The Wise Cleaning Life Of A Returning Genius Hunter [EN]: Chapter 125

124

“It’s hot here as always.”

N’djili International Airport, Democratic Republic of Congo.

Stepping out of the gate, Ha Sung-il, the sales team leader from Hanbyul Corporation, spoke first.

“Are you alright, Director Kim? Should I get you some water?”

“No, I’m fine.”

“What about Team Leader Kim Min-ju? Oh, please give me your luggage. I’ll carry it for you.”

“Ah, no. It’s okay…”

We replied with awkward faces.

To be honest, we were feeling uncomfortable with his excessive kindness ever since we got off the plane.

If he were a stranger, I would have told him to stop already, but I couldn’t do that.

‘I can’t believe they’d assign the youngest grandson to me…’

Ha Sung-il.

Chairman Ha Deok-su’s youngest grandson and the younger brother of Ha Sung-tae, whom I ruined.

It’s not just bad taste, how could they assign someone like him?

-That child may be young, but he will be of great help.

Well, if Chairman Ha Deok-su said that, he must be trustworthy.

Above all, he started as an intern and worked his way up to team leader on his own.

Judging from the manners in his speech, he’s definitely different from Ha Sung-tae.

“The employee who was supposed to pick us up from the branch office seems to be a bit late. Please sit here, and I’ll contact them.”

“Ah, yes…”

“…”

Still, I can’t help but feel uncomfortable.

Ha Sung-il took out his phone and made a call.

After a short conversation in fluent English, he approached us again.

“They said they’re almost here. They should arrive within 5 minutes.”

“I see.”

“By the way… I’ve always wanted to meet you both, and I’m so nervous to be working with you like this.”

“Ahahaha… You don’t have to praise us so much.”

I’d be less burdened if it were someone else, but it’s more stressful coming from someone from the Ha family.

He doesn’t seem to realize it himself, though.

“Praise? You two are legendary figures in this industry. It’s not quite the same industry, but as someone who works with dungeons, I can’t help but respect you. Hahaha.”

“…”

“…”

Judging from his genuinely excited voice, he seems to be telling the truth.

‘Is this how chaebols [conglomerate heirs] socialize…?’

Is he just good-natured, or is he skilled?

As I was thinking that, Kim Min-ju waved her hand and spoke.

“Still, the team leader is more of an expert in this matter, so please feel more comfortable with him. You’ve been to Congo a few times, right?”

“Ah, yes. I’ve been here a few times on business, but I’ve only handled a few small contracts. How could I try to show off in front of experts like you?”

Then, he scratches his head with an awkward expression.

“Um, but Kim Min-ju Hunter…”

“Yes?”

“This might be rude, but…”

Ha Sung-il hesitates, looking quite embarrassed.

After a moment of hesitation.

He even blushed as he carefully opened his mouth.

“If you don’t mind, would you shake my hand just once?”

“…?”

“I’m a really big fan… Haha!”

…What the heck is this guy doing?

Kim Min-ju looked at me, seemingly a bit flustered.

I shrugged, signaling her to do as she pleased, and she readily extended her hand.

After the brief handshake, Ha Sung-il even clenched his fist with a ‘yes!’ expression.

“You’ve grown a lot. You even have fans.”

“…He seems like a good person.”

Yeah.

He’s definitely not a bad guy like his brother.

The problem is that he’s weirder than his brother.

“Are you Mr. Kim?”

Just then, a white man in a suit approached me.

“Ah, yes. That’s me.”

“I’m sorry. I’m a bit late. I’m Bruce, the head of the Central Africa Integrated Branch.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Kim Jun-woo, the CEO of Karma Corporation.”

The branch manager himself came to pick us up…

This feels a bit ominous.

“The car is waiting over there. Let’s go straight to the branch office.”

“…”

“…”

Branch Manager Bruce pointed to the parked limousine, but Kim Min-ju and I hesitated.

Then, Team Leader Ha Sung-il asked worriedly.

“What’s wrong?”

“…It’s nothing.”

I answered vaguely and lowered my voice to Kim Min-ju.

It reminded me of a bad memory.

“Just in case, don’t fall asleep this time.”

“…Yes.”

We got into the car with grim determination.

Fortunately, the kind of thing we were worried about didn’t happen.

***

Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The International Association’s Central Africa Temporary Integrated Branch, located on the outskirts.

We were guided by Branch Manager Bruce into his office inside the building.

“Well… the situation is much worse than you think.”

Branch Manager Bruce’s first words as soon as we sat down.

“How bad must it be for the International Association branch to request support from an external company? We came expecting it to be somewhat serious.”

“I don’t know. It’s probably worse than you expected.”

“…”

How bad could it be that he’s already setting the stage like this?

As I was making a puzzled expression, Branch Manager Bruce cautiously asked.

“By the way, what will the subjugation support cost? Our situation isn’t very good, so if the cost is too high…”

“Well, it depends on the duration and personnel, but for this case, you don’t have to worry about the cost. We don’t intend to receive any support costs, including the contract fee.”

“Really?! Is that true?”

“Yes. But there’s a condition.”

