<574 – Investigation of Robert Elahim (2)>
The principal has no intention of taking action against Oknodie.
But Robert Elahim wasn’t the type to just let it slide.
“Professor, there’s been urgent reports from the Western Kingdoms that Drakes in the Western Fertile Plains are increasing their activity due to abnormal temperatures. They are requesting advice on measures and responses necessary to suppress the Drakes’ activity.”
“Tell them to use an ice mage to lower the local climate. The maintenance cost of a magic circle to manipulate the climate installed nearby and the hiring fees for the mage will be far cheaper than the disaster damage caused by the rampaging Drakes.”
“Should I send that information via communication?”
“Are you insane? What do you think an instructor is for? Of course, it’s your job.”
“Ah…”
“Of course, to express my gratitude for my advice, you’ll need to show the royal family precise and brutal damage estimates along with the costs of countermeasures and expected savings in figures.”
“Will you create those figures for us?”
“Are you really that out of your mind? It’s obviously your responsibility.”
“How are we supposed to measure the cost of city destruction?!”
“An administrative instructor takes care of all the annoying paperwork from the professors. That point salary of 10,000 points a month is for this work. Go and consult the seniors and professors from the Administration Department, rummage through the library, or pester the Western Noble Union students and parents to figure it out!”
Poor graduate student… I mean, the third-year administrative instructor was left with all the assignments by Professor Robert Elahim.
He plucked two instructors stuck in a sudden workload from among the struggling administrative instructors.
“Tomi, Brittany. You two, step outside for a moment.”
Leaving behind the wails of a rookie administrative instructor tearing their hair out while calculating the figures for the documents to be submitted to the Western Three Kingdoms, Robert directed new tasks to the frozen veteran instructors.
“The area is the Northern Empire. The main category is paid employment agencies. Focus on the subcategory [Maid Agencies] and investigate the working locations of the workers, the density and distribution of the maids, and collect information about external work routes and record the travel paths.”
“Shall we send a request for consultation and cooperation to the Empire’s International Identity Registration Sorcery Archive?”
“Denied. The reason being concerns about detecting and leaking information from foundation spies.”
“…Then how are we supposed to gather information?”
“We’ll need to infiltrate the Northern government offices that have the paperwork. We need to memorize the information on-site and compile that memorized information to calculate.”
“To calculate such complex figures without being caught on-site requires advanced equipment.”
“Why would we need separate support equipment? We already have the most discreet and high-performing equipment.”
“Really?”
Fourth-year administrative instructor Tomi expressed anticipation.
To think such incredible equipment was in our research lab!
“What’s the name of that equipment?”
“Human Brain.”
Tomi sensed an impending doom and took on a sorrowful frog-like expression.
Robert issued the final word with a cold face devoid of sympathy.
“Technically, it should be called the administrative instructor’s brain. In other words, it could be referred to as your brain, Tomi, and Brittany’s brain as well. Tomi, you aren’t lacking in confidence, are you?”
“No… I’m not…”
“Brittany, you have no complaints, right?”
“I expected it to turn out this way from the start. Just provide me with cash for the traveling expenses needed for infiltration.”
“I’ll give you at least the mission activity expenses.”
Robert pulled out a pouch filled with silver and gold coins instead of vouchers from his spatial pocket.
To ensure that their movements wouldn’t be tracked by the Foundation’s eyes, he deliberately gave them cash from the beginning.
However, upon seeing the amount, Brittany shot a very confrontational glare at the professor, as if to say “Are you trying to pick a fight with us?”
“The activity expenses are insufficient.”
“No need to make use of the transfer station. There are unfortunate rumors among professors that the Foundation has occupied the transfer stations in various locations.”
“…So you’re saying we have to travel to the North by carriage? If the journey extends, the costs will inevitably increase, I believe.”
“Why would you need a carriage? You have a superior means of transport compared to a carriage.”
“What do you mean?”
“The legs of a human.”
“…”
“More precisely, it should be called the legs of an administrative instructor. It could also refer to Tomi’s two legs and Brittany’s two legs. You haven’t failed to learn the Mana Flow Technique required for long-distance travel as a fourth-year administrative instructor, have you?”
Bastard.
Brittany thought inwardly.
“It may take more than six months to submit.”
“Then your assistant professor recommendation will be out the window.”
“……What kind of deadline do you want?”
“I need the results within a month.”
“…You expect me to investigate information while traveling to the North in that timeframe?”
“Speak up if you can’t do it. Even the unemployed wandering knights forsaken by the Empire would be grateful to find work if I gave it to them. I’m giving you an opportunity; it’s clear I haven’t abused you with low wages and high-intensity tasks.”
“………”
“Tsk tsk. If you’ve received a favor, you should know to be thankful. The younger generation lacks the fighting spirit these days. Back in my day, there were lines of eager folks willing to work even without pay, driven solely by passion and will.”
Seriously, bastard.
Brittany nodded, trying her best not to burst out in anger, while Tomi was close to tears.
“When shall we set off?”
