Scammed?

"Yeah, I have a bit more than I did yesterday," Kyle calmly replied with a nod.

Orion's smirk returned, though it was more subdued this time. "Because I know a way for you to make the best value out of those credits you have."

Kyle raised an eyebrow. "How?"

"It's simple, really," Orion continued, leaning back in his chair with a casual air. "You invest in me."

Kyle blinked, momentarily caught off guard. "Invest? In you?"

"Yes," Orion said, his tone confident as ever. "You see, credits are everything in this academy. They fuel your progress, and allow you access to rare materials, better equipment, and higher-level resources.

I've been making do with what I have, but frankly, the lack of funding has been a serious limitation in my research and projects.

With the right backing, I could speed things up significantly, and trust me, you'd be the first to benefit."