Chapter 30 – Rule 13: The Leader Does Not Get Ambushed by Villains (5)

 

“Head Principal….”

 

My voice was drowned out by the pouring rain. Kim Dalbi, a formidable powerhouse, stood against a daunting backdrop of deadly secrets—secrets that could kill with just a whisper.

 

Even within the Federal Council’s jurisdiction, one had to be wary of eavesdropping.

 

There was no concrete evidence, but all the clues pointed to one person.

 

An elderly woman of the old human race, at the pinnacle of Neo Seoul’s power structure in Academy City.

 

The Head Principal.

 

The ultimate authority managing Neo Seoul, dedicated to the city’s development and safety.

 

She served as the equivalent of a ‘Mayor,’ the highest-ranking official in a place without kings or presidents.

 

Then again.

 

In the land of no tigers, the fox is king.

 

She could be considered similar to a king or president.

 

But that wasn’t the important issue.

 

In front of her, I’m nothing more than a passing mosquito.’

 

As I pieced together my thoughts, everything began to become clearer.

 

I looked at Lee Ha-min, the bomber, who was unconscious and restrained.

 

Before I attacked him, he had already been beaten, likely by Dalbi’s hobgoblin.

 

‘His target was me.’

 

How could I not know that Ha-min had targeted me with his bomb?

 

‘Was Dalbi trying to stop him?’

 

That made sense.

 

‘Sigh….’

 

I sighed, running my rain-soaked hair back. My chest felt tight.

 

The real issue was Dalbi’s constant interference on my behalf. If she were just a simple enemy, things would be much less complicated.

 

─ ‘Let’s just run away together….’

 

Suddenly, I recalled Dalbi suggesting we run away.

 

Running away from a place where escape was impossible.

 

What was she thinking with that expression? I couldn’t guess.

 

Enough.

 

I collected my emotions and continued my thoughts.

 

‘Anyway, Dalbi had figured out Ha-min’s objective in advance.’

 

Using my game knowledge.

 

Ha-min must have received an assassination contract, and Dalbi wasn’t superhuman enough to monitor his every move.

 

Therefore, ‘Dalbi might have known the contractor. And if that contractor was the Head Principal….’

 

It was strange that a bomber would dare to attack within the Federal Council’s jurisdiction unless he had someone powerful to rely on.

 

Adding Dalbi’s actions to the mix, the idea that the contractor was the Head Principal gained strength.

 

I didn’t know why Dalbi allowed the bomber to interfere.

 

If Dalbi had been entirely controlled, she wouldn’t have left the letter or approached me.

 

This incident might have been unforeseen by the Head Principal.

 

This hypothesis led to another question.

 

The motive.

 

Why did the Head Principal target me?

 

Given that she used the bomber, an easily discardable pawn, to easily back out if things went wrong, it seemed she didn’t consider me a high threat.

 

So, if she had a reason to target me, it likely wasn’t related to the ‘secret’ Dalbi mentioned.
One thing came to mind.

 

‘If the Head Principal was Anomia’s top supporter?’

 

This would explain why the supporter was a powerful figure and why the Head Principal targeted me.

 

The main reason Anomia was annihilated was essentially because of me.

 

‘…It’s still just a suspicion.’

 

I decided to hold off on certainty.

 

After a brief five seconds of thought.

 

I walked briskly towards Lee Ha-min, the bomber.

 

‘First, I need to search his belongings.’

 

This was the Federal Council’s jurisdiction.

 

Ahsung High had no investigative authority here.

 

Ha-min would be handed over to the Federal Council immediately, and if the Head Principal got involved, he would be silenced for sure.

 

So if I wanted to find anything, now was the only chance.

 

I quickly searched Ha-min’s pockets.

 

‘…Nothing.’

 

Not even a common smartphone, just auxiliary devices likely used in the bombing.

 

Then.

 

Splash.

 

The sound of water being stepped on.

 

I felt the presence of two people behind me.

 

“Disciplinary Committee Leader of Ahsung High?” a woman’s voice called out.

 

I turned to see a girl in a nun’s habit with combat gear and a boy dressed similarly.”

 

‘Spartoi?’

 

I instantly recognized their combat attire—they were agents from the Federal Council’s Spartoi.

 

I stood up to face them.

 

“It’s an honor to meet you. We are Spartoi, under the Federal Council.”

 

The nun-girl bowed politely and greeted me kindly.

 

The other Spartoi followed suit.

 

They were supposed to be Black Ops operatives, but they made no effort to hide their identity.

 

“We responded to a report and were dispatched… looks like we’re late.”

 

It wasn’t strange for them to appear, given this was Federal Council territory.

 

Spartoi are Neo Seoul’s elite combat agents.

 

Even the weakest rank among the 5th Tiers, with many in the 6th Tier.

 

They operate covertly, but if they surfaced, Academy City’s rankings would need reshuffling.

 

At that moment, Baek-seo gracefully descended to the ground. She stood before the two students, showing her doubt.

 

“…You know Kim Dalbi has escaped, right? How about controlling the perimeter?”

 

“Yes, we went right in! And reinforcements are on their way. Ah, they’ve already arrived.”

 

Security robots and Federal Bureau students were approaching the alley.