I became a mafia member of the academy, Chapter 18
"Bu, Deputy President!"
Startled by Iharu's bow and mumbled words, an employee tried to lift her up.
"Why, why are you suddenly doing this? Why to a freshman...?"
"Mr. Park Joo-hyun."
"Yes?"
"Shut up and bow immediately. This is an important guest of our International Trade Club."
"T-this freshman?!"
"Right now."
"I-I apologize for my rudeness!"
The employee, quickly understanding the situation, bowed to me. I patted the shoulders of the two and said,
"Let's straighten up and talk. There are many eyes watching, aren't there?"
"Yes, I will follow your instructions."
The employee stood up after Iharu straightened up.
"Mr. Park Joo-hyun."
"Yes, yes!"
"I will guide the guests to the deputy president's office. Could you please prepare some refreshments?"
"Yes!"
After sending the employee away, Iharu glanced at us and turned around.
"I will guide you."
"Please do."
Following Iharu, we arrived at a luxurious black door. Iharu opened the door first and entered, and we followed inside. The deputy president's office, decorated in a modern design, came into view.
Unlike its very ordinary exterior, the office was adorned with high-end artworks and luxury items.
As we stood there, looking around, Iharu pointed to a sofa on one side of the room with both hands.
"Please sit comfortably, young master."
Following her suggestion, I naturally sat in the seat that seemed to be the main one, and Jin-woo, Se-a, and Young-je sat next to me on the right.
Meanwhile, Iharu started preparing snacks by filling a basket with cookies.
"Boss, what's going on here? Isn't that person the president of this club?"
Thinking it was an unbelievable situation, Jin-woo leaned in and whispered, demanding an explanation.
The others also seemed to agree, staring at me intently.
I then explained what I had thought about beforehand.
"Because our family is the major shareholder of this club's family. We've been close since childhood."
"Major shareholder?"
"Yes, our family has a significant stake in this International Trade Club, so it's not strange."
To be precise, this club and Iharu's family were established with the support of the Callione family.
During the planning of the club last night, I suddenly had this idea.
'Come to think of it, I remember there were a few clubs in the academy connected to the Callione family...'
So I immediately asked Farnello.
- "The daughter of the Inomoto Group was the president of the International Trade Club. You must have seen her a few times at family events in the past. Her name was... Iharu, I believe."
Indeed, as the top mafia family in Asia, the Callione family had clubs connected to them within the academy.
Moreover, it seemed that her father had invested in the club in my name when she established it.
No wonder I was wondering how they managed to get items that were hard to obtain even outside the game.
"Having a stake in the academy's clubs, what exactly does your family do?"
Surprised that the family had invested directly in the academy, Young-je whistled and asked.
"Just a company that does various things. It's just been lucky."
Realizing I didn't want to say more, Young-je didn't press further.
"You've been waiting a long time. It's been a while, young master."
"Yes, it has. I was quite surprised to hear you started a club in the academy."
"I'm still a small club, so I'm quite embarrassed. And I never dreamed you would ask me for such a favor."
"Hmm, is that so?"
Iharu, placing the basket of snacks in front of us, sat on the empty sofa. Her expression, saying she never dreamed it, was extremely cold.
"I apologize if the sudden contact was inconvenient. Did it cause any trouble?"
Shaking her head at my words, she replied.
"How could it? All of this was possible because of your investment. However... you seem different from the last time I saw you, young master."
Indeed, I was wondering why she didn't say it.
"I've grown up. I can't stay under my father's protection forever, can I?"
Smiling and shrugging, I saw her nod.
"Indeed, it seems so. By the way, I heard you recently started successor training. Congratulations, young master."
Glancing at the ring on my hand, Iharu bowed to me. I stopped her by holding her shoulder.
"This is the academy. Let's leave the family talk here."
Lifting her head and looking at my name tag, Iharu seemed to understand the situation and nodded, saying, "I apologize."
- "Deputy President, I've brought the tea."
"Come in."
Hearing Iharu's voice, the employee entered with a tray of five cups of tea.
At the same time, I felt a sense of fear from her. Unlike the first time she saw me, she now felt fear, which I found quite amusing.
She quietly placed the teacups in front of us, bowed, and left. After she left, I took a sip of coffee and decided to get to the point.
"The consent form for the Silver Club. Is it ready?"
"Yes, I can give it to you right away."
"You've done well."
"It's only natural to repay your kindness in any way I can, young master."
Looking at her face, which was very businesslike.
Her unwavering black eyes, neatly styled long hair, and the black student uniform that resembled a suit.
Her expression was so emotionless that it was hard to tell if she was a person or a doll.
A thoroughly businesslike attitude.
Was she planning to end it here?
Well, considering Eugene's personality, it was a natural attitude, but I had no intention of leaving it at this.
"Jin-woo."
"Yes, Boss?"
Jin-woo, who was munching on cookies and looking at his smartphone, glanced up at me.
"Take the others outside. I need to have a private talk with the president of the International Trade Club."
"Private talk? What's that?"
"Eugene and the club president want to talk alone! Hurry up and get out!"
"Huh? What?! No, I'll go! I'll go!"
Se-a, who had initially been afraid of Callione's organization, now grabbed Jin-woo and Young-je's sleeves and dragged them out of the room, seemingly annoyed.
Se-a is more reliable...
After confirming that the three had left, I turned my head and looked at Iharu, who was sipping coffee.
Despite everyone in front of her leaving, she continued to sip her coffee as if nothing had happened.
"Iharu."
"Yes, young master."
Putting down her cup at my call, Iharu looked at me.
"What kind of person was I in the past, as you saw?"
"Young master...?"
"Yes."
After hearing my question, she looked into the air, deep in thought. Then, as if she had finished thinking, she looked at me and spoke very simply, as if introducing someone she knew.
"You were a kid who liked me."
Huh?
"You always ran to me at family events and threw tantrums, asking me to play with you. When I refused, you wouldn't let go of my skirt."
Wait a minute.
"Once, you even threw a fit, asking me to be yours. When I politely refused, you lay on the floor and cried, saying you wouldn't get up until I became your girlfriend."
No way.
"You were... just a kid who was nothing without the family's influence."
Iharu's ruthless words. Yet, her expression showed no change.
I never thought I had done such things to Iharu since childhood.
I didn't know it was to this extent...
Eugene Callione must have been a complete fool.
"...No answer."
"What do you mean?"
Hearing me mutter, Iharu looked at me and asked.
"I had a proposal, but after hearing what you just said, I think it's impossible."
Hearing this, Iharu tilted her head.
"If that's the case, can't you just give an order?"
"Hmm?"
"As the successor of the Callione family, not as Eugene Callione, can't you just give an order? If you do, I can't refuse, as the Callione family is the actual owner of our group."
Her expression remained unchanged, but I could tell she was sincere.
When she said I could just give an order, a faint sense of fear rose in her.
However,
"I don't want to do that to you."
"What do you mean?"
"I don't understand what you mean by not wanting to do that to me."
"Exactly what I said. I don't want to create a situation where only I benefit. I'm not the kid from the past but a freshman in the academy. I can't just give orders to the president of a club right after enrolling. So, I want to make a proposal to you. A proposal that benefits everyone."
"...A proposal that benefits everyone?"
"Does that mean you'll listen?"
Nodding at my question, Iharu said,
"I am the president of the International Trade Club and a businessman before being a vassal of the Callione family. If you have a proposal that could benefit, people would think I'm a businessman who lets emotions override profit if I refuse to listen."