On My First Day Undercover, the Organization Collapsed - Chapter 350

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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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First Day of Infiltration, The Organization Was Destroyed — Episode 350
Jealousy (1)
The students labored diligently every single day.
From the afternoon when classes ended until late into the evening, they poured sweat and effort into their work.
Thanks to their efforts, the public safety in the areas beyond District 40—places where one was never to set foot whether by night or in daylight—had improved far beyond most districts in the Empire.
The Imperial Knight Order.
The Berte Trading Company.
And the Academy students and teachers as well.
In such circumstances, not a single resident dared to cause trouble.
Even the Robson Family, which had originally dominated beyond District 40, held their breath and remained quiet during this time.
“Well, the results are impressive, Teacher Ziel. We’ve now completed work all the way through District 47. Road reconstruction and housing repairs will take a bit more time, but at least the food situation seems to have improved considerably. It’s all thanks to your help.”
“I understand. I did well.”
“……Ahem. In any case, I’m truly grateful for your cooperation. Over this week, the students’ contributions were remarkable. Especially that…… Quantus—he worked like an ox.”
“Yes. He has excellent physical strength.”
“I’d like to bring him into the Imperial Knight Order, but…… I slipped in a question just now and apparently he must carry on his family line.”
“I see.”
“Yes. A pity. Quantus in particular is someone I really wanted…… ”
Strong, straightforward, and carrying out orders exactly as given—truly the ideal material for the military!
“Ah, of course I desire the other students as well. Chief Relio has already mentioned Yurio several times, and Karen is excellent too. Maris, Lydia, and Ann are all fine as well. Though many of them will be difficult for us to recruit because they must carry on their families’ lines.”
Once you join the Imperial Knight Order, leaving is difficult. Short of being expelled, voluntary resignation is impossible.
A minimum of thirty years.
Only after that or longer does one earn the right to “retire” from the Order. Even after that, one can never join any other knight order.
Not even one’s own family’s knight order.
That was also why Berhal took up the position of Department Head at the Academy’s Sword School after his retirement.
“And…… Delev Kundel really showed remarkable dedication. I’ve seen him anew. His talent is top-tier, and his spirit for community service is outstanding as well.”
“I see.”
“Yes. But there’s one strange thing—apparently he kept muttering about scholarships, scholarships…… The stipend comes to about two thousand Sel per person, but surely that’s not even pocket money for that student?”
“Money is important.”
“Well, that’s true.”
Horn, unaware of the underlying circumstances, merely shrugged and moved on.
“In any case, there are many talented Second Years here. Once they graduate and go out into the world, they’ll achieve great things. They’re all tremendously skilled?”
“Yes. Thanks to my excellent teaching.”
“Ah.”
In any case, the results were excellent.
Thanks to the students’ remarkably diligent efforts.
In the process, some students seemed to have gained new understanding.
“I’ve made a decision.”
“About what?”
“When I become the Family Head next…… I’m going to make sure no one in our territory has to struggle.”
Lydia clenched her fist tightly.
Over the past week.
Not just Lydia but the majority of the students had thrown themselves into the charity work, shaken by profound impact.
Most had never set foot beyond District 40, and the lives and poverty of the residents had struck them with shocking force.
Of course, not all nobles are wealthy.
But most nobles live in far better circumstances than ordinary citizens, not to mention the poor.
And most of them had never even witnessed such a life, let alone experienced it.
“I didn’t know there were so many people suffering like this…… ”
“The little ones don’t cry even when they’re hungry. There’s nothing to eat anyway.”
“I wish they could cry more now.”
It seemed they had learned much.
Ziel hadn’t taught them anything in particular.
They had simply learned it themselves.
If this too counted as part of education, it had been very good education indeed.
“The kids have good hearts, at least.”
Gilbert nodded, watching them.
Gilbert had come from the slums originally, so such scenes were familiar to him.
Kelvin was the same.
“K-kids, learned…… ”
Everyone had participated at the promise of a Praise Coin per day, but it seemed they had gained something far greater.
And finally, the last day of charity work drew to a close.
Some of the students were exchanging reluctant farewells with the residents they had gotten to know.
“We’ll come back again, for sure.”
“Don’t come alone—come together. Anyway, it’ll go back to the way it was, and then it’ll become very dangerous here.”
The residents worried that the slums would return to their original state once people left.
And reasonably so.
The Imperial Knight Order couldn’t remain stationed here indefinitely, and the students couldn’t come every day.
