[A.N: Please reread the . Made some changes to the ending. Thanks
CH9 Profit from the Duel
When Alex entered the office, he found Zora locked in a tense staring contest with a gnome.
The gnome was none other than the DragonHold Enclave's Chief Financial Officer—Baldrick Pinchcoin.
The gnome's nose twitched wildly as the scent of gold wafted into the room. His eyes lit up the moment he saw Alex step inside.
"Master Alex, you've finally arrived! Your plan worked beautifully. The coffers are brimming with gold again!" Pinchcoin exclaimed, practically leaping from his chair.
"It was thanks to Sir Pinchcoin and the finance department. I merely pointed out an opportunity," Alex said humbly.
"There's no need for modesty, Master Alex. I know how much you had to endure to make this happen. The finance department is in your debt." The gnome beamed with uncharacteristic enthusiasm.
"I'm simply doing what I should. The Enclave gave me a new lease on life. What's a little suffering if I can help offer that same chance to others?" Alex replied smoothly.
Zora watched, stunned, as the boy and the gnome engaged in what seemed like a well-rehearsed routine of mutual flattery and strategic diplomacy.
"With this, I assume the issues surrounding my grant spending are resolved?" Alex asked, cutting to the heart of the matter.
"Of course! Not only that, we've set aside a discretionary fund specifically for your use. Continue your research in peace—our department will handle the pesky funding matters.
"Just remember to inform us when another profitable opportunity arises, yes?" Pinchcoin added with a knowing wink.
Alex could almost swear he saw himself reflected in the gnome's eyes—only as a mountain of gold.
"Of course. I'm just a novice mage. I'll be relying heavily on your department's expertise to turn opportunity into profit," Alex replied with a smile.
"Excellent, excellent." Pleased, Pinchcoin turned to leave. But just before he reached the door, he paused and patted his balding head.
"Oh! I almost forgot. Lady Zora mentioned you're looking for a Moro Crystal. After hearing what you need it for, I suggest you hold off for a month. I recently received word about a Tear of Zan becoming available."
"What? A Tear of Zan?" Zora's voice broke into the conversation, clearly stunned.
"Is it better than a Moro Crystal?" Alex asked.
Zora nodded, then explained, "The Tear of Zan is usually used alongside other rare materials as the core component in crafting Grimoires for Grand Mages. It not only has a higher mana capacity than a Moro Crystal, but also boasts superior fault tolerance and adaptability. The difference is night and day."
She frowned. Sceptical, she asked, "But a number of Grand Mages are hunting for that material. Why offer it to Alex?"
Pinchcoin chuckled. "There's been a misunderstanding. I'm not offering him a pristine Tear. The one I have is damaged. It's unsuitable for the rigorous demands of Grimoire crafting.
"And since it's not used for anything else due to its cost, this particular Tear is effectively worthless to the Grand Mages. Master Alex won't incur the ire of the Grand Mages for getting it."
He turned to Alex. "For your purposes, it is more than sufficient."
"It also helps reduce potential losses from the procurement process," Alex added.
"Exactly! What was it you said before... it's a win-win." Pinchcoin grinned shamelessly, unbothered that his motivations had been laid bare.
Alex looked to Zora, who gave a small nod of approval.
"Very well. I'll take it," Alex said.
"Excellent choice, Master Alex. I'll have it delivered to you as soon as possible."
"No rush. I actually have a substitute I can use for practice. I'd rather the Tear not get damaged further from hasty transportation."
Pinchcoin departed, leaving behind a stunned Zora, who stared at Alex like he'd grown a second head.
"Is something wrong, Lady Zora?"
"I've never seen Baldrick act like that with anyone. Not even with the Tower Master does he speak so... harmoniously. He's respectful, yes—but never friendly.
"And I've certainly never seen him willingly spend more gold than necessary. A Tear of Zan is thousands of times more expensive than a Moro Crystal. The Pinchcoin I know would never offer it unless absolutely forced."
Alex chuckled. "That's because most people don't understand him. Sure, he comes off as a miser—and maybe he is—but he's not stupid. He understands something most others ignore: training a mage costs money—lots of it.
"For an institution like the Enclave, which is committed to educating mages and pushing the boundaries of magic, funding is everything. Right now, the Enclave's main financial pillar is the Tower Master himself. From a finance perspective, that's risky.
"What happens if the Tower Master can't continue funding the Enclave? Or worse—what if he's no longer around?
"Pinchcoin is working hard to diversify income sources and stabilize the budget. That's why he's so strict, and so thrifty.
"I simply showed him I wasn't an expenditure—but an investment. And to prove it, I gave him a small demonstration yesterday."
"Yesterday? The Duel?"
Alex smirked. "Didn't you notice the gambling dens were unusually crowded?"
"Now that you mention it... What did you do?"
"We created hype around the duel. Pinchcoin's people spread the word across the Enclave—painting me as weak and Marcus as the clear winner. The story caught fire. Most people bet heavily on Marcus, thinking his victory was guaranteed.
"When he lost, all that money went to the house—the Enclave's coffers."
"In one night, the Enclave earned more than it usually does in weeks—maybe months. And just like that, the cost of my grant was recovered... and then some.
"To Pinchcoin, I'm no longer a cost—I'm a profitable asset."
In his previous life, True_Sage had served as a Lead Engineer and team leader on multiple high-level projects. Working within a corporate structure, he quickly learned a critical truth: a good product wasn't enough—funding was everything.
Funding was the lifeblood of any organization—especially in the corporate world. One of the most important lessons he learned was the value of maintaining a good relationship with the finance department. That rapport opened doors, expedited approvals, and kept his teams functioning when others were cut.
So when Zora informed him that his recent spending had rubbed some people the wrong way, Alex immediately suspected the finance department.
It didn't take long to identify the culprit.
Baldrick Pinchcoin was well-known—infamous, really—throughout the Enclave. Learning more about him was easy.
Having just been ambushed by Marcus and his gang—and suspecting that there was more to the attack than petty bullying—Alex devised a plan to deal with multiple issues at once.
A single, calculated move: the Duel.
'Pinchcoin mentioned another faction had also been stirring up hype for the duel,' Alex thought. 'That's likely Marcus's backers. Now, all those who lost money at the gambling den will blame Marcus and his backer's faction. Whether they realize it or not, this will definitely weaken their influence in the Tower.'
By orchestrating the duel and its surrounding spectacle, Alex didn't just awaken his bloodline.
He improved his standing with the Enclave's finance department, painted a target on those who had plotted against him, and converted public sentiment in his favour—all in one strike.
One stone, multiple birds.
As for the gamblers who lost money on the duel?
Alex couldn't be bothered to care.
In his eyes, he'd done them a favour. He had taught them a lesson that held true in every world:
No matter how sure the odds seem...
The House always wins.