The Wise Cleaning Life Of A Returning Genius Hunter [EN]: Chapter 106

105

Following the media coverage of Chairman Park In-beom’s embezzlement of association funds, the media frenzy intensified.

Even the association’s representatives and the government expressed deep regret over the incident, but the public outcry, once ignited, did not easily subside.

Since the association had maintained a pristine image until now, the scandal came as an even greater shock to the public.

The chairman resigned to take responsibility, but that alone couldn’t resolve everything. Ultimately, a full investigation was launched into all employees.

Simultaneously, a massive personnel reshuffle was carried out under the guise of severing any existing corrupt ties.

Most of the operations team members, including Team Leader Kim Min-ju, were reassigned to 지방 (regional areas/provinces), and the control team employees, including Team Leader Pyeon, were similarly dispersed.

Currently, only Chief Director Choi Ho-seong, a handful of directors, and a few employees remain at the Seoul headquarters.

While it was suggested that the manpower shortage would be addressed later, the headquarters had essentially become a hollow shell.

In the aftermath of such a significant incident, several days were spent managing the fallout.

Near Seocho Station.

“Shit!!!”

Finally, the day had arrived.

[Unique Skill: Quasar]

[Unique Skill: Emperor’s Tomb]

[Unique Skill: Sword Master]

Bang, Kwakwang—!

Kwagwagwang—!!

Puhbung—!!

A few minutes prior, the hunters dispatched after receiving reports of a dungeon’s appearance were struggling to comprehend the unfolding situation.

It was an unprecedented event that defied all established dungeon norms.

It was a scene of utter chaos, a descent into hell itself.

“Why are the monsters already pouring out?!”

“The monsters are endless! It’s impossible to even get inside!!”

“What the hell! How long are they going to keep coming!”

Operations Teams 4, 2, and 5 had all been deployed for subjugation, but they were overwhelmed by a situation that far exceeded their expectations.

This was understandable, as the control team had only reported unstable ether readings, and no one had anticipated such a catastrophic dungeon.

Team Leader Chu Ji-yeon of Operations Team 4, who was leading the operation, was equally bewildered.

‘What the hell is this…?’

As a seasoned hunter, she had never encountered anything like this before.

She had heard rumors of unstable dimensional dungeons appearing in South America long ago, but there were no reliable records or information available.

And now, to think she was facing such a dungeon.

“Team Leader! We’re severely understaffed! We need backup, now!”

“What nonsense are you spouting! Are you oblivious to the situation at headquarters?! With all the operations teams gutted, who are we supposed to call for support?!”

“Th-then what do we do?! Are we just supposed to keep fighting a losing battle?!”

Team Leader Chu Ji-yeon gritted her teeth.

In reality, all the remaining operations teams at headquarters were already deployed.

There was no one to call for reinforcements, and even if they requested assistance from a guild, it would take hours.

And to continue the operation like this?

With entry into the dungeon impossible, what was the point of the operation?

‘Just as the headquarters is falling apart, this happens…’

This wouldn’t do.

No matter how she analyzed the situation, she couldn’t find a solution.

As she pondered, she felt a wave of dizziness.

She felt like she was on the verge of losing her mind, so she slapped herself to regain her composure.

This was no longer about subjugation.

Instead of focusing on the operation’s success, she needed to prioritize survival.

Team Leader Chu Ji-yeon clenched her fist tightly.

“What’s the status of the citizen evacuation?”

“Evacuation has been completed within a 5km radius of the dungeon’s appearance.”

“Expand the evacuation radius to 10km and seal off the area. Seize all available trucks and buses to block the roads!”

“What?! If we seal off the area, the subjugation…”

“We can’t gamble on an impossible operation.”

Team Leader Chu Ji-yeon picked up the radio with a determined expression.

“This is an announcement to all operations teams. Effective immediately, all operations teams, including Operations Team 4, are to cease operations and retreat. I repeat. Cease operations and retreat.”

As soon as the order was issued, all the operations team members ceased their attacks and turned to retreat, as if they had been waiting for it.

The operations teams had completely abandoned any hope of fighting back.

This would have been unthinkable before, but in a situation with such a severe lack of manpower and information, this was the most sensible decision.

And that was precisely the scenario Kim Jun-woo had anticipated.

***

Two days had passed since the area was sealed off.

During that time, they had repeatedly attempted subjugation, but they had been forced to retreat dozens of times due to unfavorable conditions.

