The Wise Cleaning Life Of A Returning Genius Hunter [EN]: Chapter 154

153

The subjugation ended quickly, as expected.

An orange-grade, high-risk dungeon, and even demon-type monsters with difficult-to-analyze patterns, but what of it?

The subjugation team consisted of the former and current rank 1 players.

‘From the start, that guy alone is on par with a decent guild-level force….’

I muttered, watching him pant slightly as if he had just done some light exercise.

Anyway, with the subjugation complete, we were about to wrap things up and leave when it happened.

“I think it’s time you answered.”

Noah spoke as if he had been waiting for this moment.

It seemed like he hadn’t cared about the subjugation from the start.

“About my sister, how do you know about her?”

“Hmm… it’s a bit difficult to explain.”

I glanced at Lee Ah-young and Chloe, who were waiting outside, and then quietly opened my mouth.

“Actually, I know quite a bit about you. You were adopted by white parents with your younger sister when you were young, but you were constantly subjected to domestic violence. Things like that….”

“……!”

“And after your ability manifested, you locked your adoptive parents in a dungeon, right?”

Noah’s pupils shook for a moment.

“Anyway, after spending an unhappy childhood with your sister, you were lucky enough to join a pretty decent guild, and your sister also joined the American branch as a cleaner… but she died in an accident during work not long after.”

“Shit. How the hell….”

He trailed off, as if he couldn’t believe it.

Seriously, how do I know? You told me everything yourself when I went to stop you from starting a war against the International Association before the regression.

“Well, I can explain how I know… but isn’t there something else you should really be wondering about?”

“What?”

“Your sister… did she really die in an accident?”

[Unique Skill: Apocalypse]

[As long as the unique skill is active, all of the caster’s stats continuously increase.]

No sooner had I finished speaking than he activated his skill and grabbed me by the collar.

Noah Westernwood.

He is a Guardian-class hunter who achieved rank 1 in the world rankings, an unprecedented feat.

However, unlike other Guardians who protect their allies with high defense and health, his class is a bit special.

What he protects is not his allies, but only himself.

‘Especially since his awakened skill is quite tricky….’

Apocalypse awakened skill, the last survivor.

As a result of the skill, he becomes near invincible the more opponents there are and the longer the battle lasts.

Thanks to that, he can’t be killed easily, and if his stats reach their maximum… even I can’t guarantee the outcome.

“You… how much do you know!”

He asked in a threatening voice, his eyes filled with intensity.

“Well, I don’t think this is the place to say more.”

“Answer me properly! If you don’t want to die!”

“Aren’t there eyes watching? If you really want to hear more… let’s set a date separately.”

“No, I need to hear it right now. If you can’t speak, I’ll kill you to make you talk.”

“Tsk. Do you think my employees outside will stand still if you leave the dungeon without me?”

“Do you think those guys can do anything to me?”

“…….”

Come to think of it, that’s true.

No matter how good Kim Min-joo and Han Yu-bin are as a duo, they wouldn’t stand a chance against him.

“So, what I mean is what happens after that. The headquarters won’t look kindly on you starting a fight in another country after the deal is done. You might get cut off before you even find what you want.”

“…….”

Fortunately, the persuasion worked, and Noah’s momentum gradually subsided.

Of course, he himself suspects it.

That the headquarters was involved in his sister’s death.

That’s why he caused such a mess against the International Association before the regression.

He probably infiltrated the International Association to find out the truth.

Now that he’s finally in, he can’t leave without any results.

“……Set a date.”

“I’ll contact you later.”

“If you pretend not to know when the time comes… you’ll really have to be prepared.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. Oh, and there’s one condition.”

“Condition?”

“Yes. There’s something you need to bring when we meet.”

Since he had already taken my bait, it was a fight he couldn’t win from the start.

So, I didn’t miss the opportunity and brought up the main point.

***

Immediately after leaving the divided dungeon, we parted ways without any special greetings.

Director Lee Ah-young asked as soon as she confirmed that Noah and Chloe were far away.

“What did you talk about with that man after the subjugation?”

“Didn’t you say you were worried about the Bank item going to them? So, I threw some bait. Bait he couldn’t resist.”

“……Pardon?”

Hmm, where should I start explaining?

After thinking for a moment, I decided to keep it as brief as possible.

“That man named Noah, he doesn’t really like the International Association. His younger sister died while working at the American branch.”

“Um? But why is he now…….”

“He’s suspicious. He thinks it wasn’t an accident, but that something else happened. So, when PB Corporation offered him a position, he thought it was a good opportunity. Because he could investigate it himself. I tried to use that as leverage to get his attention.”

“So, that’s why you brought up the story about his sister at the beginning?”

“Yes. If I hinted that I knew something, he would definitely react.”

And he actually reacted right away.

“Anyway, I leaked some information after the subjugation. I’m sure I’ll hear from him soon.”

“Does that mean… you know why his sister died?”

“……No.”

How would I know that?

He didn’t tell me that far.