An uneasy look crossed Branch Manager Bruce’s face.

“…Please tell me.”

“If our subjugation support leads to stable subjugation in the future, we would like you to promise an exclusive export contract for Fractal with Hanbyul Corporation.”

His eyebrows twitched.

“So… you’re saying you’ll provide subjugation support on the condition that you exclusively supply Fractal to you?”

“That’s right.”

“Hmm…”

After stroking his chin and pondering for a moment.

He opened his mouth again after a brief conversation with the secretary next to him.

“Alright. Solving the current situation is our top priority anyway.”

He’s accepting it more coolly than I thought.

I smiled contentedly and got to the point.

“Then, can we check the current operational status now?”

“…Sure.”

Branch Manager Bruce gestured to the secretary, who brought the documents.

As I checked the documents, my expression gradually became serious.

“Director, this…”

Kim Min-ju also seemed to have noticed something strange at once.

“You think it doesn’t make sense too?”

“Yes. These figures are impossible.”

I nodded.

The integrated branch currently has a total of 43 operational teams.

Considering that the operational area is the entire Central Africa, it’s not a large number, but it’s not exactly insufficient either.

But for some reason, the total subjugation amount is far below that.

In terms of numbers, it’s only about 10 operational teams at best.

Of course, it’s a hastily integrated temporary branch, and smooth subjugation will be difficult due to insufficient infrastructure, support, and surrounding circumstances.

But even so, this amount of subjugation with this many operational teams doesn’t make sense.

“Branch Manager Bruce.”

Eventually, I opened my mouth.

“Are you sure this is the correct number of operational teams?”

“…Yes, it is.”

“You need to tell us for sure so we can help you. You have 43 operational teams, but the monthly average subjugation amount is 300. Isn’t that only about 10 subjugations per month per operational team?”

“…”

After hesitating for a long time, he finally opened his mouth with difficulty.

“There’s a border dispute going on. There are also frequent civil wars.”

“…What does that have to do with it?”

“Many hunters belonging to the operational teams are being pulled into that.”

“…What?”

“They’re being dispatched… as soldiers.”

“What the hell…!”

I blurted out a curse in Korean without realizing it.

They’re using hunters as war troops?

And not just for simple disputes, but in national conflicts?

Is that why he was setting the stage so much?

‘Things are really messed up.’

I was shocked for a moment.

I went back to my memories before regression.

There was definitely a temporary integrated branch back then too. If the situation was the same as now, they would have been caught sooner or later.

But I’ve never heard reports of the temporary integrated branch dispatching hunters.

But I have heard other reports…

‘But that’s not important right now.’

I opened my mouth with a serious face.

“Does the International Association headquarters know about this?”

“They probably don’t. If they did, I wouldn’t be sitting here right now.”

Look at the way he talks.

Does he not realize the seriousness of the situation, even as a branch manager?

“Surely you didn’t make this decision yourself, who ordered it?”

“The Congolese government…”

“Tsk.”

I knew it.

“It’s hard to understand that a branch of the International Association is being interfered with by the government. Can’t you just ignore it?”

“We’re not a branch affiliated with one country. We have to subjugate the entire Central Africa, but if we refuse the dispatch request, the government won’t issue exit permits.”

“What? Then how do you subjugate the surrounding countries?”

“The Congolese government is naturally turning a blind eye. That’s why the conflict has worsened.”

“Sigh…”

Damn it, this is getting annoying, really.

I came to support subjugation, and now I have to resolve a national conflict?

‘Should I just give up now…?’

I hesitated hundreds of times in a short moment.

I was half giving up because I couldn’t figure out where to start or how to solve it, but then.

“Well, I think it’ll work out somehow. Let’s proceed.”

Team Leader Ha Sung-il suddenly opened his mouth.

“Really? Thank you!”

“…”

“…”

Unlike Branch Manager Bruce, who thanked him with a bright expression, Kim Min-ju and I were completely dumbfounded.

Why are you stepping in here?!?

***

“Haa…”

As soon as I came out into the hallway after the conversation, I let out a sigh.

How can a descendant of a businessman accept that without even thinking about it? Does he have any sense or not?

“Oh, did I make a mistake?”

Seeing my deathly pale face, Team Leader Ha Sung-il fidgeted and opened his mouth.

I wanted to snap at him for asking if he didn’t know, but I tried to suppress my anger and answered.

“It was something to at least consider. The government and the surrounding countries are involved, so it’s not something we can solve on our own.”

“Ah… I’m sorry.”

A genuinely apologetic expression.

Then, he began to make excuses.

“I just thought it would be solved if we asked the Congolese government to stop the dispatch request…”

“Do you think they would have called us if they were going to listen to a request to stop?”

“I was short-sighted. Actually, I said I’ve been to Congo a few times on business, right? At that time, I signed a contract with the Congolese government to supply subjugation equipment, and I built up some connections with high-ranking officials there…”

“Team Leader Ha Sung-il.”

“Yes, yes.”

“Let’s talk about things like that in advance from now on.”

Is that why Chairman Ha Deok-su said he would be helpful?

Damn it, I like it.