The Wise Cleaning Life Of A Returning Genius Hunter [EN]: Chapter 44

043

“Yes, I’ve switched to the phone.”

Team Leader Pyeon took the phone with a puzzled expression. Then, he began to speak in fluent English.

“Yes, yes. Hello.”

“No. The Director is away for a moment. Yes, I am the former person in charge, but…”

“Well, we have someone who adjusts our schedule, so it’s hard for me to make a decision on my own. I’ll give you the number, so would you like to contact that person?”

After finishing the call, Team Leader Pyeon wore a meaningful expression.

“What, what is it?”

“Why suddenly from the US branch…”

The team leaders asked with uneasy expressions.

It was like when parents receive a call from school.

“It’s not that, but… they want to proceed with this Loop Dungeon as a joint operation with the Seoul headquarters. They’re asking if there are any operation teams available to participate.”

“……?”

“What, what did you say?”

“It’s fortunate that the discussion is over. Everyone has unavoidable circumstances… We will have Operation Team 2 participate.”

At that moment, the team leaders’ expressions turned ashen.

Soon, they began to look at each other.

“Ah, uh…”

“That…”

“Hmm? What’s wrong? Are you suddenly happy with the schedule because the US branch is involved?”

“Ah, no, it’s not that…”

Only then did the team leaders realize that something was seriously wrong.

Everyone was flustered, not knowing what to do, so Team Leader Lee Su-yong stepped up to represent them all.

“Of course, Operation Team 2 should participate as promised. But since it’s a difficult dungeon, wouldn’t we need a chief in charge of operation planning separately?”

“Come to think of it, that’s right.”

Team Leader Pyeon stroked his chin and fell into thought.

The intention was obvious.

It seemed like it would really go to Team 2 as it is, so they were trying to get involved by taking on the role of chief in charge.

“Okay. Then, Team Leader Kim Jun-woo will be in charge of the operation.”

Of course, it was impossible.

When Team Leader Pyeon looked over, Kim Min-ju smiled faintly.

“Well… it seems like we’ve finished talking roughly, so I’ll get up now.”

She left the conference room first, leaving behind the team leaders who had become stone statues.

***

“What do we do now?”

Operation Team 1’s office.

Assistant Ryu Seung-min asked with a serious expression.

Team Leader Lee Su-yong bit his nails instead of answering.

It was none other than him who instigated the operation team leaders to declare a boycott.

The original plan was to use the Loop Dungeon boycott to gain the initiative… but suddenly, the US branch proposed a joint operation.

If it came to this, it was them who would be in trouble.

As a matter of fact, the other operation team leaders were already complaining.

“Damn it, who knew it would turn out like this.”

Team Leader Lee Su-yong clicked his tongue.

When he brought up the boycott, everyone applauded, but when things went wrong, they immediately started biting and tearing at each other.

“I understand. It’s a Loop Dungeon. Even if we don’t consider the dungeon profits, the items that drop are no joke.”

“Who doesn’t know? But we can’t ask them to let us participate now. Ugh, damn it, really…!”

Those who are destined to succeed can do anything.

Team Leader Lee Su-yong’s breathing gradually became rough.

“By the way, where is the Director at this important time? If the Director were here, it wouldn’t have come to this.”

“I heard he’s traveling around the provinces, meeting with branch managers and directors.”

Assistant Ryu Seung-min’s eyebrows rippled.

“…Why suddenly?”

“I don’t know. Seeing him go down to the provinces right after this general meeting, it seems like something came up…”

Lee Su-yong stretched slightly and continued.

“Well, Kim Jun-woo became a team leader only two months after joining the company, and the cleaning team keeps rising. The only means of checking them, Cleaning Team 6, failed miserably. I guess he wants to ask for help because he’s feeling anxious.”

Lee Su-yong spoke as if he didn’t care.

In fact, he was seriously considering whether he had chosen the wrong side these days.

