Chapter 2

Half a month before the rock climbing competition, my teammates sent me their latest body measurements.

"Elena, we're counting on you for the equipment!"

Before I could respond, Muniz mentioned me.

"Twelve hundred a set for equipment? Am I reading this right..."

"That price... is way too outrageous."

I thought she found the price too low and was about to explain that for the team's overall benefit, I didn't mind taking a small loss.

Instead, she sent a voice message, her tone particularly agitated.

"This stuff costs less than two hundred to make. How can you have the nerve to charge everyone twelve hundred?"

"Elena, even if you're ripping off your friends, this is way too ruthless!"

My typing fingers froze.

Cost of two hundred? The cost of knockoffs on Amazon, maybe?

My teammate Verna explained on my behalf.

"Muniz, you just joined the scene, so you don't understand. Good rock climbing equipment really is expensive."

"Elena owns a shop and only charges everyone cost price. This stuff would be at least seven thousand on the market."

Muniz replied:

"I understand perfectly well. My family owns a shop too."

"Market price is one thing, but the markup is huge."

"When my family buys wholesale, even the best equipment only costs two hundred, but we can retail it for ten thousand."

The group fell silent for a moment. Verna spoke up again, but this time directed at me.

"Elena, why don't you explain to everyone..."

"We understand you want to make money, but isn't a six-times markup a bit... too excessive?"

Other teammates chimed in as well.

"I knew no one gets up early for nothing. No wonder Elena was always so enthusiastic."

"Elena, this is too much. Every time we thanked you for the low prices, were you secretly calling us idiots?"

Muniz sent a hand-over-mouth emoji.

"Oops, should I not have said anything? I'm ruining someone's cash cow..."

"But I really couldn't help it. I can't stand people who make money off their friends."

"I used to provide equipment for my old team too, but I charged the real cost price—two hundred a set."

"If you're willing, I can give you all the same price."

The group got even more excited.

"Muniz, you can really give it to us for two hundred? That's such a savings!"

"I won't have to scrimp and save for equipment anymore."

"Ugh, all the money I saved by going hungry ended up enriching a capitalist."

Even the usually fair-minded captain, Johnson, came out and sent a message.

"My fault for not properly researching the market and human nature. I let certain people rip everyone off."

Immediately after, Johnson private messaged me.

"Elena, everyone's pretty upset about this. Can you refund this round of payments?"

"We want to get equipment from Muniz."

"It's not that everyone doesn't want to support you. It's just that your price difference is too big."