The Wise Cleaning Life Of A Returning Genius Hunter [EN]: Chapter 147

146

“What do we do now…?”

“……”

Director Lee Ah-young asked, but I held back my answer.

No, there was no answer I could give.

The reason why the International Association’s pressure hadn’t been a major threat until now was because they were trying to handle things as secretly as possible.

Blackmail, attacks, or battles.

So far, they had tried to deal with obstacles easily and quietly, and those methods would have worked on others… but not on me.

I could ignore blackmail, and I could sweep away attacks.

As much as they couldn’t reveal the incidents publicly, the methods those guys could use were limited.

Yes, that’s how it’s been until now.

But.

‘There’s no answer if they come out like this openly…’

Now they’ve acknowledged it.

They must have realized they couldn’t handle it secretly anymore and changed their course.

Whatever the situation has been so far, no matter what anyone says, the International Association is an organization that can exert tremendous influence worldwide.

It’s a level that can’t even be compared to the influence we have.

Such an organization has declared us a ‘cartel’ in a public setting.

With that one word, we’ve become the public enemy of the entire world.

Of course, the Korean Association and the government have stepped up to refute it, but it’s hard to expect any effect.

If they come out with force, we can respond with force.

But if they come out politically like this…

There’s no way for us.

“The backlash from domestic subjugation organizations is enormous. Everyone is making a fuss, telling us to take responsibility… and some have even filed lawsuits against the Korean Association for damages.”

“It’s only natural since the subjugation business has been blocked overnight.”

“This isn’t something to say so easily! Business is secondary, what are we going to do with the dungeons that are appearing right now?! If we leave it like this, monsters will start escaping as early as next week…!”

“That’s what they’re aiming for.”

“…Yes?”

“If you unilaterally block a country’s subjugation rights, there’s only one thing you can choose in the end, isn’t there?”

Right now, we’re talking about subjugation businesses and whatnot, but fundamentally, subjugation is an act for the safety of the country and its citizens.

So, not being able to subjugate anymore means that beyond just a business problem, the means to protect the country from monsters has disappeared.

At this rate, Korea will collapse in half a year… no, not even a month.

To prevent that, there’s no other way.

“There’s no choice but to hand over the subjugation rights to the International Association.”

“……”

The International Association branch will be established, and they will manage all domestic subjugation and dungeons.

The hub in Vietnam, the Central African branches, the byproducts they supply, and even Eclipse, which was completed just a few days ago, will all fall into the hands of the International Association.

That’s what they wanted, too.

Because they can eliminate all domestic subjugation companies, including the Korean Association, in an instant.

“Is that really the only way?”

“That’s right, unless there’s room for negotiation.”

“……”

A shadow fell over Director Lee Ah-young’s face.

She also understood that there was no way, and soon nodded heavily.

I picked up the phone.

I had to convey the decided matters to Association President Lee Doo-shik.

“Yes, Mr. President.”

“…Did you find a way?”

“It’s painful, but… no matter how much I think about it, this is the only way.”

I slowly opened my mouth.

“Hand over all rights of the association, including domestic subjugation rights and dungeon management, to the International Association…”

“Wait a minute!”

It was Han Yu-bin who burst into the office, cutting me off abruptly.

“Please listen to me for a moment.”

“What is it…?”

She took a moment to catch her breath and then continued.

“When I was affiliated with the American branch, I heard from Chloe, the support team leader. The International Association always acts only for its own purposes.”

“…?”

“At first, I just thought they were only thinking about the safety of citizens around the world. But seeing them try to take away subjugation rights even by framing us as a cartel, I don’t think that’s their purpose at all. Maybe something else…”

Han Yu-bin tried to make a guess, but unfortunately, it wasn’t a very helpful story.

Because, in the end, she’s just talking without knowing anything about the International Association.

Well, she doesn’t know what’s been going on between me and the International Association until now.

“I haven’t told Yu-bin yet, but the truth is, we’ve been constantly interfering with the International Association. This is retaliation for our actions so far, not that there’s another purpose…”

“No. Now that I think about it, it’s strange.”

At that time, it was Director Lee Ah-young who cut me off.

After listening to Han Yu-bin’s story, she stroked her chin and pondered.

“If their purpose was really to retaliate against us, they would have tried to use force without leniency as soon as they defined us as a cartel. There’s no reason to give us a grace period to choose, is there?”

“…Then does the International Association have another purpose?”

“That’s what it might be. For example, they need to get their hands on what we have now completely.”

“Among the things we have, something like that…”

“……”

At that moment, it seemed like the same thing came to mind at the same time.

“Could it be…?”

“Eclipse…?”

Did the fact that we secured additional Bank Items [powerful artifacts] get into their ears?

‘I even falsely reported to the association, how the hell did those guys find out…’

No, let’s put that aside for now, if they really did this to recover the Bank Items…

“There may still be room for negotiation…”

“…Yes.”

We nodded at the same time.

***

“Wh, what…?!

Seoul Planning Headquarters, Association President’s office.

I told Director Lee Doo-shik the story so far.

“That was Lee Neung-seok?! But why did you just report it to me as a byproduct?! [a less important find]”

“We tried to block the information on our end. Well… it was useless as a result.”

“No, even so, you should have told me…”

“What’s the point of that now? Anyway, isn’t it important that it got into their ears?”

“Keueung……”

He groaned for a moment.

