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Phantom Thief Neon and Goo Seulbi.
The two attention-seekers decided to personally fetch the other Year One Class Zero students who were yet to attend school.
However, their plan was immediately met with hurdles.
“Gah… Why is it so hard to get Eungwang High students’ information! Who knew getting names would be this difficult!”
Even though Phantom Thief Neon got some information from his source, he could not get a list of names of students attending Eungwang High.
Through his beloved source, he found out about the Demon Race auction and the route of a human trafficking group, but he just couldn’t obtain information about Year One Class Zero.
“All Eungwang High are players. Information on players is thoroughly managed because of the Player Privacy Act, and it’s difficult for outsiders to enter Eungwang High in the first place. Even if outsiders manage to get in, those excellent players would immediately deal with them.”
“Gah!”
Goo Seulbi’s cold-headed analysis frustrated Phantom Thief Neon.
Although Goo Seulbi did not express it as openly as Neon did, she was also frustrated.
“I know that but… I wanted to refrain from doing anything that would stand out until we can reappear splendidly!”
“We’ve been too noticeable these days… Sigh, but I didn’t completely conceal my presence because I’m the great and wonderful Druidess!”
Their existence was already recognized to some extent since they have been discovered multiple times.
If they keep showing up, it would be difficult for them to make the perfect, fresh, and splendid entrance that they dream of.
Phantom Thief Neon and Goo Seulbi were in a dilemma for quite a while before they finally regained motivation.
“Let’s make this a success!”
“Yeah… We’re not lost yet!”
The two attention-seekers renewed their resolve and began to work out operations.
Phantom Thief Neon’s prepared hideout was filled with holograms of Eungwang High maps.
Looking at the map of the central area and thinking hard, Goo Seulbi said something.
“Silver Hall is where student information is managed. I heard that Class Zero tried to invade there several times but failed.”
Students of Class Zero attempted multiple times to break into the Silver Hall.
This year alone, Year Two Class Zero tried to launch a noise attack as retaliation against Chairman Hwang Myeongho for making Jegal work too hard, but they failed when they were discovered by Gong Cheonghwon.
Last year, the already-graduated Class Zero tried to attack Chairman Hwang Myeongho when he opposed the demolition of the old school building, but they were dealt with by the student council.
The Silver Hall was an iron fortress that had never been pierced despite numerous attempts by Class Zero.
“Relax. We’re not going after Silver Hall.”
Phantom Thief Neon said so, reassuring Goo Seulbi.
“We’re coming after the freshmen teachers’ office in the central area!”
“There’s student information there too?”
“That’s right. There’s a teacher there who uses an analog attendance book. I found out that all class attendance books have analog records too.:
“That’s easier to infiltrate than Silver Hall!”
The two were delighted as they began to plan their raid.
They first checked the list of teachers who were using the said office.
However, seeing the list made Goo Seulbi’s face turn pale.
“The Legendary Archer… The Mischievous Dragon… This is too difficult. I’m not saying it’s impossible, but I think it’ll be harder than we thought.”
“For a thief, it’s important to recognize one’s abilities and limitations too.”
“I’m not a thief. How many times do I have to…”
“We’re going to get that attendance book. That’s precisely what a thief does!”
Phantom Thief Neon’s philosophy had always been vain, but what he said this time actually seemed logical.
Goo Seulbi was still somewhat resentful, but she decided to accept that she was now somewhat of a thief.
The two-member thief gang tried to analyze the list of teachers, their timetables, and movement paths.
Pointing to an ordinary teacher with a sad impression, Goo Seulbi spoke.
“…Not when that teacher is there.”
“Who are you talking about?”
“Year One Class One homeroom teacher, Professor Kim Shinrok. He looks like he has sharp senses.”
Phantom Thief Neon was unconvinced, but he decided to be careful of Kim Shinrok in respect of his partner’s opinion.
As a result, they decided to steal the attendance book during the time when Ham Geunhyung, Yong Jegun, and Kim Shinrok wouldn’t be in the office.
“Professor Ham often leaves ‘cos of student council stuff. He goes to Hongcheon a lot too.”
“I think he leaves most certainly after school. The same goes for Professor Yong Jegun. He gets off work in time so he and the student representative can go home together.”
“The problem is Professor Kim Shinrok. He works overtime a lot? He’s the Jiikhoe adviser, but he doesn’t go there a lot.”
Just as Goo Seulbi said, Kim Shinrok doesn’t frequent the Jiikhoe office, thinking that he might get in the way of the student leaders for no reason.
“It would be late at night if we time it when Professor Kim Shinrok leaves work. The night security system is too tight so the difficulty level of our infiltration will increase significantly.”
“Yeah, those teachers go to school early too so we can’t aim for that time. He goes around campus like a ghost until Professor Yong Jegun leaves work too…“
“He sometimes leaves early because of work. We have to aim for that time.”
The problem they were troubled with was solved unexpectedly easily.
When Jiikhoe’s chairman Gye Idam was admitted to the nurse’s office after his battle with Jo Euishin, his adviser, Kim Shinrok, planned to visit Gye Idam right after school.
The attention-seekers waited around the teachers’ office to confirm if the information was accurate.
When Kim Shinrok came out of the building, Yong Jegun popped up.