“Teacher Ziel, the residents all mentioned they’re worried it will go back to the way it was before.”
“Right. The Imperial used to distribute food supplies once before, but after the Imperial Knight Order left, it went back to normal in less than a week.”
“The people here are so pitiful…… ”
Ziel fell silent in thought at the students’ words.
“I understand. I’ll handle it separately.”
“Really? Truly?”
“That’s great! It would really be sad if it went back to normal.”
The students were still young.
While they could display political awareness befitting young nobles, most of them felt this way.
So Ziel put on the Human Skin Mask once more and transformed into the Dark Ghost, making his way to the Berte Trading Company.
“Dark Ghost! What a surprise! When did you arrive?”
“Just now.”
“Ah.”
“I have orders to give.”
“Just say the word, sir!”
It was nearly time for bed and he’d been about to lie down, but Berte straightened up with sincerity.
The Dark Ghost was like a god to Berte and his company, a hero, and nothing less than a premium customer bringing in enormous profits.
Wasn’t that so?
Ever since the Dark Ghost ordered “good deeds” be performed, donations flowing into the company had skyrocketed, they had formed ties with the Imperial Palace, and their external standing had risen.
Of course it was only natural that the existing customers they dealt with increased!
There was no longer any need to bear the risk of secretly peddling goods from the Black Sky!
“I will do anything you command. What are your orders, Dark Ghost?”
What could the orders possibly be?
Having raised their external standing through good deeds, was he now going to move into formally consolidating the neighboring companies…….
“Do more good deeds.”
“More good deeds! Understood…… Wait?”
“You must do more good deeds.”
“Ah, I understand.”
Berte nodded for now.
‘Perhaps the time hasn’t come yet?’
“Um…… but what sort of good deeds?”
“There are many children with talent.”
“By talent, you mean…… ”
“Swordsmanship.”
“Swordsmanship……!”
“See that talented children are able to receive education.”
Berte perfectly understood the meaning behind “good deeds.”
‘So you’re going to raise loyal subordinates in advance!’
He was wrong.
Ziel had simply done his duty as a teacher.
Normally he limited his reach to the Second Year class, but today he merely expanded that scope slightly.
“I understand. I’ll look into the methods.”
“Can you provide education in things other than swordsmanship? Most of the children couldn’t read.”
“Well, they’re slum children, so it can’t be helped. Hmm. I’ll look into that further. I heard that vacant land was created during this reorganization—I think setting up a school in District 43 or so would be excellent.”
When you do good deeds, money flows in.
Moreover, it’s education we’re talking about.
A place where slum children can receive education!
‘Our company’s standing will rise even more in the public eye. Maybe I should get patronage from other noble families for the school?’
Berte barely held back his rising smile and answered with energy.
“I’ll do this properly, Dark Ghost.”
“Good. See that it proceeds at no cost.”
“No cost…… understood.”
It seemed they could extract even more donations from the nobles for this.
Ziel didn’t hand over a list.
The will to learn must be voluntary.
Having shown talented children that they possess talent, they will seek out the school of their own accord once it’s established.
By Ziel’s rather cold assessment, the greatest problem in the slums of District 40 and below was this:
A dark future.
The endless cycle of suffering that followed.
Because the environment was what it was, children never learned what talents they possessed and squandered precious years of their lives.
So Ziel decided to improve the environment.
Food could be provided.
Some money could be distributed.
‘Learning to stand on one’s own feet is what matters.’
But if the environment remained unchanged, it would actually backfire.
Conversely, if children received education in swordsmanship and other subjects, awakening their talents, things would be different.
Swordsmanship skill was said to be power and future in this Empire’s society.
Innate birth was important, but learning swordsmanship was still far better.
At least they’d have one ladder to climb.
Beyond swordsmanship, if they could learn to read, later opportunities would multiply.
“Dark Ghost…… you truly see far ahead.”
“I’m looking at you.”
“……!”
Ziel answered in his usual manner, but Berte interpreted it with more meaning than necessary.
‘You mean I’m in that far-off future!’
A misunderstanding no less pronounced than Gilbert’s own.
“I’ll do my utmost to create the finest place to teach these children!”
“Good. I understand.”
“Ah, and one more thing…… ”
Whoosh.
Suddenly the candle in the room went out.
And when the candle lit again.
“Huh?”
Berte rubbed his eyes.
He’d just been right in front……
“H-he disappeared…… ”
Disappeared.
Berte collapsed to the floor.

* * *
After a week of short yet long charity work support ended, they entered into genuine practical training.
