I Become a Mafia in the Academy

Chapter 13

After finishing my conversation with Jinwoo and returning home, I was checking my status window and equipment, preparing for tomorrow's event when—

I sensed someone's presence outside the door, and at the same time, a knock was heard.

"Yoojin, may I come in?"

It was Father's voice.

I couldn't understand why Father had come at this hour, but I couldn't exactly refuse like a moody middle schooler going through puberty.

"Yes, that's fine."

Flustered by this sudden visit from Father, I quickly composed myself and, with a tidy appearance, sat on the bed as I replied to him.

"Alright, then I'll come in."

Father entered the room, a cigar in his mouth, wearing a black coat and a fedora.

Judging by Father's attire, it seemed he was about to go out somewhere.

"Are you going somewhere?"

"Yes. I received information that a hideout of Blunte's remnants has been discovered."

With a shrug and an expression that said it couldn't be helped, Father sat down on the chair opposite the bed.

The foreign area, due to past events, was a place where the government's influence practically didn't reach.

Because of that, the reality was that the peace here was maintained by the Calione Family.

"You must be busy."

"What can I do? The foreign area is beyond the government's reach. So, someone like me has to work hard."

Father chuckled and patted my head.

The stiff and rough hand on my head didn't feel unpleasant.

"By the way, I heard you met with the successor of the Vivaldi Family today, Antonio's son. I heard he enrolled in the academy, and it seems he's in the same class as you."

So Father had already been informed about it. Naturally brushing his hand off, I nodded calmly.

"Yes, that's correct. We even had a sparring match today."

At my words, Father's eyes widened.

"Oh, really? How did it go?"

"......Within three seconds of pulling the trigger, the match was over. Instructor Ji Soohyun even said she wanted to see me fight without my Unique Armament next time, it was so one-sided."

"Hahaha! Ji Soohyun. That's just like her."

Since the topic of Instructor Ji Soohyun came up, I decided to ask Father something I had been wondering about at the academy.

"Um...... Father. May I ask what your relationship is with Instructor Ji Soohyun? She called you 'Uncle.'"

"Hmm? You mean that girl? Well...... if you're asking what our relationship is, we've clashed several times before she became a teacher at the academy. That's how we formed a slight connection."

"Ah......"

To think she had clashed with Father during her time as an active hero.

I had known from the game that Ji Soohyun had taken down numerous criminals during her hero activities, but I never imagined she had clashed with Father as well.

"Anyway, the fact that Antonio's son fell in three seconds means you've obtained a good item, huh? Yoojin."

Father said this with a kind smile.

It seemed Father had also heard from Parnello about my Unique Armament, as he appeared to know about it.

"Yes, I was lucky."

"Luck? Obtaining what you desire is also a skill. You should be proud."

Relic. [Capone's Tommy] was an item that could be called the Holy Grail of the mafia.

That I, his son, had obtained such an item—no wonder Father was so pleased.

Of course, to Father, [Capone's Tommy] was probably just a toy, so this reaction made sense.

"But Father, why did you come to my room......?"

"Ah, right. I have something to give you."

So saying, Father fumbled in his pocket and handed me something.

"You've completely wiped out the Blunte Family. If you've successfully completed the mission, it's only right to give a reward worthy of it."

With that, Father pulled out what looked like an ordinary, colorful cube.

"......What is this?"

"Carrying that heavy gun around every day isn't practical, is it? So, I prepared an extradimensional artifact for you. Do you like it?"

An extradimensional artifact, you say.

The design seemed familiar—ah, it was one of the inventory items from the game.

"Each cell of that cube is about 1cm3, so it should give you a total of 6.4m3 of space."

The cube was handed over from Father to me. As soon as it touched my hand, information on how to use it was input into my mind.

A 64-cell inventory appeared before my eyes.

As a test, I picked up the pillow next to me and placed it in the inventory. The pillow occupied 8 cells and disappeared inside.

"What do you think?"

Father smiled, curious about my reaction, and looked at me.

"Yes, I really...... really like it."

"Haha! I thought so. I heard it's also possible to adjust the size, and people usually wear it around their neck."

So saying, Father handed me a necklace that seemed to go with the cube.

It seemed the cube's size could be reduced so it could be hung from the end of the necklace.

"I'll use it gratefully."

"Good. Seeing you like it makes me happy too."

Vibrate, vibrate. My smartphone buzzed. It seemed item information had arrived.

"Hmm? Did a friend message you?"

"Yes, it seems so."

And again, another vibration.

This time, the source of the vibration wasn't my smartphone but Father's pocket.

"......I seem to have received a message too, so I should be going."

So saying, Father walked toward the door.

"Be careful."

"Thank you."

After Father left the room, I picked up my flipped-over smartphone and checked the newly arrived notification.

[You have acquired a new item!]

[Name: Four-Dimensional Cube]

[Rank: Relic]

[Type: Item]

[Description: An artifact from the Cube Workshop. This extradimensional relic, crafted by the 'Cube' master, consists of 64 cells, each with 10cm3 of space, allowing a total of 6.4m3 of extradimensional storage.

