The Wise Cleaning Life Of A Returning Genius Hunter [EN]: Chapter 286

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The all-out war had begun on Route 52, at the Third Defense Line.

Defense Minister Monaghan was monitoring the situation from a temporary command and control center located behind the front lines.

“Keep attacking! Continue to deploy Leopards, and order additional Tornadoes and Typhoons to take off!”

Monaghan shouted at his staff.

Currently, almost all of Germany’s forces were concentrated on the Third Defense Line.

They were pouring in all their strength, deploying tanks and fighters that had been held back, and the Skoll missiles that had just been put into service were being launched.

With WDSO [World Defense Security Organization] withdrawn, they had to end it here, so they were throwing in everything they had.

But…….

“Sir! Skoll Unit 1 has failed to launch!”

A rather ominous report was delivered.

“Shit! Of all the important times…! Launch Units 2 and 3 together!”

“Yes, sir!”

Monaghan gritted his teeth.

Even with all their forces deployed, it was definitely not easy.

Seeing that there was no significant damage and the advance speed hadn’t decreased, it might really be impossible to stop them with ordinary weapons.

But… they could do it.

This was Germany, after all.

No one could beat them on European soil.

Ability users?

They were just guys who went around catching monsters.

No matter how superhuman their powers, waging war against a nation’s army was absurd…….

“Skoll Units 2 and 3 have failed to launch!”

“What…?”

“A total of 56 Typhoons have been shot down!”

“A total of 41 Tornado ISDs have been shot down so far! Skills are raining down in the sky, making additional takeoffs impossible!”

“…….”

Something felt wrong.

Monaghan swallowed hard, his face betraying his apprehension, but the ominous news didn’t end there.

“Skoll Units 7, 8, 9… all 11 have failed to launch!”

“It’s no longer possible to operate air force power!”

“For now, we should retreat from the defense line and preserve as much power as possible…!”

“…….”

Monaghan was overwhelmed by the reports flying in like crazy.

For a moment, he felt like his soul had left his body, just standing there blankly.

“Minister!!”

He was snapped back to reality by someone’s shout.

But.

“The Third Defense Line… has just been breached.”

Monaghan’s eyes shook violently.

“You must evacuate immediately, Minister! It won’t take 30 minutes for them to advance to the command center!”

“…….”

The generals continued to raise their voices, but Monaghan, whose mental state was already fractured, couldn’t hear anything.

If the Third Defense Line was breached, it was a direct shot to the command center.

If this place, where all the generals, including the Minister of National Defense, were gathered, was attacked, the war would no longer have any meaning.

Only after this situation did Monaghan belatedly understand Kim Jun-woo’s words.

Yes.

We can’t do it alone.

Let’s just get a little…

Let’s just get a little help.

With all the Skoll missiles failing to launch, there was no time to be concerned about appearances.

Even if they couldn’t monopolize the credit, they had to win first.

With that thought in mind, Monaghan immediately took out his cell phone.

He dialed a familiar number and connected the call.

「What is it?」

Soon, a familiar voice was heard from beyond the phone.

“Hello, Minister… is now a good time to talk?”

It was none other than the man with whom he had maintained a relationship for 10 years.

The father-in-law of the CEO of Box Industry.

The Russian Minister of Defense, Vladimir.

「Hmm? Isn’t this a time of war? Do you have the leisure to contact me?」

“That’s why I’m calling for help.”

「What?」

Monaghan managed to speak with difficulty.

“The situation is worse than expected. The opponent’s strength is also unexpected, so it seems difficult with our forces alone. So, if you could help us a little…….”

「Don’t you have Skoll? I heard you just put it into service.」

“Ah, th-that’s…….”

Monaghan trailed off.

He couldn’t bring himself to tell him that all 11 had failed to launch.

He just pretended not to hear and repeated the same words.

“Anyway, the situation is quite difficult right now. Could you send us any reinforcements, even just a few?”

「Hmm…….」

A deep breath was heard from beyond the phone for a moment.

Soon, Minister Vladimir slowly opened his mouth.

***

Russia, Moscow.

