On My First Day Undercover, the Organization Collapsed - Chapter 60
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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 060
Ziel, the Master Negotiator (2)
After the Exchange Tournament ended.
Ziel’s daily routine became busy overnight.
‘Preparing lessons, writing Exchange Tournament reports… There’s a lot to do. And many parent consultations too.’
Unless they were nobles living in the Capital, it wasn’t easy to send their children to the Academy and conduct parent consultations directly.
Usually they would send representatives or exchange brief words through letters…
Even Family Heads who came for the Exchange Tournament would normally only consult with professor-level staff, but this time the situation was a bit different.
“Oh my, Teacher Ziel. It’s wonderful to meet you like this. I’ve heard so much about you.”
Ziel’s status had surpassed even the Professors!
It was only natural since he had led the First Years to achieve 2nd place overall.
“Um, Teacher Ziel. Please take good care of our child. Our child has such a gentle and kind nature…”
“Ann Peshwa’s nature is neither gentle nor kind.”
“Excuse me? Teacher, what do you mean by that…”
“Rather than gentle and kind, she has a personality that clearly expresses her opinions and speaks up when necessary.”
“Pardon?”
The Head of Peshwa Family, who was about to get angry, was surprised.
“Our daughter? Ann?”
“That’s correct. You don’t seem to know your daughter well.”
“Th-that can’t be. At home she’s so quiet and… So, is there a problem?”
“There’s no problem. I was simply correcting an incorrect statement.”
“I… see. Yes. Thank you. Phew. At least it’s not something bad… By the way, our daughter praises you so much! She keeps saying how well you teach…”
“Yes, I do well.”
“…”
Today was a day with five parent consultations.
Following the Head of Peshwa Family was the Head of Hofel Family.
“Haha! Our son takes after me, so he’s quite smart!”
“If by smart you mean academic achievement, that’s not the case.”
“…What did you just say?”
Just as his massive frame, about 1.5 times larger than Quantus, began to stir.
“However, he is smart in other ways. He has good drive and is bold. At least when charging forward is needed, he stands out more than anyone.”
“You mean he’s smart?”
“In that regard, yes.”
“Haha! I knew it! He takes after me, so of course he’s smart!”
Good things were good things.
Of course, Ziel was about to add another comment, but it got buried in the following words.
“And that boy, even though he’s smart, has a tender heart, so please take good care of him. That kid may be big, but he’s still a child!”
“I see. I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Mm. Thank you. Our son praises Teacher Ziel so much! Says you teach so well?”
“I do well.”
“…”
While there were parents who finished their consultations well and left satisfied, there were also cases like this.
“This is a token of my sincerity, Teacher.”
Thud.
A pouch placed on the desk.
“I understand our son caused some trouble. You must have had quite a hard time dealing with it… I’d be grateful if you’d accept this as compensation.”
The Head of Sopen Family.
Olton Sopen crossed his arms, crossed his legs, and tapped one foot.
“If it’s not enough, please don’t hesitate to say so. I’m not in a position where I can’t properly take care of my child’s teacher.”
Ziel, who had been carefully observing his smirking lips, answered.
“It seems insufficient.”
“Ah. I didn’t expect you to say that. Well, it’s actually better since we can communicate well.”
It was then that Olton Sopen was taking out a pouch from his chest.
“Family Head Olton Sopen, this is parent consultation time.”
“Ah.”
Sopen nodded as if he understood.
‘He’s maintaining formalities. Right, after this ends…’
“I understand. Since you said it was insufficient, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed later…”
“Your attitude seems insufficient.”
“…What did you say?”
“As I mentioned, this is parent consultation time.”
Ziel added one more thing.
“Maris Sopen has violated regulations twice at a non-serious level, but he is currently making efforts to improve himself.”
To Olton’s ears, it sounded like this:
Your son is trying his best, so what exactly are you as a parent doing right now?
‘This damn teacher bastard being arrogant… How dare he mention attitude?’
“And according to the school rules, I do not accept any compensation from parents or students.”
Ziel continued to ask.
“Do you have any more questions about student Maris Sopen?”
“…No.”
“Then I’ll end the consultation, Family Head Olton Sopen.”
Steelheart Family?
No, more than that-
‘Where does a mere liberal arts instructor get off…’
Olton Sopen stood up roughly, making a loud scraping sound with his chair as if to be heard.
“I’ll remember today.”
Following his voice suppressing anger, Ziel’s calm voice flowed out.
