Alchemists do not need self-cultivation

After school, Isaac did not go straight home, but went to the rooftop.

Ayana naturally followed.

As soon as she got to the rooftop, she saw Isaac waving something that looked like a glow stick at the sky.

"Rentaro, what are you doing?"

"Some things need to be shipped over, and we're making some preparations now."

The roar of propellers gradually filled the sky as a helicopter equipped with the ECS stealth system slowly lowered a wooden crate.

"Great, it seems the item has been delivered."

Isaac ran forward, pried open the wooden crate, and took out a complex mechanical device inside.

"what is this?"

“It’s specifically designed for signal capture, basically a listening device,” Isaac said as he began assembling the main unit. “To find out who’s behind this, we’ll need to rely on these high-end products.”

Ayana stood silently behind Isaac.

He has done enough for me, but it seems I have nothing to repay him with…

This was also her biggest worry. Isaac had done so much for her, yet she couldn't repay him. What if he suddenly left her one day...?

To be honest, Ayana didn't want to think about it anymore.

"Well, that's about right."

Isaac finished assembling the device and nodded in satisfaction at his masterpiece.

"Oh, right, Rentaro, this is for you."

Ayana then remembered something, took a form out of her bag, and handed it to Isaac.

What is this?

"The class monitor asked me to give you the club application form, saying he wanted to ask if you were interested in joining a certain club."

"Oh? A club."

Isaac picked up the form and started looking at it.

"I really miss those days. Back when I was in the US, I was on the football team and played as an inside center-back for a while. Thinking about it now, I really miss those days."

"That's really impressive," Ayana said with a smile. "Shirasaki Junior High doesn't have a rugby club."

“I know that. I’ll just stay a member of the ‘Going Home Department’ then.” Isaac picked up his briefcase and smiled. “Let’s go. I didn’t eat enough for lunch. Let’s see if there’s anywhere we can eat.”

"it is good."

"Why don't you wait at the school gate for a while? I'll go back to the classroom to get something," Isaac said with a smile.

"I will go with you."

"No need, it's just a small matter. Don't worry about anyone bullying you while I'm gone, there are teachers watching over you at the school gate."

Moreover, he was a teacher who always carried a gun.

"...Okay, I'll wait for you there."

"Okay, I'll be right there."

Isaac went down the stairs first, and Ayana watched his retreating figure, lost in thought.

Rentaro once told me that he helped me so that I could help him in the future, but what could I possibly do for him in the future?

She is very worried now, and even a little scared.

She was afraid that one day Isaac would suddenly disappear from her life.

'I need to let Rentaro know that I'm useful to him, so he won't leave me...'

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Isaac returned to the classroom alone, and as soon as he opened the door, he saw that there was still one person in the class.

He recognized the name of the boy nervously rummaging through his drawer; it was Yoshinaga Shota, whom he hadn't paid attention to before.

"Don't bother looking, I don't keep anything valuable in my drawer."

"!"

The petty thief in front of him turned around in alarm upon hearing the voice behind him, only to find Isaac standing behind him with a smile on his face.

"You went through my drawers after I left? It seems my behavior today didn't instill any fear in you."

"You...you don't come any closer..."

Shota Yoshinaga was indeed terrified.

Having witnessed Isaac's ruthless methods that morning, he was terrified that the same thing would happen to him.

He looked around, picked up the mop by the door, and pointed it at the person in front of him. But even so, he still couldn't suppress his fear.

For every step Isaac took toward him, he instinctively took two steps back until he was huddled in a corner.

“His name is Yoshinaga Shota, right? It’s a nice name.” Isaac came up to him, pulled out his chair and sat down, opening his notebook.

“Shota Yoshinaga, fourteen years old. His parents died early and he has no source of income, living on subsidies. Besides you, there are three other people in your family: your grandmother, and your younger sister Mina Yoshinaga and Maiko Yoshinaga.”

As he spoke, he placed his phone on the table.

