The Wise Cleaning Life Of A Returning Genius Hunter [EN]: Chapter 270

269

“– We have news that Justice Minister Kobayashi Hiroto has gone missing.”

Japan Branch.

The voice of an excited anchor flowed from the internet news that Branch Manager Haramura was watching.

“– Around 8 PM today, Minister Kobayashi finished his work and sent a text to his wife saying he was leaving work, but he has not returned home. CCTV footage showed Minister Kobayashi leaving his office, but he disappeared without getting into his personal vehicle. Police authorities have begun investigating, focusing on the possibility of abduction. If you have seen Minister Kobayashi or have any information, please contact the number below…….”

It was well past 1 AM.

Branch Manager Haramura was still at the office, watching the news.

“They’re really making a mess in another country……”

He sighed and muttered.

Now they’re even targeting ministers.

The influence of the International Association was truly being felt.

And then.

“…Only 3 hours left.”

Aide Hina, who was with him, spoke with a worried voice.

“Should we… contact them?”

“Kim, the representative? No need. He’ll manage well enough on his own.”

“No. I mean the contact information that woman gave us.”

“Ha! What, to hand over the branch?”

“……”

Aide Hina couldn’t bring herself to answer.

When you think about it, what’s the big deal if the branch is handed over to the International Association?

It’s better than the branch being taken over by drug addicts and affecting the subjugation [suppression of illicit activities].

She had come to that conclusion, but Branch Manager Haramura seemed to think differently.

“I told you. We will never hand over the branch.”

“But the situation is……”

“I know. If I’m arrested, the branch will become a den of drug addicts.”

“Because there’s nothing easier than collapsing an organization without a leader.”

She answered in a barely audible voice.

Then, Branch Manager Haramura looked at her and carefully said, “So… if I get arrested, I want you to take my place.”

“Yes…?”

Aide Hina’s eyes widened.

“W-What are you talking about!”

“From the moment I leave my post, I will delegate all authority of the branch to you.”

“Don’t say such ridiculous things! How can I replace you, Branch Manager! I’m just an aide……”

“What’s there to not be able to do? When you think about it, I was also suddenly put in charge because Kim, that guy, passed it on to me.”

“That’s true, but……”

“You’ll get used to it. And if it’s you, who I’ve been watching all this time, I think you’ll do better than anyone else.”

“……”

Aide Hina couldn’t think of anything to say and lowered her head.

But only for a moment.

“Is it really necessary to go that far…….”

She hesitated before blurting out those words.

“Even if we’re keeping our loyalty to Representative Kim Junwoo, we’re still part of the Association. If the branch collapses, our country will be in the most danger……”

She trailed off.

It might be a selfish thought, but she had to say what she had to say.

No matter how much help they received from Kim Junwoo, now that the branch, the safety of their own people, was being held hostage, they had to rethink things.

But Branch Manager Haramura’s answer was quite unexpected.

“I’m not some adolescent high school student. What’s so important about some loyalty?”

“……Yes?”

“It might seem like everything will be resolved if we just bow our heads once, but that one time will become a shackle for life. Do you really think things will go back to normal if we hand over the branch to the International Association?”

Absolutely not.

Branch Manager Haramura continued, “Rather, they’ll just use this incident as an excuse to exploit us in every way. Then we’ll have to live our lives with our heads bowed forever.”

“……”

“Don’t misunderstand. This isn’t for Kim, the representative, but for our country.”

Branch Manager Haramura put his hands together and muttered.

“Well… some people who care more about their own interests seem to think differently.”

He looked at the news reporting on Minister Kobayashi’s disappearance and let out a faint sigh.

Then, he shrugged at Aide Hina and said, “And more than anything, it’s not over yet.”

“……Can we catch the supplier in 3 hours?”

“It’ll be difficult. No… we should consider it almost impossible.”

Branch Manager Haramura shook his head.

