The Wise Cleaning Life Of A Returning Genius Hunter [EN]: Chapter 193

192

Hong Kong International Airport.

Perhaps I was getting used to this unfamiliar situation, because as soon as I exited the airport, I scanned the surroundings.

I was looking for the employee who was supposed to pick us up, but there was no sign of them.

“That’s strange. The branch said they would send someone on time….”

Lee Ah-young muttered, checking her wristwatch.

At the same time, I grumbled.

“I haven’t been on many business trips, but it seems like they’re never on time.”

“Well, they might be a little late. Give them a call.”

At Lee Ah-young’s request, I called the contact number I had saved.

However, only unanswered ringing continued, and they didn’t seem to be answering the phone.

I tried calling several more times after that, but the result was the same.

“This is….”

In the end, I gave up trying to call and shoved my phone into my pocket.

“They don’t show up at the airport, and they don’t answer the phone… How can people who say it’s urgent be so rude?”

“Maybe they got caught up in an emergency dispatch?”

“How urgent could it be to break a scheduled appointment?”

I retorted, frustration lacing my voice.

It wasn’t right, was it?

Even if I concede that they could be late, they should at least answer the phone, right?

If they don’t show up and don’t answer, what are we supposed to do?

“Well, we could just take a taxi, but if we just leave, we might miss them, so let’s wait a little longer. Shall we go to a nearby cafe?”

“Haa….”

I felt unpleasant before we even started, but what could I do?

We soon moved to a cafe inside the airport.

In that place crowded with countless people, we waited quietly for contact for 10 minutes, 20 minutes.

And after an hour had passed.

There was still no contact.

“I’m starting to get angry.”

“That’s strange. They wouldn’t usually make us wait this long.”

“At this point, didn’t they just forget? I didn’t think these people were like this, but their work is a mess.”

I couldn’t just let this go.

I was thinking that I would have to say something to them when we met, when suddenly.

Weeeeeeeing―.

A siren suddenly began to blare throughout the airport.

「We are delivering an urgent news flash to passengers in the airport.」

Immediately, an emergency broadcast echoed throughout the airport.

「The Hong Kong branch has declared the failure of the operation for the Red-ranked dungeon that appeared two hours ago.」

“……What?”

At the completely unexpected news, both Lee Ah-young and I jumped up from our seats at the same time.

But the shocking news didn’t end there.

「In addition, the subjugation situation of the Yellow-ranked dungeon that appeared at the same time is also not good, and monster escape movements have been reported, so passengers should quickly evacuate to a safe place.」

“W, what does that mean…?”

“A Red rank and a Yellow rank appeared at the same time?”

「New news has arrived. A Yellow-ranked dungeon has reportedly appeared in the east.」

“……!”

Not only did a Red and Yellow rank appear at the same time, but a Yellow rank appeared additionally in two hours?

What on earth is going on?

「Also, the council has issued a Level 2 emergency order as of this time. I repeat again. There is a risk of monster escape, so passengers should quickly evacuate to the nearest subway station and shelter…….」

Before those words could even finish, thousands and tens of thousands of people in the airport, including the cafe, began to move at the same time.

Faces filled with panic.

People began to flock to the exits, and thanks to that, the airport instantly turned into a scene of utter chaos.

“What on earth is this…….”

I racked my brain to figure out the situation.

Just then, my phone rang.

Finally, the Hong Kong branch was contacting me.

「S, sorry. The situation is so urgent that we couldn’t contact you. Where are you now? Are you safe?」

“I’m still at the airport. More than that, what’s going on right now? Three dungeons that appear once a year at most have appeared in two hours.”

「We are currently trying to figure out the situation. We will send a rescue team from our side immediately, so… don’t move from there… evacuate to the… shelter…….」

“Hello, hello!”

Jijijik―.

The call was cut off, as if the signal had become unstable.

Thanks to that, I could tell at once that the situation was more serious than I thought.

“S, should we go out and check the situation?”

Lee Ah-young carefully asked.

I hesitated to answer and organized my thoughts.

If monsters really escaped, early response is so important.

But judging from the fact that the operation failed, it’s clear that it will take a long time for the branch to prepare for urban warfare in the current situation.

If so, it would be better for us to at least take care of the situation, as Lee Ah-young said.

……That was the moment that thought reached.

Thud―!!

A tremendous shock was transmitted throughout the airport, as if something huge had crashed into the building.

At the same time.

Crackle―!

The ceiling cracked and debris began to collapse.

Underneath it were hundreds and thousands of citizens who had not yet evacuated.

“J, Junwoo!!”

“…Damn it!”

[Acquired Skill: Protection Blossom]

Immediately, a barrier unfolded in the shape of a flower.

Kugugugung―!!

The airport collapsed completely.

***

“What the hell is this…!”

Branch Manager Hwang Ga-hwi couldn’t understand this situation logically.

That’s because Hong Kong doesn’t have many dungeon appearances in the first place.

At most, about 100 per month.

The average appearance grade is only Blue.

Moreover, the last time a Red-ranked dungeon appeared was a whopping 8 years ago.

But not only did a Red-ranked dungeon appear that even the ability wave couldn’t detect, but a Yellow-ranked dungeon appeared at the same time?

Branch Manager Hwang felt like he was dreaming right now.

But the reality was more cruel.

“Branch Manager, I’ve heard that Hong Kong International Airport was attacked and collapsed!”

Before he could even accept the situation, another disaster flew in.

