Too Late to Hold Me Back novel Chapter 260

This absolute panic was exactly the effect she had orchestrated.

Not only would it skyrocket her restaurant's popularity into the stratosphere, but it would also ensure the mastermind behind the poisoning had nowhere left to hide.

Even if the operative had worn a brilliant disguise, the police would tear the city apart to identify him using the market's surveillance footage.

And out of pure terror, every wholesale market in the state would instantly overhaul their security and quality control.

The next morning, massive crowds formed outside every Solflare branch—not to dine, but to buy fresh produce. It was blatantly obvious that the public had completely lost faith in the city's grocery markets.

Those with cash just ordered fully prepared meals to go, while those on a tighter budget bought raw, chemically screened vegetables straight from the kitchen.

But Solflare wasn't a charity wholesale distributor. They weren't about to sell their pristine stock at cost—they were absolutely going to capitalize on the margin.

Even offering discounted crisis prices, they hauled in a staggering fortune, running the procurement team and the floor staff ragged.

Mira ordered management to drastically hike the performance bonuses. The harder they worked, the more they earned. Some staff were pocketing three days' worth of pay in a single shift, leaving them utterly exhausted but euphoric.

On the third day, the school hosted its closing ceremony to announce the final exam rankings. Elara called Mira bright and early.

"Mira, could you beg the homeroom teacher for a leave of absence for me? And grab my report card while you're at it?

I am making serious bank right now. If I stop weighing and prepping these vegetables for even half a day, I'll lose out on dozens of dollars!

The second I get my paycheck, I'm buying you dinner!"

Mira couldn't help but laugh. Who knew the girl was such a ruthless capitalist?

When Mira arrived at school, she noticed several empty desks in her class. Word on the grapevine was that they had also skipped to go make a fortune working at Solflare's restaurants.

Even Liora looked deeply envious. "Mira, I want to go make money, too."

"Give it a rest, princess. Does the heiress of the Bennett family really care about a few extra dollars?"

Celine couldn't resist mocking her.

"I do!"

"Could you even handle the physical labor? It's brutal out there."

"If Elara can do it, so can I."

Ten of our students have broken into the top fifty statewide. Furthermore, Mira Mercer from Class One has achieved a staggering score of 735, officially claiming first place in the entire state for the sciences!

She is also the only student in the state to receive a flawless score on the creative essay!"

"735! She really is a god! And to think people actually doubted she could dominate the entire state. Look whose faces are getting slapped now!"

"I am a fiercely loyal believer! I bet she'd hit the top three, and now I'm going to make an absolute killing!"

"I made a pretty sweet profit myself!"

The academy awarded Mira a massive one-hundred-thousand-dollar academic scholarship. Even though the money was essentially pocket change to her now, the prestige of the honor genuinely lifted her spirits.

Out of the state's top five, an incredible three students came from Class One. The other two were Wesley Scott and Harvey Rivers.

Both boys had smashed past the seven-hundred mark. It was something Mira hadn't anticipated at all—it certainly hadn't happened in her previous life.

Elara scored an impressive 690, but unfortunately, it wasn't enough to crack the top fifty and secure a scholarship, which was a bitter shame.

Just as Mira was heading back with the Iron Wolves, her phone buzzed. It was Lenny Forbes. "We found the rat who bribed the vendor..."