The Wise Cleaning Life Of A Returning Genius Hunter [EN]: Chapter 233

232

Karma Corporation Headquarters, Operations Command Center.

“You secured investment from Hanbyul Group?”

Kim Min-joo’s face lit up as she repeated the news she heard from Director Lee Ah-young over the phone.

「Yes! I heard from my dad that Chairman Ha Deok-soo came in person. Apparently, even Director Ha Seong-il didn’t know.」

“Ha…”

Kim Min-joo let out a hollow laugh, as if she couldn’t believe the situation.

「Anyway, don’t worry about the dispatch costs. I’ll let Jun-woo know, so Min-joo, just focus on the operation.」

“…Thank you.”

「I didn’t do anything… it’s all thanks to our amazing CEO.」

“Well, that’s true.”

Kim Min-joo smiled faintly as she replied.

No matter how she thought about it, it was unbelievable.

For someone like Chairman Ha Deok-soo to decide to invest in this situation without any conditions was an incomprehensible action as a businessman.

Nevertheless, who could deny that his actions were all thanks to Kim Jun-woo’s merits?

‘This takes a load off my mind…’

Kim Min-joo ended the call.

Now, she had to start forming the dispatch team in earnest.

Fortunately, there was enough manpower to proceed without too many problems.

As she was thinking that, the person she had been waiting for burst into the office.

“Director Kim Min-joo!”

It was none other than Director Ha Seong-il, who had promised to create a list of countries to dispatch to first.

He placed a stack of documents on the desk with a thud and said urgently.

“This is the list from the Monster Subjugation Emergency Association. It includes Somalia, Syria, Czech Republic, Venezuela, Myanmar, for a total of 22 countries.”

“22 countries?”

Director Kim Min-joo frowned at the unexpectedly large number.

“That’s too many people. If we send them all, there will be problems with domestic subjugation…”

“I know, but is there anything we can do? These countries are in very chaotic situations right now, so if we don’t provide support early on, it will lead to immediate casualties.”

“Haa…”

Kim Min-joo sighed deeply and ran her hand through her hair.

It was an unexpected dilemma.

As Director Ha Seong-il said, if those countries were affected even slightly by subjugation, the problems would be unmanageable.

As someone who had to take responsibility, she couldn’t ignore them, but she couldn’t put her own citizens in danger either.

The company’s survival or the safety of its citizens.

Of course, neither was an easy choice.

‘What should I do…’

Just as she was racking her brain, clenching her teeth in frustration because she couldn’t see a way out,

“We heard the news!”

Unexpected guests appeared in the Operations Command Center.

“It’s been a while, Director!”

“It’s been months since we last saw you, right?”

“CEO Cha? CEO Yoo, too…?”

They were none other than CEO Cha Seok-hyun of the Ares Guild and CEO Yoo Ji-woo of the Aphrodite Guild.

“Wh-Why are the CEOs here…?”

“What do you mean, why? Isn’t it obvious!”

“I heard you’re short on subjugation personnel. We thought we’d lend a hand.”

They replied cheerfully.

After the International Association took over the management of subjugation rights worldwide, all domestic private guilds that had lost their subjugation rights were absorbed into Karma Corporation.

However, only their affiliation changed; other than receiving a basic salary, the operation itself was not much different from before.

Of course, since they were not official operation teams, there was no mandatory subjugation, and performance was not applied.

In other words, even if they were to carry out subjugation on behalf of the operation teams, they would not receive the same subjugation allowance as the operation teams.

“A-Are you sure? As you know, the subjugation allowance is…”

“Isn’t this an emergency? We can’t turn a blind eye after everything we’ve received.”

“Don’t worry and just focus on the dispatch, Director. We’ll somehow manage the domestic subjugation.”

They offered their pure goodwill, but Kim Min-joo still felt sorry.

“We have to dispatch almost all of the operation teams. So, we have to entrust all domestic subjugation to you… I don’t think just the two guilds will be enough.”

“Hahaha! What are you talking about? Two guilds!”

At that moment, Guild Leader Cha Seok-hyun laughed loudly and continued.

“All the guilds across the country are already on standby!”

“……”

Kim Min-joo was stunned for a moment.

‘Teacher…’

Knowing that everything was thanks to him, Kim Min-joo couldn’t help but express her sincere respect to him.

“Okay. Then… I’ll leave it to you.”

“Yes!”

“Leave it to us!”

The two best guilds in the country.

And the two leaders who led those guilds replied with loud voices.

All active Hunters across the country had begun to move for Karma Corporation.

***

Charles de Gaulle International Airport, Paris, France.

As soon as Kim Jun-woo arrived at the airport and completed immigration, he received a call from Kim Min-joo.

“I heard the guilds have decided to take over domestic subjugation?”

「Yes! All the guilds across the country have stepped up to help with subjugation.」

‘That’s strange.’

Unlike us, they are a group solely for profit, yet they are jumping into something where they won’t even receive a subjugation allowance.

‘Why…?’

I thought about it carefully, but I couldn’t understand their actions.

“Well… anyway, that’s a relief.”

「Don’t worry about here and focus on Teacher’s work.」

“Okay. You take care too.”

As soon as I hung up, my phone vibrated again.

This time, it was a call from Team Leader Hong Doo-shik.

「Hey, CEO. I’ve finished placing the kids. Two each in Gyeongsang and Jeolla, one each in Chungcheong and Gangwon. The rest are all in Gyeonggi.」

“Thank you for your hard work.”

「So, what should we investigate now?」

“Without any information on who is receiving orders and moving where, please dig into anything that seems even slightly suspicious. Especially keep a close eye on people in politics and the media.”

