The Wise Cleaning Life Of A Returning Genius Hunter [EN]: Chapter 326

325. Side Story – Episode 3

“W-what is that…?”

“Wasn’t it supposed to be a rat-type monster…?”

“The information from the control team is a little different……”

A Blue-grade building-type dungeon.

The eight team members who were in the middle of the subjugation were quite taken aback as soon as they entered the boss room.

And so was I.

‘What the hell is that…….’

Because what greeted us in the boss room was….

Kyaaaaaaa―!!

A Crazy Cat.

A giant cat with three eyes.

“A cat?”

“Why is there a different boss…….”

“Wait, in its mouth…!”

At someone’s shout, everyone’s eyes turned to one place.

The monster’s mouth, revealing fearsome fangs.

Fresh blood smeared around its mouth.

And inside its mouth, chopped into pieces beyond recognition, was….

‘God damn it…….’

None other than the boss of this dungeon.

“I didn’t hear anything about another boss…….”

“L-Leader… this…….”

Someone asked me in a small voice.

I stared straight into the eyes of the monster, which was still watching us warily, and answered.

“It’s a dungeon intervention.”

“……Pardon?”

“D-Dungeon intervention, you say…….”

Voices filled with bewilderment.

At the same time, I could feel them slowly backing away.

It was only natural.

Dungeon intervention was the worst possible situation that could occur in a low-risk dungeon. It meant a boss from another dungeon invading this dimension.

Dungeon intervention.

The act of a boss from another dungeon invading a dimension, driving out a weaker boss, and taking over the dungeon.

This results in a new boss appearing in the dungeon.

It’s like a power struggle between monsters, and strictly speaking, it has nothing to do with us.

The important thing is that invaders only target bosses weaker than themselves.

Due to this characteristic, dungeon interventions mainly occur in low-risk dungeons below Blue grade, rather than high-risk dungeons.

The problem is that the guys subjugating low-risk dungeons are all D and E-grades.

And that’s the real reason why dungeon interventions are dangerous, and the main cause of most deaths in low-risk dungeons.

If you go to subjugate a Blue-grade dungeon with low-rankers and a dungeon intervention occurs….

You either retreat before you die, or you just get wiped out before you even know it.

‘Tsk…….’

I don’t know where that cat monster came from, but this place is no longer Blue-grade.

Green-grade…….

No, a high-risk grade above Yellow-grade.

In this situation, subjugating with only eight people is suicide.

Having come to that conclusion, I immediately picked up the radio.

“Control team, control team! Dungeon intervention situation! Estimated Yellow-grade or higher! We’re retreating for now, so…!”

And at that moment.

Clang―!!

A deafening metallic sound echoed from behind.

I quickly turned my head.

“W-what…….”

“T-the door is closed…?”

A huge iron gate had blocked the entrance to the boss room.

Bang, bang―!

Thump, thump, thump―!

“Damn it…!”

“L-Leader! It won’t open no matter what we do!”

“We seem to be completely trapped.”

My expression hardened at the words of the team members, who were desperately trying to open the door.

Most dungeons below Blue-grade are multi-instance dungeons. Dungeons where you can freely enter and exit any area as many times as you want.

But…….

‘It’s even a one-way dungeon…….’

A dungeon intervention in a one-way dungeon. The probability of these two things happening at the same time is almost extremely low.

But of all places, that probability had to explode here.

‘This kind of thing wasn’t even written in the control team’s information…….’

With a slightly trembling gaze, I looked at the giant cat again.

Its three eyes were fixed on me, and it began to lick its lips.

At that moment, the control team’s radio crackled again.

「W-what’s going on! Explain the situation in detail…!」

“Retreat is impossible.”

「Y-yes?!」

“A dungeon intervention has occurred in a one-way dungeon.”

「W-what does that mean…!」

A rather flustered reaction.

I listened to the control team employee stammering, not knowing what to do, for a moment.

“We’ll… proceed with the subjugation.”

「Y-yes?! Wait a minute! It’s impossible with eight people! We need to find a way…!」

Click―.

Without listening to the end, I let out a faint sigh and put down the radio.

Shit, what way.

Since the retreat is blocked, we have to solve it here, come what may.

Tsking, I glanced at the team members behind me.

Faces consumed with fear.

It’s only natural since most of them have no experience subjugating anything above Blue-grade.

Well, nothing can be done.

“Everyone, step back.”

I slowly approached the cat.

“If you interfere, I’ll kill you.”

[Unique Skill: Demon King]

I drew my weapon from my waist.

***

“A dungeon intervention occurred in a Blue-grade dungeon?!”

8 PM.

A time when most people had left work.

The aide urgently conveyed the news to Team Leader Lee Soo-yong, who was still in the office.

“Wasn’t that a problem dungeon? It wasn’t that dangerous.”

“Yes, yes. So, permission was granted with the minimum number of people…….”

“Ha, shit. All sorts of things happen.”

“Moreover, it seems that the entire subjugation team is trapped in the boss room because it’s a one-way dungeon.”

“Then you’re saying we can’t send support either?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

The aide said, avoiding eye contact.

Team Leader Lee Soo-yong asked with a serious expression.

“What’s the solution… what does the control team say?”

“So far, it seems there’s no other option. Except for the subjugation team succeeding in the subjugation…….”

