The Wise Cleaning Life Of A Returning Genius Hunter [EN]: Chapter 104

103

Lim Dongbin sat alone on a bench in front of the headquarters, clutching his phone tightly.

He was waiting for news about the data decryption, but he kept shaking his leg, seemingly uneasy.

However, he didn’t quite know what he was anxious about.

Was he worried that nothing would come of it?

Or was he worried that something actually would?

‘Damn it, what am I even thinking?’

No, of course, something has to come out.

That’s the only way to get out of this dead-end life and return to my old position.

There was nothing to even think about.

If anything came up, he would immediately send it to Chief Director Choi Hoseong.

But there was one thing that bothered him.

‘Why does it have to be Kim Junwoo again…….’

Kim Junwoo.

It had only been a few months since he had rashly provoked him, had his rank registration revoked, and walked out of headquarters on his own two feet.

He was no different from the culprit who had thrown him into this dead-end, so it wasn’t that he didn’t want to get revenge… But his trauma towards him was a little bigger than his desire for revenge.

More than anything, even after he left the company, Kim Junwoo didn’t stop cutting off the higher-ups in the Association one by one.

To have to mess with such a crazy bastard again.

Perhaps the shock of being severely hurt once was too great; it felt like his body was rejecting it.

‘Well, that’s also true…….’

……Actually, he wasn’t very keen on it either.

Considering the time he had spent anxiously these past few months, he felt like his current job was his true calling.

He could use his experience to some extent, and the salary was decent.

Most of all…….

-The past is the past. People can make mistakes while working.

For some reason, her words kept lingering in his mind.

Ding―.

While he was lost in bitter thoughts, a text message arrived.

He hurriedly checked the contents.

「After checking, there’s nothing particularly unusual in the other documents, but the account details are a bit strange. Golden Foundation, Youth Hunter Development Foundation… aren’t these all affiliated with the Association? It seems they’ve received more than just external business support funds. I’ll send you the data for now.」

As expected, it was a message from the guy he had asked to decrypt the data.

Following that, an attachment was sent.

It was Karma Corporation’s account statement.

It was over.

As soon as he sent this, the Association President and Kim Junwoo would both be finished.

And not just those two.

All the people who had been sticking with Kim Junwoo would not be able to avoid the aftermath.

“…….”

The task at hand was simple, but Lim Dongbin’s feelings were complicated.

“Break time is over!”

Just in time, he snapped out of it at Moon Soyeon’s clear voice.

Before he knew it, she had come close to him.

“Why do you look like that? Did something happen?”

“Nothing…….”

“Hey, don’t worry about what happened earlier!”

A good-natured smile.

She was still a carefree woman.

Lim Dongbin hurriedly avoided her gaze.

“Were you slacking off, by any chance?”

“Don’t tell me you’re sulking alone and didn’t even have lunch?”

“I told you, let’s just eat together~.”

Following that, the cleaners from Team 1 chimed in one by one.

However, when Lim Dongbin still remained silent, Moon Soyeon asked in a cautious voice.

“If you’re really not feeling well, would you like to go in for today? I’ll tell the manager.”

“…….”

Lim Dongbin fiddled with his phone for a moment with a blank expression.

“……No. Let’s move. Where’s the next job?”

He shoved his phone into his pocket and got up from his seat.

***

Something’s wrong.

Something’s very wrong.

It’s already been a week since Lim Dongbin hacked the office computer.

‘But why isn’t there any reaction…?’

He rested his chin on his hand and tapped the desk with his finger.

The fact that he backed up all the data means he’s entrusting it to another expert, but if that were the case, there’s no way he wouldn’t have found what he wanted.

Even if the data went to Choi Hoseong, it would have arrived by now, so why is he just staying still?

Is he saving it up to spread it later?

No, can he even afford to do that right now?

‘Or maybe…….’

Has Lim Dongbin not sent the data to Choi Hoseong yet?

But there’s no reason for him to do that. Unless something happened between the two of them…….

“Something is definitely strange.”

At that moment, Chief Manager Lee Ayoung opened her mouth with a serious expression, as if she had the same thought.

“……What do you mean?”

“Lim Dongbin, I mean. How should I put it…….”

She paused for a moment before continuing.

“You could say he’s been working too hard these days?”

“What are you talking about?”

“It’s as I said. Ever since the issue occurred a week ago, he’s been doing well without any other mistakes. He doesn’t get along well with the team members, but it’s not like they have a bad relationship either.”

“…….”

A guy who came in as an insider is diligently doing cleaning work? And that’s the infamous Lim Dongbin?

That’s definitely suspicious.

“Maybe he’s turned over a new leaf? Judging by the fact that there’s no news.”

“No, even so, that doesn’t make sense. How can he give up the opportunity to return and choose to do cleaning work?”

“I don’t know. Maybe he found it suited him after trying it out……. Or maybe Chief Director Choi Hoseong is definitely suspecting that he’s going to cut his tail [betray him].”

“Haa…….”

His head throbbed.

It’s hard to believe that Lim Dongbin has turned over a new leaf, but it was entirely possible that something had happened between the two of them.

I don’t know what happened between them that made their relationship go so wrong in just a week.

‘I don’t care what happens between them…….’

He picked up the calendar with a frustrated feeling.

There’s really not much time left now.

All the bait that could be spread on this side has been spread, and all preparations have been completed.