“Professor Kim Shinrok, you’re leaving early. Where are you going?”
“…I’m going to visit Idam.”
“Really? Didn’t you visit him last night too?”
Kim Shinrok replied with a smile to Yong Jegun’s question.
The attention-seekers watching the two’s conversation somehow got the impression that Kim Shinrok was struggling to maintain a smile on his face.
“…He’s still admitted. I’m worried about Idam. I’ll be going now.”
Kim Shinrok tried to shake off Yong Jegun by speaking softly, but the latter followed him with a big smile.
Yong Jegun seemed to be planning to follow Kim Shinrok to the nurse’s office.
After taking a few steps, Kim Shinrok stopped and spoke.
“The student association’s activities today are almost over.”
“Yeah, it looks like it.”
“…Isn’t it time for you and Junyeol to go home?”
“Oh, you’re worried about that? Thanks. But you don’t have to worry.”
Yong Jegun’s smile widened.
“Junyeol won’t go home right away today, he’ll be having dinner with Jo Euishin. I asked if I could come, but he said no.”
“…I see. So you’re following me because you are bored?”
Kim Shinrok looked at Yong Jegun’s face for a few seconds, his own expression looking tired, before turning around and walking quickly.
Yong Jegun chased after Kim Shinrok and said something, but the two were already far enough and couldn’t be heard by the attention-seekers.
“I don’t know what’s going on, but thieves need to make use of this gap. We can’t miss this opportunity!”
“Again with your thief crap. You failed consistently except for the Big Ben thing…”
“Ultimately, it’s not a failure. The painting of the great genius was returned.”
According to Phantom Thief Neon, the painter Hong Kyungbok has slowed down his search for Imoogi’s Exorcism.
Phantom Thief Neon judged that the reason for that is that Hong Kyungbok secured the painting.
And according to him, the face of the genius that painted the work has become very bright.
“…You mean Min Geurin of Class Zero, right?”
“That’s right! A great genius artist who will make a mark in the history of Korean art.”
When she felt Phantom Thief Neon’s respect and admiration for the painter, Goo Seulbi’s feelings became complicated.
It annoyed her that she couldn’t figure out why.
When she suddenly felt unmotivated to carry out their thief activities…
“Alright, put this overcoat on! I’ve prepared your share of wonderful thief costumes!”
Phantom Thief Neon pulled a box out.
It contained a thin outer garment embroidered in the shape of a crane with brilliant white beads on white silk, and a mask modeled after the face of a crane.
Because of its wide sleeves, the outfit looked like a crane flapping its wings from a distance.
The wonderful and beautiful gift thrilled Goo Seulbi.
‘Oh my god… How wonderful!’
The unknown disappointment she felt disappeared like a bubble.
When Goo Seulbi put on the clothes with joy, Phantom Thief Neon watched it with pride.
Goo Seulbi suddenly felt embarrassed.
“…But won’t we stand out too much in this? We gotta go in undiscovered.”
“I know that. That’s why I kept in my urge to make an announcement…”
Phantom Thief Neon looked utterly disappointed.
However, he soon overcame this inner conflict and shouted firmly.
“Even so, we can’t neglect what a thief is supposed to do. A thief must have a suitable costume. I can’t let my partner cover her face with firewood!”
Goo Seulbi felt a little something when Neon said “My partner”, but she slowly came to her senses.
If only Neon hadn’t taken a jab at her Druidess costume, she would’ve agreed with him.
“Today’s outfit concept is A Swan Among Ducklings — No, Two Swans Among Ducklings! Overcome the ordeal and become two cranes shining in the Eungwang High crowd!”
Phantom Thief Neon shouted as he wore his own embroidered jacket.
Due to the irrepressible instinct of the attention-seekers, the two eventually stormed into the teachers’ office in their very striking costumes.
They infiltrated successfully thanks to Phantom Thief Neon’s door-opening technology, but it was impossible for them to keep a low profile in their outfits.
“…What are you guys doing?”
A teacher working in the office stopped in his tracks, dumbfounded by the two cranes that appeared without warning.
The two attention-seekers, holding the attendance records in their hands, flinched.
“Dude, we’re caught!”
“We were doing so well sneaking in!”
“No, you guys aren’t sneaking in, you’re attacking this…”
“Retreat!”
The two attention-seekers disappeared in an instant.
In the meantime, the two’s ability to escape has been remarkably developed from all the times they had to escape Ham Geunhyung and Hwang Jiho’s gaze while they observed Class Zero.
The teachers couldn’t wrap their minds around the ridiculous situation, and the theft of the two thieves ended successfully.
Paralyzed by the sudden situation, one of the teachers finally moved after a few seconds.
“…Let’s start with Class Zero.”
“I’ll check years two and three. Those guys are doing a lot of group activities these days so we can confirm their location right away.”
While the teachers asked Jegal and Im Yeonhwa about the status of the two Class Zero classes, one of the teachers looked at the empty attendance book locker and spoke.
“Professor Kim Shinrok was using those. We need to print new ones.”
“Shouldn’t we just prepare a device for Professor Kim? Everyone uses it now anyways.”
“But aren’t those records needed?”
The most experienced teacher among them spoke as he prepared an equipment request form.
“It’s kind of weird to break it since I heard Chairman Hwang Myeongho ordered it himself.”
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