I Become a Mafia in the Academy

Chapter 15

As I returned to the classroom and took my seat, Jinwoo pulled his chair over to my desk.

"Boss, where did you go wandering off to?"

"I went to propose the position of club advisor to Instructor Ji Soohyun."

"What? You really asked her that? So, what did Ji Soohyun say? Did she tell you to get lost?"

...What kind of person is Ji Soohyun in this guy's head, I wonder.

"She told me to bring three club founding consent forms by tomorrow. She said she'd take responsibility and help us pass the Student Council's review."

"What?! Did that crazy woman really say that?"

Because of the sudden shout from the guy, everyone's eyes turned toward us.

"...How about lowering your voice a bit."

"Oh, sorry. So, did that crazy woman really say she'd help us pass the Student Council's review if we bring her three consent forms?"

I nodded in response to his question.

"Wow, really. She's crazy. She must have said that because she thought it was impossible, right?"

"Rather than that, she probably thinks there's no need to take care of us if we can't even manage this much. Instructor Ji Soohyun is a thorough meritocrat."

"She's demanding a high price, huh."

Could you say it that way?

Well, it wasn't wrong, so I didn't correct it.

"So, to get those three consent forms, we have to raid the Bronze, Silver, and Gold clubs today. Can we do it?"

"If I couldn't even do that, I wouldn't have tried in the first place."

"Wow... As expected of the boss."

Since I had planned to get the three consent forms from the beginning, getting them wasn't a big deal.

The problem is... we need to recruit those two over there first.

Well then, shall we move on to the next step?

I looked at the two people who would soon become, or rather, who I would make into, my comrades.

Then, I immediately stood up and approached Kim Seah.

"Kim Seah."

"Yes? Uh, uh? Mr. Han Yoojin?"

Kim Seah looked at me with a surprised expression, as if she hadn't expected me to speak to her. At the same time, I felt the eyes of those around us turn our way.

Well, it's not something to hide, so it doesn't matter.

"Kim Seah. Are you interested in joining a club?"

"A club? Yes. I was originally planning to join the Hunter Club..."

The Hunter Club must be the one that uses the Academy's name to reserve dungeons and makes profits from the byproducts obtained there.

When I played as a Ranger, I had joined it a few times, so it remained in my fragmented memories.

"Isn't the Hunter Club a Platinum-tier club? Don't you have to take a separate exam to join?"

"Of course, I know that. I was going to take the exam today, actually."

Kim Seah answered nonchalantly while blinking her eyes.

Her spatial detection ability and the finesse she showed in sparring were essential for the upcoming event, so I recalled the information about her that was listed.

She must be trying to join the Hunter Club for financial reasons.

Then, I should target that point.

"I know of a club that's more profitable than that one. Are you interested?"

"...Yes? There's a club that's more profitable than the Hunter Club?"

Kim Seah's eyes sparkled with interest as soon as the topic turned to money.

"Yes, and there's no exam to join, and you get bonuses based on how hard you work."

"Is there really such a club? I didn't find any when I researched..."

"Yes. It doesn't exist yet."

"...It doesn't exist yet?"

"I'm planning to create a club. It'll be quite lucrative."

"Yes? You're creating a club? Was that what you asked the instructor about in the classroom?"

"Yes, I've already discussed everything with Instructor Ji Soohyun. She said she'd take on the role of advisor and help us pass the Student Council's review if I bring her three club founding consent forms."

"Did the instructor really say that?"

"Yes, so I want to make an offer to you."

Right after yesterday's sparring. If the alarm on my smartphone is true, then Kim Seah is one of the people who felt a slight fear toward me from yesterday's sparring.

In that case, the subsidiary effect of my trait, [Successor of the Underworld], [An Offer You Can't Refuse], should automatically apply.

When I discreetly checked the notification, I saw an alert that [An Offer You Can't Refuse] was in effect.

So, all that's left is to make the offer.

"If I can gather three consent forms by today, I'd like you to join my club."

"Yes? Me?"

Kim Seah looked confused and darted her eyes around at the scouting offer.

I took advantage of the momentum to present conditions that would benefit her.

"As far as I know, the monthly income for a new member of the Hunter Club is about 4 million credits."

"Uh... Yes, that's right."

"Then, are you aware that new members of the Hunter Club have to contribute 50% of their income as an introduction fee, equipment rental fee, and club development fund?"

"Yes? 50%?"

50% of 4 million credits a month. That would be 2 million credits a month, which is about the same as an average person's part-time job wage.

The Hunter Club is essentially a semi-mercenary club, with significant restrictions and regulations.

It's hard to believe that you'd get so little after all that hard work.

