Ch.270270 – The Organization That Pays for Friends

# 270 – The Organization That Pays Friend Fees

The foundation scholarship students were extremely flustered by April’s summons.

While she occasionally delivered directives, this was the first time she had called for a group assembly.

Foundation scholarship students fundamentally kept their identities hidden.

They were a type of spy infiltrating the Academy.

Like a cell organization, even among themselves they didn’t know who the other scholarship students were.

‘What are all these people?’

‘What are they planning to make us do?’

‘Why are outsiders being called along with foundation business?’

Unlike the ordinary scholarship students who couldn’t hide their uneasiness, Zaku, who had somewhat figured out the foundation scholarship students, realized that everyone here was a scholarship recipient.

“Zaku. So you’re here too.”

“Primer. Don’t stick to me, it’s annoying.”

“Aren’t you scared? If scholarship students like us were called together, then probably everyone here is…”

“Your thinking is correct.”

“I knew it! Scholarship students gathered in one place. There must be some extraordinary directive coming down!”

Surely they wouldn’t be ordered to kill as many classmates as possible and then commit suicide because they feared the talents of the 981st class students?

What if they were forcibly strapped with bombs and sent out on suicide missions?

If they ran away, would it be possible to avoid being caught?

Should they request protection from the Academy?

There’s no way the foundation wouldn’t retaliate if they did that…!

Thoughts continued to chain one after another.

Unlike Primer, who hovered near someone he knew out of fear, Zaku calmly sat down and waited.

Others might not know, but he did.

That April had been accompanying Oknodie.

If that was the case, today’s meeting should be considered Oknodie’s summons rather than the foundation’s.

“Hello, everyone!”

At the appointed time.

The scholarship students, bewildered by Oknodie’s sudden appearance from the deserted forest, were startled to discover April standing at attention behind her.

“Today, Miss Oknodie, the chief scholarship student of the foundation, has special directives for you all. Please listen carefully to Miss Oknodie’s directives so that there won’t be a need for repeated explanations.”

What they had anticipated with vague anxiety, faint premonition, or clear observation was coming to pass.

A directive from the foundation.

And a large-scale group directive delivered directly by the chief scholarship student herself.

Just how dangerous would this directive be?

Would they survive?

The scholarship students looked up, extremely tense.

Oknodie spoke to them.

“Recently, various small groups have begun activities among the freshmen. With impressive groups like ‘Hero’s Guard,’ ‘Dark Association,’ ‘Zigoku Pirates,’ ‘Camella Division,’ and ‘Western Nobles Union’ taking action, I have no reason to be alone anymore.”

Is the foundation’s chief scholarship student Oknodie finally taking action…!

Tension rose in the scholarship students’ eyes.

An organization involving not just themselves but Oknodie as well.

Activities conducted with her as the leader of the organization.

What could the objective possibly be?

“So you all need to form a group with me and follow my instructions! Otherwise, there will be major problems with the foundation’s activities!”

“…How can we assist you?”

“Don’t be so tense. It’s simple work—just running various errands that I ask you to do!”

Has the directive-giving entity merely changed from the foundation spy ‘April’ to ‘Oknodie’?

The clever Primer was relieved that the feared suicide bombing wouldn’t happen after all.

That meant there would be no need to step forward to make an impression only to end up wearing a bomb vest and charging at the front.

“I have a question.”

“Go ahead!”

“If foundation scholarship students gather in one place, the Academy could identify who the scholarship students are. After today, will we be assisting from the shadows without public meetings?”

“Don’t worry, I have no intention of revealing your scholarship student status. To hide your identities, I’ll be bringing in plenty of other people into the organization.”

“These are the personnel who will be recruited into Miss Oknodie’s organization in the future, for your reference.”

Primer received the roster that April took out and distributed.

A smile of admiration appeared at the corners of his mouth.

Black Knight Morb.

Earth Mage Sandcooker.

Fire Mage Rozini.

These were individuals who had recently gained tremendous value in the lower class.

Recruiting skilled individuals is good for raising an organization’s reputation.

But who is Bikini Warrior Ppyoi?

Arcadia Ceviche and her three loyal followers: Titosoga, Frill, and Canillian Truffle.

Though they were a group of four women, Arcadia once commanded a cloud of lower-class female students, making them the largest faction among freshmen.

Perfect for disguising as Arcadia’s followers rather than scholarship students.

