The Wise Cleaning Life Of A Returning Genius Hunter [EN]: Chapter 61

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I was momentarily stunned by the utterly unexpected rejection.

No, I couldn’t even understand why they were rejecting me in the first place.

Being scouted from a guild to the Association was the most eagerly awaited opportunity for hunters belonging to guilds.

But to have the guild leader block the scouting process itself?

Rejecting without even looking at the contract meant there must be another reason.

“Sigh… I’m taken aback. As you’ll see when you read the contract, you absolutely won’t find these conditions anywhere else.”

“It’s not a matter of the amount of money.”

“Then why on earth… ?”

“Before that, one thing. Do you perhaps intend to proceed with scouting at other guilds besides ours?”

I had set a few candidate groups, but they were just candidates, nothing more.

I intended to settle things here if possible, so I shook my head.

“I have no plans to.”

“Then it seems even more difficult to accept the offer.”

I narrowed my eyes.

Even though Cha Seok-hyun was wearing a smile, his expression was quite serious.

He didn’t seem to be testing the waters.

“As the Head of Headquarters knows, the relationship between the Association and the guilds isn’t very good. It’s also true that guilds don’t have a favorable view of the Association.”

“I’m aware of that.”

“It’s especially worse these days. There’s been accumulated resentment, and everyone knows the current situation of the Association… Well, when you think about what the Association has done, it’s not like I don’t understand.”

I crossed my arms and leaned back.

‘What the Association has done, huh…’

Well, it wasn’t entirely wrong.

Private guilds aren’t affiliated with the Association, but they can’t be said to be completely independent either.

Even after the Control Team allocates operations according to schedule, if there are dungeons left over, that’s when they hand over the remaining subjugation rights to the guilds.

The Association disposes of its less desirable assignments, and the private guilds take all the profits from the dungeon without fees.

That’s the relationship between the Association and private guilds.

Being able to take the entire profit from one dungeon means you can make a lot of money with just a few subjugations, but if there’s no dungeon stock, you might have to sit around twiddling your thumbs for over a month.

Of course, you can carry out autonomous subjugations in areas not under the Association’s jurisdiction, but even that is impossible without the Control Team’s permission.

The problem started there.

In the end, guilds had to bow down to the Association to get even one more dungeon, and the Association took advantage of this position to exploit the guilds, solidifying a so-called ‘gap-eul’ [a Korean term for an unfair, hierarchical relationship] relationship.

Until now, Seo Min-cheol had been doing that, but before the regression, the person who made the best use of it was none other than…

Me.

In severe cases, I would use guild members on the condition of handing over stock dungeons, only to wipe the slate clean in less than a month.

‘If I had heard these words to my face back then, I would never have stood still.’

I clicked my tongue inwardly.

In any case, the relationship between the Association and the guilds is like that.

Accumulated resentment.

A thorough ‘gap-eul’ relationship.

Enough to be fed up with it.

“In that situation, if it becomes known that we’ve signed a scouting contract with the Association, we’ll become a public enemy. We’re nominally the number one guild, so we want to avoid turning other guilds into enemies.”

“I didn’t know you cared about business ethics when you’re pursuing profit.”

“Haha, I don’t think you’re the one to talk about business ethics.”

He still had a smile on his face, but his eyes were quite sharp.

I rubbed my forehead.

Well, I know what he’s saying… but it’s absurd.

Seo Min-cheol created the enemies, but why do I have to take the blame?

I let out a shallow sigh.

“I understand. If that’s the situation, there’s nothing I can do.”

I got up from my seat.

“Then, I’ll be on my way.”

As I said goodbye and turned around, Cha Seok-hyun called me again.

“The atmosphere among the guilds in Seoul isn’t good right now. If you’re thinking of visiting other guilds, don’t expect them to welcome you like we did.”

“…Thank you for the advice.”

This was a welcome?

I guess other places are going to slap me on the cheek.

I shook my head and left the office.

***

Even after Headquarters Manager Kim Jun-woo left, CEO Cha Seok-hyun remained in the conference room.

That was because another guest came to visit soon after.

“So, you said all that? What if we can’t get dungeons in the future?”

A short-haired woman was pouring out her complaints after hearing the story.

It was Yoo Ji-woo, the representative of the ‘Aphrodite’ guild, which had its office in the building next door.

“I couldn’t help it. I wanted to see what kind of person he was.”

“That’s too much of a gamble! If we lose our livelihood, are you going to pay the employees’ salaries with your own money?”

A sharp voice that pierced the ears.

Cha Seok-hyun knew that he couldn’t win against her with words, so he didn’t respond any further.

Then Yoo Ji-woo also let out a shallow sigh as if she had calmed down a bit.

“So, what was he like?”

“He was similar to what I expected.”

Cha Seok-hyun shrugged.

“He didn’t even bat an eye while openly criticizing the Association. Seo Min-cheol would never have stood still.”

“Hmm…”

“At least he’s not the same type as Seo Min-cheol.”

“Could he become a friend?”

“I don’t know about that… Well, I don’t think he’s a bad guy.”

Cha Seok-hyun gave a subtle smile.

“Even if he’s a good person, can he continue to be a good person after hearing those words to his face?”

“Well, then that’s just the kind of person he is.”

