My spirit animal is a F–Rank gecko-Chapter 40: Back to the past (1)

"So here’s my plan for Boundspire!"

The group went silent; they started hearing what Elaine had to say.

"The only reason Bondspire didn’t want to install the latest Tatharen device was because of the expense."

Jay’s eyes shot up.

"Expense? Isn’t Bondspire funded by the current warden?" Jay asked.

"Exactly! I seriously doubt they don’t have enough bosan to install the device." 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Ivy rubbed her cheek; she said to Elaine with a quiet voice.

"Uhh... How much bosan would you need exactly?"

That was what everyone question are. They all looked at Elaine.

Her eyes started wandering off while she rubbed the back of her head.

"Wait, wait—There’s no way it could be that expensive?" Reza asked.

Elaine made an awkward laugh and muttered something.

"What? We can’t hear you?" Jay said.

"It’s...." Elaine looked down at the ground and muttered—

"500....billion bosan.."

This made the whole group freeze; their expressions looked like they’d seen a ghost.

Reza shook his head while denying it.

"There’s no way, girl! Do you even know how much that is?!" He shouted.

Karina quickly smacked the back of his head.

"Reza! I’m sure Elaine has a solid idea for this plan." Karina stared directly at Elaine.

"Elaine, care to explain more about your plan? I’m sure it’s ideal."

Karina smiled brightly at Elaine. This made Elaine’s eyes widen; she then smiled back with confidence in her eyes.

"Thank you for not running away instantly! So my plan exactly is, we’ll ask the school for half of the cost!"

Karina raised her brows; she touched her chin.

"Half of the cost.... How much exactly?"

"I’ll ask them for 300 billion bosan."

Karina nodded her head.

"But—How are you expecting to get the 200 rest then?"

Elaine fiddled with her finger; she seemed nervous to say it.

"Soo..." She gulped the lumped in her throat. And finally gathered the courage.

"I’ll ask for the whole student body to contribute to the cost!"

Reza immediately wanted to leave this conversation, but Karina immediately pulled him back.

"Look!" Reza shouted at Elaine.

"I don’t exactly know what you think we’re made of! But I work three part-time jobs and I don’t have my family covering my living cost. I’m certainly not gonna join in on this!"

"Reza, wait!" Karina tried to convince him, but he just pulled his arm away from her.

"You guys can talk about this idea of hers. But I wanna eat. I’m starving!" Reza walked off from the group.

Ivy and Jay looked at each other.

"Hey, Elaine." Jay spoke.

"I’m sorry too, but even I couldn’t spare any more bosan for this plan of yours."

"Me too.... I’m sorry." Ivy bowed her head to Elaine, and they both walked off, catching up to Reza.

Elaine sighed as she looked at the ground.

The only one that remained was Karina. She saw the unfortunate state of her upperclassman.

"Look, Elaine.." She touched her shoulder.

"I really love this idea of yours. So here."

Karina handed Elaine her phone number.

"Let’s keep in touch, okay!" Karina patted her shoulder while bowing to her senior and walking off like the others.

Elaine had expected this. All of the first years she talked to did the same thing.

They either ran away or didn’t want to hear her explain it in the first place.

But Karina was different. She gave Elaine a chance.

Elaine gripped Karina’s phone number; she looked down at it.

And tears started dropping from her eyes onto the paper.

She started sobbing uncontrollably.

"I.... Just... don’t want any....more victims....."

---

(Inside PFC)

The group devoured their food instantly.

The pan-fried chicken this fast food served was absolutely amazing for broke students.

Reza said with chicken in his mouth.

"Damn—This chicken is only 5 bosan. I absolutely love this place!"

Karina watched in disgust as the chicken crumbs started falling all over the table.

"Same here, dude—I absolutely love this place!"

Karina watched as the two boys bonded over the pan-fried chicken. She scoffed while eating her fries.

Men are such simple creatures....

She then glanced at Ivy and noticed her burger and fries were still untouched.

"Sweetheart. Aren’t you gonna eat your food?"

Karina snapped Ivy out of her daydream.

Ivy nodded repeatedly.

"I will! It’s just..." She fiddled with her hands while looking down at the food.

Karina noticed Ivy’s expression.

"What’s up? Something weighing on your mind?"

Ivy slowly nodded.

"Hey, can I have those fries!" Reza looked at Ivy’s plate, oblivious to the thick atmosphere.

Karina immediately smacked him on the head.

"Reza, you dummy!"

He rubbed the back of his head while complaining.

Ivy, though, gave all of her food to Reza, which made Karina concerned.

"Honey, you don’t need to do that! I’m sure Reza was just joking."

Karina started threatening Reza to apologize, but then Ivy spoke.

"No... It’s not that.. It’s just... I don’t have the appetite anymore."

"Why? Weren’t you really hungry back at the church?" Jay raised his brow while looking at her.

"It’s.... Honestly about Elaine’s manifesto."

Ivy looked at all her friends; her sad expression changed into a more serious one.

"It’s just, we bought the pan-fried chicken package for 15 bosan when we could have contributed that bosan to Elaine’s idea!"

Karina’s face brightened; she didn’t expect Ivy to speak up about this.

"Well—It’s honestly only 15 bosan, so it’s not gonna contribute much either way." Jay tried to deny Ivy.

"Even then, it’s better to contribute as little as possible than nothing at all." Ivy argued with Jay.

"We were lucky that we weren’t in the forest. That massacre literally killed 380 students! And who knows if the Brokers will attack Bondspire again!"

Karina was impressed with Ivy’s mindset; she smiled at her.

"I agree with you, Ivy.." Ivy’s eyes widened.

She didn’t expect anyone to agree with her.

"That’s why..." Karina held Ivy’s hand.

She then looked at all of her friends.

"I say the Red Team joins Elaine’s party!"