Today was a day of emergency alert at the Sword School.
It was the day the invited families would arrive for inspection.
The emergency alert had been raised for exactly this reason.
“……This is all because of Teacher Ziel.”
Merhen muttered blankly.
Idel agreed.
Even Professor Isabella, who was usually neutral or harbored no particular hostility toward Ziel, nodded in agreement.
“Yes, it’s Teacher Ziel’s fault.”
“How could such a thing…… ”
Only Elcanto, his fervent supporter, defended Ziel with all his might.
“No, isn’t this actually good news, Professors?”
“Be quiet, Elcanto.”
“No, Family Heads visiting isn’t uncommon, so why are you all like this?”
Merhen, for the first time in a while, rebuked Elcanto in his manner as a senior professor.
“You don’t know? Elcanto, someone came from the North! From the North! The Family Head himself came from the North! And it’s the fellow who just became the Northern Council Chairman!”
“…….”
Elcanto’s words failed him.
Even his close colleague Allix couldn’t help him at this moment.
“That’s correct. This is a major event. The Northern Council Chairman has never crossed the mountain range except at the Imperial Palace’s summons—this is the first time in history.”
Only then did Elcanto realize his mistake.
A Family Head had come from the North.
The Head of Harmatan, who came almost uniquely last time, became a topic of conversation—imagine how much this one would be.
In his excitement over the practical training, he had overlooked the most important fact.
“……I apologize. I misspoke.”
After a brief sigh, discussion continued.
“Why would he come?”
“Since he’s the new Council Chairman, perhaps he came to pay respects to the Imperial Palace, among other things?”
“The Council Chairman position usually alternates between Bernstein and Lombardt, so could there be a shift in Northern policy?”
“That region is so hard to fathom…… ”
Everyone wore a serious expression.
There must be some profound political intent hidden somewhere!
“What about Teacher Ziel?”
“He’s teaching now, so he’ll come after finishing.”
Meanwhile, elsewhere.
“I am Amil Renfield. I am the Family Head of Renfield and have just been newly elected as the Northern Council Chairman.”
Amil exchanged greetings with the Family Heads of Kundel, Rihart, Schneider, Dark, and Bernard.
Tension hung in the air.
“I never expected all the families to send their Family Heads.”
“Mm.”
“Hmm.”
Kundel and Rihart no longer found it strange for Family Heads to come to the Academy.
In fact, they had come to see Teacher Ziel.
He had become such a prominent figure that offering recruitment was now awkward.
The Family Heads from Schneider, Dark, and Bernard came for that reason.
Since the two Great Families sent their Family Heads directly, they couldn’t afford to stay away.
Of course, there was also the intention of building rapport with Ziel at this opportunity.
‘My youngest will be entering the Academy next year…… should I ask him to look after them?’
‘What a waste. I should have enrolled them a year later.’
But the North was somewhat different.
It was rare for a Family Head to abandon his territory, they’d heard.
“But Chairman, what brings you across the mountain range to the capital? The journey must have been arduous.”
“It was hardly arduous. In fact, I was delighted.”
“Is that so?”
“It was the journey to meet Teacher Ziel Steelheart, who helped the North greatly.”
Ziel Steelheart!
The moment they realized that name was the Chairman’s purpose, hostility blazed in the other Family Heads’ eyes.
A jealousy and anxiety-tinged hostility.
And at that same moment.
“Secret base…… secret base…… ”
“What are you saying, Teacher?”
“Can’t hear you very well.”
“Do Expert-grade hearing reach this distance?”
“Only if you’ve been there before. Teacher! Won’t you finish class? We have our next class coming up!”
Ziel, who had been thinking about the secret base ever since returning, lifted his head at the sound of being called.
“Ah. The time’s up.”
The students stirred slightly.
“This is the first time we’ve seen you like this, Teacher.”
“Right. You’ve always kept time perfectly strict before.”
“Teacher, you don’t have a worry on your mind, do you?”
Ziel flinched.
Worry—yes, there was worry.
How to build a secret base.
“It’s a secret.”
“See? Like I said, he doesn’t like talking about it!”
Ziel flinched again.
‘The word “secret” slipped out unconsciously.’
That thought every man has had!
A secret base.
He’d become far too absorbed in the thought of making one.
“That last comment is cancelled.”
“……Have you ever seen the Teacher take back something he’s said?”
“No, never. Today’s really strange…… ”
The students would probably never understand why Ziel seemed strange today.

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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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