NOVEL NEXT Chapter 224
“Have you heard of the Shadow Government?”
As an essential element when discussing conspiracy theories, there exist individuals behind government powers — supposedly democratic forces or whatnot — who operate secretly for their own benefit and perpetual power, completely disregarding the will of the people.
Groups often cited by conspiracy theorists include the Freemasons, Illuminati, and the Bilderberg Group.
…However, while the Freemasons and Illuminati are whatever, the Bilderberg Group seems like it could actually exist in this world.
They gather powerful people from the global economy, royalty, and international finance to discuss how the world will operate in the future. But if you think about it, it probably fits this conspiracy theory better with giant companies in Korea than those huge companies in the U.S.
Sure, a huge company in the U.S. can’t really shake the nation, but Yujin Group could genuinely hold Korea in its grip. If they could rattle a country that’s barely impacting the world, wouldn’t they get a bit of muscle in such meetings?
After all, it’s the biggest company in this world, too.
…Well, whether such groups exist in this world is secondary. In fact, it doesn’t really matter. After all, right now, Sara is merely a high school student, and there’s no chance she’ll get caught up in a conspiracy of that magnitude.
Above all, even if they sound plausible, there are whispers that they’re just like a social club or something.
Anyway, bringing up conspiracy theories and the shadow government wasn’t for any profound reason, but simply because it felt like what we were doing resembled those kinds of groups in various ways.
Remarkably, the members of this group weren’t that extraordinary.
Since it’s a faction in high school, the members are all students… but more importantly, most of the people in this group are just sons and daughters from ordinary working-class families.
Aside from me, Ha Neul, Sua, and Sohee — four people in total — there are twenty-one others. The people I got direct invitations from are 100% scholarship students, and among those who received invites through them, it seems a few kids from small to medium-sized companies got mixed in.
Twenty-one may sound like a lot, but as we fill it with student council representatives and committee members, most of them will hold a single position. Since more than half the student council positions are vacant, if this twenty-one begins to move seriously, it’s possible to literally take over the student council.
Of course, right in the middle of these ordinary folks is me.
The richest teenager in the world, who’s supposed to inherit the biggest company.
…Thinking about it this way, I suddenly had a serious moment of enlightenment.
While pressing my throbbing head with my fingers, I addressed the people standing next to me on the stairs.
“Then, can the person closest to me introduce themselves?”
The one closest to me was the lead committee member, Son Ah-reum.
Son Ah-reum, with a slightly nervous expression, said, “Hello! I’m Son Ah-reum! I’m a freshman, and I’m going to take on the role of the lead committee member. Nice to meet you!”
As she said this, she bowed slightly.
“Unfortunately, all the committee positions here have already been filled by the chairwoman.”
At my words, the atmosphere in the lobby sank a bit.
Yeah, it’s true they felt disrespected; being a lead committee member is actually the most straightforward way to show off power in the student council. I bet they wondered what would happen if those opposing me got in that position and tried to sway this faction.
Well, I don’t think there’s any need to worry about that.
Someone raised their hand.
“Yes, the person raising their hand. Do you have a question?”
“Yes.”
It was a male student with a short haircut. He stood up abruptly and asked, “Does that mean the chairwoman is in the lead committee?”
Now that’s a straightforward question.
Well, fine. It’s better than having no response at all since this allows me to answer cleanly. There’s no need to make something up for no reason.
“The chairwoman isn’t one of them. To be exact, these are students who applied based on the name of the lead committee member.”
At my words, the gazes of the students listening shot toward Son Ah-reum. Her face turned bright red in an instant.
No matter how much people adjust to the system, they’re still people. They can’t help but dislike those who disregard them. Everyone gathered here has been disrespected by wealthy people to varying degrees. So when they think there’s a connection with such individuals, this kind of reaction is bound to happen.
…These individuals too, considering they’ve been part of the ones who’ve overlooked me and Sara, they could question quite a lot, but I didn’t plan to confront everyone in the school, so I decided to explain in a way they’d understand.
“Among everyone gathered here, excluding the three who always stick closely to me, the person nearest to me is Student Ah-reum. She was also the first to receive the invitation. I presume that the students who applied to be on the lead committee would want to align themselves with me in some way. They just chose Student Ah-reum as a stepping stone.”
I looked around at the crowd as I continued, “This might happen to you in the future as well. Rather than pushing them away each time, wouldn’t it be better to utilize someone you can use? It’s better to keep them divided than to unnecessarily foster animosity and unite the enemies.”
The core of the faction may have vanished, but that doesn’t mean factions completely disappear. Those remaining will keep gathering and elect a new leader. Of course, there can be further division in that process.
If they keep fighting and weakening each other, it’d be more comfortable for us controlling from the back. Ideally, maintaining that state for as long as possible was the plan for this year at least.
“And the chairwoman doesn’t seem to show any signs of rebellion yet, right?”
When I asked Son Ah-reum, she flinched and answered in a somewhat flustered voice.
“Yes, yes! The student council president doesn’t seem like someone who would cause serious trouble.”
“Has that been answered?”
“Yes, thank you!”
Once I said that, the short-haired male student nodded and got back to his seat.
…I guess because I’ve been using formal language each time, the atmosphere feels somewhat like a medieval fantasy aristocratic meeting… Well, whatever, right?
“Alright, then let’s move on from the discussion about the lead committee.”
I paused for a moment, looking around. No one raised a hand.
I nodded at Son Ah-reum, and she nodded back and moved up a couple of steps to make room for me.
“Next is… probably someone everyone here knows well.”
Scholarship students are those who study diligently, and naturally, their library usage frequency is higher compared to other students. If they don’t study, they can’t go to college after graduation, and it’s way too expensive to get a separate study room or go to a hagwon around here. The most cost-effective solution is just using the school library or reading room.
When I went to the library last time, most of the students there were scholarship students.
“Ah, hello, I’m Ryu Ba-da…”
Silence.
Oh, is that the end of the introduction?
“…Senior Ryu Ba-da is the library committee head. She’s been in charge continuously. The library committee has a small number of members, but they’re all scholarship students.”
So I explained on her behalf.
I’ve talked to Ryu Ba-da a few times, and unlike the other committee members, she actually has to do volunteer activities for the school, so she gets some extra scholarship funds. But of course, it’s a tiny amount compared to the work-study scholarships offered in universities.
Naturally, wealthy students have to get some education, and they certainly don’t want to be left alone in a library where people barely visit every day to organize books or lend them to other students who want to borrow them.
Thanks to that, all the library committee members genuinely love books or are students who need that few bucks desperately.
It seems there were no questions this time around.
“……”
Hmm… Well.
I kind of expected it. Even if they’re on the library committee, there’s no way to wield significant power through books.
Maybe I should arrange a meeting for scholarship students to get together if I encounter them later in the school.
As I signaled to Ryu Ba-da, she casually stepped back next to Son Ah-reum while glancing around.
“And then next—”
As I said that, I heard a sigh among the students.
…It mostly came from the female students.
If it were the past, I would’ve felt envious of that sigh, but… now I’m not really jealous because I feel like it’d be a huge problem if we added more girls here.
I never thought I’d feel this way, but a surprisingly popular life can be a burden.
“Next, we’ll move on to the sports committee chairperson.”