The Wise Cleaning Life Of A Returning Genius Hunter [EN]: Chapter 190

189

“That hardly seems like enough to thank you.”

Karma Corporation, Administrative Headquarters.

Although we didn’t find Eden, we got what we wanted in the end, so we withdrew from the United States immediately.

As soon as I returned to Korea, Director Lee Doo-shik summoned me.

As I entered the office, he greeted me and asked,

“What on earth happened?”

“It’s just as the news reported.”

“Come on, that’s not all of it. What did you do to make the International Association back down this much?”

“Well… I did some negotiating.”

“What kind of negotiating?”

I hesitated to answer.

Because there was so much to tell to explain.

As I paused, unsure where to begin, Director Lee Doo-shik waved his hand.

“Okay, don’t tell me if it’s difficult to say.”

“Are you sure?”

“It’s your work, why wouldn’t I be?”

Director Lee Doo-shik sat heavily on the sofa and continued.

“And that’s what I should be saying. Are you really okay?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Hey, you can’t just say that so easily. Because of this, the International Association’s control has been halved, and bank items are now managed separately. Most of all, they’ve started to lose the trust that was more important than life itself.”

Director Lee Doo-shik continued with a serious face.

“It might be good for us… but conversely, it also means the International Association has nothing left to lose. You know? There’s nothing scarier than a guy with nothing to lose.”

“I know it well.”

“No matter how they come at you in the future, it will be more extreme than anything you’ve seen so far.”

“…I suppose.”

“Besides, you’re not alone anymore. You have hundreds, thousands of people to protect… Can you really handle it?”

I answered that question with a smile.

Of course, it was a smile closer to negative than positive.

Why should I protect the employees, anyway?

They should be able to take care of themselves.

From the start, I’m too busy to worry about my own work.

That’s the kind of smile it was… but somehow Director Lee Doo-shik seemed to understand it a little differently.

“Okay, I asked a pointless question. Of course, what can’t Kim Jun-woo handle?”

“…….”

He’s doing everything himself.

“Anyway… what’s the plan for the future?”

“I’m going to stay in the country for a while and see how things go. Several associations have already left the International Association.”

“Waiting for the right moment to sweep them all up at once?”

“There’s no need for that. There are only two options anyway. If it’s not the International Association, they’ll have no choice but to join Karma Corporation.”

Unlike before, we don’t have to run around to acquire them.

If we just sit still and wait, we’ll get calls from all over the place.

“Acquiring every association that calls will be a huge problem. Financially and externally.”

“Of course, I’m not planning to accept every association that calls. We should only accept those that can help us. We have the choice anyway.”

“Yeah… It seems like just yesterday that we were making a fuss about setting up a branch overseas… Now we’re in a position to pick and choose. It’s amazing what you see when you live long enough.”

Director Lee Doo-shik crossed his arms as if he was feeling new.

“As you know… we’ve come back from the dead. We’ll probably never get another chance like this.”

“I suppose.”

“So, whether it’s a second International Association or whatever, you have to make it a success. Everyone around you will help you in every way.”

“Well, that’s just my goal, not other people’s goals. I don’t think they’ll keep helping me like they have been.”

“Come on, whether you’re being humble or pretending…”

He looked at me with a meaningful expression.

Well, it’s not wrong to say that, leaving humility aside.

“Originally, an organization is a group of many people gathered for a single vision. Usually, the leader decides the vision, and the subordinates follow… But in this day and age, who cares about the organization’s vision? As long as they get their monthly salary, that’s all that matters. Right?”

“…That’s right.”

I don’t know why he’s bringing this up all of a sudden…

That’s what I’m saying.

My goal is my goal, and it’s none of the employees’ business.

But Director Lee Doo-shik continued, as if telling me to listen to the end.

“So, the leader has to make the subordinates follow him somehow. There are many ways to do it. Use their position to boss them around, or solve it with money. But on the other hand, there are guys who don’t do anything. Do you know why?”

“I don’t know.”

“Those guys have people around them who follow them without them doing anything.”

Well, I’ve heard that there are people like that.

Of course, I don’t know if they actually exist.

‘…But why are you telling me this?’

I listened to him in silence with an incomprehensible expression.

“Everyone rolls up their sleeves and helps for that person’s vision. Even if they don’t do anything. That’s a real leader, and that’s a real organization. Do you understand?”

“…….”

No, I don’t understand at all.

“So, your goal now is the goal of everyone around you.”

“…Ah, yes.”

Did he have a drink in the middle of the day?

I answered vaguely to his incomprehensible words.

***

“How’s it going? Is the operation going smoothly?”

After returning to the headquarters office, I called him first.

「It’s none of your business. You just took a peek and ran away.」

A sharp voice immediately returned.

The other party was none other than Noah.

“Well, anyway, we got what we wanted, so there’s no reason to continue. But don’t be too sad. We’re still supporting you.”

「Damn it, don’t act like you’re doing me a favor…….」

Noah muttered in a sullen voice.

Even now that we’ve withdrawn, he’s still looking for Eden with the guild members.

No, to be precise, he’s not looking for Eden, but for his sister who’s sleeping in the dungeon.

Anyway, you have to give him credit for his obsession.

