The Wise Cleaning Life Of A Returning Genius Hunter [EN]: Chapter 212

211

A pub located quite a distance from headquarters.

Choi Jong-hyuk and Moon So-yeon were sharing a drink.

The reason they’d bothered to travel to another district was twofold: first, this establishment was well-known, and second, they wanted to avoid being seen by their colleagues.

“…So, the fastest way to learn is by figuring things out yourself. If I keep helping you, you’ll only become dependent,” Choi Jong-hyuk said, sipping his sake, unprompted.

“So, I deliberately treated you a bit coldly; it wasn’t because I had any bad feelings. It’s all for your benefit, So-yeon, I hope you understand?”

“Of course,” Moon So-yeon replied with a smile.

Pleased with her reaction, Choi Jong-hyuk picked up the sake bottle.

“Here, let me pour you a drink, So-yeon.”

Before she knew it, he was calling her ‘my So-yeon.’

It was obvious to anyone what a man in his mid-30s intended by using such a term for a woman in her early 20s, but Moon So-yeon didn’t express any displeasure.

Choi Jong-hyuk interpreted her reaction as he wished.

“So, So-yeon.”

“Yes?”

“What exactly do you mean by wanting to create a ‘safety net’? I might misunderstand… I think it would be better if you explained it in simpler terms.”

“What’s there to misunderstand? It simply means I want to impress you, Senior.”

“Hahaha!”

As if that was the answer he’d been hoping for, Choi Jong-hyuk laughed heartily.

“Well, once this review is over, your promotion is practically guaranteed. And if Team Leader Lee gets the boot, you might even fill that position for a while.”

“Just for a while? Are you planning to go somewhere else?”

“Ah…….”

Choi Jong-hyuk stopped talking abruptly, as if he’d let something slip.

He waved his hand dismissively.

“Well… never mind.”

“Oh, come on. I want to know more about you, Senior.”

“…….”

Choi Jong-hyuk swallowed hard.

Of course, this wasn’t a story he could share with just anyone.

But was it the alcohol? For some reason, Choi Jong-hyuk felt like it might be alright to reveal a little.

“Ahem…….”

He cleared his throat.

“Do you happen to know Director Park Jang-mok?”

In the end, he said the name.

“…No. I’ve never heard of him before. Is he high-ranking?”

“He’s quite high up, even within headquarters. Anyway, I had some discussions with the international association. And he entrusted me with a job. So, I’ll probably be going to the international association once this is over.”

“Wow! Really?! You’re amazing!”

Moon So-yeon clapped her hands, reacting enthusiastically.

Then, she cautiously inquired.

“By the way, this job you mentioned… ?”

“That’s naturally about getting rid of that bitch Kim Min-ju…”

Oops.

Choi Jong-hyuk belatedly realized his mistake.

He immediately glanced at Moon So-yeon, but she was looking at him with admiration in her eyes.

“Wow! So, you planned everything, Senior?”

“Ahem… w-well, yes.”

“You’re really amazing. To drive the operations director to the edge of a cliff just by spreading rumors.”

“Well, it’s nothing much. These kinds of rumors tend to stick to people who seem flawless on the outside.”

“Aren’t you scared? I heard that CEO Kim Jun-woo is someone who doesn’t let go once he bites. You could get caught.”

“It doesn’t matter. There’s no proof that I spread them anyway. I can just play dumb.”

“You thought of everything! You’re really amazing.”

“Well… it’s all the wisdom of life. Hahaha!”

He laughed exaggeratedly, seemingly embarrassed by the constant praise.

“Anyway, Kim Min-ju is finished now. They’re looking for the mastermind, but there’s no solid evidence. And just in case, Director Park Jang-mok is also keeping a low profile.”

“I see.”

“Well, that’s that…….”

Soon, Choi Jong-hyuk’s voice changed noticeably.

At the same time, his gaze began to wander, avoiding Moon So-yeon’s eyes.

“Do you have to go home early tonight?”

“Yes, yes?”

“If you’re free, let’s go for another round.”

Choi Jong-hyuk’s hand reached for Moon So-yeon’s shoulder.

Startled by the sudden touch, Moon So-yeon immediately pulled away, but the more she did, the closer Choi Jong-hyuk moved.

“Didn’t you ask to meet me tonight, So-yeon? You said you wanted to create a safety net. You must have expected this much.”

“Ah, th-that’s…….”

Moon So-yeon kept avoiding his gaze, increasingly uncomfortable, but the more she did, the more Choi Jong-hyuk pressed his advances.

And it was the moment Choi Jong-hyuk grabbed Moon So-yeon’s hand.

Thwack—!

“Kkeuaaack!!”

A blunt object struck his face.

Blood poured from his mouth and nose.

“Wh-what the hell!!”

Choi Jong-hyuk looked up, momentarily forgetting the pain.

“…Y-you are?”

Planning Director Han Yu-bin was glaring at him with murderous intent.

And Han Yu-bin wasn’t alone.

“Take your hand off her.”

A man approached from the shadows.

“Before I cut it off.”

None other than the head of Karma Corporation.

CEO Kim Jun-woo.

***

“C, CEO… ?”

“It’s been a while, Choi Jong-hyuk.”

“How did you get here, CEO…!”

Choi Jong-hyuk seemed deeply shaken by the sudden appearance.

But only for a moment, before he realized something and turned his gaze towards Moon So-yeon.

“Y-you, you couldn’t be…….”

As if in response, Moon So-yeon took out her phone and played a recording.

「Wow! So, you planned everything, Senior?」

「Ahem… w-well, yes.」

「You’re really amazing. To drive the operations director to the edge of a cliff just by spreading rumors.」

「Well, it’s nothing much. These kinds of rumors tend to stick to people who seem flawless on the outside.」

Choi Jong-hyuk’s pupils dilated at the sound of his own voice.