At the same time, he smiled and said, “But… for some reason, I’m not worried.”

***

I’m screwed.

‘I’m screwed, I’m screwed…….’

Only 3 hours left.

I made a lot of noise here and there, and even received help from the President, but I haven’t even found a proper clue, let alone catch the supplier.

‘Damn it, what do I do…?’

I can’t find them like this.

Whether I hand over the branch with my own hands or not, it will fall into the hands of the International Association.

Even now, another method…….

“Um… if you don’t have anything else to ask, can I go now…?”

Kyokuseigumi’s office.

The boss, Horie, opened his mouth cautiously, kneeling with a bruised face.

“……”

I stared at him without a word.

Pow, Whack―!

“Why! Why don’t you know! You received so much Void [a fictional drug], how can you not have seen their face?”

“Ugh, Aagh!”

My temper flared up, and before I knew it, my fist went out again.

“I, I told you……. We only talked on the phone, and we received the goods by throwing them, so I couldn’t see their face……”

He finally said, whimpering.

Of course, I didn’t come all the way here to listen to such excuses.

“What about the payment? You must have a transaction account.”

“That’s… they gave it to me for free……”

What…?

“I thought it was strange at first, but… they said it was a first-time transaction service, so I just accepted it.”

“Then what about the number you called? You must have that.”

“I think they used a public phone, so there’s no number left……”

Pow―!

Damn it, you’re not helping.

“What should we do? If we didn’t make contact and there’s no number left, I can’t find any clues……”

Then, Kim Minju, who was next to me, cautiously spoke.

Instead of answering, I let out a deep sigh.

To be honest, I couldn’t think of any other way.

It was a complete dead end.

There was no hope at all like this…….

“Ah!”

At that moment, Horie suddenly clapped his hands and exclaimed.

“Come to think of it, when I talked to that woman last time, she said something like this: ‘If someone comes looking for you, contact me.'”

“What…?”

“So I asked if she would leave a contact number… and she said she already had.”

What kind of nonsense is this again.

‘She didn’t leave anything, but she said she already did…….’

I quietly rolled my eyes for a moment.

‘……!’

It felt like a spark was flying in my head.

“Well, since she didn’t leave anything, she must have just said it…… Aagh!”

I punched him on the head one last time.

I smiled as I looked at him, who was looking up as if he was wronged.

“That’s the price for telling me the most important thing last.”

“……Yes, yes?”

“Kim Minju, give me your phone.”

She had a bewildered expression, but there was really no time now.

I skipped the explanation and immediately made a call somewhere.

“…How did it go?」

Branch Manager Haramura’s voice was heard from the other end of the phone.

“I found the supplier, but it was a bait. I heard they received the goods in your name, Branch Manager.”

“……What?”

“I need to catch the original source… but I haven’t found any clues about that yet.”

“That’s a disaster…….”

“I told you. It’s not yet, I said.”

His answer was cut off for a moment.

I took the opportunity to continue, “By any chance… when the International Association person came to see you, did they leave a contact number?”

“Hmm? Oh, oh. They did give me a number, saying to contact them within the time limit if I was going to hand over the branch…….”

“Can you give me that number?”

“I can tell you, but… is there a reason? It doesn’t seem like anything will be resolved by contacting them.”

“I’ll tell you the details later.”

I put the explanation aside and hung up as soon as I received the number.

As I was immediately entering the number into my phone, Kim Minju asked, “That’s the contact number for branch transactions. Will it be meaningful?”

“They’re thoroughly hiding their appearance and cutting off all trails. Even if it’s a hotline for core transactions, they would have used a different method. There’s no way they would have left a contact number.”

“Yes…?”

“Whoever planned this operation, leaving a contact number is not part of that plan.”

I looked at Kim Minju and continued, “In other words, it’s a solo act by an accompanying member.”

“……!”

At the same time, her pupils widened.

“Then they left the number on purpose so we could contact them……”

“Shh.”