「The kids in Gyeonggi have already laid the groundwork for that, so don’t worry.」

“Also, places related to money. Banks, corporations, things like that.”

「Got it.」

“Report anything even slightly suspicious immediately.”

「I said I got it. Anyway, don’t worry about us and be careful over there. You’re going into the tiger’s den, so keep your wits about you.」

“I understand.”

Only after ending all the calls could I finally breathe a sigh of relief.

“The preparations are mostly done.”

“Now, we just need to do well,” Han Yu-bin replied, agreeing with me.

As we were leaving the airport, Han Yu-bin spoke again.

“So, aren’t you going to tell me now?”

“Huh…?”

“The reason we’re going to headquarters. The situation is what it is, so I came along for now, but I need to know now.”

“Well… I told you. This is a losing battle no matter what.”

I replied quietly.

“Even if we send out dispatches and provide support, that’s only a temporary measure. In the end, this situation won’t be resolved until we replenish the missing personnel.”

“Right…?”

“It will take at least a year to restore the 150,000 people who left… If they continue to leave, it could take even longer. During that time, we have to maintain dispatches and support.”

Han Yu-bin listened to my story with a serious expression.

“The problem is that it’s uncertain whether we can even resolve this situation, and even if we do, the losses will be too great. We might not be able to continue operating.”

“……”

She nodded heavily.

Well, I said that, but it didn’t really matter to me what happened to the company.

Because everything will disappear when I go back anyway.

What’s more important to me is time.

It’s already been a year and a half since I regressed.

I have only 3 years and 6 months left.

But if I spend 2 or 3 years dealing with this, becoming Secretary-General is practically out of the question.

If that happens, I won’t be able to go back to the past, of course. Well, apart from that…

‘I can’t lose to the International Association this time either…’

They were the ones who blocked my life before the regression, so I can’t let them block me this time either.

“So, we need to put out the immediate fire, but we also need to solve something more fundamental.”

“Don’t tell me… you’re thinking of asking them to disqualify us?”

“Is it just asking? I’ll even get on my knees if I have to. As I said, we’re in a thoroughly disadvantageous position this time. So, this isn’t the time to be picky about methods.”

“……”

Han Yu-bin avoided my gaze, not answering.

Anyone could see that she was quite upset.

“Well, don’t be too upset. Wasn’t this a fight where we started from different starting lines from the beginning? It’s a miracle that we’ve been doing so well so far. Didn’t you know that something like this would happen someday?”

“That’s true, but…”

“Don’t be unnecessarily proud when people’s lives are at stake. Whether you beg or kneel, surviving is the priority.”

Only then did Han Yu-bin nod.

Of course, she still looked unhappy.

“Well, let’s put that aside for now… Anyway, we need to have insurance.”

“……?”

I took out my phone and immediately made a call.

A very short call that followed.

Less than 10 seconds after putting my phone away, Han Yu-bin tilted her head and asked.

“Who did you call?”

“You’ll see.”

I smiled instead of answering.

***

Knock, knock.

International Hunter Association Headquarters, Secretary-General’s Office.

The executive secretary carefully opened the door with a knock.

“What is it?”

Secretary-General Wesley asked, and she paused for a moment before opening her mouth.

“The CEO of Karma Corporation is visiting the headquarters right now.”

“……”

He looked puzzled at the sudden news for a moment.

‘Ah…’

As if he realized what was happening, a smile appeared on his face.

“Hahaha! I didn’t expect him to come in person… He must be very desperate.”

“Shall I tell him to come up?”

“We can’t do that to such valuable guests. I’ll go down.”

Secretary-General Wesley immediately left the office.

His footsteps were strangely excited.

He ran all the way to the first-floor lobby and finally faced the man waiting for him.

“Long time no see, Mr. Kim. I didn’t expect to meet you again like this.”

Secretary-General Wesley greeted him with a friendly handshake.

But Kim Jun-woo didn’t take his hand.

“I came here today because I have a desperate request to make.”

“Oh, the great CEO Kim has a request for me? I’m curious to know what it is.”

Secretary-General Wesley joked.

Of course, he knew why he had come, and he knew even more what he would ask for.

Nevertheless, Wesley pretended not to know.

And then, Kim Jun-woo bowed deeply.

“Please reinstate the disqualified rank examinees through a re-examination.”

As expected, the request didn’t deviate from his expectations.

A smile appeared on Secretary-General Wesley’s face at those words.

“What are you talking about? Anyone who hears that will think I’m deliberately creating disqualified people.”

“It doesn’t matter if it’s deliberate or not. Too many disqualified people have been created, and each association is experiencing difficulties in subjugation.”

“Isn’t that Karma Corporation’s responsibility? You’re the ones who implemented the rank examination and have the authority to manage Hunters, right?”

“Of course, I intend to take responsibility.”

“Then shouldn’t you be trying to fix it instead of standing here?”

“……”

Secretary-General Wesley continued, trying to hide his laughter.

“Besides, even if I did it, I don’t think there’s any reason for me to grant that request?”

“There is.”

At that moment, Kim Jun-woo replied immediately in a heavy voice.

“If you grant my request…”

Soon, his sharp eyes turned to Secretary-General Wesley.

“I will save you.”

“……What?”

A word that made him doubt his ears flew in.

“Let me say it again. If you stop the disqualifications right now and conduct a re-examination, I will do nothing here and just go back. However, if you don’t…”

Soon, Kim Jun-woo straightened his back and looked straight at Secretary-General Wesley as he continued.

“From this moment on, I declare war on the International Hunter Association Headquarters.”

“……”

“Ah, I’m saying this in case you misunderstand…”

The smile that had disappeared from Secretary-General Wesley’s face had already moved to Kim Jun-woo.

“I mean it sincerely.”