The Wise Cleaning Life Of A Returning Genius Hunter [EN]: Chapter 311

310

“What’s the point of controlling the international community and its citizens like that?”

New York, Long Island.

Michael, the branch manager, posed the question while facing off against the International Association forces in front of the New York branch building.

“…….”

Wesley, the Secretary-General, visibly hardened his expression at the fundamental question.

At the same time, the corners of Michael’s lips lifted.

“See? You don’t even know, do you?”

“…….”

“You too have ultimately lost your purpose and been consumed by your goals. So, I don’t want to participate in this charade that even you don’t understand.”

Michael emphasized.

The downtown area was already in chaos.

The branch was like a candle in the wind.

The troops were already at their limit, and even if they held on, it would only be for an hour at most.

No matter how you looked at it, it wasn’t a situation to be bold.

He knew that if this place fell, the next would be the entire United States.

Then the international community would fall into chaos, and then the citizens.

So, if he thought about his own life and the lives of his staff… no, if he declared surrender, saying it was an unavoidable choice for the sake of the United States and the international community, no one would blame him.

But Michael was resolute.

A man of principle.

A stubborn man who doesn’t compromise with foreign powers.

A frustrating man with no flexibility.

He knew that such words were circulating among the staff.

And he knew that many people didn’t like it.

But it was necessary, especially in this situation.

The staff also knew that, so they moved before Michael gave the order.

At this moment, everyone here was an inflexible, principled person.

“Well… I understand.”

Wesley nodded in response, having watched their firm expressions.

“But well… what’s the point of talking about purpose or goals now?”

He looked straight at Michael and continued.

“We’ve already come too far to turn back.”

“…….”

“…….”

All the troops defending the branch closed their mouths tightly.

Those words meant that Wesley himself knew that this was a meaningless endeavor, but he had no intention of stopping.

Everyone readied themselves for the final battle, assuming their battle stances once more.

And then.

“Secretary-General.”

An International Association staff member approached Wesley and whispered in a small voice.

“The broadcast is ready. Shall we start filming right away?”

“Let’s do it.”

As Wesley answered, a camera approached.

The red light on the camera turned on, and the camera lens began to show the New York branch along with Wesley.

“Smile if you can. It’s being broadcast worldwide.”

Wesley joked to Michael.

He cleared his throat once. He opened his mouth again towards the New York branch.

“As the Secretary-General of the International Hunter Association, I hereby notify the American branch and all associations worldwide.”

A powerful voice.

“Our International Association aims to re-establish all existing associations. We will give the remaining associations a choice, and the period will be 24 hours from now.”

“We promise that we will not touch any association that implements [complies] within 24 hours and will guarantee their safety. However… we hereby notify you that associations that do not implement within the time limit will be subject to compulsory execution.”

“……!”

“……!”

The eyebrows of the New York branch’s forces twitched greatly at the statement.

This was a final warning.

A notice that they would attack if they did not surrender within 24 hours.

It was an official declaration of war against the world.

“So, what are you going to do, Branch Manager Michael? Are you going to implement it at the discretion of the branch, or are you just going to end it here?”

“…….”

Wesley smiled broadly and looked at Michael.

At the same time, his agonizing expression was revealed.

But that was only for a moment.

“…Eat shit.”

In the end, he made a choice, and Wesley nodded.

And the moment Wesley turned his back.

Bang—!!

The sight of the New York branch collapsing was broadcast worldwide.

***

“……!”

WDSO [World Dungeon Security Organization] Seoul Headquarters.

Park In-beom, the Secretary-General, watched the American branch being destroyed in real-time from his office.

‘This is bad…….’

Soon, his fist began to tremble.

It was absurd to be spouting nonsense about choices and self-implementation now, but to think that they would blow up the American branch and broadcast it live to the world.

‘They played it smart…….’

It was obvious how the associations of each country would react to this.

The United States of America.

A self-proclaimed strongest country, and a nation that still wields the greatest influence in the international community in military, economic, and other aspects, excluding the subjugation industry [monster subjugation].

Everyone witnessed the sight of such a country being unable to exert its power and collapsing helplessly against those who invaded its country.

Now, only one thought would be etched in the minds of all countries.

‘In a situation where even the United States has collapsed, it is suicidal to confront the International Association.’

The International Association must have deliberately broadcast it to instill fear and dread.

As things stand, no association will stick with WDSO.

Everyone will probably move to the International Association within 24 hours.

‘No, what do you mean 24 hours…….’

12 hours would be more than enough.

The fact that WDSO has become a position where it can respond to the International Association to some extent was never solely due to our efforts.

The sense of trust we have shown to the world.

The bond with associations in each country.

It was thanks to many people believing in us and following us based on that.

The reason why we didn’t back down in this war was because of the confidence that we would never collapse easily as long as they were there.

But…….

“S, Secretary-General! The Chinese Association has declared surrender!”

“Already…?”

“Not only that! Almost all of the associations in South America are rapidly moving to the International Association!”

“Damn it…….”

As things stand, WDSO will have to face the whole world.

Secretary-General Park In-beom clenched his fist until it broke.

Not yet.

Not all associations have left WDSO yet.

Even if we can hold on to at least the Japanese and Vietnamese associations, which maintain the closest relationship, even if the others don’t…….

Ring—.