All that’s left is for the other side to take a bite, but they can’t even do that properly.

He clenched his fist and brought it to his mouth.

The knife that could shake the headquarters has already been handed over to a third party.

But if they keep dragging on like this and the Regen Dungeon appears, it will be the worst-case scenario.

Not only will they not be able to prevent massive damage from occurring, but the headquarters will also explode.

‘If that happens, it’ll be like openly asking the International Association to eat us up [take over].’

I can’t stand to see that happen, even if dirt gets in my eyes.

“What should we do? Should we wait a little longer?”

“We don’t have time, why are you sitting around waiting?”

“Then what are we supposed to do?”

What do you mean, what are we supposed to do?

“The account details. We have to send them ourselves.”

“……?”

You moronic bastards.

Do I have to spoon-feed you?

***

“What the hell is going on…….”

Chief Director Choi Hoseong was in a state of anxiety, clutching his head.

It had been a week since contact with Lim Dongbin was lost.

He heard that he was coming to work regularly, but for some reason, he was ignoring all calls, texts, and emails.

I need to know what’s going on so I can prepare, but…….

No, but is there any reason not to answer the phone like this?

‘Could this bastard be…….’

Could he have changed his mind…?! [Turned against me?]

Just then, his phone rang loudly.

「Chief Director Choi Hoseong! Aren’t you ready yet?!」

As soon as he pressed the call button, an angry voice burst out.

It was the president of the construction company who had received a bribe and proceeded with the contract when promoting the Seongnam branch training center construction.

“If you wait a little longer, a big one will explode. When that happens, I will push the Expo project to the Seongnam branch, as well as the penalty.”

「How many weeks have you been saying just wait! No, is there really anything there?」

“Of course. If you just wait a little longer…….”

「Ah, I don’t know. If you don’t pay the penalty for the basic construction progress by the end of this week, I’ll report everything to the media? Frankly, we have nothing more to lose here.」

On the other side, the call was unilaterally cut off with a click.

I’m screwed.

I’m really screwed.

With a feeling of being driven to the edge of a cliff, he kept calling Lim Dongbin.

‘Please answer. Please…….’

He waited anxiously while praying.

「The power is turned off, so it goes to voicemail…….」

“You son of a bitch!!”

Crash―!

Unable to bear it any longer, he threw his phone and tore at his hair.

What should I do now?

Should I go find him myself?

No, that’s no different from suicide.

Then… is there a way to solve this?

All sorts of thoughts flashed through his mind, but in fact, he knew.

Now that Lim Dongbin, who was holding the knife, had gone into hiding, everything was over.

‘Haha…….’

The short and short headquarters life is now over.

It was then that a delusional laugh was about to come out with that thought.

“C, Chief Director!”

Assistant Yoo Youngsoo burst into the room, opening the door wide.

“…Youngsoo, pack your bags. We’re all screwed.”

“No! I don’t think you need to pack!”

Choi Hoseong’s eyebrows twitched.

“Someone anonymously sent a package to the Chief Director…….”

Yoo Youngsoo handed over a thick envelope.

“After checking, it’s the Karma Corporation account statement.”

“……?”

Heaven helped him.

***

“Regen Dungeon? In Seoul?”

PB Corporation headquarters.

Unexpected news flew to Marc, the team leader of the Balance Adjustment Team.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. It’s an ability wave directly detected by the headquarters. Judging from the very unstable wavelength, it is likely to be a Red-grade Regen Dungeon.”

“That place has a small land area, but all sorts of dungeons come out…….”

A Regen Dungeon is a very special dungeon that has only appeared once 40 years ago in a slum in South America.

All that is known is that monsters are constantly pouring out of the dungeon.

Can the Korean Association guys solve that dungeon, which has almost no information on subjugation, among themselves?

He was quietly thinking for a while.

‘If this goes well…….’

Team Leader Marc soon opened his mouth to the employee in front of him.

“Contact Chloe and ask her how the anti-magic stone processing I mentioned last time is going!”

“Yes, yes? Why all of a sudden…….”

“They say a Regen Dungeon will appear. Surely the entire Seoul headquarters will participate in the subjugation. Then, for a while, wouldn’t they be preoccupied with only that?”

“Y, yes.”

“Since the expected grade is Red, the subjugation will not be easy. If the entire headquarters personnel gathers for the operation, it will be quite chaotic. Then… that’s the chance.”

In an operation involving hundreds of people, it is easier to move around.

The more chaotic it is, the less noticeable it is, and if all your nerves are focused on the operation, you can induce carelessness.

Above all, it is common for casualties to occur in such large-scale operations.

Isn’t it very timely?

Nevertheless, the employee still reacted with doubt.

“But he’s not affiliated with the Association. There’s no way he’ll participate in the operation…….”

“No, that bastard will definitely come out. I told you….”

Team Leader Marc cut off his words with a firm voice.

“He’s the kind of guy who will stick his neck out if his colleagues are in danger.”

“…….”

“Summon the field workers in the Korean part right now. Ah, and entrust the command of this operation to the Korean part leader.”

“The part leader? Isn’t it a bit dangerous for an insider from the Seoul headquarters to move directly?”

“I’ve even prepared an anti-magic stone. It’s too 불안해 [unstable/anxious] to entrust it only to the field workers.”

Team Leader Marc sparkled his eyes and continued to speak.

“You have to seize the opportunity when it comes.”