The Wise Cleaning Life Of A Returning Genius Hunter [EN]: Chapter 146

145

* * *

*Tting!*

A text message arrived for Director Emma while she was at the negotiation table.

「N-1 situation occurred. It seems to have flowed into Korea. Please recruit personnel as soon as possible.」

It was a message that would be incomprehensible to others, but Director Emma immediately understood.

A Bank Item [an item of immense power and value, often with reality-altering capabilities] has been discovered and is presumed to have entered Korea. She needed to quickly assemble the Balance Team.

‘What on earth…’

It was a perplexing situation, but she couldn’t ask for details right away.

“Is something the matter?”

The man across the negotiation table inquired.

Director Emma composed herself and put away her phone.

“I just received a work order. Nothing to worry about.”

“As expected of the head of a secret organization, always busy.”

The man’s lip curled into a smirk.

It was a clearly sarcastic tone, but she didn’t have time to address every slight.

“So… how are the contract terms? Feel free to voice any concerns.”

“Hmm.”

The man glanced at the contract in front of him.

It concerned scouting for the PB Corporation Balance Adjustment Team.

“As I mentioned, accepting the contract immediately grants you the team leader position. It’s currently vacant,” Director Emma added.

The man grinned.

“Actually, I’ve heard a few things about that team.”

“Is that so?”

“Isn’t it infamous? The rumors say there’s a secret organization eliminating anyone who obstructs the International Association’s goals, aiming to consolidate worldwide subjugation rights… Honestly, I dismissed it as an urban legend. I never thought it was real.”

The man stared intently at Director Emma and continued, “But… the team leader position in such a brutal outfit is open? Doesn’t sound like good news.”

“……”

“Are you planning to eliminate me if I don’t measure up?”

The man’s eyes narrowed, attempting to provoke her.

Of course, she wouldn’t fall for such a transparent tactic.

“You should choose your words carefully.”

“Ha, hahaha! Just kidding, just kidding. So, what exactly would I be doing there?”

“Nothing too complicated. Primarily, assassinating key figures. Depending on the case, there might be search and rescue, kidnapping, information gathering, and occasionally, direct combat.”

The man’s expression shifted noticeably at one word: assassinating.

He nodded in satisfaction.

“Good. Sounds fun.”

“Okay. I’ll keep that in mind…”

“But there’s one condition.”

Director Emma was about to rise when the man added this stipulation.

“The work must be done my way, unconditionally. And I’ll assemble the team myself.”

“…Okay. That’s acceptable.”

Only then did the man stand and offer a handshake.

Noah Westernwood.

The representative of the Noah Guild, the top guild in the United States, and the first hunter to achieve S rank globally.

Currently ranked 1st in the United States.

Currently ranked 1st in the world.

It was the moment when he, once PB Corporation’s primary target, officially joined the Balance Adjustment Team.

To commemorate the contract, Director Emma offered a word of caution.

“For your information, we’re keeping a close watch on someone… you’d be wise to be careful.”

“Is he an S rank?”

“He’s not a hunter.”

“Then?”

“It’s difficult to categorize him. Perhaps a…dungeon cleaner with a few screws loose?”

“…Hahahaha!”

Was it the absurdity of the description?

Noah burst into open laughter.

“For a secret organization, focusing on a mere cleaner seems like a waste of resources.”

“Don’t be complacent. He fought the entire Balance Team alone and held his own.”

“He’s just a cleaner.”

“We thought so too.”

Director Emma’s face hardened momentarily.

Yes, there was a time when they underestimated him.

Before he single-handedly decimated the Korean branch’s field staff.

“Be careful. If you cross that crazy bastard, you might find your neck on the line before your first paycheck.”

“I know what to expect.”

“I warned you.”

Director Emma ignored his rudeness and turned away.

‘Rude brat… If I had recovered the Time Stone, you would have been dead already.’

Director Emma was unhappy about recruiting him, but she had no choice.

Even if the Subjugation Rights Recovery Team and the Bank Item Management Team weren’t a priority, the Balance Adjustment Team was urgently needed.

Above all, it was an order directly from Wesley.

‘But the fact that another Bank Item has flowed into Korea…’

She pondered the contents of the text message from earlier.

Not content with the Time Stone, had he acquired another Bank Item? [referring to the protagonist]

If so, Wesley wouldn’t let it go.

Above all, if that Bank Item was an Ability Stone… then things would escalate quickly.

Because he might declare war against Korea.

‘Well… I wonder if we’re ready for that now.’

Of course, even if war broke out, it wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing now.

Because they had recruited Noah.

She had mentioned the cleaner to unnerve him, but the warning was genuine.

If that crazy bastard started rampaging, the entire world’s army would have to be dispatched.

* * *

“Haaam…”

Seoul Planning Headquarters, in Chairman Lee Doo-shik’s office.

As I yawned involuntarily, Chairman Lee Doo-shik immediately reprimanded me.

“Cover your yawns, you rascal.”

“I’m sorry. I haven’t been sleeping well lately.”

“Why? Overworked?”

“Yes. I’m working on something with Ms. Lee Ah-young.”

“…?”

Director Lee Doo-shik’s eyes widened.

