130: Chapter 130: Too Little, Need More Money

Speaking of which, he didn't even sleep last night, did he?

With this new skill, he could ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠finally get a peaceful night's sleep tonight.

Collecting his thoughts, Fujino immediately began upgrading the Student profession.

He currently had two 'Sacrificial Student'... Student profession points.

Might as well put them all into the Student Discount.

[Congratulations Host! Student Discount Level Increased. Current Level: 5]

[Student Discount: Level 5 (System Discount 11.1%, Reality Discount 11.1%)]

"?????"

"Are you kidding me?"

Fujino stared at the decimal point in the Student Discount, rubbing his forehead.

Good grief, now there are decimals...?

And didn't he upgrade it twice?

How is it still only an 11.1% discount?

After thinking for a moment, Fujino noticed the system's wordplay.

Student Discount had become Sacrificial Student's Discount¹, and what was previously a combined discount for both system and reality was now split into two separate ones.

There is only one truth!

If his guess was correct, this damn system had probably just reskinned the original skill, then adjusted it, changing the overall increase into individual increases.

Smacked of Tencent's tactics.

After mulling it over, Fujino felt resigned.

This damn system must have realized he was exploiting the wool too much.

If it continued like before, reaching a 50% discount, the skill would effectively become a freebie generator soon enough.

At that point, it would truly be 'I am a student, give it to me free and throw in fifty extra'.

Clearly, that violated the damn system's pay-to-win philosophy.

"Wonder what skills the Professional Swordsman breakthrough will grant."

Collecting his thoughts again, Fujino glanced at the Swordsman profession breakthrough option, then shook his head. "But after upgrading the University Student profession, the remaining two million two hundred sixty thousand isn't enough to upgrade the Swordsman profession."

"Looks like I need to find a way to earn some extra cash..."

After a moment's thought, Fujino conceived a new money-making method.

Selling information!

He recalled earning two million yen last time by selling information about Ikeda Chikako.

He wondered how much selling information about the two beasts from Haido Elementary would fetch this time.

If his guess was correct, the MPD likely hadn't released the details of that case yet.

Selling this information should bring in a decent amount.

And it would simultaneously push those two beasts into the eye of the public storm.

Killing two birds with one stone!

After washing up, Fujino left the Konoha Budokan.

Finding a public phone booth, he ducked into a nearby alley.

When he emerged again, he had transformed into the Beika Batman.

Entering the phone booth, he picked up the receiver and dialed the number of Goto, the newspaper reporter he had previously sold Ikeda Chikako's information to.

He had considered other reporters.

But Goto, having dealt with him once before, seemed more reliable.

Moreover, Goto had apparently been promoted to chief editor level now.

Perhaps he would be willing to shell out more money for the intel Fujino offered.

Besides the reliable monetary transaction,

Goto, as a sensationalist reporter prone to exaggeration, had his uses in manipulating public opinion.

For instance, he could skillfully use existing evidence to direct public attention towards non-existent targets.

Such manipulation required years of experience and deep immersion in the news industry – the work of an expert.

If he were in public relations, he'd be at least at the level of Brother Daidai¹.

While such methods were indeed somewhat unethical, even bordering on despicable and unscrupulous,

it depended on the target.

If used against himself, he would definitely sneak out at night, find the reporter, string him up on a lamppost, and beat him senseless with the bokken.

But when such shameless tactics were employed against those two beasts, it suddenly seemed much more noble.

Public opinion always has beneficiaries and victims; the nobility or baseness of its power simply depends on who benefits and who suffers.

Late night, an alley in Beika Town 1-chome.

A man wearing a brown suit, blue tie, black-framed glasses, and carrying a black briefcase paced back and forth in the alley, waiting.

The man was none other than Goto, who had dealt with Fujino once before.

"Wonder what kind of bombshell material the Beika Batman will provide this time."

Goto raised his rather expensive-looking watch, checked the time, and thought this to himself.

Due to his successful exposé on Ikeda Chikako last time, he had recently been promoted to the position of chief editor at the newspaper.

Initially, after such a long period without contact, he thought his dealings with the Beika Batman were over.

But just this afternoon, the Beika Batman had called him again.

Claiming to have bombshell information about the Haido Elementary teachers he had assaulted, ready for trade.

Without hesitation, Goto immediately applied for 1.5 million yen in operational funds and rushed over.

"Goto?"

Fujino, clad in the Assassin's Robes ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and wearing the Batman mask, entered the alley.

"Batman?"

Goto turned and saw Fujino in the Batman mask, who had suddenly appeared behind him out of nowhere.

Noticing Fujino's different attire compared to last time, he paused, stunned, a look of surprise on his face.

"You're a chief editor now, huh."

Fujino glanced at the expensive watch on Goto's wrist.

"It's all thanks to the information you provided last time."

Goto scratched the back of his head, subconsciously hiding his watch.

"I was very satisfied with your payment and the report last time."

Fujino slowly walked forward. "I just wonder how much compensation you can offer this time."

"I've prepared the money."

Goto lifted the black briefcase. "One million five hundred thousand yen."

"One point five million?"

Fujino stroked his chin.

He currently had 2.26 million yen.

Adding 1.5 million would bring it to 3.76 million. Subtracting the 2.67 million needed for the upgrade (likely a typo, should be 3 million), he'd be left with only 1.09 million yen.

After thinking for a moment, Fujino said gravely, "One point five million yen is a bit too little. Need more money."

"One point five million is the absolute maximum the newspaper could approve for this report."

Pausing, Goto saw Fujino's hesitant expression and quickly upped the ante. "However, if Mr. Batman has more information to sell me in the future, I can personally add another five hundred thousand yen..."

The Beika Batman was his benefactor.

He owed his current position entirely to the information provided by this mysterious figure.

If he didn't seize this opportunity, it was highly likely the Batman would never deal with him again.

Besides wanting to establish a good impression for future transactions,

he was genuinely willing to personally add 500,000 yen for this story.

The report about the Haido Elementary teachers being severely beaten by the Beika Batman hadn't been published by anyone yet.

His keen journalistic nose had already sniffed out this story.

But due to the police withholding information and pressure from certain parties, he hadn't been able to gather enough publishable details.

But if he received help from the Beika Batman, the person directly involved...

Then clearly, he would be the first to break this story.

"Alright."

Fujino nodded, deciding not to push for more compensation.