Chapter 26

Chapter 26

I Became the Academy Mafia, Chapter 26When I returned home after finishing all of the Academy’s schedule.

“Big Brooo!!”

A creature possessing indescribable cuteness came running toward me and tightly hugged my leg.

“You’re, hoooome?”

My younger sister Ji-yoon peeked her head up and looked at my face.

Simply looking at her brought a smile to my face as I stroked her tiny head.

“What were you doing?”

“Hide-and-seek!”

Ji-yoon giggled as though she were having tremendous fun and spread both arms. At the same time, urgent voices came from inside.

“Hurry and find the Young Lady!”

“She ran away while doing her homework?! Where is she, seriously!”...

So she was having fun.

“Alright, be careful not to get hurt while you play, okay? Ah, behind the garden fountain looked like a good place to hide.”

“Yes!”

Ji-yoon hurried off toward the garden with quick little steps.

A short while later, after entering the mansion, I told a passing servant that Ji-yoon was behind the fountain before heading toward my room.

No matter how cute she was... she still had to do her homework.

Quietly hiding my guilt toward Ji-yoon in one corner of my heart, I arrived in front of my room and saw Parnello looking in my direction.

“Welcome back, Young Master.”

“...

Parnello. What is it?”

This was not Parnello with his usual kindly expression, but Parnello with a calm yet sharp atmosphere.

“There is an order from the Don. I also have something to deliver to you.”

“Father isn’t at the mansion right now, I take it?”

“That is correct.”

“...

Let’s go inside.”

I entered the room with Parnello, brewed some simple tea using the electric kettle and tea bags, placed a cup in front of both Parnello and myself, then sat down.

“So, what is it?”

When I asked after moistening my lips with black tea, Parnello stood from his seat and handed me something from his pocket.

“The Don received reports regarding what happened at the Academy today and was extremely pleased. If circumstances allowed, he wished to give this to you personally, Young Master. However, given the situation, he entrusted it to me.”

“...

What is this?”

“‘Aegis’s Watch.’ It is one of the items in the Don’s collection.”

Of course I knew this item.

It was one of the items that was extremely difficult to obtain even in the game.

When I carefully accepted the watch, information regarding ‘Aegis’s Watch’ appeared before my eyes.[Name: Aegis’s Watch][Grade: Unique][Type: Item][Description: A watch imbued with the magic of Aegis. Once per day. It protects the user from an attack they failed to perceive.]

A Unique-grade item possessing an automatic defense ability.

Its ability to block an unexpected attack made it something that could easily be called an extra life.

“...

This seems far too valuable to receive just for doing well.”

“Would that not simply mean the Don was that pleased upon hearing of your accomplishments, Young Master? You are the Don’s son, after all.”

So because I was his son, he could give me something this precious.

When I examined the back of the watch, I saw the number ‘1’ engraved in one corner.

It meant it had not yet been used.

“I’d like to thank Father... but it seems he’s out because of work right now, so I’ll have to wait.”

“Yes, and what I am about to tell you now is the Don’s order.”

“Speak.”

Everything Parnello had said to me until now had been addressed to Eugene, the Don’s son.

Then what he was about to say from this point onward would be addressed to Eugene Han Calione, a member and successor of ‘Calione.’

“First, based on the matter discussed at the previous general meeting, the Don highly evaluated your ability after you successfully carried out the execution of the Blunte Family and has officially appointed you as an ‘Enforcer’ of the Execution Division, a Hitman.”

As he said that, he placed a dark, round badge on the table proving that I was a sword of Calione.

At its center was a narcissus, symbolizing nobility and mystery, pride and solitude.

“With this, Young Master now possesses the authority to request support from the organization befitting an ‘Enforcer’ before carrying out a mission.”

In other words, I could receive weapons, ammunition, various equipment, and personnel through the organization.

“Next is an order given to you, Young Master, as an Enforcer and Hitman of Calione.”

The contents of the order were as follows.[Several hours ago, signs were detected that a Hong Kong Triad is attempting to enter the country illegally through Incheon Port.][According to an internal informant, a problem occurred at one of their domestic money-laundering operations, and they appear to be attempting illegal entry in order to investigate it.][The Don expresses deep regret that they attempted illegal entry without contacting the Calione Family. The moment they set foot in Incheon Port, Calione territory, they are to be executed in the name of Calione.]

In other words, I was being told to deal with them for the sake of pride.

Incheon Port could practically be called an area managed by Calione, yet they had tried to quietly enter illegally without making any contact.

Even so, something felt strange about me personally going out there.

The current me was not an ordinary organization member, but a ‘Hitman’ of the Execution Division.

At the same time, I could infer why Father had entrusted this matter to me.

“I have a rough idea.”

“Do you?”

Parnello smiled with interest at my words.

“Today at the Academy, I practically dismantled a club. They were called the ‘Fund Investment Club.’”The ‘Fund Investment Club’ was also a club that grew in size by accepting outside funds in the game.

Which meant.

“They were the place laundering the Triad’s money.”

“Correct.”

