The Wise Cleaning Life Of A Returning Genius Hunter [EN]: Chapter 130

129

Zambia – Near the DR Congo border.

President Ha Seong-tae and Director Emma entered the Zambian Provisional Association compound.

Almost immediately, they sensed something was wrong.

“This is strange. There’s no guard… Is it usually this deserted?”

“……”

Director Emma didn’t answer President Ha Seong-tae’s question.

She needed a moment to process the scene.

Unless they were surrendering before negotiations even began, there was no way they’d abandon this strategic stronghold. It made no sense.

Besides, the Provisional Association had suggested this location for the meeting in the first place.

Why would they hide before such an important negotiation?

‘No, it’s not so much hiding as…’

As Director Emma ventured further into the camp, she saw collapsed tents and widespread destruction.

It looked like a fierce battle had taken place.

‘Could it be…?’

Director Emma’s eyes narrowed.

“W-What happened?! What on earth…!”

“……”

“Director? Director! Say something!”

President Ha Seong-tae, still struggling to understand the situation, kept talking, but Director Emma didn’t have the bandwidth to respond.

If her hunch was correct, things were about to get very complicated.

‘I need to contact them first.’

Just as Director Emma pulled out her phone to type a message…

“You’re late.”

A man emerged from a collapsed tent.

“D-Director Kim Jun-woo…? What are you doing here?!”

***

The first to react, predictably, was President Ha Seong-tae.

He stared, wide-eyed and open-mouthed, as if in disbelief.

He looked like a thief caught red-handed.

“Long time no see. I heard you became president while I was away.”

“W-What is this…?! Why are you here?!”

“I think I should be asking you that.”

Kim Jun-woo’s gaze shifted to the middle-aged white woman.

She had been silently observing him.

Although it was their first meeting, her presence with Ha Seong-tae suggested a connection to PB Corporation.

As if to confirm it, the woman chuckled softly.

She’s laughing?

She seemed remarkably calm, considering the circumstances.

“Did you kill them?” Kim Jun-woo asked.

“Who are you talking about?”

“The people who were here.”

“You should have arrived earlier if you were curious.”

The woman slowly shook her head.

“We suffered significant losses in Korea because of you… And now, you’re targeting our clients. Why are you causing us so much trouble?”

“Hahaha, damn it. Anyone would think I’m the bad guy.”

Is she crazy?

There’s a limit to shamelessness.

Who started interfering with people who were quietly cleaning up messes?

“So, why are you still here?” Director Emma asked Kim Jun-woo.

“If you were trying to stop the deal, there’s no reason to wait around for us.”

“I was curious if you were the person I was looking for. Well… I also have some business to handle.”

“Hmm? Who is it? Team Leader Hwang Dong-hui?”

“I’m not interested in small fries like that anymore.”

Kim Jun-woo pointed a finger at the sky.

“Someone a little higher up.”

“…If that’s the case, you’ve found the right person.”

A smile spread across her face.

“Nice to meet you. It’s refreshing to meet you in person like this, after only reading about you in reports.”

She stepped forward and extended her hand.

“I’m Emma, the CEO of PB Corporation.”

“……”

Kim Jun-woo struggled to maintain his composure.

CEO, huh?

He’d assumed she was a team leader at best… He couldn’t believe the CEO was personally involved.

‘Should I call this a stroke of luck…?’

Pushing aside his complicated feelings, he focused on the main issue.

“So? Why is a CEO like you trying to make such a shady deal?”

“Are you really asking because you don’t know, or are you testing me?”

Kim Jun-woo didn’t answer.

Director Emma glanced at President Ha Seong-tae and sighed.

She had apparently kept the real purpose a secret from him.

“That’s fine. What’s the point of discussing it now? There are plenty of places to trade, even if it’s not here.”

“So, anyone who will attack the Unified Branch is fine?”

“……What, so you knew after all.”

“It doesn’t take much thought to realize that you need a plausible reason to unify the subjugation rights [rights to control and exploit resources] for the entire African continent. What I’m really curious about is more than that…”

This was the question he’d been waiting to ask.

“Why is the International Association trying so hard to unify the subjugation rights?”

“……Haa.”

Director Emma ran a hand through her hair, looking troubled.

“How can you discuss that with a third party present?”

She pointed her index finger at Ha Seong-tae.

“He was a good business partner… but now that he’s heard this, there’s no choice.”

“N-No, wait…!”

[Acquired Skill: Finger Pistol]

Light flashed from her finger.

This headstrong woman!

[Acquired Skill: Hyper Boost]

Pew―!

Kim Jun-woo instantly rushed forward and grabbed her arm.

The beam of light pierced the air.

In the silence after the gunshot, Director Emma tilted her head.

“Weren’t you two on bad terms? I didn’t think you’d save someone who was once your enemy.”

“I can’t let someone who’s responsible die.”

Kim Jun-woo said calmly, but his grip was already tightening.

Crack―

Director Emma’s expression turned fierce.

In that brief moment, countless thoughts raced through Kim Jun-woo’s mind.

The feelings he’d had when he died in his past life without knowing why resurfaced.

He was facing the leader of the people who killed him, but he wasn’t composed enough to maintain his composure.

Yes, he wanted to tear her apart and kill her.

‘……Damn it.’

But he couldn’t.

Unfortunately, no one could die here.

