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Eungwang High’s visitor parking lot.
Everyone was enjoying the festival as only Sung Gukeon and Jeon Muyeong were left there.
“You worked hard adjusting our schedule, Muyeong-ah.”
“Don’t mention it, sir.”
Jeon Muyeong spoke stiffly, desperately hiding his fatigue.
When Sung Gukeon suddenly announced that he’d go to Eungwang High for two consecutive days, Jeon Muyeong felt dizzy.
But he couldn’t advocate against it because he heard the reason.
— Professor Yong Jegun’s condition was quite weird when we played chess. After the match, he asked me to protect Professor Kim Shinrok if he becomes a superior being.
Sung Gukeon sounded worried about Yong Jegun.
It was surprising that Sung Gukeon, who has disdain for royal lineage and especially Yong Jegun, addressed him as “professor,” but the most shocking thing was that he was worried.
In the end, despite successfully adjusting their schedule so that Sung Gukeon could attend the festival on both days, Jeon Muyeong has yet to adapt to Sung Gukeon’s change in attitude.
‘I should be used to this now.’
There were two reasons for that.
First was that Sung Gukeon met Kim Shinrok before he rode a plane to England owned by the Red Lion team.
The second was the investigation of the disappearance of teachers at Gwangil Elementary School.
After those, Sung Gukeon and Kim Shinrok met and learned about each other.
Kim Shinrok wasn’t a human and he was using a fake identity.
And it was the Tiger Clan who managed Kim Shinrok’s family register.
‘Professor Kim Shinrok is backed by the Tiger Clan. That means he must be a tiger or a descendant.’
Teachers involved in the Gwangil Elementary School incident and students involved in bullying have collapsed or disappeared one after the other.
He expected that there was a royal lineage involved in the matter, but he didn’t imagine that it was the most powerful one.
Questions formed in Jeon Muyeong’s mind when he saw that Kim Shinrok and the Tiger Clan were involved.
‘Is it because he’s a Tiger Clan that he kept his distance from us? The professor always looked lonely, but maybe I was mistaken. There’s no way the Tiger Clan would neglect their family.’
Kim Shinrok drew a firm line between himself and students, and he rarely had personal exchanges with other professors.
He isolates himself, and the mischievous dragon playing pranks by his side made it more difficult to approach Kim Shinrok.
So Kim Shinrok’s students cried out for the overthrow of Yong Jegun, just as Class 1-1 did today.
Sung Gukeon was one of those students.
‘Mr. Sung Gukeon has been wary of royal lineage since a long time ago…’
Sung Gukeon’s grandfather, the former head of the Player’s Association, left a clue that there is a royal lineage that wishes harm on the Korean Peninsula.
When he investigated his grandfather’s death, Sung Gukeon found something strange.
He speculated that his grandfather’s death was related to the royal lineage.
Not long after, he saw Yong Jegun twitching at the funeral of his most respected teacher.
As a result, the young Sung Gukeon developed a prejudice against people of royal lineage and did his best not to get involved with them.
But perhaps after finding evidence that Kim Shinrok wasn’t human, Sung Gukeon’s attitude changed.
To the point where he visited Yong Jegun at school and called him “Professor”
— I thought it was the royal lineage that I hated the most that stayed with me for an incalculable length of time.
Yong Jegun didn’t refute.
If there were anything wrong with his statement, Yong Jegun would’ve enjoyed playing around with him to see a reaction.
But Yong Jegun only smiled.
“Looking at him today, he seems to have made up his mind. Professor Yong Jegun will ascend. The professor must know it too, seeing that he made this kind of book.”
“Does he want to help Professor Yong Jegun?”
“Well, I don’t feel like he does.”
Sung Gukeon said so as he cited Cintamani’s Miracle.
The book didn’t have a lot of pages, but the sentences were concise and filled with events.
“This is probably memories of the professors. They made this many memories together, yet he wants to help his friend ascend? The professor can’t be that cold-hearted.”
“That makes sense. He looks lonely every time his students graduate too.”
Jeon Muyeong completely agreed with Sung Gukeon.
It still didn’t feel real that Kim Shinrok could be a royal lineage or descendant.
However, there was no doubt that the professor that Sung Gukeon respects was indeed Kim Shinrok.
Kim Shinrok’s personality, habits, and food preference matches what the two remember.
“Anyway, Profesor Yong Jegun is planning to entrust his best students with his best friend.”
“There’s the Tiger Clan behind Professor Kim Shinrok though, so why…”
Before Jeon Muyeong finished his words, Sung Gukeon raised his hand.
At the signal to stop talking, Jeon Muyeong closed his mouth and looked at their surroundings.
Someone was approaching them from the ceiling.
“A Class Zero hoobae.”
Hwik!
“Hello.”
Someone came down from between the light pipes installed on the ceiling of the underground parking lot.
“It’s student Dokgo Miro.”
She was covering her face with a hoodie and a mask, but Jeon Muyeong identified her and called her name.
Sung Gukeon also recognized her when he referred to her as a hoobae.
“…You recognized me right away.”
When Dokgo Miro took off her hoodie, the bright pink hair appeared through the low light.
She hid her face and hair, but the two men saw through her physique and identified her.
“I’m sorry for hiding and sneaking behind your backs. I tend to be noticeable when I talk to other people.”
Dokgo Miro’s actions were justified.
A survival audition program contestant and a lawmaker.
Both were no strangers to people asking for autographs or pictures.
Even a photo of the two of them being released would get a considerable number of views.
