The Wise Cleaning Life Of A Returning Genius Hunter [EN]: Chapter 166

165

“Help? After pulling off this kind of trick, you say you’re going to help?!”

Shoichi Branch Manager’s voice grew increasingly agitated.

“Of course, I’m not forcing you. The choice is yours, Branch Manager. However, you may not have much of a choice.”

The information leaked to the press isn’t about Haramura Workshop lying.

It’s about the Japanese branch threatening Haramura to produce fake weapons in order to make money off the International Association.

Well, naturally, it’s a lie I made up.

In a way, the Japanese branch is also a victim of Haramura, but… didn’t I say?

A lie becomes the truth if you tell it a hundred times.

The International Association will certainly take some kind of action against the Japanese branch for deceiving them.

Of course, whether that action is limited to the Japanese branch or affects Japan as a whole is uncertain.

In any case, the Japanese citizens, including the National Assembly, certainly wouldn’t want to suffer because of the branch.

Above all, under Han Yoobin’s command, they are using the media, the internet, and politicians to create a sense of fear of retaliation.

With the National Assembly also calling for the branch to be expelled, if left unchecked, the Japanese branch will be abandoned by both Japan and the International Association.

The branch will be left barely breathing with all its teeth pulled out.

Naturally, Shoichi Branch Manager, as the person in charge, will not be able to avoid severe disciplinary action.

Haramura and the International Association.

The Japanese branch is in a situation where it will lose both after trying to have them both.

And to reverse this situation… there are only two ways.

The first is to reveal the truth about Haramura Workshop, come hell or high water.

Of course, they will lose the Haramura brand, but at least they can avoid being abandoned by both sides.

Perhaps Shoichi Branch Manager had the same thought, as he picked up his phone again and shouted.

“Release a rebuttal article right now! It wasn’t us who led it, but the Haramura family who lied in the first place! Tell every broadcasting station that we were just deceived….”

「W, we’re already trying… but they’re not answering.」

“……What?”

Of course, I can’t let them confess the truth now.

I’m sorry, but the Haramura family must remain an influential brand.

「Ah, it seems someone is putting pressure on the broadcasting stations and the media.」

“Damn it, who the hell! What bastards are doing that to us!”

「I heard that the Yakuza [Japanese organized crime syndicates] organizations across Japan have recently been integrated, could it be their doing…?」

“……!”

The massive force led by Han Yoobin has already taken control of all media.

Naturally, there is no room for the branch to intervene now.

Thus, the first method became useless.

Then there’s only one method left.

“We’ll somehow take care of the Japanese branch, so why don’t you leave it to us for now and escape first, Branch Manager?”

“What…?”

“Hand over the Japanese branch to us.”

Passing on the responsibility, taking everything you can, and running away alone.

“With this contract fee and the foundation I’m handing over, you can live comfortably in a scenic place for the rest of your life. Well, we’ll call you back when the situation is somewhat resolved.”

“You’re telling me to believe that now?!”

“What are you going to do if you don’t believe it? It’s better than taking all the responsibility and going to jail, isn’t it?”

Shoichi Branch Manager’s pupils shook violently.

To drive the wedge in for him as he hesitated, I said,

“Branch Manager, this is all for the sake of the Japanese branch. Think about it. The Japanese branch will collapse anyway if things continue like this. We’re offering to clean up the mess you’ve made, so what are you hesitating about?”

“…….”

“There’s not much time, Branch Manager.”

I handed Shoichi Branch Manager a document.

It contained the delegation of the highest authority of the Japanese branch.

“Now, all you have to do is sign here.”

“…….”

Shoichi Branch Manager’s hand, receiving the pen, trembled.

But only for a moment.

“Damn it… damn it…!”

While cursing, he eventually scribbled his signature on the document.

“You bastard, just you wait! If you do anything funny while I’m gone, I won’t let you get away with it!”

“Yes, yes, the way out is that way.”

In the midst of the ongoing battle, Shoichi Branch Manager finally turned his back.

Bang, Kwakwang—!

Puhbuhbuhng—!

“Keep pushing!!”

“The cold is too severe, we can’t approach!”

“If it’s an attack that won’t work anyway, don’t even try it!”

Seriously.

They’re making such a fuss over just one Ghost type.

“Okay, there’s no time, so I’ll explain quickly. As of now, Branch Manager Shoichi has delegated all responsibility and authority of the Japanese branch to me.”

“……?”

“……What?”

“Well, it’s not like I’m becoming the branch manager since I’m not affiliated with the International Association. Just think of it as a temporary replacement while the branch manager is away.”

It seems they belatedly noticed something strange.

The operation team stopped fighting and looked at me.

I don’t know if they have time to look away.

“What are you doing? If you understand, continue the subjugation.”

“……Ha, hahaha.”

“What are you talking about right now.”

“The branch manager delegated authority? There’s no way…….”

They let out hollow laughter and added a word each.

Well, it’s a natural reaction.

Anyone would be taken aback if the person in charge suddenly changed during the subjugation.

However…….

“Wait a minute… I don’t see the branch manager?”

“What?!”

“He was just here!”

“What did you do to the branch manager!”

“Where is the branch manager!”

Fools.

Don’t they know what’s more urgent in this situation?

Squeak—.

Kwang—!!!

Seolgui’s attack flew towards them, who had forgotten that they were in the middle of a battle.

‘Tsk, if I leave it to them, it’ll take all day…….’

I have to move busily from now on, I can’t waste time here.

“Get out if you’re not going to do it properly.”

“Wh, what…?”

“Do you think this is a joke…!”

[Unique Skill: Demon King – Dictator]

[Creates a disposable skill according to the caster’s thoughts.]

