They Called Me Trash? Now I'll Hack Their World-Chapter 102: Little Thief [2]

I stood in my room, staring at the half-packed bag on my bed.

How the hell am I supposed to just leave?

The thought had been circling my mind. I needed to get to Greyford to find Agnes.

But I couldn’t just walk out. Not after Cassandra had already caught me sneaking off once. Father would have questions. And leaving without permission would just give them more ammunition to use against me.

I need something that they can’t refuse.

I sat on the edge of my bed, running through possibilities.

Academy business? No, semester was over. They’d know that was bullshit.

Medical emergency? Too easily disproven.

Personal errand for Father? He’d never buy it, and asking him directly would just invite interrogation.

Then an idea began forming.

Cedric.

My youngest half-brother. Hot-tempered, and harboring a grudge against me that ran deeper than the others combined.

It was risky. But I was running out of options. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Then I finished packing essentials into a smaller travel bag, clothes, coin purse, a few basic supplies, and hid it in my chest.

Then I went to find Cedric.

----

It wasn’t long when I found him in the estate library, hunched over a desk covered in papers and textbooks. Pre-Academy tutoring materials, from the look of it.

The library was quiet, sunlight streaming through tall windows, dust motes dancing in the beams. Rows of books lined the walls, their spines faded with age.

Cedric looked up as I entered, his expression immediately darkening.

"What do you want?" he said, his voice sharp with hostility.

I closed the door behind me and walked closer, keeping my movements casual, non-threatening.

"Just wanted to check on my little brother," I said evenly. "See how the studying’s going."

His jaw tightened. "I don’t need your concern. Or your pity."

"Not pity." I glanced at the papers on his desk, practice equations, magical theory diagrams, all marked with frustrated corrections in red ink. "Just curiosity. Father must be putting a lot of pressure on you. With the entrance exams coming up."

"I’ll pass," Cedric said through gritted teeth. "Unlike you, I actually belong at the Academy."

I let that slide, pulling out a chair and sitting down across from him uninvited.

"You know," I said conversationally, "I heard something interesting the other day. About a merchant in Greyford who’s been selling counterfeit Academy preparation materials. Fake practice exams, incorrect theory guides. Real convincing stuff, apparently. Been scamming desperate students for months."

Cedric’s eyes narrowed. "So?"

"So I was thinking about the textbooks Father ordered for you last month. The ones that came from that new supplier." I gestured at the books on his desk. "Where did Father say they came from again?"

I watched the calculation happen behind his eyes. The seed of doubt taking root.

"Greyford," Cedric said slowly, but I could saw doubt flickering across his face.

"Huh. Funny coincidence." I stood, stretching. "Probably nothing to worry about. I’m sure they’re legitimate."

I started walking toward the door.

"Wait." Cedric’s voice stopped me. "How... how would I know if they’re fake?"

I turned back, keeping my expression carefully neutral. "Check the publisher’s seal. Real Academy materials have a specific signature embedded in the ink. Glows blue under mana infusion. Fakes can’t replicate it properly, they glow red instead, or don’t glow at all."

It was complete bullshit. I’d made it up on the spot.

But Cedric didn’t know that.

I watched him grab one of the textbooks, his hands already beginning to glow faintly with mana as he channeled energy into the cover.

The book, of course, didn’t glow at all. Because that’s not how any of this worked.

Cedric’s face went pale. Then red. Then a dangerous shade of purple.

"These are fake?" His voice rose. "Father spent a fortune on these! If I’ve been studying from incorrect materials... if I fail the entrance exams because of this—"

"Hey, I’m sure it’s fine," I said, though my tone suggested otherwise. "Maybe you’re just not channeling mana correctly. Or maybe—"

"That bastard merchant!" Cedric slammed the book down. "He sold us counterfeit materials! Father needs to know. Someone needs to go to Greyford and get our money back, or better yet, have that fraud arrested!"

Perfect.

"You could send a letter," I suggested carefully.

"A letter? This requires immediate action!" Cedric stood, his anger building momentum. "Someone should go personally. Confront this criminal. Make sure he’s properly punished."

He stopped pacing, turning to look at me with sudden suspicion.

"Why are you telling me this?"

I shrugged. "Like I said. Just checking on my little brother. Wouldn’t want you to fail because of bad study materials."

His eyes narrowed further, but the anger was already too far gone for him to think clearly.

"I’m telling Father," he announced. "Right now."

He stormed past me toward the door.

"Good luck with that," I called after him.

He didn’t respond, already gone, his footsteps echoing down the corridor.

I waited a few moments, then followed at a more measured pace.

And the aftermath played out exactly as I’d hoped.

Cedric burst into Father’s study, voice raised, demanding action against the fraudulent merchant in Greyford.

Father, who was already irritated by the interruption, listened with growing impatience as Cedric ranted about counterfeit textbooks and wasted money.

Victor was called in to verify the claim. He examined the books, ran his own tests, and confirmed what I already knew, there was nothing wrong with the materials. They were legitimate Academy textbooks, properly published, completely authentic.

Cedric’s face went from angry to confused to humiliated in the span of about thirty seconds.

"Then why didn’t they glow?" he demanded, his voice cracking slightly.

"Because that’s not how you check authenticity, you idiot," Victor said flatly. "Who told you that nonsense?"

Cedric’s eyes found mine where I stood in the doorway, and understanding dawned with all the subtlety of a hammer to the face.

"You—"

"Jin." Father’s voice cut through the room like ice. "Explain."

I stepped inside, keeping my expression apologetic. "I may have... misunderstood something I overheard at the Academy. About checking textbook authenticity. I was trying to help, but I clearly got the information wrong. My apologies."

Father stared at me for a long moment, his grey eyes cold and analytical.

He didn’t believe me. Not for a second.

But he also couldn’t prove I’d done it deliberately.

"Victor," Father said finally, not taking his eyes off me. "Take Jin to Greyford. Verify personally that our suppliers are legitimate. Since he seems so concerned about counterfeits, he can assist you in the investigation."

Victor’s jaw tightened. "Father, I have duties—"

"Which are based in Greyford," Father interrupted. "You can return to your post and handle this matter simultaneously. And if this was just misunderstanding..."

Then his eyes met mine. "You should know what will happen"

I nodded, and kept my face carefully neutral, fighting the urge to smile.

Got it.

Then he looked back at Victor.

"Yes, Father," Victor said through gritted teeth.

"We leave tomorrow morning," Victor added, shooting me a look that promised retribution. "Be ready at dawn."

"Of course," I said, bowing slightly.

Cedric looked like he wanted to murder me on the spot. His fists were clenched so hard they shook.

Father dismissed us with a wave of his hand, already returning his attention to the papers on his desk.

I left the study, walked calmly back to my room, and closed the door behind me.

Then I allowed myself a small smile.