Chapter 412

"Victor, this equipment...it must be expensive?" Zachary swallowed hard.

Victor's gaze lingered on the brand-new instrument. "Yeah. Very."

"How much exactly?"

"Over a million."

Zachary sucked in a sharp breath.

It wasn't the price that shocked him, but the fact that Evelyn and her friends could casually purchase something so costly.

Three girls. Over a million.

He thought of his farming parents back home, scrimping all year round. Even in their best years, they couldn't save fifty thousand.

This single machine equaled two decades of his parents' savings.

Zachary stood frozen.

Hannah's cheerful voice echoed down the hallway. They were back!

Victor pulled Zachary out through the rear exit.

Before leaving, Victor couldn't help glancing back.

Sunlight streamed through the windows, illuminating the three girls.

Evelyn held a bottle of mineral water with French labeling—each sip worth three days of his meals.

Hannah carried an armful of imported snacks, their English packaging glinting under the light.

Liam sipped a sports drink from packaging he'd only seen in commercials.

"Hey, what's on your mind?"

At the building's base, Zachary nudged his shoulder.

Victor murmured, "Nice."

Zachary sighed. "Yeah, the new equipment must be great to use."

Victor smiled.

He wasn't talking about the machine.

It was their ability to stand against injustice, to purchase what they desired without hesitation.

That feeling—it was nice.

Inside the lab—

Evelyn handed water to the technicians. "Thank you for your hard work."

Hannah tore open snacks. "Take a break and have some food!"

......

Professor Eleanor Roland learned about the incident three days later.

The elderly woman slammed her desk. "Beatrice! How dare she?!"

"And you! Why didn't you tell me about something this important? I may be old, but I'm not senile yet!"

Evelyn quickly interjected. "Professor, what are you saying? You're still young!"

Eleanor glared. "Had I known earlier, you wouldn't have needed to buy new equipment yourselves!"

Evelyn blinked. "The new instruments are quite efficient. Our productivity has improved."

"Exactly!" Hannah nodded vigorously. "Money well spent!"

Liam adjusted his glasses. "Data confirms superior performance."

Eleanor: "..."

"One word from me, ten retorts from you!"

"Hehe..."

The matter was settled.

......

Beatrice Merouin had been having a rough week.

First, Victor received disciplinary action, embarrassing her before the faculty.

Then the dean summoned her for a talk.

Not Benjamin Aldridge from administration—the actual department head.

The conversation carried implicit warnings against factionalism.

Leaving the office, Beatrice's back was drenched in sweat.

She stormed to Benjamin. "Did you report me?"

Benjamin looked equally confused. "Why would I? What good would that do me?"

Beatrice frowned. "Then who?"

A name flashed through Benjamin's mind.

Ethan Winston lacked that kind of influence.

Only one person could make the dean intervene personally...

Who else could it be?