On My First Day Undercover, the Organization Collapsed - Chapter 97
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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 097
Father and Son’s Wager (2)
The consultation took longer than other students, just as Ziel had expected.
“…Therefore, student Delev Kundel’s Heavy Sword Technique has grown considerably compared to the beginning of the semester. I’ve noted in the report that he particularly incorporated some of student Celia Rihart’s Swift Swordsmanship into his Heavy Sword Technique.”
“Huh, so that’s why our youngest came home and immediately wanted to show off his swordsmanship… It was because of that?”
Overall, praise came first.
Delev was a student who deserved such praise.
In terms of talent alone, he was the best among all first years.
However, there weren’t zero criticisms either.
“The rivalry with student Celia Rihart helps each other’s growth, but it sometimes creates unnecessary misunderstandings.”
“Misunderstandings? Ah, you mean those kinds of misunderstandings. Like bad relations between the families?”
“It’s the opposite, Family Head Aimerus Kundel. It creates misunderstandings that they like each other.”
“…What?”
“Ah. Not between the families, but between the individuals.”
Between individuals?
Aimerus looked at Delev in confusion, and Delev’s eyes went wide.
“T-Teacher! That can’t be! On what grounds would I like that girl…!”
“I understand that frequently fighting with each other means having a lot of interest in each other, student Delev Kundel.”
“I only do it because that dog picks fights with me!”
“Don’t you also frequently pick fights, student Delev Kundel? Without any particular reason.”
“….”
Aimerus looked at his son with an intrigued expression.
‘Even if that damn brat is unpleasant, Celia is fine. Yeah.’
Aimerus was already starting to imagine things!
‘The thought of becoming in-laws is horrifying.’
Meanwhile, Delev was flustered and didn’t know what to do, unable to go either way.
“Teacher, absolutely not. Absolutely!”
“Is that so. I understand.”
“I’m telling you it’s really not!”
“Didn’t I say I understand, student Delev Kundel.”
“It really isn’t. Please don’t misunderstand.”
“A book I read had this saying. Strong denial is usually close to affirmation.”
“….”
Delev belatedly realized that the more he spoke, the more he was at a disadvantage.
‘What am I, a child who picks fights when I like someone?’
He was concerned about her, though.
She kept picking fights saying he stole her swordsmanship techniques.
In fact, they had been unconsciously paying attention to each other since the beginning of enrollment.
Not because they liked each other, of course, but just like competition between families that would be second to none in the Empire….
“Are there any other areas where our youngest is lacking, Teacher?”
For some reason, Aimerus asked about shortcomings with an excited expression.
Ziel answered without hesitation.
“It would be good if he could suppress his emotional side a bit. Especially, he becomes even more emotional in front of student Celia Rihart.”
“Teacher!”
The consultation ended harmoniously like that.
It was a very pleasant consultation for Aimerus.
Both his son’s growth and the interesting information he obtained.
‘Should I try talking to Celia when I visit the Academy later?’
Meanwhile-
‘To think he’d create such a report.’
The documents containing Delev’s personal data that Ziel had prepared were surprisingly meticulous and precise.
Any family head spends their days buried in documents.
Especially for the head of a Great Lord Family, most of their daily routine involves examining all kinds of documents.
So you can tell the quality of documents just by looking at the first page.
‘His administrative work is perfect too. I felt it before, but… just where did this person come from and what was he doing?’
Could the rumors be true that he’s really someone dispatched from the Imperial Palace?
But Aimerus doesn’t pay much attention to rumors.
Unless it’s actually proven to be true.
‘Should I gradually get to the main point?’
Aimerus subtly broached the subject.
“By the way, Teacher, I heard there was some unpleasant business on your way here.”
This was a chance to kill two birds with one stone.
A perfect opportunity to bring Teacher Ziel over while worsening the influence of those merchant bastards who were like thorns in his eyes.
“The Tollen Trading Company is… looking for Teacher Ziel, right?”
“Ah, yes. I’m aware of it.”
“You probably don’t know how dangerous that situation is, Teacher.”
Ziel pondered for a moment, then nodded.
“It is indeed a dangerous matter.”
Since assassins had come looking for him.
Assassins themselves were certainly dangerous.
Though they posed no threat whatsoever to Ziel.
‘As expected, he was aware of it.’
