The Wise Cleaning Life Of A Returning Genius Hunter [EN]: Chapter 156

155

The very next day.

From early morning, the entire nation was abuzz, with the media and the internet going wild.

[This morning, the Korea Ability Dimension Management Association held a press conference to officially announce its dissolution.]

[Chairman Lee Doo-shik stated that as a non-profit organization, it was determined that continuous subjugation would be difficult in the privatized market, and a merger with Karma Corporation was decided for more stable operations.]

[CEO Kim Jun-woo pledged to use this merger as an opportunity to create a new paradigm in the domestic as well as overseas subjugation market……]

All sorts of media outlets were busy reporting the news.

Numerous names, including mine, began to dominate the real-time search rankings.

Naturally, the internet’s reaction was also very heated.

― Wha… what in the world…?

― What??? So, is the Association disappearing now?

└ ㄴㄴ It’s not so much disappearing as just changing its name, I think

└ That’s basically disappearing though;; An independent organization handing over its entire structure to a corporation;;;

― Wow, I’m seeing an association disappear in my lifetime;;

― But is this really okay?? Isn’t the only country without an association these days that place up north?

└ Karma has been doing all the Association’s roles since privatization, so it won’t really change much if it disappears nowㅋㅋㅋ

└ ㅇㅇ It’s Karma, after all. It’s enough even without the Association

― So, is Kim Jun-woo going to manage almost all of the domestic subjugation rights now?

└ ㅇㅇ Seems like it, unless another subjugation company emerges

└ Will one even emerge? What crazy person would try to compete with Karma, which has even absorbed the Associationㅋㅋㅋㅋ

― Wow, Kim Jun-woo has really eaten up all of Koreaㅋㅋㅋㅋ

└ It’s better this way, actually. It’s better to have one person taking the leadㅇㅇ

└ Honestly, I’d be anxious if someone else had a monopoly, but if it’s ‘him,’ then whatever~

└ ㄹㅇㅋㅋ He’s reassuring~

On the internet, I was known as a crazy bastard who started as a janitor and, in just one year, swallowed up the entire national subjugation market, as well as the Korean Association.

Fortunately, most of the reactions were positive.

Of course, there were some critical opinions here and there.

Among them, the most representative opinion was what would happen if I monopolized the subjugation market and played with money, using the safety of the people as collateral.

Well, that comment was quickly deleted because it was flooded with replies saying ‘Kim-al-mot’ (meaning ‘someone who doesn’t know Kim’).

Anyway, all sorts of media and articles were raving about how the manpower of Karma Corporation, the system of the Association, and the capital of Hanbyul Group had combined to create an organization that was no different from a monster.

In fact, whether that momentum worked or not, even though a week had passed since the subjugation market had normalized, no subjugation company had yet emerged.

‘At this rate, it seems like none will come out in the future either.’

One way or another, one organization once again stood at the center of the Korean subjugation market, just like before.

The difference is that, before, the head of that organization was the Association Chairman, but now…….

“Oh my, CEO Kim! No, no. Should I call you Association Chairman?”

“…….”

It would be me.

“Please, just call me normally.”

“Hahaha! A guy who’s anything but ordinary wants to be called ordinary names.”

Former Association Chairman Park In-beom burst into hearty laughter as he entered the office.

In fact, I had given him a heads-up before the Association’s official announcement.

No matter what anyone said, he was the one who had built the current Association from scratch.

I thought that if the Association was going to dissolve, it was the least I could do to inform him first, even though he had retired.

Well, even while delivering the news, I expected him to be quite displeased, but… surprisingly, he seemed satisfied with the result.

“Well, congratulations anyway. You’ve finally taken over my position.”

I received the handshake he offered with a sullen expression.

“I’m not sure if it’s something to be congratulated on yet. In fact, not much has changed.”

“What are you talking about? You’re standing at the pinnacle of the Korean subjugation market. And as a businessman, no less. It’s even more impressive than becoming the Association Chairman.”

He praised me with exaggerated expressions, but I wasn’t happy because it wasn’t a position I had wanted.

Rather, I felt like I had taken on something troublesome and was feeling uneasy.

“So, what are you planning to do from now on? I’m talking about the organizational system and stuff like that.”

Former Association Chairman Park In-beom asked as he sat facing me.

“I plan to maintain the existing Association’s system as it is for the overall system. Well, I’ll do the planning and detailed matters in my own way.”

“Hmm. What about the personnel in charge of each department?”

“I have people in mind. They’ll do better than anyone else.”

“Couldn’t be better.”

He grinned.

But that was only for a moment, as he tapped my shoulder and raised his voice.

“Straighten your shoulders. Why are you so down on such a good day?”

“……It looks like I’ll be going around a bit because of this merger.”

“What, you mean the second International Association thing?”

I nodded.

“There’s a big difference between proceeding with the Association’s name and doing it with a company’s name. No matter how much we expand our overseas branch business, it’s just a business in the end, and we won’t be recognized as an international organization.”

“I don’t know. I wonder if that depends on who’s doing it.”

“…Pardon?”

“In just one year since joining as a janitor, you’ve been recognized by the President. No, you’ve been recognized by everyone in Korea.”

“Is that such a big deal?”

“Hey, you! What if Seo Min-cheol had absorbed the Association and tried to monopolize the national subjugation rights! Would people have just stood by and applauded like they are now?!”

“…….”

That’s quite a relatable hypothetical situation.

“Anyway, the International Association thing can also develop from where it is now.”

Former Association Chairman Park In-beom continued in a serious voice.

“Instead of trying to get Karma Corporation recognized as an international organization, if you just get recognized in the international community, the rest will follow on its own.”

“That’s… too difficult.”

“What are you talking about? You just have to do what you’re doing now.”

“……Pardon?”