A rather unexpected phone call arrived for Defense Minister Vladimir, who was working in his office.

「Hello, Minister. This is Kim Jun-woo from WDSO headquarters.」

“…Who did you say you were?”

「This is Kim Jun-woo from WDSO, Minister.」

Minister Vladimir looked at his phone with a rather bewildered expression.

How did a WDSO employee get his personal contact information?

That question lingered for a moment.

「I apologize for contacting you so suddenly. The situation is so urgent that I received your personal contact information through Secretary-General Park In-beom.」

“…Mr. Park did?”

His eyebrows twitched.

He had a long relationship with Park In-beom.

They had known each other for almost 20 years, and he was one of the few people he truly trusted.

But even so, it was a rather ambiguous relationship to call them friends.

What should he say…….

It was just a business relationship where they contacted each other when they needed each other.

The fact that he suddenly connected him with a WDSO employee meant that there was a reason for it.

‘Then he should contact me directly, why an ordinary employee…….’

Minister Vladimir was secretly upset, but it didn’t last long.

「Are you aware of the current situation in Germany?」

The question Kim Jun-woo threw out immediately dispelled other thoughts.

“Of course. I heard that the International Association’s forces invaded? Minister Monaghan is stopping them from advancing to Berlin.”

「No. He won’t be able to stop them.」

“…Hmm?”

「Minister Monaghan has no knowledge of combat with ability users. He’s recklessly pushing forward even though it’s not a situation that can be stopped with ordinary troops and equipment.」

“The new missiles are ready too. It’s not as big of a concern as you think…….”

「Minister.」

His voice became quite serious.

「You’ve invested heavily in research and development at Box Industry, right?」

“Y-yes, but…….”

「Then are you also aware that the CEO of Box Industry… that is, your son-in-law, pocketed most of that investment?」

“Wh-what…?!”

Minister Vladimir jumped up from his seat.

“Hey, do you know what you’re saying right now?”

「Of course, I know.」

“To say such a thing without evidence…!”

「I can give you as much evidence as you want.」

He still calmly cut off Minister Vladimir’s words.

「The important thing is that your son-in-law embezzled a large amount of research funds and invested in real estate. Thanks to that hole in the budget, it wasn’t properly developed.」

“What is that…….”

「I can confidently guarantee it. All 11 Skoll missiles currently deployed will fail to launch.」

“……!”

At the same time, Minister Vladimir’s eyes widened.

「It’s only natural. They wouldn’t have been able to make them properly in the first place.」

“…….”

Minister Vladimir was silent.

Of course, it’s not an easy story to believe.

But it’s hard to think that he would make up such a story.

Only a very few top officials around the world knew about his relationship with Minister Monaghan.

Moreover, he was a person connected by Mr. Park.

There’s no way that someone he introduced would be making up stories.

Above all, if what he said was true…… the business that he had pushed with the justification of family would collapse, and his reputation would be tarnished.

“So? What’s the reason for telling me that? Are you telling me to take care of my son-in-law right away?”

「No. There’s still one more thing you need to know.」

“There’s… more left?”

「Yes. It’s about the person who coaxed your son-in-law to invest a large amount of money in real estate.」

“……J-just a moment!”

Minister Vladimir’s whole body twitched.

With a feeling of disbelief, he slowly opened his mouth.

“Are you saying that’s Minister Monaghan…….”

「That’s right.」

His whole body tensed up.

「Minister Monaghan owns land that he purchased in the past. It’s undeveloped land in an area without transportation infrastructure, but a bridge is planned to be built there.」

“…And?”

「That land will undergo various developments starting with the construction of the bridge. However, Minister Monaghan couldn’t continue to own the land due to legal issues. But he couldn’t sell a place that would become a gold mine either.」

“…So, he’s trying to pass that land on to someone he can trust?”

「That’s right.」

“That’s my son-in-law?”

「…….」

The other side seemed to think that even an answer was unnecessary.

“Ha, hahaha…!”

Perhaps because of the sudden shock, a hollow laugh finally came out.

He’s been backing them up all this time, and now they’re teaming up to make a fool of him?

