The Wise Cleaning Life Of A Returning Genius Hunter [EN]: Chapter 301

“Still no contact?”

WDSO Seoul Headquarters.

Park In-beom, the Secretary-General, who had been looking out the window, asked Director Lee Doo-shik with a rather anxious expression.

“You asked less than a minute ago. Please calm down and wait patiently.”

“Ahem…”

Director Lee Doo-shik’s reaction was calm, but it seemed like it wasn’t as easy as said for Secretary-General Park In-beom.

Infiltration of the International Association Headquarters.

It had already been three hours since they received the notification that the operation had begun.

Of course, he knew it wouldn’t be a quick task, but shouldn’t it be wrapping up by now?

If it took any longer than this, it would be as good as saying that something unexpected had happened.

The longer it was delayed, the further away they would be from success.

“Damn it…”

“You’re worrying too much. Kim Jun-woo is there; no matter what happens, won’t he take care of it?”

“That’s true… but it’s not as easy as you think.”

Tsk, he clicked his tongue once.

He turned his head and looked at Director Lee Doo-shik.

“But are you okay? Your only daughter is in the heart of the enemy…”

“……”

At that, his calm expression momentarily faltered.

His face looked complicated, as if he had many thoughts.

But that was only for a moment.

“When Ah-young’s mother died during the operation, she was only eight years old.”

He opened his mouth in a low voice.

“That was… when I was still the head of the control team, I think. Do you remember?”

“Of course, I do. I was the one who appointed Ara as the head of the operation team in the first place.”

Secretary-General Park In-beom carefully uttered that name.

Hong Ara.

The former head of Operation Team 1, Director Lee Doo-shik’s wife.

And the biological mother of Director Lee Ah-young.

“Back then, Ah-young was young… and at first, she didn’t understand what was going on, but as she got older, she seemed to think that her mother’s death was my fault. Well… it’s not entirely wrong.”

“Hey, man. Back then, we didn’t even have proper detection equipment. It was just an accident. No one’s fault.”

“It may have been for others.”

A heavy voice that even Secretary-General Park In-beom was hearing for the first time.

Director Lee Doo-shik forced a smile and continued.

“When that kid said she was going to join the Association, I was honestly a bit surprised. Isn’t that right? Her mother worked there and died, but her child is going to go there…”

“That’s true.”

“But later I found out that it was closer to a rebuke to me. I failed, but she thought she would change the Association so that such an accident would not happen.”

Secretary-General Park In-beom listened to him in silence.

“But well… company life isn’t just about resolutions. When she actually came in, it was very different from what she thought. There’s nothing she can do as she pleases, and the higher-ups are just engaging in armchair discussions every day.”

“……I feel a bit guilty.”

“The father, who is supposedly a director, is just talking about reforming with his mouth… but nothing changes even after a few years. So, it seems like that kid was slowly getting tired of it too.”

“The stronger a person is, the easier they can collapse.”

“But… at that moment when she thought there was no hope for this organization, that guy appeared.”

At that moment, Director Lee Doo-shik’s eyes changed.

“After that guy appeared, things that seemed like they would never change started to change one by one.”

“Hearing that, that guy sounds like a hero.”

“In fact, to Ah-young, that guy was no different from a hero.”

Director Lee Doo-shik let out a self-deprecating laugh.

“And now, he’s creating big changes with that guy. He’s risking his life on the front lines to make the organization she envisioned. That guy is doing what I and you, brother, failed to do…”

Soon, Director Lee Doo-shik continued in a low voice.

“What qualifications do I have to stop him?”

The corners of Secretary-General Park In-beom’s lips rose slightly at those words.

“Yeah, that’s right.”

He sat down in his chair and let out a deep sigh.

“Aren’t you disappointed? You could have been the protagonist.”

“I wouldn’t be able to do it even if I went back.”

“Modesty……”

“And what’s there to be disappointed about? Those guys are doing what we couldn’t do, and the next guys will do what those guys can’t do. Well, isn’t that how it is?”

“Hahaha! I thought you were just a naive high school student… but you’ve gotten old too.”

“Not as much as you, brother.”

The two men looked at each other and smiled.