“Yes, yes? You just threw it out there without even knowing?! Even about family matters?!”

“He’s not that reckless. Well… I have to find out from now on, too.”

That incident, honestly, it smells a bit fishy.

There’s definitely something there.

More than anything…….

‘Well… it’s similar to what happened to that friend of mine.’

“Anyway, that’s for later. Until then, let’s focus on our work. We’ll be quite busy starting today.”

“……Okay.”

After finishing the conversation, we joined the employees who were waiting outside.

“I’m sorry…….”

Kim Min-joo immediately bowed deeply as soon as she saw me.

I was momentarily taken aback, wondering why she was doing this, but I quickly understood the meaning.

“I clearly ordered you to retreat.”

“…….”

“Why did you proceed with the subjugation?”

After hesitating for a while, Kim Min-joo finally opened her mouth.

“I haven’t…….”

“What?”

“I haven’t received my salary yet.”

“…….”

…What?

Did I just hear that wrong?

I paused for a moment, stunned by the unbelievable answer.

But it wasn’t like she hadn’t been strange for a day or two, so I decided to let it go.

‘Tsk…… well, it was expected anyway.’

Of course, it’s true that she disobeyed my orders.

It could have messed up the plan.

But as a result, we achieved our goal…….

‘And thanks to that, I survived.’

I wondered if I should say something more, but I decided to stop because it didn’t seem like anything would change.

It’s not like she’s so unaware of her mistakes that she needs to be pointed out one by one like before.

“Okay. Do better next time.”

“…Yes, yes!”

I left her behind and boarded the prepared vehicle.

Just in time, a phone call came.

「I saw the news, how did you manage to finish it well?」

“Yes, Chairman. I finished it well.”

「You’ve done a great job. Thanks to you, not only us, but the whole of Korea has survived.」

“The praise is too much.”

「Too much my ass, we would have been screwed without you, you little rascal!」

Why is he suddenly swearing?

「Anyway, I’ve prepared a gift for your hard work this time.」

“……Pardon?”

「You know that absorption thing you mentioned last time. About handing over Karma Corporation to the association…….」

“Ah, yes, yes. How did you think about it?”

「After thinking about it, I don’t think it’s that beneficial. So, I was thinking…….」

I suddenly started to feel uneasy.

「I’m thinking of dissolving the association altogether this time.」

“…….”

What?

What did he just say?

“Chairman… have you been drinking?”

「No? I’m sober.」

“…….”

It’s even more shocking that he’s spouting such nonsense while sober, damn it.

“Chairman, where are you right now?”

「At headquarters.」

“Don’t move an inch. I’ll be right there.”

Seriously, there’s no one sane, whether it’s this guy or that guy.

***

Some time after the ship carrying Chloe and Noah left Incheon Port after completing the deal.

“So…….”

Team Leader Chloe cautiously approached Noah, who was lost in thought at the bow of the ship.

“What did you two talk about?”

“Talk about?”

“Right after the subjugation. You even grabbed him by the collar.”

“……He was just picking a fight again.”

Noah tried to answer as if it were nothing.

“You managed to hold back with your personality.”

“I know how to separate public and private matters. I’m strictly affiliated with PB Corporation, so I should only follow the work instructions.”

He answered smoothly, but.

Chloe still had a rather suspicious expression.

“By the way, what was that story about your sister that CEO Kim mentioned in the dungeon?”

“……It’s nothing.”

“She was a cleaner affiliated with the International Association? I’ve never heard of that.”

“Hey.”

Noah, who had been maintaining a calm expression, subtly revealed his anger.

“Didn’t I say it’s nothing?”

“You have no respect for your senior.”

“Don’t expect any favors.”

“I didn’t expect any.”

Chloe turned her back as if she had lost interest.

Meanwhile, Noah’s gaze kept going to the suitcase.

And then the phone rang.

It was from CEO Emma.

「Did you secure the Bank item?」

“Yes. I received it without any problems. I’m really sorry about what happened during the deal.”

It was actually an apology close to fear.

It wasn’t her responsibility, but she was at the deal site anyway.

If she saw the progress, it was clear that the Secretary-General would have been quite angry.

She might even have to take responsibility for the anger spreading to her.

「You don’t have to worry about that. The Secretary-General said it couldn’t be helped either. Well, that’s beside the point…….」

CEO Emma got to the point.

「There’s something I need to check, so bring the Bank item to headquarters as soon as it arrives.」

“To avoid getting caught in customs, we need to bring it in as research equipment. Then it will inevitably go straight to the research lab…….”

「If we leave it to Team Leader Noah, it will be fine. If it’s an item from the world’s number one player, they won’t inspect it that thoroughly.」

Noah’s gaze turned to her as if he had heard the conversation.

“…I understand.”

Chloe hung up the phone and had a hesitant expression for a moment.

But only for a moment, she handed the suitcase to Noah.

“I think you should take it to headquarters.”

“I will.”

Noah replied dryly.

It was as if he had no interest in the Bank item or anything else.