They must be completely insane.

“I can’t let this go. If what you said is true, that is.”

「You don’t have to believe me. However, there are plenty of ways to confirm it.」

“…….”

Still a dry tone.

But there was an inexplicable confidence in it.

“I understand very well what you’re trying to say. But why are you telling me this?”

Minister Vladimir asked, trying to regain his composure.

“If what you said is true, wouldn’t it be better to use it as a means of blackmailing Minister Monaghan?”

「I don’t do business with stupid people.」

“…….”

An unexpected answer.

It was an answer without basis or logic, but that’s why it was even more trustworthy.

“What do you want?”

Minister Vladimir asked again.

“There’s no way you’re giving me this information without wanting anything. Tell me what you want.”

「There are two things.」

Soon, Kim Jun-woo got to the point.

「First, please end your relationship with Minister Monaghan.」

“Isn’t that the natural course of things? Do you think I’d protect him even after hearing that?”

「I’m just saying in case. And second…….」

He continued in a low voice.

「Please expose your past dealings with Minister Monaghan.」

“What?”

「It’s not enough to just end the relationship. If you’re going to cut off the tail, you have to drop it all the way to hell, right?」

“But wouldn’t I be safe even if I did that?”

「Well, you have time to prepare, right? Transfer all the equipment and transaction details to someone else.」

“Are you telling me to set up a scapegoat?”

「It’s not that difficult, is it? In the first place, this is for you, Minister. So please think carefully.」

“…….”

He hesitated to answer for a moment.

“I’ll think about it.”

With those words, Minister Vladimir hung up the phone.

He immediately picked up the internal phone and contacted the overseas intelligence department.

“Hey, it’s me. Is there a bridge construction project scheduled near Berlin?”

「…Please wait a moment.」

Soon, the sound of typing on a keyboard was heard for a moment.

「Ah, yes, after checking now… there is information that Hanbyul Construction in Korea has a bridge project contract with the German Transportation Construction Department.」

“I see… so that’s how it is.”

It was really true.

‘Damn it…….’

What the hell is going on?

As he muttered that, his cell phone rang again.

“……What is it?”

It was none other than the man with whom he had maintained a relationship for 10 years.

It was Defense Minister Monaghan.

He then explained the situation and requested that reinforcements be dispatched.

「How is it, wouldn’t it be possible?」

“Hmm.”

Minister Vladimir hesitated for a moment.

“I don’t think that would be possible.”

「Y-yes…?」

“You’re the one who’s friendly with me, not Germany. There are many problems with openly sending reinforcements to Germany.”

「Th-that’s what I somehow…….」

“What can you do?”

「…….」

He rebuked him with a sharp voice.

“I’m the one who put you in that position when you were a merchant. What you can do, I can do too.”

「But Minister… if we get pushed back here, I can’t guarantee the contract with Box Industry!」

“Hey, Monaghan.”

Minister Vladimir asked in a serious voice.

“By any chance… did the Skoll fail to launch?”

「……!」

A sound of breath catching was heard loudly.

“It seems that guy’s words are true.”

「Wh-what are you talking about?」

“I’m talking about you teaming up with my son-in-law to embezzle my money.”

「Th-that’s not…!」

The flustered look was evident in his voice.

Minister Monaghan continued with an excited voice.

「N-no, I’ve never done that! I don’t know what you’ve heard, but I’ve never…!」

“Hey, you…….”

Minister Vladimir cut off his words and asked.

“Do you like black tea?”

「……!」

The other side would know better what that meant.

「If you contact me one more time, you’ll be having tea with me. [A euphemism for being poisoned or killed.]」

Minister Vladimir left those words behind and unilaterally hung up the phone.

He immediately gave instructions to the aide who was waiting in the office.

“Contact the Eastern Mafia right now.”

“Y-yes?”

“Tell them to hand over all the equipment and transaction details they received from Monaghan to the Mafia.”

“Wh-what is that…….”

Minister Vladimir’s eyes flashed at the aide who kept asking for the reason.

“Shut up and do as I say right now.”