Kwon So-hyuk's expression was still deteriorating in real time.
Yeah, it should be like that.
I put in so much effort to see that expression.
"Looks like I haven't met you before. How did you get here?"
I asked the guy with an expression of not knowing anything, and Kwon So-hyuk made a grinding sound with his teeth.
"…Since I planted a spy, I have a rough idea, right?"
It seemed he had quickly grasped the current situation after seeing Yeong-je inside.
Is his mind still working pretty well? No, if he didn't know even after seeing that, he really wouldn't deserve to be the leader.
"Then there's no need to use honorifics, right? You didn't come here with good intentions, after all."
I changed my attitude instantly, and the guy looked at me with a stunned expression.
"Hey, I thought you would at least show some respect since I'm a senior."
"I would have shown respect if you came with good intentions. But you came with hostility, didn't you?"
After saying that to the guy, I entered the club room with I-haru.
"Why, didn't you come to greet us? Come in and take a look around."
I haven't even shown you half of what I wanted to show you.
"Hey? Is the Familiar Club president here? You came earlier than I thought."
Ise-ri, who had flour on her body, walked out from the kitchen in one corner of the club room. She was startled for a moment when she saw the 'Ranger Club' members at the entrance, but quickly composed herself and smiled again.
"Ah, right! You said some guests were coming today! The preparations for the guests are ready, so please come in!"
Kwon So-hyuk made a puzzled expression upon hearing Ise-ri's words.
I kindly asked him about his funny face.
"Why, are you surprised that the Recipe Development Club president is here? Or are you surprised that we have a kitchen in our club room? Or… are you surprised that Ise-ri president is trying to look normal in front of you?"
But Kwon So-hyuk didn't answer, keeping his mouth tightly shut.
"Well, it's fine even if you don't answer. Are you all just going to stand there? Other seniors, please come in. We have plenty of snacks."
Only after hearing my words did the 'Ranger Club' members slowly start to come in.
I knew they were coming, so the largest hall in the club room was already set up with enough temporary desks and chairs.
Here, they would feel puzzled. There were still many seats left even after they all sat down.
"By the way, other guests are also coming today besides you, so don't feel uncomfortable and make yourselves at home."
I didn't have much to hope for.
I just wanted them to see and realize things before I crushed them.
In short, it was a simple psychological game.
And it started with...
"Mr. Yoo-jin. The International Trade Club members are here~"
Se-ah and the members of the International Trade Club all entered the club room.
The number of people was about twice as many as the Ranger Club members who came here. Kwon So-hyuk's face darkened.
"Who are all these people…?"
"I thought you might have heard, but you didn't? We have an inauguration ceremony today."
"…Inauguration ceremony?"
"Right, we invited all the clubs under our protection."
While explaining the relationship between the 'International Trade Club' to the guy, I saw Jin-woo's blonde head in the distance.
"Boss, the Board Game Club members are here too."
With the appearance of another club, not only Kwon So-hyuk but also the 'Ranger Club' members' faces started to fall.
There were already dozens of people gathered in our club room.
They seemed to have come to dampen our spirits, but it was their spirits that were dampened.
"Even though they haven't all arrived yet, you're already like this."
"…Shut up."
And the final touch to these guys was given by—
"I'm here~ Can I borrow the training ground like we talked about before?"
"…Do as you please."
Ji-soo-hyun's appearance.
As the instructor who is known to be the one you shouldn't mess with in the academy, all the 'Ranger Club' members started to panic.
Seeing their ridiculous murmuring, Ji-soo-hyun glanced at them and then burst into a smile, heading straight for the training ground with the equipment.
Someone who prevents the heated-up kids from crossing the line.
Well… in fact, she had announced that she would come right away as soon as she found out I had decorated the club room with ultra-luxury equipment.
Even if I tried to stop her, she would have come anyway, but she came at just the right time.
With Ji-soo-hyun here, we can proceed to the next stage non-stop.
At that moment, Jin-woo, who had been watching everything by my side, finally burst out laughing.
"Boss, did you see their faces? They came thinking they were so great, but they got the opposite. They can't even close their mouths, right? They're actually envious, aren't they?"
Unable to hold back at the sound of Jin-woo's laughter echoing in the quiet club room, Kwon So-hyuk finally stood up with a red face.
"…I'm leaving first."
And Jin-woo, standing in front of Kwon So-hyuk, glared at him.
"Isn't Ise-ri's food ready yet? You guys love it. Ise-ri's food."
"…I don't care. I can eat it anytime, not just today."
"Huh? Who said they would let you eat it later? You're dreaming big."
Saying that, Jin-woo slowly leaned forward and whispered in the guy's ear.
"Today's meal will be the last food you'll eat, so it's better to eat it nicely."
Jin-woo, who usually runs away, indeed has a remarkable talent for provocation.
Look at Kwon So-hyuk, who is trembling.
With other club members around and the instructor and the top first-year student in the training ground, he can't act rashly and can only endure.
Why?
Because all the other club members gathered here are non-combat clubs like the 'Recipe Development Club.' And they all have had experiences of almost being defeated by combat-focused clubs.
If they did something rash in this situation, they might end up making all the non-combat clubs, which are spread throughout the academy, their enemies, not just the Bronze Clubs.
And my job is to eliminate that endurance.
"By the way, I haven't told you this yet. The International Trade Club's president, I-haru's family, the Inomiya Group, has decided to purchase the patent for the 'Golden Walnut Pie' recipe. …Isn't that a shame? You ended up being the dog chasing the chicken?"
Grinding.
The sound of his teeth grinding became even louder.
"…Why would the Inomiya Group want to buy your recipe? There's no way they would know unless you told them."
But I didn't stop provoking and smiled, telling him.
"Like you said, I did put in a word. Why, are you upset? Do you think it's unreasonable that we, who appeared in the middle, got it? Then the answer is simple."
I said that and put my hand on his shoulder.
"–Let's have a war. Challenge us to a total war. As the president of a Bronze Club, you should know, right?"
Total war.
A rule where both clubs agree to bet all the rating points and assets they have accumulated, and only one club can survive.
"If you challenge us to a total war, we won't back down. We'll fight with all our might. Do you understand? If you have the confidence to bet everything and win, challenge us to a total war."
We.
"The 'Famiglia' will welcome your challenge."
I smiled and extended my hand, but the guy didn't take it, glaring at me and said.
"Since we've only been around for a short time, the free sparring period will start next week, and the club protection period will end."
Protection period. A rule by the academy to prevent newly formed clubs from being challenged to rating matches.
Well, it's a rule that doesn't have much meaning for us.
"The moment the protection period ends, I'll challenge you to a total war. And I'll take everything you have. Everything. So… wipe your neck and wait."
Saying that, Kwon So-hyuk hit my shoulder and left.
"Wow… that guy. Even in this situation, he hit my shoulder to save face? Boss, did you see that?"
Jin-woo, who seemed to be so annoyed by Kwon So-hyuk hitting his shoulder, glared at the guys beyond the Z-room door and muttered.
"I saw it. I wish they would have given up, but… from their last look, it doesn't seem like they will. It looks like we'll have to go to war."
Yeong-je nodded in agreement.
"When I was on their side, the lower members told me that the president, Kwon So-hyuk, is a tough guy who must get what he wants."
In other words, he won't give up.
"If that's the case, we have no choice. We have to deal with them in our way