Chapter 345 - The Back Alleys of Exposing Secrets
This is far worse than just stirring up a hornet's nest.
The secret underground vault filled with drugs. This suggests that the drugs rampant in the Academy are being distributed through the Student Council. Considering how few students are seen wandering around the city, it’s natural to think that the easiest place to get drugs is right here, within the Academy.
It’s not impossible that students are getting drugs from different sources, but if there’s a dealer nearby, it makes sense that they’d buy from them.
Still, the first question that comes to mind is why anyone would take such a huge risk.
Selling drugs is a high-risk way to make money in every sense. It’s usually the domain of criminals and those who have no interest in honest work. But the ringleader is a noble lady from a prestigious family, a member of the Student Council. Moreover, the drugs seem to have been obtained through questionable means. Everything about this is outrageous.
Do they want to earn money in secret from their parents?
Do they have a pressing need for funds?
Is it just a dangerous game out of curiosity?
However, it’s unlikely that a Student Council member would sell drugs themselves. It’s more plausible that the drugs are being distributed by underlings who don’t know who’s behind it, probably using girls from families in difficult economic situations.
I haven’t seen any transactions during my patrols, so they must be being careful. The vault being broken into was completely unexpected for them.
"I’ve managed to get a hold of the Student Council’s weakness..."
The secret I’ve uncovered is too big.
I’m already dealing with attacks from thugs and the Bluecoats. While it might not be a decisive conflict yet, I can still handle such attacks as mere pranks. The problem is that the Student Council’s brats don’t have the mental fortitude I do.
Pushing them too far could lead to something undesirable, which I want to avoid as a guidance counselor. These brats need guidance, not destruction.
I’ll need to gather more information before deciding how to use or bury this secret.
For today, I left without taking any physical evidence.
"I’m back. Roberta, remove the Shadow Magic."
"Yes, welcome back. I’ll take care of it right away."
After sending a message to stand down and returning to the Student Dormitory, I finally relaxed.
The careful, traceless escape took time, leaving me even more exhausted. It’s already midnight.
"Onee-sama, did you find anything interesting?"
"I did, but it’s a secret. Don’t pry into this. It’s best not to get involved with the Student Council."
"Was it that troublesome?"
"Very. Getting involved could drag you into a mess. Stick to the original plan and focus on guarding your sister. Keep an eye on Anastasia Union, and let me know if you need help."
My sister looks exasperated by my busy schedule, separate from our original mission.
"How many troubles are you juggling? The Magic Doll Club members have high hopes for you. If you can’t ensure enough time for guidance, it will affect club activities."
"Don’t worry, I’ll meet their expectations."
"Good to hear."
I won’t neglect my duties to the club. Reviving the club is one of my orders.
However, to achieve this, I need to negotiate with the Student Council and move away from the outdated Magic Dolls from two generations ago. That’s why I did something as troublesome as breaking into the vault. I’ve got the leverage, but figuring out how to use it is a challenge. What to do, indeed.
Hmm, maybe I should catch the Student Council members handing over drugs to dealers. Threatening them could provide a way in, but I doubt a proud noble child would admit defeat easily.
How to make these tough students submit and reveal their true intentions is a challenge, but I’ll treat it as part of my guidance.
Alright, I’ll figure something out. In my own way, the way of a villain.
"By the way, how’s the Drama Club? I didn’t expect you to join something like that."
"The class representative invited me. She seemed caring and attentive, so I thought I’d give it a try."
"Roberta was invited first, and Valeria and I joined too. It was good for gathering information and getting closer to the students."
"If I knew you’d become the Magic Doll Club’s Advisor, I might have thought differently."
The club is popular, but I thought it would be more troublesome. It turns out to be more about helping behind the scenes, and it’s been enjoyable. I’ll check in when I have time.
Despite it being midnight, I stayed up chatting about the club and classes. Before I knew it, Valeria was leaning on me, dozing off.
"It’s so late. I’m sorry for keeping you up."
"Don’t worry, it’s a holiday. Club activities don’t start early, so it’s fine."
Right, it is a holiday. I was surprised that the club still meets on holidays.
Many students have family obligations or other commitments, so it’s mostly the enthusiastic ones who show up.
"Wait, what’s the Magic Doll Club’s schedule again?"
"Morning practice is self-guided, and group practice starts in the afternoon. How did you not know this..."
"The club president is reliable, so it’s fine. I’ll show up in the afternoon, or at worst, in the evening. Your sister and Harriet should give advice on magic power usage to the others."
"Practice matches are coming up, so everyone is motivated. We’ll do our best to help."
"The dolls are challenging, so it’s good practice for everyone."
"Thanks. I’ll head out now."
