The Wise Cleaning Life Of A Returning Genius Hunter [EN]: Chapter 206

205

205

A day had passed since the full-scale Rank Reassessment began.

“The answer to question 3 is number 4?”

Choi Jong-hyuk, a Hunter from Operations Team 5, asked his colleagues while smoking a cigarette on the headquarters rooftop after finishing the written exam.

“What? Don’t tell me you got it wrong?”

“Ah, shoot… I thought it was obviously number 5.”

“Hehe. Aren’t you going to drop in rank?”

“Is there even anywhere lower to fall from C-rank?”

Hunter Go Hyun-jong and Hunter Park Tae-ha openly ridiculed him.

In reality, their own rank maintenance was also precarious, but they didn’t bother to show it.

“Ugh, damn… Why a rank reassessment now? Don’t they have anything better to do?”

Choi Jong-hyuk frowned and exhaled cigarette smoke.

Choi Jong-hyuk, of Seoul Headquarters Operations Team 5.

An 8-year veteran C-rank Hunter.

He was one of those who were quite dissatisfied with the Mana Dimension Management Association being absorbed by Karma Corporation.

If it hadn’t been absorbed by Karma Corporation, he would have been affiliated with the International Association this time.

Becoming a Hunter affiliated with the International Association was the ultimate goal for almost every Hunter.

Even though people talked about the true colors of the International Association, he didn’t care about such things at all.

He was only interested in a job where he could be more recognized and a higher salary.

It was painful that a golden opportunity had flown away, and to make matters worse, a janitor was now his boss.

It was quite a blow to his pride.

He wasn’t the only one who was unhappy with this.

“I know, right? After merging with Karma, they acted like they were going all-in on overseas branches, but suddenly this is what we get.”

“Exactly. I’m already busy enough. And they’re making us take a personality test too? Seriously, is this some kind of entrance exam?”

His colleagues vehemently agreed and complained.

“Tsk, if I had known this would happen, I would have taken care of that janitor when he was showing off.”

“Easy for you to say. You couldn’t even make a peep when he was at headquarters.”

“…….”

When Park Tae-ha sneered, Go Hyun-jong frowned and glared at him.

Park Tae-ha stared back as if to say, ‘Say it if you have something to say,’ and the atmosphere between them quickly turned hostile.

“Hey, hey, stop it. I already have a headache, and you guys are fighting.”

“…….”

“…….”

Choi Jong-hyuk immediately intervened to stop them and quickly changed the subject.

“Ha… a janitor as the representative. The world is so unfair.”

“It’s all about playing the right lines [sucking up to the right people]. Frankly, what has that guy even done? He just sucked up to the higher-ups and rose through the ranks.”

“Ah, damn, if I had known this would happen, I would have gotten on Lee Doo-shik’s line. I blindly followed Seo Min-cheol and ended up completely screwed.”

Whether it was because he changed the subject or not, they started to bash Kim Jun-woo again as if they were best friends.

In fact, they didn’t really know what Kim Jun-woo was doing or what his goals were, nor did they care.

They had only seen his news on the media in passing.

Of course, they thought that even that was just an attempt to create a good image through the media.

If they didn’t put down Kim Jun-woo like that, they couldn’t accept that a janitor was above them.

“So, what are the evaluation criteria?”

“I don’t know. Probably some kind of test.”

“Seriously, they’re doing all sorts of crazy things. Ah…….”

At that moment, Choi Jong-hyuk checked the time and clicked his tongue before continuing.

“Ah, tsk, I’m going in first.”

“What? Let’s have another cigarette before going.”

“I can’t. I have to submit this week’s operation report by this afternoon.”

“Who says?”

“Who else, damn it. The head of headquarters.”

“Kim Min-joo?”

Choi Jong-hyuk frowned and nodded.

“Seriously, that woman is amazing. She was a junior colleague, but she got on the right line and rose to the head of headquarters in just one year.”

