I'll Make Your Club Gold
Inomiya Haru's face, which hadn't shown even the slightest change in expression until now, was filled with bewilderment at my words about turning the International Trade Club into a Gold club.
"The International Trade Club is hoping for Gold promotion? What do you mean by that?"
She quickly erased her expression, realizing her slip, and looked at me with her usual composure. But I'd already seen her facade crack, and I couldn't help but let my lips curl up.
"Afraid of the aftermath?"
"The aftermath...? What do you──"
"The International Trade Club maintains its safety through trade relationships with other clubs, leveraging its 'necessity' to them."
In other words, a club like International Trade, lacking the force to protect itself, could only survive intact because of that 'necessity.' But that only held true as long as they kept their true intentions hidden.
"You're planning to hire Bronze clubs as mercenaries lately, aren't you?"
"That's baseless."
"Fine, treat it as just my guess then. There are two ways for a club to promote to the next rank."
The first was promotion through achievements. Submit your club's activities and results to the student council for approval—one club per quarter. Of course, any weakened club gets demoted.
The second was promotion via club war. Declare war on a higher-ranked club than your own. Failure means all rights of the losing club go to the victor—high risk, high reward.
"A club like International Trade, short on combat power, probably hires other clubs as mercenaries for defense. But... I've noticed the number of Bronze clubs contracted with International Trade has been steadily increasing."
"Speculation."
"If that's what you want to believe. Plus, you're preparing to sign non-aggression pacts with other clubs at great expense, right?"
Interference from other clubs during a war would guarantee defeat, so they were likely already negotiating with big money involved.
"...That's confidential info known only to the vice president and department heads. How exactly do you know that, young master?"
"You think there's a whistleblower in International Trade?"
"Nothing else explains the current situation."
Of course there wasn't. All this info was public knowledge in the Academy route of City of Seoul—one of the major events in the first semester of freshman year.
The Silver club 'International Trade Club' hires other clubs as mercenaries to challenge a Gold club in a war but suffers catastrophic damage from betrayals by those under non-aggression pacts. From there, its key executives are ousted, and the club devolves into a mere affiliate of others.
For players, it's a branching point: build favor with International Trade or side with the others. But as Eugene Han Calione, siding with International Trade was far more efficient.
Haru's family—and the club itself—was essentially a Calione subsidiary. I planned to change their fate from slave-like subservience.
"Don't underestimate the Calione heir's intelligence network, Inomiya Haru."
I activated my Bloodline: Calione, pressing her with intimidation. She flinched at the red aura rising around me—likely because the only one she'd seen it from before was my father, the current boss of the Calione Family, Vito Calione. My prediction hit the mark.
"Do you think there's a traitor among your members? That your security is impressive? Cut the nonsense. What matters now is what I'm preparing, knowing all this."
Little by little—ever so slightly—I could feel the fear seeping from her, soaking into my skin.
The head of International Trade, who'd seen me only as the naive kid from years ago, was now feeling terror toward me. Proof positive.
I seized the moment, leaning back in my chair, propping my feet on the desk, and gazing at her.
"Fund Investment Club."
Her trembling eyes fixed on me at the name. I flashed a grin at her reaction.
"I'll dismantle the Fund Investment Club by the end of today."
"...Dismantle them by today? Even for you, young master, do you think that's possible?"
"It is."
My confident tone left her mouth agape.
"I'll acknowledge your intelligence network, young master. But dismantling a Gold club is on another level."
"You targeted them precisely because their combat power is the lowest among Gold clubs, didn't you?"
"...If you know that much, then you know. Even if they're weaker than other clubs, they're still Gold. I'd have to go all-in just to have a shot."
The Fund Investment Club was low on force too, but compensated with wealth—meaning their allies and contractors couldn't be ignored.
"And yet, a mere freshman like you claims to dismantle a Gold club? Even for you──"
"Didn't you just say it yourself?"
