The Wise Cleaning Life Of A Returning Genius Hunter [EN]: Chapter 165

164

I stood before a dungeon located on the outskirts of Tokyo.

“I’ve been waiting for you.”

Branch Manager Shoichi, who had arrived earlier, extended his hand for a handshake.

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

“With a big deal ahead, how could I not be doing well? Haha.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

“By the way… didn’t you come with your secretary today?”

Branch Manager Shoichi glanced beside me and asked.

He was talking about Han Yu-bin.

“Yes. She has other matters to attend to and unfortunately couldn’t participate in the test today.”

“I see. Well, it’s a bit dangerous for an ordinary person to enter a dungeon anyway.”

“…….”

*He’s really talking nonsense.*

*He’d faint if he knew that ‘ordinary person’ unified the entire Japanese Yakuza [Japanese organized crime syndicate].*

“Anyway, there are more people than I expected.”

“Safety is the top priority. Just in case, we plan to proceed with the operation team. Control team staff will be on standby outside at all times.”

I nodded and scanned the people gathered.

Among the hunters checking their equipment, Haramura Ryuhei, looking hesitant, caught my eye in one corner.

*Looking at his condition, I can roughly guess what happened.*

*He must have had a rough week.*

*Well, it’s his own fault.*

*He lied to the Japanese branch and the International Association, so he deserves to pay the price.*

*Anyway, that’s that.*

“Excuse me, are you perhaps Mr. Haramura?”

“Yes, yes…? Ah, yes…….”

“I’m Kim Jun-woo. It’s an honor to meet you like this.”

I approached him, pretending it was our first meeting, and greeted him.

Haramura seemed quite flustered and couldn’t keep his eyes still, but he tried his best to play along.

“So, how did it go?”

I subtly moved closer to Haramura and asked in a barely audible voice.

“The test is just a smokescreen. After the deal goes through, they plan to make it look like I embraced you and took my own life.”

“……I see.”

“Don’t take this deal. It won’t be good for either me or you.”

“I’m afraid that’s going to be difficult.”

I smiled faintly.

“I’m also in a bit of a tight spot.”

“…….”

“Well, don’t worry too much. I haven’t been idle for the past week.”

I left those words behind and returned to my original spot.

Branch Manager Shoichi suddenly narrowed his eyes and asked.

“Are you acquainted with Mr. Haramura?”

“Hmm? No.”

“You seemed to be having quite an intimate conversation for someone who isn’t…….”

“Did it look that way? We didn’t talk about much.”

Branch Manager Shoichi wore a suspicious expression, but it was only for a moment.

Soon, he began explaining the test procedure.

“First, the test will take place in this orange-grade cave-type dungeon. The boss is a Snow Goblin, a ghost-type monster.”

“Physical attacks won’t work, I presume.”

“You’re well-informed. It would be meaningless to conduct the test with favorable matchups, so we prepared this.”

He opened the suitcase he had brought.

Inside was a long sword with a sharp, blue edge.

“Mr. Haramura specially prepared this weapon for the test. It’s the tenth weapon in the Ootachi (大太刀) [large sword] line, the most popular from the Haramura workshop, the Ten-Beast Crescent Scripture (十獸半月經).”

“Oh…….”

*Seriously, what’s with the grandiose name?*

*It’s obviously just a toy sword made to look fancy.*

“Lastly, here’s the hunter who will participate in this test. Koreda! Come here and introduce yourself.”

Branch Manager Shoichi called a man in front of me and had him introduce himself.

“I’m Koreda. My class is Swordsman, and my rank is C.”

“Nice to meet you.”

Koreda shook my hand with a confident voice.

The moment I grabbed his hand, I immediately noticed something strange.

*This bastard…….*

*Has no calluses on the lower joints of his ring and pinky fingers.*

*’Any guy who holds a sword should have them.’*

I let out a hollow laugh and quickly examined him.

He has the body of someone who does basic strength training, but his lower body muscles are less developed compared to his upper body.