Amos continued with a subtle tone.
“The Tollen Trading Company is a group that has dominated the Eastern Region’s market economy and recently expanded into the South. They’ve been continuously offering tribute to the Imperial Family and secured partial business permits in the South. It’s a bit awkward to say this, but even though the Eastern Region is countryside, the fact that they conquered it so quickly shows they have terrifying capabilities.”
Indeed, the nobles had been quite anxious lately as merchant factions grew in power.
No matter how vast their lands, when merchant forces moved in and seized control of the economy, it became quite troublesome.
It wasn’t easy to push them out with force either, since as mentioned, they enjoyed the Imperial Family’s protection.
“The fact that such people are trying to retaliate against you, Teacher, is truly frightening and regrettable.”
“Is that so.”
“Of course! You’re our youngest’s teacher!”
Ziel thought to himself.
Why was he worried?
“So, speaking of which, we just received letters from the Riversong Family and Hopel Family. Right before Teacher Ziel arrived. So… how about we offer you some assistance?”
First, let’s create a debt of gratitude.
Then Teacher Ziel, being human, would surely reconsider the proposal.
“What kind of assistance?”
“We’ll provide escort while we return to the Academy.”
“That’s fine.”
An immediate refusal.
“It’s not necessary.”
Even adding an extra comment.
Of course, Amos immediately tried to persuade him again.
“Teacher. We don’t know what they might do. Especially the Tollen Trading Company… they’re absolutely vicious. They’ll stop at nothing to get what they want. Several lords in the Eastern Region have been ruined by them and are now barely surviving. They’ve had almost everything in their territories stolen.”
Even so, Ziel spoke with a calm expression.
“Assassins have already come.”
“As expected, assassins… Pardon? Assassins?”
Amos was startled.
What was he saying?
Assassins had come?
‘Those crazy bastards from Tollen…’
No, more than that.
‘Then how is Teacher Ziel still alive?’
Assassins wouldn’t have come just to kindly threaten him and leave, would they?
The Tollen guys were crazy enough to eliminate anyone who interfered with their business first and ask questions later, but Teacher Ziel was somehow…
“Wh-what do you mean, Teacher?”
Amos asked again in surprise.
Meanwhile, Delev just nodded without any particular change in expression.
‘There’s no way Teacher would fall to mere assassins.’
Unless a legendary assassin like the Specter came looking for him.
“Assassins came. I dealt with all of them.”
It felt like he was saying he had lunch when it was time to eat!
“That’s… it?”
“I was ambushed in the forest. There were five in total.”
“…”
Ziel kindly explained everything.
His calmness was so extreme it made one doubt whether it was true!
‘Were the assassins low-level…?’
“The assassins were quite well-trained.”
“…”
He said the assassins’ level was quite high too.
But how?
‘Then did those Tollen Trading Company bastards continue pursuing Teacher Ziel even after that?’
Even though the assassins were defeated, why?
He’d heard that Guild Master Tollen was persistent and vicious, but…
“I learned then that the Tollen Trading Company was behind it.”
“Don’t tell me you interrogated the assassins?”
“No. There was evidence.”
“Evidence…!”
Amos grew anxious.
If only there was evidence?
‘I could pressure those Tollen bastards.’
“This is it.”
Ziel took out the Black Blade Dagger and handed it over.
“If you heat the blade with fire, writing will appear.”
Aimerus immediately brought a candle and heated the blade.
[Ziel Steelheart. Tollen Trading Company urgent request. 6,000,000 cel reward. Must capture alive.]
It was real.
This was definitive evidence.
“This belongs to an assassination group.”
“That’s correct.”
Though Aimerus didn’t know how Teacher Ziel had discovered this, he was completely absorbed by this dagger.
‘With just this…’
At present.
After the collapse of the Black Sky Assassination Group, the status of assassination groups had fallen considerably.
If he pressured the assassination group based on this evidence, they would admit their relationship with Tollen Trading Company.
Then, based on that, if he pressured Tollen Trading Company…
‘The justification is sufficient.’
Currently, the South was continuously troubled by merchant groups’ demands for opening, plus the Imperial Family’s demands that supported them.
This could be the key to resolving the current complex and crisis-filled political situation!
So naturally-
“Teacher, couldn’t you hand this evidence over to me?”
He ended up making a proposal different from what he had planned.
