On My First Day Undercover, the Organization Collapsed - Chapter 149

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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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The Organization Collapsed on My First Day of Infiltration Episode 149

 

 

Signal Flare of Downfall (3)

 

 

A few days ago.

The day the students entered the Imperial Palace for their practical training.

 

“I am called Locus Abue.”

“That Secret Arts User… correct?”

“Yes. It’s not that I particularly enjoy meeting with Secret Arts Users… but I’m someone who came to offer help, so is there really a need to be so wary?”

 

Secret Arts Users and Mages.

An antagonistic relationship that needs no explanation.

Though there’s definitely a sense that the Mages side dislikes them somewhat one-sidedly.

 

“…Speak. I’ve been curious all along about the reason you sought me out.”

 

Naturally, he had made an appointment in advance.

Though Locus occasionally acts recklessly, he doesn’t handle important matters that way.

 

“Lena.”

“Yes, Department Head.”

 

Locus received what he had prepared from Lena.

 

“Take this. It will be the most valuable document at this point in time.”

 

Locus handed over the document without preamble,

Emil received it bewildered and was shocked as he examined the contents.

 

“This is…”

“The content that Siren’s Second Young Master is most curious about and most desires.”

“…Ha.”

 

Emil let out a hollow laugh.

What the document contained was materials related to his elder brother, Remal Siren.

 

‘Black Market operations, ordering student murders… Magic Puppet Manipulation is here too… What on earth?’

 

There was no definitive evidence directly connecting to Siren.

But looking at the circumstances alone, these were all deeds committed by Remal.

When cross-verified with information he possessed, all the incidents pointed to Remal.

It was correct.

At this point in time.

This was the most important information for Emil.

 

“Why are you… handing this to me?”

“Wouldn’t it be best for information to be in the hands of someone who can utilize it most effectively?”

“…”

 

Emil suddenly realized.

 

“What do you want?”

“Good, you get to the point quickly.”

 

Locus smiled slyly.

 

“When you rise to the position of heir, promise me the Secret Garden in the Siren Family Underground.”

 

Emil’s pupils wavered for a moment before returning to normal.

 

“What do you mean by that?”

“Are you pretending not to know? Or does that mean you’ll consider it?”

 

They say Secret Arts Users are all like snakes.

 

“…”

 

With just this document.

He could surpass his elder brother and rise up.

Until recently, he had given up.

But his aged father’s request to stop his elder brother’s ambitions had rekindled the spark.

 

‘Elder Brother’s ambitions are far too dangerous.’

 

That was the justification.

But Emil also had his own desires.

The very desire to become the Head of Siren Family!

This document would be the firewood to fan those flames of ambition even fiercer.

 

“Fine, so be it. If I become the family head, that much is nothing.”

“Please put it in writing.”

“Gladly.”

 

A moment later.

 

Thud!

 

The Siren seal was stamped and Emil’s name was written beside it.

It was a swift transaction.

 

“Ah, of course I don’t intend to just hand over the documents and keep quiet. I’ll help if there’s anything you need.”

 

But looking closely, something seemed strange.

 

‘The objective is clear, but… the reason for getting involved in such a dangerous situation probably isn’t just because of the Secret Garden.’

 

But if you try to probe too deeply into someone from the start, they tend to hide things instead.

Now was the time to be satisfied with this information.

 

“And let me give you one piece of advice… Be careful of the third party.”

“The third… party?”

“That’s right. Read the documents. What happened to all the incidents written there?”

 

Emil turned his gaze back to the documents.

 

‘All of this…’

 

Instigating student poisoning using poison, failed.

Instigating exchange tournament accidents through magic puppet manipulation, failed.

And the black market also collapsed.

 

“They all failed.”

“That’s right. But I still don’t know who intervened.”

“You’re saying it wasn’t you?”

“That’s right.”

“Who could have done all this…”

“That’s why I’m telling you to be careful. It means not only me, but a third force or individual is watching Siren.”

 

It couldn’t be an individual.

To make all of this come to nothing would require group intervention.

That was Emil’s common sense.

 

“Or maybe it’s the Dark Ghost that’s been rumored about in the back alleys and slums lately.”

