Chapter 86.1

Chapter 86 – Rule 27. The Leader Never Lowers His Guard (6)

Son Ye-seo.

Though not involved in the main storyline of the original work, her image would be etched into any player’s mind, perhaps due to the nun’s habit she wore.

She wasn’t a major character in the event stories either, essentially an extra. However, being a Spartoi alone suggested her combat prowess was significant even within Neo Seoul.

‘Never expected the Head Principal’s subordinate to show up.’

My wariness spiked instantly.

Baek-seo was also maintaining her composure, but a chilly air surrounded her. She seemed to know who Son Ye-seo was.

That’s expected.

Baek-seo was also a Spartoi and the Head Principal’s subordinate.

“I’m Spartoi. I’ve come as a representative of the Federal Council. We’ve met before, right?”

“We saw each other at Shin Yongsan Street.”

Spartoi do not have an official name known to the public. The idea is that only the power elite of Academy City should be able to call upon them.

Thus, they simply refer to themselves as Spartoi.

Of course, there might be nicknames they use among themselves.

“Yes, that’s right~.”

Clap! Ye-seo clapped her hands and smiled brightly.

“To think we’d meet again like this! Is this also the Lord’s guidance?”

“Perhaps. Please have a seat. You must be tired from the long journey.”

“Then, thank you.”

Ye-seo sat down with her companions, and I took a seat across from them. Baek-seo brought out tea.

The atmosphere in the reception room was heavy, but Ye-seo kept smiling kindly. She seemed oblivious on the surface.
But she certainly wasn’t.

These kinds of meetings were about who could better pretend not to know what the other did.

“I’d love to spend a long time chatting happily… but I don’t have much time, and you must be busy too, Leader. So, shall we get to the point?”

“Yes, that’s fine.”

“Alright. I’ll convey the Federal Council’s message.”

Ye-seo took out a document from her bag, cleared her throat, and began reading the contents.

In a clear and elegant tone.

“‘Our Federal Council highly values your contributions in capturing the sixth sinner, the Technomancer, and greatly aiding in maintaining the order of Neo Seoul. Therefore, we have decided to provide appropriate rewards to all those who participated in the battle. This conclusion also considers the decision of Ahn Woo-jin, the Disciplinary Committee Leader’s disciplinary committee.’”

A reward.

That’s good.

And.

‘The disciplinary committee….’

The bribery allegations from this disciplinary committee are still under investigation by Hanyang Federal Academy.

I don’t know the exact details of who approached the committee members, how they were bribed, or the specifics.

And frankly, I don’t think it matters. Given the Head Principal is likely behind it, no matter how severe the situation, the investigation will inevitably be glossed over.

They won’t uncover the mastermind, and only the committee members who committed illegal acts will face criminal charges.

“‘The restriction on issuing platinum mileage was established to prevent inflation. However, if more than two-thirds of the Federal Council members agree, the number of recipients can be increased, or the timing of the mileage issuance can be adjusted. Therefore, all Disciplinary Committee officers who captured the Technomancer will receive platinum mileage within a week.’”

I could already picture Park Minhyuk and Ha Yesong’s beaming faces.

“‘Excluding outsiders, those who participated in the battle but are not Disciplinary Committee members will receive a generous amount of gold mileage.’”

It seemed that Lee Se-Ah and the Volunteer Club would also receive rewards. They’d be delighted.

However, up until now, it was all sweet content.

No matter how generously they offered rewards, neither I nor Baek-seo could just feel happy about it.

The main point always comes last.

“‘However… capturing two of the six sinners is too much for a single academy to handle, and given the seriousness of the matter, the Federal Council deems it highly significant.
However, our Federal Council respects the autonomy of each academy according to the law. Therefore.’”

Ye-seo looked directly into my eyes with curious eyes.

“‘The Federal Council requests cooperation from the Spartoi under its jurisdiction in this matter’… it says?”

“…….”

No matter how much I tried to keep a poker face, I couldn’t prevent my expression from stiffening gradually.

Involving Spartoi meant taking control of the investigation.

Maintaining the order of Academy City requires respecting each academy’s autonomy.
But the opponent is the Federal Council.

The top power structure of Neo Seoul.

A group that stands above Hanyang Federal Academy, the central academy.

If we opposed the Federal Council’s will, we’d have to be prepared to face their wrath later.

What academy would want to be in such a dire situation?

What academy could dare oppose the Federal Council?

‘This is practically an ‘order’ disguised as a ‘request’. But.’

There was no need to hesitate.

“I refuse.”

“Oh?”

Ye-seo’s eyebrows twitched. Her expression showed she found this intriguing.

The Federal Council itself is probably not the enemy. They are rightly concerned about the Disciplinary Committee handling two of the six sinners, which is not unnatural.
The problem is that the Head Principal’s subordinate is among the Spartoi.
The very person standing before me is both the Head Principal’s subordinate and a representative of the Federal Council.

So accepting the Federal Council’s involvement in the investigation would essentially mean handing over control to the Head Principal.

In that case, it wouldn’t be surprising if evidence got destroyed, key witnesses got eliminated, or the incident got covered up in any way.

“This is the Disciplinary Committee’s matter. The Federal Council is not our superior, is it?”

The Federal Council is a power structure in this city, but officially they are just a group under Hanyang Federal Academy with no authority over Ahsung High School.

They can easily pressure us, but that’s not the issue here.

“Are you serious? At least discuss it with the Student Council….”

“The investigation rights belong solely to me, the Disciplinary Committee Leader. There’s no need for a meeting. Even if our Student Council decides to follow the Federal Council’s wishes, the Disciplinary Committee will not comply in the slightest.”

It felt like a chilling wind was blowing.

In an ordinary negotiation or discussion, I wouldn’t have been this aggressive.

I would have said I’d contact them after discussing it with the Student Council and then sent them off. And while dragging out the time, I’d have considered how to reject the Federal Council’s request. At the very least, I would have pretended to ‘carefully consider’ it out of courtesy.

But my response now was neither soft nor flexible.

I know.

I was that determined.

“Hm.”

Ye-seo seemed taken aback by my firmness. Soon, she collected herself, shrugged one shoulder, and relaxed.

“I’m just a representative, so it might be overstepping, but do you know what might happen?”

“What do you mean?”

“What else?”

Ye-seo leaned in close, covering her mouth with her hand. I also leaned in to hear her small whisper.

“A disadvantage.”

“…….”

“That council is a bunch of old fogeys with huge egos. They won’t like this.”

Was this a warning?

“It doesn’t matter.”

“Really….”