Chapter 102.1

Chapter 102 – Rule 31. The Leader Restores Order in Academy City (4)

No matter how tense the situation, Oh Baek-seo never lashed out recklessly.

So, everyone was naturally surprised.

“The Head Principal wouldn’t have targeted you from the start. It’s me or the Leader she’s after. And among the Spartoi that the Head Principal controls, there are many strong ones, some of them are even on par with me. If two or three of them were to ambush you, do you think you’d survive?”

“……”

“And what would the Head Principal gain from targeting you, who she could eliminate at any time? She’d only be taking on unnecessary risk, don’t you think? You weren’t even a consideration. That’s why she wanted to keep you in the dark. Because just knowing this information puts you in danger.”

Yesong bowed her head, tears welling up.

“Sniff…”

It was a harsh truth.

If the Spartoi went all out, even the prodigious genius Oh Baek-seo wouldn’t stand a chance. There was no way Yesong, Minhyuk, or Doha could handle them.

“Besides, even if you knew this information, there’s nothing you could do about it, right?”

Doha clicked her tongue in frustration.

“Then why did you suddenly change your mind? Because the Leader was detained, so you got desperate? Are you just trying to seek help from anyone you can?”

“Because I think things are going to escalate.”

“Escalate?”

“Yes. Now, honestly… I don’t even know what’s going to happen next.”

The fact that the glutton had activated the final magic technique on Woo-jin.

The fact that the Head Principal coveted Woo-jin so much.

And the fact that Woo-jin had reached the 7th Tier.

Considering all these and other facts, it was easy to predict that some major upheaval was coming to Neo Seoul.

“You should be on guard. That’s why I told you now. I will protect the Leader, and you, no matter what.”

“…Ha.”

Slap!

Doha wrapped magic power around her hand and slapped her own cheek hard.

“Doha-ching!?”

One side of Doha’s cheek turned bright red.

“Now we’re even.”

Doha glared at Baek-seo.

Baek-seo had sensed from the beginning that this was Doha’s intention all along.

“I can’t stand how you try to do everything on your own. No, more than that… I’ve disliked you from the start. You’re annoying, uncomfortable, always busy flashing fake smiles, aren’t you? I don’t need your approval. I’ll protect the Leader too. Do you think I’d still be here if it weren’t for the Leader?”

Doha’s clenched fists trembled.

“Don’t go around acting like you’re the only one protecting us…! The Leader is really important to me too…!”

Back in their first year, Woo-jin had risked his life to protect students like Doha. Remembering that, a cross-shaped vein bulged on Doha’s forehead.

She couldn’t bear the fact that she only found out now about the information that put the Leader’s life at risk.

“Why the hell do you think I joined the Disciplinary Committee that doesn’t even suit me and swore loyalty to the Leader…? Don’t dismiss my resolve. Trying to get close to you was stupid of me.”

Baek-seo fell silent for a moment before lowering her gaze.

“…Sorry. I apologize.”

“Hmph!”

Doha snorted dismissively and turned her back, heading toward the elevator.

Yesong and Minhyuk watched her leave, glancing nervously at each other, then approached Baek-seo.

“Doha-ching is actually a kind person, even if she acts like that.”

Yesong whispered, and Minhyuk nodded vigorously. It was a gesture to ease Baek-seo’s mood.

Only then did Baek-seo place her hand on her reddened cheek.

It didn’t really hurt, but for some reason, it felt painful.

At that moment.

The elevator arrived at the basement. The Squad Leader got off and rushed over.

He saluted Doha first and then approached Baek-seo, Yesong, and Minhyuk.

The Squad Leader saluted Baek-seo, and Doha stopped in her tracks, watching them closely.

“Deputy Leader! We have a problem!”

“What is it?”

“There’s been a flood of reports about the Leader submitted to various media academies…!”

The Disciplinary Committee’s activities are highly sensitive to public opinion.
Because it directly affects them.

That’s why informants were spread everywhere.

“What kind of reports?”

“Reports about bribery, corruption, and other absurd accusations are being spread to the media…!”

The faces of the Disciplinary Committee members hardened.

Something was going terribly wrong.

…

Breaking News! Anonymous Tipster: “I’ll expose the misconduct of the Ahsung High Disciplinary Committee Leader.”

– Ahsung High Disciplinary Committee Leader accused of embezzlement and bribery…!

– Evidence found of a ‘coup plan’ at the Ahsung High Disciplinary Committee Leader’s residence…!

– Shocking! Ahsung High Disciplinary Committee Leader implicated in murder…!

– Ahsung High Disciplinary Committee Leader detained at the Police Academy on charges of murder…! What’s the truth?

– Anomia: The real face of the Ahsung High Disciplinary Committee Leader who annihilated the Six Sinners.

– Police Academy’s Cheongun Student Council President: “Ahsung High Disciplinary Committee Leader is a 7th Tier Ascendant… A person of interest.”

– Ahsung High Disciplinary Committee Leader confirmed to be at the 7th Tier…!

The media, like fish biting on a massive piece of bait, were swarming.

Since the target was none other than the renowned Ahn Woo-jin, the Disciplinary Committee Leader of a major academy who had made significant contributions, journalists were going wild, flooding the internet and TV news.

With persuasive evidence presented, it was like pouring gasoline on a burning house.

Not only the Disciplinary Committee but also those who saw Woo-jin as a good person were all thrown into confusion.

“What is this…?”

Virtual streamer Min Hana was in shock.

“……”

Shindorim Swordmaster Park Seong-tae silently read the online articles.

“Ahn Woo-jin…”

Mayeon High Disciplinary Committee Leader Lee Jae-ho furrowed his brows in concern.

“How could they do this to a person…?”

Kim Dalbi, one of the Six Sinners, bit her lip.

Meanwhile…

“My head hurts. I’m going crazy…”

Ahsung High Student Council Room.

Student Council President Han Baek-hyeon felt his mind spiraling.

The phone rang incessantly, to the point where Baek-hyeon ended up disconnecting the line altogether. He stood by the window, sighing deeply.

“There are all sorts of criminal allegations against the Disciplinary Committee Leader right now. Even morally reprehensible stuff…! The public opinion is constantly turning negative…”

The secretary was drenched in cold sweat.

It all started with an anonymous tip exposing the misdeeds of the Ahsung High Disciplinary Committee Leader. From there, criticism and rumors were spreading like wildfire, one after another.

“The backlash is too strong, President. Even the media academies are having a field day pumping out articles.”

“With this level of chaos, it’s impossible to control… How could it be this dramatic?”

“Do you think all this information is true? Even if it’s not conclusive, the evidence presented is quite compelling…”

“I can guarantee it. Ahn Woo-jin isn’t the kind of guy to do that. And as for that so-called evidence, it’s cleverly fabricated. When you’re involved in academy affairs, you learn to spot that kind of manipulated evidence. This is the work of someone with overwhelming power, meticulously planned.”

“I see…”

Baek-hyeon furrowed his brow.