I Entered an Academy in a Ruined Game

Chapter 89 : Reputation (2)

While Su-hyeon was still spending time sparring with Lee Yu-jin.

Old man Jang at the pawnshop was quite interested in the information that he had overtaken Seo Jun-seong to take first place in the midterm exams.

"That kid looks more and more promising."

"Are you referring to Jeong Su-hyeon?"

The old man Jang nodded at the voice from the shadows.

"Yes, the Seo boy must be quite annoyed. After surpassing the Hwang and Lee family kids, now someone without a pedigree has come up."

"You seem pleased."

"It's entertaining indeed. The Hwang fellow must be drooling over this development."

"Probably so."

"Tsk tsk, that nasty fellow."

He clicked his tongue, recalling Chairman Hwang's face.

"Bring me the phone."

"Yes."

After receiving the phone, old man Jang called Park Min-cheol.

"Well then."

Ring ring. Ring ring.

After two rings, Park Min-cheol answered immediately.

"Hey kid."

[Old master Jang!]

"Old master my ass."

[What brings you to call?]

"Do I need a reason to call you?"

[Oh my, of course not. If it's your call, I should answer promptly even if I was sleeping at dawn.]

Old man Jang clicked his tongue at Park Min-cheol's glib response.

"At first you couldn't even make eye contact and were all nervous, but now you're quick to get slick."

[You seemed to prefer that attitude.]

"So you know how to read the room, is that it?"

[Haha. Thank you.]

"It seems the demand from the academy side has been increasing lately."

[Yes. Especially compared to before, orders for demonic beast carcass byproducts have increased.]

"Hmm."

In truth, such petty cash meant nothing to old man Jang.

But there was something entertaining about watching them grow their pocket money by rolling it around here and there.

[In particular, a cadet named Choi Mina has been actively placing orders.]

"Hmm, isn't she the favorite disciple of that nasty old magician? She always chooses gloomy items just like her master."

[Haha. The thoughts of magicians are difficult for ordinary people like me to fathom.]

"Well, that aside. I heard that Su-hyeon guy took first place this time?"

[Yes. I was surprised too.]

"With that level of achievement, he must have shown some unusual qualities even before enrollment, right?"

[Well, I thought he was a guy whose true nature was hard to know, but honestly, I didn't know he would be this amazing. He was the type who quietly did his own thing.]

"Is that so?"

That was another curious story.

'It's not like he became a different person overnight.'

But old man Jang didn't really believe in that kind of sudden moral transformation.

'I should see him as someone with depths deep enough to fool even this sharp youngster. That's more reasonable.'

Old man Jang frankly admitted that in this case, Chairman Hwang Yong-jae's insight was one step ahead of his own.

'Indeed, the more I look at him, the more curious he is. A guy who smells of both money and blood.'

For such an opponent, there were only two iron rules.

Either draw them to your side, or cut them off early.

"Well, tell that kid to come visit me during vacation."

[Yes, understood.]

"You come along too."

[Would that be alright?]

"Sure."

At first, he had little interest in Park Min-cheol, who seemed weak and unripe.

But watching him, this kid also showed considerable nerve and resourcefulness.

'He's not an awakened one, but he could be somewhat useful in his own way.'

However, it was still too early to take an interest in nurturing him.

"Shall I give you a piece of advice?"

[If you'll share it, I'll gladly listen.]

"In the underworld, they don't much like those who try to divide the pie like this."

[......]

"Be careful if you don't want to die a violent death."

[I understand.]

Park Min-cheol answered.

[But isn't it hard to make a living in this field without risking one's neck?]

"Kekeke."

Old man Jang laughed as if amused.

"Cheeky brat."

But.

"It's troublesome if you take an elder's warning too lightly as mere nagging."

If he were to load up trucks with people who went "poof" like that, who knows how many would be needed.

'Well, if he's meant to succeed, he will somehow.'

He didn't particularly want to look after such things.

If someone needed that kind of care from the beginning, they would have dull prospects and be quickly discarded anyway.

"Alright. Let's see if you're the type who can keep your head on your shoulders and make a living."

Click.

Old man Jang, who hung up the phone, snickered with a mysterious expression as if he knew something.

"Let's see how tenacious that lifeline is."

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On a back alley road lit by cheap neon signs and gaudy lights.

There was a vehicle quietly following Park Min-cheol's car.

"Follow him carefully. Don't overdo it and get caught."

"Yes, boss."

The muscular man sitting casually in the passenger seat and giving instructions scraped between his yellowish teeth with his fingernail as he spoke.

"But this guy has some nerve. He broke into deals with the academy?"

"How much could that amount to? They're just kids anyway."

The muscular man clicked his tongue at the question from the weasel-faced man holding the steering wheel.

"Hey, you blockhead. Those kid brats are all future Execution Force members. Some will become Captains, Vice-Captains, and Team Leaders."

"Yes. That's true?"

"What's important is that he's already established routes with such people. How much do you think they'll spend when they grow up? Business is done through connections. You get what I'm saying?"

"Yes, boss."

"So this bastard has secured a blue-chip stock that's sure to surge."

"Ah, now that you mention it, I see."

"The problem is this. He seems like a nobody, but who's backing him to act this way?"

"He has connections to the academy, and also to old man Jang at the pawnshop, doesn't he?"

"Right. There's definitely someone behind him. That's why the big boss sent you and me to find out, isn't it?"

"Yes, boss."

The weasel-faced man, nodding with a stupid face, asked.

"But that guy, doesn't he work under Director Kim?"

"I know that gentleman a bit. He's not capable of this. If he were, we would have taken him down long ago."