“Damn, isn’t there something going on between her and Kim Jun-woo?”

“It’s more than just something.”

Choi Jong-hyuk said that with a lewd smile.

Everyone was snickering at the vulgar conversation when…

“What are you doing?”

A chilling voice came from behind.

Speak of the devil.

Head of Headquarters Kim Min-joo appeared on the rooftop.

“H, Head of Headquarters…?”

“W, well, what I mean is…….”

“Operation meeting. Operation meeting… Haha!”

“…….”

The three men were greatly embarrassed and stammered.

At the same time, Choi Jong-hyuk quickly changed the subject.

“B, but why is the Head of Headquarters here… Are you here for a smoke?”

“I thought you were away from your desks for too long, so I came up. Let’s go down soon. You have to submit the report by this morning.”

“Yes, yes. I understand.”

Choi Jong-hyuk and his colleagues fled the scene.

Kim Min-joo, who was watching them, shook her head.

Of course, she had heard all of their conversation, so there was no way she wouldn’t know what those words meant.

However, she was no longer hurt or shocked by such vulgar words.

She only felt pity.

She was also a current Hunter and subject to this rank reorganization, so she wasn’t qualified to evaluate them.

Nevertheless, she could see their future.

***

“The rank revocation is definitely strong.”

Seoul Headquarters, Rank Evaluation Committee.

After the meeting of the team consisting of myself and several other personnel from headquarters, Head of Headquarters Lee Ah-young opened her mouth while reviewing the documents.

“Is there a reason to go this strong by creating items that didn’t even exist before? Has there been any problem recently?”

“No. Nothing has been reported.”

“Then why are you wielding the knife like this?”

“Just because it hasn’t been reported doesn’t mean there haven’t been any problems.”

“Yes?”

I opened my mouth, recalling the events before the regression.

“Haven’t there always been complaints about Hunters’ abuse of power, assault, drunk driving… Well, some even dabbled in drugs.”

“Well, there are more than a few guys in this country who think being a Hunter is a noble title.”

“It’s decreased a lot recently, but I can’t say it’s completely gone.”

“So you’re going to take this opportunity to eradicate it?”

“That’s right. Since we’re trying to become the second International Association, it’s better to cut off the guys who tarnish our reputation in advance.”

“Hmm, I understand when you put it that way. Anyway, to be recognized as a global organization, we can’t have even small flaws.”

She nodded.

“Well, there’s that, and…….”

I looked around, gauging the atmosphere.

After confirming that no one was there, I continued in a low voice.

“Additionally, there’s also the purpose of identifying those who are related to the International Association.”

“……Yes?”

Her eyebrows twitched.

Well, Director Lee Doo-shik had only told me this discreetly.

It’s a natural reaction since it’s probably the first time she’s hearing about it.

“Do you remember Deputy Hwang Dong-hui?”

“……Of course.”

Her expression became quite serious.

Deputy Hwang Dong-hui of the Control Team.

At the same time, the head of the Korean part of PB Corporation’s Balance Adjustment Team.

Of course, only a very few people at headquarters know that fact.

However, the fact that a member of the headquarters control team was a spy was quite shocking to everyone at the time, including myself.

Didn’t he even end up killing Choi Ho-sung, who was the head of operations, and fleeing?

In fact, I almost lost my life again thanks to that bastard.

“Director Lee Doo-shik said that he wants to investigate one more time just in case… Thanks to that, I’m the only one who’s become a nuisance.”

Head of Headquarters Lee Ah-young tilted her head.

“But didn’t PB Corporation say they were withdrawing from Korea?”

“That’s true… but there’s no guarantee they won’t interfere in the future. Especially at this point.”

“What does that mean?”

“Probably by now, the International Association is starting to grind their teeth. They handed over the authority to manage Hunters to Bank Item, and now there’s the acquisition of the Chinese Association and the rank reorganization… They’re probably annoyed in many ways.”

They’re probably biding their time to bring us down.