Dokgo Miro wanted to meet the wo without being seen.
“I haven’t had the opportunity to thank you for all you did so far. It’s hard to meet you, so I really wanted to greet you today.”
“You mean the case of Gwangil Elementary School. I’m not the one who sent those garbage teachers to prison, so there’s no need for thank you’s.”
“…Do you remember me?”
“Of course.”
Sung Gukeon laughed cheerfully as Dokgo Miro’s eyes opened wide.
“Hahaha! You’re the first civil complainant that I received since I was elected, so of course I remember you.”
Dokgo Miro took disciplining Eungwang District bullies in her hands when she was in elementary school, but it was difficult to deal with rotten teachers on her own.
At that time, Gwangil Elementary School was greatly rotten.
Problems such as embezzlement, bribery, corruption, and even sexual manipulation infested the school.
When a reporter tried to cover the story of Gwangil Elementary School, teachers decided to falsely charge a student and throw them as bait to the reporters.
Dokgo Miro was almost the sacrificial lamb, but the teachers decided to choose Hani who had no family.
She had no family, or friends, and was born deaf, but she was an excellent reserve player, making her the perfect sacrifice.
“Your friend was on the verge of being falsely accused by those rotten teachers, so you asked me to save her. It was a clever and brave act.”
Teachers had a set of students who followed them well and were good at lying through their teeth.
Although people expected Hani to be an excellent player, those cunning people planned to tarnish Hani’s reputation by saying that she committed violence, extortion, and intimidation.
When Dokgo Miro heard of the plan, it was already perfectly organized.
She deliberately swept the streets and prevented Hani from being entangled with those bullies, but another threat emerged.
Feeling like she was grasping at straws, Dokgo Miro visited Sung Gukeon, the only former player among politicians.
“I couldn’t get any evidence, but you believed me, sunbaenim…”
With only Dokgo Miro’s words as evidence, Sung Gukeon investigated Gwangil Elementary School and protected Hani.
Sung Gukeon only confirmed Dokgo Miro’s words after obtaining evidence.
Those teachers were lenient, but it was all thanks to Sung Gukeon that the corruption of Gwangil Elementary was exposed and Hani was safe.
“I took office to listen to people. It’s a given that I trust your words and investigate.”
Sung Gukeon spoke as if it were nothing.
However, Dokgo Miro clearly remembered how difficult that time was.
It wasn’t easy to investigate an institution with nothing but an elementary student’s testimony.
The investigation started not long after Sung Gukeon was elected, and there were words about him that said he was abusing his power and looking into places without due cause.
Still, Sung Gukeon proceeded with everything without revealing his informant.
“I didn’t know you’d be a Class Zero junior at that time. I’m glad you seem to be doing well with your friend. I also watched Playlist and your class screening. I’m cheering on you.”
“…Yes! Thank you!”
Dokgo Miro held back her voice from cracking as she answered brightly.
Meanwhile, Jeon Muyeong looked at the two with satisfaction.
Before parting ways, Dokgo Miro asked something.
“May I ask you a question?”
“If I can answer it.”
“The things that happened to those people… It wasn’t your doing, right sunbaenim?”
Sung Gukeon understand what she meant and replied.
“It wasn’t me.”
Sung Gukeon was reminded of another Class Zero junior.
The successor of Hwangmyeong Group, Hwang Jiho.
Sung Gukeon saw him playing jokes on Hani and talking to Dokgo Mrio.
He had no intention of talking about his identity, but he decided to give Dokgo Miro a hint.
“This year’s Class Zero juniors are excellent. It’s a great pleasure to see as a senior.”
Though one of his juniors is a royal lineage.
The Tiger Clan used its hands on Gwangil Elementary School, which Sung Gukeon believes is motivated by the young Hwang’s friendship.
He laughed with great excitement at what seemed to be a relationship triangle.
If he didn’t know about his background, he would’ve thought that he was a simple junior who likes to laugh.
‘I think Euishin knows about Hwang Jiho’s identity.’
He once thought that Jo Euishin had no connection to the royal lineage, but he may have to change his mind.
At that time, Jeon Muyeong stepped forward, deliberately making his footsteps heard.
In order not to disturb the two’s conversation, Jeon Muyeong moved away nearer to the parking lot’s entrance, but it seems he found someone approaching.
Soon, Sung Gukeon also sensed someone coming their way.
Sung Gukeon looked at the entrance and spoke to Dokgo Miro.
“Your friend came to meet you.”
It was Hani that arrived at the parking lot’s entrance.
Hani seemed to have come to find Dokgo Miro.
Seeing her friend, Dokgo Miro smiled brightly.
“Did you come to find me, Hani-ah?”
“…”
Hani opened her mouth after seeing Sung Gukeon and Dokgo Miro.
“You’re being called at the student association. I came here because I couldn’t contact you through your device.”
“Student association? Okay, I’ll be right there. We’ll be off first then!”
While Dokgo Miro greeted Sung Gukeon and Jeon Muyeong goodbye, Hani briefly paid a silent greeting.
Hani Seemed to be lost in thought, perhaps because of Sung Gukeon.
Why Dokgo Miro suddenly came to the parking lot to talk to him, and what they were hiding?
Hani couldn’t find an answer in her mind and the thought lingered in her head.
‘What happened that day… It wasn’t just luck. Don’t tell me…’
When she was in elementary, she almost got falsely accused without even realizing it.
But things were resolved quickly with the lawmaker’s intervention.
The people at the nursery thought that Hani may just be lucky, but the reality seems to be different.
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