Ch.222222 – A Debt to Be Repaid Someday

<222 – A Debt to Be Repaid Someday>

━━━

<Affection Event>

Arcadia Ceviche has decided to cherish her friendship with you, who didn’t abandon her even in the face of her family’s crisis.

Instead of risking danger to steal the ledger, she invited you on an adventure to raid her family’s secret funds, which could have been used as capital for her new life.

You, who manipulated this pitiful yet wonderful lady’s feelings to gain an event while allowing her misfortune.

A good opportunity has arrived to shake off the pain your conscience is feeling!

━━━

Supporting and main characters experience at least one event that forces them to leave the Academy.

Depending on the abilities, skills, grades, and relationships they’ve built up, those who leave the Academy may return, or they may never come back.

There’s no need to worry about that this time.

Judging by my veteran player senses, this Arcadia is truly exceptional.

Even if sent alone, this multi-talented Arcadia from this playthrough would find a way to return somehow.

‘Still, events come with generous rewards!’

After stalling because I didn’t want to do free service, there’s no way I’d let this good opportunity slip away and send Arcadia to solve the problem alone.

Of course, I plan to join Arcadia on this Academy outing.

“Denied.”

“Why! Arcadia unnie already approved it!”

“The involved party and a third party are different matters. Moreover, student Oknodie, you’ve just returned from an extended absence.”

Professor Mahabharata, the year head, didn’t readily approve the outing.

“It’s okay, Di. I’m touched enough by the sentiment you’ve shown so far. If you still want to help me, pray that I return safely.”

“That’s a death flag statement, you know? It sounds ominous, so I definitely can’t let you go alone!”

At this point, I need to force my way out even if I have to be stubborn.

If I can’t leave through normal means, I’ll have to choose abnormal methods.

“I’ll get permission from the Foundation for an exit pass!”

“The Foundation!?”

“That’s dangerous.”

Giselle immediately voiced her opposition.

“Little miss already eliminated a branch director of the Foundation during your last outing. I heard everything from Professor Destroyer. The Foundation is desperate to punish you. If they find out about your outing, they will definitely retaliate.”

“That’s not certain!”

“Di. I don’t want you to be in danger because of me either. Don’t be stubborn and listen to Giselle.”

Hmph.

When I set my mind to something, I have to do it to feel satisfied.

“Ugh! Use some strength, Giselle!”

“I’m sorry. Physical strength isn’t my specialty.”

I barged into the communications room with two people dangling from my arms like weighted tools.

“Connect me to the Wiheomhae Foundation!”

Arcadia, conscious of people’s stares, let go of my hand and started fidgeting anxiously, wondering if this was really okay.

Feeling guilty, I held her hand tightly, only for her to pinch the back of my hand.

Hmph. Arcadia is mean.

“Each communication attempt consumes massive points, and points continue to be consumed while maintaining the connection. Do you still wish to proceed?”

“Yes! But please let me speak with the Foundation alone. I think Arcadia and Giselle might interfere with my communication.”

“Understood. However, please be aware that there will be additional charges for the private room rental.”

Wiheomhae Foundation.

Contact with their headquarters was established quite easily.

“This is the secretary’s office of the Wiheomhae Foundation Director. Please state your business.”

A thick, powerful voice.

It gives a similar feeling to Jona.

Unlike the branch director, this person feels like a real expert.

“Hello! I’m Oknodie, Papa’s daughter. Please help me get permission to go out!”

Beyond my bright and cheerful exclamation, the fee counter showed 1,500 points.

Tens of points rapidly accumulating every second makes even a veteran player like me nervous.

The silence from the other end of the magical communication device, as if deliberately trying to drain me dry, made me break out in a cold sweat.

“By ‘Papa,’ do you mean the Director?”

“Probably?”

A low, heavy sigh expressing displeasure came from the receiver.

“I will consider it positively.”

The answer that came back was quite unsatisfactory.

Such a vague promise won’t do.

I needed a definite answer.

I know it’s a shameless request after killing the branch director.

What if I add a condition?

“I’ll behave well from now on!”

“……”

The silence deepens further.

Plus, points are being ground away at an incredible speed.

With these points, I could see Jona for an extra hour at next month’s visitation!

“Please wait. We will contact you again as soon as we hear the Director’s decision.”

