"Mister Negary, a good opportunity has arrived" Comet knocked on 'Negary''s office and happily reported.
"Yesterday, the Mobis Institute was attacked, some of their buildings were either damaged or destroyed, so they require a small bit of capital for repairs. In exchange, the Mobis Institute has agreed to grant a few quotas for auditing students" Comet excitedly explained. This was a chance to enter an academy to study, even if it was only as an auditing student.
To become an Upper with a proper and respectable identity in this world, the best opportunity was to become a scholar. In this world, the phrase 'knowledge is wealth' wasn't only truth, but gospel; coupled with the fact that valuable relations could be established between schoolmates, each quota in any institution was more precious than literal gold.
Under normal circumstances, the quotas to enter any institution were reserved for Uppers with at least 5 generations of history, combined with a ludicrously high tuition fee, as well as an internal examination before one was allowed to enroll.
Even with huge finances backing you, the most that an institute would do was to lower the minimum requirement to Uppers with 3 generations of history. For people who were originally Sediments like Comet, it wouldn't be until at least his great-grandchildren's generation who reach the minimum requirement to enroll in an institution.
This was because even though he had status as an Upper, he wasn't actually recognized as one. It wouldn't be until his son had undergone proper training and education before his son was officially recognized as a first-generation Upper.
But now, there was a chance to circumvent all of that: Simply by providing repair funds, one would receive a quota to become an auditing student of the institution. Quite obviously, this was a ploy to earn funds without actually giving anything up, and yet many were still attracted to such a quota.
Those who lived in an equal society would find it hard to imagine how crucial status was in this world. Status here represented natural-born success; Sediments were losers and the offspring of losers, they were born with almost no value, some didn't even treat them as humans. While living in this world, such people, even if they had worked to gain power and authority, would still face prejudice from almost every direction.
This wasn't just prejudice from one or two people, this was prejudice from society as a whole.
Under such circumstances, Sediments eventually came to also consider themselves trash. Facing an Upper, they would always feel a deep sense of inferiority, so as soon as they escaped from their status as Sediments, they would do everything they could to imitate Uppers, paying even more attention to their own etiquettes compared to the Uppers.
〖 A sick society 〗
'Negary' was able to very easily recognize this unhealthy social structure. In reality, most Sediments were much more capable compared to the so-called Uppers, but due to factors like education, resources, as well as others, most of them couldn't help themselves from becoming true sediments.
〖 Every individual is a treasure, every individual who can exert the potential of their soul is a gem that has been polished. The fact that you managed to climb out from the bog of Sediments by breaking through your limits means that you've managed to polish your own shine, and yet you are now trying to blur that shine 〗
'Negary' stared at Comet, the ex-gang leader and slowly spoke. This society's unhealthy and rigid beliefs were currently turning Comet into nothing but a clown.
〖 It seems you require a bit of support and urging 〗'Negary' said as he stood up, which caused Comet to slightly tremble. During this period of time, 'Negary' had easily been able to utilize his psychological techniques to implant the fear of his figure within Comet.
"Mister Negary, what are you trying to do!?" Comet questioned in fright. But the current him did not have the cruelty and aggressiveness he used to, unable to do anything but cry out fearfully like a rabbit waiting to be eaten.
〖 Although a part of this is due to subconscious suggestions, your current figure proves that you've thoroughly become a piece of trash 〗'Negary's' gaze appeared disappointed, after which he curtly stabbed a syringe-like tube into Comet's neck, injecting him with the black liquid inside.
〖 It's called Nightmare, something that I've created just a couple of days ago, I hope you'll like it 〗'Negary' lightly spoke, but his voice in Comet's ear had become extremely heavy. Everything in Comet's vision had become blurred, the Nightmare concoction flowed from the veins in his neck to his entire body, then began to stimulate a certain part of Comet's brain through its connection with his body.
The unconscious Comet began to dream, a horrifying dream.
〖 Jimmy, Pilo 〗hearing 'Negary's' call, the two of them hurriedly rushed to see him. They had now escaped from their previous destitution, no longer needing to worry about starving or a place to sleep. Everything they currently had was granted to them by 'Negary', so they wouldn't even think to hesitate to carry out whatever 'Negary' wanted them to do.
But they were also a bit clueless on what to do when they saw the twitching, fearful Comet who was lying unconscious on the ground as soon as they entered.
〖 I'm going to give you a mission. The Mobis Institution is currently giving out several auditing student quotas; I'm going to leave the full financial power of the White Heart mining company and the dirt-infused algae food company to you two. I don't care how you do it, I want you to get me one of those quotas 〗
〖 Otherwise, those who are useless do not need to exist 〗'Negary's' gaze fell onto the collapsed Comet, then smiled gently and continued: 〖 Just like mister Comet here 〗
"Understood, Sir Negary" the pair of them trembled and hurriedly replied.
…
Things proceeded even faster than expected after this. The auditing student quota very quickly belonged to 'Negary', as the pair of men exerted the full extent of their activities under 'Negary's' urging.
They first investigated which parties were trying to compete for the quota, then after eliminating those they deemed insufficient competitors from the list, they began to 'work' on the others. Every potent competitor was ambushed practically at the same time, either by acid to the face or fallen objects. Most of the competitors either became crippled or literally defaced.
In exchange, Jimmy and Pilo only needed to hire a group of reckless Sediments with a full meal, then bribed the head of enrollment for auditing students with a considerable price. Reality had shown just how much the grace and etiquette of an Upper was actually worth.
Due to the money's influence, the head of enrollment ignored all of Jimmy and Pilo's unfair actions and granted them a quota.
Naturally, the revenge to come from the competitors was another price that they would have to pay, but compared to this price, Jimmy and Pilo were more afraid of letting 'Negary' down.
At this point, there was only a day left until the House of Mages' Mana Banquet, and around a month from God's Offering Day, since this was the time for the fruit to ripen, a lot of fluctuations would appear, due to how many things it was related to.
Watching Jimmy and Pilo's excited expressions from completing their mission, 'Negary' shook his head. Their ability to mobilize and act was commendable, but as they were limited by their knowledge, there were still many issues with the measures they chose.
If not because the Mobis Institute itself had issues and this auditing student enrollment was unusual in the first place, their little tricks might not have worked at all.
Regardless of the process, they had still received the quota. After 'donating' the appropriate funds, 'Negary' became an auditing student of the Mobis Institute. At the same time, mister Comet had been stuck in his nightmare for an entire day, all of his veins now visible throughout his body, which now appeared completely black.
…
At another location, Lucy looked hatefully at her amputated left foot. Helpless to do anything to the maggots, she ultimately had no choice but to cut off her left foot, and before returning to the Hermit Order, she would remain a disabled person.