If Ha Seong-tae died, the person responsible for this incident would disappear.

If he eliminated Director Emma, the identity of PB Corporation and the true nature of the International Association would remain hidden.

And more than anything….

“How is it?”

Kim Jun-woo forced himself to speak, suppressing his anger.

Director Emma didn’t seem to understand.

“……What do you mean, how is it?”

“Not you. The people behind you.”

He looked past her.

“How about it? Do you trust me a little more now?”

Chairman Kennedy, who had been hiding, and other personnel appeared.

Yes.

For his plan to work, this woman had to stay alive.

“……So it was true.”

“So from the beginning, the International Association orchestrated everything…?”

“N-No way…….”

“Damn it… I didn’t even know I was being played for a fool…….”

Following Chairman Kennedy, the Zambian Provisional Association personnel voiced their shock.

Even Emma, the CEO of PB Corporation, seemed flustered, as if she hadn’t anticipated this.

Of course, Ha Seong-tae was completely lost.

Did they think he was crazy enough to kill dozens of people?

Especially in the middle of an international conflict that had nothing to do with him.

How would he handle the fallout?

The reason he was here was for another deal.

If they stopped the planned arms deal and immediately ceased hostilities with the Unified Branch, he would take care of the aftermath, but…….

‘Well, I probably wouldn’t have believed it either if I were them.’

There had been a small dispute, but they had found common ground.

He would show them the truth, so they could reconsider.

Yes.

The reason he waited for those two here was to gain the trust needed for the deal.

“……Tch.”

“You seem very uncomfortable. Is it because too many people are listening? Are you going to kill everyone here or something?”

“Well… it’s not like I can’t.”

What was this woman saying?

“More than that, what conditions did you set that made them follow your orders? If you turn us into enemies so openly, how are you going to handle the aftermath?”

“That’s none of your business.”

When he refused to elaborate, Director Emma shook her head.

“It seems like we can’t resolve this with conversation anymore.”

She took out her phone.

Of course, he couldn’t just stand by.

He reached out to stop her.

‘…What?!’

His hand passed through her arm.

Meanwhile, she continued the call as if nothing had happened.

“Ah, Team Leader Kane. There’s been a setback in the plan. Proceed with Plan B. Immediately send the entire subjugation rights recovery team to the Congo Unified Branch.”

“……”

Subjugation rights recovery team?

So she wasn’t acting alone.

“And you guys…….”

Director Emma, having finished the call, glanced at them.

Before he knew it, the arm he had grabbed was out of his grasp.

Instinctively raising his guard, Kim Jun-woo saw a man appear behind Director Emma.

“Ah, Team Leader Marc, you’ve arrived just in time.”

“I was waiting nearby.”

“I see. Then please take care of this side. My business is done.”

“Understood.”

No sooner had they finished speaking than heavily armed personnel rushed in from all directions.

Ha, so they had some backup, huh?

The number of people who appeared wasn’t large. At most, about 20.

Nevertheless, he couldn’t let his guard down.

He could tell what kind of people they were just by looking at them.

They were the balance adjustment team that Yang Min-ho and Hwang Dong-hui had belonged to.

‘Then that man is…….’

Kim Jun-woo looked at the man called Team Leader Marc.

The leader of the team responsible for assassination missions all over the world.

He couldn’t underestimate them.

“Then, excuse me. It was nice meeting you, Mr. Kim.”

“D-Director! Director?! Where are you going!!”

Director Emma left with a brief farewell.

Ha Seong-tae cried out in surprise, but no one responded.

Because the hunt was over, and the dog was no longer needed.

“Should we just let that woman go?”

Chairman Kennedy asked cautiously.

Of course, it was a shame.

She was the CEO of PB Corporation, no less.

If he could catch her and squeeze her dry or get rid of her, he would feel relieved, but it was difficult given the situation.

Considering the skill she had used earlier and the fact that the balance adjustment team leader was in front of him, he couldn’t afford to be distracted.

“It seems difficult to catch her given the circumstances. More than that, what about the conditions I mentioned earlier?”

“We’ve come this far; it doesn’t make sense not to believe you. We accept.”

“Good. Then… from now on, the Zambian Provisional Association is officially a branch of the Korean Association.”

Kim Jun-woo verbally confirmed the contract he had proposed.

If they stopped the conflict and became a branch of the Korean Association, he would guarantee their subjugation rights.

Given the situation, they had no reason to refuse since they knew the truth.

In the first place, it didn’t matter which organization they belonged to as long as they could continue to subjugate.

‘Anyway, I’ve achieved half of my goal…….’

He would think about the rest after he dealt with these guys.

He missed Director Emma, but not anymore.

Kim Jun-woo approached Team Leader Marc.

“As you just heard, as of this moment, the Zambian Provisional Association belongs to the Korean Association. Therefore, an attack on the Zambian Association is clearly an attack on the Korean Association…….”

Bang―!

A gunshot rang out.

It missed, but it was close.

Judging by the fact that it passed by at close range, he must have deliberately missed.

“You talk too much.”

“……”

“Haven’t we talked enough already?”

From the start, he had been eager to fight.

Well, Kim Jun-woo felt the same way.

And more than anything, a bright smile spread across his face at the unforgettable sound.

Balance Adjustment Team Leader, Marc.

The gun he fired at him.

“I finally found it.”

The ability-wielding gun, Titan.