“T, the airport collapsed…?”

“Yes! The rescue team was dispatched immediately, but the entrance and everything else completely collapsed, so it’s impossible to identify survivors. It is estimated that there are still thousands of people who have not evacuated…….”

“Damn it…!”

Why is this happening?

The Red-ranked subjugation failed.

A Yellow-ranked dungeon appeared additionally before the situation could be resolved.

Monsters are about to escape.

On top of that, the airport was attacked.

This clearly exceeded the line that the branch could handle.

‘Should I ask the mainland for help? Or the International Association…….’

No, that’s really the last resort.

If we quickly hand over the branch to Karma Corporation, they might take care of it themselves.

Yes, aren’t they the ones who used to command large-scale operations at the US branch?

They can solve this situation enough…….

“Wait.”

At that moment, Branch Manager Hwang’s eyes widened as if something had come to mind.

“Representative Kim… What happened to Representative Kim? Didn’t that person say they were at the airport too? Did you rescue them?!”

“T, that is, we dispatched immediately, but we were one step late…….”

“…….”

Soon, Branch Manager Hwang’s face turned pale.

Representative Kim is still at the airport?

Inside that building that collapsed like paper…….

For a moment, his legs gave way, and Branch Manager Hwang collapsed on the spot.

“I’m screwed.”

I’m really screwed.

***

“Keugh…….”

In the dark space, I struggled to get up.

Even though I unfolded the barrier, it seemed like I hadn’t absorbed all the shock, and my whole body was tingling.

‘If I had been a little late, I would have become jerky…….’

I muttered like that and looked around, but the place where the building had completely collapsed was just darkness where I couldn’t see an inch ahead.

“Junwoo, Junwoo!”

Lee Ah-young shone her cell phone flashlight and looked for me.

“J, Junwoo! Are you okay?!”

“Yes. Well……. Are the other people safe?”

“I don’t think anyone was hurt.”

Lee Ah-young shone the flashlight around.

At the same time, the figures of hundreds of survivors trapped here with us were revealed.

All of them were trembling, their souls shaken.

Everyone was in a panic.

It was a natural thing to do in the face of a sudden disaster.

“What on earth is going on…….”

Lee Ah-young muttered, looking at the scene.

Then she looked at me and asked.

“Did a monster attack?”

“It’s likely. However…….”

I frowned and trailed off.

Yes, if the entire airport collapsed in an instant, it’s certain that it was attacked by a monster.

But apart from that, the monster escape is too fast.

Even if it’s a Red rank, it doesn’t make sense for a monster to escape from a dungeon two hours after its appearance.

The only reason monsters escape from a dungeon is because the ability wave of the dungeon gradually becomes unstable over time.

The power that maintains the dungeon in this world, the ability wave.

The dungeon rank and stability are proportional to the strength of this ability wave.

However, as the dungeon maintenance period gets longer, the ability wave gradually becomes unstable, and at the same time, the dungeon also begins to collapse slowly.

When it becomes difficult to maintain the dungeon any longer, the monsters finally escape.

So, for a monster to escape from a dungeon in just two hours, the ability wave must be extremely unstable from the time it appears.

The problem is that if the ability wave is so unstable in the first place, the dungeon appearance itself is impossible.

In other words, this situation doesn’t make sense at all.

High-risk dungeons appearing in succession.

Extremely unstable ability waves from the moment of appearance.

Monsters that escaped the dungeon just two hours after their appearance…….

I was pondering over those things.

‘Damn it, could it be…….’

I felt something popping up in my head.

Could it be…….

Is the International Association doing this…?

If the International Association arbitrarily created the dungeon with a dimension stone, everything would be explained.

Just like they did to us before.

But why…?

Even if they attacked us for a hostile takeover, there’s no reason to do that to the Hong Kong branch.

There’s still a week left until the grace period for joining, so there’s no reason to attack the Hong Kong branch…….

“……It seems like we’ve been caught.”

Soon, after finishing my thoughts, I clicked my tongue and opened my mouth.

“Caught? Caught what?”

“I mean that our attempt to take over the Hong Kong branch has been noticed. It seems like it finally got into the ears of the Chinese Association.”

“……!”

Lee Ah-young’s face darkened.

“They must have asked the International Association for help.”

“Are you saying they arbitrarily created a dungeon with a dimension stone?”

“There’s nothing else I can think of. They’re trying to delay the contract by making as much of a mess as possible.”

“That means…….”

“Yes.”

I answered quietly.

“While we’re trapped here, they’re trying to recapture the Hong Kong branch.”

“…….”

Lee Ah-young’s eyes became quite serious.

A planned disaster, not just a simple disaster.

Her face seemed to be angry at that fact.

“…Let’s break through and get out.”

Soon she said.

“We can’t just sit still. If it’s you, you can just break this rubble, so…….”

“It’s not possible.”

“Yes?! Why?!”

“The space is too narrow.”

As I looked around and spoke, Lee Ah-young finally sighed softly.

Yes, if I use my skills, I can easily escape from being buried in the rubble.

But it’s impossible in the current situation.

Hundreds of people are gathered in a narrow space. If I use my skills in a place like this, they could be in danger.

Above all, I can’t recklessly clear the rubble because I don’t know where and how many more survivors are left.

“Then what should we do? If we stay like this, the Hong Kong branch will be taken over…….”

“Well, what can we do.”

I also continued speaking with a heavy heart.

“I can only hope that the rescue team comes before that.”