EX rank supporting role’s replay in a prestigious school-Chapter 981: Welcome (1)

While I was investigating the situation at the hotel where the Japanese team was staying, Huang Jiho reported the status of the situation inside Huangmyeong Tower.

"There are quite a few people trying to contact the servants to probe things. There are several restaurants in Huangmyeong Tower. Wasting manpower on such foolishness."

"They’re probably starting by checking the best places. While Yi-shin and I are students, they likely assume our standards are high since we are connected to the four major families of the Korean Peninsula."

I deliberately spread false information that I would meet Eun Ho inside one of the restaurants in Huangmyeong Tower.

They would immediately send someone to eavesdrop on our conversation, and through them, it would be easy to track down those involved with the Japanese information team.

They probably wouldn’t imagine that I, along with the tigers, would be on the top floor of Huangmyeong Tower.

"They will be watching from outside the building, so Yi-shin and I need to walk back to the Eungwang High dorms together. If we suddenly erase our traces, they’ll be suspicious."

"Got it. Oh, if you’re returning to the mansion, I’ll send Jeokho to meet you, just let me know."

While Huang Jiho and Eun Ho were talking, I checked the report on Hirano Seiji again.

Hirano Seiji’s parents were part of a mid-level pro player team.

From the moment I saw this, I was sure that, regardless of Hirano Seiji’s own intentions, he wouldn’t be free.

After the Chiyodagu great incident and the youngest prime minister who resolved it being eliminated by his political opponents, Japan’s otherworld policy has been implemented according to political logic.

The management of pro player teams followed the same pattern.

‘Hirano Seiji’s parents are sponsored by the same old aristocrats. Whether they follow willingly or not, they’re on a leash.’

In Japan, players are treated similarly to civil servants.

Bounties for wanted enemies or rewards for otherworld exploration, as well as byproducts and items obtained in otherworlds, must go through the Japanese government agencies.

It might sound absurd, but treating players like civil servants makes that process seem natural.

On the other hand, for player welfare, some players who aren’t doing well are provided financial support.

Using this, some government officials have registered large numbers of so-called "paper teams," gaining immense profits through players' names.

Though it’s been known for a long time, the involved officials just expressed "regret" and announced that they checked the legitimacy of the teams before taking no further action.

There truly are small player teams that need that system.

Therefore, for player teams to be properly managed and generate plausible profits, large corporations need to be sponsors.

‘Teams that partnered with large corporations have succeeded in developing consumables or weapons, or become advertisement models, accumulating wealth. So, even if the team fails, they can easily blame it on the team, not the government.’

As a result, none of the masters of the top 10 pro player teams worldwide were from Japanese teams.

But who knows what will happen in the future?

A player from the aristocratic family seems to be planning to create a team and aim for top-tier rankings after graduation.

One of the stepping stones for that grand plan might be the Korea-China-Japan exchange competition.

I stopped reviewing the materials and sank into thought.

‘It brings back old memories.’

Objectively, Hirano Seiji might be among the top five players of his generation in Japan.

From his parents’ perspective, having such an excellent player as their child would be something to be proud of, but it would also be a burden.

I heard that my parents quit their jobs because of me.

I didn’t know about this until after they passed away, and I only found out when relatives started talking about it.

‘...It’s not something a parent should say to their middle school-aged son.’

They were pressured to bring me to company events, and to escape that pressure, they both quit their stable jobs and decided to change careers.

However, after a few similar incidents in a short period, their careers gradually fell apart.

In the end, they started their own business, but it didn’t succeed, and they had to rely on my income to keep the family afloat.

When all the relatives went on long trips, and we handled the inheritance process, most of the estate was debt, and I realized just how much my parents had suffered...

"Jo Yi-shin."

Baek Ho-gun called my name.

I realized that I had been lost in thought, far removed from the current situation.

Thinking about Hirano Seiji’s circumstances, I had unconsciously become sentimental.

Baek Ho-gun looked at me and asked a question.

"What did you think of seeing Hirano Seiji in person?"

Baek Ho-gun’s question seemed to confuse both Huang Jiho and Jeokho more than me.

"Baek Ho, are you interested in Japanese players? It’s been a while since you spoke up at a meeting like this."

"Yeah, indeed. You’ve been staying quiet, ignoring us when we’ve been telling you to speak up. This is quite a surprise."

It seemed that even the tigers had grown tired of the usually silent white tiger.

I felt the same way.

After all, I had been continuously scrutinizing Hirano Seiji’s mind the whole time we met, so asking now seemed like it was piling up something else.

"Baek Ho probably chose his words carefully," Eun Ho wisely commented.

"It doesn’t seem like he asked that question without any purpose. Right, Yi-shin?"

Now that Eun Ho had said it, I had to respond.

I remembered Hirano Seiji signaling that he knew we were being eavesdropped on.

