“…That’s all for the report.”
Jeon Muyeong concluded the briefing.
The subject of his report was a close look at the disappearance of an elementary school teacher and another elementary school homeroom teacher.
Infiltrating the school wasn’t particularly physically difficult, but it took a big toll on him mentally.
Jeon Muyeong spoke slower than usual, perhaps because of embarrassment, but he successfully delivered everything he needed to report.
To make his report as short and concise as possible, his efforts at forming a brief summary paid off.
Jeon Muyeong handed over a pre-printed copy of his report.
“I’ve summarized all the details into this document.”
“Alright. Good job.”
Sung Gukeon received a pile of paper documents as he suppressed a smile as if he can clearly read what was in Jeon Muyeong’s mind.
‘Doesn’t he find it troublesome having to print and shred a report document every time?’
Sung Gukeon always insisted on having his documents printed even though he was perfectly capable of operating a device.
It’s only common for older lawmakers to demand their reports to be printed.
Sung Gukeon, on the other hand, is the youngest member of the National Assembly.
He’s familiar with how devices work since almost everything in Eungwang High was facilitated with devices, from class materials to exams.
‘I guess that teacher still has an influence on him.’
Sung Gukeon and Jeon Muyeong were two years apart, and Sung Gukeon was a senior in high school when Jeon Muyeong was a freshman.
They only spent one year in the same school.
Nevertheless, he could never forget the intense and unconventional decisions of then-student representative Sung Gukeon.
There was one teacher who followed him well, the one who was talking about resignation and closing the school against the Chairman’s will.
He wasn’t a teacher who sided with the students, but he treated everyone, students and teachers, the same.
That teacher used to prefer analog things and reports printed on paper.
Perhaps that’s what influenced Sung Gukeon.
‘…I didn’t know he would pass away so early.’
It was right after Sung Gukeon’s graduation when that teacher’s obituary was heard.
He was in his thirties, a teacher who looked healthy.
But the cause of his death was said to be a disease.
That teacher had no family, and he only left a message asking for a quiet funeral, so only a few people came to pay their respect.
Sung Gukeon somehow managed to know where the funeral was, and he gathered several close people, including Jeon Muyeong, to attend.
‘I was surprised to see the chief mourner at the funeral.”
Sung Gukeon and everyone in his group were surprised when they arrived at the funeral to pay their respects.
The chief mourner was a co-teacher of him, Yong Jegun.
Sung Gukeon kept silent at the funeral hall and expressed his condolences to the deceased, but his eyes were filled with both heartbreak and fierce energy throughout.
On the other hand, chief mourner Yong Jegun looked calm.
Rather, he looked amused that the students came of their own volition.
In the end, Sung Gukeon couldn’t hold it in and he called Yong Jegun out of the funeral hall.
– Why are you the chief mourner?
– He has no family so I took over.
– The chief mourner is someone who mourns the death of the deceased person the most. It’s not for people of royal lineage who watch humans like we’re actors in a play!
Sung Gukeon’s eyes were bloodshot red, but Yong Jegun only smiled leisurely.
Shocked by the presence of the two, the people who saw them continued to watch without thinking of intervening.
– Why do you think I watch his death like a game?
– You are a royal lineage from the Dragon King’s Cintamani. Your source was the Cintamani stone which granted all their wishes.
– You know a lot. Though I don’t really hide it.
– You could’ve treated his disease! But you’re going to sit here, be the chief mourner, even if you watched that teacher die?
At some point, Sung Gukeon dropped the honorifics.
Yong Jegun nodded as if he didn’t care about that.
– You’re right. If I had permission from the Dragon King, I would’ve been able to use the Cintamani’s power. But I didn’t bother to.
– So why…!?
– The Cintamani is a stone that can ‘fulfill a wish that you want’. It can’t fulfill I wish that I don’t sincerely want.
With those words, Sung Gukeon’s face turned completely pale.
Yong Jegun seemed to be telling the truth, and Sung Gukeon knows that.
He couldn’t forgive Yong Jegun.
In Sung Gukeon’s eyes, it’s like someone from royal lineage helped a human commit suicide.
‘I don’t think Yong Jegun was lying that day. But it doesn’t seem like he said everything either. It’s like he was cleverly hiding something…’
Jeon Muyeong, who had no relations with the deceased, judged so as he watched the situation unfold that day.
However, he couldn’t convey his thoughts to Sung Gukeon.
It felt like he would be adding salt to Sung Gukeon’s wounds for no reason.
Jwwiiik…
Jeon Muyeong’s thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the paper shredder.
At some point, Sung Gukeon began shredding the documents after he checked everything he needed to.
“Did you find the missing elementary school teacher?”
“I couldn’t find him. He was in his home during his 3-day absence, but he disappeared on the fourth day.”
Sung Gukeon was lost in thought as he looked at the pieces of shredded paper.
Shortly after his term began, he solved a case related to Gwangil Elementary School.
Starting with a letter sent by an elementary school student to Sung Gukeon, the case grew like a snowball, stirring controversy across the country.
However, eventually, all the perpetrators on that case managed to escape and were forgotten by the public.
Except for someone, who’s now taking action against all of them.
Accidents, jail time, and disappearances.
Several incidents for different reasons.
And just like that, the last remaining teacher involved in the case also disappeared.
‘It’s either a royal lineage or a professional team behind this. Probably the former.’
