Chapter 338 - Still a Country Bumpkin
In the evening of the second day, I didn’t return to the club building after leaving the student council building. Instead, I went to my office in the main building and reviewed the documents again.
Staying in the office after school is a signal to Layla, who is in charge of information gathering, that I need a non-urgent report. It’s a casual arrangement; if she’s busy, she can ignore it.
After a while, a message from Layla arrived, saying she would come. I waited, engrossed in the documents, and she soon arrived.
"I’m late. President, is there something you need to investigate?"
"Yes. But first, do you have any reports to give? Any suspicious movements regarding the young miss?"
If Layla, trained by Director Josephine, has completed her initial investigation, she might have noticed things I didn’t.
"So far, there’s no movement within the academy, but the security force guarding Anastasia Union has been rotating personnel significantly over the past two days. It’s not yet clear if this is part of a regular rotation or a sudden change. I’ll try to get more information."
"Hmm? I think it’s a bit too early for any movement. As long as they don’t interfere with the academy, we don’t need to delve too deep. For now, just consider it as the young lord trying to secure his faction’s subordinates. It’s somewhat endearing if it’s just a rich kid trying to keep an eye on the young miss."
I don’t expect Layla to take any rash actions, but if we take the initiative, it might lead to more complicated situations if we’re discovered.
"It could be someone who might resort to kidnapping. We can’t be careless."
"Have the magical security devices been installed around the dormitories? If they try something forceful, we can buy some time."
"I’ve set up various things, but the only effective measure is the alarm."
Magical devices with offensive capabilities could be dangerous if they accidentally catch any students, so the best we can do is enhance the alarm system.
Unable to do more, I continued the conversation when Layla handed me a list of troublesome teachers and students.
"This... is a list of troublemakers. You did a great job in such a short time."
"It’s still a work in progress, so there may be additions or corrections."
"This is very helpful. Keep it up."
I haven’t shown Layla the confidential documents from the headmistress. I want her to investigate without preconceived notions and show me her findings once she completes her initial investigation.
"So far, this is all I can report. What do you need to investigate?"
"The student council. They’re not easy to deal with."
"I’ve noticed that too. They’re all children of influential people, and the security around the student council building is excessively strict. I understand why you’re concerned."
"It’s suspicious, isn’t it? Separately, it seems they have a conflict with the Magic Doll Club. They’re causing trouble, and I want to find a way to get the upper hand."
"What kind of trouble do you mean?"
The Magic Doll Club, once prominent, has been traditionally disliked by the student council due to the arrogance of its members. This seems to be a result of ongoing family rivalries and other trivial reasons.
While these rumors and speculations may not be entirely true, the club’s activities are clearly being hindered, and something needs to be done.
"To get the upper hand, we need to find their weaknesses... Given the strict security, they probably have a few secrets. If we dig, we might uncover some dirt. Can you take two days to investigate? If you can start now, that would be great."
"I have club activities, so don’t overdo it. A few days’ delay is fine."
"Understood. I’ll be back in two days."
Layla left immediately, heading towards the student council building. She’s a hard worker.
I’ll investigate the downtown thugs and their connections more thoroughly over the next two days.
After that, I compared the documents Layla gave me with the confidential materials from the headmistress. Layla’s work was impressive for just two days, but there were discrepancies between the two sets of documents. It’s hard to say which is more accurate. Layla mentioned she would make further additions and corrections, and I don’t think the headmistress’s documents are perfect either. Additional investigations may be necessary.
Before I knew it, the day had turned to night.
I changed out of my tracksuit into casual summer attire and set out for night patrol, doubling as dinner.
Walking through the brightly lit streets at night, I observed the faces of passersby through my sunglasses. Even if I recognize a student, their clothing, hairstyles, and makeup would be drastically different, making it quite challenging. I might only recognize them if I’ve directly addressed them before.
"Hey, you’re cool. How about a drink?"
"No thanks."
"Can you help me with directions?"
"No idea."
"Hey, it’s been a while, hasn’t it?"
"Get lost."
Why do people keep approaching me? I don’t look approachable, and my eyes are hidden behind sunglasses.
The attention from regular customers can be useful, though, so maybe it’s a good thing. I took a sip of the drink the short-haired bartender offered and said,
"So, what’s up?"
The guy next to me chimed in, "You know the school up on the hill? It’s a snobbish girls’ school for nobles and the rich, but it’s not so great."
It’s clear they don’t know I work there. That’s fine.
"Surprisingly, a lot of girls aspire to that school."
"The uniforms are great. They give off a noble vibe."
"Ha, what’s so noble about it? They’re snobby."
"Hey, are you holding a grudge or something?"
