The Wise Cleaning Life Of A Returning Genius Hunter [EN]: Chapter 188

187

“What do you want?”

It was the moment I turned my back, devoid of any lingering feelings.

As expected, Secretary-General Wesley urgently called me back.

I stopped walking and spoke.

“Are you still thinking of negotiating?”

“You were looking for Eden because you wanted something from us, right? Tell me anything. I’ll try to accommodate as much as possible.”

Secretary-General Wesley tried to speak calmly, but his expression betrayed his composure.

Well, it’s understandable.

The balance of power has shifted in our favor.

Secretary-General Wesley’s ultimate goal is to control global subjugation rights [the authority to manage and exploit dungeons worldwide].

But to achieve this, two conditions are absolutely necessary.

First, he must possess all the Bank Items [powerful artifacts that control dungeons and abilities] that can freely control dungeons and abilities worldwide.

Second, he must prevent Eden from falling into the hands of others.

Eden is increasingly seen as the primary cause of the bizarre phenomena that have persisted for the last 50 years.

In other words, using Eden could eliminate these phenomena.

If we could return to the peaceful days when dungeons, monsters, hunters, and abilities didn’t exist… the subjugation rights control and the International Association itself would become obsolete.

From Wesley’s perspective, he must prevent that at all costs.

For him, dungeons are not a disaster but merely a business tool.

And that’s…

‘The same goes for me…’

Even if I obtained Eden, I wouldn’t be able to use it.

My goal is to become the Secretary-General of the International Association.

Of course, I can’t achieve that goal in a world where dungeons and hunters have disappeared, so Eden is an unusable sword for me as well.

Nevertheless, the reason I desperately tried to find Eden was to prevent it from falling into Wesley’s hands and… to prevent the International Association from trying to control the world through negotiations.

“Sigh, no matter how I think about it, I don’t see any reason for me to negotiate. Wouldn’t it be better to just get rid of this phenomenon, no matter what you offer?”

“Since you’re also profiting from this industry, wouldn’t it be better to secure more practical benefits than to have the dungeons disappear?”

Secretary-General Wesley’s voice wasn’t just earnest; it was desperate.

I almost smiled.

“That’s certainly true. But I don’t know if you have any conditions to offer that I’d find acceptable.”

“Don’t say that; just tell me.”

“If I were to ask you to withdraw the global subjugation rights control, would you do it?”

“……”

Absolutely not.

He’s been desperately collecting Bank Items just to control subjugation rights.

“See? You want control, and I want independence. Our interests are completely opposite, so do you think this can be negotiated?”

“……”

Secretary-General Wesley gritted his teeth.

He lowered his head and contemplated for a while.

And soon.

“……Alright.”

As if he had made up his mind, he spoke with a determined expression.

“I’ll take a step back.”

“How so?”

“I’ll recognize Karma Corporation as an independent subjugation organization. Also, instead of us managing the subjugation rights, we’ll hand over the hunter management authority to you.”

I was secretly impressed.

He’ll give the hunter management authority and take the subjugation rights.

This means that independent subjugation is still impossible without the permission of the International Association.

But conversely, it also means that the International Association can’t recklessly carry out subjugation without our dispatch permission.

An ideal condition for me, where neither side has complete control.

It’s definitely an unconventional offer to give up one of the two control rights, but…

“Well, that seems a little lacking…”

I wouldn’t have even started if I was going to be satisfied with just that.

“……Is there anything else you want?”

“Honestly, there’s no guarantee that something like this won’t happen again.”

“……So?”

“You’ll have to recognize us not only as an independent organization but also as an operation management organization.”

“What does that mean?”

“I want you to give us the authority to manage and supervise all operations conducted by the International Association in the future.”

Secretary-General Wesley’s eyebrows twitched.

If we have the authority to manage and supervise operations, the International Association can no longer carry out operations like this one.

At the same time, they won’t be able to operate in the shadows, and they won’t even be able to attempt to backstab us.

In other words, it means putting safeguards in place to prevent them from targeting us in the future.

Of course.

“Ah, and one more thing.”

It doesn’t end here.

“How about the International Association manages the Time Stone and Dimension Stone, and we manage the Ability Stone and Anti-Ability Stone? Wouldn’t it be less credible if you only verbally hand over the authority?”

“……That’s too much.”

“This is a negotiation with Eden on the line; shouldn’t it be at least this much?”

I said with a smile.

Secretary-General Wesley let out a trembling sigh.

His face clearly showed that he was holding back his anger.

“So… if I accept all those conditions, will you hand over Eden to us?”

“Well, isn’t it too dangerous for either side to have Eden? If you accept the conditions, we’ll take responsibility for handling it.”

“How can I believe that…”

“If you can’t believe it, there’s nothing I can do.”

I shrugged.

I’m asking for ridiculous conditions, and I’m not even handing over Eden.

At first glance, it’s an unreasonable negotiation that there’s no reason to accept.

But the situation is what it is.

