Hunter Kindergarten, Dolphin Class! - Chapter 67

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 067

 

“There is?”

 

Baek Cheonhyeong’s gaze was far from ordinary.

 

‘If I say the wrong thing, my head will fly off right here.’

 

I gathered all my remaining composure and maintained the best poker face I could.

 

…So, what was the real reason I went through the trouble of climbing over the kindergarten fence in the dead of night?

 

Well, didn’t I say it before.

 

Even if I scraped together all the evidence I currently have, it wouldn’t be enough to bring down the Principal.

 

If that’s the case, then what I needed to do next was already decided.

 

‘Of course I need to find more evidence… even if there are risks involved.’

 

That’s right, the method I chose was to thoroughly shake down this kindergarten.

 

‘Having a sure answer right there and taking a roundabout way just doesn’t suit my nature.’

 

Of course, I didn’t expect to suddenly face such a time-bomb level of risk.

 

“Would you like to take a look?”

 

Damn. But I can’t back down here either… Let’s just do what needs to be done.

 

I maintained a rather shameless attitude and hurriedly turned my steps.

 

‘He wouldn’t attack from behind, would he.’

 

…Whatever, I don’t know. Since everything’s already been discovered anyway, he’ll judge for himself.

 

I went to the front of the Principal’s Office on the 1st floor and turned the door handle.

 

‘As expected, it’s locked.’

 

I took out the master key I had put in my pants pocket. It was something I had asked Kang Sa-gwa, a Summoner who could make anything the size of one hand, to make for me.

 

‘She probably didn’t make it for me to do this kind of thing, but thank you anyway.’

 

The Principal’s Office I entered using the master key was cleaner than I thought.

 

The empty soju packs he had been constantly drinking weren’t visible anywhere.

 

Not even in the trash can.

 

What Kwon Hae-seong said wasn’t a lie.

 

 

‘So he’s good at pretending to be fine on the surface.’

 

But if you look just a little closer, there would be plenty of sloppy corners.

 

I approached the Principal’s Office desk without hesitation. As I turned on the monitor and looked around…

 

‘There it is.’

 

Under the desk, in a corner, there was a reasonably sized safe.

 

‘If the Principal had been a thorough person, he would have kept the safe at home.’

 

I lifted the locked safe as it was and placed it on the desk, then applied force to tear open the safe door.

 

‘From an ordinary person like the Principal’s perspective, he wouldn’t have thought this could be torn open by hand.’

 

Commercially available safes lacking professionalism could be opened with brute force even by low-grade Awakeners.

 

‘Let’s see.’

 

They all seem to be ledgers.

 

Just from skimming through a few of them, I could roughly get the picture.

 

I picked up one of them and handed it to Baek Cheonhyeong, who was standing blankly in front of the desk.

 

“Take a look. This is all money.”

 

Looking at him as he received the ledger, I continued my explanation while busily moving my hands.

 

“To be precise, it’s probably an embezzlement ledger. If you get all that back, it’ll probably be quite a lot.”

 

Setting aside donations, it seems like he embezzled a lot of the monthly budget that comes to the kindergarten too.

 

When the computer screen turned on, the desktop appeared immediately without any lock.

 

‘Go-Stop and even Mahjong games. He really did all sorts of things, didn’t he?’

 

I executed the CCTV program next to the trash can icon, and simultaneously the real-time CCTV screen and recorded footage storage appeared.

 

‘Nothing more, nothing less – just having about a week’s worth of records would be enough.’

 

He showed his drinking and work negligence behavior throughout last week after all.

 

‘As expected, he didn’t delete this either.’

 

I moved the mouse to quickly transfer the recorded screen to the USB I had brought.

 

While doing so, I glanced at Baek Cheonhyeong.

 

Baek Cheonhyeong, who had already looked away from the ledger, was looking down at me with an enigmatic gaze.

 

Only then did I remember why I had been avoiding this guy.

 

Damn it, my precious workplace.

 

I thought Baek Cheonhyeong might find me strange. No, he might have been keeping me as a person of interest from even earlier than I thought.

 

That’s why when I was kidnapped by that cult organization, I ran away as soon as I spotted Baek Cheonhyeong.

 

‘There’s nothing good about getting on your employer’s bad side.’

 

But… does that mean I should just turn a blind eye to the Principal’s behavior?

 

Because I’m afraid of getting on his bad side?

 

This matter involves not only the teachers under the Principal but also the kindergarten children.

 

This wasn’t something I could avoid just because I wanted to.

 

I can do it, and I should do it.

 

Those two clearly connected sentences were my conclusion.

 

I played the recorded scene of the Principal drinking and turned the monitor so Baek Cheonhyeong could see it.

