The Wise Cleaning Life Of A Returning Genius Hunter [EN]: Chapter 162

161

“What are you talking about?”

Haramura Ryuhei reacted as if he couldn’t understand what he had just heard.

“It’s exactly as I said. I’m going to make your lie a truth.”

“…….”

Silence fell as soon as the words were spoken.

But only for a moment. Haramura wore a complicated expression.

“The CEO of a successful company is offering to help me… I appreciate it, but why?”

“There’s no need to thank me. It’s not that I’m offering to help.”

“Huh, what?”

“Why would I bother covering up your lies? It’s just that it benefits me if your lies aren’t exposed, so I’m willing to act.”

‘Did he really think I would get involved in another country’s family issues for no reason?’

‘If he did, he’s more shameless than I thought.’

If his lies are exposed, the Haramura family will lose its influence in the International Association in an instant.

The Haramura family’s downfall is a foregone conclusion.

‘Well, their downfall is none of my business.’

I just don’t want to lose a weapon that can stand against the International Association.

This isn’t a helping hand.

It’s offering a hand to someone cornered on a cliff in exchange for their life.

“We need the Haramura family’s influence. And we heard rumors that the Japanese branch might withdraw from the International Association, so we came to see if we could take over. But it doesn’t seem like that’s possible.”

“There’s no way. If I was going to withdraw from the International Association, I wouldn’t have come to you to buy the Gongbeop [a specific martial art or weapon-making technique] in the first place.”

“That’s right. But well, it’s all the better. I think we can achieve our goal without taking over the branch.”

“…….”

Haramura’s expression grew increasingly stern.

He seemed to be organizing his thoughts for a moment, then asked.

“So, are you saying… that in exchange for helping me, I should join hands with Korea?”

“Well, I’m not here representing Korea, so that’s too grand. Just think of it as joining hands with me.”

“So, how are you going to help me? I heard that Karma Corporation recently established the largest research center. Are you going to share some Gongbeop with me?”

“Mr. Haramura, you’re mistaken.”

‘Doesn’t he still understand his situation?’

He shouldn’t be in a position to ask for favors right now.

‘He’s even aiming for Eclipse?’

There should be limits to what a person can do. Where does he get the nerve…?

“We’re just trying to package the lies you’ve been telling as the truth, not to help you create a truly special weapon.”

“…….”

“As I said, you just need to remain a family that can exert influence on the International Association, as you have been doing. It doesn’t matter what kind of weapon you create.”

Only then did Haramura seem to realize that I wasn’t trying to help him.

He asked with a rather bitter expression.

“What… what do I have to do?”

“You don’t have to do anything in particular. By now, the branch must be desperate to find you. Given their nature, they might act quite extreme. Don’t get hurt and just meet with the branch manager for now.”

“…What?”

His eyebrows twitched.

“Are you telling me to walk into the branch myself? What if they openly demand the Gongbeop…”

“Then just make something up. I’ll go to the branch at the right time.”

“Wh, what does that… what are you planning to do?”

“Haa. Mr. Haramura.”

What a frustrating person.

I’m offering to extend his life, why does he keep asking so many questions?

“Just shut up and do as I say. Unless you want to be ruined here.”

“…….”

“Anyway, I’ve made myself clear. Don’t get into trouble and go to the branch.”

With those words, I took Han Yu-bin and left the office.

“I can kind of understand Ah-young’s feelings now.”

Han Yu-bin opened her mouth as if she had been waiting for this moment.

“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“It’s frustrating! If you knew something, you should have told me in advance. If you’re not going to tell me what you’re thinking and just drag me around, why did you bring me along?!”

“…….”

An arrow flew in from an unexpected direction.

‘…I’ve never heard her say that when she’s with Team Leader Lee Ah-young. Well, she’s the complete opposite of Lee Ah-young, after all.’

Of course, Lee Ah-young is also curious about what I’m thinking.

But she follows me anyway, even if I don’t answer.

Because she knows that if I don’t tell her, it’s something she doesn’t need to know.