I let the idle chatter wash over me as I finished the food and drink.
"—Oh, right. Have you heard about the flashy kids around here?"
After a few minutes, the conversation seemed to loop back to the beginning.
"I haven’t. Is it related to the school up on the hill?"
"It is. Rich kids are no good. They’re partying flashy with their parents’ money."
"Yeah, he’s generous. He’s popular. He’s got a big ego, thanks to his parents’ money."
"It’s just jealousy. Men’s jealousy is annoying. But if he’s buying drinks, it’s not too bad. I wish I was younger."
A generous person becomes popular. The source of the money doesn’t matter.
"Cut it out. Drinking and eating are one thing, but he’s dealing drugs. Your students might be involved, so be careful."
"Is he connected to the local thugs?"
"Probably. He’s a convenient source of easy money. They probably get along well."
"A good match despite their different backgrounds?"
From this conversation, I can’t tell if the rich kid is a common rich person, a noble, or a wealthy thug. I can’t even tell if it’s a boy or a girl. If it’s a girl, there’s a chance it could be a student from Saint Emeralda Girls' Academy.
A young noble lady acting out and getting involved with a lowlife isn’t an uncommon story.
"Where can I find this place? I’ll check it out."
"Don’t. If you’re recognized as a teacher, you’ll be beaten up."
"True. The entertainment district is a playground for the young. Unless it’s something serious, the Bluecoats won’t intervene because of bribes. It’s dangerous."
"Hmm? I’m just going to check it out. Don’t worry."
"You’re still young, but if you recognize one of your students, it’ll be obvious right away. I wouldn’t send you alone."
It’s impossible for them to tell me everything and leave out the crucial details. They’re a troublesome bunch.
"Just tell me. I’ll buy you a drink."
"Alright, thanks, teacher."
The bartender poured me a drink, and the chatty guys started talking about things I didn’t even ask about. They’re a talkative bunch.
After spending about an hour at the restaurant, I headed out to act on the information.
Act quickly when you have a lead. While caution is sometimes necessary, action is generally prioritized. Our strength lies in our proactive and bold actions.
Many people have ideas but few take action. Quick thinking and swift action give us a significant advantage.
Most people dawdle and don’t move, so we can gain an edge in various situations and achieve our goals. This is partly because we can afford to fail and recover.
The place I heard about from the guy is a dance hall in a side alley off the main street. A place where reckless kids party all night. I understand why such places can be fun at their age.
If it’s profitable, the Exembra might consider running such a place. Our Kikyo Society focuses on entertainment for adults, but we might explore venues for the younger crowd in the future.
"Not much of a disguise, but it should work."
At the academy, I always wear glasses. Clear, oval-shaped ones for the modest look, and rimmed teardrop sunglasses for the Demon Instructor look. So, the students don’t know what I look like without glasses.
Tonight, I’m in a casual, short-sleeve shirt and knee-length pants, accessorized with a few pieces of jewelry. The overall look is relaxed and should blend in with the locals. The clothes are high-end, made by Torietta-san, but no one here would recognize them as such.
I’ve put my sunglasses in my pocket and tied my hair into a high ponytail. I don’t think I’ll be recognized as Yukari Evilbanshee from Saint Emeralda Girls' Academy.
The area is still busy even a block off the main street, and my destination is there.
The dance hall is underground. At the entrance, a man in flashy accessories and a black outfit stands guard. As I approach, several people go in. I walk up confidently and ask,
"Can I come in too?"
"First time seeing you. Introduced by someone?"
"No, I just heard about the free drinks. If I can’t, I’ll leave."
The guard observes me for a few seconds, then grins. He seems friendly but also a bit shady. He’s a good reader of emotions and skilled.
"Sure, come in. I don’t know where you heard about it, but we are offering free drinks today. Lucky you, drink up."
"Who’s paying for this?"
"Who knows? If you’re curious, go inside and check."
"Good point. Is there anything else I should watch out for?"
"You’re pretty. Here’s a tip: don’t mess with the thugs. They’re on edge over some small issues. As long as you’re careful, you can have fun even if you go a bit wild. Enjoy yourself."
That’s not very helpful. I don’t know who’s associated with the thugs. If they had distinctive tattoos like the Legisamo Cartel or unique fashion, it would be easier to identify them. The argument I saw at the place dealing with the Jienko Nigi thugs didn’t reveal any distinctive features. It might be related to that argument, or it could be run by a different group. I guess it’s fine.
"Hmm, got it."
It’s time to take action. I’ll at least confirm if any academy students are here.
Let’s see what happens.
The story shifts to the nightlife district.
There might be a bit of a violent scene.
Stay tuned for the next chapter, 'Baptism of the Nightlife District'.