The Wise Cleaning Life Of A Returning Genius Hunter [EN]: Chapter 25

024

‘Since I am solely responsible for the negligence in managing this dungeon….’

No, that’s not it.

If I say that, they’ll think I’m just part of the Dungeon Cleaning Team.

‘The follow-up management of the dungeon was one of my duties as part of the Dungeon Cleaning Team… and I am mortified to have tarnished the reputation of the Dungeon Cleaning Team, which always performed its duties perfectly….’

A dim *toegeungil* [way home from work].

I kept reciting the statement I would make tomorrow in my head.

It was already close to midnight.

After being thoroughly scolded by the Director and returning to the Cleaning Team to finish the remaining work, it was this late.

The team members, who had no idea what was said in the Director’s office, kept asking me questions, but I deliberately kept my mouth shut.

If I brought up statements or responsibilities, everyone would bother me like Kim Min-joo.

Well, they could find out what happened in the news tomorrow.

Until then, it’s better for me if they don’t know about the responsibility issue.

‘Anyway….’

I sighed softly with both hands in my pockets.

Aside from everything else, I’m honestly curious.

Who removed the barricades? And where did that middle schooler come from at such a perfect time?

It seems like someone is trying to mess with the Cleaning Team… but the method is ridiculously childish.

To think that their scheme is just removing barricades.

Judging by their petty tricks, I suspect Seo Min-cheol’s line the most….

‘…I don’t know. What good would knowing do?’

I shook my head.

It’s not even a problem worth thinking deeply about in the first place.

More than anything, no matter who was behind it, it’s an opportunity for me.

It’s not hindering me at this point, so there’s no need to worry about it.

As I started walking again.

The phone rang.

“So-yeon? What’s going on at this hour….”

I expected it to be Kim Min-joo, but surprisingly, it wasn’t.

「J, Joon-woo. Do you happen to have Min-joo *unnie’s* [older sister’s] contact?」

“…Huh?”

My eyebrows furrowed at the rather unexpected question.

「I’ve been trying to call Min-joo *unnie* to ask her something… but she hasn’t been answering since earlier. She always answered my calls, no matter how busy she was…….」

“I don’t know. Maybe she’s on a subjugation mission.”

「That’s not it. Min-joo *unnie* has the day off today. I even called the operation team members just in case… but no one is answering.」

Moon So-yeon’s voice sounded anxious.

「…I hope nothing’s wrong?」

“Don’t worry too much. Operation teams often move as a group. Maybe they’re having a planning meeting or something.”

「I, is that so? Actually, I want to think it’s nothing, but… the text Min-joo *unnie* sent earlier is bothering me.」

“Text?”

「Yes. She told me to persuade Joon-woo if she doesn’t contact me by tomorrow morning…….」

“……”

My heart sank.

「What does she mean by persuading Joon-woo? Joon-woo, did something happen in the Director’s office today? It’s not our fault, but did they ask you to take responsibility or something…….」

“……No. Nothing happened.”

「O, okay? That’s a relief.」

“…….”

「W, well, I’ll hang up now. Get some rest and see you tomorrow.」

“Okay.”

Click.

I gripped the phone tightly.

Could it be that girl…….

‘No, it can’t be. She’s the operation team leader now, she must be busy with her own work, there’s no way she’d needlessly…….’

I tried to stay positive.

But.

“Securing CCTV footage near the accident dungeon is the priority! I’ll go there, so the rest of you check all the roadside CCTV cameras along the expected route to Nakseongdae!”

“I’ll go towards Nakseongdae!”

“If there are no security cameras, let’s search all the traffic cameras!”

“Let’s gather as many black boxes as possible! We need to move quickly if we want to find them by tomorrow morning.”

“Okay!”

The familiar figures and voices echoed from afar.

Seeing them rushing somewhere, my face instantly froze.

There’s no need to confirm.

It’s Operation Team 2.

‘Kim Min-joo. Don’t tell me this girl…….’

Is she really trying to find the culprit by deploying the operation team?

Is she crazy? Is that why she became the operation team leader?!

No, before that… is she really doing this to me?

‘So, she wants to play it that way…….’

I gritted my teeth.

I have to stop her no matter what. I can’t let the culprit get caught.

There’s no way I’ll let this fledgling hunter with 17 members and a rookie team leader who just got promoted ruin my plan.

***

Hunter Management Office, Support Team.

Past midnight, Kim Min-joo entered the office after being summoned by Assistant Song Hye-yeon.

“You came quickly?”

A woman with a sophisticated bob haircut bowed to Kim Min-joo.

Kim Min-joo also greeted her politely.

It was their first time meeting in person, but she knew who she was.

“Nice to meet you. Deputy Director Lee Ah-young.”

“You don’t have to be so formal. In terms of rank, Team Leader Kim Min-joo is much higher than me.”

That wasn’t wrong.

It might be different elsewhere, but at least within the Association, the position of operation team leader was not something anyone could easily mess with.

“By the way, what’s the reason for suddenly calling me… especially at this hour…….”

“To help you.”

Deputy Director Lee Ah-young replied immediately.

But Team Leader Kim Min-joo didn’t seem to understand.

“……Pardon?”

“I heard about the Kim Joon-woo incident from Hye-yeon. You’re looking for the person who removed the barricades, right?”

“Ah, yes. That’s right.”

“Have you made any progress?”

Kim Min-joo’s expression darkened at those words.

“No. I’m trying to secure CCTV footage nearby… but it seems impossible to check the videos without police permission.”

“That’s probably true. Unless a team that’s good at that kind of thing hacks it.”

“……D, does that mean.”

“Yes. We’ll help you. But this is personal help, so you have to keep it a secret from the support team members.”

“…….”

