The Wise Cleaning Life Of A Returning Genius Hunter [EN]: Chapter 153

152

Immediately after the Secretary-General officially revoked the cartel regulations, the deal was successfully concluded.

“…….”

“…….”

Chloe frowned, seemingly displeased that the plan had gone awry.

Unlike Chloe, Noah didn’t seem to care much about how things turned out.

‘Well… knowing his personality, he probably wouldn’t care whether the International Association suffered losses or not.’

He was probably forced to come here in preparation for a possible armed conflict.

He wouldn’t care how the deal went.

I shrugged and opened my mouth.

“Then let’s get started with the subjugation. Now that the deal is done, there’s no reason for us to stay here.”

“……Are you suggesting we join you in the subjugation? Are you out of your mind?”

“I didn’t say we should join forces. If you don’t like it, just sit there.”

I have enough strength on my own, so there’s no need to take people who don’t want to come.

It would only be a hindrance.

“Ms. Lee Ah-young, will you be waiting here?”

“Ah, no. I’ll go with you.”

She immediately got up to follow me, as if she couldn’t stand being with those people.

Just as Lee Ah-young and I were about to take the lead, Noah spoke.

“I’ll go too.”

“……?”

Noah got up to follow us.

It was quite unexpected that he would join the subjugation, but I quickly realized his true intentions.

“I also have something to ask.”

“Sure.”

I smiled faintly.

It seemed that the bait I had laid in advance was starting to work.

However, Chloe, who hadn’t expected Noah to step in, immediately changed her attitude.

“……Then I’ll go too.”

“Didn’t you say you wouldn’t participate in the subjugation?”

“Don’t get me wrong. I’m going to keep an eye on you. Who knows what tricks you might pull.”

She gestured for me to lead the way, her eyes filled with suspicion.

She didn’t want to go a moment ago, but now she’s acting like royalty.

I took the lead and walked through the corridor of the underground prison.

In the meantime, Lee Ah-young cautiously approached me.

“You won’t change your mind later, will you?”

She asked in a hushed voice, glancing at Chloe and Noah.

“That won’t happen. If they change their position twice, their credibility will only suffer.”

“But they’re the type who can’t stand losing. I don’t think they’ll let it go.”

“Well, that’s true… but things won’t go their way anymore.”

Lee Ah-young blinked, as if asking what I meant.

“When we went to see Chairman Lee Doo-shik about the merger with our company, didn’t he refuse?”

“Ah, yes, I heard. What about it?”

“He made that choice because the International Association was faltering at the time, but he probably felt a sense of crisis because of this incident. He’ll probably push for the merger as soon as things are settled.”

“Then…….”

“Yes.”

I glanced back at those following us and continued.

“Karma Corporation will soon disappear. Even if they want revenge, there will be no target left.”

Only then did Lee Ah-young nod in understanding.

The deal was successfully concluded.

The cartel regulations were also revoked, and the Korean subjugation market will now be able to operate normally.

Of course, the International Association will grind their teeth again, but we’re going to disappear without a trace after this is over.

We’re just taking what we need and leaving, so there’s no room for any complications.

Nevertheless, Lee Ah-young’s expression wasn’t good.

She kept glancing at the suitcase that Chloe was holding.

I guess she’s worried about it.

“Are you worried about handing over the Bank Item?”

“To be honest, yes. If the International Association is so obsessed with it… there must be something more to it, right?”

“Well, that’s true….”

That’s right.

Considering the hostile takeover they launched against us before, and the fact that they’re trying to collect Bank Items even while recovering subjugation rights around the world, there’s a high probability that there’s something more we don’t know.

“There’s nothing to worry about right now. I’ve already laid the groundwork.”

“……?”

She tilted her head, but I kept silent because it wasn’t the right time to tell her.

As we were talking, we reached the end of the corridor, and a thick iron door appeared.

Standing in front of it, I said to the two women.

“Please stay behind. Noah and I will take care of the subjugation.”

Noah and I approached the iron door.

After confirming that we were far enough away from the two, I opened my mouth just before entering the boss room.

“So, what do you want to ask?”

“……I’m not close to reporters. No, I don’t have anyone I’d call close in the first place. Of course, I’ve never told anyone about my personal life.”

His voice was small, as if he was conscious of the two people behind us.

“But… how do you know that my sister died?”

“…….”

I tried to hide my smile at the question.

As expected, he took the bait.

Now the knife is in my hands.

“Hmm, it seems like it’s going to be a long story.”

“I don’t care.”

“Let’s start with the subjugation. It’s not that urgent of a story anyway.”

He seemed quite displeased.

But it would look strange to anyone if we were leisurely chatting right before the subjugation.

He nodded as if he couldn’t help it.

Eventually, we exchanged signals and opened the iron door, entering the boss room.

Whoosh—!!

An unexpected surge of energy exploded out of the door.

“Kyaaaa!”

“Ugh!”