“I’ve heard about it too. But do you believe that?”

“What’s there to believe or not believe? Rumors become truth when they pile up, and then they scatter like mirages.”

 

Locus chuckled and gathered up the sealed contract.

 

“But I think it’s real. It’s too specific to be just a rumor.”

 

And then again, several days later, now.

 

‘Dark Ghost. It would be really nice if we could draw him to our side.’

 

Emil opened his mouth toward his elder brother, Remal.

 

“Elder Brother, you seem to be very busy with construction lately.”

“…Are you finally showing your fangs now? I thought you had pulled them all out yourself because you were afraid of me?”

“There’s also the saying that when the lips are gone, the teeth grow cold.”

 

Emil asked with a grin.

 

“I hear you’ve been involved in many things lately.”

“Emil, I don’t know what you’re trusting to act like this…”

 

Remal glared at his younger brother menacingly.

 

“You won’t have a chance. As long as I’m here.”

“I just came because I was worried.”

 

Emil didn’t plan to provoke greatly today either.

It was merely a declaration of war.

That intention had sufficiently sunk in.

 

“Well then, please take care of yourself.”

 

Click.

 

When the door closed, Remal’s hands trembled violently.

 

‘Now even that bastard I didn’t care about…’

 

His head felt like it would explode in an already complicated situation.

 

“How ridiculous must I look for this to happen…!”

 

Remal grabbed his wand while seething.

The black gem embedded at its tip.

Sigrim was dead.

It would probably be easier to think that way.

However, other assassins remained.

Remal, who had been conflicted anyway, made his decision thinking of Emil who had just visited.

 

‘I need to move before being attacked.’

 

If they noticed and the Imperial Palace pushed in.

Then it would become irreversible.

Before that, in advance…

 

‘But how?’

 

Remal began to fall into the greatest dilemma of his life.

Not knowing that at the center of all these incidents was one person he never would have imagined.

 

 

The person at that center.

Ziel was now signing a formal faculty contract.

 

Swish, swoosh.

 

“Congratulations, Teacher Ziel. The Personnel Department and Dean’s approval came through immediately.”

“Is that so.”

“This is very exceptional. Formal faculty promotion cases don’t have many precedents, but procedures are important. You’re breaking precedent like this.”

 

A smile spread across Berhal’s lips.

 

“The title won’t change, but your position is completely different from before.”

 

Berhal extended his hand.

Ziel shook hands with Berhal.

 

“There will be a lot of work for you to do from now on. I hope you’ll take good care of things.”

“Understood. I’ll do well.”

 

Not “I’ll try hard” or “I’ll do my best,” but “I’ll do well.”

Such a very Teacher Ziel-like answer.

 

“Your salary will be reflected starting next month… The incentive related to this practical training will come in all at once around the end of the semester along with the Festa matter. And… the welfare benefits I mentioned, you can get an explanation from the Academic Affairs Office…”

“I actually have business at the Academic Affairs Office anyway. I’ll ask when I go there.”

“Oh, is that so?”

“Yes, I’m going to inquire about the student scholarship system.”

“Scholarship students…”

 

Just then, memories of the special support system deliberation came to mind!

 

‘Back then, thanks to Teacher Ziel, we really gave Arcane School a proper blow.’

 

The Academic Affairs Director was fired, and Professor Titus was thoroughly humiliated, they say.

From what I heard about this practical training too, Arcane School just came and listened to theory all day and night before going back, and both students and other professors were quite dissatisfied.

 

“Do you have another student you want to support?”

“It’s student Karen Aswan.”

“Ah.”

 

Berhal nodded as if he understood.

 

“I also looked into it personally, and it seems the Aswan Family’s situation is getting worse and worse.”

 

It was unfortunate.

For such reasons, many talented students had to give up their dreams.

Being a noble ultimately meant being subordinate to one’s family.

 

“A person shouldn’t be deprived of opportunities due to family problems.”

“That’s quite… a surprising opinion?”

 

Ziel was also from a noble family.

 

‘Is it because he’s from a fallen family?’

 

If so, it was a somewhat understandable opinion.