I pressed the call button, and the moment I heard the connection tone, I put my finger to my lips.

I focused on the sound coming from the other side.

Well, I think I know who it is.

Click―.

At that moment, the call was connected.

But the other person didn’t say anything.

“……This is Kim Junwoo.”

I spoke first.

“…….」

“Didn’t you leave the number so I could contact you?”

“…….」

“Say something…….”

“I’m going outside, so wait a moment.”

Finally, an answer was heard.

As expected, it was a familiar female voice.

After waiting for a while like that.

“It seems you found Kyokusei [a Yakuza group].”

She spoke again.

“Yeah, well. But aren’t you going to tell me who you are?”

“Don’t you already know?”

“Ha…….”

Well, that’s right.

Among the members of the International Association, there is only one person who would induce me to make personal contact.

PB Corporation, Bank Item Management Team Leader.

Chloe.

“So, why did you leave the number? No matter how I look at it, it doesn’t seem like your superiors ordered you to do it.”

“Why, even sales people take care of their own interests. Is there any reason why I can’t?”

“You want to make a personal deal…?”

At that question, Chloe’s laughter was heard.

“Honestly, what does it matter to me how the Japanese branch turns out? It would be nice if I could take care of what I need to while working.”

“So… what do you want?”

When I asked, the answer was cut off for a moment.

“Eclipse.”

She threw out an unexpected word.

“It’s a bit much for me to say this myself, but Eclipse is the world’s best facility, the largest research institute. To be honest… it’s a place that researchers would covet.”

“…You can’t be asking me to hand over Eclipse?”

“No.”

She answered immediately.

“I’m asking you to hire me.”

“……?”

What is this again…….

“Honestly, I’ve been working at PB Corporation for a long time, but other than providing research facilities, it doesn’t really suit me.”

“You’ve been interfering with me so much, and now you’re saying this?”

“What power do I have? I just did what they told me to do.”

“That’s absurd.”

“Well, think what you want.”

She snorted and continued, “Anyway, my condition is the position of chief of Eclipse. Honestly, I think I have that much skill? Should I send you a resume?”

“That’s okay, what can you give me?”

“Musashino Newspaper.”

“……?”

My eyebrows twitched at the unfamiliar name.

“It’s a newspaper company that will publish content about Branch Manager Haramura in 3 hours.”

“…….”

“Why? Don’t you like it? Even if you can’t catch us, it’ll be enough to save the branch right now?”

I know.

Even if I couldn’t catch the supplier, it was a huge clue that could put out the immediate fire.

But…….

“What’s the reason?”

“Huh?”

“If you tell me that, you’ll be in danger too. Don’t tell me you’re regretting it now and trying to do something good?”

“Don’t be mistaken.”

She said, “I’m just choosing what’s more beneficial to me.”

“…I could just take the clue and not accept your conditions?”

“Then I’ll be killed by that bitch. Well… I can’t help it if you really do that.”

……You’re crazy.

Are you serious?

“So, what are you going to do?”

“I wouldn’t have listened to you before… but unfortunately, I don’t have a choice right now.”

I’ll have to accept it for now.

“You’ll have to move quickly.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

I said that and immediately hung up the phone.

Then, I looked at my team members and said, “Musashino Newspaper. They’re publishing an article about Branch Manager Haramura there. Get the location and move there right now.”

“Y-Yes!”

“Yes!”

The Cleaning Team 3 members, including Manager Park, immediately left the office.

But.

“What about you, sir…?”

Kim Minju remained in her place and hesitated before asking me.

“I have something else to prepare.”

“Yes?”

“I have a bad feeling. Anyway, go ahead.”

Kim Minju still seemed reluctant, but she didn’t say anything more and left the office, following her team members.

After sending them away first, I took out my phone again.

“Yes, it’s me.”

The voice that was heard soon after.

“Is what I asked for before ready?”

I began to prepare for the boss fight with a serious expression.