Later that afternoon, after a grueling session of Orientation lectures, Glynda Goodwitch finally delivered on her promise.
She met Jaune outside the newly established Beacon branch shop.
The building was already looking impressive, with a newly materialized, simple counter and a selection of Copper Rank goods on display, courtesy of Ciel's rapid installation.
"This is Team CFVY. They are currently free from their duties and have agreed to take on your employment offer. Please take care of them, Mr. Arc,"
Glynda instructed, her gaze warning Jaune to behave.
Standing before Jaune was the legendary team: Coco Adel, radiating style with her iconic handbag and sunglasses; Fox Alistair, his blind eyes giving off an unsettling awareness; Velvet Scarlatina, clutching a large basket, looking shy but alert; and Yatsuhashi Daichi, whose imposing height dwarfed Jaune.
"Hi there, Jauney boy,"
Coco greeted, her voice a deep purr, though her eyes were already scanning the interior.
She was known to be rich and certainly didn't come to work for 1,000 Lien a day, but to check things out for her friends, who genuinely needed the income.
Then, her eyes locked onto a particular item Jaune had placed prominently on a reinforced pedestal—an item that was aggressively out of place in a peaceful academy shop.
"What is that!"
Coco was instantly drawn to a monstrously heavy, blocky, belt-fed machine gun.
It was a terrifying, industrial-looking piece of weaponry that whispered of grim, far-future battlefields.
Item—Heavy Bolter
Origin—Warhammer 40k Universe
Rank—Copper
Price—10 mcc
"That is a Heavy Bolter,"
Jaune stated, adopting his calm sales persona.
"Ten Copper Coins? That's 10,000 Lien?"
Coco calculated instantly.
"I'll take it!"
Coco instantly brought it without negotiating about the price, pulling out a thick wad of Lien that easily totaled five figures.
"And I'll need ammo. Give me 10,000 rounds."
"The ammunition is 1,000 rounds per 1 copper coin,"
Jaune corrected.
"So, 10,000 rounds will be another 10,000 Lien."
"Perfect!"
Coco handed over the additional Lien without batting an eye.
'She is filthy rich...'
Jaune thought, slightly stunned by the instant, massive sale.
Jaune then introduced them to the specifics of the job.
"What you have to do is simple: just guard every item and sell them to customers. You are responsible for the daily transactions and security."
He then introduced the incentive program.
"If they don't have enough money to buy what they want, they can take special jobs from the notice board—these are high-paying tasks."
He also explained the main currency source:
"They can also make a Contract with the shop to hunt Grimm for the multi-coins. It's the easiest way to afford the best gear."
Everything sounded completely bizarre, yet the sight of the newly purchased, brutally functional Heavy Bolter made the strange terms feel incredibly real.
And, of course, the promise of 1,000 Lien a day was something they could not refuse, especially for Velvet and Yatsuhashi.
Jaune waited until the end to deliver his non-negotiable term.
"Please don't ask me where these items came from or how the coins work. It's a Trade Secret. Any attempts to reverse-engineer or steal items will result in immediate contract termination and a permanent blacklist from the shop."
Jaune then left them to take care of his shop.
Despite their shock, all four members of Team CFVY—even the rich Coco—made a contract with the shop system.
The promise of items that could turn the tide of any battle was too tempting to resist.
The routine of classes began.
Jaune attended with his team, and they also spent time with Ruby and the others during breaks.
The general education classes were painfully boring, full of dusty lectures on Grimm morphology and regional history.
"Aww, I almost fell asleep…"
Ruby yawned cutely, walking alongside Jaune as they left the classroom.
Her exhaustion was visible, but her spirits were still bright.
"Yeah, it was pretty boring, isn't it,"
Jaune agreed, suppressing his own yawn, though his skill helped him maintain attention.
Then, they overheard a sharp, familiar voice speaking to Professor Port.
"Professor, I simply must reiterate my concerns! It's highly irregular for a fifteen-year-old with zero combat experience to be thrust into a leadership position!"
Weiss was cornering the mustachioed professor, arguing passionately that Ruby should not be the leader.
Her reason was that Ruby was too young and inexperienced, a point which, unfortunately, wasn't entirely wrong.
Ruby's smile instantly crumpled, her shoulders slumping.
She looked crestfallen.
Jaune immediately stepped in, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"Hey, don't mind her words, Ruby. She's just being a classic. But listen to me: I saw you take charge of the situation on the cliff. You're fast, you're creative, and you care about people more than anyone else here. I see you have the quality to be the leader. You just need some experience, and you'll be one of the best."
Jaune's words, coming from the boy who had just cleaved a giant Nevermore in half with a single flash of lightning, had the force of absolute truth.
"Do you think so, Jaune? Really?"
Ruby's eyes shone.
"Then I will give it my all then! I'm going to be the best leader ever!"
"Yes, that's my girl right there!"
Jaune affirmed, giving her a gentle, proud push forward.
He felt a fierce pride for his new friend.
He knew that with the right encouragement, Ruby Rose would fulfill her potential.