Since they have nothing more to lose, they might even be willing to go to war.

“Director Lee Doo-shik thinks that they might plant someone again to look for opportunities.”

“Seriously… that suspicious old man.”

“Well, it’s not like he doesn’t have a point.”

Except that it’s annoying for me.

“Anyway, this is only secondary… Let’s focus on the evaluation for now.”

As I got up from my seat, Lee Ah-young asked another question as if it wasn’t over yet.

“So, how will the personality assessment proceed? Are you going to give a test?”

“No. How can you judge a person with just a few questions? You have to observe them directly from the side.”

“……? Are you going to stick with the operations team?”

“I’m already busy enough with the evaluation.”

I waved my hand and continued.

“Don’t worry, I’ve prepared everything.”

Saying that, I left the conference room first.

***

“Alright, everyone, pay attention.”

Seoul Operations Headquarters, Operations Team 5 office.

Team Leader Lee Tae-beom clapped his hands to get the team members’ attention.

Next to him was a new face standing demurely.

“We have an intern who will be working with our team for the time being. Everyone, say hello.”

“I’m Moon So-yeon. Please take care of me.”

Moon So-yeon, of the Karma Corporation Planning Headquarters, Cleaning Department.

“Oh! A newbie?”

“Am I finally escaping being the *maknae* [youngest member of the group]?!”

“Keep dreaming, you brat. She’s an intern.”

“Hahahaha!”

In the friendly atmosphere with the appearance of a new face.

One team member stared at Moon So-yeon and opened his mouth cautiously.

“By the way, you look a bit familiar…….”

“Hey, you bastard, are you already hitting on her?”

“Ah, no, Team Leader! I really think she looks familiar!”

“Don’t talk nonsense. You! If I catch you hitting on her, you’re dead!”

Team Leader Lee Tae-beom cut off the suspicion with a single blow.

In fact, he already knew Moon So-yeon’s affiliation.

That she had worked with them in the association for nearly three years as a member of the cleaning team, and that she currently held a higher position than him.

And that she is currently affiliated with the Rank Evaluation Committee.

She was one of those sent down by Kim Jun-woo for the personality assessment.

So it’s not a delusion that she looks familiar…….

‘Please, let there be no problems…….’

Hadn’t he been repeatedly asked not to reveal her affiliation when he called the team leaders?

He felt sorry for the team members, but as the representative had personally requested, her identity had to be kept strictly confidential.

Team Leader Lee Tae-beom added an explanation.

“For reference, she’s not a Hunter. She’ll be in charge of coordinating schedules between the cleaning team and the operations team, processing equipment support, and other administrative tasks. Feel free to ask her anything.”

“Yes.”

“I understand.”

“So-yeon, feel free to ask us if there’s anything you don’t know.”

“Yes, yes.”

She answered in a rather nervous voice.

Meanwhile, there was a man who kept staring at her.

‘Where have I seen her before…….’

It was none other than Choi Jong-hyuk.

He kept scanning her up and down while sitting down.

He definitely looked familiar, but he couldn’t remember.

He thought for a while.

‘……She’s kind of cute.’

He smirked.

“Then everyone, get to work. It’s the evaluation period, so it’ll be hectic, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t focus on subjugation [monster hunting].”

“I understand.”

“Let’s have a welcome party and dinner after work today. It’s beef today!”

“Yes?! I have a night subjugation today?!”

“Then you can’t join, you brat!”

“Ah, seriously!”

The team members burst into laughter as the youngest Hunter made a face as if he was about to die.

“Then… uh, Jong-hyuk, show her the basics. I’ll be back after the meeting.”

“……Yes.”

Team Leader Lee Tae-beom left the office after saying those words.

“Please take care of me, senior.”

Moon So-yeon, who was left alone, cautiously approached Choi Jong-hyuk and bowed her head.

“Yes, well… I look forward to working with you too.”

Then Choi Jong-hyuk smiled slyly.