The Wise Cleaning Life Of A Returning Genius Hunter [EN]: Chapter 151

150

“Specific dungeon. Location confirmed?”

In the end, Secretary-General Wesley, unable to wait any longer, went directly to the control team.

The control team leader greeted him personally amidst the busy staff.

“I, I’m sorry. Nothing has been identified yet. We are trying our best to find it, but……”

“Surely you’ve found a few, haven’t you?”

“Well, that’s……”

The control team leader hesitated before continuing.

“We haven’t found any yet.”

“……”

The vein on Secretary-General Wesley’s forehead twitched.

“Are you proud to say that you haven’t found a single one after 20 minutes?”

“Haa, there are too many uncleared dungeons in Korea, so it’s not easy to pinpoint. Our detection system alone has limitations in identifying them all. Unless we get help from the branches, we can’t do it on our own……”

The control team leader unconsciously rattled off excuses.

However, as Secretary-General Wesley’s gaze pierced through him, the control team leader realized his mistake and quickly shut his mouth.

“Hoo……”

The Secretary-General ran a hand through his hair.

Of course, he knew that making unreasonable demands wouldn’t solve anything.

Finding a specific dungeon was difficult to begin with, and to make matters worse, there was a mountain of other uncleared dungeons.

It was a natural situation since they couldn’t be cleared domestically because they were designated as cartels [groups controlling access to specific dungeons]…….

In any case, there was no way to identify all the specific dungeons within an hour in such a situation.

‘Damn it…….’

The shackles he had put in place to restrain Korea were now holding him back.

Anger finally began to creep onto his face, which had rarely shown emotion even in difficult situations.

At that moment, the control team leader cautiously offered an opinion.

“For now…… shouldn’t we wait and see? They probably don’t intend to die. They’ll clear it themselves before the deadline.”

“And if the dungeon closes? Will you create the Bank Items [powerful, unique artifacts]?”

“That, that’s……”

The control team leader trailed off.

In fact, he wasn’t entirely wrong.

Kim Junwoo is an ambitious man, not a gambler.

Looking at what he’s done so far, he hasn’t done anything without certainty.

Even though he seems to act arbitrarily, there are always thorough calculations and plans behind it.

There’s no way he would risk his life gambling now.

No, it’s not even worth risking his life for.

It’s not like they’re going to kill us if we don’t hand over the Bank Items; they’ve only blocked the subjugation rights [rights to conquer a dungeon and claim its rewards].

Even then, we have the option of giving them full authority. Does the country collapse if we give them full authority? No, it doesn’t.

If you think about it simply, it’s a problem that doesn’t matter either way.

So, there’s no reason to risk their lives to stop it, at least not for them.

Kim Junwoo is playing chicken.

He might back down first when time gets tight.

Secretary-General Wesley sincerely wanted to believe that.

But.

‘Shit…….’

That was just his guess.

The risk of failure was too great to gamble on an uncertain guess.

In any case, with two Bank Items at stake, this side was the one in a hurry.

Yes, since the goal is the Bank Items…… in the end, there’s no choice but to comply with Kim Junwoo’s demands.

“Damn it!!”

Kwaaang—!!

The concrete wall crumbled like paper.

All the control team staff froze in place.

“S, Secretary-General……”

“……There’s no choice.”

After exhaling rough breaths filled with anger for a moment, he opened his mouth again.

“Withdraw the cartel designation……”

“…Yes? Wh, withdrawal?”

The Secretary-General nodded.

Yes.

Bank Items were important, but he couldn’t tolerate bowing his head to Kim Junwoo again.

“I understand. I’ll prepare a press conference right away……”

“No. Prepare a recording.”

“Yes…? A re, recording?”

The Secretary-General nodded.

Yes.

Bank Items were Bank Items, but he couldn’t tolerate bowing to Kim Junwoo again.

“Record a dummy and send it to Chloe. If we can fool Kim Junwoo, everything else will be resolved.”

He had no intention of complying with Kim Junwoo’s demands until the very end.

***

Thirty minutes had passed since entering the dungeon.

During that time, only awkward silence flowed without a single word.

Of course, it wasn’t like we were in a position to sit face to face and have a friendly conversation.

‘Hmm…….’

I glanced at Chloe and Noah, and thought of something else.

‘Should I try…….’

Yes, maybe I can persuade those two.

Breaking the silence, I cautiously opened my mouth.

“By the way, how did Chloe end up joining PB Corporation?”

“……”

Perhaps surprised by my words, she glanced at me, but there was no answer.

Well, it’s a reaction I fully expected.

“No, I mean, there must be a reason why you joined. Money, fame, or something. Ah, it’s a secret organization, so not fame. Then how much are they paying you to be in such a dump?”

“……”

“Come on, let’s have a conversation…… Isn’t it a waste to be like this? We might be the last people we’re with…….”

“To do research.”

Chloe answered as if she had given up.

“Research? Are you talking about Bank Items?”

“Yes. In the first place, the condition for recruitment was that I could freely research Bank Items.”

“Hmm… So, if you can just do research, it doesn’t necessarily have to be PB Corporation?”

Her gaze turned to the lens on her bag.