A proper response came back, better than just “positive consideration.”

* *

Beyond the magical communication device.

The Director’s office of the Wiheomhae Foundation.

“The late Mr. Denver was too greedy for his abilities. Bold enough to embezzle the Foundation’s public funds.”

A handsome man with a neat appearance and outstanding looks, who seemed capable of making many women cry, projected a recording spell on his finger with a smiling face.

━━━

Supervisor Denver.

43-year-old human male.

Branch director-level middle manager dispatched to manage the 981st batch of 1st-year scholarship students at Gift Academy.

Before becoming a manager, he worked for 10 years as the head of talent recruitment agencies, including the Pierrot Mask Group.

Over 30% of his embezzled funds were extorted for Oknodie’s rare cuisine entertainment.

Subsequently, he failed to avoid Destroyer’s visit and was killed by Oknodie.

All traced embezzled funds have been fully recovered.

━━━

The personnel data record states:

The human called Denver was merely a component of the Foundation.

Moreover, a rusty component that failed to understand its place and forgot its role.

Making discordant noises and creaking.

A component that he had been thinking of fixing someday.

“Isn’t it interesting? Our top scholarship student boldly executed someone I was considering for execution.”

“I completely agree with your statement, Director. It’s not just skill, but extraordinary courage.”

Receiving support from the Foundation while harming a Foundation executive.

Whether she did it knowingly or unknowingly.

Either way, she’s no ordinary child.

An ordinary person would be too afraid of the disadvantages they might face to commit such a bold act.

To be frank, if the Director viewed her unfavorably, she would already be dead.

But the Director showed leniency.

“You seem displeased, Chief of Staff.”

“Are you thinking of empowering that child?”

“She is, after all, the top scholarship student selected by the Foundation.”

Though she cost them one branch, it served as a proper warning to the other branches.

“That this could happen to you too. Don’t cross the line. I think she’s a thoughtful child who anticipated ‘Papa’s’ annoyance and helped.”

“…”

“She also said she would behave well from now on. If I’m Papa, I can give a well-behaved child a gift or two.”

The Chief of Staff, who never shows emotional fluctuation, felt fear at this moment.

The Director is a monster of rationality.

His love for scholarship students is not an unconditional gift.

It’s a loan that will return like a boomerang someday.

He will demand payment with interest in the form of a “directive.”

If one doesn’t pay.

Or if one can’t pay.

Whether due to inability or unwillingness, he forcibly collects payment.

The Chief of Staff, who has observed the weight of these directives closer than anyone, knows this well.

The bigger the gift, the heavier the directive will be.

“Issue an exit permit.”

“The Dragon Principal will demand compensation.”

“Hand over the records of three lower scholarship students embedded in the Florentine Kingdom’s military.”

Trading the lives of three scholarship students who have been used by the Foundation for over a decade in exchange for an exit permit.

The Chief of Staff could imagine how greatly that cost would return.

‘The price of friendship is truly expensive.’

Though he feels sympathy, he doesn’t show it outwardly.

Sympathy is an irrational emotion.

The moment the Director doubts his rationality, he would lose his current position.

The position of Chief of Staff is no different from a chained slave.

Just one with longer chains and more wealth than others.

The moment he makes the chain rattle and disturbs his master’s mood, whatever freedom, affluence, or power he enjoys could disappear overnight.

‘What about you?’

Will Oknodie’s legs be shackled like his own?

The Chief of Staff inwardly gauged how long it would be possible to hear the child’s cheerful voice.

* *

Permission was granted.

Giselle was newly amazed at the power of the Wiheomhae Foundation.

“To actually obtain an exit permit, that’s impressive.”

“Why are you naturally coming along, Giselle?”

“Black market merchants have their ways.”

Of course, as a resident of the underworld. Someone who has lived in a shadow world where even human life has a market value can do that.

There are no impossible trades in this world.

Either the price wasn’t sufficient or the conditions were wrong.

If you understand what the other party wants, any deal can certainly be made.

That’s why he was afraid.

What price did the Foundation pay to get Oknodie’s exit permit?

Would Oknodie be able to bear the price the Foundation will demand in the future?

‘That concern is a problem for later. Right now…’

Operation to recover the Ceviche ducal family’s secret funds.

It’s time to focus on making this successful.