“But how the hell did it get into their ears? Last time you said the Korean part was disbanded, didn’t you? Could it be that there’s still a spy in the association…?”

“That’s not possible.”

I answered firmly.

I asked Director Lee Ah-young to explain instead.

“Bank Items emit tremendous etheric waves every time they are activated. It’s a really short moment, though. If the International Association sensed the etheric waves that occurred during the last accident, they could have noticed it enough.”

“If you knew that, you should have hidden it more thoroughly!”

“That’s a result-oriented story. We found the reason because we got caught, if we hadn’t, we wouldn’t have noticed it until the end either.”

Association President Lee Doo-shik rubbed his head.

I didn’t want to give him time to think, so I opened my mouth right away.

“This might be a good thing. If what they really want is the Bank Items, then we have more options…”

“Hey, hey, you don’t mean…”

“Let’s hand over the Time Stone and the Ether Stone.”

“……”

Of course, according to the International Subjugation Law, Bank Items cannot be transferred between associations.

But what does that matter now?

There’s no way the International Association would refuse if we offered to hand it over ourselves.

And if other countries don’t find out, there are countless ways to hand it over.

Of course, I still can’t understand why they’re so obsessed with Bank Items, but I don’t have the luxury to worry about that in the current situation.

“Either way, we’ll have to hand over everything we’ve built up to the International Association as it is. In that case, wouldn’t it be better to hand over only the Bank Items and protect the subjugation rights?”

“……”

“Mr. President…!”

“Be quiet. I’m thinking.”

Silence continued for a long time.

In fact, he probably already made a decision in his heart.

Given his personality, there’s no comparison between two Bank Items and the safety of the country.

Even so, the reason why he can’t speak easily is…

‘He’s anxious about what will happen after handing over the Bank Items.’

He’s anxious because he doesn’t know what the International Association will do with the collected Bank Items.

I understand his feelings, but there’s no point in worrying about it in the current situation.

Anyway, our choices are set.

“Should I contact the International Association?”

“No. I’ll do it.”

“…Okay.”

Association President Lee Doo-shik’s gaze turned to the ceiling.

“Let’s hand it over. The Bank Items.”

“I understand.”

“Ha, shibal [a Korean swear word]……”

His voice mixed with anxiety echoed hollowly.

***

“The last Central Africa project, CEO Kim Jun-woo did it, right?”

Hanbyul General Trading urgently convened a board meeting due to the International Association’s unbelievable announcement.

President Ha Sung-il also attended the meeting.

“I knew this would happen. There’s no way a janitor’s work would be done properly!”

“Do you know how many companies are about to go bankrupt because of Karma Corporation?!”

“Mr. President, we have to cut ties before it’s too late.”

The directors raised their voices, and President Ha Sung-il rubbed his head.

Immediately after the International Association’s announcement, the current situation is truly chaotic.

All media outlets, including the news, continued to report, the internet was on the verge of exploding, and the government was still wavering.

The stock prices of national subjugation companies plummeted tremendously in just 30 minutes.

‘How could this happen in an instant…’

President Ha Sung-il shook his head with a bewildered face.

There is no official position, but probably all subjugation organizations, including the association, will soon dispose of their businesses.

Of course. Subjugation is no longer possible in Korea.

Of course, Hanbyul Trading, which is doing domestic byproduct distribution business, will also be affected.

But that’s just one of many businesses.

It will be affected, but you can easily let go and focus on other businesses.

But not Karma Corporation.

It’s like they lost everything in an instant.

President Ha Sung-il paused for a moment and opened his mouth.

“The Korean Association and the government are continuing to raise objections to the international community. They say that being defined as a cartel is an absurd and unfair measure. Above all, it is also unfounded that CEO Kim has been continuously carrying out terrorism against the International Association.”

“Unfounded! Then would the International Association have lied in an official setting without any basis?”

“Yes.”

President Ha Sung-il answered firmly.

“They lied.”

“……”

“……”

Didn’t CEO Kim Jun-woo tell him?

He was trying to carry out a self-made terror using a third party to create a justification for integrating the African branches.

If CEO Kim Jun-woo hadn’t stopped it, much greater damage would have occurred.

Of course, President Ha Sung-il did not see that situation with his own eyes. He just heard it from CEO Kim.

But the sudden death of his father at the same time.

Immediately after that, his brother engaged in an illegal trading business in partnership with an anonymous overseas investor.

Just looking at those two things, can’t you tell?

To what extent whose words are true.

‘But I can’t explain the past to the directors one by one…’

Even if I explain it, they won’t believe it.

They are already thinking of cutting off the alliance with Karma Corporation and minimizing the damage in any way possible.

If this happens, I can’t push forward.

Above all, Kim Jun-woo has now become a public enemy of national subjugation companies.

Even if I believe in him alone, if everyone other than me turns their backs on Kim Jun-woo, there’s nothing I can do either.

‘Then what… I have no choice.’

Soon, President Ha Sung-il let out a burst of laughter.

“For the sake of the company, it would be right to cut ties with Karma Corporation. But I can’t do that.”

“Mr, Mr. President!”

“This is not the time to be sentimental…!”

“So from now on, I will do what I want to do. However, I have no intention of dragging the company into it.”

President Ha Sung-il revealed his determination with a smile.

“After all… I guess I wasn’t cut out to be president in the first place.”