The Wise Cleaning Life Of A Returning Genius Hunter [EN]: Chapter 68

067

Paris, France.

Perfect Balance Corporation (PB Corporation), an organization under the International Association.

Control Center, located on the 17th basement floor of the building, attached to the Bank Item Management Team.

“Ability wave sensitivity is stable.”

“Please confirm the coordinates.”

“Latitude 37.3 degrees North, longitude 126.5 degrees East.”

“Input completed.”

“All systems are ready. Shall we activate?”

Despite the late hour, many employees were moving busily.

Complex machines and monitors of unknown purpose, and all sorts of control equipment were spread throughout the underground space.

The scene was reminiscent of a space agency.

Of course, here they were handling a purple stone, not a spaceship.

“Activate it.”

Finally, the order came from Chloe, the head of the Bank Item Management Team.

“Activate the Dimension Stone!”

“Starting the countdown.”

“Appearance in ten, nine, eight…”

The countdown began, and the eyes of all employees were focused on one monitor.

Everyone waited with bated breath for a moment.

“Generation successful!”

Someone shouted.

At the same time, short sighs of relief were heard here and there.

“Check the coordinates.”

However, Chloe spoke sternly, as if it was too early to relax.

“No error. It’s accurately near Incheon Port, South Korea.”

“Good. What’s the status of the Dimension Stone?”

“Stable. At this rate, it seems it can be maintained for more than a week.”

Only then did Chloe relax.

And immediately took out a satellite communicator.

“This is Chloe.”

「Yes, what happened?」

Still an elegant and graceful voice.

Emma, the CEO of PB Corporation, asked.

“We just succeeded in generating a dungeon.”

「What’s the grade?」

“Red grade.”

「Oh, it’s been a while since we used it, but it’s in pretty good condition.」

CEO Emma chuckled softly.

「So? What are you going to do now that you’ve used the Dimension Stone? What’s the connection between creating a dungeon and recovering the Time Stone?」

“I’m planning to wait until the Korean Association starts the subjugation [the act of suppressing or defeating someone or something] .”

「Ah, are you perhaps going to steal the Time Stone in the gap when the subjugation begins?」

“No. Of course, it’s not impossible, but I don’t think there’s a need to use force. Exposing our faces against an organization like the Korean Association carries considerable risk.”

「Then…?」

“We should go as legally as possible. I’m planning to proceed with a ‘hostile takeover’ using this dungeon as bait.”

Hostile takeover.

At those words, CEO Emma seemed a little surprised and hesitated to answer.

The meaning of a ‘hostile takeover’ between associations was significantly different from that of ordinary companies.

It meant a war between associations.

“I see. A hostile takeover… Team Leader Chloe, I didn’t know you were such a scary person.”

“You flatter me.”

Chloe answered, shifting her gaze to the glass case installed in the center of the control center.

A purple stone was inside the thick glass case.

Dimension Stone.

Like the Time Stone, it is one of the ‘Bank Items’ designated by the International Association.

An item that can artificially open dimensions and create dungeons by manipulating ability waves.

The Dimension Stone currently held by the Balance Team was first discovered five years ago in a red-grade dimensional dungeon that appeared in the Philippines.

Since then, according to the ‘no transfer between associations’ rule, the Philippine Association had continued to store it, but the Secretary-General, who extremely disliked Bank Items being in the hands of other associations, couldn’t just leave it alone.

Therefore, they acquired the Philippine Association, which was an independent association at the time, for a large sum.

That was the only legal way to transfer Bank Items.

That’s how the Dimension Stone came into the hands of the International Association, and most Bank Items have also been recovered through this method.

It wasn’t particularly difficult.

From the perspective of independent associations, there was no reason to refuse the acquisition by the International Association.

Except for that damn Korean Association.

‘Ugh, those Asians, all pride and no sense,’ Chloe thought, clicking her tongue.

Of course, Korea wasn’t the only independent association that refused the acquisition… but Korea was a bit different.

Because they had the Time Stone.

「Anyway, talk to Team Leader Kane and proceed carefully. I’m busy with other projects, so I don’t think I can pay much attention.」

“What other projects…?”

「I was talking to Team Leader Marc this time, and it was mentioned that hunter balance adjustment might be necessary soon. Well, I’m thinking of preparing in advance while we’re at it.」

“Ah, is it already that time?”

CEO Emma’s faint sigh was heard.

「I know, right? These kids learn so fast these days? I heard that there was a B-rank who awakened a unique class last time…….」

“That’s right,” Chloe replied softly.

「Oh, by the way… what are you going to do with that Irregular? I’m talking about the head of the Seoul Operations Headquarters. Team Leader Marc said that he’s too exposed to the public, so it’s better to watch him a little more.」

“I’m planning to handle it together with this operation. He’s someone whose actions are unpredictable… It’s better to take care of variables in advance.”

「Is that so? Then do that. Well, there’s no reason to stop you from doing other team’s work. Team Leader Marc will be happy.」

“Yes… then I’ll proceed as planned.”

「Keep up the good work.」

After finishing the call, Chloe sighed softly.

But without a moment to catch her breath, she picked up the communicator again.

「Hello.」

Soon, a young man’s voice was heard.

He was the Korean representative of the Hunter Balance Adjustment Team.

“It’s been a while. How have you been?”

