Chapter 14: Making a Name for Oneself (2)

The Director of Lionne Academy.

Karin felt like she could fly with joy right then and there.

'I guess you really don't know until you try!'

Honestly, even she had been half-skeptical when making the proposal.

A principal of some backwater minor academy daring to overstep their bounds. She had attempted to recruit talent knowing she might face criticism, but it actually worked.

The talk of the town - new Professor Ryan.

He had gladly accepted the transfer offer.

With that famous genius professor coming, our academy will finally make a name for itself. Karin skipped along happily, lost in pleasant daydreams.

Her destination was the office of that annoying Administrative Head.

When they got scammed by that quack who tried to pass off an egg as a dragon egg, how much had he berated her? She couldn't miss this perfect chance to put him in his place.

Bang! She flung open the office door without knocking.

Karin proudly thumped her chest and declared.

"You might want to take back what you said about my head being empty! Do you know who I just recruited? Ryan! That new professor everyone's talking about!!"

According to Karin's predictions, the Administrative Head should have been sobbing and clinging to her ankles by now.

Sincerely apologizing for doubting the Director's abilities while crying his eyes out, then she would benevolently pat his head and they'd throw a celebration party together.

She even bought fireworks for it.

They were supposed to burst into rabbit shapes - she was already excited.

But... something seemed off about the Administrative Head's expression.

His face turned deathly pale. Dripping with cold sweat, he asked Karin.

"You messed with an Imperial Academy professor? Are you actually in your right mind?"

The Administrative Head's face crumpled like he might cry at any moment as he explained the current situation to Karin.

That Imperial Academy professors were responsible for training the Empire's key officials. That they were therefore entrusted with all manner of top-secret technologies and spell formulas.

And... that poaching such talent could be considered a major crime against the state.

"Withdraw the message immediately. I don't care if you send a hawk or an owl - we need to make this proposal disappear right now!"

At that urgent cry, Karin quickly set her hands in motion.

A letter saying she was sorry but circumstances had changed. Please consider the proposal never made. The dove took off again with a flutter of wings, carrying the message.

Perhaps the other side had been waiting for a reply. The dove returned shortly with another letter tied to its leg.

[I apologize, but I cannot accept that. I truly wish to transfer to Lionne Academy no matter what.]

Cold sweat trickled down the Administrative Head's back.

He glanced furtively at that foolish Director. He had a pretty good idea why the other party was responding this way.

"Just to check - you obviously used the secret correspondence paper for the transfer offer, right?"

"Of course! Didn't we buy a set of that amazing paper that burns up when read last time?"

That confident answer.

The Administrative Head grabbed the back of his neck with a sigh.

"You think a professor who's mastered even difficult spatial magic can't put out a simple fire?! You should have used the supplies from the warehouse instead of that toy paper!"

They had paper with conceptual incineration spells overflowing in storage. Why did she have to use something like that? Though he didn't even need to ask to know the answer.

She probably just thought the burning letter looked cool and wanted to try it.

"This means they have evidence that we tried to poach their talent!"

The Administrative Head frantically mussed his hair. Given the circumstances, Ryan's motives were obvious.

A bribe. He was saying to show some sincerity first if they wanted him to keep quiet.

While her intelligence was regrettably lacking, the Director had overwhelming strength as the former Mercenary King. The academy she established had very deep pockets.

But the other party was an Imperial Academy professor.

It wouldn't be easy preparing a bribe that could satisfy someone of that caliber. They might blow through 10 years of budget on this incident.

'But... we have no other choice.'

They couldn't expect any acting ability from that Director.

Since the truth would obviously come out as soon as an investigation started, they had to silence Ryan by any means necessary.

With tears in his eyes, the Administrative Head packed gold coins tightly into fifty large boxes. This was enough to easily buy three islands and have change left over.

While it would be a critical hit to their finances, they could make the Director take responsibility and earn it back later. The Administrative Head steeled himself with that thought and...

The next day, he foamed at the mouth seeing the returned boxes.

[Your bribes cannot sway my heart.]

Only that note was attached to the treasure boxes, which showed no signs of even being opened.

The oblivious Director cheerfully suggested that maybe he genuinely wanted to join their academy because he liked it, but.

"Get a grip, Director. We're talking about a professor from the Imperial Academy. An educational institution run directly by the great Primordial Dragon."

Treatment, benefits, prestige. The Imperial Academy was a dream workplace with nothing less than the best in every category.

Why would someone working at such a place want to come to our Lionne Academy? There were limits to having an inflated sense of self-importance.

"This is clearly a message. A message saying not to think you can silence me with this level of money."

...Drastic measures were needed.

She swallowed hard and took action.

First, double the amount of gold coins.

[Why do you keep sending gold coins? I truly just want to transfer to Lionne Academy.]

The box returned again, but this was within expected parameters. She immediately played her next card.

Double the gold again.

And mix in some of the precious gems the Director had found adventuring in the desert during her active days.

[How many times do I have to say I don't need things like this?]

...She hadn't expected even this to be rejected. But it's fine.

This too was within expected parameters. Without showing any agitation, she increased the ratio of gems and sent the boxes again. An amount that could buy an entire city.

Who could possibly reject such massive wealth in gold and treasures that would make even the famously wealthy Golden Duke drool?

[Is someone switching my letters along the way? Why do you keep ignoring what I'm saying?]

...The other party didn't seem quite normal.

What kind of mindset did they have to still be unsatisfied after being showered with this much treasure?

While she couldn't understand what that professor was thinking at all, it was still fine for now. Even this was barely within the parameters she had anticipated.

One should always save their trump card for last.

Truly precious treasures. They still had the numerous artifacts the Director had collected as the Mercenary King.

Priceless treasures.

She filled large boxes with them and sent them again. They had now given everything they possibly could.

This couldn't be rejected.

There was no way this could possibly be rejected.

[Please stop the gift terrorism. How many more times do I have to explain my sincerity to you?]

Such a message returned once again.

The other party's response had far exceeded anticipated parameters.

The Administrative Head's face naturally filled with shock.

"See, rejecting even this much means they really want to join our academy! They never had any intention of taking bribes!"

Director Karin made such claims while trying to reassure the frightened Administrative Head. But reassurance was impossible.

"The problem is that they don't want bribes."

If the other party had been money-obsessed, they could have resolved things with their accumulated wealth. But what if the other party was an upright person who didn't want bribes?

Then why was Ryan acting so strangely? What did they want, constantly saying we still don't understand their sincerity?

What options would someone clean enough to reject bribes suggest to criminals?

...Confess your crimes and face punishment.

Admit your wrongs with your own mouth before I have to speak.

That must have been the sincerity Ryan kept trying to convey. They now had only one option left.

Placing a hand on Director Karin's shoulder.

The Administrative Head spoke with tears rolling down his face.

"Let's... turn ourselves in."

*****

[Lionne Academy's Misconduct Exposed.]

[New Professor Reveals Truth Without Succumbing to Bribes.]

[It Was I Who Pushed for the Transfer, Even Lying to Protect Small Academy's Principal.]

[Primordial Dragon Steps Forward, Declaring She Will Resign as Professor if They Are Punished.]

[Mercenary King Karin Sheds Tears of Gratitude at Professor's Defense. Declares 'I Will Repay This Kindness After Completing my Two Week Sentence.']

[Who is Imperial Academy's New Professor Ryan, Possessing Both Integrity and Noble Character?]