"──Pardon?"
"Freshman. That's why it's possible."
I stood and walked to the wall with the calendar.
"What day is today?"
"...The second day since freshmen enrolled."
"Right. And today is club exploration day for freshmen. So where are the members of the other clubs that Fund Investment has hired or contracted?"
"Obviously, recruiting freshmen... at their booths? But our International Trade members are out too, and even if we declare war, student council approval isn't guaranteed today."
"Use your connections from handling student council requests. Approval will come by end of day."
"...It could, but you know we can't stand against them alone."
"No need to worry about that."
"Pardon?"
I turned, pulling the relic [Midas' Gloves] from my cube and slipping them on both hands.
"Over half of Fund Investment's forces will be gone by today."
"What do you──"
"──Inomiya Haru. Remember my initial proposal?"
"...I do."
Here, I laid out the full proposal I hadn't shared yet.
"It's simple. I'll personally handle Fund Investment so you can devour them by today. In return, you and your club promise absolute support and backing for the club I create."
International Trade's abilities were the real deal. Haru could leverage her family and skills to procure anything unavailable in Korea faster than anyone. In the original story, despite becoming an affiliate, they eventually promote to Gold.
Securing such talent from the start would be a huge boon.
"Become my person, Inomiya Haru."
I extended my hand to her, still dazed from my words.
"Pfft."
She burst out laughing.
"Puhh."
A genuine smile bloomed on her mask-like face for the first time. She wiped tears from her eyes, bowing her head briefly, then looked up with a playful grin.
"Is that a confession, like back then?"
...A confession? I hadn't expected a joke from her. But coming from Haru, I took it positively and smirked back.
"Overinflated ego, Inomiya Haru."
"To hear that from you, young master..."
She showed a flicker of surprise, then a self-deprecating smile, before taking my hand.
And then.
"I accept your proposal, young master."
"Good."
We shook lightly, and I headed straight for the office door.
"Wha—whoa?!"
Jinwoo, apparently pressed against the door, tumbled toward me.
"What are you doing."
"Oh, hey, boss."
As I sighed at his pathetic display, Youngje shook his head and hauled Jinwoo up.
"It's a soundproof door anyway, so you wouldn't hear. He was like that right as we stepped out."
"Huh? It was soundproof? No wonder I couldn't hear a thing."
That explained the persistent presence outside—Jinwoo with his ear to the door. I'd left it alone knowing it was soundproof.
"Um... Eugene. Did things go well?"
Kim Sea-a, peeking from behind Youngje, asked cautiously. Our talk had run long, apparently worrying her.
"Yeah, no issues. Quite successful, actually."
"Phew, glad to hear it! So we're heading straight to Gold club now?"
"Yep. Inomiya Haru, we'll start operations first. Head out as soon as approval comes."
"As you say, young master."
She bowed as I left the office.
At that, Jinwoo sprang up from the floor and clung to me.
"Huh? What's up? What're we doing now?"
"We got Bronze and Silver consents, so next up: Gold consent."
"No break time, straight to Gold?"
"Eugene did all the work anyway. What's there to rest from?"
Youngje sighed at Jinwoo's whining.
"Gold clubs are on the 7th floor or so, since Silver's on 4th?"
"Nah, we're going to the athletic field."
"...Athletic field?"
Youngje halted, tilting his head.
"Why the field all of a sudden?"
"Our target's not a clubroom—it's their booth. And... that's where this guy's gonna shine."
I glanced at the sullen Jinwoo, who looked around before pointing at himself.
"Huh? Me?"
"Yeah. With your help, it'll wrap up faster. Probably something only you can do."
Was it the sudden praise? His slumped shoulders perked up.
"Something only I can do? Then of course I'll help! So, boss, what is it? Escort? Negotiation?"
"Wrecking."
"...Huh?"
"Let's go cause some chaos."
I didn't bother saying I figured he'd be perfect for it.