「So-so. Except for failing this request.」

Chloe wore a surprised expression.

“That’s unusual. For someone like you.”

「So, what’s the matter?」

“I have a job for you to take on after a long time.”

「…Is it about balance adjustment?」

“Yes.”

「Who’s the target?」

“You might have heard of him. Kim Junwoo. He’s the head of the operations headquarters of the Korean Association.”

The young man’s reply was cut off.

Chloe, not knowing why, asked again with a puzzled expression.

“Can you do it?”

「……Of course.」

“Use any means or methods as long as your identity is not revealed. We’ll take care of the aftermath.”

「I will.」

“Oh, and soon our team will be working on Bank Item recovery as well. Be careful not to cause any confusion. I’ll send you the operation plan, so please read it once.”

「Understood.」

Chloe finished the call and took a long breath.

‘I’m going to be busy.’

She was already feeling tired.

It seemed she had to cleanly give up on the idea of leaving work on time for the time being.

This company was starting to move.

***

Seoul Headquarters, Control Team.

A heavy atmosphere hung in the conference room.

As the matter was serious, the meeting was attended by all 10 operations team leaders, including Team Leader Kim Minju, as well as Director Lee Ah Young and Team Leader Pyeon Changhyun.

“A, an underwater dungeon?”

Director Lee Ah Young opened her mouth first after a brief briefing.

“Yes. Moreover, according to Agent Hwang Donghui, it’s estimated to be a red grade.”

“…Oh dear.”

“We’re in trouble……”

Sighs erupted from here and there.

There’s a reason why these veterans are reacting like this.

Underwater dungeon.

Unlike ordinary dungeons that appear on land, it is a special dungeon that appears in the deep sea.

The basic structure is not much different from ordinary dungeons, but the difficulty is extremely high simply because the subjugation must be carried out underwater.

It’s not easy to move as freely as on land, and there are many things to be aware of as you have to carry out subjugation with special equipment dangling around.

Above all, what makes underwater dungeons difficult is the fear of being in the water.

If you start drinking water during battle, you can easily panic.

It’s bound to be fatal in a dungeon where your life is at stake if you’re not nervous.

Even more so for a red-grade underwater dungeon.

It’s inevitable that even the operations team leaders feel overwhelmed.

Team Leader Kim Minju, who had been maintaining a calm attitude, asked.

“When are you planning to start the operation?”

“As early as next week. It’s dangerous to leave it for too long since it’s a red grade.”

Monsters leave the dungeon after a certain period of time and indiscriminately attack the city.

The point at which monsters escape the dungeon is one month for yellow grade.

Of course, hunters must subjugate before the monsters escape, but land dungeons don’t really care about that. There are so many hunters that subjugation is guaranteed within the period.

However, the escape point for red dungeons is unclear.

According to the memories of my past life, there was a record of monsters escaping from a red-grade dungeon that appeared in Chungnam in just three days.

I opened my mouth towards Lee Ah Young with a faint sigh.

“Since it’s an underwater dungeon, it seems we’ll need a lot of special equipment. Can you prepare it by this week?”

“The schedule is tight… but I think it’s possible.”

Lee Ah Young answered, covering her chin.

“How about the operations team? Since it’s a red grade, we’ll need a considerable number of people. But we can’t ignore other subjugation schedules. How many people can participate in this operation?”

“It’s difficult to deploy everyone, but if we request a cooperative operation from the guild, we should have enough people.”

“Good. Then please do that.”

Finally, I shifted my gaze to Team Leader Pyeon.

“Control Team, as soon as you identify additional dungeon information, don’t report it to me and pass it directly to the operations team. Team Leader Kim Minju, please start the operation meeting from today.”

Everyone nodded heavily.

I organized the piles of documents and concluded the meeting.

“Let’s stop here for today. If there are any special circumstances, please contact me immediately. I believe everyone will do well this time as well.”

As soon as the words were finished, everyone quickly left the conference room.

Thus, the conference room was left alone.

I reorganized the documents I had organized and sorted out my thoughts.

There were still some unsettling parts left.

‘Where did the dungeon that didn’t even exist in my past life suddenly come from…?’

A dungeon that didn’t exist in the past suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

I went through all the possible scenarios, but no answer came to mind.

The only possibility is…

Someone artificially created the dungeon?

But if I think that way, the situation becomes too complicated.

You must have a Dimension Stone to create a dungeon and have facilities that can stably use it.

At the same time, a large number of people with specialized knowledge of Bank Items are also needed.

If there is an organization that can meet all these conditions… it’s the International Association after all.

But there’s no reason for them to create a dungeon in the sea off Incheon.

I crossed my arms and let out a long sigh.

‘Well, if I force myself to fit it in somehow, it’s not entirely impossible.’

What if the International Association is deliberately opening a difficult dungeon to induce an accident in order to absorb the Korean Association, which has been a thorn in their side since before?

Or what if the American branch, which failed to steal the Time Stone unlike in my past life, is plotting to recover the Time Stone…?

The moment I thought that far.

‘It’s too much of a novel.’

I laughed without realizing it.

It doesn’t make sense. What does the International Association lack that they would do such a thing?

Yes, there’s no rule that things have to flow exactly the same as in my past life, so there may be some different parts.

I stretched greatly and sorted out my thoughts.

First of all, solving the immediate problem is the priority.