I never thought there wouldn’t be informants inside the Academy, but it seemed Father had grasped everything I had done today.

“And Father must have thought that if the Triad entered Korea and investigated, they would discover the connection to me... so he wants me to sever that connection with my own hands?”

As though that too was correct, Parnello merely nodded without saying anything.

“Their expected arrival time and numbers?”

“Five hours from now. We estimate around twenty people.”

Hearing that, I checked the time through ‘Aegis’s Watch’ in my hand. There was still plenty of time.

“I’ll sleep for three hours and then depart. As for the resources I need... I’ll visit the Support Division myself.”

“As you wish, Young Master.”

Parnello bowed deeply, said, ‘Rest well,’ and left the room.

The location was ‘Incheon Port,’ the time was ‘dawn,’ and the number of enemies was approximately ‘twenty.’

The fact that they were coming despite knowing Incheon Port was Calione territory meant they couldn’t possibly be ordinary organization members. At minimum, they would be Awakened ability users. If I responded ordinarily, I wouldn’t receive a passing grade by Father’s standards.

“...

Looks like I won’t get much proper sleep.”

Through the Smart Lens, I organized as much information as possible in my head.

I recalled as much as I could about the geography and surrounding environment of Incheon Port, tonight’s weather, and the abilities currently available to me.

After spending an entire hour organizing my plan, I ended up sleeping for only two hours.

______________

“What kind of suffering is this? Those bastards were doing fine until now, so why’d they suddenly stop contacting us?”

On the violently rocking deck. Two men with cigarettes in their mouths were talking with expressions full of dissatisfaction.

“How would I know? We were told to do it, so we’re doing it.”

The money-laundering operation that had been able to wash money more safely than other places thanks to the title of being from the Hero Academy had suddenly gone silent.

That incurred the wrath of their Boss, who would risk his life over money, and in the end, these men were dispatched to Korea to resolve the situation.

“Still, why’s the sea fog so thick today? Can’t see a damn thing ahead.”

“The instruments say to go this way, so it should be right.”

Unable even to enjoy the scenery because of the fog filling the dark predawn sea, the Triad members merely grumbled in boredom as they entrusted themselves to the rocking ship.

“Isn’t that the lighthouse?”

“Looks like it. We’re almost there, so go wake the guys below.”

As the faint glow of a lighthouse became visible through the thick sea fog, the ship gradually began slowing down.

Realizing that they had reached their destination, the organization members began getting up one by one and looking around.

“With all this sea fog, sneaking in is easy.”

“Maybe heaven’s helping us.”

“They said this area belongs to those Calione bastards, so I was scared as hell, but it’s nothing special, huh?”

To them, the organization known as Calione was effectively an object of fear.

To Calione, the Triad was merely an organization they left alone because it was judged more profitable than wiping them out.

But precisely because of that, they possessed a sense of pride.

It meant that if their organization fought with everything it had, they could at least inflict a wound on that ‘Calione.’

“Cut the chatter. From here on, we have to dock the ship ourselves.”

At the words of the officer who had been in the wheelhouse, the other men nodded and headed toward the stern.

The place where they would disembark from this point onward was Incheon Port, operating under Calione’s management.

Rather than waste time here and cause an incident, it would be far easier to move quietly and covertly.

“Listen carefully. The moment the ship docks, we’ll scatter in every direction in preparation for any possible pursuit. Lang Xian and I will head toward Bukseon Wharf, while Kowloon and Chen Zhong will head toward Incheon Station.”

“Understood.”

“I’m warning you in advance, if you’re caught by one of Calione’s members... I recommend killing yourself on the spot. Staying alive longer won’t bring you anything good.”

At the officer’s words, the organization members swallowed hard.

They too knew Calione’s infamy, so all they could do was nod.

“...

Good, as long as you understand.”

The officer nodded as he looked at the organization members, then finished explaining each person’s escape route and rendezvous point before glancing outside the window.

The outline of the docks slowly emerged through the sea fog. At that, the officer gradually straightened his bent back and said.

“Prepare.”

At the officer’s words, all the organization members gathered at the stern. There were twenty people in total.

Since one wrong move could trigger a war with Calione, they were elite personnel specially selected for this infiltration, possessing excellent Korean proficiency and combat ability.

“──The targets are the president and every deputy-manager-level officer of Seoul Hero Academy’s ‘Fund Investment Club.’ The moment they are secured, abduct them to the warehouse we discussed beforehand, then leave Korea.”

With a clunk, the ship came to a stop.

Then, with another clunk, the dock door slowly began to open.

“For the nation and our brothers.”

“For the nation and our brothers.”

The others repeated the officer’s declaration to steel their resolve, and at last, the dock touched the pier.

Even after arriving at the pier, the fog remained thick. Just as the Triad members were about to move quickly to hide themselves within it.

“Good evening, friends.”

“I-it’s a trap! E-everyone down!!”───! ───! ───! ───! ───! ───! ───! ───! ───! ───! ───!

From within the fog that had been silent until now, sounds like a typewriter being struck erupted as tremendous flashes began pouring down.