The Wise Cleaning Life Of A Returning Genius Hunter [EN]: Chapter 262

261

“So, what Kim is saying is… you’re giving up the subjugation industry and investing in Hermes?”

Hoo-in asked with a rather bewildered expression.

“That’s right. Well, to be honest, there’s not much of a choice. It’s bound to happen anyway.”

“Ha, but we’re not a company big enough to replace the subjugation business.”

President Long of Hermes objected to my answer.

He seemed just as taken aback.

“Don’t worry. WDSO plans to invest fully until you grow enough.”

“Wh, what does that mean…?”

“Head of Division Lee Ah-young.”

I called her, who had been waiting in the back.

She took out the prepared documents and began to explain the detailed business plan.

“In the future, Hermes will oversee the distribution of byproducts from surrounding countries, based on hub operations. The estimated revenue is ten million dollars in the first quarter and is expected to exceed 200 million dollars in the first year.”

“…….”

“…….”

“Furthermore, if we oversee the distribution of byproducts throughout Asia, the expected revenue is estimated to be over 700 million dollars.”

Well, that’s actually the maximum figure.

“The existing association’s revenue was around 500 million dollars a year, so isn’t this enough to replace the subjugation industry?”

When I asked, the two men hesitated to answer, looking at each other.

But only for a moment.

President Long cautiously asked a question.

“I understand that you’re going to grow our company into a business that will replace the subjugation industry. But… why us? We haven’t had any ties with Karma Corporation, and we’re not qualified enough…”

“You’re mistaken. Hermes isn’t the only company I’ve chosen to replace the subjugation industry.”

“Yes?”

He asked back with a puzzled expression, and instead of answering, I raised my voice towards the conference room door.

“Come in.”

At the same time, several people entered the office.

They bowed to us as soon as they came in.

Hoo-in didn’t understand what was going on at all.

“Wa, wait a minute. Those people are…”

President Long seemed to know them.

“Oh, it looks like you know each other. Then the story will be faster.”

I stood up from my seat and stood in front of the newly appeared people and continued speaking.

“If the branch disappears, the hunters, control team personnel, and support team experts will lose their jobs. So, it will be necessary to pioneer new fields according to each role.”

I immediately introduced the man at the very front.

“This is CEO Hoong of the IT company, Mango Soft. From today, Mango Soft will develop WDSO’s official international dungeon emergence detection system with the existing control team.”

“Nice to meet you.”

CEO Hoong bowed politely.

Then, I pointed to the woman next to him.

“This is President Zueong of the bio company, Horizon Biologics. In the future, she will work with the support team at the Eclipse Vietnam branch. Of course, she will continue to interact with the hub.”

“Nice to meet you.”

“And this is CEO Quoc of the PMC [Private Military Company] company, Black Bunker. Black Bunker plans to establish an international subjugation dispatch team with the existing operations team.”

The middle-aged man nodded silently at my introduction.

“And finally.”

I looked at President Long and continued speaking.

“As I said, Hermes will be responsible for international byproduct distribution. Along with the existing cleaning team.”

“…….”

“…….”

The two men kept their mouths shut and blinked their eyes.

It seemed like they needed time to understand what was going on.

But there was no time for that.

“Team Leader Kim.”

Just in time, former Operations Director Nguyen carefully entered the conference room.

He had been staying by my side ever since he was fired.

It was to prepare for possible assassinations or attacks, but fortunately, such unfortunate events did not occur because the branch was in chaos.

I asked him to keep an eye on the branch situation without being noticed, and he finally brought the results now.

“I had the staff check, and they said that dungeon appearances throughout Vietnam have stopped since around 2 p.m.”

“…I see.”

I couldn’t help but smile at the news I had been waiting for.

As expected, they moved as expected.

Sealing off dungeons throughout the area using dimensional stones.

Well, if they left over 100 uncleared dungeons unattended, it would be a huge blow to them, so it’s a natural choice.

“I told you? The only thing the International Association can choose is one thing, and that choice will be a solution for us.”

I took turns looking at everyone who had gathered for a new start.

“As of today, Vietnam has become the first country completely liberated from dungeons.”

I smiled and continued speaking.

“Congratulations.”

***

After the meeting, which was a series of shocks, Kim Jun-woo and Lee Ah-young left.

“…….”

“…….”

Hoo-in and President Long were still sitting there with dazed expressions.

It was like they had been hit in the head.

In the first place, would anyone be able to accept this news right away?

“When did that person start planning this?”

Then, President Long asked cautiously.

Hoo-in counted the days in his head and answered.

“Less than a month…”

“Huh, wow…”

The reaction was absurd.

That was the same for Hoo-in.

In just one month, he had completely regained control of the branch.

No, he didn’t just regain control…

He eliminated the subjugation business itself.

‘He said he didn’t want to be swayed by others anymore, but I didn’t think he would get rid of the dungeons themselves…’

Hoo-in muttered as if he still couldn’t believe the situation.

In fact, as Kim Jun-woo said, it is normal to be happy when dungeons that threaten the lives of citizens disappear.

