CHAPTER 252: TURNING ENEMIES INTO FRIENDS [PART 2]

"Why are you here?" Preston demanded.

"I came here for one thing and one thing only," Alex declared. "I want a Platinum Card of the Merchant Alliance. Please give me one."

"Only our VIP Customers can get the Platinum Card." Preston glared at the young man. "I’m sorry, but you’re not qualified."

The Platinum Card of the Merchant Alliance was one of the most useful items in the academy.

Not only did it give a 10% discount on items sold in stores affiliated with the Merchant Alliance, but it also gave a 20% discount on some travel expenses, which was especially useful for long distance travels like airships.

As for short distance travels to the next city or town, such a card would grant its holder a 50% discount.

People with the Platinum Card were also given access to the VIP lounges that were available in every transport station, where they could rest.

Last but not least, everyone who possessed the Platinum Cards were treated as VIPs by the establishments who were part of the Merchant Alliance.

As Alex planned to take his club outside of the academy for expeditions, having the Platinum Card would make their lives easier.

"I plan to become the Merchant Alliance’s VIP Customer, so please give me a Platinum Card," Alex replied.

"I think you’re making a misunderstanding here," Preston sneered. "You need to become a VIP Customer first before you are given a Platinum Card."

Alex smiled faintly. "Are you giving me the card or should I expose another scandal? Trust me, what happened during the student assembly is nothing compared to the dirt I have on you guys."

"Damn you. Are you threatening me?!" Preston growled.

Alex blinked. "Yes," he replied matter-of-factly. "So, do you feel threatened?"

Preston and the members of his club all glared hatefully at the young man, who was now synonymous to a monster in their eyes.

Even the cute little bun on top of his head looked like a small devil who had come to make them pay their debts like a loanshark.

Preston closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths.

"I’ll have your platinum card ready in a few days," Preston conceded with barely restrained anger.

"Good." Alex nodded. "Like I said, I plan to become a VIP Customer of the Merchant Alliance. I know that this may sound unconvincing coming from me, but I do hope that we all get along from this day onward.

"Don’t worry. No matter what you guys do from this point onward, I will turn a blind eye to it. What happened during the Student Assembly will be the first and last time that I put you guys under the spotlight.

"Of course, this only applies if you guys don’t mess with me first. So I hope we will all get along and no longer make things difficult for everyone, okay?"

Preston and the other members of the Merchant Alliance calmed down a little—just a little—after hearing Alex’s words.

"Can we trust you?" Preston inquired.

"You can draft a Magic Oath if you like," Alex replied. "If you and your officers are willing to sign it, I will sign it too. That way, all of us can be at ease that we will no longer treat each other as enemies."

The prospect of Alex blackmailing their club again had always stressed Preston out. Hearing this compromise made some of the anger he felt subside a bit.

"Very well. We will draft that Magic Oath now." Preston wanted to strike while the iron was still hot. He certainly didn’t want to give Alex time to change his mind!

The young man was more than happy to accept Preston’s proposal since he genuinely didn’t want to create too many enemies in the academy.

An hour later, the young man left the Merchant Alliance with a smile on his face.

"It’s finally over, Dim Dim," Alex said. "Hah... that was so taxing."

"Dim." Dim Dim nodded.

After seeing that all the clubs wished to end all hostilities with them, the little bun was also finally able to breathe a sigh of relief.

Suddenly, a faint breeze blew over Alex, and a beautiful fox lady materialized beside him.

"Good work, Alex," Lotte said sweetly.

"Thank you for acting as a bodyguard," Alex replied. "Things became a bit dicey in some places, but I’m glad that we managed to talk it out properly."

"Right," Lotte agreed.

Alex had visited the Crest Clubs with only Dim Dim so they wouldn’t feel too intimidated.

Of course, he understood that things might become dangerous. To be on the safe side, he had asked Lotte to accompany him.

Since she could turn invisible and pass through walls like a ghost, she would be able to call for help if Alex really needed it.

The young lady observed Alex while he walked toward the clock tower. He was going to tell the other members of Endless Horizon the result of his meetings with the other clubs.

In her eyes, Alex seemed like a very reckless person.

Not only had he tried to solve the incident in the Mistral Weave Forest using the resources of their club, but he also dared to challenge the Crest Clubs and the Nobles who had bullied his club members.

Sometimes, she wondered how he was able to do those things. Logically, no ordinary First Year, especially not one who was a commoner, should’ve been able to do it.

’Is he really a commoner?’ Lotte thought as she walked beside the young man. ’Or does he come from a powerful family that can handle the backlash of his actions?’

Lotte had only known Alex for a short time, but that was enough for her to be involved in a few dangerous situations that she had never expected to be part of.

Lucius’ kidnapping, the Battle Royale, and the counterattack of their club, Endless Horizon.

She believed that as she and Latifa stayed by the young man’s side, it was inevitable for them to be dragged into more dangerous situations.

However, she deemed that Alex wasn’t a bad person.

A reckless and mysterious one, but a bad person? No.

"By the way, Lotte, can you tell Lumi to watch over Latifa next weekend?" Alex asked. "I want you to accompany us on an adventure to the Heracle Mountains."

"The Heracle Mountains?" Lotte mused. "What are we going to do there?"

"Explore an uncharted ruin," Alex answered. "We will leave the academy right after classes end next Friday. Since Monday and Tuesday are special holidays, we will have four days to explore the ruins"

"How did you know that there is a ruin?" Lotte inquired.

"Do you remember Mark and Spencer?" Alex replied. "The two Fourth Years who tried to kidnap Dim Dim? They discovered that ruin during their summer vacation, but they haven’t returned since then."

"So, why are we going to go there?" Lotte asked. "Isn’t it dangerous?"

"I guess?" Alex replied. "But I’m sure we will be fine."

The ruins were indeed dangerous, but not something that his club members couldn’t overcome.

The reason why he wished to visit it with Mark and Spencer was because these two Fourth Years had become popular in the forums of ELO because their quest led them to one of the most mythical places in the world.

The Tower of the Hermit.

According to the player who had discovered it, the Library would give any player the ability to choose one book among its collection, which numbered in the thousands.

Each of these books possessed a unique skill, some of which were Legendary Grade.

These books were also called Grimoires.

Alex had tried to visit the Tower of the Hermit directly without undergoing the proper steps, thinking they weren’t necessary.

But the tower hadn’t appeared in the location where it was supposed to be.

Only by taking the Chain Quest in its proper order did the tower appear, which allowed Alex to gain a Legendary Grade Skill that helped him become one of the strongest tankers in the game.

However this time, he planned to choose a different grimoire, which he believed would become more useful to him in his current situation.

Lotte pondered for a while but still agreed to accompany Alex and her club members to the Heracle Mountains.

The trip was going to be slightly expensive, which was why Alex wanted to get a Platinum Card from the Merchant Alliance. There were few things as irresistible as a good discount.

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A/N: I just got back from the hospital. Had trouble breathing earlier, so I wasn’t able to write any Chapters for System’s POV.