“……Hmm?”

What is it?

I hope he’s thinking about the same situation I am?

Something feels a bit off.

He seemed to sense something was wrong too, but he just brushed it off with an ‘oh well’ attitude.

“Anyway, don’t worry too much and just do what you want. There’s no one to stop you now.”

“I understand.”

After the conversation, he got up from his seat first.

As soon as he left the office, other people came in.

“It’s been a while, CEO! How have you been?”

Team Leader Pyeon’s voice was the first to be heard.

Kim Min-joo, Han Yu-bin, Lee Ah-young, and Ha Seong-il appeared, following behind.

“Congratulations, Teacher.”

“No, should we call you Association Chairman now?”

“If you think about it, it’s not the Association… so, Chairman?”

“Chairman sounds too old, doesn’t it?”

They each said a word and exchanged jokes.

“Well, call me whatever you’re comfortable with…….”

I cut them off before it got any louder and immediately moved on to the main topic.

The reason I called them was none other than to announce the upcoming personnel changes.

As soon as I finished speaking, everyone’s faces became quite serious.

Checking the prepared documents, I slowly opened my mouth.

“Our predecessor is clearly the Association, so I’m going to keep the organizational structure the same as before. First, Lee Ah-young.”

“Yes.”

“From now on, please take charge of Eclipse operations as well as the support team.”

She nodded with a smile.

“Han Yu-bin, please take charge of special operations planning, including the dungeon cleaning team.”

“Got it.”

“Oh, and also manage the contract management and ordering management for the byproduct processing facilities. And also, please take charge of the training for the training center cleaning part. If you’re short on staff, please also support the training for the operations part.”

“……XX.”

She’s cursing outright now.

Of course, reacting to her provocation is amateurish.

I lightly ignored it and moved on to the next person.

“Team Leader Pyeon, please continue to take charge of the control team as before. And Ha Seong-il, I’d like to ask you to take charge of the overseas branch business.”

“I understand!”

“Leave it to me.”

“And Kim Min-joo, you…….”

Finally, the last turn.

I spoke to her, who seemed somewhat nervous.

“From now on, you are the head of the operations headquarters of Karma Corporation. You will be in charge of all domestic subjugation from now on.”

“……Pardon?”

“Can you do it?”

“…Yes, yes! I’ll do my best!”

She stood up straight and answered in a loud voice.

Well, it would have been a waste to keep someone of that caliber as just the operations team leader until now.

With this, the basic setup is complete.

With the current situation, these are enough of the talents who will lead the new Association together.

“Our goal is to be recognized as an international subjugation organization within one year. To do that, I’m willing to use any means and methods……, but there’s one thing I’d like you to be careful about.”

The current situation itself is going smoothly, but it’s not like there’s nothing to be wary of.

The most persistent and vicious guy in my experience.

The only guy who can knock the situation down to the bottom in one go, no matter how high you are, no matter how great your reputation is.

“Don’t do anything that could give ‘Karma’ something to latch onto.”

“…….”

“…….”

Everyone had a look on their faces like they had misheard something, but I had no intention of explaining further.

It’s not like they’d know what ‘Karma’ is even if I explained it.

I think this is enough as a warning, and they’ll understand it well.

“What are you all doing? The story is over, so go and do your jobs.”

***

“You’re really something, you know.”

A small cafe somewhere in Jongno.

Park In-beom and Lee Doo-shik.

The two men who had delegated the 1st and 2nd Association Chairmanships, respectively, were having a small conversation.

“It’s already unfair that you were pushed into becoming the Association Chairman, but now that things are getting better, you’re handing over the entire organization to another guy.”

“Haha, that’s all I could choose.”

“Aren’t you disappointed?”

“Not at all.”

Lee Doo-shik answered immediately.

“I didn’t want to become the Association Chairman in the first place. Frankly speaking, I don’t care what happens to the Association, as long as subjugation can be done stably.”

“That’s true.”

“Above all… didn’t you have it in mind too, Hyung-nim [older brother/senior]? That you would eventually hand over the Association to Kim Jun-woo, that guy.”

“……That’s right.”

“Well, now is that time.”

Park In-beom smiled as he sipped his coffee.

Then, he looked up at the ceiling for a moment and muttered.

“I sometimes wonder what it would have been like if Kim Jun-woo had become a Hunter.”

“Since he’s a skilled guy, he would have quickly reached the top ranking in the country.”

“No, not just in the country, but he wouldn’t have been inferior in the world rankings either. Well, I don’t know all of his abilities, but if he did well, he could have aimed for the first S-rank in the country… no, even the world’s number one ranking.”

“Hey, would the number one ranking be enough? Let’s just say he achieved an SSS-rank.”

“Hey, you! Even so, that’s too much.”

“It’s just imagination, so what does it matter.”

Lee Doo-shik shrugged and replied.

“Tsk, well, anyway, if it were that guy, he would have become a Hunter who was respected by everyone, whether he was a Hunter or a janitor.”

“Isn’t he doing that now?”

“…Haha, now that I hear it, that’s true.”

Of course, they had no way of knowing that Kim Jun-woo was actually an SSS-rank Hunter and was actually a Hunter who was despised by everyone.

“So, what do you think of Kim Jun-woo, that guy?”

“Yes? Didn’t I just say it all?”

“No, no. As a son-in-law, I mean.”

Pfft―.

The tea that had entered Lee Doo-shik’s mouth splattered everywhere.

“S, suddenly what the hell… Ah, no, what nonsense are you talking about?”

“No, I heard that Ah-young is always hanging around with him. If a similar age of men and women are so close, wouldn’t something happen?”

Or maybe it already happened.

The muttered words that he mumbled quietly seemed to have reached Lee Doo-shik’s ears.

His face turned blue in an instant.