Isn’t it obvious?

Who would refuse to have the daily wars that happen dozens of times a day disappear?

That’s why it doesn’t make sense that Wesley threatened to get rid of the dungeons, and that he gave in to the threat.

But…

It also meant that the subjugation industry had become deeply rooted in the national industry to the point that they could not give up the dungeons even at the risk.

Cutting that out was unimaginable.

That’s why they couldn’t give up even though they knew the safety of the citizens was at risk.

But if there is a business that can replace it even if it is not subjugation, and if all the branch personnel can continue their field without losing their jobs…

Dungeons are unnecessary.

No, it was a problem that should have disappeared in the first place.

Kim Jun-woo reduced the cleaning team as the first step.

This caused problems in the overall subjugation schedule, and he accurately predicted how the branch manager would move to solve the problem and what choice Secretary-General Wesley would make, and prepared everything.

The International Association had been playing in Kim Jun-woo’s hands from the beginning.

‘I can’t believe the International Association gave in so easily. Twice…’

Hoo-in muttered, spitting out a laugh.

But only for a moment.

The smile slowly disappeared from his mouth.

It wasn’t that, but suddenly an ominous feeling flashed through him.

***

“Good job.”

After the countermeasure meeting and business briefing, on the way back to the accommodation.

Head of Division Lee Ah-young, who was driving, said the words nonchalantly.

“What good job… I didn’t do anything. They just moved on their own.”

“Isn’t it amazing that you predicted all that and prepared in advance?”

“…Why are you praising me so much today?”

When I asked with a sullen expression at the unusual praise, she smiled.

“The cleaners who were previously laid off…”

Then she glanced at me and continued speaking.

“I heard they all recently moved to Hermes? After receiving someone’s recommendation.”

“…….”

News travels fast.

“So, is that why you proceeded without hesitation? Because the branch was going to collapse anyway, and you were planning to merge the cleaning team with another company. So, it didn’t matter who was laid off in the first place?”

“Well…”

I vaguely avoided answering.

Of course, it wasn’t wrong, but it was quite embarrassing to admit it as it was.

“If you had told me in advance, I wouldn’t have misunderstood. The team members wouldn’t have been disappointed either.”

“It’s okay now because it went according to plan. But at the time, it wasn’t certain.”

I sighed softly and continued speaking.

“Who would believe it if I said that the dungeons would disappear without any basis, and that the cleaning team would move to another company? Rather, they would have said that I was making excuses.”

“Well, that’s true too.”

She smiled at my answer.

“Anyway, I’m glad.”

“…What are you talking about?”

She then stared at me intently and answered.

“Because you’re the person I knew.”

“…….”

What are you talking about?

“Are you going back to Korea now?”

“I’m going to watch until the outline is roughly set. I don’t think there will be much to do, and it will be enough for me alone, so you can go back first.”

“No.”

She answered immediately and shook her head.

“What would I do if I went back without you? I’ll hang out with you a little more.”

“…….”

That’s a quick change of attitude.

“Okay. Then, first of all… do you have time now?”

“Hmm? I have time. Where are you going?”

“I was hoping to go to the department store.”

When I said that, her eyebrows rippled.

“Why suddenly the department store…?”

“Didn’t Team 4’s Doan become a father this time?”

I continued speaking calmly.

“I don’t know what kind of gift would be good for a girl.”

She smiled softly.

“Okay. Let’s go.”

The moment she turned the steering wheel with the answer, my cell phone rang.

When I checked the number, it was one of the local cleaners I had sent on a hub tour.

“Hello?”

“Kim! Th, the hub is now…!”

Thump―!

Kugugung―!!

At that moment, an explosion that rang in my ears was vividly transmitted over the phone.

My expression hardened.

“Hello, hello! What’s that sound!”

“…Th, the Sean Branch Manager and the International Association staff are now…”

It seemed like they were continuing to say something on the other side, but the words were not heard at all due to the continuous roar.

But only for a moment.

“They’re attacking the hub!”

That one word was heard accurately.

“…Wh, what?”

“Yo, you should come quickly…!”

Before the words were finished, the call was cut off.

I stared blankly at the silenced cell phone with a hardened expression.

‘Are they going this far…?’

Of course, I haven’t completely assumed the situation where the International Association, cornered, uses force as a last resort.

However, logically speaking, Secretary-General Wesley would not make such a choice.

He would never do anything without justification, given his personality of not trying to create weaknesses.

Since they have already given up everything about Vietnam and are withdrawing, attempting a retaliatory attack… has no justification or benefit for them.

No, rather, it only brings losses to them.

‘Could it be that they did it independently on the spot?’

If the order wasn’t given, the person who would have done it is obvious.

Sean Branch Manager…

I can’t believe he’s such a stupid human being.

The moment I thought that far.

“We’ll have to postpone shopping until next time.”

Head of Division Lee Ah-young, who had grasped the situation, said coldly.

Squeak―.

Then she turned the steering wheel sharply and increased the speed.