It's a loophole caused by the rule that you can't leave the club until the end of the school year when you join, and the information asymmetry where new members can only get fragmented information about the club.

"Yes, they conveniently leave out that part when recruiting new members, and once you sign the club membership form, they show their true colors. Dirty bastards, right? Don't you believe me?"

I said that and pointed out the window.

"If you don't believe me, go down and ask. They'll probably immediately shut you up and tell you not to spread nonsense."

"Wait, wait. Then how does Mr. Yoojin know about that?"

I knew this information because I had been tricked by it in the game when I was a newbie... but I couldn't just say I saw it in a game. I pulled out the answer I had prepared in advance.

"I have a friend who graduated from the Academy. I heard it from them."

"...A friend?"

"Yes. A friend."

I had already told her to go outside and verify it if she didn't believe me.

If I said this much, she might at least think my words weren't lies.

And at this timing, I drive the nail in.

"5 million. If you join my club, I'll give you 5 million credits."

"Yes? 5, 5 million credits?"

"Of course, bonuses are separate."

"Bo, bonuses too...?"

"What do you think? Are you interested?"

Kim Seah seemed to be seriously considering my proposal. Although she appeared to be deeply pondering, I already knew.

She had completely fallen for it.

"You said you'd gather three club founding consent forms, right? Okay! If you really gather those three consent forms, I'll accept your offer!"

With a sense of inevitability, she nodded and extended her hand to me, and I shook it lightly.

"Good."

"But, don't you need at least four members to form a club? Aside from you and me, who else is there...?"

"What? Five million? Fiiiive million?! Boss! What about me? Am I getting that much too?"

Suddenly, Jinwoo, who had been quietly watching from behind, got excited at the mention of five million credits and started asking me.

"...That makes three of us."

"Ah... So that's why Jinwoo calls you boss. Then, who's the other person?"

"The other person? I'll ask them right now."

After saying that to Kim Seah, I immediately walked over to the desk where Kim Youngje was sitting in front of her.

"Glasses."

"...Glasses? I'm also the class president now, so you can call me class president."

Kim Youngje sighed and muttered in response to my call.

"Really? Then I'll call you class president. You must have heard the whole story, so I won't explain further. I'd like you to join the club I'm creating."

"You want to fill up four members right away? That's pretty urgent."

"As you just heard, Instructor Ji Soohyun told me to bring three consent forms by tomorrow. So, are you interested?"

"Sadly, I have no intention of joining the club. I───."

"You must be planning to join the student council. That's why you ran for class president."

Of course, I didn't really think he was running for class president to join the student council.

It was just a fact I knew because he joined the student council in the game as well.

And the reason he joined the student council was always one thing.

Power.

Power to find the person he's looking for.

Power to access the information he wants. That's why Kim Youngje always aimed to join the student council.

And the information he was looking for was always one thing.

"You're looking for the whereabouts of your master, aren't you?"

"What?"

Upon hearing my words, Kim Youngje stands up abruptly from his seat.

"How do you know that?"

"...Does it matter?"

Information not even recorded in the Calione Secretary's Office.

But I alone know it.

Kim Youngje. He was a dungeon orphan who lost his family to a dungeon in the past.

And the one who took him in and raised him was the very master he's searching for.

"A magician widely known as the Conductor of the Rainbow. Arcobaleno. She is now trapped in a dungeon."

I calmly told him the information he was seeking.

"...What?"

"One of the dungeons known to be impossible to conquer. She's sealed in Dante's Hell (La Divina)."

"Dante's Hell... You're saying my master is there?"

Youngje's eyes start to waver. I continued to press him with the momentum.

"Why, don't you believe me? Because there's no evidence? Of course, it's hard to believe without evidence. I understand. But, I promise you this one thing."

Buzz── Buzz──

My smartphone in my left hand begins to vibrate intensely.

"There is not an ounce of falsehood in my words."

My instincts are telling me.

He's starting to take my words seriously.

"Your enemy will become my enemy. Your friend will become my friend. Why? Because I don't abandon my family."

Buzz── Buzz── Buzz──

My smartphone starts to go crazy with vibrations.

[An Offer You Can't Refuse] is being applied.

"If you join the club I'm creating, I'll join you in your hell where no one else will."

Buzz── Buzz── Buzz──

"Join my club. Kim Youngje."

Buzz──

"I will join you."

Buzz─

Finally, the vibration stops, and Youngje slowly opens his eyes to look into mine.

"In the past, my master once told me. A true friend is someone who treats each other like family. And you're speaking as if it's only natural that friends are family."

Thud. He grabs my hand.

"Yoojin. I trust you."

"That's a wise choice."

With this, I've gathered all four members of the club.