[Skill creation in progress]

[Skill creation complete]

Gugugugugu—.

[Created Skill: Eight Hot Hells]

Crimson lava began to rise beneath Seolgui’s feet.

Kkyyaaaaaaak—!!!

The hellfire that never goes out even after eons of time.

As the flames of the Eight Hot Hells, which judge the dead, soared, Seolgui screamed, tearing its ears.

“Uh, uh…?”

“Wh, what……?”

Everyone had blank expressions, as if they couldn’t believe that I had landed the first effective hit since the subjugation began.

But only for a moment.

Shuuuuuuuu—!

Emitting tremendous cold, Seolgui escaped the flames and flew into the sky.

Soon, a fierce blizzard raged.

Pooshuk, pooshuk—!

Instead of snow, sharp ice crystals like blades scattered madly.

‘Tsk, it’s annoying.’

Taking a defensive stance, I approached Goryeda, who was a test participant.

“Hey! Give me the sword.”

“Uh, uh? Th, that…!”

I snatched the Sipsuban… whatever it was, that Goryeda was holding.

Goryeda was flustered when his weapon was taken away.

Well, it’s a natural reaction since he knows it’s fake.

[Skill creation in progress.]

[Skill creation complete.]

[The created skill has been determined to be S-rank or higher.]

[Starting the S-rank skill safety device release sequence.]

Jiiiiing—.

The moment I held the sword, a rough wind began to gather around the sword.

[Checking activation conditions.]

[Confirming caster identity.]

[Checking caster’s rank.]

[Checking combat status.]

[Checking Unique Skill – Demon King activation status.]

[Class Awakening]

[Unique Class: Magic Swordsman]

[Activation conditions have been confirmed.]

[The safety device of the skill has been released.]

[Use the skill with caution.]

[Created Skill: Eight Hot Karma Blade]

Swoosh—.

I lightly swung the sword.

Kwagwagwagwang—!!

The massive fire that struck directly quickly burned Seolgui without extinguishing even in the fierce cold.

“…….”

“…….”

No further attacks were needed.

I quietly watched Seolgui screaming for a while, and the blizzard that had swept through the boss room stopped.

The boss had fallen, but the operation team was still frozen in place.

Hmm? The blizzard stopped, but why are they still frozen?

“……Wh, what!”

“Th, that wasn’t fake?!”

“The rumors about the Haramura family were a lie.”

“The branch manager definitely said…….”

They muttered among themselves as if they couldn’t understand.

Well, anyway, the weapon test is over.

“Okay, it seems to be finished, let’s go out. We have a lot to do. We’re going to be very busy from now on.”

“…….”

“…….”

There was no answer, but everyone obediently began to leave the dungeon.

***

At the same time, a National Assembly personnel hearing held in Yeouido.

“Is it true that Karma Corporation has signed a huge contract with the Japanese branch?”

At the question thrown by a lawmaker, Director Ha Seong-il immediately answered.

“It is true. But the reason we signed the contract was not to maintain relations with the Japanese branch, but…….”

“Have you already forgotten what the Japanese branch did to us in the past?”

“No. We also remember the atrocities of the Japanese branch, and this deal is by no means an attempt to join hands with them…….”

“Is it right for a subjugation company that should protect the people to be blinded by money and join hands with the Japanese branch that trampled on the people?”

“Do you think it’s reasonable for such a company to monopolize subjugation rights?”

The fixed questions of the Future Democratic Party lawmakers cut off Director Ha Seong-il’s words and continued to fly.

From the beginning, they had no intention of listening to the answer.

‘Hoo, these old geezers…….’

Director Ha Seong-il lowered his head without realizing it.

They are bringing up national sentiment, but the truth is that they are not saying those words because they are really patriots.

They just need a way to undermine Karma Corporation and CEO Kim Jun-woo, who are receiving unconditional trust from the public.

So no matter how much I try to persuade them, they have no intention of listening.

The only answer they want is to admit everything and say sorry.

‘That way, they can drive us into a corner as if we really did something wrong…….’

Director Ha Seong-il frowned.

I was called out in place of CEO Kim Jun-woo, but as the person in charge, I had to do something anyway.

In the worst case, we may have to give up the subjugation rights that we worked so hard to obtain.

“Director Ha Seong-il.”

Then, Representative Seong Hyun-sook, the leader of the Future Democratic Party and the mastermind behind spreading the Japanese branch rumors, opened her mouth.

“Yes… please speak.”

“Looking here, it says that you recently handed over the youth hunter training foundation that Karma Corporation was promoting to the Japanese branch manager.”

“……?”

“If you’re not trying to join hands with the Japanese branch, how do you explain this? No matter how I look at it, it looks like a quid pro quo bribe.”

“…….”

Director Ha Seong-il could not answer that question.

It was natural.

It was a story he was hearing for the first time.

“How about… should we conduct a search and seizure of Karma Corporation?”

“…….”

Damn it.

There’s no answer if this happens.

Director Ha Seong-il bit his lip tightly and finally let out a faint sigh.

And at that moment.

“D, CEO!”

Representative Seong Hyun-sook’s aide urgently called for her.

Then he conveyed the news that had just come in.

“CEO Kim Jun-woo… has just been delegated the authority of the Japanese branch.”

“……?”

The lawmakers froze for a moment.

“What…?”

“…Wh, what?!”

“What’s going on?!”

The reaction started half a beat late.

The lawmakers each urgently started calling somewhere to confirm the contents.

Looking at their expressions, it seemed to be true.

‘Ha… you really make my heart flutter.’

Only then did Director Ha Seong-il smile with a sigh of relief.