The Wise Cleaning Life Of A Returning Genius Hunter [EN]: Chapter 54

053

The Association President seemed lost in thought.

He didn’t answer, just stared at me for a moment.

Then, narrowing his eyes, he spoke.

“Just what the hell are you?”

“I told you, I’m just a cleaner.”

“So, you’re saying a mere cleaner knows my location, which even the board doesn’t know, and comes here to tell me to join hands with Lee Doo-shik and sweep away the board?”

“You understand perfectly.”

The Association President let out a hollow laugh and rubbed his forehead.

Then, as if a thought struck him, he widened his eyes and asked.

“Wait. Are you perhaps the guy who exposed the corruption in the American branch this time?”

“Looks like you’ve heard the news.”

“Ha! That crazy bastard was you?”

The Association President laughed until he was out of breath.

After a while, he looked back at me.

His eyes had regained their vitality.

“Okay, let’s say I join hands with Lee Doo-shik. What’s in it for you? Is Lee Doo-shik going to give you the head of headquarters position or something?”

“Of course not.”

“Hahaha! Right, no matter what, he wouldn’t give the head of headquarters position to a cleaner…”

“I politely declined.”

“……”

“There’s no direct benefit for me. However, thinking about the future, I believe it would be helpful for me if Director Lee Doo-shik remains in the Association.”

“The future…?”

“Yes.”

He looked at me as if asking what I meant.

There was no need to hide it, so I calmly explained.

“I’m planning to resign from the Association soon.”

“……”

The smile disappeared from the Association President’s face.

At the same time, I felt an intense reaction from beside me, but I tried to ignore it.

“Why? What, are you being pressured by the board or something?”

“That’s part of it, but that’s not the main reason. Well… what does it matter what the reason for a cleaner’s resignation is.”

I had said all I needed to say, so I got up from my seat.

“Leaving already?”

“It’s been 30 minutes. I should go now.”

“Are you sure? I haven’t given you an answer yet.”

I gave a slight smile.

“You’re not the type to give an answer just because I wait, are you?”

I bowed and said goodbye, then immediately left the cabin. Lee Ah-young followed behind with a bewildered expression.

As soon as we got outside, Lee Ah-young’s fist flew towards my shoulder with a thud.

“…What is it?”

“Is that true? You’re leaving?!”

Her voice was agitated, and her expression was a mix of anger and bewilderment.

“…Yeah, well.”

“Why?! Why?! Don’t tell me you feel responsible because of this incident?!”

“It has nothing to do with it.”

What did I do to be blamed for responsibility?

“There’s nothing more for me to gain by staying… and I don’t have much time to waste staying without gaining anything.”

“You’re really doing whatever you want. What about the people who are left behind when you leave?”

“Why are you asking me that?”

Lee Ah-young had a dazed expression on her face.

“It’s not like they can’t live in the Association without me? They’re all talented people, so they’ll take care of themselves.”

“Ha, I’m just so speechless…”

Lee Ah-young’s gaze went towards the sky.

“…It’s going to be boring.”

A hollow voice echoed in the night sky.

***

Kim Jun-woo and Lee Ah-young left, and the Association President was alone again.

His expression was troubled, but his heart was even more turbulent.

It’s been almost three years since he stepped away from active duty, but he remembers what a cleaner’s position entails.

A necessary job. But the salary, treatment, and public perception are all at the bottom.

Yet this cleaner found a location that even the board didn’t know, openly provoked him, and didn’t even flinch.

He had heard news through the grapevine about an unusual cleaner, but he thought it was exaggerated…

‘To think there was a guy like that.’

The Association President’s lips twitched.

More than anything, as someone who has dedicated his entire life to dungeons, he can tell.

That cleaner is strong.

Stronger than any hunter he’s ever seen.

A guy who wouldn’t be inferior to anyone, not just in the domestic Association, but anywhere in the world.

“What a waste.”

If only he had found him a little earlier, he would have kept him by his side.

He picked up a small frame on the shelf.

A picture of his five colleagues and his wife, all of whom were willing to risk their lives 30 years ago.

“I created the Association so people wouldn’t die, but everyone is fighting to the death.”

He put it down and fell into thought.

The abnormal power of the task force. Internal politics among executives.

He was fed up with those things and gave up everything, going into seclusion for three years.

As that cleaner said, he had decided to step down from the position of Association President now…

‘Three years is a long rest.’

He was starting to get interested in the Association again.

***

Seoul Headquarters, Head of Headquarters Office.

On the second day of the audit, Team 2 of Operations, including teams that had even the slightest connection with Kim Jun-woo, were being thoroughly investigated, just like the day before.

It was enough for Seo Min-cheol to be able to screw over the guys who had been thorns in his side, but there was an even bigger gain.

Kim Jun-woo had lost contact.

Apparently, yesterday afternoon, as soon as he finished talking with Audit Team Leader Choi Jun-hyuk, Kim Jun-woo disappeared. And it’s already been a full day with no news.

“I guess it’s over, right?”

Lee Soo-yong chuckled and asked.

Seo Min-cheol slowly shook his head.

“We don’t know yet; it’s only been a day. He’s a tough guy, so he might keep holding on. The future is what matters.”

He tried to sound calm, but his voice already betrayed his certainty of victory.

“For now, let’s keep going like this. Well… judging from the current reaction, it seems like the result will be good.”

“Understood.”

Lee Soo-yong’s lips stretched into a wide grin.

