The school was divided into four faculties: the Academic Faculty, Commerce Hub, Institutional Affairs, and Club Association League (CAL).
I take it the school has these systems divided for more efficiency in its operations. From the guides and handbooks given to us detailing the school's framework and the functions of its faculties, it was easy to grasp and very clear what it wanted to convey to new students.
The Academic Faculty, as its name suggests, handles the educational well-being of students on campus. They are responsible for placing class schedules, course outlines, and topics, balancing and streamlining efficiency for students to thrive in their academics and other scholastic environments.
The Commerce Hub is another faculty that plays the role of a mall, market, business, goods, and service provider to customers on school grounds. They are also given the privilege of managing resources and materials the school uses in exams, practicals, and equipment. They work hand in hand with the Academic Faculty often, but their strong suit is providing everyday goods to students, staff, and other school personnel. The Commerce Hub is divided into two: Detailed Economy and Non-Detailed Economy.
What are the differences? Well, it's simple— the school uses a part of the Commerce Hub to monitor the economy and in-school currency to a detailed degree. This part is called the Detailed Economy, while the Non-Detailed Economy is more of a free market where students can purchase products from stores and vendors, as long as they are licensed by the school. What intrigued me the most was that any individual could sell as long as they had obtained the school's official license.
Institutional Affairs oversees everything related to the school council, club associations, school marketing, and higher powers like the chairman, chancellor, and the rest. Think of them as the umbrella that houses the rest of the faculties, ensuring they don't get drenched in broken rules and policies.
Meanwhile, the Club Association League (CAL) is focused on club interactions and major activities. They handle interschool competitions in certain niches, like sports, health, and others. CAL is crucial— for a club to stand on its own, it must first be recognized by this faculty.
As all this information ran through my head for no apparent reason, I found myself on the south side of campus, riding one of the designated school buses. This particular route was heading to the Commerce hub. A short fifteen-minute ride—not bad. Walking there would've been a hassle.
The moment the bus stopped, students poured out, scattering toward their destinations.
I hesitated.
The school hadn't given us any Marks yet—our official in-school currency—so for now, we relied on free daily necessities: lunch, hygiene kits, and other essentials. This upcoming group project would be our first real opportunity to earn Marks.
That is… if there aren't any unexpected variables.
With that thought lingering in my mind, I made my way into the bustling Commercial Market.
It was practically a town of its own, existing solely for trade and services. Towering buildings lined the streets, each housing different businesses. Even though this market was meant for students, outsiders still came to shop here—their money seamlessly converting to our school's currency.
The air was thick with different scents—perfume, food, even the faint metallic tang of electronics. The noise was overwhelming, a chaotic blend of haggling, chatter, and background music from store speakers.
I grimaced.
Too much stimulation.
Reminding myself why I was here, I made a beeline for the Electronic Plaza.
The plaza was a colossus—six different buildings, each dedicated to a specific type of electronic device. It was almost like stepping into another world. I scanned a large wall map plastered near the entrance.
"Bingo."
Following the directions, I wove through the crowd, arriving at a small but well-stocked tech store. The glass door swung open with a soft ring, signaling my entrance.
Several customers glanced my way before turning back to their shopping.
Good. No unnecessary attention.
I walked toward the counter, waiting for the employee to finish assisting a customer.
"Good morning," I greeted when she was free.
The young woman turned toward me, offering a polite but tired smile.
"Good morning! How can I assist you?"
"Uh, I'm looking for a recorder."
She tilted her head, her expression thoughtful. "Hmm… I'm not sure if we have any—wait, let me ask."
She suddenly turned toward the back of the store.
"Boss!" she called out, loud enough to make a few customers glance over.
A muffled, irritated voice responded. "What? What is it now?"
"Recorders! Classics from Nony Electronics!"
"Yeah, I brought new ones in yesterday around noon. You didn't see them?"
The girl frowned, tapping her chin. "I… I didn't. And I was here the entire time yesterday."
I glanced around. A receipt was pinned under a stack of papers on the far-right shelf. A few feet away, a young man was sorting through boxes, his expression sour as he arranged shelves.
The pieces clicked.
The boss said noon. If the employee was here the entire time, she would have known about the delivery. But she didn't. Meaning she wasn't actually here.
Breaks were scheduled from 11 AM to 12 PM sharp. If she had returned on time, she would've known about the new stock. The fact that she didn't meant one thing—she extended her break.
The guy organizing the shelves was probably the one who signed off on the delivery and placed the receipt under those files. It was in plain sight, but overlooked.
And judging by his scowl? He was annoyed.
Probably sick of covering for someone who slacked off.
I sighed. This is why efficiency matters.
"Maybe you should ask him," I suggested, nodding toward the irritated worker.
The girl blinked, then followed my gaze. "Oh, you mean him? Yeah, you're probably right."
She waved to get his attention. "Hey! You were here when the recorders arrived, right?"
He arched a brow. "Did you even check the receipt I left?"
"Receipt?"
"It's right there." He jerked his head toward the shelf. "The recorders are in the back."
The girl hurried off, returning moments later with a box wrapped in thin nylon.
"Sorry for the delay!" she chirped, awkwardly clasping her hands together.
I watched as she opened the box. She had auburn-red hair tied in a ponytail, long lashes, and mischievous eyes. Mid-twenties, at most.
"Ah, here it is!" She pulled out a handful of electric recorders, all stamped with the brand name Nony.
"How much?" I asked, reaching for my wallet.
She rested her chin on her hand, her gaze playful.
"No need. It's on me."
I hesitated. Why?
"You're cute." She smirked. "What's your name?"
"…."
A groan came from the back. "Zoe, stop flirting with minors. Prison ain't as far as it looks."
She grinned. "Don't mind him. So? Got a name?"
I narrowed my eyes. Eccentric.
"…Klein. Klein Merlio."
Her smirk widened. "Zoe Callahan. Nice to meet you."