Academy’s Undercover Professor-Novel - Chapter 109

ACADEMY’S UNDERCOVER PROFESSOR

[Translator – Alice]

[Proofreader – ilafy]

Chapter 109 – Advanced Work (1)

Ludger put on his outdoor clothes soon after he finished his class and headed to Leathevelk.

There were five days left until the auction.

It was necessary to take care of advanced work preparation as soon as possible because time was getting tight.

“You came?”

Alex, who had been waiting for him, greeted Ludger when he entered the building for their secret rendezvous.

However, his attire certainly granted him a different atmosphere.

“You look so noble that I didn’t even recognize you.”

“Well, isn’t that why I’m wearing these clothes?”

Alex wasn’t wearing daily clothes or the suits that were usually seen in the city.

He wore a white garment with embedded golden embroidery and huge swathes of fabric wrapped around his body here and there.

Also, perhaps it was because of the turban that he wore on his head, but the exotic atmosphere that he possessed from his brown skin stood out even more.

Alex raised the hem of his garment and was in awe.

“Her name was Violeta, right? She’s quite an awesome woman. I didn’t expect her to personify the clothes worn by the aristocrats of the Southern Desert Kingdom this perfectly.”

“Is it comfortable to wear?”

“Don’t even say it. This is not simply a facade. These clothes are so comfortable that I even want to keep wearing them everywhere.”

“It’s a relief that you say so. Don’t forget that you will be a son of the Southern Kingdom’s aristocrats from now on.”

“I know. The son of Al-Jahad Musla’s eighth concubine, Al-Ghouar Musla, from the Fatima Dynasty. He lost the right of succession, but even so, he received a portion of the mana essence mining business thanks to his father. And he’s the cool man of the era who bewitches womens’ hearts.”

“Count the last one out.”

“You’re too much.”

Alex laughed naughtily.

However, Alex obviously wasn’t alone for what Ludger was planning.

Ludger stared at Pantos, who stood beside Alex as his escort.

“Will you be able to do it?”

“On your orders.”

“There isn’t going to be anything too difficult. Alex here will do all the acting parts. You just have to stand quietly and go with the flow.”

Pantos’s role was to be Alex’s knight escort. Of course, Pantos was also equipped with attire peculiar to the Southern Kingdom like Alex.

Because his skin was tanned, the color became darker, he looked good in the clothes because of his masculine white hair that resembled a lion’s mane.

“If you’re all prepared, let’s depart right away.”

“Pheew. I’m nervous.”

The plan was like so:

First of all, Alex would meet Ivan Luke as the Southern aristocrat’s son.

The Kunst auction house was an auction house only by name, but dwelling rooms for the guests had also been arranged there.

—It was also a place for hotel business.

The auction that was going to be held was a large-scale event which was going to last for a total of three days straight, and it was full of guests who’d come to the Kunst house earlier than scheduled.

Also, all the visiting guests were very prestigious.

“Leader. Will Ivan Luke meet me?”

“He will.”

“He won’t even give me a glance unless I’m a special guest.”

“Well, your status is pretty special.”

A car was in standby in front of them as they went outside.

—It was a glossy, black car of the latest model.

The three people naturally got into the car, and Ludger continued his explanation.

“As you already know, the Luke Company is the best major company in the Exileon Empire. Their branches are widespread to the extent that there aren’t any fields they haven’t touched.”

“Yes. I also heard that much.”

“But there are branches that the Luke Company can’t infiltrate—those that deal with magic tools and artifacts related to magic.”

“Artifacts, huh. I understand. It’s because, in the case of magic tools, only prestigious famous clans in magic take the lead of those businesses.”

“Yeah. It’s a branch that’s hard to gain a foothold in by businessmen who can’t use magic.”

The car departed.

The dazzling city view outside the window slowly passed by along with the soft sound of the engine.

“But even though they’re such a company, it doesn’t mean there’s no hole for us to fit into.”

“And that’s mana essence?”

“Yes. Mana essence is the raw material of mana stones needed for the creation of magic tools, and there aren’t many places that produce such mana essence. One of them is—”

“The Southern Fatima Dynasty, I see.”

“The Fatima Dynasty is a nation that has a long history and tradition. Why do you think the barren land with scorching sun that’s full of deserts could continue to be a nation for such a long time?”

It was because there was mana essence, which was called God’s blessing.

The Fatima Dynasty was a nation that’d piled up its riches based on a large amount of mana essence buried deep underground.

And recently, they had confirmed that there was a large amount of coal and oil buried there, which was used in the recently developed scientific branches.

“The Fatima Dynasty’s mana essences are premium goods that can produce mana stones in especially good quality. The Luke company is aiming for that. They can’t create artifacts directly, but the story would be different if they gained the business rights for the raw materials needed for the artifacts.”