An opinion that would be difficult to come from a typical noble house.

From what I heard, Karen also continuously sent money to her family because of debt and even got a refund on her dormitory fee.

In a way, it was natural.

It didn’t look that way to Ziel’s eyes, so he ended up getting involved in the special support system.

 

“According to the school rules, she meets the scholarship system selection requirements sufficiently, so I’ll help student Karen Aswan focus on her studies as much as possible.”

“That’s good. Good intentions should be supported. If there are any difficulties, please let me know.”

“Understood.”

 

Right.

Among the jaded professors and department heads agonizing over various matters, there should be at least one such idealistic teacher.

Berhal smiled warmly at Ziel’s thoughtfulness.

 

“It’s just one person for now, but I’ll check the system first and if additionally possible, I’ll also try to make a list of students who need support.”

“Understood. I’ll support you as much as possible too. Now that you’ve become an official teacher, you’ll have a bit more say as well.”

“Is that so.”

“Anyway, is there anything else you’re curious about?”

 

Ziel pondered for a moment before asking.

 

“Can I use the snack allowance starting from now?”

“Ah. Yes. Please do. You just need to use it and provide receipts. If you submit them to our Teaching Assistant, they’ll handle it.”

“Understood.”

 

Ziel thought of countless snacks in his mind.

 

‘I’ll be very full today.’

 

“Then, I’ll go to the Academic Affairs Office.”

 

Ziel left the Department Head’s Office like that and headed straight to the Academic Affairs Office.

As he entered, gazes focused on him.

It wasn’t simply because someone had entered.

 

‘That, that’s the right teacher, isn’t it?’

‘The one who got rid of the former Academic Affairs Director…’

 

The staff members’ bright, eager gazes!

They seemed to welcome him.

Regardless, Ziel first looked for the Academic Affairs Director.

 

“I came to inquire about the scholarship system. Sword School…”

“You’re Liberal Arts Instructor Ziel Steelheart, right?”

 

An Academic Affairs Staff member who seemed to recognize Ziel immediately.

 

“I’m an official faculty member starting today.”

“Excuse me?”

“I got promoted.”

 

It was clear.

Ziel was bragging right now.

 

“Y-you got promoted. Congratulations.”

“To be precise, I became an official teacher after contract renewal.”

“Ah. That’s great!”

“Yes. That’s wonderful.”

 

Maybe it was because he was handsome.

It didn’t feel like a particularly strange way of speaking.

 

“Wait a moment, the scholarship system is managed by the Academic Affairs Director. He’s here right now… Let me go ask him quickly.”

“Understood.”

 

A moment later.

 

“Ah, so you’re Teacher Ziel. Nice to meet you for the first time. I’m Dennis Schulpen, the new Academic Affairs Director.”

“I’m Ziel Steelheart, a full-time teacher.”

“I heard about it. You got promoted? Congratulations.”

 

Academic Affairs Director Dennis was also quite friendly.

Ziel read a bit into that gaze.

 

‘He’s quite welcoming. Is there a reason?’

 

“I actually wanted to meet you once. I was wondering what to do since I didn’t have a proper excuse, but I didn’t expect you to come visit like this. You inquired about the scholarship system, right? I’ll escort you inside.”

 

Ziel was even guided to the Academic Affairs Director’s office.

A visit that would have been handled by a low-level Academic Affairs Department employee if he were just a regular liberal arts instructor.

There was a reason why Ziel was personally brought inside by the Academic Affairs Director himself.

 

‘So this is the teacher who blew away the former Academic Affairs Director.’

 

Though Ziel hadn’t intended it, Dennis had filled the position thanks to Ziel exposing the corruption.

In other words, Ziel had considerably influenced his promotion.

 

“I only heard rumors, but you’re quite a handsome man.”

“Yes. I get told that. But it’s not my type.”

“…Excuse me?”

 

He seemed like a somewhat unique teacher.

 

“I prefer something more rugged than this.”

“Ah…”

 

Or perhaps he was a teacher who was good at deception.

 

‘He’s certainly not an easy opponent. Indeed, worthy of taking down an Academic Affairs Director.’

