The Wise Cleaning Life Of A Returning Genius Hunter [EN]: Chapter 283

282

Highway 81, on the outskirts of Stuttgart.

The first line of defense on the road to Berlin.

I quickly assessed the situation upon arrival.

“Fortunately, I’m not too late.”

About 30 soldiers.

It seemed other troops hadn’t arrived yet.

‘It’s a miracle they’re still alive….’

If I had been just a little later, everyone here would have been dust.

I turned my gaze to the International Association forces beyond the defense line.

Fortunately, they seemed to have taken quite a bit of damage from my attack earlier and were hesitating.

I bought us some time until they advanced again.

We need to use this opportunity to reorganize our ranks.

I approached a young man who appeared to be the commander and said,

“From now on, we’ll take over the frontal warfare, so please move to the rear of the defense line and provide supporting fire only.”

“W-what? W-who are you people…?”

However, he seemed more curious about who we were.

We don’t have time for this.

“We’re an operation team from the German Association. I’ll explain the details later….”

“W-what…? Wasn’t there a disbandment order? I heard the Association President was taken away on the spot for insubordination….”

“That’s right, but let’s put out the immediate fire first.”

I said that and turned to look at the operation team.

“Team 1 and 2, switch positions with the platoon forces right away. Set up the front with close-combat positions, and place the rest on the flanks.”

“Understood!”

“Teams 3 and 4, support the mid-rear with the platoon forces, focusing on long-range positions. Don’t worry about hitting effectively, just pour out skills as much as possible.”

“Yes, sir!”

Following my instructions, the operation team began to move in an orderly fashion.

The platoon members, with bewildered expressions, gave up their positions, and we took over the defense line, quickly completing our siege preparations.

“There’s no need to land effective hits. It’s enough to just keep the confrontation going by pouring out as many skills as possible. If we go into a war of attrition, they’ll need time to replenish their mana too.”

Once a resounding response was heard.

The International Association forces also prepared to attack again.

Bang—!

Kwaaang—!!

Soon, skills began to pour between the two camps.

“Guardian class! Don’t worry about anything else and focus on defending against the bombardment!”

“Understood!”

“Y-yes, sir!”

[Unique Skill: Supreme Mirror]

[Unique Skill: Triangle Shield]

쿵―!

Kugugugu—!!

We continued to block the attacks coming from the International Association camp, and likewise, our attacks were easily blocked as well.

A fight where neither side could inflict damage.

We don’t intend to decide the outcome here anyway.

We need to go to a war of attrition to buy time until the headquarters forces arrive.

“W-what on earth is going on? How is the Association operation team….”

As the situation stalemated, the commander approached me again.

His tone was somehow different from before.

“It may be sudden, but as of today, the German Association has been acquired by WDSO [a fictional organization in this story].”

“……Y-yes?!”

“Therefore, deployment orders and operational instructions will now be determined and decided solely by us. Well, of course….”

I glanced at the man and continued.

“If you guys can defend it well enough on your own, I wouldn’t bother you.”

“…….”

The man’s expression stiffened.

And soon.

“…Please help us.”

He conveyed those words with a serious expression.

“We are not enough on our own. Even if we request support troops, they only say they are coming and keep ordering us to hold the line.”

“Tsk, support troops probably won’t come.”

“Yes…?”

“It seems the Minister of National Defense likes things to be very dramatic. I heard that they are going to use a newly developed weapon from a military corporation for actual combat this time……. To do that, there’s a lot to prepare, so they probably went that way.”

“W-what does that mean…!”

A look of disbelief.

Well, I also wondered if this made sense, but it was what Minister Lucas told me, so it couldn’t be false.

‘Do they think the war with ability users is just a neighborhood brawl….’

He’s a human who doesn’t know reality too well.

“Anyway, I’ll take over the 81st road defense line from now on. First, briefly brief me on the situation.”

“W-we don’t have much information either. We only know that there are about 5,000 people advancing now….”

I stroked my chin for a moment at his words and organized my thoughts.

“If the total confirmed force is 60,000… the rest must be going another way.”

“There are a total of 5 roads leading to Berlin. The 81st is a direct road, but the 52nd, 9th, 11th, and 101st national highways are also connected. The defense lines on each road are being manned by other platoons, but….”

The man glanced at the operation team I had brought and said.

“The situation is probably the same on the other side. W-we don’t have a chance anyway, so it would be better to support other defense lines….”

“No. There’s no need for that.”

“Yes…?”

I slightly raised the corner of my mouth and took out the radio.

“Did you hear that? 51st, 9th, 11th, 101st national highways.”

「The remaining operation teams are moving to each road now! I’m also going to the 101st road!」

“Understood. As soon as you arrive, Ms. Lee Ah-young, please set up a temporary support facility first, establish a supply network for each defense line, and keep supplying potions and equipment.”

「Okay!」

After hearing the answer from Headquarters Manager Lee Ah-young, I switched the channel and asked Chloe this time.

“Where are you now, Ms. Chloe?”

「I’m going to the 52nd road.」

“As soon as you get there, reorganize the camp….”

「I’ll take care of it, so don’t contact me.」

“…….”

Is she crazy?

‘I’ll see you when I get back to Korea.’

I suppressed my anger and spoke to the commander again.

“All operation teams are heading to each defense line now. Of course, we can’t completely stop the International Association, but we can hold out long enough until the support troops arrive.”

“B-but if they use other roads, they can still advance to Berlin even if they go around! It’s impossible to block all the roads….”

That was the moment the commander opened his mouth.

Bang—!

Kwaa kwaa kwaang—!!

Explosions were heard in succession from afar.

I could immediately tell what that sound meant.

There was something I had heard from Headquarters Manager Ha Sung-il while coming here.

