Chương 56: The Tax-Dodging Club and a Safe Hideout

The two-story grey stone villa sat tucked into the farthest western corner of Solaris Academy's grounds, nestled among a quiet grove of ancient pines. Ivy and hanging clusters of purple wisteria covered the walls, spilling down over the eaves. At the gate, a brand-new oak sign had just been bolted onto the stone post: The Vance Office of Ancient Language Research & Cultural Exchange. Lucian stood with his hands on his hips, head tilted back to admire the sign, nodding in satisfaction.

In just one morning, a Vance Commerce construction crew had turned the school's abandoned storage building into an isolated fortress of comfort: a mana-crystal climate control unit, three-centimeter-thick sheepskin rugs, a small bar stocked with fruit juices, and — most importantly — three layers of soundproofing wards packing all four walls. In Lucian's opinion, this was the perfect academic club headquarters.

A place where he could avoid unnecessary meetings, take a comfortable afternoon nap, and quietly manage a profitable business without a princess appearing every five minutes to ask uncomfortable questions. A truly peaceful academic environment. Ting! A dim black Unified System v2. 0 notification appeared in front of him. [INDEPENDENT OPERATIONAL BASE ESTABLISHED WITHIN THE ACADEMY!] ['Merchant' Class leveled up: Lv. 2!] [NEW SKILL UNLOCKED: 'VALUE ASSESSMENT' LV. 1] Effect: Automatically analyzes production cost, profit margin, liquidation value, and hidden legal risk for any asset in view. Lucian glanced at the red velvet sofa in the middle of the sitting room. A small analysis window popped up instantly:'Mahogany frame, snow-velvet upholstery. Production cost: 14 gold. Depreciation after 3 years: 40%. Can be classified as office supply expense for corporate tax deduction.' Lucian stared at the information window. For most people, this would have been a useless ability.

For him... It was almost beautiful. A skill that could calculate profit margins, hidden costs, and tax deductions? Finally, a System ability that understood his true struggles.

"Finally. A skill designed for civilization." Click. The oak door opened. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Eleanor walked in, a club registration packet stamped with the Student Council's red seal in hand. She wore her council president's uniform, crisp and pressed, her golden hair pinned up, sweeping her eyes over the luxurious room before settling on the boy standing by the window.

Eleanor dropped the packet onto the tea table, pointing at the member list.

"Lucian Vance. Explain this list to me." Lucian walked over, calmly pouring her a glass of grape juice and handing it to her.

"It's a standard academic club registration, filed according to school regulations. Something wrong with it?" Eleanor picked up the form and read it aloud, line by line.

"President: Lucian Vance — son of the Sword Emperor. Head of Research: Sylvia Lunaire — librarian of the ancient Silver-Wing clan. Head of Security: Astra — the woman who tore apart the arena with a Holy Sword yesterday. Honorary Member: Evelyn Wright — First Scholar and heir to the southern Ducal house." Eleanor set the paper down, crossed her arms, and looked him dead in the eye. Eleanor stared at the membership list. Then she looked at Lucian. Then back at the list.

"Lucian." Her voice became extremely serious.

"Explain something to me." She tapped the paper.

"You have yourself — the Sword Emperor's son." Another tap.

"Sylvia — the last heir of an ancient race." Another.

"Astra — the Holy Sword wielder." Another.

"And Evelyn Wright — the greatest scholar of this generation." She slowly lowered the paper.

"Are you creating an academic club..." A pause.

"... or accidentally assembling the final boss party?" Lucian sat down on the sofa, popping a grape into his mouth.

"School regulations clearly state: every club needs a minimum of four members and one practical research topic. Ours is: 'Optimizing Ancient Language Translation Costs.'""As for Evelyn joining..." Lucian calmly took another grape.

"She agreed voluntarily." Eleanor narrowed her eyes.

"Why?"

"She wanted the rights to my spicy beef instant noodle recipe." Silence. The princess stared. Lucian stared back.

"... That actually sounds believable." Eleanor stared at his utterly composed expression and sighed. She didn't say another word, pulled up an armchair across from him instead, and reached for a grape off the plate. She glanced over at the desk nearby: Sylvia was briskly stamping tax-deduction receipts for the trading caravans; on the rug, Astra sat cross-legged, whetstone in hand, running it in long strokes — schk... schk... — along the edge of the Sun-Slaying Dragon Sword.

Eleanor pulled the club's expense ledger closer, picked up a quill, and began reviewing and signing off on Lucian's research budget items one by one. Under Solaris Academy's self-governance charter: officially licensed academic clubs held exclusive extraction rights over the resource dungeons in the Forbidden Forest, floors 1 through 5, without requiring military authorization.

Which meant that, under the cover of a student club, Lucian had just officially turned this villa into a self-governing economic special zone right in the heart of the capital. Outside the wisteria fence, a few noble students walking by spotted Princess Eleanor sitting inside reviewing paperwork alongside Astra and Sylvia, and bolted off in a panic, spreading the news through every hallway. Less than half an hour later, a wild rumor had exploded across the entire academy.

"The young master of House Vance has officially founded the 'Shadow Council,' absorbing the Royal Family, the Holy Church, and House Wright under his control, preparing to seize complete ownership of the Tower of Knowledge!" In the sunlit sitting room, Astra set her gleaming sword aside, reached into her pocket, and pulled out a strawberry ice cream bar, taking a small bite. She turned to look at Lucian, head propped against the arm of the sofa.

"Master, now that our club's officially set up, what's our first research assignment?" Lucian pulled his cloak's hood down over his face and closed his eyes, answering in a lazy drawl.

"First assignment is... nap time until five o'clock. If anyone knocks, Astra grabs her sword and says hello."