Volume 4 Chapter 9 [Under-Ops SIDE] The Hard-Worker Slot Has Already Been Decided
"Mr. Ginji, I'm sweating buckets here, and it just won't stop."
"Nah, Russma," Ginji replied, unimpressed. "You're not even breaking a sweat."
"It's all in my head," Russma muttered.
"I only sweat on the inside. That's why I get picked for these jobs, Russma."
"Even the headmaster..."
Beneath Sevenstar Academy, in a quiet, windowless chamber, three men had gathered.
The headmaster himself—Velto Luetheria.
A member of the Order of the Sealed Dragon, Under-Ops division—Ginji.
And Russma Garnet, a transfer from the Obsidianmagic Dukedom's elite academy, and known companion of Guilhem.
Despite his muscular build and calm demeanor, Russma looked like he was *internally* melting.
Ginji clapped him on the shoulder. "By the way, when I brought Horace to this town and found out you were studying here, I about popped my eyes out. Velto was surprised too, right?"
Velto nodded. "Indeed. It was supposed to be the Grinless family negotiating the exchange program—not the Redless. Then it suddenly changed, and that's when Russma arrived."
Russma sighed. "I got a sudden order from 'above.' I was tailing Guilhem on an infiltration mission at the academy. Had to sabotage the Grinless family's third son's application just to get Guilhem in."
Even someone who normally only sweated on the inside had finally exhaled in exhaustion.
Ginji smirked. "Well, you're in charge now. And 'above' wants you to erase the bad impression left by Horace's *educational environment*, right?"
Velto confirmed dryly, "Yes. 'Above.'"
Ginji scoffed. "If you can talk back to the elite academy, it means that founding family is just a coven of hysterical old hags. Besides, 'Jail-Head Dragon' ate Robert a while back, and that was because of something one of those old bats said..."
Velto grimaced. "Even so, we don't know where Horace's father is. Can't exactly pry it out of him either. So the only option we have with the Founding Family is to butter up Mister Horace."
Russma folded his arms. "So yeah, I was sent in to keep Horace from getting messed with. Basically to keep him on a leash and make sure no one steps out of line."
Russma looked like he'd been through hell—and kept walking.
Judging from Guilhem's track record, the guy was a credential snob. No doubt he looked down on anyone who trained solo, and Horace definitely did.
No teachers, no school, no formal education. Just a kid who became an adventurer at twelve. Nothing special in the records.
He was bound to be underestimated. Guilhem had been doing it since day one at Sevenstar Academy.
Which was ridiculous. Horace trained the hero community that took down the Demon Lord. Underestimating *that* was insanity.
Ginji tilted his head. "Horace came here after Russma's visit, right? Did Under-Ops know he was a Golem Master? And since he was expected in town for the Rare Stone Market, that's why you were sent?"
Russma nodded. "Yes."
Velto added, "We didn't have proof of that connection. It was a shock at the time."
Ginji scratched his head. "Yeah, I bet. Huh, some missing info just clicked for me. *That's* why you're at this school."
Russma gave a humorless smile. "I was surprised too, back then."
Ginji grunted. "Old hag must've just forced it through. Gotta admit, she's got a good gut instinct."
Russma frowned. "I can't agree with that."
Velto chimed in, "I don't want to either."
Ginji muttered, "Me neither, ugh."
Sure, 'women's intuition' might just be shorthand for 'been around long enough to know better.' And Ginji, aging and all, could technically be called an old lady-in-training. But whether anyone *accepted* that title... was another matter.
Velto returned to the topic. "So what's the real story? Guilhem seems to have settled down, but since I heard he was studying abroad, I looked into his father..."
Russma crossed his arms again. "It's like he took his son's worst traits and doubled down."
Ginji scoffed. "I did some digging too. The guy's got no real accomplishments. That's rare."
Velto checked a file. "The debt is confirmed—20 million coins to the hero community."
Russma explained, "He's using it to pay off debts inside the magic Dukedom. So technically, he only owes the hero community now\..."
Ginji snorted. "Probably thought he could trample over them. Adventurers who can't repay borrowed money often end up in rough shape."
Russma added, "He's also the kind of guy who only sees what benefits him. I wonder what'll happen now that he's come here..."
"Only sees what benefits him..." Ginji muttered. "I've been dealing with too many guys like that lately. Why do I *always* get stuck with these types..."
Robert, who Ginji had dragged in earlier, had a field of flowers blooming in his skull. But Guilhem's dad? Same breed—just more toxic.
Ginji groaned. "Ugh. I'll write the report for the old lady. For now, just deal with Guilhem."
Velto asked, "What about Zulane?"
Russma blinked. "Who?"
"Another person tied to Guilhem," Velto reminded.
"Ah, that guy..." Ginji sighed again.
"That guy's probably just a drifter. If Guilhem's settled down and Russma's watching him, he won't start anything either."
Velto raised an eyebrow. "That's your read?"
Ginji shrugged. "That's just how it is with these hangers-on."
It might be rude to Zulane, but Ginji never did excel in diplomacy.
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