After saying goodnight, I left through the window.
I didn’t tell the others, but I can’t sleep yet. I’m still waiting for Layla’s report from the Phantom Thief Guild.
I don’t think the Kikyo Society’s Intelligence Bureau deputy would make a mistake, but something might have gone wrong. I decided to use wide-area magic perception to locate Layla.
"...Found her. She’s on the move?"
She’s not alone. Three others are with her, and they seem to be in a vehicle.
Their route is erratic, with unnecessary turns and backtracking. They seem to be heading toward the youth district, but it’s hard to tell.
This is likely to prevent Layla from knowing the correct route or distance. She’s probably blindfolded, and they’ve accepted her on those terms. The Phantom Thief Guild’s base is a secret.
I’ll go pick her up.
I want to know the Bluecoats’ weaknesses as soon as possible. Connections with other factions, the scale of their financial dealings, and the names and crimes of corrupt officers would be perfect. If I can threaten them, I’ll be safe from any noble plots. I might even do something while I’m still awake. First moves are crucial.
I watched the vehicle from outside the city, not communicating to avoid detection.
When the vehicle stopped in a side street near the district, Layla was dropped off, and the others drove away.
"Shinogami here. Good work, Layla."
"President, you were waiting? I’ll come to you."
I waited in an empty alley, and Layla appeared shortly.
"Sorry for the wait. It took longer than expected."
"I see. How did it go?"
"We got plenty of information on the Bluecoats, thanks to the letter of introduction and the gifts. However, they also pushed some trouble onto me, saying it’s for a good relationship."
"Really? But you seem to have accepted it."
"Yes. The Phantom Thief Guild in Bertricia is more of a fixer than a simple buyer or seller. They might test my skills by giving me a task in exchange for their help. This seems to be part of their process."
I see. The main business is handling any request, no matter how difficult. If they can’t do it, they find someone who can. This creates a community of fate, which can be useful if the client is influential. It’s a common tactic, not unusual.
"I see. I’m not worried, but what trouble did you accept?"
"A man’s woman problem. Josephine mentioned this might happen, so it’s within expectations. It’s not difficult, and I’ll handle it quickly. Here, take this."
"This is the Bluecoats’ confidential information?"
It’s a thick file. I’ll read through it all for reference.
Even a quick skim reveals interesting details.
"Quite detailed. If this gets out, the Bluecoats would be finished, right?"
"It could, depending on how it’s used. We’re not the only ones who know this, so it’s uncertain. Ultimately, it depends on the powerful people involved."
"True. Threatening them might not be the best approach. Making them allies could be better. Whatever I do, this information will be useful. I’ll act on it, and you can focus on the Phantom Thief Guild."
"I’ll finish it quickly. By the way, what about the Student Council Building?"
I told Layla what I found, including the security and the secret.
"…The Student Council might be in a more dangerous situation than I imagined."
"The drug heist hasn’t been discovered by the thugs yet, but these brats won’t stay quiet. They’ll likely cause more trouble. I need to set things up before the situation escalates. I’ll approach the Bluecoats first."
"We’ll regroup when there’s progress."
To get some sleep, we decided to return to the Academy.
If we’re going to act, it’ll be in the morning. Alright, we’re finally taking a step forward. I can handle the corrupt Bluecoats more aggressively. I’ll set a trap for them.
Back at the dorm, I maintained my alertness, extending my magic perception to monitor the Student Council Building even in a light sleep.
After a surprisingly short wait, I sensed movement just before dawn. Someone entered the Student Council Building. There are night patrols, so it’s probably a Student Council member, not a thief. There’s no sign that my intrusion was detected.
I got out of bed and continued monitoring while washing my face. It’s unlikely they have a legitimate reason to be there this late. This could be a good opportunity to catch them.
Sigh. I wish it was more interesting.
I don’t plan to continue this for long. Physically, I’m fine, but lack of sleep is bad for my beauty.
After a while, it seems I might have a lead. Good, let’s see what happens.
The person’s movements are as expected. They’re heading to the secret basement to do something.
While it seems too convenient, it’s unlikely to be a trap unless they detected my presence.
I left the dorm when the marked person exited. I left the listening device and transmitter in the room and started my operation.
I need to confirm what they’re planning and, if necessary, apprehend them on the spot.
However, a typical outcome wouldn’t be interesting. I might as well make it more exciting. It would be a good lesson for these arrogant brats.
Hehehe. I’ll roll them all together!
The Drama Club’s activities will be shown later, with a brief appearance in the play. Stay tuned for how the extraordinary Kikyo Society members shine in the club!
Next, the chapter "A Villain’s Routine Business" where I threaten everyone.