The Bald Eagle's Successor
"That bastard seems like a real bastard. You snatched him away quite nicely, didn't you...?"
In the principal's office atop the Academy's highest floor, overlooking the bustling group training grounds below, a middle-aged man's lips curled slightly upward at the sight of a diminutive female cadet showering a male cadet with laughter.
"...Snatched? He walked right into it himself... Didn't you know all about it and poke at that guy's weak spot?"
The principal, seated in the place of honor, shot back at the middle-aged man. Despite thinking he'd acted in complete secrecy, the principal knew every detail. The middle-aged man shook his head and flopped back onto the sofa.
"Sheesh... If you knew, you could've given me a heads-up. All the trouble I went through to surprise you went to waste."
"Hmph. Who're you treating like some backroom geezer...? That's your problem, Choi Won."
"Who do you think I learned it from? All from you, Gwang-ho hyung. Heh."
"Tch."
Principal Baek Gwang-ho shot a glare at the brazenly grinning Association President Choi Won, then tilted his teacup.
"Hyung, but recruiting him all the way to assistant instructor— you really planning to raise him up?"
"...Who else besides that guy has S-rank potential right now? You knew everything, so you stormed into that guy's company and settled it, didn't you...?"
"Well, yeah, but... I was a bit iffy. Sometimes they hit a wall they can't climb."
"Don't worry. That guy's awakened a growth-type ability similar to Sang-tae's..."
Tilting his head, Choi Won whipped around with startled eyes at Baek Gwang-ho's words.
"You mean like Sang-tae's martial arts?"
"Yeah... but maybe not just that. At first, every move he made screamed logic like Sang-tae's, so I thought it was a martial arts-specialized ability like his. But you saw it too—handling an entire unit at that level... Weird kid."
"Damn... You didn't ask for details?"
At that, the image of slippery Kang San flashed in Baek Gwang-ho's mind. He furrowed his brow slightly and spoke.
"That fucker... He's not just crazy... How thick-skinned do you have to be to smirk at an S-rank hunter...? Talk to him sometime when you get the chance. Him as my successor...?"
Unlike his usual stern, dignified demeanor, Baek Gwang-ho was unusually chatty, a vein bulging on his shiny bald head. Choi Won let out a hollow laugh, recalling the recent Grand Prix incident.
"Ah, haha... Yeah, he's... unique."
"Unique my ass... He's a total prick."
Thinking of Baek Gwang-ho grumbling like this and Kang San's unhinged behavior, it was obvious the kid had messed with that shiny dome. Laughter bubbled up naturally.
"Whew... Anyway, what's the latest on those guys?"
Baek Gwang-ho's tone and gaze grew heavy as he waited for Choi Won to speak.
"We've deployed the kids, but... it's a bit tough. With their numbers, gates get destabilized after deployments sometimes... And some Association first-awakeners get swayed by the Union..."
"What about supplying the busted stabilizers?"
"...You know how it is. Pricey as hell, and whether it's Union or whoever, wrecking stabilizers is the most effective terror tactic. Hard to procure."
Shaking his head at Choi Won's words, Baek Gwang-ho sighed.
"They'll only snap out of it after a wave hits...?"
"..."
"Let's watch and see how far they go... If discipline crumbles, it actually puts us in a better spot, right?"
Choi Won smirked and nodded at Baek Gwang-ho's chilling gaze.
"Yeah, it's about time to flip the board. No S-ranks stepping up lately... Ah...!"
Choi Won trailed off mid-sentence with a sudden gasp.
"Hyung, did you tell the assistant instructor Kang San about the unit?"
Baek Gwang-ho's eyes widened in realization.
"Ah... A new gate opened, right...?"
Choi Won pinched his brow at the unsurprised reaction and grumbled.
"No, it's S-rank gate-related, and you forgot...?"
"Hmph... Means one more trip to Japan. What's the big deal...?"
"Since we're at it, let's call him in, explain, and check out the face of the guy who seduced our Association cadet too."
Baek Gwang-ho eyed Choi Won droning on, then smirked at a sudden idea and pressed the summon button on his desk, ordering Kang San brought in. He was curious what reaction the kid—whom he'd only seen on TV—would show to a real genius.
+++
Assistant Instructor Kang San in the Academy, please come to the principal's office immediately.
"Huh?"
Though technically an assistant instructor, I'd been a cadet until recently. I was in the classroom, arms around Park Jisu, cuddling away when the page blared.
"Get lost quick, you fuck."
"What'd you say?"
"Eek!"
Too much salting in the classroom— they'd just busted us moments ago... Her cheeky attitude made my tongue click automatically.
Guess classmates really are nuts. I stood up. Anyway, those who'd nitpicked me as an instructor would get schooled eventually. Right now, curiosity about why the principal called won out.
"President Park, might drag on chatting with the eagle, so head out if you're going. Lunch with the siblings today, right?"
"..."
"...Vice Principal Park."
"Okay. Tell me what it's about later?"
She bounced peppily— hating "president," wanting just "vice principal"— so I ruffled her hair, nodded. Park Jisu smacked her lips in regret, pulling out her phone.
"Bummer... Kids were thrilled hearing Instructor Kang's coming..."
Lip pouted, she texted the family group about my absence.
Of course they're thrilled... No more watching their noona/unnie stumble around, no meltdowns 'cause of me...
Whenever I'd met Park Jisu's siblings, she'd flushed embarrassed from me; unlike her tightwad ways, my spending spoiled them with perks. To them, I was a ray of light, a salt shaker.
Or maybe projecting their dad through me...
Recalling her rowdy siblings matching her vibe, I smirked, waved bye to the departing Park Jisu, and stepped out.
Heading down the hall, pondering surging worries lately and the principal's summons, my spine tingled with mana flow. A gate manifested right in front of me.
What the fuck—why page if you're gating anyway...?
Obviously the principal's spatial ability. My benevolent mood from fooling around with Park Jisu soured fast.
Jo Ro-gu-mo unit was compensation for Cha Eun-woo and recruitment fees— I'd lost nothing. Yet this bald eagle, grooming me as successor, always tested me coldly. It grated.
Time to show the junior's cute charm...!
Perfect timing—grenade I'd stocked for anti-tank dogs in inventory. No way it'd hurt an S-rank, so to warn about sudden gates' dangers, I yanked the pin and chucked it through before he noticed.
Counting silently after tossing. Academy upper floors stayed dead quiet. S-rank's S-rank, I nodded, plastered a fake smile, and stepped through.
If he bitches, might as well throw down. Heh.
+++
"Whoa... Hand slipped. Haha."
Scratching my head with an innocent grin, I spotted the principal and middle-aged man inside.
Principal snorting, middle-aged fuming with trembling fists like what the fuck is this guy.
Glancing aside, a flaming cube rippled in mid-air.
Oh... Spatial isolation...? Heh, fun...
Tongue wagging at the principal's ability mastery. Wondering how it'd taste if I got hit.
"...Real crazy fucker... He's sizing you up right now, ain't he...?"
"Leave him. He's prospective S-rank; gotta know his limits."
"Whoa... You too, hyung...? All Academy principals nuts?"
Shrugging off Baek Gwang-ho's glare, Choi Won picked his ear, playing dumb.