After saying that much, the muscular man yawned widely and reclined his seat.

"I'm so fucking sleepy. I'm going to sleep a bit, so drive properly."

"Yes, boss."

The weasel-faced man, who answered vigorously, cautiously rolled his eyes.

"Um, but..."

"What, brat?"

"What if it turns out he's just a nobody? What do we do then?"

"What do you mean what do we do, brat."

The muscular man smirked.

"Then we'll have to make him pay handsomely for wasting these brothers' time."

"Hehehe. I like that option too."

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"These bastards just have to stick to someone trying to get off work, what a pain."

Park Min-cheol, who noticed he was being followed, clicked his tongue.

'Right after that old man's warning, these scummy types are already attaching themselves.'

Park Min-cheol, who had spent a busy day as usual traveling from place to place from early morning until late night, forcibly blinked his exhaustion-laden eyelids and examined the black sedan visible in the distance through his rearview mirror.

'I wonder who sent them.'

Lately, Park Min-cheol's stock was completely on the rise due to his deals with Su-hyeon.

Director Kim, who had been eyeing Park Min-cheol as a potential son-in-law, seemed to have half made up his mind, frequently inviting him to dinner to get him acquainted with his daughter.

The eldest son, who would inherit the business from Director Kim, kept poking his side asking if he was dating anyone and what type he liked.

Most importantly, even the daughter herself was showing signs of not being displeased and was initiating conversations of various kinds.

'I thought my life was going smoothly, but.'

Well, how could it be?

'I'm the sinner for being born in this brutally savage era where I'm being followed by an unidentified black car just for doing some business.'

That was also a reason why he tried not to get too attached to that kind and diligent family.

'Since I don't know when I might die on the street.'

But.

'I'm not telling Su-hyeon about this.'

He wanted to solve this much on his own.

He didn't want to be the kind of guy who reaches out and clings to Su-hyeon.

'I can't be as strong as you, but I'll stand beside you in my own way.'

Feeling the sensation of his back drenched with tension.

'They probably won't try anything right now.'

Park Min-cheol decided to return home as usual to hide from them the fact that he had noticed the tail.

'I need to check with a security company.'

Screech.

As Park Min-cheol's car roughly turned to change lanes.

"Hey boss, come over here for a bit of fun!"

"Come this way! We'll show you a good time!"

The voices of all kinds of touts created a cacophony.

'Trash of the night.'

Park Min-cheol's expression was not good as he looked at the bustling nightlife.

Drug dealers, drug addicts, thieves, drunkards, prostitutes, male prostitutes.

During the day, society's systems, led by the Execution Force and armed police, control.

But at least in these back alleys, the night is their time.

'My life is so pointless, wandering around places like this just to make a living.'

Park Min-cheol forcibly swallowed the sigh that was welling up, while the followers were still carefully trailing his vehicle.

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That night.

Kwon Seung-yeon, who had returned to the dormitory, asked Hwang Ji-su.

"Hey Ji-su."

"What?"

"Do I look like I have something going on with Su-hyeon?"

"What are you suddenly talking about?"

"No, earlier when I was exercising, the seniors kept asking if there was something between us."

"Hmm."

Hwang Ji-su sighed as she looked at Kwon Seung-yeon hugging her pillow and pouting.

"If there isn't, there isn't. Why care about such things?"

"You're so cool, geez."

"Regardless of being cool or not. Why care so much about what others say? Do you like him?"

"Whaaat? Are you crazy!"

"Your intense reaction makes it more suspicious."

"Come on. Why are you doing this too?"

Kwon Seung-yeon looked miserable.

"Well, it's not a crime for someone to like someone else, is it?"

"Do you know how strange it is for you to say that?"

"What did I do?"

"No. You give the impression of being the least interested in romance."

"Hmph."

Hwang Ji-su didn't particularly deny it.

"It's foolish to waste emotions on things like dating at an age when we should be learning."

"See that."

Kwon Seung-yeon shrugged as if she knew it.

"You say that, but then you tell me it doesn't matter?"

"I'm only saying that's how I feel."

Hwang Ji-su said.

"From what I can see, you seem ambiguous too. Instead of deliberately denying it, why not just go with the flow?"

"You sound so mature."

"Only now you realize?"

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-What's going on, you contacted me?

-Just saw it now after taking a call from old man Jang at the pawnshop

-Confirmed the order and should be able to supply without issues

-It's too late now. I'll contact you again tomorrow!

"Hmm."

I deliberately suppressed the strangely uneasy feeling after seeing the message from Park Min-cheol.

'There shouldn't be any immediate problems.'

As differences from previous playthroughs kept accumulating, I was becoming sensitive even to trivial matters.

'Certainly, at this point, I am stronger than at any time in previous playthroughs.'

It all started with the Eye Power skill I obtained at the very beginning.

'That essentially became a huge snowball effect.'

With the skill points greatly saved there, I was able to achieve additional power-ups quickly.

Without that process, even I couldn't have overtaken Seo Jun-seong and taken first place in the midterm exams.

'Probably from now on, developments that deviate from the flow I know will increasingly occur.'

However, that uncertainty made me excited rather than anxious.

The heart of a veteran player desensitized to stimulation.

It was a psychological state where there coexisted an expectation that if such different variables accumulated, I could find sufficient clues for clearing.

And tomorrow, I will once check the results through grade reassessment.

'Perhaps I could cross the wall of C and reach the realm of B-rank.'

Of course, in terms of pure combat power, I'm already confident in facing B-rank opponents.

But actual combat power and grade don't necessarily match.

'Looking forward to it.'