And it was a much more desperate proposal from Aimerus’s side!
“I’ll give you anything you want.”
Just when he had no sharp methods to pressure or drive out the merchants.
This evidence that had appeared now was something that would determine not just the current crisis but the future political situation!
This single dagger had priceless value.
‘Teacher Ziel must know the value of this item too.’
Therefore, Aimerus was nervous.
What on earth would he need to give to obtain this evidence?
And Ziel…
“It’s not an important item to me.”
He answered honestly.
But then he added:
“However, it seems like a very important item to Family Head Aimerus Kundel.”
Ziel doesn’t accept anything from students or parents.
At least regarding matters related to his duties.
For example, regarding teaching students or education-related matters.
But in this case-
‘I can propose a deal.’
This was a situation where he was dealing with the Family Head of Kundel, not a parent.
As Ziel honestly said, this dagger was just something he had kept, with no immediate use.
He had no intention of using it as an excuse to sweep away assassination groups.
If Tollen Trading Company attacked again, that might be different, but even that would be a problem the Kundel Family would solve on their own once he handed over this dagger.
So Ziel made the most efficient and rational choice.
Meanwhile.
‘Money? Status? Or… should I make a recruitment offer at this opportunity? No, that’s not right. I need to focus only on this dagger right now.’
Aimerus’s mind was more complicated than ever.
The situation had completely reversed.
Aimerus, who had been confident, was becoming anxious again.
Delev watched Aimerus’s state with interest.
‘Teacher is truly amazing.’
The Teacher Ziel that Delev had seen was someone who kept all situations under his control.
It seemed that this time too, Father wouldn’t achieve his dream of recruiting Teacher Ziel.
“Please tell me anything you desire, Teacher.”
“I’ll mention three things.”
Three things?
‘Money, house, land?’
Just as Aimerus had that thought in his mind.
“First, please dispatch Kundel’s Knight Order to the Academy starting next semester.”
It was an unexpected demand.
But it was also a significant demand.
Kundel’s Knight Order was a group of carefully selected talents, even down to the Apprentice Knights!
They never moved carelessly, and once they did move, they made the entire South, as well as all regions they traveled through, tense.
And Academy dispatch on top of that?
“Academy… dispatch?”
“A total of 10 times with 20 or more people, I should say. More would be better. You can dispatch regular members or above.”
‘It’s not an impossible scale. To obtain this dagger right now… But we’re talking about dispatching the Knight Order.’
He cautiously asked about the purpose.
“May I ask the reason? I’m not refusing. If it’s dangerous work, I’d rather send captain-level…”
“Is this perhaps an unreasonable request?”
“Of course not! I just want to know the purpose…”
If it required dispatching the Knight Order, surely he must be planning something dangerous.
‘Could it be the Siren Family?’
Kundel wasn’t the only one who held a grudge against Siren.
Ziel could also hate Siren enough, since the students had been attacked.
‘Then it would be too dangerous.’
It was then that Amos swallowed dryly.
“It’s needed for classes.”
“…Classes?”
“Yes.”
Classes?
Using Kundel’s Knight Order for classes?
“What kind of class requires 20 people…”
“Is it difficult?”
When Ziel said that while casting his gaze toward the dagger, Amos hurriedly continued.
“N-not at all! Please, by all means use our family’s Knight Order for classes!”
“Yes, then you’ve accepted.”
Amos was somewhat dazed.
Classes, he said.
“20 people, dispatched a total of 5 times. Next semester, I’ll arrange for long-term dispatch to the capital. I’ll definitely discuss with the Academy side to make it happen.”
Considering the value of the dagger, it was actually cheap.
Though he couldn’t quite understand using the Knight Order for classes…
‘Come to think of it, this might be a good opportunity.’
Wasn’t this a chance to make an impression on Teacher Ziel?
Also, having the Kundel Knight Order form connections with the Academy wouldn’t be bad either.
And if he had the Knight Order observe Teacher Ziel’s teaching methods, maybe the secret behind Delev’s rapid growth would be revealed?
The problem was—
There were still two proposals left.
“Next is the second one.”
What would it be this time?
Would he finally demand money this time?
‘Since it’s not a scouting offer, money would be the most…’
Ziel once again exceeded expectations.
And by a very large margin.
“I need information about the Siren Family.”
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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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