The Wise Cleaning Life Of A Returning Genius Hunter [EN]: Chapter 302

301

“…What is this?”

International Hunter Association Headquarters, 1st floor lobby.

The support team, the cleaning team, and other administrative department staff were all gathered.

“I only issued a summons to the operations team… Why is everyone gathered here?”

“…….”

“…….”

Secretary-General Wesley asked in a sharp voice, but the employees said nothing.

“Haa…….”

However, it seemed that was enough of an answer for Secretary-General Wesley.

“I wondered why they weren’t caught on CCTV…….”

He sighed deeply and muttered for a moment.

Then, he spoke to the employees again in a slightly calmer voice.

“What were you so dissatisfied with?”

“…….”

“Tell me. There must be a reason why you kept your mouths shut and pretended not to know that WDSO [World Defense Security Organization] guys infiltrated the headquarters and stole the Bank Item.”

Again, the employees only exchanged glances and hesitated to speak.

And then.

“Discrimination within the organization, unreasonable budgets, wage cuts, and so on… There are many reasons, if I were to list them.”

Dave, the head of Hunter Management from the support team, stepped forward.

At the same time, Secretary-General Wesley’s eyes narrowed.

“So… you’re saying you caused this mess because you weren’t treated as equals to the operations team?”

“If you put it that way, it sounds like we’re just demanding rights without qualifications… But there’s a real reason besides that.”

“A real reason?”

Secretary-General Wesley asked back, and Dave took a moment to catch his breath.

“We don’t know what we’re doing.”

“…….”

He revealed the question he had always had while working at the International Association.

“We have currently turned our backs on the entire international community. And the operations team and high-ranking executives clearly have something to gain from taking on that risk. But ordinary employees like us… We’ve only gained the title of terrorists.”

Terrorists.

Secretary-General Wesley’s eyebrows twitched greatly at that word.

But only for a moment.

“……Okay.”

Secretary-General Wesley nodded and opened his mouth in a low voice.

“I didn’t realize you had such grievances. As the head of an organization, I can’t help but feel very sorry. I want to work with you to solve the problems now, but…….”

Then, his eyes flashed.

“That doesn’t mean the Bank Item that’s already in the hands of the enemies will come back.”

“……Pardon?”

“……?”

The moment they looked at him with puzzled expressions, Secretary-General Wesley gestured to the troops behind him.

Bang—!!

A huge explosion occurred in front of him.

All the forces of the International Association, including Secretary-General Wesley, stared blankly at the flames that engulfed the employees in an instant.

No words, no reactions.

As if it had been planned from the beginning.

“Secretary-General.”

At that time, a soldier from the operations team approached him.

“You should take a look at this.”

A tablet PC was carefully handed over.

On it, Russian Minister of Defense Vladimir was delivering an official statement.

The conflict between the two organizations in Russia.

The authorities suffered unilateral damage in the midst of it.

The end of the bullshit contest disguised as a statement soon concluded with a request for a ban on entry into Russia.

“Haha…….”

Soon after Minister Vladimir stepped down, Secretary-General Wesley let out a hollow laugh.

“Hahaha, hahahaha!!”

And soon, he began to laugh like a madman for a long time.

In fact, it was a request in name only, but it was no different from an order.

“Okay…….”

He opened his mouth in a low voice.

“You’re going to take everything from us after all?”

His eyes were bloodshot.

Kim Junwoo.

It’s all because of that bastard.

He is the beginning of everything and he brought it all upon himself.

Therefore, what will happen from now on is also Kim Junwoo’s responsibility.

“I heard we’re terrorists…….”

Soon, Secretary-General Wesley opened his mouth to the troops.

“We need to show them what a terrorist with nothing to lose looks like.”

Empty eyes and voice.

And an expression filled with anger.

A chilling smile leaked out between them.

***

Immediately after leaving the International Association headquarters and entering the city center.

The moment a sudden roar and explosion occurred in the headquarters building, everyone turned their heads to look at it…….

“What……?”

“W, what’s going on…….”

Black smoke and flames were seen rising from the first floor of the building.

“T, teacher…?”

“S, should we go back?!”

Kim Minjoo and Han Yoobin looked at me and asked at the same time.

The headquarters staff who helped us.

The explosion that occurred immediately after we escaped.

Everyone knows what that means without having to say it.

They’re dead.

Or they’re on the verge of death.

Either way, it’s too great a price to pay for helping us.

I know it’s morally wrong to abandon them and run away, but…….

“Let’s keep going.”

“Yes?”

“What do you mean…….”

“Don’t you know what’s more important?!”

At my firm words, the two women clenched their fists as if they were momentarily taken aback.

I know the personalities of these two better than anyone else.

They just have different methods, but they’re not the type to abandon morality.

But…… I still can’t help it.

We’re not in a situation where we can choose something right now.

We barely escaped from the heart of the enemy, and if this operation fails, it won’t just end with disappointment.

We have to recover the Bank Item no matter what.

