The Wise Cleaning Life Of A Returning Genius Hunter [EN]: Chapter 310

309

In the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

A massive ship was slowly approaching us.

As the ship got close enough to be seen with the naked eye, an embarrassed voice escaped me before I could stop it.

“…What?!”

It was no wonder. The ship had the words ‘Hanbyul Trading’ emblazoned on its side in huge letters.

“Hanbyul Trading…?”

“How did Hanbyul get here…?”

The troops on deck, who were ready for an attack, seemed just as bewildered as I was.

“S-shouldn’t we turn back quickly?”

“Haven’t you heard the news? Why are they still sailing?”

Kim Min-joo and Han Yu-bin spoke with worried voices.

I quickly regained my composure and immediately sent a radio message to the control team.

“Control team, try to communicate with the ship immediately. Tell them to change course. It’s too dangerous here.”

「A, understood.」

Everyone was staring blankly, wondering what was going on, when a voice crackled over the comms.

「Ah, can you hear me?」

Communication was established with our ship.

「Why do you all look so surprised? Did you see something you shouldn’t have? Hahaha!」

A familiar voice and laughter.

The eyes of the headquarters staff, including me, narrowed.

「Look up.」

At those words, we shifted our gaze, and soon a man was seen waving his hand on the deck.

It was none other than…

「Wow, I see you all here. Hahaha!」

Ha Seong-il, the head of the overseas business division.

As soon as I saw his cheerful expression, I was dumbfounded.

“What is this…? Haven’t you heard the news? What kind of situation is it to send out a trading ship? And why are *you* on it?”

「Of course, I’ve heard the news. That the warship with the New York branch troops on board was attacked in the Atlantic…」

His voice became quite serious.

「Major General Chloe said that in this situation, we are also in danger. She said we might need a ship to help…」

He shrugged his shoulders once and continued.

「Well, wouldn’t this size be enough?」

“Did the Chairman approve this? It would be a huge loss to bring just one of those ships here…”

「Hahaha.」

He laughed awkwardly for a moment.

「Actually… I don’t need to get permission anymore.」

“What do you mean…?”

「My grandfather has stepped down from the Chairman position.」

“Don’t tell me you’ve taken over the management rights?”

「Hahaha…」

He avoided answering.

‘Huh…’

Simultaneous bursts of disbelieving laughter rippled through our crew.

‘Even so, are they really handing over the country’s top company to a young punk like him? Even in a war situation? Is he finally senile?’ I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts.

「Anyway, there’s no time for this. You said you might be attacked. Get on board quickly. I’ve emptied all the containers, so there’s plenty of room to board.」

“…”

I looked around for a moment.

The troops and sailors were gathered on the deck.

The look of tension on their faces in this emergency situation was mirrored on the other ships as well.

The arrival of the Hanbyul Group was a completely unexpected situation, but it was like a lifeline for us.

Even if we were preparing for an attack, we would never have survived with a ship that lacked a defense system.

To be honest… we survived thanks to them.

“I understand.”

We immediately started preparing to board.

It was a huge number of people, but we moved quickly without delay, and fortunately, there was enough space.

As I was the last to board the freighter, Ha Seong-il, the head of the division, approached me right away.

“Then we’ll move right away. We have a route that we exclusively secured, and if we sail that way, we’ll be able to arrive without being detected.”

“No.”

I answered immediately.

At the same time, Ha Seong-il’s eyebrows furrowed.

“Let’s stay away for now and watch the situation.”

“…Yes?”

“There might be an opportunity.”

I knew it was an ambiguous answer, but Ha Seong-il didn’t ask any further questions.

As always, he nodded once and followed my instructions without any objections. Soon, the freighter began to distance itself from the ship we had abandoned.

We moved far enough away to barely be visible.

I held my breath and waited for someone.

And soon…

“…They’re here.”

Another ship was seen approaching the ship we had abandoned.

A hull with no identifying information written on it.

A vessel that didn’t attempt any communication, even though our routes overlapped.

It was certain.

As expected, our location had already been detected by the International Association [a powerful, shadowy organization].

And soon…

Bang—!!

The attack began without a moment’s hesitation.

Bang, Kwang—!!

The 14 ships were instantly turned into honeycombs by the barrage of skills pouring down like crazy, and soon began to sink helplessly.

The expressions of everyone watching the scene were quite dark.

It seemed that they were only now realizing that if they had been a little late, they would have sunk with that ship.

“If you’ve confirmed it, let’s get out of here. If we stay any longer, we might get detected too…”

“Everyone, prepare for attack.”

I turned to the troops and gave the order.

Then, not only Ha Seong-il, but also Kim Min-joo and Han Yu-bin’s eyes widened.

“W-wait a minute! Is there any reason to carry out an attack here?!”

“That’s right. Getting to New York safely is our priority, so for now…”

“I wouldn’t have minded if we hadn’t run into them, but now that we have, we can’t just turn back.”

I said in a firm voice.

“We have to avenge the New York branch, don’t we?”

I stared at the International Association’s ship with sharp eyes.

***

「T-Secretary-General.」

At that moment, Wesley’s communicator rang.

The captain continued in a very embarrassed voice.

「All 14 ships have sunk, but no bodies have been found.」

“Yes…?”

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

“You mean *none* were found?”

「Yes, yes. None at all.」

Secretary-General Wesley’s eyes narrowed.

‘That can’t be.’

If the attack was successful, it should be confirmed in some form.

Even if they knew about the attack plan, survival itself is nearly impossible with a transport ship without a defense system.

‘But the fact that not a single body has been found means…’ Did they escape in advance?

But there wouldn’t have been time.

Then how on earth…

It was then that I was retracing the number of cases.

‘Wait a minute…’

His eyes widened for a moment.

“Retreat right now!”