Cha Seok-hyun replied nonchalantly.

To be honest, he had underestimated him in part because he was from a cleaning background.

But after talking to him a few times, he had to drop that thought.

A face that seemed to find everything bothersome, and a voice that didn’t seem to have any strength.

It was as if these trivial matters were not even in his eyes.

There are only two types of guys who give off this kind of vibe.

Either they’re sergeants nearing discharge.

Or they’re drawing a much bigger picture that makes these things not even worth considering.

Well, he’s only been the Head of Headquarters for less than a week, so it can’t be the former…

‘Is he on a different level?’

Cha Seok-hyun felt a chill down his spine when he thought that he was hiding an enormous secret behind those listless eyes.

“I hope the other guild guys have some sense.”

At that moment, Yoo Ji-woo snapped her fingers as if she had thought of something.

“Ah, that’s right. That’s what I came here to talk about. The movements of the guilds in Seoul seem a bit strange.”

“Strange? What do you mean?”

“Their movements are unusual. It’s like they’re about to go on a large-scale subjugation.”

“Hmm, are they thinking of holding a protest?”

“Well, it feels different this time.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I don’t know either. It just feels like they’re determined to do something.”

Yoo Ji-woo said, touching her chin.

At the same time, Cha Seok-hyun’s face darkened slightly.

“I’m uneasy…”

“About what?”

“You know that a nice guy is scarier when he gets angry, right?”

“And the person who knows that criticized the Association to his face?”

“…”

Anyway, that pettiness…

Cha Seok-hyun swallowed those words inwardly.

“Anyway… I hope they don’t do anything unnecessary to someone who might become a friend.”

Cha Seok-hyun muttered, tapping the already empty paper cup.

***

It was already dusk when I returned to headquarters.

As soon as I entered the office, I loosened my tie and shirt sleeves.

“Damn it…”

I plopped down in the chair.

Indeed, it was as Cha Seok-hyun had said.

In the end, all the scouting attempts were in vain.

After Ares, I visited a few more guilds, but Ares was the first and last to let me inside the office.

Some guilds indirectly turned me away, saying that the guild leader was away, while others didn’t even make an appointment.

Some places were so bad that I went all the way to the office, but they openly ignored me.

‘Damn bastards, if it were the old days, I would have cut off all their lifelines…’

I gritted my teeth.

Of course, it’s not like I can’t do it now… but if I did that in this situation, I would be one step further away from a safe retirement.

It would be the same as openly declaring a full-scale war with the guilds. I couldn’t afford to escalate things now.

“Sigh…”

I threw my head back and let out a deep sigh towards the ceiling.

The rift is deeper than I thought.

It seems that the Association has accumulated more than one or two grievances over the years… and more than anything, treating the Head of the Operations Department like that means they’re now openly expressing their animosity.

Well, I can understand since they’ve been wronged all this time.

I can understand, but…

Why are you taking it out on me!

Did I do the ‘gapjil’ [abuse of power]?

‘Are they underestimating me because I’m from a cleaning background?’

The strength in my eyes sharpened.

Until now, I had no choice but to bow down because I was mindful of Seo Min-cheol, but now that an easy target has come, they’re not going to hide anything, is that it?

Even so, they’re doing such a stupid thing to the person who holds their lifeline, just because of their background?

‘These guys are really…’

For a moment, anger surged from within, but it was only for a moment.

“That’s enough… What’s the use of all that.”

It immediately cooled down.

I don’t even have the will to get angry.

I really don’t want to do anything because I keep getting rejected today.

If I get any more worked up here, I might retire bald.

I have no choice.

I’ll just delegate the scouting to Team Leader Pyeon now and slack off.

…Or so I thought.

“Head of Headquarters!”

Speak of the devil.

Team Leader Pyeon burst into the office.

“Ah, you came at the right time. It seems that this scouting matter will be handled by Team Leader Pyeon…”

“That’s not important!”

I could feel the urgency in Team Leader Pyeon’s expression and voice.

I swallowed hard, wondering if something had happened.

“Intercepts are occurring in various parts of Seoul right now!”

“…Oh, I thought it was something else.”

The sound of air escaping from my tense cheeks.

But Team Leader Pyeon still looked serious, as if wondering what kind of reaction that was.

“Head of Headquarters! This is a serious matter! It’s not something to be taken lightly!”

“Hey, let’s not get so worked up over just a few dungeons.”

“That’s because it’s not just a few! It’s 18 cases. 18 cases! And that’s in the span of two hours!”

“…?”

“What’s worse, it’s still ongoing.”

My face hardened.

18 intercepts occurred in two hours?

And it’s still ongoing?

What kind of crazy bastard is doing such insane things?

“This isn’t the work of a few thugs. This is an organized effort.”

“If it’s organized… are you saying it’s the work of private guilds?”

“It’s not just one or two guilds. To successfully carry out this many intercepts in all areas of Seoul, almost all the guilds in Seoul must be moving.”

“Huh, this is crazy.”

A hollow laugh came out automatically.

But Team Leader Pyeon didn’t even seem to be able to laugh.

“Head of Headquarters, it seems like this…”

Then he continued with a serious expression.

“It’s like a declaration of war.”

My expression turned cold.