Hestia.

Someone who frequents the mysterious club called Paper Dungeon.

Though he didn’t know much about upper-class students, Oknodie also frequented the same club.

This clearly meant she was a connection Oknodie was focusing on managing.

He couldn’t help but nod at the clever choice of managing connections while running an organization.

There were even more fearsome names.

Sing. And Zhang.

Two upper-class students known for their bad manners and cruelty.

Though different in gender, their dangerousness was equal.

At this point, the power balance was so heavily tilted that it seemed like Oknodie’s connections, rather than the scholarship students, were the main body of the organization.

Even Irene, who had distinguished herself at the Sports Festival and competed against the Four Heavenly Kings of the sophomore year.

If the Northern Grand Duchess were to join as well, the strength would be beyond words.

This was the formation of a major organization no less powerful than the “Hero’s Guard,” which was counted among the strongest in combat power.

But who is Lotta?

Yes, Lotta.

Whoever they are, if they’re a member of the upper class, they must undoubtedly be a mysterious powerhouse.

An individual worth keeping an eye on, having recruited a strong person who hasn’t received much attention.

‘Is she showing off her connections and political power as the chief scholarship student to us…!’

Primer realized it.

The scholarship students now knew each other’s identities.

They could join forces and attempt insubordination.

But such attempts were crushed from the very beginning.

What could the scholarship students do against those impressive names?

Even if they ganged up on Oknodie alone, powerhouses like Hestia, Sing, Zhang, and Irene would step in and wipe them all out in a day.

He had to admit it.

Oknodie wasn’t just excellent in academics or just tremendously powerful; she had worthy powerhouses as her comrades.

So that no one would even think of trying to usurp the position of chief scholarship student or plot rebellion.

“So what’s the organization’s name? I can’t picture how these diverse members will be tied together.”

An organization’s name is important.

The Hero’s Guard clearly revealed the identity of an organization centered around the hero.

The same goes for the Zigoku Pirates, Camella Division, and Western Nobles Union, which all have clear identities.

So how would Oknodie tie together this strange combination of scholarship students, her comrades, and lower-class powerhouses?

If the combination fails, there will be a flood of deserters.

The organization prepared with such ambition might dissolve into thin air.

What kind of identity had Oknodie prepared?

In response to Zaku’s question, Oknodie cheerfully exclaimed.

“Our organization is ‘The Organization That Plays With Oknodie’!”

“…”

Now that’s a clear identity.

If the purpose is disguise, it might not be bad.

But… is it really okay?

Is it acceptable for an organization to have such a name?

The expressions of the scholarship students were uniformly gloomy.

“Even if we accept it, will other students readily accept it?”

“I’m sure it’ll be fine!”

“Could you tell us the basis for that judgment? As a member of the organization, I’m concerned that such an organization name might make the organization precarious from the start.”

In response to Zaku’s question, Oknodie answered cheerfully, saying there was nothing wrong with it.

“I’ll give friend fees to organization members!”

“…Friend fees?”

“In points!”

“…!”

All scholarship students, including Zaku, were convinced.

This would work.

There’s no Academy student who dislikes points.

If such a fool existed, they would have been expelled long ago.

Compared to seniors’ clubs that threaten to extort points as club fees or exploit labor, Oknodie’s organization was the opposite!

Except for the regrettable organization name ‘The Organization That Plays With Oknodie,’ it was the ideal organization itself.

Providing legitimate labor and receiving corresponding friend fees (points) in return.

What an ideal organization this is!

“Still, ‘The Organization That Plays With Oknodie’ is a bit…”

But in every organization in the world, there’s always at least one tactless person.

Even Primer’s eyes widened at the fearless scholarship student who raised his hand and complained.

“We’re scholarship students. A secret organization within the organization. Isn’t there a separate secret organization name that preserves the foundation’s identity?”

Fortunately, the generous Oknodie didn’t slap the scholarship student’s cheek and scold him for talking back, nor did she sob saying “You don’t like my organization name…?”

“Of course, I’ve prepared a separate name for the secret organization within the organization, consisting only of foundation scholarship students!”

“Oh! What’s that name?”

“‘The Organization That Runs Errands for Oknodie’!”

The scholarship student who had asked the question was confused.

“What’s the difference?”

“Errand runners aren’t friends, so they don’t receive friend fees!”

“…!”

There was a difference.

A very significant difference.