As long as what we have is something that can blow away the entire International Association…

“……I’ll contact you as soon as possible.”

Wesley has no choice but to accept this negotiation.

“I’ll be waiting.”

This time, I approached him first and offered a handshake.

But he ignored me and turned away.

I saw his face contorted with anger in that fleeting moment, but what can I do?

The power is already in my hands.

“Then please go safely. It was nice meeting you.”

Secretary-General Wesley turned away from my greeting and walked away with his staff.

Only after he was completely gone did I take a deep breath.

“……Will it be okay?”

Kim Min-joo, who came up beside me, asked worriedly.

“Hunter management authority, even operation management and supervision authority. The conditions couldn’t be better, so what are you worried about?”

“I’m worried that he accepted those good conditions so easily. He might backstab us later. Especially considering what he’s done so far…”

“The stakes are different now. Eden is their Achilles’ heel [a critical vulnerability]. He probably can’t even think about backstabbing us.”

I answered nonchalantly.

“Anyway, we got to share the Bank Items and were recognized as an independent organization. The authority of the International Association has been officially divided… it couldn’t be better.”

“We have to give up Eden again with those conditions. We could have overturned the whole world instead of just dividing the authority…”

“Well, that’s certainly possible.”

I glanced at Kim Min-joo and continued.

“If we really found Eden.”

“……Yes?”

Kim Min-joo’s eyes widened for a moment.

But instead of answering, I just raised one corner of my mouth.

***

American Branch, Central Control Room.

Director Lee Ah-young was left alone there, constantly biting her nails.

It was because Kim Jun-woo, who had gone to support the South, hadn’t been in contact for several hours.

Well, there’s no way that man would be dead… but I couldn’t help but worry.

While pacing back and forth in the office for several minutes with a rather anxious expression.

In the end, unable to bear the anxiety, I picked up the communicator.

「Yes.」

“He, hello?”

After a short connection sound, Kim Jun-woo’s calm voice was heard.

“What happened?! What’s the situation? Is anyone hurt? Why haven’t you contacted me, making me worry!”

「…….」

I poured out my nagging along with relief, but for some reason, Kim Jun-woo didn’t answer.

Director Lee Ah-young felt that something was wrong and carefully opened her mouth again.

“Hello? Why aren’t you saying any…”

「…Is it true?」

Then came a rather absurd answer.

“……? What are you talking about all of a sudden? What’s true?”

Lee Ah-young tilted her head.

But Kim Jun-woo still uttered incomprehensible words.

「…I understand. I’ll go there right now, so please keep it safe.」

“No, what are you talking about! Explain it so I can understand…!”

Click―.

With that, the communication was unilaterally cut off.

Director Lee Ah-young stared at the turned-off communicator with an expression that she couldn’t understand at all.

What the heck is this guy?

***

“……”

Secretary-General Wesley’s private jet was crossing the American sky, heading to the International Association headquarters.

From the moment of takeoff, a heavy atmosphere had settled inside the plane.

In fact, the employees had so much to say about the negotiation just now.

But no one could easily open their mouths at Wesley’s expression, which looked very angry to anyone.

“Um……”

At that time, one employee took the lead and carefully made a voice.

“Secretary-General, no matter how I look at it, this negotiation doesn’t make sense…”

[Unique Skill: Creation of Heaven and Earth]

[Creates an 11th-dimensional unique space]

Swish―.

At that moment, the upper body of the employee who opened his mouth disappeared somewhere.

At the same time, a thud, the torso falling to the floor.

Everyone else covered their mouths at the shocking sight.

But Secretary-General Wesley didn’t even glance at the employee who had been cut in half in an instant.

It was then that everyone was overwhelmed with fear and couldn’t even breathe.

“Are you really going to accept the conditions?”

Wesley’s executive secretary took the place of the coldly deceased employee and continued the conversation.

It was a rather calm voice even after witnessing that terrible sight.

“……”

“No matter how I think about it, it’s strange. Suddenly finding Eden at this timing. It’s obviously a lie…”

“Or?”

“……Yes?”

Secretary-General Wesley’s fierce eyes reached her.

“If, by any chance, it’s not a lie, will you take responsibility then?”

“That’s……”

“The risk is too great to gamble.”

Soon, Secretary-General Wesley took a deep breath.

“It’s painful, but… there’s no choice. For now, we have no choice but to accept their conditions.”

“But if we hand over the hunter management authority and even the Bank Items, we…”

“It won’t go according to the original plan.”

The plan to control dungeons and hunters around the world.

If we accept Kim Jun-woo’s conditions, it will all be in vain.

But the fact that he already has Eden has already disrupted the plan.

So there’s no choice.

We have to step back here.

“Let’s watch the situation for now. After it’s confirmed that Eden has been dealt with… let’s take the loss.”

“You mean…”

“I mean, let’s prepare the last resort.”

The last resort.

The last resort that must be taken out even at the cost of losses.

That meant war.

As the situation became more and more serious, the executive secretary swallowed her saliva without realizing it.