「Yes…?」

“It’s a bait! Someone might be watching from somewhere…!”

It was the moment Secretary-General Wesley shouted into the radio.

Bang—!!

Jijijijik—.

With a single roar, the communication was cut off.

“…”

A heavy silence flowed from the communicator.

Secretary-General Wesley closed his mouth with a blank expression, but only for a moment.

“Ha, haha…”

Soon, he let out a burst of laughter.

Of course, it’s true that he sincerely wanted to kill him this time.

But on the one hand, he knew that he could never kill him with this alone.

He’ll somehow survive in some unexpected way.

But even if you know it from experience, it doesn’t make sense in your head.

Even if they knew they were going to be attacked, they wouldn’t have been able to prepare a place to escape in advance.

Even if you call a rescue ship that you can board right away, it’s impossible to make it on time.

The fact that they avoided the attack means that there is only one explanation.

Someone moved in advance to help him, even though Kim Jun-woo didn’t ask for it.

‘He’s got some pretty smart guys as colleagues…’

Didn’t CEO Emma always say that?

The reason why Kim Jun-woo is scary is not because of his skills, but because of his ability to attract people.

How many people would be willing to help others in a desperate situation, even at the expense of their own losses?

Moreover, someone who is not in a special relationship, but is in some ways just a boss at work.

Kim Jun-woo is doing things that don’t make sense in a common sense way.

Because that’s what he’s been doing so far.

That’s why he’s able to not lose people even in this chaotic situation.

Secretary-General Wesley, who has turned the whole world into an enemy, and Kim Jun-woo, who has made the whole world his ally.

The power can’t even be compared.

But.

‘That’s just a matter of timing.’

As I said, I was expecting it to some extent.

Of course, it would be good if the attack was successful, but even if it fails, it won’t be a big problem.

No matter how well they stick together, if they miss the timing, it’s all useless.

And they’ve already wasted too much time on evacuation and counterattack.

In other words, they are already late.

“Have you arrived?”

Because we arrived in New York first, thanks to you.

“Is it going well?”

“Yes. There are no particular problems.”

As Secretary-General Wesley slowly got off the ship, the staff who had arrived in New York in advance greeted him.

Secretary-General Wesley and all the troops of the International Association finally set foot in New York.

“How is the New York branch doing?”

“We’re desperately gathering local manpower to stop them, but… they won’t be able to hold out for long. I think we’ll be able to get them to surrender in less than two hours at the latest.”

“What about the US military?”

“50% of the force was lost in just one day of deployment.”

A small smile appeared on Secretary-General Wesley’s lips.

“As per Secretary-General’s plan, if this continues, the entire United States will collapse soon.”

“Good.”

Secretary-General Wesley nodded.

“Let’s go to the branch for now. We have things to discuss.”

“I understand. I have a car waiting.”

Secretary-General Wesley was guided by the staff and boarded the car.

The car slowly entered the city center, and soon the chaotic scene of New York was revealed without any exaggeration.

Secretary-General Wesley stared blankly at the hellish scenery visible through the window and smiled slightly.

The US military is not able to use its power, and the New York branch, the final defense line, is like a candle in the wind.

In the end, it’s only a matter of time before the United States falls.

If the International Association conquers the United States, the whole world will be shaken soon.

Can WDSO [World Dungeon Security Organization] really stop the International Association?

Even the United States has collapsed, is it okay to keep sticking with WDSO?

Wouldn’t it be possible to save your life if you just stick with the International Association?

Such fear and confusion can be instilled in the whole world.

From then on, WDSO, or rather Kim Jun-woo’s greatest weapon, will disappear.

Because he will start losing the people who believed in and followed them.

Just as he was lost in thought for a moment, the car finally stopped.

We arrived in front of the New York branch building.

The sight of the New York branch that Secretary-General Wesley saw after getting out of the car was truly desperate.

A building on the verge of collapse.

Hunters who were already battered and bruised were guarding the defense line in front of it.

Secretary-General Wesley slowly approached them.

“Nice to meet you. My name is Wesley.”

He greeted them first, but none of the branch troops answered.

Just as he was feeling quite awkward, a man walked out from among the New York troops.

“How could we not know?”

The man was none other than the head of the New York branch.

“The most famous terrorist in the world.”

It was Branch Manager Michael.

Terrorist.

Secretary-General Wesley’s eyebrows twitched again at the word, but only for a moment.

He said to Branch Manager Michael in a calm voice.

“How about stopping here? I don’t think it’s right as a leader to sacrifice any more employees.”

“You’re not the one to talk.”

Branch Manager Michael scoffed and replied.

“And we’re not making sacrifices.”

“Then…?”

Branch Manager Michael stared straight at Secretary-General Wesley and continued.

“We’re fighting back.”

An unexpected answer.

Secretary-General Wesley’s eyebrows rose.

“Is there really a need to do that? I’m not a ruthless slaughterer, and if you surrender, no one will get hurt.”

“Instead, we’ll lose our freedom.”

Branch Manager Michael answered immediately.

“If all the associations in each country, including WDSO, collapse, there’s no one who doesn’t know that you’ll control everything after that.”

“…”

“You’ll be able to control not only the dungeon industry, such as subjugation and by-product distribution, but also all the politics, economy, and diplomacy based on it as you please. And we’ll live under that, controlled in everything.”

“You know it well.”

Secretary-General Wesley replied with a soft smile.

Then.

“But… what does that mean?”

Branch Manager Michael suddenly asked a question.

That question that no one had ever asked, that no one had ever questioned.

“What can you get by controlling international society and citizens like that?”

“…”

As that question, which denied his goal from the root, flew in, the smile slowly disappeared from Secretary-General Wesley’s face.

“Meaning…”

His gaze turned to the air.

A hollow and skeptical voice.