“The helicopter will arrive in 5 minutes. If we go back now, we’ll be in danger, let alone the operation.”

“B, but still, they helped us……!”

“Kim Minjoo.”

At my low voice, her face stiffened.

“In the dungeon, one wrong choice can lead to annihilation. You know that too.”

“But… this isn’t a dungeon.”

“Yeah, it’s not.”

I looked at her and continued.

“It’s worse than a dungeon.”

“…….”

“…….”

The two women finally shut their mouths.

Then, as if they had decided to follow me, they turned their backs without saying a word.

After that, everyone saved their words and continued to head to the rendezvous point.

Finally, the moment we arrived at the agreed point.

Dududududu—.

The helicopter arrived just in time.

We still silently boarded the helicopter, and the helicopter immediately flew over Paris.

A heavy silence flowed inside the helicopter.

There were many things they wanted to say, but everyone seemed to be trying hard to keep their mouths shut.

And then.

“Yes, Secretary-General.”

A call came from Secretary-General Park Inbeom.

「How did it go?」

“We succeeded in recovering it.”

「What about the damage?」

“We’re fine.”

「…We?」

He asked back.

“There were employees inside the International Association headquarters who helped us, but it seems… they were caught right away.”

「…….」

He also understood what that meant, and after a moment of silence.

「……Good work.」

He conveyed a word filled with many meanings.

“I’ll send the Bank Item to the headquarters with Ms. Lee Ayoung. The rest will immediately join the search for Eden in Russia…….”

「No, there’s no need for that.」

“Yes…?”

「Russia just announced an official statement about the Ural Mountains wildfire, saying it was damage caused by the conflict between us and the International Association.」

“That doesn’t make sense. Neither organization has any reason to do that. It seems like they’re openly trying to pass on all the responsibility, we should hold a press conference right away……!”

「We can’t do that.」

Secretary-General Park Inbeom cut me off in a firm voice.

「It wasn’t us who were there, it was the Noah Guild.」

“……!”

「The WDSO didn’t officially move, so the situation has become difficult. Do you know what I mean?」

I bit my lip without answering.

“So… what are you going to do?”

「They have requested a ban on access to Russia for both the WDSO and the International Association.」

“Haa…….”

I let out a deep sigh.

「Anyway, neither you nor the International Association can set foot in Russia anymore. It seems like the Noah Guild has already retreated… so for now, you should also return to headquarters.」

“……I understand.”

I ended the call with a reluctant answer.

I put my hands together for a moment and organized my thoughts.

In fact, in some ways, it’s not a bad situation.

The Bank Item was safely acquired, and both we and the International Association were unable to easily recover Eden.

Of course, the process deviated slightly from the plan, but in any case, everything is successful in terms of results.

You might think that you’ve relieved a little bit…….

‘It shouldn’t be like this…….’

I gritted my teeth.

It’s not important that the International Association doesn’t have Eden, it’s important that we get it.

We need to have it to keep the International Association in check, but if it falls into the hands of a third party, it’s meaningless.

No, rather, if it falls into the hands of a third party…….

After holding my head for a long time, I took out my cell phone again.

「……What is it?」

A short and dry answer came from beyond the cell phone.

“I didn’t think you’d answer… but you’re still not avoiding contact.”

It was none other than Minister Vladimir.

“I’ve heard about the official statement. You suddenly requested a ban on access.”

「Yes.」

An unwavering answer.

It seems like he’s decided to be brazen.

“It’s a shame. I trusted you and asked you for a favor.”

「What’s the point of saying that now? I heard that if you mess with you, you’ll definitely pay the price… Are you thinking of retaliating?」

“Of course not. I also calculate and move accordingly. I only retaliate if there’s something to gain. In that respect, there’s no reason to mess with Russia.”

「…….」

That also meant that you weren’t even worth messing with.

Minister Vladimir seemed to have noticed that meaning and showed discomfort.

But only for a moment.

「Then why did you contact me? Are you going to blame me for betraying your trust? If you’re going to blame me…….”

“No. It’s the opposite.”

I said in a very serious voice.

“Be careful.”

「…What?」

“You have now touched the International Association’s reverse scale [a metaphor for something that provokes extreme anger].”

「…….」

“We know better than anyone else what that item in Russia is for and how to handle it. If that item had come into our hands, the International Association would never have been able to move recklessly.”

But…….

“If it falls into the hands of a third party, things will change. Russia doesn’t know what that item is or how to handle it at all, do you?”

「…….」

“That item will not bring any benefit to Russia. No, it may even bring enormous losses.”

He was listening to me silently.

“From now on, even I can’t predict how they will come out. So…….”

I put strength into my words.

“Please be careful.”

「…….」

He still didn’t answer.

And soon, he unilaterally ended the call without saying a word.

I held the silent cell phone tightly and turned my gaze out the window.

The distant sky of Paris.

The International Association headquarters located in the middle of it.

Black smoke was still rising from there.

Looking at that sight… I felt quite complicated emotions welling up.