The Wise Cleaning Life Of A Returning Genius Hunter [EN]: Chapter 175

174

“Well, I think I have a rough idea of what you guys are thinking…”

The limousine was heading to the American branch after leaving the airport.

In the midst of the silent air, Chloe spoke first.

“If you have any complaints, say them. Instead of just glaring at me like that.”

“I’m afraid you might kill me if I speak.”

“If you disliked it so much, why didn’t you kill me during the last deal?”

“I let it slide then because we met in an official capacity.”

“We’re meeting in an official capacity now too. Do you think I’m happy to be guiding you around?”

She openly snapped back.

Kim Min-joo and Han Yu-bin seemed to be trying their best to hold back their fists.

“Then what is it? No matter how I look at it, it seems like you’re deliberately trying to screw us over.”

“Thanks to you guys, Team Leader Jason ended up like that, and the higher-ups at the American branch were cut off one after another. Of course, the branch manager changed too.”

“So?”

“The new branch manager sent me. Knowing that I participated in last year’s joint operation, he said it would be good if I took charge.”

“Why, does PB Corporation think it would be good to have someone watching?”

“The current branch manager has no connection to us.”

Chloe sighed deeply and continued.

“So, is it the American branch this time?”

“…What?”

“You guys are taking over overseas associations left and right, aren’t you? It’s only been a month since you took the Japanese branch, are you aiming for the American branch this time?”

“What if we are? Is PB Corporation going to stop us?”

“Don’t get me wrong. We’re not interested in you anymore. Whether you take over or do whatever, it’s none of my business, so just take care of your business and go back quietly.”

“…….”

I looked back and forth between Han Yu-bin and Kim Min-joo, exchanging glances.

‘Not interested’—that one phrase told us everything about the International Association’s situation.

‘The goal has been achieved, is it…?’

I tried to manage my expression and opened my mouth calmly.

“Take over? Why would the American branch hand over the branch to us? I’m just here to do some business.”

“What business?”

“You said it’s none of your business.”

“…….”

Chloe’s eyebrows twitched as I returned the favor.

I felt a sense of satisfaction, thinking I had landed a blow.

“Driver.”

Chloe opened her mouth towards the limousine driver.

“The guests said they want to do some sightseeing, so they’ll walk to the branch. Please drop them off here.”

“Understood.”

Screech—.

The car stopped on the side of the road.

“Get out.”

“…….”

“…….”

She’s really taking pettiness to the extreme.

Fine, I’ll walk even if it’s dirty.

The other two seemed to have the same thought, as they got out of the car without a word.

The limousine left us behind and drove away.

We were left stranded in the middle of New York.

“…Still, it’s a relief that Yu-bin is here. You know the way, right?”

Kim Min-joo opened her mouth with a forced bright voice.

“I know it.”

“Then, well, let’s take a slow walk while sightseeing…”

“The problem is that the branch isn’t in New York.”

“……?”

What?

“What do you mean it’s not in New York?”

“I heard they moved to Long Island after Jason’s incident last year.”

“…….”

Nothing goes as planned.

I should have just held back.

“…Let’s take a taxi.”

Director Lee Ah-young is going to flip out again when she checks the payment history.

***

PB Corporation Headquarters.

Representative Emma was holed up in her office, constantly pressing her forehead.

The story that Secretary-General Wesley had told her last night was something she couldn’t understand with her common sense.

‘I’ve known he wasn’t in his right mind for a while now…’

Still, for him to say that Kim Jun-woo is from the future.

Isn’t that delusion going too far?

Representative Emma shook her head, thinking that, but only for a moment.

Her expression became quite serious.

‘…Damn it.’

Even she was now starting to doubt.

It was hard to dismiss everything as delusion; his explanations matched up in many ways.

The Time Stone, known to be able to loop not only dungeons and monsters but also objects and even humans.

Secretary-General Wesley explained that Kim Jun-woo might have used it to come from the future to the present.

A decisive judgment that was hard to believe for someone so young.

Skills that were second to none compared to any hunter in the world.

A terrifying intuition that was almost like precognition.

Above all, actions with an unknown purpose, not for money or fame.

Wesley added that his abilities, which could not be explained by common sense, were the evidence.

But if Kim Jun-woo from the future was such a great ability user, there would be no reason to use the Time Stone to come to the past.

He would have gained both money and fame with that ability, so why would he give it all up and come to the past?

When Representative Emma pointed that out, Secretary-General Wesley replied like this.

-He sacrificed himself to prevent me from monopolizing the Bank Item.

Hearing that answer, Representative Emma felt sparks flying in her head.

At the same time, she finally understood Wesley’s statement that the Time Stone’s use was a brake.

If he could control all the dungeons, abilities, and hunters in the world, the influence he could exert would be absolute.

Of course, she didn’t know what he would do with that influence, but what was certain was that it wouldn’t be a world of utopia.

And if a rebel force arose to resist Wesley?

What if Kim Jun-woo was the leader of that rebel force and sacrificed himself to return to the past to stop Wesley…?

