I Become a Mafia in the Academy

Chapter 19

At my words about making the International Trade Club into a Gold Club, Lee Haru's face, which hadn't shown a single change in expression until now, was tinged with bewilderment.

"The International Trade Club longing for Gold status? What do you mean by that?"

Realizing her slip, Lee Haru quickly wiped her expression clean and returned to her usual self as she looked at me.

But having already witnessed her mask shatter, I couldn't help but let the corners of my lips rise.

"Are you afraid of the aftermath?"

"Aftermath? What do you mean by that──"

"The International Trade Club maintains its safety through its necessity by forming trade relationships with various clubs."

In other words, the International Trade Club, lacking its own military power, could only maintain itself due to its 'necessity.'

But that necessity was only valid as long as the International Trade Club kept its true intentions hidden.

"Are you planning to hire Bronze-level clubs as mercenaries recently?"

"That is baseless."

"Alright, then consider this merely my assumption. There are two ways for a club to advance to the next rank."

The first is promotion through performance.

By submitting the club's activities and achievements to the Student Council, only one club can be promoted per quarter. Of course, weaker clubs face demotion.

The second is promotion through club battles.

By declaring war on a club of a higher rank, it's a high-risk, high-return method since all rights of the defeated club go to the victor.

"A club like the International Trade Club, lacking military strength, would naturally hire mercenaries from other clubs for defense. But... recently, I've noticed the number of Bronze clubs contracting with the International Trade Club has been gradually increasing."

"That's speculation."

"That's what you'd like to believe. Moreover, aren't you currently spending large sums to prepare non-aggression pacts with other clubs?"

Knowing defeat would be certain if another club intervened during a club battle, they were likely already in negotiations with other clubs.

"......That's confidential information known only to the vice-president and senior executives. How could Young Master possibly know that?"

"Do you think there's an informant within the International Trade Club?"

"I can't think of any other explanation for this situation."

Naturally, there wasn't one. This information was well-known to anyone who followed the Academy route in CS, as it was one of the major events in the first semester of the first year.

The 'International Trade Club,' a Silver Club, hired other clubs as mercenaries for its promotion battle against a Gold Club but eventually suffered devastating losses due to betrayals from clubs they had formed non-aggression pacts with.

This event marked the downfall of the International Trade Club's key executives, leaving the club as nothing more than an appendage of another club.

From the player's perspective, this event was a branching point to either build goodwill with the 'International Trade Club' or other clubs. But as 'Yoojin Han Calione,' it was more efficient to side with the 'International Trade Club.'

After all, Lee Haru's family and the International Trade Club were practically subordinate organizations under Calione.

In other words, I intended to change the future of this club, which would otherwise fall into near-slavery.

"Don't underestimate the information-gathering abilities of the Calione successor, Lee Haru."

I activated my bloodline ability, instilling a sense of intimidation in Lee Haru.

Lee Haru flinched at the sight of the crimson mist rising around me.

Of course, only 'Vito Calione,' my current father and the boss of Calione, had ever displayed this ability, so her reaction was exactly as I expected.

"Do you think there's a traitor among your club members? Do you think your security is impenetrable? Stop with the nonsense. What matters now is what I, who knows this information, am preparing to do."

Slowly, very slowly, I began to feel the fear seeping from her into my skin.

The president of the International Trade Club, who had always seen me as just a child, was now feeling fear towards me.

Seizing the moment, I leaned back, propped my feet up on the desk, and looked at Lee Haru.

"Investment Fund Club."

Lee Haru stared at me with trembling eyes at the word that slipped from my mouth. Smiling faintly at her reaction, I continued.

"Today, I'll have the Investment Fund Club disbanded."

"......Disbanded today? Even you, Young Master, could achieve that?"

"It's possible."

My confident declaration left Lee Haru's mouth agape.

"I acknowledge your information-gathering abilities, Young Master. But disbanding a Gold Club is a completely different matter."

"Wasn't the Investment Fund Club targeted because its military strength is lower compared to other Gold Clubs?"

"......If you know that much, then shouldn't you understand? Even if their military strength is lower compared to other clubs, they're still a Gold Club. I'd have to stake everything to barely succeed against them."

The Investment Fund Club, though lacking military power, compensated for it with wealth.

In other words, as long as they had alliances or contracts with other clubs, their military weakness couldn't be ignored.

"But how can a mere freshman like you disband a Gold Club? Even for you, Young Master──"

"Didn't you just say it yourself?"

"──What?"

"Freshman. It's because I'm a freshman that it's possible."

Rising from my seat, I walked to the wall where the calendar hung.

