The Wise Cleaning Life Of A Returning Genius Hunter [EN]: Chapter 284

283

“What did you say…?”

The German Federal Armed Forces Command and Control Center.

The control center where the nation’s top leaders gathered, and the place that commanded all forces.

Monaghan, the Minister of Defense, who was monitoring the situation in real-time, received a report that hit him like a bolt from the blue.

“The Association’s operation teams have been deployed to a total of 5 road defense lines, including the 1st defense line on Route 81!”

“What the hell are you talking about!”

Minister Monaghan jumped up and shouted at Lieutenant General Thomas’s report.

“I clearly disbanded them! I even locked up Amelie just in case, so who the hell deployed them! My aide? Or the head of the operations headquarters?!”

“That, that’s…”

“Whoever it is, they must think I’m a fool. Bring me the bastard who issued the deployment order right now! You can even kill him if he resists!”

“M-Minister Monaghan…”

Lieutenant General Thomas carefully opened his mouth.

“From what I’ve gathered… is the German Association currently…?”

“I don’t know the details either. I’m guessing they prepared something in advance, but…”

“Even if they prepared, how could they do it so quickly…?”

A memory flashed through his mind at that moment.

The Asian man who was with Amelie when she was being taken away.

‘Damn it, could it be that bastard…?’

He gritted his teeth.

He didn’t know what was going on, but… Amelie must have been up to something.

Like preparing documents in advance, anticipating that she would be arrested…

“I’m sorry to say this, but if they’ve officially merged with WDSO [World Disaster Support Organization], we can no longer intervene. Supporting conflict zones is their inherent right as an international organization…”

Lieutenant General Thomas said calmly.

At the same time, Minister Monaghan’s face turned red and blue.

He tried so hard to prevent any third party from intervening, but it had come to this.

Minister Monaghan took a deep breath, his expression furious.

“…Has there been any contact from Box Industries? How’s the ‘Skoll’ deployment going?”

He suddenly brought up a different question.

“Ah, yes… they said it’s almost complete and to wait a little longer…”

“Damn it! They said the prototype was complete three weeks ago, why are they still telling me to wait! Can they even deploy it for real?!”

“…”

Lieutenant General Thomas had only received the report and was relaying it.

There was no way he could answer even if he was pressed.

“Tell them to finish the deployment within the next 3 hours. Otherwise, I don’t care about the official contract or anything else!”

“…Understood.”

Lieutenant General Thomas gave a short answer and immediately lowered his gaze.

At the same time, Minister Monaghan clenched his fist and glared.

Box Industries was a German defense company.

It was a newly established company that was less than a year old, but it was about to sign a formal contract with the Ministry of Defense, thanks to Minister Monaghan’s active push.

And the reason he was pushing a new company like that was due to a more complex relationship.

Minister Monaghan had been receiving huge amounts of lobbying funds in exchange for supplying weapons to Russia for several years.

The one who led the deal was none other than the Russian Minister of Defense, Vladimir.

Of course, it was never legal to hand over one’s own country’s weapons to another country in exchange for lobbying, but that’s just how the world works, isn’t it?

More than anything, Minister Vladimir had created connections with other countries, and the amount of lobbying money flying in from around him was beyond imagination.

As such, Minister Vladimir was a very important client to Monaghan.

And that man’s son-in-law was the CEO of Box Industries.

In order to maintain a good relationship with Minister Vladimir in the future, he had to sign a formal contract with Box Industries no matter what.

However, defense company contracts were not something that could be decided unilaterally, even by the Minister of Defense.

The approval of other personnel was also required, and the final decision was made through a vote.

Therefore, all Minister Monaghan could do was to urgently deploy the new cluster bomb ‘Skoll’ developed by Box Industries in actual combat to 확실히 [clearly] imprint it on the other generals.

That was all.

The reason why Minister Monaghan was delaying support with the minimum deployment of personnel even in a state of war was also because of that.

A more urgent battlefield was suitable for imprinting ‘Skoll’ more effectively.

However, if a third party intervened, the situation might be resolved before Skoll was deployed.

‘I need to take action quickly…’

Minister Monaghan became impatient.

But in fact, the situation was not something that could be easily resolved.

Minister Monaghan, who was neither a soldier nor a Hunter, had no sense of the battle between ability users, so he had no idea that the establishment of this battle itself was absurd.

“We have to disband the operation team somehow until Skoll is deployed. Got it? Skoll has to be the protagonist of this war.”

As Minister Monaghan spoke again, Lieutenant General Thomas replied with a troubled expression.

“But, Minister… the situation is very serious. If we disband the operation team here, we will be helpless while the enemy advances to Berlin.”

“So, you’re saying you can’t follow my orders now?”

“That, that’s…”

“Listen, Thomas. This is Germany. We don’t need anyone’s help, and no one can bring us down. Do you understand?”

“…”

Wasted pride.

Because of that pride, the Minister of Defense was leading the country to ruin, but…

He was not aware of that fact at all.

“Tsk, forget it. If you can’t do it, I’ll do it myself. Prepare a helicopter right now.”

“Y-Yes…?”

“Didn’t you hear me? I said I’m going myself.”

Minister Monaghan left the command room immediately after saying that.

***

81st Highway, 1st Defense Line.

“Don’t give them a chance to close the distance! Keep attacking!”

Bang—!!

Bang, Kwaaang—!!

Numerous skills rained down relentlessly between the local operation team and the International Association forces.

“Don’t save your magazines!”

“Pour out all the remaining ammo!!”

Dudududu—!!

The soldiers in charge of the rear of the defense line also continued to provide suppressive fire.