I thought I could trust Hirano Seiji, but I wasn’t entirely sure yet, so I gave a neutral answer.

"Hirano Seiji seems trustworthy, and he appears to be careful and prudent."

"Well, he’s just a teenager, but he seemed to notice when Jeokho was about to search his body. His skills are decent."

"Yes, it seems so. His state of otherworld power isn’t bad either."

Jeokho also praised Hirano Seiji.

Even if someone tried to hide a device in their body, most players would notice it right away, but it seemed like the thorough body search conducted by the legendary Hojo family had something special.

At that moment, a report came from the Hojo family, who were monitoring the hotel where the Japanese team was staying.

Huang Jiho, as a clone, checked the report and shared it with us.

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"We failed to enter that floor. However, it’s certain that Hirano Seiji was called by the coaches to report something."

So, did we learn nothing?

In response to my question, Huang Jiho mentioned what little they had managed to gather.

"However, we did hear from the cleaning company assigned to that floor. Although the details are unclear, Hirano Seiji and Arihara Tomoaki fight every day, and the decorations get destroyed regularly."

I couldn’t imagine Hirano Seiji destroying decorations.

Moreover, I knew his main weapon was shurikens, so if he fought, wouldn’t he cut things rather than break them?

Of course, there was a chance that he was more fiery than he appeared today.

When Eun Ho heard the name Arihara Tomoaki, he reacted.

"Arihara Tomoaki? You mean the son of those famous Arihara doctors? If he’s fighting so openly with him, it’s going to come out sooner or later."

"Hmm, from their perspective, they probably don’t want rumors about such a fight to spread, even if that lady wasn’t directly involved."

"Of course, they’re spreading rumors about the discord between Yi-shin and Ahn Da-in. The more rumors like this spread, the less effective they become. And if it's a fight with someone from the Arihara family, it’ll be good gossip."

Arihara Tomoaki’s parents were world-renowned, having won major awards, both with doctoral degrees in different fields—literature and chemistry—but both were still doctors.

If the son of the Arihara doctors went around breaking decorations while fighting in the Japanese representative team, it would definitely make headlines, even internationally if it were exaggerated.

Considering that the Japanese team wouldn’t want this to happen, it was odd that Arihara Tomoaki had joined the team.

‘I saw Arihara Tomoaki’s name in the list of candidates for the Japanese team that Moon Saeron had investigated. Looks like he joined the team.’

Arihara Tomoaki was said to be a decent player, though there was a large possibility he wouldn’t be selected for the team.

He had lived abroad for a long time, was unaware of the current Japanese situation, and had been under pressure from his family, making it difficult for the coaches to control him.

Even though his skills were more than sufficient to make the team, I had expected him not to be selected due to issues like blending in with the Japanese team or teamwork. But now, he was there.

It made me uneasy that such a person had fought so openly with Hirano Seiji.

I voiced my thoughts aloud.

"Hirano Seiji is bold and knows how to manipulate things. That’s why he confessed about the eavesdropping when he first met me. I think he can handle things skillfully, even if there’s a dispute."

"I agree with Yi-shin. There’s definitely a reason behind it."

"Arihara Tomoaki seems to be one of the key players in the divided Japanese team. I’ll order a more detailed investigation."

It seemed like I would have to keep investigating and watching these two characters.

Now, it was time to move on to the next issue.

I still hadn’t heard everything Jeokho had discovered in China.

"Yi-shin, I bet you're starting to worry about the China matter. You were the one who proposed it."

I had indeed suggested investigating the testimonies of Wun-sa, Cheongho’s robe, Seong Hyeong-woo’s Gwanglim, and the player training facilities in Chengdu.

But before moving the Hojo family, I needed more information.

After a long pause, Huang Jiho spoke.

"We haven’t found Cheongho’s body yet. But we’ve managed to identify the players who had preservation skills attached to Cheongho’s robe."

"Players? How many are on the Chinese team?"

"All the identified players."

"They must have been using preservation skills for a long time. Are they all teenagers?"

At my question, the mood among the tigers darkened.

From their reaction, it seemed like they had already heard the report, except for me.

Huang Jiho continued slowly.

"There are some players from the older generation included, but according to Jeokho’s investigation, they’re all either dead or missing."

I felt a chill down my spine, but I had expected this outcome.

Those involved in major secrets wouldn’t be left alone.

Since this incident was tied to the power of stealing other people's abilities, if I preemptively took their powers, there would be no great loss to our forces, even if they died.

‘If we leave it like this, those kids who got drafted this time will likely meet a similar fate.’

As I gazed at the hologram Huang Jiho had projected, my eyes met someone’s gaze beyond the translucent screen.

Huang Jiho looked into my eyes and said.

"Soon, I will go personally to welcome the Chinese team as you proposed."