This means he’s in a position that doesn’t require much movement during subjugations.

If a Swordsman class, who needs to move constantly at the risk of their life, is in this condition, he should have been in a coffin long ago, let alone be a C-rank.

Moreover, his lips are discolored due to frequent potion use.

He has traces of mana rebound on the back of his hand and face.

*This guy is a Swordsman class?*

*Kim Min-ju would foam at the mouth if she heard this.*

*’He looks like an A-rank mage at best…….’*

*Pretending to be a Swordsman class while trying to promote a special weapon?*

*You morons, you should try fooling ghosts instead.*

“Well, shall we proceed if you’re ready?”

“Of course.”

As I nodded, we entered the dungeon, led by Koreda and the operation team.

***

「Test start. Please proceed as prepared.」

Han Yu-bin, after checking the message, let out a faint sigh.

*Seriously… even after coming all this way, they still make me do all the chores.*

She muttered to herself for a moment before opening her mouth to the men in front of her.

“Higashi-gumi [organized crime group], spread the news we gave you. Koreda-gumi [organized crime group], put pressure on the politicians. Onizuka-gumi [organized crime group], take charge of the internet 舆论 [public opinion]. The rest of you, release your underlings and start leading the protests.”

“Understood.”

“Yes.”

Those who were once the heads of each organization bowed their heads.

Of course, all the instructions were prepared in advance by Kim Jun-woo.

Using organizations that dominate each field to degrade the value of the Japanese branch.

And the content was…….

*’In recent years, the Japanese branch has been threatening Haramura Ryuhei to distribute fake weapons to the International Association.’*

Those who had seized local media reported the content, and those involved in politics proposed scapegoating to avoid responsibility.

Finally, instill fear in the general public that they could be retaliated against by the International Association due to the Japanese branch.

By the time the test is over, the Japanese branch will be completely abandoned by its own people and lose all influence.

Han Yu-bin rose from the large sofa.

“Then… let’s all start moving.”

“Yes! Sister!!”

The voices of hundreds of people gathered in one place echoed loudly.

A new force created by the integration of major Yakuza organizations throughout Japan.
Han Yu-bin, who became the head of that force, which numbered hundreds of thousands including lower-level members…….

*’……How did it end up like this?’*

She felt quite burdened.

***

“Haaap!”

Bang—!!

Koreda, who was conducting the test, swung his sword with a resounding shout.

A terribly clumsy stance.

Nevertheless, the powerful magic emanating from the sword successively defeated the monsters.

“How is it? Isn’t it as amazing as the rumors say?”

“…….”

Branch Manager Shoichi asked, but I couldn’t think of anything to say.

*What kind of feedback does he expect from such a shoddy show?*

“Well… the performance is certainly reliable, but is it normally possible to draw out the weapon’s power whenever you want? As far as I know, it only gives power to those who are qualified.”

“……Koreda is a qualified hunter.”

“That’s very convenient.”

As I spoke calmly, Branch Manager Shoichi’s expression darkened rapidly.

*He seems anxious about being caught, but he should have prepared better if that’s the case.*

*What is this, really?*

*’He should have at least made it seem like it’s only used in moments of desperation……,’*

While I was dumbfounded by the sloppy performance, we had already arrived in front of the boss room.

A tremendous chill began to be felt just by approaching the vicinity.

At that moment, Branch Manager Shoichi subtly asked.

“The boss seems a bit dangerous, so how about waiting outside?”

“No. Now that I’ve come this far, I’d like to see it through to the end.”

“…Understood.”

*It must be because it would be difficult to put on a show in the boss room.*

*Of course, not a chance.*

Everyone entered the boss room.

Saaaaa—!!

A fierce blizzard began to rage.

It was the Snow Goblin.

It was also the first time I had encountered this monster.

It didn’t seem like an easy opponent.

*’This… is going to be quite a struggle.’*

As expected, Koreda, who had been confident all along, also showed clear signs of tension this time.

