's mouth.

He was someone who could actually see "fragments of the future"!

As long as he didn't forcefully interfere, the results he spoke would basically unfold according to the predicted trajectory.

Once he built a reputation and word-of-mouth spread, charging 100,000 points per session wouldn't be excessive, right?

After all, this was "genuine prophecy."

Taking a few such orders a month would be enough for him to live comfortably and achieve "point freedom," never having to worry about the next month's class assessment results again.

Earning points while lying down—just thinking about it was satisfying.

He couldn't help but let out two low, pleased chuckles in the empty tree-lined path, which, paired with his handsome face and lazy demeanor, gave him the air of a villain.

With his mind made up, he went straight to work.

Linmu changed direction; instead of heading straight to the recruitment area, he detoured to the campus convenience store—he needed to purchase some "professional props."

The convenience store remained spacious, bright, and well-stocked.

Linmu pushed a shopping cart and headed straight for the section mixing stationery, gifts, and outdoor gear.

His eyes quickly scanned for his targets:

First, a set of beautifully packaged tarot cards.

The box was deep blue velvet with gold-stamped patterns. Opening it, the patterns on each card were intricate and mysterious, exuding an "I am very professional" vibe. This was the one.

Next, a fist-sized, crystal-clear artificial crystal ball.

It came with a black velvet base; placed on a table under the lights, it looked hazy and atmospheric—perfect for bluffing.

Then, two lightweight folding stools with canvas seats and metal legs that were compact when folded.

A simple, foldable square table, wood-colored with a flat surface.

The most important "signboard" couldn't be missing either—he found the customization area and quickly operated the terminal.

He selected a banner with a deep purple background and silver lettering, printed with eight bold, sweeping characters: "Precise Divination, Foreseeing the Path Ahead."

He paid the rush fee and would be able to pick it up in a few minutes.

Finally, considering he might need a relatively independent space free from interference (and preferably shaded, as he didn't want to be baked by the sun), he picked out the smallest portable folding tent. It could hold two or three people when set up and folded down into a long, easy-to-carry backpack.

Looking at the "startup supplies" piled in his cart, Linmu nodded with satisfaction and pushed the cart toward the checkout.

The cashier was an expressionless middle-aged woman who scanned the items with practiced efficiency.

As the "beep" sounds rang out in succession, the balance on Linmu's terminal began to jump and shrink rapidly.

"Total: 60,100 points."

Linmu looked at the final total on the screen, then looked at his original balance, which had been just over 20,000, now dropping to...

He did a quick mental calculation; he had about... less than 20,000 left?

The specific number was too painful to look at. The familiar sweetness of the Alpenliebe lollipop in his mouth seemed to take on a hint of bitterness.

It hurt. It was a genuine, physical ache. Sixty thousand points!

He had just received one hundred thousand yesterday, and after spending some on lollipops and daily necessities, this "startup capital" had just drained more than half of it in one go.

His fingers tightened around the terminal, his fingertips turning white.

Heartache aside, Lin Mu knew clearly that this was a necessary investment.

You have to spend money to make money.

Fragments of movies he had watched in his past life inexplicably flashed through his mind, scenes where the protagonist used a tiny amount of capital to gamble for massive returns...

Right, wasn't there someone called "Chen Daozai"? He turned 20 into 37 million, didn't he?

"Tsk." Lin Mu clicked his tongue softly, pushing his cheek out with the candy inside, "I have superpowers to back me up; I'm way more reliable than any God of Gamblers."

What's the big deal about going all-in with sixty thousand? Just wait and see, sooner or later I'll earn it all back with interest—no, I'll double it, and double it again, and again!

Thinking this way (a situation known as self-hypnosis), he felt much better immediately.

He put away the terminal and was just about to take the large, packed bags from the auntie at the register when the corner of his eye caught a somewhat strange figure in the beverage section not far away.

It was a girl with waist-length purple hair, a slender build, and she was wearing a school uniform.

(Event duration: May 1st to May 5th)