Jeongin Academy, the Reformation Experts (2)
I blinked.
I'd come face-to-face with someone I never expected to see here.
It was the old man from the sundries shop.
"My word, sir. What brings you here?"
"I came at the request of a close friend."
"Pardon?"
"The director of this academy is that friend of mine."
The director of Jeongin Academy was his close friend?
I'd had no idea.
"But what about you? What's your business here?"
"Ah, I was asked to deliver a letter to the father of one of the students enrolled here. And while I was at it, I figured our merchant group could offer some sponsorship as well."
"Sponsorship, eh? That lad's going to love it."
Jeong Ho quickly cupped his fists in greeting.
"Eun Jeong-ho of the Eunhae Merchant Group pays his respects to you, sir."
"Pleased to meet you."
The old man from the sundries shop was the one who'd taken down the assassin who crashed Jeong Ho's inauguration as sub-branch leader.
Perhaps because of that, Jeong Ho's eyes still held a deep gratitude as he looked at him.
The old man strode into the academy, then glanced back over his shoulder.
"What are you waiting for? Come on."
"Ah! Right! Coming!"
Jeong Ho and I hurried after him.
We were soon ushered into the reception room.
They served us tea, but it wasn't anything special.
Still, considering this was an academy run on donations, it was clear they were treating us with utmost sincerity.
"Hm, is the tea to your liking?"
I nodded at the old man's question.
"It's drinkable."
"I hear you have quite the discerning palate when it comes to tea."
"Does it matter if it's high-end or low? What counts is the heart behind it."
The old man smiled at my words.
About an hour later, another elderly man entered the reception room.
He appeared to be around the same age as the old man from the sundries shop.
"That's the director here."
At his words, I shot to my feet, and Jeong Ho followed suit.
We cupped our fists and bowed deeply.
"Eun Jeong-ho of the Eunhae Merchant Group pays his respects to the director."
"Eun Seo-ho of the Eunhae Merchant Group pays his respects to the director."
He smiled warmly in response to our greetings.
"I am Young Se-yun, director of Jeongin Academy."
He gestured for us to sit, and we did.
The director first addressed the old man from the sundries shop.
"So, what are you doing here? Do you know these young men?"
"Ah..."
He nodded.
"They're famous where I stay."
"Not just fame, from what I can tell."
The old man merely chuckled without replying.
The director turned to us.
"So, what brings the two sub-branch leaders of the Eunhae Merchant Group all the way here?"
He knew we were sub-branch leaders, as expected.
Young Se-yun, director of Jeongin Academy.
He had far more connections than I'd realized.
"First, I have a letter to deliver."
I pulled the letter from my robes and offered it. He glanced at the envelope and nodded.
"Ah, from the father of student Yeon-sik."
"Yes, that's the one."
"I'll see it's delivered. But you didn't come all this way just for that, did you?"
"No."
I shook my head.
"Our merchant group would like to sponsor this academy."
"Sponsor... Didn't the Eunhae Merchant Group already run the Hwanhwa Academy in Beijing?"
"That's right."
I nodded.
"But Hwanhwa is for exam prep. It's different from here."
"Fair enough."
"And I've heard the tuition here is remarkably low."
Thanks to the director's wide network, most expenses were covered by donations from his connections.
"We at the Eunhae Merchant Group simply want to contribute to helping so many find the straight path, even if it's just a modest sum."
The director didn't answer right away. Instead, he stared into my eyes.
Unlike before, his gaze was sharp, as if peering straight into my soul.
"Are you hoping to meddle in the academy's operations under the guise of sponsorship?"
"No."
I answered firmly.
"What would I even gain from that? Honestly..."
I let out a sigh.
"Even if you begged me to get involved, I'd have to decline. I've got too much on my plate already."
The old man from the sundries shop nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, that tracks."
"But the fact that you're asking suggests someone's tried to use donations as leverage to interfere before."
The director nodded.
"Of course. More than one or two. Still, your eyes tell me you want something..."
I gave an awkward laugh.
"Haha, you're sharp. Yes, there is something."
"There we go. Out with it—what do you want?"
"Talented people."
He tilted his head, and I continued.
"The students here may have gone astray once, but they've been set right by this academy's teachings. That makes them prime talent, in my book."
I pressed on.
"Am I wrong?"
"Of course they're talent! That's something I can proudly attest to."
"So, that's why I'm sponsoring—to recruit those promising graduates."
"Not a bad deal."
Not bad? From his perspective, it was a godsend.
Jeongin Academy was known more as the reformation specialist academy.
It excelled at turning around problem children, but that required immense patience.
And an unshakeable philosophy and conviction about education.
It was grueling work.
In my previous life, the director had passed without finding a successor, and the academy shut down.
A great loss, from my viewpoint.
Its graduates went on to shine in all corners of the world.
If I'd known sooner, I could've scooped them all up.
Growing the Eunhae Merchant Group in that life, I'd keenly felt the shortage of personnel.
People to place in key spots, who could faithfully execute the leader's vision with full dedication.
Those were essential.
Looking back, people made the money—and people lost it.
Human resources were everything.
Especially capable ones; their earnings far outstripped their pay.
Investing in people was investing in the merchant group's future.
I looked at the director.
He was putting on a brave front, but I knew the academy's straits.
Donations were dwindling bit by bit.