To put it nicely, she knows her role, and to put it badly, she’s too blindly devoted.

But Han Yu-bin isn’t like that.

Unlike Lee Ah-young, who silently supports from the side, she’s more of a leader.

So she doesn’t move unless she’s convinced herself.

It’s annoying from the leader’s point of view, but it’s not all bad.

Conversely, if she’s convinced, she’ll handle anything perfectly.

It’s annoying, but I can’t help it.

“I’m sorry. I was a bit rushed this time and couldn’t tell you. Well, I’ll try to be more careful in the future.”

“Ah, uh? Yes, yes…….”

She didn’t expect to receive an apology, and she’s even more flustered.

Seriously, I’m going to do what she wants, why is her reaction like that?

“Anyway, how are you going to make the Haramura family’s lies the truth?”

Han Yu-bin asked cautiously, as if changing the subject.

I organized my thoughts for a moment and answered.

“I told Mr. Haramura to meet with the branch manager and make something up, but in reality, he’ll inevitably get caught. Those guys are obsessed with Gongbeop, so they’ll try to threaten or negotiate.”

“Th, then isn’t it dangerous? If they find out it’s a lie at the branch…”

“There’s a famous Japanese saying that if you tell a lie 100 times, it becomes the truth.”

It’s caused a lot of controversy as it’s spread to the historical issues between Korea and Japan, but it’s an important clue when understanding what kind of people the Japanese are.

“Do you think those guys would honestly report to the International Association headquarters that the Haramura family’s rumors are lies?”

“……Ah.”

Han Yu-bin seemed to understand what I was saying.

“They’ll try to hide it at all costs. Which means the branch will make it the truth on their own.”

I started walking and continued.

“We just need to add a little fuel to the fire.”

***

Not long after the CEO of Karma Corporation left the office.

A heavy silence hung in the chairman’s office.

“You’re not believing what those guys are saying, are you?”

“…….”

The chairman asked, but Haramura didn’t answer.

“That’s just a threat, you idiot! If you join hands with that guy, you’ll be living with a weakness for the rest of your life!”

“Then what, should I confess everything here and be ruined?”

“N, no, that’s not what I meant… I meant, wouldn’t it be better to hide well?”

“Until when? 1 year? 2 years? Or until I die?”

“…….”

“You know, my son got into Tokyo University this time. He grew up without a mother, but he’s become such a smart guy. At least I should be able to go to my son’s wedding.”

Haramura seemed to have already made his decision.

“…I have no choice.”

He was about to get up from his seat.

Bang—!

“H, hyungnim [term of respect, like ‘brother’ or ‘boss’]!!”

A member of the organization hurriedly opened the door, nearly breaking it, and looked for the chairman.

“Wh, what is it? What’s wrong?”

“Someone has infiltrated the headquarters! He seems to be looking for hyungnim, and we can’t stop him! He’s already taken down all the guys below!”

“…What did you say?”

“Y, you need to escape first!! I’ll buy you some time, so hurry…!”

Bang—!

Suddenly, a gunshot rang out from behind, and the member collapsed to the floor.

“You were here.”

A young man entered the office, speaking awkward Japanese.

The chairman and Haramura’s bodies froze.

“The branch manager is looking for you with a burning passion, Mr. Haramura. Stop being stubborn and let’s go.”

As the young man looked at him with a cold gaze, Haramura slowly nodded.

“Ah, I was going to go anyway. So put the gun down…”

The moment he tried to approach the man with both hands raised.

“Y, you bastard…! Do you know where you are right now!”

The chairman, unable to stand by and watch, immediately pulled out a dagger.

[Unique Skill: Yama]

Stab—!!

“…Cough!”

Of course, it was just hastening his death.

A tombstone suddenly rose from the chairman’s chest.

He couldn’t even scream as his head fell limp.

“…….”

Haramura could only watch the scene with trembling eyes.

Soon, the young man’s emotionless expression came into view.

The moment Haramura saw him, he sensed it.

That he was a human living in a completely different world from them.

***

“It’s been a while, Mr. Haramura.”