“Then to make it easier for you to remember, I’ll send you the consultation contents by letter.”
It was Ziel’s consideration.
But Olton completely exploded at those words.
“You little…”
“Well then, I’ll end the consultation here. You may leave.”
This arrogant bastard!
Right at that moment.
Knock knock.
Along with the knocking sound, the Teaching Assistant’s voice was heard.
“Teacher Ziel? Family Head Aimerus Kundel has come to see you.”
At the mention of Kundel, Olton Sopen momentarily stopped speaking and composed his voice.
“Ahem, ahem.”
Then he opened the door and went out, and as soon as he faced Amos, his face broke into a wide smile.
“Oh my, Family Head. Meeting you here. I had no idea you were next after me.”
“Ah? Hmm. Family Head Olton Sopen, it’s been a while.”
Amos’s expression was just so-so.
It wasn’t that he viewed the Sopen Family unfavorably.
‘Should I raise the offer a bit more?’
His head was full of thoughts about the proposal he’d make to Ziel!
“Family Head, since it’s your turn next, I’ll quickly say just one thing. That teacher over there…”
“Ah, I’m a bit busy, you see.”
“Pardon?”
“It’s my consultation turn.”
With those words, Amos passed by Olton and quickly sat across from Ziel.
“Teacher Ziel, this is our second meeting.”
“Yes. The second time.”
“Today, it’s nothing other than…”
Having said that much, Amos suddenly turned his head to look at Olton.
“Are you going to keep standing there?”
“…”
It meant to leave quickly.
In the end, Olton left the consultation room in a daze, trembling with his hands.
“Haha, Teacher. Meeting twice like this is embarrassing. Today, our son…”
A voice full of warmth heard just before the door closed.
Olton realized.
That he wasn’t even on Amos’s radar!
Meanwhile, the consultation continued inside.
“After our last consultation, I met my youngest, and he kept praising you, Teacher. He said you were a great help in understanding the Middle Sword Technique 7th Form?”
“I didn’t do anything.”
Ziel really thought so.
When asked how his swordsmanship was, he just said one thing: ‘It’s just swordsmanship.’
Ziel didn’t think that was help.
“My, how modest of you. Haha.”
But in Amos’s eyes, it only looked good.
“Anyway, so… I came to speak with you again today. When you think about it, it’s about my youngest.”
“Do you have additional consultation matters?”
Pretending not to know.
He knew all about comparing with other offers.
“Let’s add this to the previous proposal, Teacher. I’ll lease you territory. It’s prime land even in the South. It’s quite spacious too. There happens to be an empty mansion, so you can live comfortably. We’ll provide all the servants from our side as well.”
He thought this should be enough.
But….
“You’re making a similar proposal to Family Head Darren Rihart.”
“What, what did you say?”
“Family Head Darren Rihart also initially made a territory lease proposal.”
Those words sounded like this.
‘Darren made his proposal long ago, and I’m only making mine now…?’
Ziel added one more comment.
“As I mentioned before, I must decline the proposal.”
These words sounded like this.
‘Bring me better conditions, damn it.’
Admittedly, it was somewhat excessive.
Even if he had exceptional teaching abilities, such conditions for hiring just one teacher!
But this was a recruitment war involving his most despised rival Darren and even His Highness the Prince!
‘I can’t back down here.’
“Then are there any conditions you would prefer, Teacher?”
Give the other party what they want most.
In the end, this was the only way.
But unexpected words flowed from Ziel’s mouth.
“I’m not interested.”
With that, all the parent consultations for that day came to an end.
Dietrich Valdrain couldn’t understand it.
If someone says they’re not interested, that should be the end of it, but still, to reject the Imperial Family’s proposal?
When a path to success was guaranteed?
“Has Elder Brother perhaps already recruited this talent?”
“No, Your Highness. I think… he’s someone who wouldn’t bat an eye at most proposals.”
“Hmm.”
It was bewildering.
Was he perhaps making a political judgment?
Even so, they were promising money and status worth betting one’s life on?
‘This is a first for me.’
Even if he was making a political judgment that Dietrich would have difficulty seizing imperial power, the current proposal wasn’t something a ‘mere’ liberal arts instructor should reject.
That’s why it was even more surprising.
That’s why he wanted him even more.
If he had readily accepted the proposal, it wouldn’t have generated this much interest.
“He’s the first person to treat me like this.”
“I did reject you once too….”
“Sir Relio, didn’t you come looking for me the very next day after rejecting me like that?”
