The Wise Cleaning Life Of A Returning Genius Hunter [EN]: Chapter 148

147

International Hunter Association Headquarters, Secretary-General’s Office.

The phone rang just one hour after the official statement was released.

Secretary-General Wesley calmly picked up the receiver. He heard a voice he had never heard before.

“This is Kim Jun-woo, CEO of Karma Corporation.”

“Ah,” Secretary-General Wesley exclaimed softly.

The man he had only heard about in reports was contacting him directly.

He replied with a voice that was hard to tell whether it was welcoming or angry.

“So, we’re finally talking like this. Are you trying to negotiate now that your subjugation rights are blocked?”

“That’s right.”

“Think about what you’ve done to us. You should have expected this outcome.”

“I don’t think you’re in a position to say that, considering you created a secret organization to conceal the truth and frame us.”

“Mr. Kim.”

Secretary-General Wesley spoke quite seriously, taken aback by Kim Jun-woo’s voice, which didn’t falter even when cornered.

“What’s true doesn’t matter. What matters is whose words sound more true.”

“…….”

That’s the world we live in.

No matter how much you cry out that you’ve been framed, if I say you’re a cartel, you’re a cartel.

Isn’t it obvious whether people will trust the words of the International Association’s Secretary-General or the words of a cleaner from who-knows-what country?

“You know that very well, don’t you?”

“Of course, I know it well.”

“Then you must also know that negotiations won’t work. Well, I’d like to hear more, but I’m a busy man. I’ll hang up now…….”

“Lee Neung-seok.”

“……?”

Secretary-General Wesley’s hand stopped.

“We have recently acquired another Bank Item, Lee Neung-seok. We will hand it over to you along with the Time Stone.”

“…….”

Wesley paused for a moment.

‘What on earth is he thinking? Suddenly handing over something so precious?’

“Why such a decision all of a sudden?”

“Didn’t I say I wanted to negotiate? If we hand over the Bank Item, please withdraw your designation of the Korean Association as a cartel.”

“Haha…….”

I couldn’t help but laugh.

Designating all subjugation activities in Korea as a cartel was partly retaliatory, but the ultimate goal was to take over all their subjugation rights.

That way, we could naturally recover the Bank Items currently held by the Korean Association.

‘But for them to come to the table with a Bank Item first…….’

It means they’ve already figured out our real purpose.

I never expected them to try a head-on breakthrough.

A genuine smile spread across Secretary-General Wesley’s face.

Regardless of our relationship, I was very impressed with his decisiveness and drive.

‘If that guy had been on my side, I might have achieved my goals a long time ago.’

But that’s that.

Just because I like him doesn’t mean I can make a deal that’s not profitable.

“It’s not worth it. You’re the ones in a hurry anyway, and we can get everything, including the Bank Items, just by standing still. There’s no reason for us to accept the negotiation, is there?”

“…….”

Kim Jun-woo’s reply was cut off.

A few seconds passed as he seemed to be contemplating.

“Well… you’re right.”

He readily admitted.

“Even if the Secretary-General doesn’t accept the negotiation, the International Association will soon acquire all of our branches, employees, equipment, and research facilities that we’ve acquired.”

“Why would someone who knows that propose such a negotiation…….”

“However, you will not be able to obtain the Bank Items.”

“What did you say?”

“If the negotiation fails, we plan to destroy the Bank Items.”

“……Haha, hahaha!”

Not only is he trying a head-on breakthrough, but he’s also threatening me when he’s been driven to the edge of a cliff?

Now I vaguely understand why PB Corporation as a whole was swayed by this one man.

‘From the start, he’s on a different level from those guys.’

A guy like that should be at PB Corporation… no, at headquarters.

It’s such a waste.

“So, take it when we offer it. You’ve gone to such lengths, it would be quite painful if you only got the shell without the substance.”

“……It’s amazing. We’re clearly holding the knife, but how can you be so confident?”

“What are you talking about?”

Kim Jun-woo continued in a sharp voice.

“I’ve been holding the knife ever since I came back from the dead.”

“……?”

Secretary-General Wesley’s eyebrows twitched.

There was something in his words that couldn’t be ignored.

All sorts of thoughts began to surface.

But only for a moment.

“So, what are you going to do?”

The other party urged for an answer.

I figured there was no point in pondering any longer.

“…Well, fine. I’ll accept the negotiation.”

“Then, let’s set the transaction date for a week from now. The location is…….”

“Let’s do it at Incheon Port. Convenient for both of us.”

“No. I’ll decide the location too.”

“…….”

“It’s hard to decide right now. I’ll discuss it internally and contact you again when it’s decided. Please prepare the delivery route on your end.”

“Well, I understand.”

“Then, I’ll take it that way.”

“Ah, just a moment.”

Secretary-General Wesley continued in a completely different tone than before.

“Don’t even think about backstabbing during the deal. Unless you want to see Korea completely destroyed.”

With those words, Wesley hung up.

He immediately dialed Representative Emma’s number.

“Wesley? Why are you calling me when I’m busy?”

“They’ve offered a deal. They’re going to hand over the Bank Item.”

“……Really?”

She asked back in a reluctant voice.

“Why? Is there a problem?”

“No, more than that… is there really a need to make a deal? We’ll get everything anyway if we just stand still.”

“I thought so too, but Kim said he’d destroy the Bank Item if the negotiation fails.”

“Ha! That crazy bastard, he doesn’t even know what it is, but he’s talking so easily.”

“I know. Anyway, knowing his personality, he’s the type to really destroy it if he doesn’t like it. We have no choice but to accept the negotiation, whether we like it or not.”

