Cyno stares at you, expression unchanging. “Are you attempting to bribe me?” he asks.

It’s not the first time an Akademiya researcher has attempted to get out of their punishment. It won’t be the last, either, but he hadn’t expected it from you. He also hadn’t expected you to be stealing funds for your own personal research projects, though. Usually he shuts the offer down, but…

“Why?” he asks, almost curious. “I don’t need money.” You are offering him money, right?