It was a story they would never usually tell, but for some reason, they felt more at ease after telling it.

But that didn’t last long.

“Secretary-General!”

An employee rushed into the office.

“The Russian government has just released a statement… I think you should see it yourself.”

The employee suddenly handed over a tablet PC.

Defense Minister Vladimir, who was under the spotlight, was saying something.

「…Therefore, due to the conflict between the two forces currently taking place in Russia, a fire has broken out in the Ural Mountains, and thousands of citizens have been evacuated.」

“……?”

“……?”

A rather meaningful statement.

The two men sensed an ominous atmosphere.

And soon.

「Therefore, the current Russian government, feeling the seriousness of the situation, strongly recommends that both the International Hunter Association and WDSO leave Russia permanently.」

The moment that statement came out of Minister Vladimir’s mouth, the two men’s eyes widened.

Defense Minister Vladimir.

He wasn’t a man to be trusted, but they had maintained a good relationship for several years because it was beneficial to each other.

He had finally launched a preemptive strike.

“That, that son of a bitch…”

Secretary-General Park In-beom’s fist clenched tightly.

But Director Lee Doo-shik still didn’t seem to understand the situation.

“W, why all of a sudden… ?”

“Isn’t it obvious? It’s an item that both sides are desperately looking for, so they must have wanted it too.”

Secretary-General Park In-beom clicked his tongue and said.

“It looks like Eden’s recovery will be difficult…”

“……”

At that, Director Lee Doo-shik was lost in thought for a moment.

“Wait…!”

Soon, he opened his mouth as if something had come to mind.

“Doesn’t the fact that a withdrawal recommendation has been issued mean that the International Association has also returned to headquarters?”

“So?”

“They wouldn’t know this fact…”

Then, he continued with a rather embarrassed expression.

“Could it be… have they been discovered…?”

“……”

Secretary-General Park In-beom’s face stiffened.

The guys who had been out of contact for 3 hours.

The sudden withdrawal recommendation.

If those guys were still at headquarters….

“We’re in trouble……”

The two men’s expressions darkened rapidly.

***

Paris, France.

International Hunter Association Headquarters, underground.

A situation of being caught between a rock and a hard place, with existing forces guarding the emergency exit in front and additional forces approaching from behind.

‘……They’re coming.’

The sound of footsteps getting closer and closer.

Finally, the moment they came face to face with them right in front of us.

Thud—!

“Ugh…!”

“Wh, what!”

We deliberately bumped into one of them.

“Ah, I’m sorry!”

“A, are you okay?”

At the same time, Chloe and I bowed our heads deeply and continued to apologize.

Then.

“Ugh…!”

“What’s this smell…?”

They frowned, holding their noses.

That’s because their bodies were covered with corpse debris and filth.

“I’m sorry! We’ll wipe it off for you!”

I said that and took out a rag from my pocket.

But that rag was also stained with filth, and the employees frowned and distanced themselves when they saw it.

“Ah, damn… disgusting, shit. It’s okay, just get it away!”

“What are you guys? Can’t you keep your eyes open when you walk?!”

But they seemed to be in a bad mood already and continued to urge us.

Only then did they examine our appearance.

“What, were you guys the cleaning team?”

“Tsk……”

They checked our clothes and clicked their tongues.

It wasn’t for any other reason that they were mistaken.

Everyone, including me, was wearing cleaning clothes and had our hats pulled down low.

The basement of the headquarters where the emergency exit was located.

It was the cleaning team’s office, break room, and cleaning supply storage room.

We found the equipment there and hurriedly disguised ourselves as the cleaning team, and even covered ourselves in filth to divert attention.

They wouldn’t care about who we were, but only about how to avoid this filth.

And now all that’s left is…….

“What are the cleaning team doing here?”

“Don’t you know there’s an emergency?”

“Anyway, you guys are like parasites. You don’t do anything and just slack off.”

“……”

Just enduring that bullshit.

‘But somehow…….’

It’s quite a familiar line.

“Okay, that’s enough. Get out of here.”

Before long, those words fell.

We tried to hide our smiles and passed them at that moment.

“What, what’s going on?”

“……!”

Whether they heard the commotion or not, the existing forces guarding the emergency exit approached.