Representative Emma hummed for a long time.

“It’s a shame. Of course, the Bank Item is the goal, but… in the end, we’re just doing what Kim Jun-woo wants again. More than anything, I’m uneasy about them handing it over so willingly.”

“Well, same here. So, we need to prepare too.”

“You mean?”

“What else? We’ll just take the Bank Item and wipe our mouths clean.”

“You’re going to break the deal? Against Kim Jun-woo?”

“Why not?”

Secretary-General Wesley seized the opportunity and drew the sword he had prepared.

“Noah has joined.”

***

“The transaction date is set for a week from now.”

I conveyed the information to Director Lee Ah-young as I hung up the phone.

The negotiation was successful.

Yet, Director Lee Ah-young had a somewhat reluctant expression.

“Do you think they’ll really withdraw so easily? It looks like they’ll just take the item and pretend they don’t know anything…….”

“Well, they’re the type to do that.”

Even though they can get everything, it would be a shame for them to make this deal.

Judging from their actions so far, it was clear they wouldn’t accept the deal nicely.

‘Anyway, we can’t let things go the way they want.’

Knowing that, there’s no way I’m going to hand it over willingly.

“We need to prepare too.”

“Will preparing really help? They’re clearly sharpening their knives too. If we mess around carelessly, something might go wrong…….”

“They say they’ll destroy Korea entirely. Well, the good thing is that we have a slight advantage in this deal.”

“…Yes?”

I smiled and replied.

“We’ve decided that we’ll choose the transaction location.”

“……?”

She tilted her head, as if she didn’t understand what I was saying.

“I’ll tell you the details later… for now, let’s run Eclipse. Please tell the employees to fully operate all extraction, production, and enhancement processes for the next week.”

“…….”

“Why? Is there a problem?”

“Yes. There’s a very big problem.”

She continued with a stiff expression.

“We don’t have the money to run Eclipse. All the investors have withdrawn their investments in us.”

“……Ah.”

“More than anything, most of the employees have left. You know the company’s situation. They know they won’t get paid if things continue like this, so there’s no reason for them to stay.”

“…….”

“Well, I can take charge of the process, but there are no employees to stand in line… Eclipse can no longer be operated.”

Come to think of it, that was right.

Putting aside the deal with the International Association, we’re still labeled as a cartel.

Since all future subjugation projects have been completely suspended, it was only natural for investments to be withdrawn.

“……This is a big problem.”

“I was going to ask my father to help, but… the Association is in the same situation.”

That’s probably true.

They’re probably in a worse situation than us.

“We don’t have a penny left. No, it would be a relief if we just didn’t have a penny. We’ve accumulated hundreds of billions in debt in just one day.”

“…….”

Not only have we been internationally framed, but we’ve also become debtors overnight.

“Would it be useless to contact Hanbyul Corporation……?”

“Corporate alliances are only formed when there’s a mutual benefit. Not only Hanbyul Corporation, but other companies won’t help us either.”

If we had been dominating the domestic subjugation market until just yesterday, it might have been different.

Although it wasn’t intentional, our image was quite good, and many people supported us.

But the situation has changed.

Because of us, Korea has suddenly become a country where subjugation is impossible, and all dungeon-related companies have become cartels.

Karma Corporation has instantly become a public enemy.

Now, there’s no benefit in sticking with us, and the sooner they cut ties, the more they can minimize their losses.

In this situation, there’s no one who will help us…….

“Well, there is someone.”

A familiar voice rang out at that moment.

I turned my head, and a man entered the office.

It was none other than President Ha Seong-il.

“President Ha? What brings you here…….”

“As Director Lee said, Hanbyul Corporation will withdraw its alliance with Karma Corporation from now on. Hanbyul Corporation will no longer help the CEO, but… I’m different.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve resigned from my position as president.”

“……?”

He smiled and delivered shocking news.

“You know, I never wanted to do it in the first place. I had no choice but to take on the role due to pressure from the board of directors, but it seems business isn’t for me.”

“Then what are you now…….”

“Just unemployed.”

Unlike us, who were dumbfounded, he kept grinning, as if he was very happy.

But only for a moment, he asked with a serious expression.

“As the CEO knows best, the current situation is really bad. Do you have any countermeasures?”

“Yes. However, we don’t have the conditions to prepare. Not financially, nor in terms of manpower.”

“……I see.”

President Ha Seong-il stroked his chin for a moment, then smiled again.

“Well, I’ll somehow take care of the financial part.”

“Yes?”

“I’ll withdraw my severance pay and all the stocks I’ve invested in and invest them in Karma Corporation.”

“……?”

“……?”

Director Lee Ah-young and I widened our eyes at the same time.

“W-Wait a minute. You don’t even know what we’re preparing yet. How can you invest such a large sum of money so recklessly…….”

“You said you have countermeasures.”

He continued in a calm voice.

“Wouldn’t that be enough to persuade investors?”

“…….”

I didn’t think of him that way…….

He’s quite crazy too.

Well, that would definitely be enough money to run Eclipse, but…….

“I appreciate your sentiment, but I can’t accept this.”

“Yes? Why?”

“Even if we have money, we can’t prepare if we don’t have employees. Even if we want to hire them again now, there’s no way anyone would apply to a company that might go bankrupt at any moment.”

President Ha stared at me and let out a bitter smile.

“CEO, aren’t you underestimating yourself too much?”

“……Yes?”

“As I saw when I came in here, I don’t think you need to worry about employees.”

He said something incomprehensible and shifted his gaze outside the office.

Just in time, noisy footsteps began to be heard from afar.

Soon, the source of the commotion burst into the office.