The hand holding the sword was trembling slightly.

Perhaps due to being too nervous, Koreda ended up making a mistake.

[Unique Skill: Volcano]

Kugugugung—!!

He used a magic skill right in front of me.

“……!”

At the same time, Branch Manager Shoichi was greatly flustered.

He immediately checked my reaction.

When I didn’t show any particular reaction, he seemed to think he hadn’t been caught and quickly turned his gaze away.

Then, he hastily gave orders to the team members.

“Alright, let’s proceed with the subjugation together, operation team.”

“Yes!”

The operation team that followed took a combat stance.

[Unique Skill: Thunder Fist]

[Unique Skill: Rampage – Thousand-Year Madness]

[Unique Skill: Reanimation (死者甦生) [Revival]]

Pajijik—!

Bang, Kwakwang—!!

Pubeobeobeong—!!

The battle that began soon after.

I watched their subjugation with my arms crossed.

*Well, it seems they have the basics covered.*

“So, what happens to Mr. Haramura if this deal goes through?”

I casually asked Branch Manager Shoichi amidst the ongoing subjugation.

“……What do you mean?”

“Even if we sign the contract, it’s obvious that it will be exposed once the deal goes through, isn’t it? That the weapon is a lie.”

“……!”

His eyebrows twitched greatly.

“Are you planning to drive Mr. Haramura to suicide after receiving everything you need? Well, it would be perfect to just prepare a note saying he couldn’t handle Karma’s unreasonable demands.”

“Are you now…….”

“You can also bury the rumor that the Haramura family’s rumors were false forever, and you can pass the responsibility on to us, so isn’t it killing two birds with one stone?”

“…….”

His eyes grew increasingly sharp.

No, they were filled with murderous intent.

“You knew everything and were testing us……?”

“I wasn’t testing you. I was really going to proceed with the contract.”

I turned to him and continued.

“If you hadn’t talked nonsense back then.”

“……What?”

“Since you don’t even remember, there’s no need to say more.”

*It’s true that the one who was hit remembers, but the one who hit doesn’t.*

“So? What do you want? Do you want me to apologize?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. What would I do with an apology that’s not worth any money?”

*If he had any intention of apologizing, he would have done it a long time ago.*

*It doesn’t cost anything, after all.*

“Hand over the Japanese branch to me.”

“Ha, I’ve never seen such a crazy bastard…….”

Branch Manager Shoichi chuckled as I brought up the main point.

“Are you threatening the Japanese branch in Japan right now? What, are you going to report to the media that the Haramura family’s rumors are false? The Japanese branch is Japan itself. Do you think Japan is crazy enough to release bad news about us?”

“Haha, hahaha!”

“……?”

“You don’t seem to know what’s been happening in the underworld recently.”

The moment Branch Manager Shoichi wore a puzzled expression.

His phone rang.

「B, Branch Manager! All the media outlets are reporting that we led the distribution of fake weapons!」

“……What?!”

「There’s a growing sense of fear on the internet that we might be retaliated against by the International Association! People are saying we should expel the branch before we get retaliated against…!」

“What about the National Assembly?! How much money did we feed those bastards? They can’t just stand still!”

「It seems like they’re trying to cut ties in the National Assembly as well…….」

“…….”

Branch Manager Shoichi’s pupils shook violently.

He grabbed my collar and shouted.

“You, what the hell did you do!!”

“What does it matter what I did when it’s already happened.”

“This bastard dares to mess with the International Association branch…!”

“The International Association branch…… I don’t know. The moment you leave this dungeon, you’ll be arrested. The branch will have all support cut off, and there will be numerous restrictions on subjugations. But well, more than that…….”

*Isn’t there something more to worry about?*

“Do you think the International Association will continue to hold onto a branch with all its teeth pulled out?”

“…….”

“Hand over the Japanese branch to me now. We will sincerely help you.”

I grinned.

“Just like the Japanese branch helped Korea.”