Blame the famines stretching from last year.
With food prices skyrocketing, operations had grown tough.
He'd even skimped on his own meals to keep it afloat, but without a successor, it closed after his death.
No one could be as genuine toward the students as the man before me.
"Truth be told, I'm worried about what becomes of them after graduation. But if they land at a solid place like the Eunhae Merchant Group, that eases my mind."
"So, you'll accept our sponsorship?"
"If you put it in writing that you won't interfere with operations."
Thorough, as expected.
"Agreed."
And so, the director and I drew up a sponsorship contract.
Then Jeong Ho spoke up.
"Might we tour the academy?"
"By all means."
"Thank you."
"Ah, but... one thing to ask your understanding on."
The director continued.
"As you know, this isn't your average academy. It takes in the wayward. So the education here... isn't ordinary."
"Is that so?"
"You might see things that make you frown. Bear with it."
"Understood."
"Of course."
At our replies, the director called out toward the door.
"Fetch Instructor Wi for me!"
"Yes, sir!"
Instructor Wi?
Moments later, a young man entered the reception room, clad in a blue uniform. Jeong Ho blinked at the sight.
"You... aren't you Wi Seung-jeo?"
"Ah!"
It was indeed Wi Seung-jeo, the notorious delinquent from Shuyang County in Hubei Province.
I'd heard he'd become an instructor here, but seeing him now, he was a far cry from his old playboy self.
His eyes were clear, his movements disciplined.
The director nodded.
"Since the Eunhae Merchant Group is in Shuyang, you must know him."
"Yes."
Wi Seung-jeo nodded as well.
"Familiar faces."
"Perfect. Instructor Wi handles our instruction duties and is a reliable asset. Instructor Wi."
"Yes, Director."
"Show our guests around the academy."
"Understood."
Wi—now Instructor Wi—addressed us politely.
"Please, follow me."
We left the reception room with him.
After Eun Seo-ho's group left the reception room,
Hwangbo Hwi, the old man from the sundries shop, turned to his friend.
"So, why'd you summon me?"
"First... do you know this Eun Seo-ho fellow?"
Hwangbo Hwi frowned at the question.
"Didn't you hear what I said earlier?"
"It's just rare to see you take such a liking to someone. You generally don't care much for people, do you?"
"..."
Hwangbo Hwi didn't deny it. It was true.
"Is he trustworthy?"
He chuckled at the question.
"Among everyone I've seen so far, he's the most entertaining, the most surprising, kind yet ruthless... you get the idea."
Young Se-yun looked stunned.
"The last one you praised like that... was His Majesty the Emperor."
"..."
"And if you say that, it means he's trustworthy."
A bit embarrassed now, Hwangbo Hwi pressed him.
"So, why'd you call me?"
"Just for a fortnight—mind watching over the academy?"
"What?"
"Something's come up with the clan. I need to head back."
"Hah, so you're dumping the academy on me?"
"You know you're the only one I can trust with it."
"..."
"I don't want to go either, but if the clan falls, this place goes down first. No choice."
Hwangbo Hwi finally nodded with a sigh.
"Fine."
But he added,
"On one condition, though..."
Jeong Ho and I followed silently behind Instructor Wi as we left the reception room.
Instructor Wi spoke first.
"I never imagined we'd meet like this."
"I see."
He turned to Jeong Ho, cupped his fists, and bowed deeply.
"First, I apologize for my rudeness back then. Please forgive the folly of my immature days."
Jeong Ho glanced at me. I nodded.
Jeong Ho returned the gesture, bowing as well.
"I've long forgotten it. No need to dwell."
"Thank you."
"That said..."
"...?"
"I'm not sure about my wife's feelings."
"Ah..."
He looked sympathetic, as if he understood.
"Looking back, I can't fathom how I spouted such shameless nonsense. But what can you do? Those actions happened."
True enough.
He'd reformed thoroughly.
"I'll do my utmost to atone. Please pass that on."
"Will do."
"Now, let me show you around."
Jeongin Academy was larger than I'd expected.
"That's the dormitory, over there are the lecture halls, and that is..."
Instructor Wi guided us through the buildings one by one.
That's when it hit me.
Wait... is that booze I smell?
I asked Instructor Wi,
"Is there some kind of event today?"
"Pardon? What makes you say that?"
"I smell alcohol."
His eyes sharpened.
"Where from?"
I pointed off to the side.
"Over there."
He approached, sniffing intently, then nodded.
"Indeed... booze."
He bolted that way, and commotion erupted.
"Argh! It's the Yakcha!"
"I thought he wouldn't notice here!"
"Quiet! You thought cracking bottles here would go unnoticed?"
Thwack!
Thud-thud-thud!
Soon, Instructor Wi returned.
Is that... blood on his face?
He grinned.
"Rookies still try that stuff. By their third year, even idiots know better."
Then a carriage approached from afar.
It looked familiar.
Instructor Wi noted it.
"Ah, looks like the new students are arriving."
The carriage halted, the door opened, and a boy was dragged out.
"You bastards! Where the hell is this? Why'd you drag me here?"
Instructor Wi observed.
"This new one's relatively mild-mannered."
That's mild? What do the wild ones act like...?
Then a voice called my name.
"Seo-ho."
"Yes?"
I turned to see the old man from the sundries shop.
"Let's talk for a moment."
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