It includes an option to adjust the cube's size for the user's convenience.]

"......So it was an item from the Cube Workshop."

The Cube Workshop was the name of a high-end workshop that produced several notable items in the game.

It was like a luxury brand.

Items from the Cube Workshop were expensive, and extradimensional artifacts were notoriously difficult to obtain, no matter how much money one had. It was hard to even imagine how much it cost.

But, given Father's reputation and the Calione Family's wealth, it probably wasn't a significant expense.

In any case, I now had a very useful item in my hands.

So, as I was organizing my inventory by placing [Capone's Tommy] and various other items into the cube Father had given me, another knock sounded at the door.

"It's Han Seojun. May I come in?"

Han Seojun, whom I had called before Father entered, had apparently been waiting outside for Father to leave.

"Yes. Come in."

After finishing organizing the cube, I spoke toward the door, and Han Seojun cautiously opened it and entered the room.

As soon as I saw his face, I immediately told him why I had called him here.

"Han Seojun, I need the power of the Secretary's Office."

"......The Secretary's Office?"

"Yes. The information on three people in my class: Kim Seah, Kim Youngje, and Ji Soohyun. Gather their information and report back to me, no matter what. The deadline is...... tomorrow morning. Can you do it?"

"Th...... Using the Secretary's Office on your own might anger the boss───."

"I'm currently the successor undergoing training for the Calione Family. Don't I have the right to use the Secretary's Office?"

"......I will report back by tomorrow."

"Good. I'm counting on you."

Han Seojun bowed his head and immediately left the room.

Originally, he was an agent from the National Intelligence Agency planted inside the Calione Family.

Normally, it would be correct to inform Father of his identity and deal with him accordingly...... but I judged it more beneficial to keep him by my side, watch him closely, and slowly turn him into one of my own.

After all, he was the key card to taking the lives of the National Intelligence Agency in the future.

Of course, it will be something that happens in the distant future.

* * *

"Boss~ Are you here?"

As soon as I arrived at the Hero Academy, Jinwoo, who had come earlier, greeted me with a cheerful wave.

"......Can't you greet me a little more quietly?"

"Huh? Why?"

Why? Seriously, why?

If I just focused a little, I could hear the murmurs coming from the surroundings.

'That punk, did he just call Yoojin "Boss"?'

'Did he lose in yesterday's sparring match and agree to become a subordinate?'

Some unpleasant conversations were floating around.

"I'd appreciate it if you could refrain from calling me 'Boss' so loudly."

"Oh? Well, lowering my voice isn't a big deal...... Anyway, are you ready to start recruiting club members?"

Jinwoo's words made me recall what happened this morning.

The newly updated Character Codex for Kim Seah and Kim Youngje that I received from the Secretary's Office.

The ability of the Character Codex to absorb external information was proving to be extremely helpful in situations like this.

"Of course."

"Really? That's good. Then, what about the advisory instructor?"

"Huh?"

"I'm talking about the club advisor. The instructor who will oversee our club. Surely, you didn't think we could create a club just among students, did you?"

"If we need an advisor, wouldn't Instructor Ji Soohyun be a good choice?"

"Are you crazy? Do you really think that woman would agree to be our club advisor?"

Jinwoo waved his hand dismissively, as if my suggestion was completely absurd.

"Though I've only known her for two days, from what I've seen, Instructor Ji Soohyun doesn't seem like someone who would do that."

"Really?"

In general, that might be the case.

In truth, I had already thought of a way to persuade Instructor Ji Soohyun, but there was no need to explain it in detail here.

"We have morning assembly first, so let's handle it during lunch. As for Instructor Ji Soohyun...... I'll take care of it myself."

"......Really? If you say so, Boss, I won't stop you....... Ah, do you need any help?"

"Just stay quiet and don't do anything."

"Got it? Sweet, I'll just chill then."

With that reply, the guy returned to his seat. Finally left alone, I turned on my smartphone and began scrolling through the Character Codex.

[Name: Kim Seah]

[Affiliation: Republic of Korea, Academy]

[Age: 19]

[Specialty: Exceptional in spatial magic and spatial perception abilities]

[Family: One younger sister, one younger brother; both parents deceased]

[Description: Takes care of two younger siblings alone. Her father used his spatial abilities to perform heroic activities and died during an independent patrol. She was supported by the Hero Association until adulthood but stopped receiving aid upon becoming an adult, leaving her in a financially difficult situation.]

[Name: Kim Youngje]

[Affiliation: Republic of Korea, Academy]

[Age: 19]

[Specialty: Possesses extraordinary talent in elemental magic and has exceptional intelligence]

[Family: Single]

[Description: Had an ordinary school life in middle school, but his magical abilities dramatically increased in high school. Currently lives in the Academy dormitory as a scholarship student. Has been in contact with Calione's intelligence agency several times, searching for someone.]

As I processed the combined results of the Secretary's Office information and the Character Codex, I was contemplating how to approach them when the classroom door opened, and Instructor Ji Soohyun entered with a faint smile.

"Hmm, having fewer students in the class does make counting easier. Alright then, shall we start the third day at the Academy?"

Something. Something feels off.