When Kim Min-joo didn’t respond, Deputy Director Lee Ah-young nodded.

“You want to ask why I’m helping you, right?”

“……Yes. As you know, I was only appointed as team leader three days ago. I don’t have any power or influence yet. Even if you help us, there’s nothing beneficial for the support team…….”

“Of course, I’m not helping you for free. I want to receive some information in exchange for helping you.”

As expected, Kim Min-joo smiled bitterly.

“If it’s something I know.”

“Well, it’s not that difficult. Team Leader Kim Min-joo, I heard you’re quite close to Cleaner Kim Joon-woo…….”

Deputy Director Lee Ah-young trailed off.

After a moment.

“What kind of person is Cleaner Kim Joon-woo, really?”

“……Pardon?”

“Well, there are a lot of rumors. That he’s a freelance hunter, a spy for a private guild, part of the Association President’s line. You must have heard them at least once. I’m curious which of those rumors is true.”

Her question was like a verification process.

Whether Kim Joon-woo was truly a pure-hearted person, or whether he was just managing his image under the guise of being part of the Association President’s line, as Song Hye-yeon said.

She was going to find out the truth.

However.

“I’ve never heard those rumors before?”

“……?”

She had the wrong person.

“A, are you really hearing it for the first time? The headquarters has been noisy about this for days?”

“Ah, yes… I’m sorry. I don’t have any friends to gossip with in the Association…….”

Kim Min-joo lowered her head, looking embarrassed.

Her face flushed.

Deputy Director Lee Ah-young let out a hollow laugh.

She had heard that she was often alone… but she didn’t expect it to be this bad.

She was speechless from the considerable shock.

‘Wait a minute, then this person now…….’

Could it be that she really thinks Kim Joon-woo is just a cleaner?

“Actually, I used to think he was a freelance hunter… but now it seems like he doesn’t even do subjugation missions. He’s definitely extraordinary, but I think he’s just a cleaner now. Well… I don’t have the right to know more than that.”

That was all Kim Min-joo could answer.

“You know it doesn’t make sense, right? Even if it’s just a team, you’re the operation team leader. You’re mobilizing all the affiliated hunters for just one cleaner…….”

“Just?”

At that moment, Kim Min-joo’s eyes changed.

Only then did Lee Ah-young realize her mistake and quickly cover her mouth.

How could she do the thing she hated the most, no matter how absurd it was?

Her head dropped in shame.

“I’m sorry. It slipped out.”

“……Yes.”

“Still, other people will definitely think it’s strange.”

“Is it that strange?”

Kim Min-joo scratched her head.

She was serious.

That woman is seriously out of her mind.

Deputy Director Lee Ah-young let out a hollow laugh.

The cleaner who took all the blame on himself even though he didn’t do anything wrong, and the operation team leader who mobilized the entire team to help that one cleaner.

Both of them are definitely not in their right minds.

At least, that’s the case in this damn Association.

‘How did people like that end up in a dump like this…….’

She even started to feel sorry for them.

Deputy Director Lee Ah-young sighed softly.

“I… I don’t know if that answered your question.”

“Well, that’s enough. Okay, I’ll help you. But you have to keep your promise to introduce me next time.”

“Yes, of course.”

Only then did Kim Min-joo smile slightly.

Deputy Director Lee Ah-young then placed her hand on the shoulder of Song Hye-yeon, who was sitting in front of the computer.

“Hye-yeon, have you accessed the Transportation Bureau’s network?”

“Of course.”

“Good. Load all the CCTV footage from Sadang to Nakseongdae.”

At the same time, a mechanical sound began to echo in the office.

The monitors flickered busily, and complex characters filled the screens.

But Kim Min-joo, who didn’t know anything about this, just understood that they were doing something amazing.

“D, does the support team usually do this kind of thing?”

“No. Originally, it’s a system created to observe and collect all hunter information. This is the first time we’ve hacked a government office.”

“If it’s the first time even for the Deputy Director, then it’s a violation of regulations…….”

“No.”

Deputy Director Lee Ah-young cut her off.

Then she turned her head sharply towards Kim Min-joo.

“Not for me. It’s the first time since the Association was created.”

Lee Ah-young smiled brightly.

“Loading complete. I’ll display the CCTV footage on the front monitor.”

At that moment, Song Hye-yeon raised her hand.

“If we track the route from the time of the accident, we’ll catch the culprit quickly.”

Soon, the eyes of the three people moved to the monitor.

Without exception, everyone’s face hardened.

“……What.”

“H, how did this happen…….”

For some reason, not a single CCTV camera was working properly.

All the CCTV cameras were broken.

Someone had destroyed them.

“I, it can’t be. They destroyed dozens of them? Who would do such a thing…….”

“It must be the culprit. I didn’t expect them to go this far… what a piece of trash.”

Deputy Director Lee Ah-young spat out a curse without hesitation.

At the same time, Kim Min-joo clenched her fist.

“Damn it…….”

Kim Min-joo gritted her teeth.

***

“Hoo…….”

It was past 3 AM.

I stopped in an alley and took a rough breath.

[Acquired Skill: Hyper Boost]

[Duration has ended]

‘This should be enough.’

It took longer than I thought because I had to move while hiding.

And because I had to maintain ‘combat state’ continuously, I kept banging my head against the utility poles every 5 minutes.

Of course, with ordinary damage, I would only get hurt, let alone maintain combat state. I banged it so hard that I might have really gone to the afterlife if I had done it a few more times.

Haa…….

I suddenly felt exhausted after finishing the job.

I have to wake up early tomorrow, and I have to treat my battered forehead, so I should go back quickly.

I kicked the scrap metal lying on the floor and came out of the alley.

Why does my ear keep itching?