Don't Feed the Professor! - Chapter 72

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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I sat there in a daze for a long time. What was all this about? My mind wasn’t working properly.
I opened the Envelope and checked its contents. It was a simple Memory Card.
“This is…… What is this?”
“The less you know, the better.”
I lifted my head. I still couldn’t understand.
“But then, what about me…… What about Amelie?”
I could be here as Amelie only because the Fortress had shown me kindness. So unless the Fortress allowed it, I couldn’t leave this place.
That was certainly the case.
Mallo smiled. As if to say there was nothing to worry about.
“I told you from the start. That sort of thing has nothing to do with us.”
“But why suddenly……, why now?”
“Giving you something like this is quite a fatal intervention. That’s why I needed time to observe for a while. To make sure no chain reactions or disasters occur because of this.”
The Butterfly Effect, in other words. Yeah, that makes sense.
But really, this way?
I found myself biting my lip. Watching me like that for a moment, Mallo soon changed his expression and spoke in a playful tone.
“Don’t be too disappointed. Whether it’s late or early, it was always going to end up like this anyway.”
Don’t be disappointed?
Not long ago, it was he who’d been disappointed. Though whether that was genuine, nobody could say.
Mallo returned to sit at his desk and gave a light nod.
“Is there anything else I can help with?”
I shook my head.
I certainly had plenty to say. So many things to ask.
But it doesn’t matter. Once I leave here, none of that will have anything to do with me.
Just as well.
“Then…… I’ll be going.”
“Yeah.”
“Thank you for everything.”
“There’s no need to thank me.”
And Mallo laughed again.
……
I got to my feet.
I couldn’t understand why I was so angry at myself.
But that too would have nothing to do with me in two weeks.
Skirting around an RC car zooming down the hallway by itself, I left Mallo’s office.
* * *
Late at night, on the second floor of the Student Hall, the security system of the Administrative Office disengaged.
Beep, beep—the door opened silently, and Kwon Taehyun stepped into the darkened Administrative Office, his gaze fixed on his Smartphone.
“Ugh, struck out again today…….”
He clicked his tongue at the volatile chart, and the moment his foot touched the ground, a sudden obstacle shot out toward him—he couldn’t dodge it and stumbled forward.
“What?! Ugh…….”
He turned around with an irritated face, recognized who’d tripped him, and let out a hollow laugh.
“Well, who do we have here. Kang Woojin, sir—still alive, I see. Looking at you, your lifespan seems remarkably tenacious.”
The tall man sitting slouched in a chair, hood pulled deep over his head, was none other than Kang Woojin.
His face, half-shrouded in shadow, twisted into a smile.
“That’s what I should be saying. How long did it take this time, hm?”
That expression, that tone of voice, that inflection—despite the shabby, unremarkable appearance, there radiated an inexplicable, chilling presence.
Yet Kwon Taehyun forced himself to look composed, dusting off the dirt from his shirt and returning to his seat before asking.
“Did you need something from me? I thought you said there’d be no reason to visit for a while after last time.”
“Looks like you’ve been out and about.”
“Yeah, well.”
“Chairman Song this time?”
“Oh, is she your girlfriend or something? Why so much interest?”
A brief silence fell. Kang Woojin’s face was half-concealed, but Kwon Taehyun could feel the pressure of his gaze pressing down.
Though he tried to maintain composure, his mouth twitched involuntarily. Only then did Kang Woojin ask in a gentle tone.
“You have any painkillers on you? I think I need something stronger this time.”
“……You’ve left medicine with me? If your head hurts, go to the infirmary.”
Grumbling as he spoke, Kwon Taehyun retrieved a Medicine Bottle from the First Aid Kit and tossed it to Kang Woojin.
Kang Woojin dumped a fistful of pills into his mouth and spoke.
“Chairman Song’s youngest grandson is here.”
Kwon Taehyun flinched inwardly. This kind of veiled probing question wasn’t new to him.
He never knew how much Kang Woojin had already figured out, so dealing with him always left him on edge.
But he quickly played dumb.
“What grandson?”