‘Damn it, it’s not like the X-Avengers…’ [Referring to the X-Men and Avengers, implying a complex superhero scenario.]

Representative Emma let out a hollow laugh.

But she was also vaguely feeling it.

That it wasn’t impossible.

Above all, Kim Jun-woo was the kind of guy who would do that.

-So, is there a way to stop him?

Near the end of the conversation, Representative Emma asked that.

Then Secretary-General Wesley shook his head and replied.

-I don’t know yet. Anyway, it’s definitely related to the Time Stone, so if we study it a bit more, we might find an answer….

Representative Emma quickly understood why Wesley was trailing off.

The only expert who could study the Bank Item.

Bank Item Management Team Leader, Chloe, was currently at the American branch.

‘Did that branch manager say he asked her to guide the guests…?’

A sense of unease flashed through her mind.

Representative Emma immediately took out her phone.

“Team Leader Noah, I have something to ask…”

「Please speak.」

“By any chance… is Karma Corporation trying to take over the American branch recently?”

「There is no such information yet. By the way, why suddenly…?」

“I heard that a guest came to the American branch this time. Seeing Chloe being called as a guide, it seems like they are Koreans, so I asked just in case.”

「…….」

“It’s okay, the Secretary-General won’t care whether they take over or not… just ignore it.”

Team Leader Noah’s reply was cut off.

But only for a moment.

「By any chance, the Ability Stone and Time Stone I gave you… are they still at headquarters?」

“Yes. The Secretary-General is managing them directly. Why?”

「It’s nothing.」

With those words, the call ended.

“Hmm…….”

Representative Emma looked at the disconnected phone and let out a suspicious sigh.

***

“Hmm, you want to buy the regional subjugation rights?”

I was meeting with Branch Manager Michael at the American branch located in Long Island, continuing the conversation.

“Yes. I heard that the United States is in a difficult situation because dungeon appearances are too frequent.”

Branch Manager Michael nodded.

“That’s right. We have operation branches all over the country, but there are limits. It’s also burdensome to increase the number of operation branches recklessly.”

“If you sell us the regional subjugation rights, we will manage the subjugation of areas that are difficult to take care of, so wouldn’t it reduce the burden on the American branch?”

“Hmm. We reduce the burden of regional subjugation, and you make profits through additional subjugation, is that it?”

“Exactly.”

“As you know, there is no reason for us to sell the subjugation rights of profitable areas. It will be mainly rural and desert areas with low profitability, would that be okay?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

Even if the profitability is low, it ultimately means that the number of areas where subjugation activities are possible increases.

Once the initial subjugation system is in place, profits can be extracted unconditionally afterward.

Well, if you think about it, it’s a niche market.

‘Of course, that’s not the real purpose…’

Anyway, it’s necessary to pretend to be a businessman here.

“…Okay.”

Soon, Branch Manager Michael’s permission was granted.

“There is a small city called Tonopah in Nevada. We will give you the subjugation rights up to 50km around it.”

“Understood.”

“Of course, we can’t decide only on our side, and we also need the permission of the Department of Defense. We will apply on our side, so please wait a little while the permission is granted. It will take about a week.”

“I will wait with pleasure.”

After finishing the conversation and leaving the office, I suddenly turned my head as if something came to mind.

“Ah, I’m trying to find a cleaning team locally… I think it would be better to have experienced people rather than rookies. Do you have anyone to recommend?”

“Well. There aren’t many experienced dungeon cleaners besides the people currently affiliated with the branch…”

“It’s okay even if they are former employees.”

“…….”

His eyebrows narrowed.

But only for a moment.

“There are people who retired about three years ago. They were great veterans. Their skills were also very good.”

“Then I should meet them. Do you have their contact information?”

“I have it, but… it will probably be difficult to meet them. I heard they have completely cut themselves off from people. Above all, they didn’t retire on good terms, so everyone’s condition is a bit…”

He said with a reluctant expression.

Of course, I didn’t say that without knowing.

In the first place, I don’t really intend to hire them as a cleaning team.

I just need to find out what happened to them.

“Well, I’ll meet them first. If it doesn’t work out, there’s nothing I can do.”

“Understood. I will send you the contact information by email.”

I replaced the answer with a smile and left the office.

And at that moment.

“Why are you looking for those people?”

“……!”

Chloe, who suddenly popped out, blocked me.

Damn it, I was so surprised that I couldn’t even make a sound.

Judging from the looks of it, she heard everything I said inside.

“Wouldn’t it be more convenient to have experienced people than rookies in many ways?”

“Is that really the reason?”

“…Then what else is there?”

“…….”

She scanned me up and down.

“Are you really here to do business?”

“Come on… you said you wouldn’t care what I do earlier. Why are you so interested now?”

“That’s only within the line. If you’re thinking of crossing the line, things will be a little different.”

“…….”

“For example, investigating the incident from three years ago now.”

“…….”

…Huh.

Look at this?