In order for professional player teams to intervene so skillfully and stealthfully, they needed a high level of understanding of how things in Korea work.
There are three candidates he has in mind.
First, the Yeom Bangyeol’s Red Lion.
Second, Kwon Jein’s Lake of Eternity.
Lastly, Song Manseok’s Han River Cycling Team.
However, none of those three teams had a motive.
Therefore, Sung Gukeon and Jeon Muyeong concluded that it’s a royal lineage behind all this.
“I’m worried about the child who transferred at this time. You said he saw you through your abilities.”
“Yes.”
“But you said he’s an outcast.”
“Yes, the same kids were spitting out abusive words at him. I think they’d be corrected through since the person who attends as a temporary teacher is a decent person…”
Jeon Muyeong mentioned that the child recently became friends with another kid from a different class.
After hearing about this mysterious child, Sung Gukeon suddenly spoke.
“I want to meet this child.”
After ordering an infiltration of the school, he now wants to meet an elementary school student.
The sense of embarrassment for Jeon Muyeong grew, but he had no choice but to nod.
“…I will prepare what you need.”
“Aha! Let’s wait some more. I think the secret will be revealed soon.”
Jeon Muyeong’s expression died, but Sung Gukeon’s cheerful laughter grew.
“I’ll know what kind of kid he is when I see him in person. Leave him to me!”
* * *
Lawmaker Sung Gukeon contacted Hwang Jiho in his elementary school student form?
My playable character wouldn’t have done anything unnecessary, but I don’t understand why he wants to meet Hwang Jiho.
“Perhaps it’s because I’ve seen through Jeon Muyeong’s hiding skill? It was easy to see through that one, but it was quite difficult when he used his light skill.”
“Why did you make it so obvious? You should’ve pretended not to know anything.”
“Because I was practicing breaking down that same light skill you used to hide yourself.”
What nonsense…!
In any case, Jeon Muyeong’s light skill isn’t easily overpowered.
“Jeon Muyeong searched for the address of this child. I think we’re bound to meet in that house in the guise of a coincidence… For now, my subordinates who play the role of this child’s fake parents are waiting at that house. This child is currently away, staying at a relative’s house.”
“Are you not going to meet Sung Gukeon?”
“For now.”
Is that why he’s in his choding appearance?
No, I still don’t think this was necessary.
My thoughts were interrupted by Hwang Jiho’s laughter.
“Hahaha! My other alter egos are busy. Well, I can set the age and appearance of every alter ego, so I guess it doesn’t matter. But you see, doing that takes an amount of power.”
So he’s doing this to conserve energy?
It’s true that Hwang Jiho seems to be very busy.
I wonder where his high school student self is.
I wasn’t that curious, so I opted not to ask.
“Well then let’s keep an eye on this TC Research Institute case, including Do Wonwoo. If anything happens I’ll let you know right away.”
I nodded.
TC Research Institute and their secret project.
It’s time to think about so many factors again as yet another piece is added to my chessboard.
* * *
The weekend passed quickly and it was Monday again.
Today is Kwon Lena’s re-examination day.
Everyone looked worried and cheered on her, and Kim Yuri advised that Kwon Lena might be pressured too much if we cheered her on too profusely.
Everyone was calm, except for the commotion around Mok Wooram
“Oh, then Wooram was hired by Professor Tak Geosan?”
“Yes, that’s right. I was hiding because I was helping the vice president in keeping an eye on his Bbang Shuttle’s smoking habits, and Mr. Tak Geosan noticed me.”
“I didn’t sense him at all but that teacher knew where he was right away.”
“What? You didn’t sense him? I thought he was just a pushover, but it looks like he’s quite talented.”
“Daesok! Don’t call him a pushover.”
After hearing about Mok Wooram’s situation, Tak Geosan seemed to think that he could use him to prevent his disciples from deviating from his right ways.
He said he’d give bread in exchange for helping him prevent Bang Yoonseob’s various derailments such as smoking and tinkering.
Mok Wooram persistently chased around Bang Yoonseob to relieve his anxiety with Kwon Lena’s re-examination and also to faithfully commit to his sideline.
‘Bang Yoonseob still goes around like that even though Joo Soohyuk and Maeng Hyodon could see him?’
In a way, this Bang Yoonseob is quite amusing.
Now that Mok Wooram is here, it would be more difficult for him to lose his way, but it doesn’t seem like he’s given up yet.
“Wooram handed out the bread he received from Professor Tak Geosan yesterday. The chestnut bread was really good.”
“What a relief! It suited Lena-n… Lena’s taste.”
“Yeah. You must’ve been busy with your part-time job on top of chasing Yoonseob… Thank you for helping me study and sharing bread with me.”
Mok Wooram is really doing his best to not call her “Lena-nim” ever since that day.
Kwon Lena was delighted with that change, and it seems like the two are closer now.
‘Now I have to tell her that Mok WOoram knows her secret.’
Mok Wooram asked me to help him tell Kwon Lena once she’s calmed down.
I can’t afford to do that now since she still has her re-exam coming up.
‘I should tell her after the re-exams. After the filming of Playlist with Dokgo Miro.
And then the next day came.
Kwon Lena safely passed the re-test.
I headed to school early in the morning with snacks to commemorate her passing the test when…
“Come here for a second.”
“Suspicious vice president, give us a few minutes.”
Year Two Class Zero’s combi, Geum Chansol, and Wang Chansol called me.