“Well, that’s… true.”
What could it be?
What should he propose to get acceptance?
Dietrich couldn’t fathom why Ziel was rejecting him like this.
Then a thought suddenly occurred to him.
“Perhaps he truly takes pride in his teaching work.”
“Pardon?”
“Isn’t that right? There are often people who work with a sense of mission.”
“Ah…!”
Relio nodded as well.
If that were the case, it made sense.
The sense of mission in teaching students!
That mindset that couldn’t be broken by mere money or status.
“Admirable. He’s an admirable talent.”
If anything, that made him want him even more.
But unfortunately, it was time to return to the Imperial Palace.
“Let’s keep watching for now. Talent doesn’t just disappear. From what I see… both Kundel and Rihart made proposals but were rejected?”
“According to what I’ve learned, yes.”
“They must be trembling now that I’m making a proposal.”
“That’s why they made various proposals, but all of their offers were rejected as well.”
“Hmm. So negotiations broke down completely. Ha, who could have imagined? That it would be for such a reason.”
Did those two family heads realize why that teacher was acting this way?
‘There’s no immediate way to break someone’s sense of mission.’
“For now, have Sir Eton send regular reports.”
“Understood, Your Highness. Oh, and… about ‘The Man from That Night’ you mentioned.”
“Ah. Did you find out anything?”
“Sir Eton contacted the Crow you mentioned, but it seems the Crow himself knows nothing about it.”
“Hmm. Is that really true?”
“Sir Eton is keeping a close watch on the Crow’s side for now.”
If Teacher Ziel won’t work, he’d have to recruit The Man from That Night at least.
The golden opportunity gained by stabilizing the Empress’s condition.
‘Now is the perfect time to catch up to Elder Brother.’
Dietrich’s goal was simple.
To become Emperor.
Dietrich’s father, the Current Emperor, had inherited the throne at nearly 50 years old because the Previous Emperor had lived too long.
Some might call that one’s prime, but Dietrich knew better.
He was hiding his frailty for the sake of political stability.
It wasn’t an acquired illness like the Empress had, but simply congenital weakness.
Therefore, the time to decide the Imperial Family’s succession was rapidly approaching—
‘I will become Emperor.’
Dietrich was determined to become Emperor without fail.
“Your Highness, please don’t worry too much. Everything will work out well.”
“Thank you, Sir Relio. I’ll be returning now.”
The Prince prepared to return to the Palace like that.
And at the same time.
Ziel, who had rejected all proposals and made the three big shots anxious, was…
“I’ll begin class.”
Starting class as usual today too.
“Teacher! The Exchange Tournament is over now, don’t we get any days off!”
“According to the School Rules Book, free periods require special circumstances. Are you sick?”
“No…”
“Then no. Get ready.”
“Yes…”
Far from being excited and celebrating the Exchange Tournament results, he prepared for class with his usual composure.
“I’ll take attendance. Student Delev Kundel.”
“Yes.”
“Student Celia Rihart.”
“Yes!”
“Student Quantus Hopel.”
“Yes! The leader is here!”
“The Exchange Tournament is over, so you’re not anymore. Next. Student Karen Aswan.”
“…”
“Student Karen Aswan.”
When there was no response, he looked up to find Karen wasn’t there.
“Is she absent today?”
“It seems so.”
Ziel asked Yurio.
“Student Yurio Harmatan, is there a particular reason Student Karen Aswan is absent?”
“I-I don’t really know.”
“I see. Next, Student Ann Peshwa.”
Ziel moved on matter-of-factly.
Watching such a Ziel, Yurio sighed inwardly.
‘She said she’d kill me if I told, so I absolutely can’t say anything.’
Being close to Karen, Yurio knew the reason for her absence.
He just couldn’t talk about it due to his promise with Karen.
After finishing attendance like that.
“The schedule going forward is as follows. We’ll have a simple mid-term check.”
“Ugh!”
Groans erupted at the mention of a test.
Still, the First Years’ mid-term check wasn’t much.
Unlike midterm exams, it was just a simple test of sorts?
The real problem was something else.
“Right after that is field training.”
“What? That’s for 2nd Year and up though?”
“I was informed that it will be conducted starting from First Years this year. That’s all. I’ll announce the details soon.”
Field training.
After the Exchange Tournament ended, it was one mountain after another.
‘They said First Years get to relax…’
‘When exactly do we get to rest?’
Silent screams echoed through the hellish schedule.
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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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