“Hey, hey, Lee…! Is that something you can say in front of me right now?!”

“…What are you thinking? It’s about the research lab, the research lab.”

“…”

He coughed awkwardly, belatedly embarrassed.

What were you thinking…

“So, is the byproduct supply running smoothly?”

“No problem. There’s so much that the employees are struggling to manage it all, but they’ll have to endure it. That’s why we brought them in with that kind of money.”

“That’s a relief.”

He sipped his tea and continued, “The domestic dungeon share is overwhelming, the byproduct supply is practically monopolized, the subjugation manpower is the best in the country, and everyone has top-notch equipment…”

He hesitated before continuing.

“Are you really going to hand all of that over to us?”

“Don’t you believe me?”

“Of course! I believe you implicitly. Except when it comes to my daughter. I don’t mean that, but…”

He said with a firm expression, “I’m asking, is it really necessary?”

“…Yes?”

“The International Association has been faltering since the Africa incident, hasn’t it? That’s how we were able to grow so much without much interference.”

“That’s right.”

“But… it’s grown too big. Frankly, I don’t have the guts to swallow it whole.”

An admission of his own limitations.

Avoiding my gaze, he continued, “Besides, I’m quite content with the association as it is. Did you know? The directors are working hard to secure subjugation rights, afraid of losing dungeons to other companies after privatization was proposed.”

“Are those old geezers actually doing sales themselves?”

“That’s right. Well, it’s only natural, they’ll be out of a job if the association goes bankrupt…”

It’s amazing.

Those who were only interested in power struggles are now working diligently.

“But what will happen if your company is suddenly absorbed into our side?”

“Well… it’ll be much more stable, so everyone will revert to their old habits.”

“I can already see it happening.”

“So, are you suggesting we abandon the project we’ve been working on to maintain the current association?”

He nodded heavily.

‘This damn…’

Everything I’ve done so far has been to make the Korean Association the next International Association.

That’s why I established Karma Corporation, started branch projects, and dominated the national subjugation market.

But now he’s saying that the current situation is preferable, so we should abandon it all?

‘What are you going to do, reject a silver platter…’

Trying to ruin a perfectly good meal?

Absolutely not.

“Director. No… Chairman.”

“Hmm?”

“The International Association is far more vicious and dangerous than you realize.”

“…”

“Of course, they’re faltering due to the ongoing investigation. But how long do you think that will last?”

He didn’t answer.

Of course, he wouldn’t have anything to say.

“I guarantee that once the investigation concludes and the dust settles, they’ll return, bolder and stronger than before. It’ll be too late to react then.”

“…There’s no guarantee that will happen. Perhaps they’ll be more cautious due to international scrutiny.”

“No, I just told you…”

“Let’s.”

He cut me off firmly.

“Let’s reconsider this.”

“…”

It seemed this wouldn’t be easy.

This is going to be a pain.

* * *

Immediately after leaving headquarters, I sighed in frustration.

‘Damn it, really…’

Lee Doo-shik is the type to stubbornly stick to his decisions.

To persuade him, the International Association would practically have to declare war on us.

‘That stubborn man…’

He was an obstacle before the regression, so I eliminated him, but now he was helpful, so I kept him around.

But if he becomes an obstacle again…

There’s no choice.

I have to draw my sword again.

As I resolved myself, the phone rang.

As expected, it was Director Lee Ah-young.

「Did you see the news?!」

“What are you talking about?”

「Hurry up and watch the news! It’s a big deal!」

Her unusually excited tone suggested something significant had happened.

I immediately went online.

New articles were constantly being uploaded about the unfolding situation.

I clicked on the video that appeared prominently.

[This is Wesley, Secretary-General of the International Hunter Association.]

A recording of a man’s speech began.

[As everyone knows, our International Hunter Association has tirelessly worked for the safety and peace of citizens worldwide. For over 30 years, we’ve established 78 branches in various countries, actively supporting subjugation and fostering hunters.]

[Of course, we’ve faced numerous crises during that time. Nevertheless, we persevered, prioritizing citizen safety, but…]

As if choked with emotion, he drank water and continued.

[During the Central African incident, we endured a difficult period due to absurd rumors spread by Korea. Furthermore, the exclusive route for byproduct distribution in Southeast Asia, and the seizure of the Central African branch… The Korean Association has consistently harassed us, resulting in the deaths or serious injuries of our affiliated hunters.]

…What?

[However, the investigation has revealed that we are innocent of all charges. We can now proudly resume our activities.]

[Therefore, the International Hunter Association intends to strongly condemn the tarnishing of our reputation with unfounded rumors and the astronomical damage caused as a result. As Secretary-General of the International Hunter Association, I hereby declare:]

[As of this moment, the International Hunter Association considers all Korean subjugation companies, including the Korean Association, as ‘cartels’, not ‘subjugation organizations’. All subjugation activities carried out domestically and abroad will be considered violations of international subjugation law. If the Korean Association continues to attempt subjugation despite this warning…]

[The International Hunter Association will not hesitate to use force to eliminate these cartels in accordance with international subjugation law.]

“What the hell…!”

The thing I anticipated had happened.

The International Association had officially declared war.