Eventually, Chief Director Choi Ho-seong, along with the operations team leaders and association executives, were summoned to an emergency operations meeting.

In a tense atmosphere, Chief Director Choi Ho-seong stood up and reported on the situation.

“Currently, we have sealed off the area within a 10km radius of the dungeon, encompassing the Seocho Station area, as well as Bangbae-dong, Seocho-dong, and Yeoksam-dong. Fortunately, thanks to a swift decision, there have been no casualties, but…”

“Fortunately?”

Director Ha Seung-man, who had been massaging his forehead, glared.

“A significant portion of Seoul is overrun by monsters, and you call that fortunate? Are the operations team members simply collecting their salaries while accomplishing nothing for two days?!”

“Each monster is a boss-level threat of yellow grade or higher. Reckless engagement would only exacerbate the danger.”

“Is that even something you need to say?! We pay you to take risks!!”

His voice was agitated.

Fortunately, the quick blockade had prevented the monsters from escaping beyond the designated area, but the damage within the area was already substantial.

Most importantly, monsters had been continuously emerging from the dungeon for two days.

Tomorrow, the containment capacity would be exceeded, and in the worst-case scenario, the blockade could be breached.

“Chief Director Choi Ho-seong.”

“…Yes, yes.”

“There must be a solution, right?”

“With the current headquarters personnel, an operation is impossible. I’ve requested permission to mobilize the national operations team, but…”

After a moment of hesitation, he continued.

“It appears that permission will be granted tomorrow morning.”

“Tomorrow? So you’re suggesting we sit idly by until then?! What will you do if the blockade is breached?!”

“Do you think I want to sit still! With the core personnel gone because of this gate, what do you expect me to do!”

He shouted, genuinely frustrated, but Choi Ho-seong tried to regain his composure and spoke again.

“Nevertheless, several guilds in Seoul have volunteered to participate in the operation. The numbers are limited, but for now, we’ll attempt to gradually proceed with subjugation alongside the guilds until permission to mobilize the national team is granted.”

“Except for the Ares and Aphrodite guilds, the rest are just small-time players. Do you really think they can handle this?”

“I believe it’s possible.”

“So, who will lead the command?”

The conference room fell silent.

The issue everyone had been avoiding was now explicitly raised.

“You’re asking someone to enter an already occupied zone with a handful of C and D-class hunters. If this fails, not only will they die, but Seoul itself could fall. Is there anyone among you willing to take on this operation?”

“…”

Everyone exchanged glances, but no one stepped forward.

This was understandable.

Everyone had already experienced a profound sense of powerlessness after witnessing the disaster firsthand, so who could confidently volunteer?

While everyone remained silent, Director Ha Seung-man spoke up.

“There’s only one person who can take on this operation, in my opinion.”

“What do you mean?”

Director Ha Seung-man didn’t bother to elaborate.

Nevertheless, Chief Director Choi Ho-seong immediately understood who he was referring to.

“W-wait a minute! That person is no longer affiliated with the association! Besides, he’s implicated in this gate, so entrusting him with command would damage the association’s reputation…!”

“Reputation be damned, we need to survive first! Or are you volunteering to command?”

“Th-that’s…”

Director Ha Seung-man’s gaze swept over the operations team leaders.

“Anyway, aren’t you all thinking the same thing? That guy might actually be able to pull this off!”

Everyone remained silent, as if they had made a pact.

They were, in fact, all thinking the same thing.

“Let’s assess the situation. Too much is at stake in this operation. This isn’t the time to be concerned about trivial matters.”

At Director Ha Seung-man’s resolute tone, Choi Ho-seong clenched his fist.

He had hoped that the connection between that guy and the association would be severed naturally after Chairman Park In-beom’s downfall.

Because that was the only way to eliminate anyone who could challenge him.

That was the only way to seize control of headquarters without any obstacles after the corruption scandal.

But if he brought him back now… wouldn’t all his hard work be in vain?

Chief Director Choi Ho-seong gnashed his teeth.

“Regardless, I can’t agree. I’d rather command myself.”

“You, you bastard…!”

“In any case, all operational instructions fall under my authority. I will proceed with the subjugation tonight with the guilds that have expressed their willingness to participate.”

Chief Director Choi Ho-seong uttered those words and left the room.

This would have been an unthinkable act under normal circumstances, but there was no room for argument.