Lee Su-yong shook his head as if he didn’t want to think about it anymore.

“Anyway, I hope a big accident happens in this joint operation, damn it.”

“The US branch is involved, so there’s no way an accident will happen. And if something happens, the headquarters will also have a headache, right?”

“I know, you idiot. I was just saying.”

A clicking sound was heard.

***

“What? Is the subjugation over already?”

Uncleaned Dungeon.

As promised, I entered to support Han Yu-bin, and all the members of Cleaning Team 6 greeted me with exhausted looks.

“No, how can someone who used to be an international hunter have such a hard time subjugating a blue-grade dungeon?”

“…I’m speechless, really.”
Han Yu-bin scoffed as if he was dumbfounded.

“Why don’t you try helping us before saying that? We’re doing all the work, and all you do is say that…”

“Then why did someone tell you not to use your unique skill? Why are you taking it out on me for subjugating without using it?”

“Ha, really… Huh?”

Suddenly, Han Yu-bin’s eyes widened.

“H, how did you…”

“How did I know? It’s obvious. Your class is Berserker, so if you had used your unique skill, the monster’s corpse wouldn’t be in such good condition.”

There are many things to be surprised about.

“No… If the corpse is messed up, it’s hard to clean…”

“That’s what you say during the exam. In a real battle, subjugation is always the priority.”

Seriously, it’s a joke that I have to explain this to a former international hunter.

“Of course, if you can adjust, it’s fine, but you still have to consider efficiency. Would it be okay if subjugation is difficult because of cleaning? After all, the association’s top priority is dungeon subjugation.”

“What… Aren’t you on the cleaning team’s side?”

“Side? Seriously.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at the absurd question.

“Where are sides in work? We’re all in the same boat.”

“……”

He looks surprised.

Seeing that he has the leeway to worry about that, he must not be tired enough yet.

“You haven’t had dinner yet, right?”

“…No, no.”

“Then, before dinner, let’s just do one last cleaning job over there. I’ll clean here.”

“……”

I think he just cursed under his breath, but I must be imagining things, right?

Just as he was about to pick up the mop with a suspicious expression, his phone rang.

It was a number I’d never seen before.

“Hello.”

Suddenly, I heard a foreign language.

“…Who is this?”

Listening carefully, it wasn’t a call I could take while working.

Why at this timing……

“Ah, just a moment.”

I put the phone down for a moment and called out to Han Yu-bin, who was about to leave.

“I have to go out because I have an urgent call. Please take care of the cleaning here.”

“@#$%……”

This time, a curse flew at me for sure.

What a temper.

“Yes, I can talk now.”

I ignored him and left the dungeon, then picked up the phone again.

“What’s the matter with the US branch?”

“I heard that a Loop Dungeon is opening in Seoul this time. As you know, Loop Dungeons don’t appear often in North America, so it’s very difficult to gain experience. So, I’d like to propose a joint operation, and they gave me this number to talk to the person in charge.”

The caller was the control team leader of the International Association’s US branch.

It was a situation that could be embarrassing, but I calmly mulled over what he said.

“Hello. Are you listening?”

“Ah, yes. I’m listening. Ha, you’re talking about the Loop Dungeon……”

I started to dig up memories in my head.

Loop Dungeon.

A special dungeon that returns to the time before subjugation if the boss monster is not subjugated under specific conditions.

From what I remember, a Loop Dungeon definitely opened in Sillim-dong around this time.

“As you know, it’s a very difficult dungeon, and I think it would be a little difficult with the current level of the Korean Association. We gain experience, and you get help. I think it’s a win-win for each other.”

“Hmm……”

He’s not wrong.

The number of loops is infinite.

In other words, you have to repeat the subjugation infinitely within the same time frame until you achieve the subjugation conditions.

Even in my past life, I repeated the same dungeon about 100 times to subjugate this Loop Dungeon.