“Again, again.”
“I’m not sure what you mean…….”
“At least make your pretense contextual. If you don’t know, that’s even more of a problem for me.”
……
“The way he’s been running around, looks like the surgery went well.”
Kwon Taehyun let out a helpless sound, clicking his tongue against his teeth.
“Yeah, lucky him. He went through a lot, that kid. But where did you see him this time?”
Though he asked, he had a pretty good idea where.
Song Hyunmin, the youngest grandson of Song Won Group. He fancied himself well-hidden, but he couldn’t evade Kwon Taehyun’s information network.
And what Kwon Taehyun had confirmed upon his return was the Log Record.
A Distress Signal sent from Nest Building. And it had been designated to reach only one person.
Sure enough, Kang Woojin spoke.
“Nest Building. I had a hunch and poked around—came scurrying over all panicked. For someone from that bloodline, doesn’t seem too bright.”
Kwon Taehyun laughed along with a chuckle.
“If he were smart, he’d have latched onto the family somehow and found a way to profit.”
“Same goes for you.”
“What?”
“If you were a bit smarter, you wouldn’t have told me any of this.”
Kang Woojin looked at Kwon Taehyun and spoke with amusement in his voice.
“Team Lead Kwon Taehyun—Chairman Song must be desperately searching for his youngest grandson right now, yet you saw it all and said nothing. That right?”
“That…….”
“Obvious. You were busy weighing between Song Won and The Agency, trying to figure out the best price to sell him at. While pocketing generous holiday bonuses from Chairman Song, no doubt?”
Kwon Taehyun’s face grew hollow for a moment before he twisted his mouth into a smile.
“So what? Even if that’s true, what are you going to do about it? Rush off to tell him? Do you think Chairman Song will just let you walk away? Can you even leave here in that condition?”
“You seem pretty touched. Getting talkative, I see.”
The smile vanished from Kwon Taehyun’s face.
“As you say, this body won’t last long. But before that happens, taking care of one person like you would be no trouble at all.”
Kwon Taehyun cleared his throat for no reason. Then he adeptly changed the subject.
“About that thing you mentioned last time—”
“What thing?”
“You know, during course registration, when we agreed on something—”
“Oh, that K or J guy? He’s off.”
“What? We already agreed on it, didn’t we? You said his rejection response was the lowest so far.”
“That’s true. But there was an accident in between.”
“An accident?”
Kwon Taehyun asked, but this time Kang Woojin turned the conversation.
“Anyway, the new Amelie—has her Identity been determined?”
Kwon Taehyun avoided his gaze.
“Well, the people from Singang said they did it on their own…….”
“They’re all just Song Won launderers anyway—we both know that. If Chairman Song decides to clean house…….”
“Come on, Kang Woojin. This is exactly why I say you don’t understand how the world works. Do you know how old that old man is?”
Kwon Taehyun sighed in exasperation.
“He’s not the same Chairman Song you knew back then. I hear these days he shakes so badly holding just a pen that his Secretary Director does all the signing for him.”
“‘I hear’?”
“What?”
“That means you didn’t meet him yourself. You went all the way to Seoul and didn’t see Chairman Song?”
“I never said that…….”
Kwon Taehyun mumbled.
“So who’s taking care of the old man these days?”
“That would be the new Secretary Director…….”
Kwon Taehyun started to answer as he lifted his head, then something seemed to occur to him, and he broke into a smile.
“Well, who could it be? Want a hint? Someone who’d be very happy to see you.”
“That could be anyone.”
“That’s exactly why I’m bringing this up. Let me tell you something. Why don’t you come clean first?”
“Hm?”
“What’s your reason for targeting our dear Amelie?”
“……Team Lead.”
Kang Woojin stepped close and placed his hand on Kwon Taehyun’s shoulder. And in a voice so smooth it raised goosebumps, he asked.
“Living long and thin is your life goal, isn’t it?”
……
“Then keep living that way.”
And he turned and left the Administrative Office.
“I’d rather die than live like that.”
Left alone, Kwon Taehyun muttered to himself and shook off his shoulder.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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