"What day is it today?"

"......It's the second day since the freshmen entered."

"Right. And today is when the freshmen are touring clubs. So where would the members of the clubs contracted by or allied with the Investment Fund Club be?"

"Well, obviously they'd be setting up booths to recruit freshmen...... but even our International Trade Club is in the same situation, and there's no guarantee the Student Council will approve a club battle request."

"If we use the connections of our International Trade Club, which has been fulfilling the Student Council's requests, we'll get approval by today."

"......Approval might come through today, but you already know our club alone can't handle them."

"You don't need to worry about that."

"What?"

Turning around, I took out the relic, [Midas's Gloves], from my cube and slipped them on both hands as I spoke.

"Today, more than half of the Investment Fund Club's forces will be gone."

"What do you──"

"──Lee Haru. Do you remember what I initially offered you?"

"......I remember."

Here, I explained the full proposal I hadn't yet mentioned to her.

"My offer is simple. Today, I'll personally ensure that you devour the Investment Fund Club. In return, you and your club will pledge absolute support to the club I'll create."

The International Trade Club's capabilities are real.

She could procure items unavailable anywhere else in the Republic of Korea faster than anyone, and in the original story, she succeeded in promoting the International Trade Club, which was merely an appendage, to Gold status.

Having such talent on our side from the start would be an immense help.

"Become one of my people, Lee Haru."

Extending my hand to her, I spoke to the still-stunned Lee Haru.

"Heh."

At the same time, she burst into laughter.

"Pfft."

Her mask-like face finally cracked into a genuine smile. Lee Haru, wiping away the tears that had gathered in the corners of her eyes, slowly lifted her gaze and spoke to me with a playful smile.

"Is that a confession, like back then?"

......A confession? I never imagined she'd joke about it here.

Still, it was a joke from Lee Haru.

Considering it a positive response, I smirked and replied.

"You're overthinking things, Lee Haru."

"To think I'd hear such words from Young Master......"

She momentarily showed a surprised expression, then laughed bitterly before taking my hand.

And.

"I'll accept Young Master's proposal."

"Good."

Shaking hands lightly to seal the deal, I immediately opened the office door.

"Huh? Huh?!"

At the same time, Jinwoo, who had been leaning against the door, tumbled forward.

"What are you doing?"

"Ah, hi. Boss."

As I sighed at Jinwoo's pathetic state, Youngje helped him up.

"It's a soundproof door, so you wouldn't hear anything. He was like that the moment he came out of the office."

"Huh? This was a soundproof door? No wonder I didn't hear anything."

So Jinwoo had been pressing his ear against the door because he kept sensing movement outside.

I knew it was soundproof, so I had left him be.

"Um...... Yoojin, did your discussion go well?"

Kim Seah, standing behind Youngje, cautiously asked me. The conversation had been longer than expected, and she seemed worried.

"Yes, the discussion went smoothly. In fact, it was quite successful."

"Ah, that's a relief! So, are we heading straight to the Gold Club now?"

"Yes. And, Lee Haru. We'll go ahead and start moving, so you can begin as soon as you get the approval."

"I'll follow the Young Master's instructions."

As I was leaving the office, she bowed her waist to greet me.

Seeing her, Jinwoo, who had been lying face down on the floor, quickly stood up and clung to me.

"Huh? What's going on? Do we have to do something else?"

"Yes, we've already obtained the Bronze and Silver agreements, so we're planning to go get the Gold agreement next."

"You're going straight to the Gold Club without giving us a break?"

"Yoojin did all the work anyway, so what's there to rest for?"

Youngje sighed as he watched Jinwoo asking for a break.

"So we're going to the Gold Club? The Silver Club is on the 4th floor, so the Gold Club should be around the 7th floor, right?"

"No, we're going to the playground."

"......The playground?"

Youngje, who had been about to leave the International Trade Club, stopped in his tracks and tilted his head.

"Why the playground all of a sudden?"

"This time, we're not heading to a club room but to a club booth. And...... we'll need that guy to perform there."

As he said that, he looked at Jinwoo, who was sulking. Jinwoo looked around and then pointed at himself.

"Huh? Me?"

"Yes, with your help, we might be able to finish this faster. In fact, it's something only you can do."

Perhaps because he had suddenly praised him?

Jinwoo's drooping shoulders began to rise little by little.

"Something only I can do? If that's the case, of course, I'll help! So, Boss, what do you want me to do? Escort? Negotiation?"

"Make a ruckus."

"......Huh?"

"Go make a scene."

I didn't bother to say that I thought you might be good at it.