Beast Academy: Raising Baby Beasts with Cashback 500%

Shani was slightly startled by her sudden realization, but she quickly dismissed the thought.

’Jeryon probably can’t tell the difference between romantic attraction and pure gratitude yet,’ Shani reasoned internally.

She was convinced that everything she had done for him was causing the prince to misunderstand his own feelings.

Reassured by her own logic, Shani excused herself and returned to her dorm to celebrate the 1.5 million Credits in cashback she had just earned.

Glancing down at her wrist, she toyed with the idea of returning her own watch to the store. That way, she could at least get 200,000 Credits back.

But she didn’t want to weave another web of lies, especially if Jeryon eventually noticed she was no longer wearing her matching piece.

...

After lunch, Shani obtained permission to leave the academy grounds. She was headed to a real estate agency she had contacted the night before.

Hailing an online ride, Shani made her way toward the Central District, more commonly known as the Commerce District.

Her taxi entered a specialized hovercar elevator inside South Plazalis before coming to a stop on the tenth floor.

From there, Shani set off on foot into the plaza, passing several offices until she stopped before a glass door topped with a sign that read ’Summit Real Estate.’

Since she had booked an appointment in advance, the real estate agent immediately escorted Shani to a table in another room.

”Miss Rowan, you may call me Agent Sharpe. Please, enjoy some tea while I go over the available units with you,” Sharpe said warmly.

Shani took a sip of the jasmine tea in front of her, scanning the room, which felt far more like a cozy cafe than a real estate agency.

Just then, the door swung open to reveal another agent leading a middle-aged woman and a young man who looked like her son.

They were guided to a table some distance away from her. Aside from them, the room also held a couple and an elderly gentleman, each accompanied by their own agents.

Shani pulled her focus back as Sharpe began displaying several apartment options via holograms.

They were deep in conversation when a sudden harsh outburst from another table cut them off.

Glancing over, Shani saw the middle-aged woman looking furious at the house options her agent was presenting.

The agent apologized profusely, fetching fresh tea and snacks before the woman finally calmed down.

Shani simply shook her head at the display and turned her attention back to Sharpe.

After a short while, Shani narrowed it down to two options. ”Can I take a look at these two units in person?”

”Of course, Miss. Since they are located in the Second and Third Layers, you’re welcome to ride in my hovercar if you didn’t bring your own vehicle.”

”I didn’t bring one, but I’d like to use the restroom first.”

Shani hadn’t expected their discussion to take so long. Her throat was parched, and she had ended up drinking half a pot of tea.

Sharpe pointed out the restroom and let Shani head inside.

Shani quickly finished up. When she stepped out of the stall, the middle-aged woman from earlier was standing in front of the sink.

Shani chose the sink farthest away to wash her hands before heading straight for the exit. She caught the woman muttering behind her back, ”Kids these days are so rude!”

Refusing to let such a petty incident ruin her mood, Shani rejoined Sharpe. Soon after, they departed South Plazalis in his hovercar.

Shani gazed up at four massive high-rise towers that encircled the commercial district like a giant ring.

These four structures were South, West, East, and North Plazalis, collectively known as the First Layer.

It served as the heart of the Commerce District, where real estate prices reached utterly absurd heights.

Sharpe drove Shani toward the Second Layer, situated directly behind the four Plazalis towers.

Though significantly cheaper than the First Layer, the prices were still staggering for Shani, who internally cried tears of blood when she had to shell out 150 Credits for a single night’s stay.

”At 17,000 Credits a month, this two-bedroom unit is quite a steal. It’s close to a private hospital, and there’s a bustling nightlife hub just a block away,” Sharpe explained, walking her through the layout.

Shani’s brow furrowed.

The apartment was tucked pretty far from the main thoroughfare leading to the First Layer. Direct access to main roads was what she actually needed, not easy access to nightlife.

Next, they moved on to the Third Layer, also known as the Rear Layer due to its position as the outermost perimeter of the district.

Surprisingly, once they crossed the main thoroughfare, it only took a single block to reach the third apartment building.

”15,000 Credits a month might not sound too different from the previous option, but this unit boasts three bedrooms. As you can see, it’s right by the main road. Plus, there’s a storefront on the next block specializing in baby beast supplies, which seems perfect for you, Miss Rowan.”

Shani was immediately intrigued. She took a quick walk through the apartment, inspecting its pristine, well-maintained condition before nodding in satisfaction.

”How much is the security deposit, Agent Sharpe?” Shani asked.

Sharpe offered a professional smile. ”Exclusively for students of Grand Academy, the deposit is only equivalent to one month’s rent.”

”Is this perk exclusive to Grand Academy students? What is the standard deposit?” Shani asked, pleasantly surprised.

”It’s a perk reserved for highly reputable clients, and Grand Academy students fall under that category. Typically, the deposit ranges from three to five months’ rent depending on the unit,” Sharpe clarified.

Shani was reminded that Grand Academy was far from an ordinary institution.

In the eyes of the public, its students were anything but ordinary. Simply carrying the title of a student gave her immense privilege in the outside world.

”I’ll take this unit. Can we finalize all the paperwork right now?” Shani made up her mind on the spot.

After all, Aster was arriving tomorrow.

...