Smiling brightly, she replied.

“That’s not likely.”

“……That’s a shame. I was going to scout you since a new research institute is opening on our side.”

“I’ve heard of it. Eclipse? I heard the director is…… someone from your side.”

Chloe glanced at Director Lee Ah-young and let out a snort.

“They’ve put someone incompetent in charge.”

“Hey. Do you… want to die?”

“Such a temper.”

“Tsk, should I really show you my temper?”

Why are these two suddenly fighting?

“Stop it. We’re going to the afterlife together in 30 minutes anyway.”

Stopping the two women who were having a war of nerves, I immediately shifted my gaze to Noah.

“Then what’s your reason?”

“What?”

“Why did you join PB Corporation? You’re the world’s number one. There’s no reason to go under someone else.”

“The world has become a lot more comfortable.”

He continued with a strange smile.

“A cleaner is talking back.”

“Ha, hahaha…….”

At the quite blatant reaction, I couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh.

“There’s no need to be so hostile. I heard your sister is also a cleaner [a term for dungeon cleaners, often derogatory].”

“……!”

“A cleaner affiliated with the International Association, right? I heard the treatment there is pretty good and the salary is high? Anyway, I’m jealous. If I was going to do cleaning work, I should have joined the International Association. If it’s okay later, could you ask your sister to hook me up…….”

Then, deliberately making a regretful expression, I continued.

“Ah……. Did she die?”

That was the moment.

[Unique Skill: Apocalypse – Awakening]

[The Last Survivor]

[All of the caster’s stats are greatly increased in proportion to the number of opponents and the duration of the battle.]

“I was expecting something since you’re a strong guy……, but you’re just a loudmouth.”

Finally, the reaction I had been waiting for came.

A fierce gaze flew directly at me.

Yes, you have to be this good to be ranked 2nd in the world.

“I heard you crushed the balance team by yourself?”

“Has the rumor already spread?”

“Seeing that you were defeated by someone like you, I think I know what level they’re at.”

“You won’t be any different.”

“Ha! Hahaha!”

An exaggerated laugh returned.

He glared at me and gestured.

“Get up. I’ll kill you.”

“Hmm, there’s only 30 minutes left…….”

With a calm expression, I showed him the phone screen.

“How about it, can you do it within that time?”

[Unique Skill: Demon King]

Ssssseu―.

A black aura began to spread throughout the dungeon.

Noah hesitated for a moment as if wary, but only for a moment.

Kugugugu―!

The space vibrated around him.

“…….”

“…….”

We stood still and stared at each other.

We were observing each other and continuing the battle of nerves when.

“Stop it.”

Chloe stepped forward to stop Noah.

“Who are you to order me around?”

“The situation is over. Stop it now.”

“……What?”

She held out her phone.

The figure of Secretary-General Wesley standing in front of reporters was visible.

With a serious face, he opened his mouth in front of the microphone.

「After meeting with the person in charge, including the Korean Association, and having a conversation, it has been confirmed that there was a misunderstanding between the two sides.」

A calm voice.

「Therefore, from this moment on, I formally withdraw the statement that designated the Korean subjugation organization as a cartel, and I sincerely apologize for making hasty judgments without accurate verification procedures…….」

As I watched the screen, a smile naturally formed.

“We’ve withdrawn the regulations as you requested. Now hand over the items and proceed with the subjugation.”

At Chloe’s request, I took out my phone and called Kim Min-joo.

“Hey, it’s me.”

「Tell me, Teacher.」

“Are the kids still waiting in front of the dungeon?”

「Yes. Should we proceed with the subjugation right now?」

“No… withdraw everyone.”

At that moment, Chloe’s expression hardened.

“These bastards are scheming until the end.”

“…….”

Did they think I wouldn’t know?

It’s not like I’ve never done a press conference before.

Does it make sense that not a single flash went off when the Secretary-General withdrew his previous statement?

“Let’s just go all the way.”

I hung up the phone.

The negotiation has broken down.

***

“He… told us to withdraw.”

Kim Min-joo had a bewildered expression on her face at the unilaterally cut-off call.

Of course, Han Yu-bin, who had heard the news, was the same.

“Wh, what?! There’s less than 20 minutes left! If we don’t start the subjugation right now, they’ll really disappear!”

“…….”

“Are you really not going to subjugate?! They’re really going to die like that! Who did we come all the way here for!!”

Han Yu-bin persuaded with an excited voice, but Kim Min-joo remained silent.

“I can’t bear to see the Director die because of something like this. If Min-joo doesn’t do it, I’ll request the subjugation myself!”

“…….”

Kim Min-joo lowered her head.

She had vowed not to step forward first no matter what… but when the situation came to this, she couldn’t help but hesitate.

If we subjugate arbitrarily here, the deal that Kim Junwoo was trying to make at the risk of his life will be in vain.

But if we don’t subjugate, we lose Kim Junwoo.

She was in a situation where she couldn’t choose either.

After agonizing over the worst choice in her life for a long time.

‘I’m sorry, Teacher…….’

Soon, she made up her mind.

“Proceed… with the subjugation.”

For the first and last time, she decided to disobey Kim Junwoo’s orders.