You don’t know how hellish this is unless you’ve experienced it.

So, it’s quite a grateful thing for us that they proposed a joint operation first.

…That’s what I thought in my regression, and I was an idiot.

‘These bastards are still gangsters.’

That’s right.

Even before the regression, I received the same call from the US branch before the appearance of the Loop Dungeon.

And I got hit in the back of the head.

The US branch, which participated under the pretext of gaining experience, secretly took the ‘Time Stone,’ an item that only comes out of the Loop Dungeon, and returned to the United States without the headquarters knowing.

It was such an important item in solidifying the association’s position, so the headquarters was naturally turned upside down. I was also scolded a lot by the association president at the time.

I officially raised an objection to the US branch, but… the International Association would never listen to the words of an independent association.

The Seoul headquarters was in charge of all the operation planning and supervision, but in the end, all we got was a few pennies of profit that were split and split again.

‘Damn it. Thinking about it makes me angry again.’

Anyway… I was deceived because I didn’t know, but now that I know all the intentions, there’s no reason to accept this offer.

“Thank you for the offer, but I’m going to try to proceed with this operation with our own strength. I’m sorry.”

“……!”

Suddenly, the other side of the phone becomes noisy.

“O, of course, you must be embarrassed by the sudden offer. It’s not much of a reward, but we’re thinking of supporting the budget for this operation on our side.”

“……?”

“If you want, we can deposit it into your personal account……”

They’re giving me money?

There was no such condition in my past life.

Besides, a personal account.

They’re openly trying to slip me a bribe.

Seriously, bribing a cleaner.

There’s no way I’m going to go through that hellish thing again for a few bucks.

“How much is the expected amount……”

“One million dollars.”

“……”

1 billion won [approximately $750,000 USD]?

Wait a minute! It’s better than I thought.

Damn it, should I take it or not?

“Hoo…… I’m sorry. I don’t think it’ll work after all.”

I was shaken for a moment, but I refused.

It’s quite tempting money if it weren’t for the skill unlock.

But if I accept that, I have to be prepared to leave the association in the current situation.

“W, wait a minute! How much do you want?! I’ll try to match it as much as possible!”

“This is embarrassing. It’s not about the amount……”

At that moment, a text message arrived during the call.

It was a message from Kim Min-ju.

– Teacher, I’m leaving a message because you’re on the phone. It’s about the Loop Dungeon next week. The other operation team leaders are boycotting, so only our team will be participating. You’ve been appointed as the chief in charge. Fortunately, the US branch has requested a joint operation, so I think we can proceed somehow. If you see this message, please contact me once……

Because it was too long, I quickly rolled my eyes and read only the key points.

‘Oh, damn it……’

My brow furrowed immediately.

The team leaders’ boycott, Operation Team 2’s sole participation, and the position of chief in charge delegated to me.

What the hell happened at the regular meeting?

Damn it, I can’t just refuse like this.

‘Tsk, I can’t help it.’

“Okay. Let’s proceed with a joint operation.”

“Thank you for accepting. Ah, but there’s a bit of a problem. Since it’s a Loop Dungeon, I think it would be good to work with the cleaning team, but it seems difficult to dispatch the cleaning team because of the budget……”

“Don’t worry. I have just the right team.”

“Thank you. Then, I’ll see you soon. Ah, what’s your name?”

“Kim. Jun-woo Kim.”

I ended the call and let out a faint sigh.

I immediately opened my notebook and checked the cleaning team’s schedule.

‘I’ll postpone the cleaning team’s work next week a little bit… If I and Team 6 participate, it’ll be roughly……’

Wait.

A bad feeling suddenly flashed through my mind.

Come to think of it, the US branch is Han Yu-bin’s former workplace, isn’t it?

Can I… can I let Han Yu-bin participate?

“……”

Well, it’s a branch of the International Association, so they wouldn’t do anything bad just because there was some trouble.

It’ll be okay, right?