Chapter 81.1

Chapter 81 – Rule 27. The Leader Never Lowers His Guard (1)

“How did the disciplinary committee meeting go?”

“Two weeks of probation. However, I’ll continue my duties as the Disciplinary Committee Leader.”

We were on our way back after finishing our volunteer work with Lee Se-Ah.

I showed Se-Ah the Disciplinary Committee pager and badge, indicating that I still held my position as the leader.

“Wow, that’s practically nothing.”

“Exactly.”

“That’s a relief. I was worried since the incident happened.”

The initial disciplinary committee was investigated, and a new one was quickly convened.

In the end, I received only a mild punishment.

Thanks to the justification for my actions and the acknowledgment of capturing the six sinners, the jurisdiction of Mayeon High School was retroactively applied.

“Sister Jung-mi said that this time, Hanyang thoroughly investigated the matter.”
“Oh, her.”

In Se-Ah’s organization, the Do-hwa Group, there’s a student named Lee Jung-mi from the audit department of the Hanyang Federal Academy’s student council. She participated in the last operation to rescue Oh Baek-seo.

Since they were part of the same organization, Se-Ah had received information from Jung-mi faster than the media.

“It seems the student council presidents of Ahsung High School and Mayeon High School were quite proactive. And it’s unusual for bribery to be involved in the disciplinary committee, so it caused quite a stir.”

“Should you be saying that so casually?”

“Are you referring to confidentiality obligations? I’m not the investigator, and the results are already out, so it doesn’t matter. Besides, I don’t really like strictly following the rules.”

“That’s not something you should say in front of me.”

Se-Ah just smiled slyly like a fox.

“So, how did it turn out?”

“It was revealed that more than two-thirds of the committee, including the chairman, took bribes. Wow, you were really in danger, senior!”

“This is really a mess…”

Se-Ah laughed.

“Weren’t the people who gave the bribes caught?”

“Nope. The place that gave the bribes was a ghost company. They tried to dig deeper, but the trail was well hidden.”

“Hmm…”

As expected.

“Hanyang will handle the investigation. It’s a sensitive case. By the way, how is Baek-seo doing? I heard she was apologizing to everyone?”

“Yes, but did you hear?”

“I was one of the comrades who fought alongside you then, wasn’t I? How could I not hear?”

Se-Ah rarely encounters Oh Baek-seo, so she hasn’t been properly updated about her.

Baek-seo, after regaining her senses, has been apologizing to everyone, feeling she caused a lot of trouble by acting alone and needing to be rescued.

“By now, can I ask?”

“Ask what?”

“Why was Baek-seo kidnapped?”

Baek-seo hasn’t explained her situation to everyone yet, asking for a bit more time.

“I don’t think she intends to tell us yet. We should find out when Moon Chae-won wakes up.”

Of course, I know the reason.

Revealing the truth would mean opposing the Head Principal. How could she disclose it recklessly?

Once information is out, it can’t be controlled. Sharing such dangerous information would be like handing over a bomb to the other party.

The uninformed might be frustrated, but I planned to keep the secret until the right time to reveal it.

“Senior.”

“Yes?”

“You’ve realized something very big is involved, right?”

Se-Ah, who participated in the Baek-seo rescue mission, must have naturally sensed it.

Se-Ah shrugged her shoulders.

“It seems difficult for you to talk about it.”

“……”

“Senior~, if you ever need help, just let me know! This junior is here to assist you!”

Se-Ah confidently placed her hand on her chest.

“It doesn’t feel great to rely on a junior often. Anyway, didn’t you say you’d tell me what you need?”

“Something I need? …Ah.”

Se-Ah quickly understood my meaning and grinned.

“Are you referring to clearing my debt?”

I nodded.

Se-Ah had helped me a lot. She said it was because she owed me, but I didn’t feel comfortable just accepting that.

“Do you know what my dream is, senior?”

“Dream?”

It was a sudden question.

‘Lee Se-Ah’s dream?’

She later becomes someone who briefly dominates the black market…

“To join the establishment?”

“That’s a typical answer.”

“What is it?”

“To make this world a slightly better place.”

Huh?

“Isn’t that too abstract?”

I was puzzled by the unexpected answer. However, Se-Ah seemed sincere, with a subtle seriousness on her otherwise mischievous face.

“If I can control places where villains can arise, it’s not abstract at all.”

“Oh, so that’s your direction.”

“Yes. I’m the leader of the Do-hwa Group, after all.”

Indeed.

This was the first time hearing this story.

How had Se-Ah seemed to me so far?

She consistently devoted herself to volunteer work and jumped in without hesitation to save others in danger.

She only appeared to be a sly con artist on the surface.

‘Wait, it somehow… makes sense?’

My mind started to clear up.

Why Se-Ah was so committed to volunteer work.

Why she dominated the black market.

Why she becomes the Great Villain.

When I linked her words to her aspirations, everything made sense.

There are people like that occasionally.

People who find pursuing material wealth boring and instead chase ideals.

For example, a certain rich person in my previous life dreamed of pioneering Mars, with money being just a means to an end. To him, money was merely something that came along in the process of pursuing his dream.

‘Maybe Se-Ah is one of those people.’

All the questions I had about Se-Ah seemed to be resolved.

The reason why Se-Ah never seemed like the villain I had to stop.

Before I knew it, a smile formed on my lips.

“Well, that’s just what I think. Anyway…”

“That’s impressive.”

“Huh?”

“That’s definitely an admirable goal.”

Se-Ah looked at me with a somewhat puzzled expression.

“Hmm…, don’t you think it’s strange?”

“What’s strange about it?”

“Then there’s nothing more to say.”

Se-Ah stood in front of me, blocking my way. I stopped and met her gaze.

Her slitted eyes opened slightly, revealing her red pupils.

Talking about her dream was just the prelude.

It seemed she was about to get to the main point.

“I have a favor to ask you, senior.”

“Go ahead.”

“I really like you, senior. So.”

Se-Ah extended her hand to me.

“Would you join me?”

“……?”