Of course, ordinary bullets couldn’t harm them, but they were enough to slow their advance.

A war of attrition that had been going on for 12 hours already.

There had hardly been any operations this long even during subjugations, so everyone was quite exhausted, but…

“Potions have arrived!”

“Are there any injured people right now?”

The temporary support facility run by Director Lee Ah-young continued to send equipment, potions, and medical teams made up of Artisan class users.

“The medical team has arrived. Team 1 and Team 2, switch positions and receive treatment. In the meantime, Team 2 will continue to engage in combat.”

“Yes, yes!”

“Understood!”

When I gave instructions to the operation team that was in combat, they moved without a single error.

Currently, we were divided into two teams, engaging in combat every hour.

While one team was in combat, the other team received treatment for injuries, recovered, and received simple buffs [temporary enhancements to abilities].

After that, they would switch positions again.

The medical team continued to rotate through the other defense lines, repeating the same role.

In this way, we were able to attack continuously because combat and recovery were taking place simultaneously.

On the other hand, the International Association camp could only attack, not recover.

Even if we were outnumbered and lacked firepower, we could hold out as long as we maintained this cycle.

’12 hours from now…’

The WDSO headquarters personnel will arrive in 12 hours.

The game will be decided then.

It was important for us to just continue the war of attrition as much as possible and wear down the opponent’s stamina.

That was the plan.

But…

‘…Something’s wrong.’

The movements of the International Association camp had changed a little while ago.

Unlike before, when they retaliated more fiercely the more we attacked, they were now just absorbing our attacks.

They were even slowly retreating their camp.

It was as if they were retreating little by little without being noticed.

Even if they couldn’t recover, they shouldn’t be this exhausted…

‘Could it be that they have other intentions…’

As I continued to watch them with a serious expression.

“What are you doing right now!!”

A familiar voice was heard from behind.

I immediately turned my head.

“Who are you taking orders from to deploy the operation team! Withdraw them immediately!”

“…Tsk.”

As expected, Minister Monaghan was approaching me with a very angry face.

He had come all the way here.

“Didn’t you hear me?! If you don’t withdraw them right now, it’s insubordination…!”

“You must have heard the news since you came all the way here. That the German Association has merged with WDSO.”

“…!”

He hesitated for a moment as I spoke calmly.

Did he think I would just follow him obediently if he just raised his voice?

“The German Association is now a strictly independent international organization. And we have defined this incident as a serious act of national invasion, and we are carrying out the role of protecting the nation and its citizens from the International Association.”

I continued to speak while looking straight at Minister Monaghan.

“So… there is no reason for us to follow your orders.”

“…”

His face contorted.

“Don’t talk nonsense. International organization or whatever, this is clearly an act of national disruption. Withdraw them right now before I throw you all in jail!”

“Haa…”

He’s not listening.

‘This is like talking to a monkey…’

I glanced at the current situation.

We were still holding out without any major problems, but if we withdrew like this, Berlin would be breached in an instant.

If that happened, we wouldn’t be able to do anything anymore.

But he’s ordering a withdrawal…

‘He has no idea what’s going on…’

What an idiot.

Does he even know that he’s ruining the country?

“Minister Monaghan.”

At that moment, Lieutenant Denver stepped forward and opened his mouth.

“Who are you?”

“I am Lieutenant Denver, 3rd Platoon Leader of the 1st Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Armored Division Infantry. May I report on the current situation on your behalf?”

Minister Monaghan’s eyes narrowed.

Lieutenant Denver began to rattle off the report without permission.

“We are still engaging in combat without any problems, but it is our judgment that the current 30 platoon members cannot stop the advance. And that is true not only for the 1st defense line but also for all defense lines.”

“So?”

“If the operation team withdraws from here… it is only a matter of time before all defense lines collapse. Please send support troops or withdraw the withdrawal request…”

“‘Skoll’ is being deployed now.”

“…Yes?”

Lieutenant Denver’s eyebrows twitched at Minister Monaghan’s sudden statement.

“Once that’s deployed, we can stop the International Association and the ability users. So just hold on until then.”

“N-No… we can’t hold on for even 5 minutes with just us…”

“Damn it, aren’t you guys soldiers? If you’re soldiers, hold on with your lives!”

“…”

How absurd.

Does he think skills will avoid us if we hold on with our lives?

There are people with guns, but he needs to spout his 정신론 [spiritual strength theory – a Japanese-influenced military ideology emphasizing willpower over material resources] while looking at the situation.

‘Wait, Skoll…?’

It’s a familiar name.

Where have I heard it before…

I quickly rummaged through my memories for a moment.

“Are you perhaps talking about that new cluster bomb from Box Industries?”

I asked, recalling a news report I had seen before my regression.

“…How do you know about that?”

He had a flustered expression.

Well… that’s to be expected.

If my memory is correct, it’s still an unreleased prototype.

‘I wondered what he was relying on… I can’t believe it’s that toy-like missile.’

A hollow laugh escaped me without my knowing.

That’s because, before my regression, ‘Skoll’ was a product that left a rather embarrassing stain on its name when all the warheads failed to detonate at the demonstration site.

“I’m asking you! How do you know about that…!”

“Minister. If you really think you can stop ability users with just that missile, I think you should question your intelligence.”

Click—.

As if I had finally touched a nerve, he pointed a gun at my head.

“Say that one more time!”

“…”

He put his finger on the trigger.

I stared at him silently for a moment.

“You’re stupid, ignorant, and slow-witted. Minister.”

The moment I said those words with a smirk.

Bang—!

A single gunshot that seemed to tear my ears rang out.