“Just now, all roads except the five main roads were destroyed.”

“Y-yes…?”

“A construction company I know is helping out.”

I continued with a smile.

“If we hold out for 36 hours, the WDSO headquarters forces will arrive. So… let’s hold out until then.”

“…….”

He stared at me with a somewhat stiff expression for a moment.

“Second Lieutenant Denver, 3rd Platoon, 1st Company, 3rd Battalion, German Federal 1st Armored Division Infantry. I look forward to working with you.”

He gave a salute and spoke in a determined voice.

“Kim Jun-woo, Team Leader of Cleaning Team 3, WDSO Headquarters.”

“……Kim Jun-woo? Are you perhaps the CEO Kim Jun-woo of Karma Corporation…?”

“Haha, you know me.”

I replied, raising the corner of my mouth.

At the same time, I could see a sense of relief washing over his face.

Well, even if we cut off contact, my name still carries weight here…….

“Then is Operation Headquarters Manager Kim Min-joo also here?! That’s a relief!”

“……?”

Kim Min-joo…?

Not me?

“Hey, you guys! We’re alive now! Hunter Kim Min-joo is here!”

“R-really?!”

“Hunter Kim Min-joo is here?!”

“Um…….”

I opened my mouth with an awkward expression towards them, who were shouting as if they had already won the war.

“Sorry to break the mood… but Headquarters Manager Kim Min-joo hasn’t arrived yet.”

“……Ah.”

Suddenly, the soldiers’ expressions darkened rapidly.

Shibal [Korean slang, similar to ‘shit’].

Should I just quit?

***

The five fastest roads from Stuttgart to Berlin.

The 52nd National Highway, where the 3rd defense line is located.

“Tsk, as if they’d do it on their own.”

There, Chloe turned off the radio and muttered in a displeased voice.

No wonder, even though she requested to refrain from communication because she was busy, they were demanding situation briefings every 5 minutes.

Whether it’s because he’s worried about her, or worried about something else.

‘What, does he think I’m going to run away now?’

If he has time for this, he should take care of his girlfriend one more time.

Chloe muttered and frowned.

Meanwhile, the operation team, which had already set up camp, took an offensive stance towards the front.

“Stupid bastards…….”

Chloe, looking at them, opened her mouth as if she didn’t like something.

“W-what…?”

“Are you talking to us right now?!”

At the same time, the operation team hunters raised their voices in anger, but Chloe calmly replied.

“The International Association doesn’t use typical subjugation-style deployments. Most of their firepower is concentrated at the front, so they only care about the enemy in front of them. And the International Association’s equipment is all focused on firepower. Instead, they don’t consider the mana consumption of the casters, so if you keep inducing attacks, we’ll be at an advantage in a war of attrition.”

“H-how do you know that?!”

“Because I made it.”

“……?”

“……Huh?”

Her eyebrows twitched.

“Almost all of the equipment, weapons, and potions those guys are using, I made them.”

Still in a calm tone.

Everyone seemed speechless as she said something so incredible without a care.

“So shut up and do as I say.”

Soon, the International Association forces appeared in sight.

Chloe looked at them and said.

“If this place is breached, I don’t know about you guys… but I’ll never die peacefully.”

Unlike her usual self, she spoke in a trembling voice, as if she was nervous.

***

Stuttgart.

In the middle of the completely ruined city center.

Secretary-General Wesley remained there with his core forces, checking the progress of the advance.

“Secretary-General.”

At that time, Executive Secretary Kate found the Secretary-General.

“I just received a call from each team… they said that local operation teams have been deployed to the German defense line.”

“Operation teams?”

At the same time, Secretary-General Wesley’s eyebrows twitched.

“Of course, they are far short in terms of firepower, but they are dragging it into a war of attrition and blocking the advance. At this rate, it will take longer to reach Berlin.”

“Tsk, gnats are bothering me.”

He clicked his tongue once.

“By the way… how were the local operation teams deployed? There’s no way Minister Monaghan would have allowed that.”

He asked with an incomprehensible expression.

He knows that human better than anyone else.

A man who is only blinded by profit and power.

There’s no way he’d let another guy touch a war that has so much to gain.

He’s the type of guy who would refuse support from other countries, let alone help from the association in his own country.

But how could the local operation teams…….

“It seems WDSO has stepped in.”

“Ha…….”

Secretary-General Wesley let out a burst of laughter.

As expected, that’s what it was.

Well, if something happens that doesn’t make sense, there’s a high probability that it’s those guys’ doing.

Germany is currently blocked from exchanges with other countries, so there’s no way they could persuade the association through legitimate means…… I wonder what kind of trick they used again.

“Fortunately, judging from the number of people, it seems they only urgently deployed the local operation teams, and the WDSO headquarters personnel have not yet been dispatched.”

“It will take them two days to arrive. They’re probably trying to buy time until then… we need to break through somehow before that.”

“Shall we push through with firepower?”

“That’s dangerous. If even one place fails, the damage could be quite significant.”

“Then…….”

“If we can’t break through multiple places at the same time, we just need to focus on one place.”

Secretary-General Wesley raised his index finger and answered Kate’s question.

“Where would you like to go?”

“In terms of distance, the 81st is the best, but… they probably deployed more troops there as well. A road that is less important and has fewer personnel deployed…….”

Soon, Secretary-General Wesley pointed his finger at the map.

“52nd National Highway. This place would be good.”

Kate’s secretary nodded slightly at his decision.

As if there were no objections.

“Gather all the troops on the other advance routes to the 52nd road. And tell them I’m going there too.”

“……Understood.”

“And… you come with me.”

Soon, Secretary-General Wesley moved his steps and continued.

“Let’s show off our skills for the first time in a while.”