 

Ziel had unintentionally made the current Academic Affairs Director Dennis nervous.

 

“You said you came to inquire about the scholarship system?”

“Yes. When I looked at the school rules, it said scholarships could be awarded to students in need for the purpose of supporting their living expenses for a year, so I came here.”

“Ah, of course. That’s possible. Actually, after the previous incident, I did a comprehensive investigation after taking office. There were some things being executed illegally.”

 

This was the first thing Dennis did immediately after taking office.

 

“So I recovered everything.”

 

Disqualification and recovery measures.

Arcane School couldn’t resist.

The justification was sufficient.

The fact that the three families had already been disqualified from the special support system and even forged documents had been clearly revealed.

 

“I see.”

“Yes, so I was pondering how to support other students. This might sound a bit harsh, but it was essentially blind money just for Arcane School. You came at a perfect time.”

 

Dennis got up and brought several documents.

 

“Here are the requirements. There are several scholarship systems.”

“Can they all be received?”

“As long as the conditions are met. Of course, it’s difficult to receive multiple scholarships simultaneously. One person, once per semester. Ah, the special support system is separate. That has a different funding source.”

 

Ziel understood one meaning between the lines of those words.

 

‘There won’t be any problem supporting student Karen Aswan. And other students too.’

 

He could recall all the students’ personal information in his head if needed immediately, but he couldn’t know all their family circumstances.

 

‘For now, it’s just student Yurio Harmatan additionally. I should look into other students too.’

 

“Understood. Then I’ll prepare the documents and apply.”

“Take these documents with you.”

“It’s fine.”

“Excuse me?”

“I’ve memorized everything.”

“…What?”

 

He was certainly an extraordinary person.

He memorized all of this?

 

“Well then, I’ll be going. Thank you.”

 

Ziel immediately stood up.

 

“Ah, well…”

 

Dennis, who had hastily stood up after him, hesitated for a moment, then said this.

 

“I should have mentioned this during our conversation, but thank you. Teacher Ziel.”

 

Ziel stopped for a moment and asked.

 

“I met Academic Affairs Director Dennis Schulpen for the first time today and have never done anything worthy of gratitude.”

“Aren’t you being too modest? I was actually someone who felt quite sorry seeing how those funds were being misused.”

 

Dennis let out a sigh.

 

“The students who actually needed it were considering dropping out, while the students who didn’t need it at all—who had more than enough to spare—were taking it all. That bothered me quite a bit.”

 

But under the previous Academic Affairs Director, he couldn’t even voice such concerns.

If he carelessly took away the share of Arcane School’s influential families, he’d obviously fall out of favor.

 

“But Teacher Ziel’s one courageous action changed so much. Thank you, Teacher.”

 

This gratitude, at least, didn’t include any thanks for his promotion.

It was purely genuine gratitude.

Ziel looked at Dennis for a moment, then nodded.

 

“So there was that reason too. I understand. I’ll accept your thanks.”

 

Then he added one more thing.

 

“But even so, I don’t think these changes are happening because of my will.”

 

Dennis looked dazed.

What he meant was…

He was praising him.

 

“Well then.”

 

Click.

 

The door closed, and Dennis burst into laughter a moment later.

 

“I think I somewhat understand why Arcane School ended up in such a state.”

 

He was a teacher he quite liked.

Though it was a brief meeting, Ziel left a deep impression!

And Ziel was now heading to his next destination.

Today was very busy.

He still had 3 more items on his schedule.

 

‘I’ve finished signing the contract and visited the Academic Affairs Office… The documents can be prepared next week, so next is that place.’

 

The Faculty Dormitory.

Ziel took out the magic stone he had taken from Sigrim’s corpse.

 

‘I should give Gilbert a mission.’

 

Swish.

 

Then he also took out a dagger to give as mission payment.

 

“Ah.”

 

Ziel, who had been thinking for a moment, took out one more dagger.

 

“I should give him about 2.”

 

Since Gilbert likes daggers.

 

“Hmm.”

 

In the end, he took out one more.

Three total.

 

“He’s been doing well lately.”

 

Indeed.

Good students and subordinates should be rewarded.

 

“Should I buy some snacks too?”

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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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