“Ah, the cleaning team guys made a mistake.”

“Tsk, disgusting……”

The additional forces openly criticized us, and at that moment.

“Cleaning team…?”

One of the existing forces tilted his head.

“Was there a cleaning team when we came?”

“……”

“……”

With that one word, the eyes of all the forces turned to us.

And soon.

“Hey, you guys, come here.”

In the end, they called us back.

‘Damn it…….’

I gritted my teeth at the situation that had become twisted.

“What are you doing? I told you to come here?”

“……”

“……”

They urged us, but we just stood there looking at each other.

Should we run?

Or should we attack?

My head was filled with such thoughts, and a strange tension lingered at that moment.

“Ah, damn it, these guys were here!”

Someone who suddenly appeared found us and raised his voice.

“Hey, you guys! It’s been a while since the call-up order was issued, why are you still hiding here!”

“……?”

I looked at him with a puzzled expression.

He seemed to know us, but I didn’t recognize his face at all.

“What. Are you his team?”

“Oh, yes, hello.”

The forces and that man seemed to know each other and exchanged greetings.

Soon, the man also sensed an unusual atmosphere and asked cautiously.

“But why are you all here…… Ah, did these guys make a mistake?”

“……”

“……”

They exchanged glances at the man’s question for a moment.

“Okay, never mind.”

“Take them away right now.”

They waved their hands and turned their backs first.

We slowly moved our steps following the man who suddenly appeared.

“Hoo……”

“Ha……”

As soon as we got away from them, we quietly let out a sigh of relief without saying anything.

‘Judging from what I see, they seem to have mistaken us for his team members…….’

I muttered, looking at the man who was walking ahead.

Well, whatever, we survived thanks to him.

Now that it’s come to this, if we can get out without being caught until the end…….

“Thanks for coming. You saved me ten years of my life thanks to you.”

At that moment, Chloe spoke to the man.

Everyone’s eyes widened.

“I have to do this much for my senior’s request.”

The man answered with an awkward smile.

Wondering what the situation was, I looked at the two with a dumbfounded expression.

“Why. Isn’t that why you brought me here?”

Chloe said, looking at me.

“Did you think I wouldn’t have prepared something like this before entering headquarters? Even though it looks like this, there are still a lot of guys inside the headquarters who would die for me.”

“……”

Is this home ground?

“This is Hunter Management Director, Dave. He’s my direct junior. I contacted him before entering and asked him to delete the CCTV records and secure the route.”

Soon, Dave, who was introduced, bowed his head to me once.

“Now, just follow me. I’ll guide you out of headquarters.”

Dave said with a confident expression.

But I couldn’t help but be quite doubtful.

“Are you okay? You’re still affiliated with headquarters, if you get caught helping us……”

“Hahaha! Actually, we’re all in a similar situation.”

“……Yes?”

He gave an unexpected answer to my question.

“I mean, the situation is similar for everyone except the operation team. We’re ignored at the drop of a hat, and we’re called here and there to get cursed at. It’s gotten even worse since they seized control.”

“……”

“Honestly, there are more than a few employees who want to quit right now. They just can’t because they don’t have the opportunity. So, they’re just holding on.”

Dave continued to walk and talk.

“But if they hear that there’s someone who rose from being a cleaner to the representative position and cherishes all the employees……”

The moment we stepped into the lobby where the employees were lined up.

All the eyes there turned to us.

“Isn’t it natural to become a fan?”

They all slightly moved aside and cleared the way to the door.

“……”

“……”

As I hesitated in a rather embarrassing situation.

“This is also something that people do in the end. And where there are people, there are always those who try to do the right thing.”

Dave opened his mouth again.

Then he looked at the case I was holding and said.

“Please do the right thing.”

And at that moment.

The sound of forces rushing in from behind was heard.

“Quickly! Get out quickly!”

He raised his voice, and we immediately started running towards the door.

At the same time, the employees there blocked our backs.

With their help, we took advantage of the gap where our vision was obscured and immediately escaped out of the building.

We didn’t stop walking even after that.

The moment we continued to move away from headquarters.

Bang—!!

A loud explosion was heard from the headquarters.