“Y-you, you bitch….”

“Choi Jong-hyuk!”

At that moment, Moon So-yeon spoke with a resolute voice.

“As the person in charge of the personality assessment, I hereby inform you that you have been disqualified in all personality assessment categories, including work ethic, interpersonal skills, and character evaluation.”

“…What?”

“Furthermore, your actions just now were clearly sexual harassment. I will be filing a separate lawsuit regarding that matter.”

“Ha, haha……”

Choi Jong-hyuk let out a hollow laugh, as if his soul had left his body.

“W-what nonsense are you spouting? You’re in charge of the personality assessment…?”

“Moon So-yeon, Cleaning Manager in the Planning Division, and an official member of the headquarters evaluation committee.”

She smiled and held out her business card.

He wore an expression that showed he couldn’t understand what was happening.

Finally, Choi Jong-hyuk’s gaze turned to me.

“I-I’m sorry, CEO! I-I’ll explain everything! Please, just forgive me this once…!”

“Why are you apologizing to me?”

You didn’t do anything to me.

You’ve targeted the wrong person to apologize to.

Only then did Choi Jong-hyuk realize something, turning back to Moon So-yeon.

“I-I’m sorry. No… I was wrong! Please, just give me one chance!”

“That might be difficult. I’m just someone who evaluates according to the rules.”

“I’ll do anything you want! I’ll even try my best to get you converted to a permanent position…”

As if realizing something, Choi Jong-hyuk trailed off.

He seemed to have finally come to his senses.

That her being in charge of the personality assessment meant that no matter what he had, be it a permanent position or anything else, it couldn’t be used as a bargaining chip.

In the first place, she was in a much higher position.

“Ha, hahaha……”

Choi Jong-hyuk let out a bewildered laugh.

I approached him and met his eyes. He immediately grabbed my pant leg and clung to it.

“C-CEO! It’s a misunderstanding! What I said wasn’t meant that way at all…!”

“Please, just shut your mouth. Don’t make me repeat myself.”

I sighed softly and continued.

“Honestly, this alone is enough to hold you accountable… But if we end it here, the person backing you might cut you off. Then we’ll just be wasting our time again.”

If we miss him now, the chance to catch him will be gone forever.

So, we have to involve Director Park Jang-mok in this opportunity.

“Call that man right now.”

I handed him my phone and said.

“I-it was all a joke! I just pretended to do it to look impressive, but it wasn’t true at all…!”

“Sigh… Ms. Moon So-yeon.”

“Yes.”

“Close up shop and send the customers away.”

A moment later…

Creak―.

At the same time.

Thwack―!

Han Yu-bin’s fist struck his face.

“Ugh…!!”

Choi Jong-hyuk screamed, clutching his face as he fell to the floor.

“W-what are you doing! No matter what, this is… !”

“Consider yourself lucky that’s all it is.”

I shrugged and replied.

“I barely stopped them from killing you.”

“……”

“Now, ‘our’ Choi Jong-hyuk Hunter-nim [Hunter-nim is an honorific title] has two choices.”

I held up two fingers and continued.

“Are you going to take all the blame and go to court for expulsion and defamation? Or… are you going to sell out Director Park Jang-mok and get your sentence reduced?”

“……”

“You need to choose quickly. The head of this department is not very patient.”

I said, glancing at Han Yu-bin.

Choi Jong-hyuk swallowed hard at the murderous look in his eyes.

He picked up his phone with a trembling hand and pressed a button.

“Y-yes… Director.”

He looked up at me as if asking what to say.

I showed him a memo I had typed into my phone in advance.

He read it and continued the call.

“Ah, it’s not that… there’s been a setback in the plan.”

“Yes, yes.”

“No, that’s…”

“Team Leader Kim Min-joo… has gone missing.”

***

“Missing?”

Japan, Tokyo Branch.

Director Park Jang-mok’s eyebrows twitched at the sudden news from Choi Jong-hyuk.

“What do you mean all of a sudden? Missing? Did she go into hiding or something?”

「T-that’s what it seems like.」

“What’s the big deal? She probably just wants to hide out until things calm down because she can’t come to work like nothing happened.”

「N-no, I don’t think it’s that simple.」

There was a pause in Choi Jong-hyuk’s reply.

「A note that looks like a suicide note was found in her office.」

“……What?”

Director Park Jang-mok’s eyes widened at the shocking story.

「It said something about being wronged and wanting to die… It seems the headquarters has already requested a police investigation. They said they will thoroughly investigate this incident along with the search for the missing person…」

“Shit……”

Director Park Jang-mok cursed and rubbed his forehead.

This is just a scandal.

A formless rumor with no source or basis.

Since there is no target, you can’t sue, so you can’t catch the culprit. At least, not until now.

But if the police get involved… a formless rumor becomes an incident with a clear cause and effect.

「People who seem to be involved are already asking the task force all sorts of questions… I’ve been denying it for now, but is it okay to leave it alone?」

“Shit, of course not.”

Director Park Jang-mok’s head began to throb.

This was not part of the plan.

I was just going to disqualify her with a personality assessment, but I never thought things would get this big.

If something happens to the team leader… then we’re really in trouble.

If a full investigation is conducted on all employees, it will only be a matter of time before their plan is revealed.

Forget the plan, they might end up behind bars.

This is dangerous.

He must take care of it himself first.

“What about CEO Kim Jun-woo? How is he reacting?”

「He’s looking for the team leader… but there’s no news yet.」

“Hey, if something happens to her, we’re all screwed. Before the police investigation starts… we have to find her first, no matter what.”