The impact instantly threw Lee Ah-young and Chloe backwards.

Grrrrrr—.

A bizarre cry was heard.

Soon, six arms and two pairs of wings, sealed with thick iron chains, appeared.

Orange-grade split dungeon boss.

Beelzebub.

“It looks disgusting.”

“Let’s make it quick. I don’t want to look at that face for long.”

[Unique Skill: Apocalypse – Awakening]

[The Last Survivor]

[Unique Skill: Demon King – Predation of the Strong]

[While the unique skill is active, all attacks are nullified if the caster’s magic power is lower than the opponent’s.]

I immediately activated the two skills.

Creak, creaaaak—.

At the same time, Beelzebub let out a terrified cry.

***

‘Damn it…’

Even after the press conference, Secretary-General Wesley couldn’t calm his anger.

In fact, as a result, the deal proceeded as planned, and there was nothing particularly lost.

But if they were really planning to just take the Bank Item and cleanly walk away, they wouldn’t have bothered sending Noah in the first place.

He had no intention of lifting the regulations as they wanted from the start.

In that case, they wouldn’t hand over the item so easily.

That’s why he sent Noah with them.

He was planning to stop them by force if they tried to pull any tricks.

But he never imagined they would create a situation where even force couldn’t intervene.

‘If I just reinstate the cartel regulations…’

No, that’s the one thing I can’t do.

Changing my position again would only damage my credibility within the international community.

Considering the long-term trend, the disadvantages would be significant.

I have to admit defeat here and take a step back.

But even so, I couldn’t help but feel rage.

“Don’t take it too hard. You simply withdrew your previous statement without any major losses. Above all, there are still plenty of ways to keep them in check….”

The aide cautiously opened his mouth, thinking that the Secretary-General was overreacting.

But his ignorant words only made him more annoyed.

“Do you know how many subjugation organizations collapsed after we designated Korea as a cartel?”

“Yes, yes?”

“A total of 18 companies and 9 local governments, along with 61 related subcontractors, all withdrew from the subjugation market. Karma Corporation is the only one that has been holding out.”

“…….”

“Now, Karma Corporation will devour the completely tattered subjugation market and rebound like crazy.”

The aide, who belatedly realized the situation, was at a loss for words.

Even if they’re battered, they’ll become stronger if they survive.

It was obvious that they would grow at a terrifying rate in a situation where the competition had disappeared.

Of course, it was natural that it would be difficult to respond as before if the company grew in size.

If that company, which has grown so much, merges with the association….

‘I’ll have to respond passively again, just like before….’

Not only is the scale large, but if they take over the position of the public sector, it will be difficult to check or threaten them with simple methods.

If I touch them carelessly, it could be seen as interference in a country and I might have to face international criticism.

‘It would be better if the association was absorbed by Karma Corporation….’

Why would the Korean association make such a choice for anyone’s benefit?

‘I really messed up….’

This press conference didn’t just remove the shackles that had been placed on Karma Corporation.

It was like giving them wings.

Now it has gone beyond just the problem of CEO Kim Jun-woo.

“……By the way, how did CEO Kim Jun-woo come up with such a plan?”

Then, the aide brought up a question that he had temporarily forgotten.

“He knew in advance that a split dungeon would appear and decided on the location of the deal, and he even identified the interactive dungeon in advance and had troops waiting… Is this possible with human abilities?”

“……No.”

“Yes?”

“It’s absolutely impossible. This isn’t just about having insight.”

This isn’t insight, it’s like perfectly predicting the future.

It can only be seen as far beyond the realm of humans.

‘Could it be that he has a skill to predict the future?’

No, that can’t be.

Such an ability doesn’t exist in the first place.

All supernatural powers are focused on subjugation, and even if there are differences, they are ultimately just tools for combat.

“Then how did CEO Kim Jun-woo know about this plan….”

“There’s only one thing we can think of.”

Secretary-General Wesley barely opened his mouth, calming his trembling lips.

“That he really came from the future….”

“……Haha.”

The aide let out a forced laugh, thinking it was a joke.

But Secretary-General Wesley didn’t look like he was joking at all.

“Are you sure that the Bank Items they handed over are Time Stone and Ability Stone?”

“Yes, yes… That’s what has been confirmed so far.”

“Time Stone… Time Stone….”

Secretary-General Wesley kept muttering those words and fell into thought.

How many minutes had passed?

Soon, a smile began to spread across his face.

“Please contact Team Leader Chloe right now.”

“Yes?”

“Tell her to bring the Bank Items to me as soon as she enters the country.”

“……Understood. It seems they are still subjugating the split dungeon, so I will contact her when they are about to return.”

The aide left the office with those words.

‘If my guess is correct….’

There might be a way.

A way to completely eliminate Kim Jun-woo.

If so, forcibly obtaining the Bank Items now might actually be a blessing in disguise.

Secretary-General Wesley’s eyes gradually came back to life.