At that moment, Secretary-General Park In-beom’s phone rang.

He carefully answered the phone.

「Secretary-General, this is Huin.」

The voice of Branch Manager Huin from the Vietnam branch was heard.

「Did you see the broadcast?」

“……I saw it.”

Branch Manager Huin hesitated for a moment, then carefully opened his mouth.

「As the Secretary-General knows, even the United States has collapsed. The international community will probably rush to declare surrender. If that happens, WDSO will have the whole world as its enemy.」

“…….”

「So… I discussed it with Branch Manager Haramura of the Japanese branch, but it seems…….」

At that moment, Huin trailed off.

At the same time, Secretary-General Park In-beom swallowed hard.

A sense of foreboding began to creep in.

‘Junwoo, this is a disaster…….’

A situation where there is no answer in sight.

Now, only the worst future was drawn in Secretary-General Park In-beom’s mind.

In this situation, Kim Junwoo is the only one to trust.

All he can do is hope that he will somehow find a way.

***

“……There’s no hope.”

My voice was low in the Hanbyul Trading ship.

Even though there was an unexpected event, we were hurrying to New York, but then we heard more bad news.

The news that the New York branch had finally collapsed.

“B, but it’s not over yet, is it?”

“That’s right, there must be a way! If we give up already…….”

I cut off Kim Min-joo and Han Yu-bin and answered firmly.

As a matter of fact, the worldwide broadcast was a deliberate act.

A kind of performance to show that even the last line of defense to protect you has collapsed.

“If this happens, we will be isolated. If we, who have come this far with trust and relationships, lose them… there is no hope.”

“…….”

“…….”

The faces of all the heads of headquarters darkened as they listened to me.

But that was only for a moment.

“Then… what do we do now?”

Kim Min-joo asked me for a way, as if she couldn’t give up yet.

But.

“I want to ask. What should we do?”

I smiled bitterly and spat out those words.

After saying that, I closed my mouth for a moment and fell into thought.

Our plan was to arrive in New York before it was too late and somehow prevent the airstrike before all the International Association forces gathered.

If we could at least prevent the attack on the United States, we could give each country at least a glimmer of hope.

And we were going to create a foothold for a counterattack from that small hope.

But now it has all become meaningless.

Not only has the attack been prevented, but even the possibility of a counterattack has disappeared.

‘Haa…….’

Before I knew it, a sigh escaped my lips.

Is this the end?

That thought began to dominate my mind.

Honestly, since I regressed, I had always been thinking about going back.

It didn’t really matter to me what happened to anyone here, and I wasn’t really interested in it.

But not anymore.

It’s already been over 3 years since I regressed.

Now, apart from me going back, I couldn’t just leave this situation alone.

Because there have been too many things that I can’t ignore now.

So I gave up all the opportunities I had to become the Secretary-General…….

‘In the end, it turned out like this…….’

My gaze turned to the air.

At the same time, a deep sense of futility washed over me.

It was because I had failed even though I had tried to solve it by giving up the opportunity, rather than the opportunity to return disappearing.

And then.

「Team Leader… we’ll be arriving at the port soon.」

A radio message announcing the arrival rang from the captain’s room.

「Shall we prepare to dock? Or… shall we turn back?」

“…….”

But I couldn’t easily answer that simple question.

Because the captain’s question sounded completely different to me.

‘It would be right to retreat…….’

The moment that thought came to my mind.

Thud—!

“……?”

Suddenly, a fist flew into my shoulder.

I turned my head, wondering who it was.

“We haven’t done anything yet!”

“…….”

It was Head of Headquarters Lee Ah-young.

Her eyes were full of strength as she glared at me.

But it wasn’t just her.

“To be honest, I feel like anything will happen if I’m with the Team Leader. Hahaha!”

“Well, it’s a bit off, but… I don’t really think it’s over.”

Head of Headquarters Ha Seong-il and Han Yu-bin also added a word each.

And.

“If only we are left in the dungeon and the operation team retreats, who will catch the monsters and who will protect the citizens?”

Finally, Kim Min-joo opened her mouth.

“It’s something someone has to do. If we don’t do it, who will?”

“……Even if you say that to a cleaner, it doesn’t really resonate with me.”

When I made a joke, she smiled slightly.

But that was only for a moment.

“I’m saying this now… when you first said you were going to raise the position of the cleaning team, everyone thought it was ridiculous.”

She continued in a very serious voice.

“But you did it without any problems. As if it was a matter of course. And after a while, it really became a matter of course.”

“…….”

“Maybe people will say that about this in a year?”

Then she looked me straight in the eye and said.

“It was a matter of course for Kim Junwoo.”

“……Ha.”

At the same time, laughter burst out.

I averted my gaze without realizing it.

As a matter of fact, isn’t it too much to praise me?

I’m too embarrassed to say anything.

‘Still, well…….’

A smile appeared on my lips for a moment.

Soon, I picked up the radio and slowly opened my mouth.

“……Let’s dock.”

As soon as those words fell, all the heads of headquarters nodded.

Soon after, the ship stopped, and we moved slowly with firm faces.

As soon as we entered the port, we were greeted by the sight of New York, which had already been devastated, and…….

“I’ve been waiting.”

It was Secretary-General Wesley, who was waiting for us at the port with a smile.