The Wise Cleaning Life Of A Returning Genius Hunter [EN]: Chapter 98

097

A week had passed since the initial discussion about building the Training Center.

Things were progressing smoothly.

Securing the project budget, the most crucial aspect, proved surprisingly easy.

Construction was already on the agenda; only the location remained to be finalized, meaning the budget was already allocated.

Whether due to Lee Ah-young’s compelling business plan or a well-placed phone call, even the construction permits were swiftly approved.

Kim Min-ju was assisting the branch office with its operations, supported by Team 3, led by Han Yu-bin.

Team Leader Pyeon oversaw the coordination of all team schedules.

Initially, Deputy Director Kang Hyung-won harbored doubts, but as he witnessed the seamless progress in real-time, his anxiety dissipated.

He could only stare blankly, mouth agape.

Naturally, the branch office staff were also busier than usual, but no one complained.

How could they, with key figures from headquarters lending a hand?

Well, not everyone was entirely without complaints.

“By the way… I’m not sure if we should be doing this when we’re already swamped with our own work,” Lee Ah-young grumbled at the construction site adjacent to the branch office, where work had just commenced.

“It would have been less tiring to simply terminate the contract.”

“That’s true, but… wouldn’t that give the impression that we’re running away from the problem?”

“Seriously, what’s so important about appearances in business?”

“Well, this will be a turning point for us too. I guarantee it.”

“…I can’t argue when you put it that way.”

Director Lee Ah-young pouted.

“D-Director! Director Kim Jun-woo!”

Just then, a branch office employee rushed over, searching for me.

“What is it?”

“A group of protesters is gathering in front of the branch office. It seems the Guild members have mobilized…”

“Well, that’s what I expected.”

From the beginning, this wasn’t something that could be resolved solely through Choi Ho-sung’s influence.

All he could do was delay the inevitable.

Still, he managed to hold them off for a week.

“I’ll have to step out for a bit.”

“Go ahead. Make sure you get an apology.”

I nodded casually and headed out.

As I approached the branch office building, I saw several guilds staging a protest, chanting slogans.

[We strongly oppose the construction of the Training Center!]

[We can’t entrust our lives to rookie Hunters!]

[The lives of citizens are not for practice!]

[An Association that saves citizens? An Association that kills citizens!]

‘So, they’re resorting to this.’

It appeared that it wasn’t just the guilds involved.

Influenced by them, various civic groups were also participating.

Given that unproven rookie Hunters were being deployed in actual subjugations, their concerns weren’t entirely unfounded.

But that was merely a convenient excuse.

‘If you’re going to protest, at least be honest about your motives.’

Of course, their real reason for protesting wasn’t the safety of the citizens.

They were simply making noise to protect their own interests, knowing that their livelihoods were threatened if things continued this way.

Among the gathered crowd, I spotted Shim Hyun-soo, the Guild Leader of the Baekje Guild, along with his members.

“Oh, it’s the cleaning company president!”

“Everyone! That guy is the one who sweet-talked Deputy Director Kang Hyung-won!”

“Withdraw!”

“Withdraw!!”

They shouted at the top of their lungs and surged towards me.

Fortunately, the police intervened and controlled the situation, preventing any physical confrontation, but the atmosphere remained tense.

There was even a hint of desperation in their faces.

“Haa…”

I took a deep breath and surveyed the scene.

It didn’t seem like they were willing to listen to reason here, and since we had to resolve this matter eventually…

It would be a bit of a hassle, but I supposed I had no choice.

“Alright. Then let’s negotiate.”

***

A few days later, Suncheon Branch, conference room.

I had invited Guild Leader Shim Hyun-soo and representatives from other guilds to a separate meeting.

Of course, Deputy Director Kang Hyung-won, the current head of the Suncheon Branch, was also present.

Their eyes reflected their determination.

Everyone looked as if they would fight to the death to avoid being pushed back.

“Then let’s get straight to the point…”

“Wait a minute.”

Guild Leader Shim Hyun-soo started to speak, seemingly in a hurry, but I stopped him.

“There are still more people coming.”

“…Who else is coming?”

“You’ll see when they arrive.”

Knock, knock.

“They’re here just in time.”

As soon as I said that, the conference room door opened, and two men entered.

“Haha, it’s been a while! How have you been?”

“I’m doing well. Judging by your expression, I guess you’re still the same, Guild Leader?”

“I’m always like this, haha!”

Still with that hearty laugh.

The first guest was Cha Seok-hyun, the representative of Ares, currently the No. 1 guild in Korea.

“Your face looks a bit better. Is the outside world treating you well?”

“It’s been a while, Director.”

And the second guest, who followed him, was Director Lee Doo-shik, the current Head of the Planning Division of the Otherworld Association.

“…Wh, what!”

“G, Guild Leader Cha Seok-hyun?!”

“Director Lee Doo-shik is a big shot in the Association, isn’t he…?”

The conference room buzzed with surprised chatter at the sudden appearance of these two influential figures.

Guild Leader Cha Seok-hyun and Director Lee Doo-shik took their seats, and everyone began to subtly assess the situation.

“Then, now that everyone seems to be here, let’s begin the discussion.”

As if on cue, Bravo Guild’s representative, Kim Sang-woo, spoke up.