Already, all the Operations Teams were buzzing with stories about Kim Jun-woo.

Of course, the reactions varied from team to team.

Teams that didn’t get along with Kim Jun-woo, including his own, were practically celebrating.

Teams 5 and 8, who had been trying to cozy up to Kim Jun-woo, were breathing sighs of relief as if watching a fire in the next neighborhood, and Team 2, which was closest to Kim Jun-woo… well, there was no need to say more.

These reactions weren’t just limited to the Operations Teams.

The Control Team, Support Team, Cleaning Team, other administrative departments, and even the HR Team were all anxious if they had even the slightest connection to Kim Jun-woo.

Lee Soo-yong was genuinely proud.

All he did was spend a few bucks to dig up Kim Jun-woo’s personal information, and the entire Association was in an uproar.

More than anything, things were going exactly as he wanted.

He was feeling like the main character when the internal phone on his desk rang.

Headquarters Director Seo Min-cheol took a moment to compose himself before picking up the phone.

「Seo Min-cheol, you bastard! You’re still alive! I believed in you, you son of a bitch!」

A booming voice pierced through the receiver and echoed throughout the office.

It was none other than Director Song Cheol-shik.

“Hahaha… thank you.”

「Any news on that Kim Jun-woo bastard yet?」

“No. It would be ideal if he just ran away… but even if he doesn’t, it’s enough. Soon, everyone around him will abandon him. Even if he endures, he won’t be able to hold his head up high. Well, it would be impressive if he lasts even a month.”

「Kuhahaha! So we can proceed again! It’s all thanks to you!」

“It’s all thanks to Director’s support.”

It was a flattering answer, but Song Cheol-shik seemed to like it.

“Now, all that’s left is Director Lee Doo-shik. Can you get him to sign the M&A [Mergers and Acquisitions] agreement?”

「Tsk, hmm…….」

Suddenly, a deep sigh was followed by silence.

Just when he thought something had gone wrong, Song Cheol-shik opened his mouth in a low voice.

「As it happens, the board of directors has been convened. The agenda includes the dismissal of Director Lee Doo-shik.」

“…….”

Seo Min-cheol closed his eyes tightly.

It was coming.

“What’s the reason for the dismissal? Did you find some dirt on him?”

「No. It’s more like his term is expiring.」

“His term expiring… you mean?”

Seo Min-cheol asked again, as if he had misheard.

But the answer that came back was the same.

If the Association President is absent for some reason, the director who has been delegated full authority will have their term automatically extended until the Association President returns or retires.

‘But Lee Doo-shik, who has been delegated full authority, is having his term expire…’

There aren’t many cases where that’s possible.

Either the Association President has returned, or he has gone through the retirement process himself.

But if that were the case, the Association President would have shown his face at headquarters in some form.

Since that hasn’t happened yet, there’s only one conclusion.

“Don’t tell me… are you trying to dismiss the Association President?”

「That’s right.」

“……I see.”

Seo Min-cheol let out a short breath.

If the Association President has not performed his duties for more than 36 months and is deemed unwilling to do so in the future, the board of directors may forcibly dismiss the Association President through a vote.

Even so, to proceed with the dismissal so suddenly….

「Honestly, isn’t that right? We don’t know where he is, and we don’t know when he’ll be back. In fact, we have no choice but to see it as him having washed his hands of the Association.」

‘Ha, are you going to send Lee Doo-shik to the grave along with the Association President?’

It had gone too far beyond what Seo Min-cheol had initially thought. Back then, he thought it would all be over if he just got rid of Kim Jun-woo.

“Will, will the vote be more than half? There are still quite a few directors waiting for the Association President.”

「I told you, I’ll take care of this. I’ve given them a few things and got a firm confirmation.」

Seo Min-cheol’s spine tingled.

At the same time, a sense of elation welled up.

Yeah, fuck it.

Let’s see how far this goes.

「Anyway, keep doing what you’re doing, Seo Min-cheol. Or… should I call you Director Seo now? Hahaha.」

“Haha…….”

A hearty laugh was heard from the other side of the receiver.

After a while, Seo Min-cheol cautiously opened his mouth.

“Director… do you have anyone in mind for the position of Headquarters Director?”

「Hmm? I haven’t thought that far yet. Why, do you have anyone good in mind?」

“If you don’t mind, how about Team Leader Lee Soo-yong? He’s been showing quite good results in Team 1. I think he’s good enough to take over my position.”

Seo Min-cheol said, looking at Lee Soo-yong standing in front of him.

Lee Soo-yong tried his best to control his expression, but he couldn’t help the corners of his lips twitching.

「Hahaha! I was wondering who you were talking about. If you want it that way, then so be it.」

“Haha, thank you.”

「Okay. Then I’ll hang up now. I still have some things to do.」

“Yes, goodbye.”

After ending the short call, Seo Min-cheol leaned his head back.

He had heard so much at once that his head was throbbing.

‘Hoo… fuck.’

Kim Jun-woo will be leaving soon. Even if he endures, there are no more colleagues to help him.

Director Lee Doo-shik, who has the final say on the M&A resolution, is now out of the picture.

On top of that, the agenda for the dismissal of the Association President has been raised, and a majority of the votes have been secured.

It’s over.

Now, Song Cheol-shik has become the new power in the Association.

Seo Min-cheol was uneasy about this huge change, but at the same time, he was genuinely relieved.

Relieved that he was part of that new power structure.