Shoichi, the branch manager, and Haramura Ryuhei finally met face to face at the Japanese branch.

“T, this is too much. You didn’t have to go this far. You even killed someone just to find me…”

Haramura still opened his mouth with a trembling voice.

But Shoichi, the branch manager, didn’t seem to care in the slightest.

“As you know, you are the one who built up the branch, Mr. Haramura.”

He opened the conversation with a customary remark.

“But you suddenly cut off contact, which was not only difficult for the operation, but also very unfortunate. I thought we had built up more trust than anyone else. I had no choice but to do this.”

“…What do you want to say?”

“I don’t know why you suddenly cut off contact… But we still desperately need your help.”

“…….”

“If you don’t want to receive any more orders, then sell us the Gongbeop. We’ll give you a generous price.”

“I refuse.”

“10 billion yen.”

“……?!”

“Still no?”

10 billion yen was an absurd price for just one family’s Gongbeop.

It was a condition that anyone else would have accepted, but… Haramura couldn’t do that.

If he gave it to them, his lies would be exposed.

Because there was nothing that could be called the family’s Gongbeop in the first place.

As he struggled to avoid answering, Shoichi, the branch manager, turned his gaze to the young man who had brought Haramura.

“Deputy Hwang. Can I ask you for one more favor?”

“Tell me.”

“This time, Mr. Haramura’s son has entered Tokyo University. His name is Masato. He’s a freshman in the Faculty of Economics, so please bring him here.”

As soon as Shoichi, the branch manager, finished speaking, the young man nodded and left the office.

“W, wait a minute! What are you trying to do…!”

Haramura, who sensed something bad, was horrified and stepped forward.

“You, you bastard! If you lay a finger on Masato, I’ll kill you!! Stop it right now!! Stop it!!”

“Mr. Haramura.”

Shoichi, the branch manager, lowered his voice and opened his mouth to Haramura, who was 벌떡 일어나 난동을 부리는 [acting up and making a fuss].

“Am I not asking you politely right now? Or should I bring your son’s head here before you’ll consider accepting my offer?”

“……!”

A shadow fell over his face.

Soon, he closed his eyes tightly as if trying to ignore reality.

No more.

Now that Masato was involved, he couldn’t hold on any longer.

In the end, Haramura forced his trembling lips open.

“…It’s a lie.”

“Excuse me?”

“It’s all a lie! There was no such thing as a special weapon or Gongbeop from the beginning!”

Shoichi, the branch manager’s eyebrows twitched greatly.

“What the hell are you talking about? Then how did a C-rank defeat a Red-rank…”

“I don’t know, damn it! It must have been a coincidence! In the first place, they were just lower-grade byproducts left over from civilian guilds, made to look plausible on the outside!”

“…….”

“There was no such thing as Gongbeop from the beginning. Is that enough?! If you understand, please don’t touch Masato!”

He shouted almost desperately, but Shoichi, the branch manager, couldn’t hear anything anymore.

‘What is going on…’

Everything has been a lie so far?

I thought something was strange from the beginning…

No, that’s not important right now.

If this fact gets into the ears of the headquarters, things will get out of hand.

Not only will he lose the Haramura Workshop brand, but of course, he himself, who was in charge of the contract responsibility between Haramura Workshop and the International Association, will not be able to avoid responsibility.

If that happens, he will lose all the influence of the Japanese branch that he has built up so far.

‘That can’t happen. I can’t let that happen.’

It was then that Shoichi, the branch manager, gritted his teeth and racked his brains.

Knock knock—.

“Th, branch manager…”

Assistant Hina was looking for him.

“What is it? Can’t you see I’m busy right now?!”

“That’s… the CEO of Karma Corporation has come to the branch right now.”

“…What? Why are those guys suddenly here?”

“It’s nothing else…”

Assistant Hina, who had no idea what had just been said, continued in a very calm voice.

“They said they want to proceed with a weapon order contract with Haramura Workshop.”

“…….”

Of course, it was nothing short of a bolt from the blue for Shoichi, the branch manager.