“Even if the dungeon difficulty is low, we can’t entrust subjugation to rookie Hunters. The citizens are in danger…”

“Stop with the nonsense. Let’s be honest, shall we?”

I interrupted him a bit aggressively and continued.

“Is there anyone here who doesn’t know that you’re worried about losing your rice bowls if the Training Center is built?”

“…”

“…”

Such honest reactions.

“To be frank, the Suncheon Branch is no longer planning to allocate dungeons to private guilds from now on. I think Guild Leader Shim Hyun-soo knows best why that is.”

“…”

When I directly addressed the issue, he avoided eye contact.

If he hadn’t caused unnecessary trouble, this wouldn’t have happened.

“Even so, so suddenly…”

“At least reconsider…”

Bravo Guild’s Guild Leader Kim Sang-woo and Jiknyeo Guild’s Cha Yeon-ju, who were unaware of the underlying situation, took turns speaking.

Then, Director Lee Doo-shik immediately shook his head.

“The Association prioritizes the branch office over the guilds. For the sake of the Suncheon Branch, we have no intention of withdrawing the Training Center construction.”

“Then… we’re all really going to be ruined. Are you saying that the Association, which has signed contracts with all the guilds and partner companies in Seoul, will ignore the local guilds?”

“Of course not. The Association is not trying to disregard your difficulties and proceed recklessly.”

Director Lee Doo-shik’s gaze shifted to the side.

“That’s why I’m here.”

Guild Leader Cha Seok-hyun took over.

“Well, I’m not the one who manages all the guilds in the country, but at least I can offer some assistance. I’m planning to build bridges between all the guilds in Suncheon and each branch across the country. However, this is on the condition that you officially sign a 1-on-1 contract with the branch office.”

“What do you mean…?”

“I’m going to prohibit the practice of one guild exclusively allocating dungeons and then redistributing them to surrounding guilds, as it is now. Such collusive relationships concentrate power on one side, which continues to create unreasonable situations for everyone involved.”

Silence descended upon the conference room after Guild Leader Cha Seok-hyun finished speaking.

Eliminating the Baekje Guild’s practice of exclusively allocating dungeons and distributing them to surrounding guilds, and instead officially signing contracts with each guild and allocating dungeons directly.

Of course, this was a good opportunity for the surrounding guilds, who had previously been forced to receive dungeon allocations only through the Baekje Guild.

However, in that case, the Baekje Guild would no longer be able to interact with any other guild, which would be the worst-case scenario for them.

“W-Wait a minute! Guild Leader Cha Seok-hyun, shouldn’t you be thinking from our side?”

Guild Leader Shim Hyun-soo immediately realized the implications and stood up.

Guild Leader Cha Seok-hyun’s brow furrowed.

“Side? What are you talking about? Guild Leader Shim Hyun-soo, aren’t you the one who said we need to coexist? Is taking sides to benefit one side what you call coexistence?”

“…”

“I heard that Guild Leader Shim Hyun-soo has been forcing guild development funds while operating in Suncheon. Is that true?”

“…It wasn’t forced.”

“Do you know that the act of collecting guild development funds is officially prohibited? If it’s not forced, what is it when you’re demanding something illegal?”

“…”

“Also, you severely abused the dispatched cleaner and even extorted money from them for the absurd reason of dungeon entry fees. This is clearly a criminal act.”

As Guild Leader Cha Seok-hyun continued to speak, Guild Leader Shim Hyun-soo’s gaze gradually shifted to the floor.

“Really, can we trust you to manage the dungeons in the future?”

At that moment, Director Lee Doo-shik chimed in.

Director Lee Doo-shik crossed his arms and spoke in a heavy voice.

“I heard that it wasn’t just a one-time occurrence… We have no choice in this matter.”

“…Y-Yes?”

“The Baekje Guild will be excluded from the dungeon allocation list of all branches nationwide from now on.”

His expression was one of utter devastation.

His hands were visibly trembling.

It was a natural reaction.

Exclusion from the allocation list.

It was as if the Baekje Guild had been sentenced to never being allocated dungeons anywhere again.

It’s over.

That’s what I was thinking.

“I, I was wrong.”

Suddenly, he knelt down.

“I, I will make sure this never happens again. Please, just once… please forgive me just once.”

To apologize only after things had reached this point.

I shook my head at his pathetic display.

Soon, I rose from my seat and approached him.

“Guild Leader Shim Hyun-soo.”

“Yes, yes.”

“Didn’t I tell you? That you would regret that day’s events for a long time.”

“…”

The eyes that looked up at me began to tremble.

“D, did you really have to go this far…?”

Eventually, he resorted to emotional appeals in a tearful voice.

Was he the kind of person who sought recognition in such a way?

“I don’t know. Did you have to go that far with my employees?”

“…”

“Don’t worry too much. I’ll make sure to pay you the penalty for canceling this month’s dungeon allocation properly. Well… just think of it as the guild development fund that I couldn’t give you before.”

I tapped his cheek a few times, as he remained silent, and turned my back.

“I’ll end the negotiations here. If everyone has no objections, you may leave. And the branches with which you will sign contracts will issue official documents later, so please wait until then.”

The guild leaders remained silent and hurriedly left the conference room.