The phone was displaying photos of two lively and adorable little girls, his two younger sisters.

"How...how did you know..."

"It's really pitiful. If I report what happened today to the school, it wouldn't be good if you were expelled. Your grandma might accidentally die of anger at home because of you, and then your two lovely little sisters..."

As Isaac spoke, he observed the expression on the face of the person in front of him.

He is now terrified.

"Oh, by the way, I heard the class funds were stolen, and I suspect you were the one who did it. If we just tell the police, they'll definitely..."

"Don't call the police!!" Yoshihide Sho shouted.

He can't go to the police station; if he does, all of their family's income will be cut off.

He can still find odd jobs, but his grandmother can no longer work outside the home, and his two younger sisters who are still in elementary school cannot work either.

"Yes, it would be troublesome if you ended up in the police station. Your grandmother, of course, would be in trouble, but it's a pity for your two lovely little sisters. Without their brother's protection, what if they fall for bad guys..."

"Stop talking!!"

He was on the verge of a breakdown and picked up a mop, aiming it at Isaac.

"Please, I'm begging you... please let me go..."

“This doesn’t sound like you’re asking for a favor,” Isaac said, still smiling. “Do you really think you can take me down with a mop?”

"..."

"How about this?" Isaac took out a wad of cash from his bag and placed it on the table. It was all in denominations of 10,000 yen, totaling over 100,000 yen.

"What...do you mean?" Yoshinaga Shota asked, trembling.

The money on the table was indeed fatally attractive to him, given his family's poverty.

“I want to investigate this class, and you’ve been in it longer than I have. There are some things I can ask you, and you can also be my informant,” Isaac said with a smile. “If you agree, you’ll be working for me, and all this money will be yours.”

"..."

"Choose one: accept the money, or wait for me to call the police?"

This time, Yoshinaga Shota did not hesitate.

He kicked the mop in his hand and broke it with his knee.

“Then there is only one answer…” His eyes were unusually firm, “I will pledge my loyalty to you.”

Chapter 642: Kidnapping

"Hahaha, you're a very interesting person."

Isaac burst out laughing, stepped forward, and grabbed Yoshinaga Shota's shoulder.

"Don't worry, as long as you do a good job, I guarantee to provide your whole family with living expenses, enough for you to move out of the cheap rental and live a wealthy life."

Thank you very much.

"Don't say thank you. We just need each other. Let's exchange phone numbers first. I'll contact you as soon as I need anything."

Isaac also investigated Yoshinaga Shota's background; he was just a timid, poor student who had some petty theft experiences due to his family's extreme poverty and the early death of his parents.

Besides stealing money from students while they were out having PE class, they would also steal jewelry from girls.

It wasn't meant to be sold, but rather given to my two younger sisters.

Because of my cowardice, I didn't participate in bullying Fujisawa Ayana; at most, I was just an observer. But that doesn't mean Isaac will remove me from the agent list.

It's common for people from poor families to be recruited by an organization as one-off agents. For this reason, Isaac specifically asked someone to investigate his family's account information and cash flow for a year at noon.

He only found him after confirming that the person was indeed alright.

Perhaps it was a coincidence, but as soon as I entered, I found him rummaging through his drawers.

Perhaps it was his behavior of pulling out a bunch of things all day that made him feel like he wasn't poor.

At least for now, this person has some value that can be used.

After exchanging phone numbers, Isaac smiled and said, "Then, from now on you're my subordinate. If I assign you something, you have to get it done properly, understand?"

“I know,” Yoshinaga Shota quickly replied.

The wealthy man was right in front of him; he couldn't afford to be careless.

"Okay, I'll head back now. Remember to let me know immediately if anything happens at school, okay?"

"Yes!"

Isaac nodded in satisfaction, picked up his bag, and left the classroom.

Turning around, I found that Yoshinaga Shota was still in the classroom.

Aren't you leaving?

"No, my knee hurts."