“By the way, has the International Association contacted you? You’re the leader of the Balance Team under PB Corporation.”

「Ha! After fighting so hard, would they call me back now?」

“You’re not thinking of going back?”

「If you’re going to talk nonsense, hang up.」

I chuckled and asked another question.

“So, what are you going to do in the future?”

「…….」

There was a brief pause in the answer.

Rather, he asked me in return.

「What are you going to do? Are you really going to destroy the International Association?」

“You’re asking the obvious.”

「I don’t know if it’s bravado or spirit.」

He chuckled once.

「Okay. If that’s what you want.」

“……Yes?”

「I have to go on a subjugation, so I’m going to hang up. And refrain from contacting me in the future. It’s annoying.」

Click.

What.

Is that it?

No, why isn’t there an answer to my question?

‘Seriously, this guy……’

While I was staring at the disconnected phone with a dumbfounded expression, the office door opened.

“This is the list of withdrawals from the International Association so far.”

Director Lee Ah-young came into the office with a stack of documents.

“Has it already been tallied?”

“I stayed up all night doing it. Starting with Russia, Poland, Czech Republic, Romania… In North America, Mexico, and in South America, Brazil and Argentina have also withdrawn in succession.”

“Hmm, except for Russia, they’re not really subjugation powerhouses.”

“That’s why the backlash is even worse. Even the US branch carried out an attack on an unofficial subjugation organization, so associations without power thought they could suffer the same fate at any time.”

“Well, I can’t say it’s a wrong judgment.”

Those guys would do that.

Even if you can adjust the appearance of dungeons with dimensional stones, you still have to have the foundation to subjugate them [conquer and control] them.

No matter how much the International Association gives dungeons to the branches, it’s useless if there aren’t enough people to handle them.

In that case, the subjugation weak countries are just for filling the numbers, nothing more, nothing less.

They’ll try to throw them away at any time when their value drops.

Well… anyway, it’s a good opportunity for us.

“Oh, and there’s a rumor that the Chinese Association will withdraw soon. Isn’t this tempting? In terms of subjugation volume, they’re the third strongest country in the world.”

“That’s true, but…….”

I licked my lips with a sullen expression.

Chinese Association…….

Of course, when looking at the size and number of members of the association, and the amount of subjugation, it is undoubtedly a powerhouse.

However, it is such a closed place, and there are constantly various problems with neighboring countries.

As for me, I couldn’t easily reach out.

“For now… let’s wait a little longer.”

“You don’t like it very much?”

“It’s not that I don’t like it, but there are a lot of annoying problems.”

“Now is not the time to be picky. We have to hurry. It’ll be too late when the International Association starts moving again.”

“I know. And the Chinese Association may not stick with us. If they don’t like it, they’ll openly claim to be a third force…….”

“……That’s true.”

The International Association wouldn’t readily acknowledge that, but you never know.

Since it’s a neighborhood where something out of the ordinary always happens, you should always keep exceptions in mind.

“First, let’s slowly review the places that contact us…….”

“President!”

At that moment when I was about to speak, Director Ha Seong-il came into the office.

“The Chinese Association has made a proposal for a merger and acquisition.”

“……Yes?!”

“…Yes?”

While being momentarily flustered at the amazing timing, Lee Ah-young asked first on my behalf.

“The, the Chinese Association? Really?!”

“Ah…… but I don’t know if I should call this the Chinese Association…… It’s a bit complicated…….”

“What do you mean? What is it?”

“That is…….”

After Director Ha Seong-il paused for a moment.

“The place that contacted us is the Hong Kong branch under the Chinese Association.”

“Hong Kong branch…?”

“Haa…….”

I sighed faintly, resting my forehead on my hand.

Unfortunately, the most annoying place got caught.

***

“Control has been cut off, operational management authority has been handed over, and even bank items have been re-divided…….”

International Hunter Association Headquarters.

Representative Emma, facing Secretary-General Wesley, asked cautiously.

“How did this happen…?”

“…….”

Of course, Secretary-General Wesley was silent.

Representative Emma knew the meaning well, so she didn’t ask any further.

Instead, she changed the subject.

“You’re really considering war, aren’t you?”

“Authority and items, they’re all just lent for a while. Someday, we’ll have to get them back.”

“That’s true, but…….”

“We have nothing left to lose anyway. If it’s the same either way, we have to take out the last resort.”

Representative Emma nodded slightly at Wesley’s words.

“From this moment on, PB Corporation will be incorporated into the headquarters’ direct department. Form a combat unit under the Balance Team and scrape together as many useful guys as possible.”

Wesley’s order was given.

“The power is on this side anyway. If we can gather troops, we can eat and go, whatever war it is [If we can gather enough forces, we can participate in any conflict and emerge victorious].”

“Well…….”

However, Representative Emma’s reaction was somewhat sullen.

“The Chinese Association, they’re going to withdraw this time, right?”

“…….”

“If those guys really withdraw, it won’t be easy to gather troops, will it?”

“Haa…….”

Secretary-General Wesley bit his lip.

Anyway, they’re just a hindrance when I really need them.

“There’s no choice.”

Secretary-General Wesley opened his mouth heavily.

“We have to hold on somehow.”

“Is there a way?”

“We just have to give them everything they want for now.”