“So, the Luke Company doesn’t have any choice but to risk their life for the branches that they can’t expand to, and the status that I’m impersonating is the perfect prey for that.”

“Although you are a son of the eighth concubine who isn’t known to foreign countries, that’s also a connection, and they’re bound to hold onto that.”

“Hahaha. I’m not even the son of the eighth concubine. What’s with that number in the first place? Can one person have that many wives?”

“Yes,” Ludger replied in a serious tone at Alex’s playful laugh.

“Eh? Really?”

“One aristocrat in the Southern Fatima Dynasty had more than 20 wives. On the contrary, saying that you’re the son of his eighth wife is reducing the number a bit.”

“…Leader, I’m eager to be an aristocrat of the Southern Kingdom.

“Shamefully, because it’s a place that emphasizes pure blood, those in the bottom can’t climb up. Their religious doctrines are complex, too.”

“Tsk. That’s a shame. But what can I do? Now that I’m acting, I have to make sure to do my role. Rather than that, what if Ivan Luke doesn’t know me?”

“Don’t worry. I already spread the rumor earlier.”

Creeak

The car came to a stop.

Ludger, who was sitting next to the door, opened the door and exited.

He couldn’t go to the auction house with Alex. From there on, it was purely Alex’s and Pantos’s job.

Before he closed the car door, Ludger stretched his hand out toward Alex.

“Take this.”

“Oh. What’s this?”

Alex was curious as he saw the small item that Ludger was handing him.

It was an item with a strange shape akin to a pebble, but he didn’t know how to use it.

“It’s a portable communicator.”

“Communicator? This small thing?”

“Sheridan made it. If you wear it in your ears, we can exchange conversations in real time, even from far away. You can try it right now.”

Alex hung the portable communicator onto his ears.

“Like this?”

[How’s it? Can you hear me well?]

“…Awesome. I can hear you extremely clearly. It doesn’t block voices in the surroundings, either.”

[Because it’s still a trial product, it can’t operate for long.]

“How long?”

[Three hours is the longest.]

“Well, that’s enough.”

Ludger, who ended the transmission, stated something before he closed the car door.

“Alex. I believe in your skill and don’t doubt it.”

“Really. I will match that expectation and show it to you.”

“Pantos. You should work hard, too.”

“I got it.”

Ludger thumped the roof of the car after closing the door.

The driver started the machine and departed again after he received the sign.

Ludger stared at the departing car for a moment before he naturally went down the alley.

He was also wearing the portable communicator that Sheridan had made.

The only thing left was to listen to the situation.

“Hmm. Haah.”

The entrance of Kunst auction house.

Ivan Luke was restless as he shook his legs while looking at his pocket watch again and again.

“I heard the rumor that he’s coming, but when the hell will he arrive here?”

“Director Ivan. Please relax for a bit. It’s not long since the news was delivered, so he will arrive here soon.”

His escort beside him spoke cautiously, but Ivan Luke couldn’t calm down.

‘A son from an aristocrat in the Fatima Dynasty. I should really get closer to him for the sake of the company.’

Although it was nepotism, he had the duty of a director, so he also had general knowledge about how the company would manage itself and which weaknesses the Luke Company had.

“For now, it’s probably better for you to come in and wait inside…”

“Hey. Can’t you read the situation? What if he arrived while I was waiting for him inside? Will you be responsible if he thinks of me in a bad way from our first meeting?”

“N-no.”

“Then just shut up. This is the opportunity for the Luke Company to push away that damned Rochen and extend our business properly.”

If he only gained the business rights for mana essence, he would get the opportunity to recover his father’s trust that had been lost.

Of course, even if it wasn’t for that, it was necessary for the sake of the company, yet he was bound to risk his life for it due to the occurrence in the banquet hall.

At that moment, one black car stopped in the entrance of the auction house.

They could tell just from a glance that it wasn’t an ordinary car.

‘He actually came.’

Ivan Luke realized intuitively that the guest he had been eagerly looking for had arrived.

And his intuition became reality.

The driver exited the car and immediately opened the door to the back seat, and a brown-skinned, exotic, handsome man got out of the car.

‘He’s really here!’

Ivan Luke desperately concealed his delighted face and lightly checked his own attire.

He cleared his throat before heading toward the man.

“Ahem. Nice to meet you. I am the general manager of Kunst auction house, Ivan Luke.”

“Oh. I see. Nice to meet you. I—”

“I heard about you. Mr. Al-Gouar Musla, the eighth son of Al-Jahad Musla.”

Alex, no, Al-Gouar Musla grinned and acted cunningly.