Choi Ho-seong was, after all, the chief of all subjugation and operations.

With Seoul on the brink of collapse due to a single dungeon, the head of operations headquarters had volunteered to take command, so what grounds could anyone have for objecting?

‘Tsk, a guy who’s been useless from start to finish.’

Meanwhile, someone was staring at the spot where Choi Ho-seong had departed, with eyes that seemed to devour him.

‘Ha, shit. This is going to be a mess…’

It was Deputy Hwang Dong-hui, who had taken charge of the control team after Team Leader Pyeon’s transfer to the Cheonan branch.

He threw his head back and let out a deep sigh.

***

‘As soon as the dungeon appears, the area is sealed off and the operation is withdrawn…’

I sat blankly, checking the real-time news on my phone.

Fortunately, everything was proceeding as expected.

Before the regression, the primary cause of the damage inflicted by the 리젠 (respawn) dungeon was complacency.

The overconfidence that they could handle it on their own.

As a result, they missed the crucial window to seal off the dungeon immediately after its emergence, leading to the deaths of dozens of hunters at the scene within three days.

But now, the situation was drastically different.

With the association in disarray and manpower severely depleted, most of the top-ranking personnel had been transferred to branches, forcing them to adopt a passive approach.

Consequently, they managed to successfully seal off the area without delay.

As of two days later, there had been no casualties among the hunters.

Now, all that remained was to hold out until the national operations team was mobilized.

If I could effectively command the operation afterward, we could resolve the situation without any further losses.

The only concern was whether the blockade could withstand the pressure until then.

‘Considering the respawn rate in relation to the area… tonight will be the peak.’

Seeing the lack of decisive action at a time when it was desperately needed… it seemed the association hadn’t reached a decision yet.

Meanwhile, the internet was ablaze with speculation and criticism.

└What’s going on as soon as the headquarters explodes???

└The headquarters exploded and Seoul exploded too lololol

└Is this a laughing matter?? Are you a psychopath?

└I heard that the operations team was disbanded and there’s a shortage of personnel, isn’t this really fucked up?

└Yeah, it’s really serious;; These guys don’t understand the gravity of the situation;;

└What the hell is Choi Ho-seong doing? I’m going to become monster food

└It’s ㄹㅇ (real) compared to Kim Jun-woo;;;

└If it was Kim Jun-woo, he would have finished the subjugation already and gone to eat a bowl of 국밥 (gukbap, rice soup) with his team members

└Choi Ho-seong ㅂㅅ (byeongsin, idiot), bring Kim Jun-woo back if you’re going to be like this

└ㅆㅇㅈ (ss-in-jeong, 인정, I acknowledge) ‘That guy’ can fix it

└But it seems difficult to return this time because the chairman of the association is 나가리 (nagari, out of the game)?

└Yeah, most of the headquarters are anti-chairman forces now, so there’s no way they’ll call back the representative of the pro-chairman forces

└No, what kind of political maneuvering is this even in this situation;; We have to survive first, regardless of the line;;;;

With the threat of monsters roaming the city imminent, all sorts of rumors and opinions were circulating.

Unsurprisingly, the association headquarters was facing the brunt of the criticism.

The situation was deteriorating in conjunction with the corruption scandal.

While monitoring the online reaction, I crossed my arms and briefly assessed the situation.

If the blockade were breached, the consequences would be catastrophic.

We needed to reduce the monster population… but I was hesitant to rely on Choi Ho-seong to handle it himself.

Above all, if they recklessly attempted subjugation and casualties started to mount, all our efforts thus far would be in vain.

Tsk, I had no choice.

I pulled out my phone.

“Are you busy right now?”

「I’m just watching the news. The situation is even more dire than I imagined.」

Director Lee Ah-young replied in a somber tone.

“That’s for sure. So, that’s why…”

「Yes?」

“Could you get me some weapons? I don’t really care about the grade, anything is fine.”

「…? What are you talking about all of a sudden? You don’t still think I’m part of the support team, do you?」

“I know. But… you’re the only one I can think of.”

「You know that’s illegal, right?」

“Yes.”

「…Why are you so confident.」

She sighed.

「Okay. I’ll see what I can do.」

“Aren’t you going to ask what I’m going to do?”

「It’s obvious what you’re going to do……. But there’s a condition.」

She said with a determined voice.

「Let me join you.」