 

“As you can see, the Principal enjoys drinking during work hours and takes frequent breaks beyond what’s necessary during work. Anyone would think he came here on vacation.”

 

Actually, just saying this much should be enough for him to understand.

 

What I was trying to say.

 

‘Can’t you deal with this person?’

 

And unintentionally, the man before me could be said to be the right person to deal with the Principal.

 

Hiding my tension, I spoke as if driving in the final nail before Baek Cheonhyeong’s next words came out.

 

“I have plenty of evidence besides this. Can’t you resolve this somehow?”

 

Baek Cheonhyeong stared at the screen, then casually scanned through the open ledger, and finally looked at me again.

 

Then, he spoke in a quite indifferent tone.

 

“That won’t work.”

 

***

 

“….”

 

A heavy silence fell for a moment.

 

It won’t work.

 

Why?

 

…Could it be that the Principal had connections not only with the Board of Directors but also with the CEO’s side?

 

A chilling thought crossed my mind for a moment, but suppressing the worst-case scenario, I asked.

 

“Is there a particular reason?”

 

“There is.”

 

Baek Cheonhyeong answered readily and sat down on the sofa across from me. The luxurious sofa that didn’t fit the kindergarten Principal’s Office suited him quite well.

 

He began to speak while tapping his fingers on the table.

 

“First of all, I haven’t been in office for long. In this situation, even if there’s evidence, what do you think would happen if I dealt with a Principal who has connections with the Board of Directors as I please?”

 

You knew the Principal had connections with the Board of Directors?

 

“The Board of Directors would start talking. And that could become the public opinion of the board.”

 

“….”

 

“For instance, that some clueless rookie CEO is trying to systematically eliminate higher-ups he doesn’t like.”

 

Isn’t that an excessive interpretation?

 

I don’t think such talk would arise over a kindergarten Principal position under the company.

 

However, as someone who doesn’t know the geography of the upper world, I couldn’t carelessly add my words.

 

“Besides, this kind of thing would have more impact if an internal kindergarten staff member reported it. That would be more credible.”

 

Who doesn’t know that?

 

But if that happened, it would become whistleblowing.

 

Even now, looking at the situation, I had directly reported it to the CEO, and this could also be considered whistleblowing in a way.

 

“Moreover, if you fire someone, you need to prepare a suitable replacement for that position…”

 

Baek Cheonhyeong slowly exhaled and shifted his gaze, which had been fixed on the table the entire time, to me.

 

Every time he showed a negative reaction, I was busy mentally devising backup plans and countering them, so when all eyes suddenly focused on me, only my fighting spirit rose.

 

So then, what am I supposed to do?

 

Should I write an anonymous tip and scatter it around the company lobby?

 

I was racking my brains since no clear solution was emerging, when Baek Cheonhyeong chuckled and said this.

 

“That said, it’s not like there’s absolutely no way.”

 

After listing all those reasons why it wouldn’t work, now he says there’s not absolutely no way?

 

Is he kidding me?

 

“What is that method?”

 

“You do it, Teacher.”

 

What?

 

“As an internal staff member, you attend tomorrow afternoon’s regular meeting and report it. Oh, and find someone to replace you too. That should work.”

 

Would that even work?

 

***

 

I had never hit anyone in my life until now.

 

But I think that might change this time.

 

I hid my trembling fist under the desk and pulled the corners of my mouth tight like bullets.

 

“As far as I know, whistleblowers usually don’t end up well.”

 

They get fired or forced to resign.

 

Of course, I don’t think the Ocean Kindergarten teachers would harbor ill feelings toward me just because I became a whistleblower.

 

‘Those people are also disgusted by the Principal.’

 

But from headquarters’ perspective, it might be different.

 

‘They’ll probably try to get rid of me somehow.’

 

I pulled myself together from my complicated feelings and decided to think realistically.

 

Actually, this method is certain. I also thought that after collecting evidence, posting it on BOND’s anonymous bulletin board when the time was right would be the best option…

 

I stared at the tall man in front of me.

 

This bastard… no, if this CEO is here?

 

After frantically calculating in my head, I immediately switched tactics.

 

“After I report at the regular meeting… could you step in, CEO?”

 

Let me try having some backing for once.

 

“Compared to what you’ve done, you’re quite timid. What would you have done if you hadn’t asked me?”

 

Sigh…

 

So is that a yes or a no?

 

After a moment, the man’s gray eyes disappeared behind pleasantly lowered eye corners.

 

Baek Cheonhyeong looked at me with a somewhat unsettling smile.

 

“Adding a few words should be possible.”

