"Before operating a casino, we need to determine one thing: how much money do we need to earn from the casino each month, at minimum?"
Saotome Meari began to analyze.
"First is the contribution fee. Hyakkaou Private Academy ranks students based on the amount of contribution fees they pay, and the last-place student, number one hundred, will become 'livestock.'
Based on past rankings, one only needed to pay 100,000 yen to avoid becoming livestock. However, this year, with new students like Ayanokoji and me, 100,000 yen isn't guaranteed. A safer bet is for each person to pay 150,000 yen as a contribution fee."
Saotome paused here, then asked, puzzled, "Right... Since you only need to pay enough contribution fees to avoid becoming livestock, why are so many people willing to pay millions or tens of millions of yen?"
In the corner of the Teaching Building's lobby, there was a display screen showing real-time updates of monthly contribution fees.
Saotome Meari had seen it when she passed by; the top ten people on the list had each submitted at least ten million yen.
She couldn't understand why these rich people were so generous in giving money to the Student Council, yet they tried every possible way to avoid taxes when paying them to the country.
Togakushi Yukimi, however, understood these things well. She pushed up her glasses.
"It's like this: the Student Council holds several activities each month, and the number of participants is fixed. The higher a person ranks on the list, the more priority they have when participating in activities.
And as you know, the students in this school are all arrogant and constantly compete with each other, with no one willing to yield. Their families also have competitive and cooperative relationships.
I'm not entirely sure about the specifics, but this ranking list is also a way to display one's power. It's said that even the school's higher-ups pay attention to this list."
Togakushi Yukimi added, "Oh, and one more thing: if you frequently rank high on the list and pay enough contribution fees, you might gain the Student Council President's appreciation and be able to join the Student Council."
Saotome Meari nodded, "So that's how it is... I don't understand the thoughts of those rich families. In any case, we only need to pay 150,000 yen. Besides the contribution fee, there's also the casino usage fee."
Togakushi Yukimi continued, "If we want to use the casino, we have to pay the Student Council a usage fee of 500,000 yen per month."
"It's just an empty classroom, and it costs 500,000!? Outside, that money is enough to rent a villa!"
Saotome slammed the table in dissatisfaction.
"It's precisely because I couldn't afford this money that the Student Council kept hounding me..."
Togakushi Yukimi, at this moment, laughed with a relaxed expression.
"In any case, Saotome, starting next month, you'll need to pay this fee. Also, the price for each casino is different. The fee for this room is relatively low; popular casinos cost one to two million yen per month."
Saotome glared fiercely at Togakushi Yukimi and muttered, "Adding the contribution fee for two people, the casino usage fee, and the income to be given to Ayanokoji each month... this casino must make a profit of 1,300,000 yen."
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka raised his hand, "You don't need to worry about my share of the money. Just focus on getting enough for your own use."
Saotome looked gratefully at Ayanokoji Kiyotaka, then turned to Hanatemari Kazura, and said seriously, "Before we gather this money... Hanatemari, you must escape your livestock status."
The livestock status was only assigned at the beginning of this school year, and there was still a good amount of time until the next ranking.
This time, a razor blade was placed in Hanatemari Kazura's shoe. If the hidden individual's actions against Hanatemari escalated during this period, irreversible things might happen.
"Are you talking about... the [Special Contribution Fee] that allows you to directly remove livestock status without waiting for the contribution fee submission period?"
Togakushi Yukimi realized what Saotome wanted to say and quickly shook her head, "That requires a million yen! Impossible, it's definitely impossible to earn that much in a short time!"
Students who couldn't pay enough contribution fees would become "livestock." If they couldn't wait until the next contribution fee submission period, they could pay a 1,000,000 yen [Special Contribution Fee] to the Student Council to remove their "livestock" status early.
If someone had 1,000,000 yen, they certainly wouldn't become "livestock," and those who became "livestock" generally couldn't get 1,000,000 yen, so this [Special Contribution Fee] rule wasn't something many people paid attention to.
"...Meari?" Ayanokoji Kiyotaka frowned and said, "If it's about getting Hanatemari out of livestock status, I can lend you this money first."
To Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's surprise, Saotome actually refused his help.
"No need." Saotome shook her head and said firmly, "This money is what I owe Hanatemari, and it has nothing to do with you. I will earn this money back in my own way."
Togakushi Yukimi, who was nearby, was also quite puzzled and kindly reminded her, "Saotome, since you urgently need money right now, why don't you just borrow from him, this rich second-generation? You need to think carefully; my casino can't even earn 500,000 a month."
But even after she said that, Saotome Meari still didn't intend to change her decision, looking at Ayanokoji with a serious expression.
"Since you've said so, then alright..."
The atmosphere suddenly became awkward. Ayanokoji Kiyotaka stood up, deciding to go out for a while to let Saotome Meari calm down.
Unaware of Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's thoughts, Saotome, thinking he was angry, reflexively grabbed Ayanokoji's hand and desperately explained.
"Where are you going!? What I meant was that I currently have a quick way to earn money, so I won't borrow from you yet. If I truly reach a dead end, I will definitely come to you! Believe me, I can definitely earn the money!"
"...Is that so?"
Saotome Meari blushed, turned her face away, and whispered, "I've already received too much help from you. If I borrow money from you again, I'll feel more and more inferior to you in front of you..."
Saotome Meari meant to say... she didn't want to owe him a favor because of Hanatemari?
Ayanokoji laughed dumbfounded, not expecting this person to have such a maidenly side.
"I understand." Ayanokoji sat back down, was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "By the way, do you have any capital right now? If you don't have capital, how do you plan to open a casino?"
As soon as Ayanokoji said this, the air instantly solidified.
"I still have 300,000 on hand..." Hanatemari said softly.
"Leaving aside that it's your money, 300,000 is too little, not nearly enough." Saotome decisively refused.
Togakushi Yukimi quickly said, "I'm just here to help. I don't have much money on hand either, don't count on me."
In other words, they still had to rely on Ayanokoji...
--------------------------------
The new chapter just dropped! Be the first to read it 🤭 Patreon: [pat*eon*com/Greyhounds]