“Right this minute.”
“If we disappear without a word, the foundation spies curious about the whereabouts of the administrative instructors might find it strange.”
“Did you think I asked you to prepare the report to the Western Three Kingdoms for fun? Outside, you’ll be announced to be living and studying in the research lab while working on the document. It isn’t unusual for administrative instructors to live in the research lab for months, so no one will suspect anything.”
“…………”
“Once you’re done with excuses, pack your stuff and set off immediately.”
The poor graduate students… I mean, the administrative instructors, left the academy with their shoulders slumped.
This was the moment when unintended victims were born due to Oknodie’s significant actions.
Despite sending two poor administrative instructors off on a medium-term mission, Professor Robert could not sit back idly and let them handle everything.
He recalled that he hadn’t consulted the most important professors from the ‘Adventure Department.’
‘The professors who know the past and present of the adventure department students must be those from the Adventure Department. But it’s highly likely that those professors are dangerously risky individuals to contact.’
Robert Elahim’s suspicions were valid.
Who were the professors teaching Oknodie in the Adventure Department?
Sadako.
Pinkberry.
Destroyer.
El Draco.
Bronze de Estrada.
Jonnas Wahyhiemhai.
Just looking at their professions gives more cause for concern.
A necromancer who manipulates corpses and souls.
A sinister shapeshifter envious of others’ appearances.
A retired former hero and the strongest thief in the world.
A privateer recognized by the nation and a grand pirate.
A rogue who ran rampant in the Empire.
The official representative and butler of the Wahyhiemhai Foundation.
All of them are people one wouldn’t want to approach.
The shapeshifter and necromancer are concerned with other people’s bodies, both living and dead, making them suspicious.
Whether the strongest or the rogue or the grand pirate, they’re all too interested in other people’s belongings for comfort.
The only tolerable one is the official representative of the Wahyhiemhai Foundation, who could very well be a dangerous terrorist scheming behind the scenes.
‘The recent trends are even more terrifying.’
The Destroyer was severely injured in the Kanelle City siege and has gone missing.
Professor Pinkberry made a public appearance before disappearing for a year, claiming she was focusing on her research, neglecting both first-year and second-year lectures.
Professors Sadako and Bronze declared themselves as Oknodie’s mentors, firmly stating that they wouldn’t allow anyone to take a fancy to “their child.”
‘Of the six professors from the Adventure Department, two have gone missing, two have declared themselves as mentors, and out of the remaining two, one is even someone from the Foundation, leaving only one worth investigating.’
Known as the Seven Grand Pirates of the continent, referenced from the ranking board, they are referred to simply as the Seven Grand Pirates.
Standing proudly next to those infamous pirates is El Draco.
Preparing for [Shipboard Combat II] for the second semester of the second-year Adventure Department, El Draco openly showed displeasure at Robert Elahim’s visit.
“I don’t have time for useless conversations, so get lost.”
“Do you remember the student Oknodie from class 981?”
“Oknodie? That damn brat overflowing with pirate potential has caused more trouble again, hasn’t he?”
The grand pirate, uninterested in anything but sex and treasure, openly displayed his curiosity.
It wasn’t because the 11-year-old child was seen as a “girl,” but an indication that he is considered a noteworthy talent in the eyes of an active pirate.
“He’s the only student who accelerated to the third year, and I believe he requires a different level of education due to his vast talent. If there are any peculiar incidents or matters to note during your lessons with Oknodie last year, please share them with me.”
“What are you gonna do if I share?”
“I plan to provide him with suitable education.”
“Not bad for an Empire professor. Alright then, spill it.”
Professor El Draco relayed the story.
“That brat summoned a Kraken and made a mess during a lesson. He ended up crashing into the student area reserved for leave-of-absence students, tangling with foundation scholarship students who were hiding inside, and then he narrowly avoided getting caught by the rescue teams looking for him.”
“What the hell…”
“By the way, after that visit, the item everyone was looking for ended up in the hands of the strongest leave-of-absence student Charlotte. The unsanctioned individuals even went to rescue Oknodie, who had gone missing with Charlotte. Fortunately, this time, they didn’t end up rescuing the rescue team.”
“……”
“Except for that, the kid has quite the pirate credentials and is a good-natured fellow.”
As if anything less than that would suffice.
Indeed, Oknodie is a suspicious and wicked child without parallel in the world.
Using the foundation’s senior scholarship students to maneuver them into escaping from the Empire?
Among the leave-of-absence students, the only one currently missing and not returned is a sword thief named Jeto, so he must be a foundation scholarship student.
‘If he has planned an escape during the assassination of the emperor, he would also plan for a successful escape when causing a ruckus in the North. What connections and means will Oknodie have for causing an incident and escaping in the North?’
Back in his office, Robert Elahim had laid out all the individuals related to Oknodie on a board in a mind map.
His eyes landed on one particular student.
The student’s name was Jigoku.
Moreover, his occupation is an active pirate.
Even within the academy, he was leading a private organization known as the Jigoku Pirate Group.