 

Then, with the face of a benevolent predator looking at prey already caught, he muttered quietly.

 

“While we’re at it, I can think of a few people to bundle together and send off too. How nice.”

 

Really disgusting.

 

Looking at the big picture, his own younger brother is involved in this matter, yet he can act like that?

 

‘Was the person who took the kindergarten teacher interview thinking of his younger brother someone else?’

 

…Still, anyway, I felt relieved having secured some backing, even if it’s unreliable.

 

‘Of course, I’ll have to prepare for the regular meeting report from now on.’

 

After the storm passed, an awkward silence arrived.

 

I was going through the remaining drawers and bookshelves in the Principal’s office one by one… when I suddenly looked at Baek Cheonhyeong who still hadn’t left and thought.

 

‘Should I do the parent consultation now?’

 

-Baek Cheonhyeong (Emotional Education and Mental Counseling)

 

Even if I arranged a separate appointment, it was uncertain whether this person would come…

 

‘This actually worked out well.’

 

I put the ledger and USB I found into the backpack I brought, then sat on the sofa across from Baek Cheonhyeong.

 

And I brought out the expression that was like my occupational disease, which I had carefully tucked away for a moment.

 

Kind yet cheerful, as if no storms or hardships could ever reach him…

 

Along with his expression, his voice changes too.

 

Soft yet strangely firm.

 

“From now on, may I call you Brother Cheonji?”

 

“…Yes?”

 

Good.

 

I had many things I wanted to ask you.

 

Perhaps sensing the sudden change in atmosphere, Baek Cheonhyeong awkwardly puts down the ledger he was looking at.

 

“What kind of relationship do Brother Cheonji and Cheonji usually have?”

 

“An ordinary… brotherly relationship.”

 

“Ah, I see. I was worried they might be distant since there’s such a big age gap.”

 

He flinches.

 

“From what I’ve observed, Cheonji seems to really like his hyung. He talks about you a lot at kindergarten too.”

 

“…Is that so.”

 

From his reaction, his face seems to say ‘what’s this suddenly about?’

 

Unfortunately, it’s too late to escape.

 

“But I think he’s also greatly influenced by you, hyung.”

 

“…”

 

“‘A productive day’. The child seems obsessed with this phrase – what do you think about that?”

 

“…”

 

Oh, fortunately his face shows he’s been hit where it hurts.

 

Baek Cheonhyeong lowers his eyes that had been wide open until now and calmly attempts to make excuses.

 

“Cheonji is a child who will have to inherit BOND when he becomes an adult. I wanted to teach him early how to live each day with a sense of purpose…”

 

“Oh? Did Cheonji say he wants to inherit the company?”

 

“…He’s never actually said that.”

 

“Then he probably doesn’t want to.”

 

Baek Cheonhyeong looks at me with a dumbfounded expression, but I just respond leisurely.

 

“Brother Cheonji, a 7-year-old child is more delicate than you think, yet simpler than you think.”

 

“Those two words seem to be at opposite extremes.”

 

“That’s how all children are.”

 

What can you do about it.

 

Did you think children were like bean sprouts that just grow if you water them?

 

“You might already know this, but from what I can see, Cheonji seems to have worries and thoughts that don’t match his age.”

 

“…”

 

“Taking on responsible roles among his friends, or desperately trying to look good to his teacher – these behaviors clearly show such thinking.”

 

Occasionally, there are children who genuinely like such roles and take them on willingly.

 

But from what I can see, Cheonji isn’t that type.

 

‘The fact that he feels burdened and the keyword “obsession” came up is already…’

 

“Then what should I do?”

 

Now we’re finally getting somewhere.

 

I nod my head greatly and refreshingly say what I most wanted to tell Baek Cheonhyeong when I met him.

 

“If possible, please mainly have conversations with Cheonji that match a 7-year-old child’s level.”

 

Please, I’m begging you.

 

“…”

 

“And I hope you won’t put too much pressure on the child. Things like the future, roles, productive days…”

 

Let’s keep such burdens between just you and me, the adults.

 

“And most importantly, praise. Please give Cheonji lots of praise.”

 

Finally, Baek Cheonhyeong nods slightly, looking bewildered but understanding.

 

“Alright. Brother Cheonji.”

 

Yes, let’s do well.

 

The parent consultation was easier than I had expected.

 

…Is this the right way to do it? Actually, this is my first time too, so I’m not really sure.

 

“I’ll take that into consideration….”

 

Judging by the reaction, it doesn’t seem bad.

 

After that, I continued the parent consultation for about another hour, using gentle speaking techniques and bringing up various cases similar to the Baek brothers from Parenting Books.

 

It was a more satisfying night than I had thought.

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