The Wise Cleaning Life Of A Returning Genius Hunter [EN]: Chapter 32

031

Around the time the cleanup of the third dungeon was nearing completion.

“Team A, did you finish Seocho-dong?”

I picked up the radio to check the operation status.

「Yes! We just finished!」

“Then go straight to Sadang and wait. There are no problems with the cleanup yet, so don’t be too impatient.”

「If we finish Sadang, is the subjugation over for today?」

“Yeah. Looks like it’ll end a bit easier than yesterday.”

「Then shall we subjugate a few more? We have time…」

“No. I told you, only do exactly 5 dungeons a day. There’s no real point in doing more than that. We’re going to maintain this routine as much as possible and aim for a reversal at the end.”

「Yes, understood!」

The energetic voice of a member of Task Force 2.

I put down the radio and let out a faint sigh.

The operation is proceeding smoothly.

Task Force 2 continued to subjugate as efficiently as possible within their capabilities.

At first, I was worried because they were all inexperienced, but now they’ve all gotten used to it and are doing their part as a task force.

Of course, the support team’s performance also played a role.

They provided equipment manufacturing, repairs, and rotation care without delay. I heard they were all volunteering for overtime, thinking of screwing over Task Force 1.

It was quite a team, putting their energy into strange things.

In any case, thanks to the efforts of both teams, the cleanup team had more work to do…

But that wasn’t really a problem either.

“Wow, machines are really great!”

“Wow, this cuts really well!”

Thanks to the equipment support from the support team, the work was much easier than before.

“Junwoo! Can’t we keep using this? If we just had one of these, we could easily do 10 a day!”

Team Leader Park asked with a very covetous voice in front of the plasma cutter.

“It’ll probably be difficult. In the first place, the support team only has 3 of them… I heard they were expensive and imported from overseas for weapon manufacturing. Deputy Director Lee Ah-young told them not to break it.”

“Is that so? Then I can’t help it…”

A dejected voice.

It’s the first time I’ve seen Team Leader Park so disappointed.

Well, I understand how he feels.

Just receiving support for a few pieces of equipment has made the work speed incomparable to what it was before.

Flying a drone to spray chemicals in the passages, and dismantling monsters could be done in 5 minutes with a plasma cutter without having to do it manually anymore. Enhanced robots also took care of transporting the monsters.

The time it takes to clean one dungeon is only an hour.

It’s a tremendous reduction.

‘Well… at this rate, first place is guaranteed.’

I wore a faint smile.

We’re still neck and neck right now, but time is on our side.

If we maintain this state, we can reverse the situation starting tomorrow.

The wage increase is as good as confirmed with this.

The rest…

“How about it? Anyone can do this kind of work, right?”

I opened my mouth, looking at Reporter Gu Sang-chan.

“…Anyone can do this?”

But he looked taken aback.

“Of course, anyone can do this much. Dismantling is done by machines, and heavy things are carried by robots. We just watch, and we finish a dungeon in an hour. Is there an easier job than this?”

“Seriously! Did you get all that for free? I know you planned and got it all, hyung [older brother/male friend]. And you have to return the borrowed equipment to the support team…”

“…Sang-chan.”

A faint sigh.

He’s not wrong, but… he doesn’t seem to understand what I mean.

“…Yes?”

“I want to hire a new recruit.”

I looked at him with a serious expression.

“Help me out, please.”

“…Ah, hahaha.”

Gu Sang-chan smiled awkwardly as if he finally understood.

Do I have to say it like this…

Sigh, how can a reporter be so clueless?

I was lamenting sincerely when.

「Kim Junwoo, Cleaner! S, something terrible happened!」

A frantic radio call came looking for me.

“What’s wrong? What happened?”

「T, that’s… about the dungeon in Sadang. Task Force 1 is already subjugating it.」

“What? What are you talking about? Isn’t that the dungeon we got permission for?”

「Y, yes. It seems there was a mistake in the control team.」

“……”

No, no.

That can’t be.

It’s impossible for the control team to make a mistake in the subjugation permit.

What kind of abuse would they take to make such a ridiculous mistake during a sensitive time like the settlement season?

Besides, there was never such a mistake in my past life.

This looks like more than just a mistake…

「This is the support team! We have an urgent report!」

At that moment, a radio call came from the support team this time.

“…What is it now?”

「Currently, all appearing dungeons have been given priority permission to Task Force 1!」

“Damn it, I knew it…”

It’s certain.

The control team sided with Seo Min-cheol.

Even so… are they just giving out permission so recklessly?

Did they think they could get away with it because they had connections and someone would take care of the aftermath?

「Um, but the problem is Task Force 1’s subjugation amount. As of the current time, it has tripled compared to yesterday.」

“…What? That doesn’t make sense. Other cleaning teams can’t handle that amount.”

「T, that’s…」

The support team employee hesitated for a moment.

「They’re ignoring it.」

He spat out an answer that far exceeded expectations.

「They’re ignoring the speed of other cleaning teams and just subjugating everything they can.」

“If they do that, there will be uncleared dungeons…?”

「Three uncleared dungeons have already occurred. It will continue to increase if this continues.」

“…Have they lost their minds?”

Are they brainless?

Don’t they know that if dungeons reappear due to being uncleared, they will be the ones who suffer?

No, I don’t care if those bastards suffer or not.

