Don't confiscate my identity as a human race

The passengers moved toward the train doors, and for a moment, the platform was bustling with heads bobbing, footsteps, and conversations overlapping.

At the back of the passenger line, Lanci held a dark brown leather suitcase and calmly stood up with Migaya and the others.

"Are you two in compartment 501?"

Lanci looked at the ticket in Migaya's hand and asked.

"Yes, it seems close, but actually Yifa and I have to board car number five."

Migaya glanced towards the more leftward car of the platform, speaking to Lanci and Talia.

There were private compartments and double compartments; this was a more upscale type, similar to the Brilda that Lanci had taken when he arrived.

Isatia wanted to travel with Migaya, so her sister Talia had to reluctantly share the journey with Lanci.

"I see, see you later."

Lanci waved goodbye to Migaya and Isatia.

"See you later!"

Isatia raised her hand high, waving back at them.

They would meet again at the transfer station later; this was just the first train departing from Brilda.

"Our compartments are quite close."

Lanci quietly waited for the bustling crowd ahead to clear before stepping forward, and Talia followed suit.

"We first took a train together, too."

Talia recalled when she first met Lanci. After staying with him for a short while in Nanwantina, she boarded the Magic Power Rail Train to the Capital City Ekrite with him.

At this moment, it was just like that time.

"Back then, you really didn't want to talk to me, so cold."

Lanci remembered that unless he asked Talia questions, she would just sit there, looking at him coldly, as if he owed her money.

"You do owe me money."

Talia read Lanci's thoughts and said logically.

"Ah, we're so close now; do you even remember how much I owe you?"

Lanci had almost forgotten the debt since Talia hadn't mentioned it in a while.

Indeed, he hadn't earned much money; whether as the chancellor governor on the Northern Continent or as a professor consultant in the Cerryti Empire, he had always been honest and upright, only taking a basic salary. Reimbursements were handled as they should be, and funds were used for campus development and research, with personal spending mostly on household expenses.

"The production cost we agreed upon for the Great Love Poet was 75,000 Pounds because it was difficult even for the Wilford Chamber of Commerce to come up with that much cash at once. We agreed you would repay me slowly, based on a 4% annual compound interest rate, to clear it in 10 years. This means you need to pay me at least 9,247 Pounds annually. If you don't, with late fees, the amount will only increase with interest. You've already paid two installments on time, so if you want to settle this within the year, you need to pay me 62,256 Pounds."

Talia calculated instantly.

"...Tata, you're actually good at math, huh?"

Lanci always thought Talia wasn't too bright, but now he realized when it came to debts, she could calculate instantly.

"What do you mean I'm not smart? I can even teach you Magical Engineering; do you think I can't calculate accounts?"

Talia accurately grasped Lanci's thoughts and had just roughly calculated it in the simplest way. If calculated on a daily interest basis, it would be higher than 62,000.

"Oh, right, if you have any more disrespectful thoughts about me, I'll raise the interest."

She suddenly seemed to think of something clever, revealing a slight smile.

The contract they signed at the time had a clause allowing both parties to negotiate interest adjustments based on future fluctuations in the South Continent Kingdom Union Council Federal Bank's rates.

"No, no, Tata, you're the smartest, don't raise the interest."

Lanci quickly said to Talia.

"But speaking of, if you want to directly wipe out this debt, there are legal ways..."

Talia mused, muttering.

"What way?"

Just the thought of that 60,000 plus Pounds made Lanci's scalp tingle. The Wilford Chamber of Commerce might not be able to come up with that money now. If Lanci continued as an honest and upright chancellor, he wouldn't earn that much without some side gigs. If worse came to worst, he'd have to make cards and sell art, although he didn't really want to pursue art just for money.

"Figure it out yourself."

Talia gave a nearly imperceptible hum and turned her head away, refusing to remind him further.