“Haha. I didn’t expect you to recognize me, I’m practically left out of my family. I’m so thankful that I’m at a loss of words.”

“No. How could I possibly think of you like that? Now. Please get inside. I will serve you with all my heart.”

“Sure.”

“And your escort…”

Ivan shut his mouth when he saw the escort disembark from the passenger seat.

His escorts were also sturdy, but when the man’s escort revealed his huge appearance, Ivan was unconsciously at a loss of words due to the pressure.

The escort even had muscles that seemed about to tear his clothes apart on top of his solemn and heavy atmosphere, and his overly-masculine white hair also emphasized it.

Ivan Luke gulped.

“Ha-haha. Your escort is very impressive.”

“Oh. You know what? This guy is an awesome warrior that I wouldn’t exchange for even a hundred common fighters. He’s also a beastperson.”

“O-ooh. A beastperson warrior. I see!”

Ivan agreed with Gouar’s words enthusiastically.

And soon, he glanced at his escorts.

Ivan’s escorts, who had received their instructions, moved fast. The hoteliers and employees stood in a row and made way for them.

The other guests, who hadn’t seen such a royal welcome until then, even watched the occurrence, but Ivan Luke didn’t care about their stares because he needed to focus on the man in front of him.

“Now, now. Let’s go, Mr. Gouar.”

“Haha. Ivan. Don’t call me Mr. Gouar so stiffly, you can call me comfortably. I see that you’re about the same age as me, isn’t that more comfortable? No. Let’s just do that instead, buddy.”

“Sh-should I?”

Ivan’s face glowed.

The person whom he needed to gain a favor from turned out to be so friendly, he already felt like he was soaring to the sky.

Alex received Ivan’s heartwarming treatment while entering the Kunst auction house.

He whispered in a low tone to the communicator in his ear.

“Leader. I’m going in.”

[I got it. I wish you luck.]

“What did you say just now?”

“Ah. I was just admiring the interior for a moment because it’s good. I’m amazed because the style is different from the kingdom I live in.”

“Hahaha. As expected, you have good eyes. To tell you about the interior, it’s made by the famous architect, Lydenalz…”

Alex agreed enthusiastically toward Ivan, who was speaking excitedly, and quickly scanned the interior of the auction house.

‘Hmm. The security in the hall near the entrance is hella strict, I see.’

According to what Hans had said, the black guards wearing black armor were placed all over the place and stood still on guard.

If he hadn’t heard about them first, he would misunderstand them as only armor models placed in many places.

However, because he felt gazes from the gaps in the black helmets, he was sure that there were people in them.

‘I need to check the other places, too.’

He’d already memorized the interior structure perfectly, but seeing it from a blueprint and looking at it in person was certainly different.

Thus, Alex was sightseeing various places in the auction house while guided by Ivan.

Ivan couldn’t even think of doubting Alex’s identity. Apart from Alex’s attire, his peculiar exotic figure and relaxed appearance were exactly like those belonging to the aristocrats that he knew of.

In fact, Alex’s appearance as he realistically explained the events in the Fatima Dynasty was like that of a native as well.

“Ivan, my buddy. Come to think of it, there’s one thing I forgot.”

“What’s that?”

“I received a precious item on the way here, but I don’t have a proper storage place for it in this distant foreign place”

As he said that, Alex flicked his finger, and the man who was hired to be the driver as well as a porter pulled out some baggage.

Ivan’s escorts were on guard just in case, but Ivan raised his hand and stopped them.

“What’s that?”

“My family is currently running a business to create mana stones in better quality through a new combination using mana essence.”

Mana stones business!

Ivan’s eyes were full of greed at the remark.

“I-is that so?”

He spoke while trying hard to calm down, but Alex was certain that he was already beyond elated.

“Where will you use it?”

“I’m not certain about it yet. That’s why I came here.”

“O-oh. When will you decide to do it?”

“I want to decide about it right away, but since I came all the way here, I’m thinking of resting for a bit first. But I can’t always bring this precious prototype everywhere when I’m relaxing, right? It would only stress me out to go everywhere while being concerned about it.”

“Haha. Of course. I understand.”

“But I can’t think of a proper place to store this thing, which is why I want to ask you a favor, buddy, do you know a good place?”

Alex threw his bait and Ivan bit it so easily.

“Of course! Follow me! I know a good place.”

Ivan led the way.

Alex sent a signal to Ludger as he watched Ivan’s back.

“Leader. This is ‘Wego’. I will start the plan with ‘Melville’.”

[I got it.]

Alex, with the code name ‘Victor Wego’, and Pantos, with the code name ‘Herman Melville’ strode toward the underground section of the Kunst auction house.