But that… we’ll have to clean it up in the end.

At their actions that far exceeded common sense, I unknowingly gripped the radio tightly.

「W, what should we do?」

“Haa…”

I couldn’t answer immediately either.

Even if priority permission has been granted, there is a limit to haphazard subjugation.

They’ll be the first to drop out in just 2-3 days.

Until then, if we reduce subjugation to one or two a day and then sprint again after Task Force 1 drops out, we can regain our pace.

But the problem is…

‘During that time, uncleared dungeons will appear like crazy.’

My head started to get complicated.

Of course, if we miss first place this time, let alone a wage increase, I won’t even be able to clean up the bluff I made.

Then it will be difficult to expect a good article as well.

Too much is at stake for me in this operation.

Rather than giving up on those things, wouldn’t it be better to suffer a little later?

That thought crossed my mind.

“J, Junwoo? What’s wrong?”

“Is there a problem?”

Moon Soyeon and Team Leader Park approached with worried faces.

Looking at their faces, I suddenly remembered what Team Leader Park had said before.

– Uncleared dungeons are a death sentence for us.

The gas is not at a level that can be withstood with a C-level protective suit, and it is impossible to estimate what dangers completely decayed monsters may pose.

The equipment we used before is, of course, useless.

We are placed in a completely different situation from beginning to end.

But the biggest reason why uncleared dungeons are dangerous is…

The order of subjugation and cleanup is reversed.

That means we have to enter a dungeon where monsters are alive and clean it up first.

I’m okay, but what about the other teams…

‘Sigh, we were almost there…’

After staring at them blankly, I picked up the radio again.

“Task Force, Support Team. Respond.”

***

Lee Doo-shik, Director of the Executive Headquarters of the Otherworld Dimension Management Association located in Yeouido, Board of Directors Office.

“Seo Min-cheol, did you see this bastard!”

Director Lee Doo-shik started to rant as soon as he received the report.

“Is there only a task force in the headquarters?! Don’t you think about the other teams? If uncleared dungeons appear, do they think they’ll clean it up themselves?!”

“……”

The secretary who reported to Lee Doo-shik was cowering and kept his mouth shut.

Of course, it was not something he could answer.

“This crazy bastard! I turned a blind eye to them because they were supposedly elites, and they ended up causing this. Just to win a performance battle… Secretary Yoo! Contact the control team leader right now!”

“Yes, yes?”

“If we continue like this, we won’t be able to handle the uncleared dungeons! Contact Team Leader Pyeon right now and revoke all operation permits…”

“No.”

At that moment, a woman’s voice interrupted the excited Director Lee Doo-shik.

“There’s no need to go that far.”

The person who entered the Board of Directors Office at that moment was none other than Deputy Director Lee Ah-young.

But even though his daughter came to visit, Director Lee Doo-shik’s expression was not good.

“…I told you not to come during work hours, didn’t I?”

“Don’t worry. I came because I have something to tell you too.”

“If you came because of work, shouldn’t you be a little more polite?”

“Oh my, I didn’t know you cared about such things. But why don’t you do the dishes at home while emphasizing etiquette so much?”

“…Do you want to get fired?”

“……”

Sparks flew from the gazes looking at each other.

“Anyway, if it’s because of the uncleared dungeons, there’s no need to revoke the operation permit.”

After a meaningless battle of nerves, Deputy Director Lee Ah-young opened her mouth first.

“What do you mean? You know how dangerous uncleared dungeons are!”

“I know very well. So the entire Union Team has been put into the cleaning team.”

“………?”

Director Lee Doo-shik’s eyes widened.

“Including Cleaning Team 3, Task Force 2, and all the members of the Hunter Management Office have been put into the cleaning team. Well… I don’t really like it, but I can’t argue with the captain’s orders…”

“Wh, what…”

“Oh, and the captain told me to tell you something. He said, ‘I lost this time.'”

Lee Ah-young said it casually, but Lee Doo-shik’s reaction was not the same.

His face instantly looked as if he had been slapped.

“Did you two have a bet or something? No, when did you two even meet?”

“…You don’t need to know.”

“Really… everyone is ostracizing me.”

Deputy Director Lee Ah-young shrugged.

Then, as if she had finished her business, she turned her back without regret.

“Are you leaving already?”

“I told you. I came to deliver a message. I don’t have time either. I have to go clean.”

Soon, Lee Ah-young smiled and left the office.

“Haa.”

At the same time, Director Lee Doo-shik let out a hollow laugh.

“Haha, hahaha! Have you ever seen such a crazy person!”

The laughter echoed loudly in the office.

To set up such a perfect plan and come out like this!

A two-fold increase in the entire team’s salary is not something to be taken lightly.

Besides, ‘this time’ means he’ll win next time?

‘No, more than that…’

A self-proclaimed ‘mere cleaner’ puts the task force and support team into cleaning?

And those guys are obediently following him?

He’s out of his mind.

Everyone is out of their minds.

Where did such a guy come from…

A sincere smile appeared on Director Lee Doo-shik’s face.

‘Seo Min-cheol… you lost to the cleaning team again.’

Then he immediately picked up the coat he had hung on the chair.

“Secretary Yoo, contact the association president and prepare a disciplinary committee. I can’t just let this go.”

“Yes, yes. I understand.”

Director Lee Doo-shik then slammed the office door open.