Chapter Two: Four Dollars’ Worth of Causality

Someone had switched the cups not to prevent the failure, but to steal the profit from whoever did. A notice appeared. 【Honeycomb Microbattery patent has received an off-market offer.】 【Buyer “White Crow” offers 50 celestial credits.】 【Message: You bought the cause. That does not mean you can keep the effect.】 Lu’s balance was still zero. If he rejected her, he might leave with nothing. If he accepted, he would lock in a fiftyfold gain while surrendering the fortune beyond it. He replied: 【Offer expiration?】 White Crow answered: 【Before the coffee lands.】 Lu looked up. The girl with the blue-stained pencil had risen. Carrying cup six, she walked toward economy. At that exact moment, the seat-belt sign went dark.