The aide trailed off.

Team Leader Lee Soo-yong crossed his arms and stroked his chin.

And then.

“This subjugation… Kim Jun-woo planned it himself, right?”

He asked an irrelevant question.

The aide looked flustered for a moment.

“Yes, yes… he plans the dungeons he participates in himself.”

“Then well…….”

Team Leader Lee Soo-yong nodded and muttered.

“That’s good.”

A smile soon appeared on his lips.

At the same time, the aide’s face stiffened at the reaction he couldn’t understand at all.

“W-what do you mean, that’s good……?”

“You don’t need to know. I’ve got it, so get out. Report immediately if you get any more updates.”

“…….”

Even at Team Leader Lee Soo-yong’s words, the aide still stood there with a complicated expression.

But only for a moment.

“What are you doing? I said get out!”

“……Yes, yes.”

Only after Team Leader Lee Soo-yong spoke once more did the aide move his heavy feet.

Immediately after the aide left the office, Team Leader Lee Soo-yong took out his cell phone.

Then he immediately made a call.

「Oh, I was just about to call you.」

At the same time, the voice of Head Seo Min-cheol was heard.

“Have you heard the news?”

「I heard a dungeon intervention occurred in a Blue-grade dungeon. And it’s a one-way dungeon.」

It seemed he had already received a call from the control team as well.

“The grade after the intervention is estimated to be Yellow… With only eight people and no support, subjugation is no different from suicide.”

「I suppose so. I’m on my way to the control room now. It looks like we’ll have to start a countermeasures meeting right away, so hurry up and come too.」

“Chief.”

Team Leader Lee Soo-yong opened his mouth in a low voice.

“In my opinion… I think we should do something else before coming up with countermeasures.”

「……What?」

Head Seo Min-cheol’s voice was filled with bewilderment.

「What the hell are you talking about. Are you going to take responsibility if there’s an operational accident?! I could be summoned to the board of directors and even court! We’ll both be stuck taking the blame!」

As he raised his voice, Team Leader Lee Soo-yong hid a smile and continued.

“Since it’s a one-way dungeon anyway, there’s nothing we can do. We can’t provide support troops or equipment.”

「…And?」

“Since it’s already happened, wouldn’t it be better to think about the future rather than right now? As the chief said, we’ll be held responsible as it is…….”

「…….」

“Coincidentally, Kim Jun-woo is inside the dungeon right now.”

At those words, Head Seo Min-cheol remained silent.

But only for a moment.

As if realizing what Lee Soo-yong meant, he cautiously opened his mouth.

「You’re not thinking of putting the blame on Kim Jun-woo…?」

Team Leader Lee Soo-yong smiled instead of answering.

“He plans his own operations himself, doesn’t he? If he’s even directing on-site, he’s practically the chief person in charge of this operation.”

「So, you’re saying if something goes wrong, it’s all Kim Jun-woo’s fault? Do you think that will work with the committee? He went in not knowing a dungeon intervention would occur in the first place, how are you going to hold him responsible?」

“It would be like that if he went in without knowing. But what if he went in knowing…? What do you think will happen?”

「……!」

Head Seo Min-cheol’s breathing stopped.

“That’s why I said we should prepare for the future. If this goes well, all our achievements will be for nothing. A team leader position is… out of the question. And more than anything…….”

Team Leader Lee Soo-yong continued.

“The subjugation plan he submitted… is in my hands right now.”

「…….」

“I’ll take good care of the plan. And you, Chief…….”

「……Is there anyone else who knows about this?」

At that moment, Head Seo Min-cheol suddenly interrupted.

Team Leader Lee Soo-yong shook his head and answered.

“No one.”

「Hoo…….」

But even so, Head Seo Min-cheol seemed to be troubled.

Well, it was only natural.

For the chief of the association’s front line, the Seoul Headquarters, to tamper with documents with an elite team leader required that much resolve.

Head Seo Min-cheol asked him once more.

「Are you… confident?」

“Of course.”

「It’s not just a matter of all or nothing. You have to come out alive to shift the blame. If even one person dies, the arrows will fly at us too.」

“I know. But that won’t happen.”

Team Leader Lee Soo-yong answered with a confident voice.

“I admit, that guy’s skills are undeniable.”

「…….」

Head Seo Min-cheol took a deep breath.

「I’ll be right there, so wait.」

With those words, he hung up the phone.

***

“C-Chief!”

Command and Control Team, Situation Room.

As Head Seo Min-cheol entered, Team Leader Pyeon Chang-hyeon immediately greeted him.

And began to report on the situation.

“We’ve stationed a support team of medical staff and additional troops from the operations team in front of the dungeon in preparation for any possible situation. The current subjugation situation is…….”

“That’s enough.”

But Head Seo Min-cheol cut him off as if he wasn’t interested, and glanced around the situation room.

After reading the employees’ expressions, he spoke in a low voice.

“Could I see the initial information file for the dungeon currently being subjugated?”

“Y-yes…?”

Team Leader Pyeon’s eyebrows rose at the sudden request.

“Of course, it’s possible, but why…….”

“Does the operations chief need a reason to look at the information for the dungeon where the situation occurred?”

“Ah, no!”

Team Leader Pyeon immediately guided him to the internal information room and turned on the security computer there.

After entering the password and the dungeon code, a file spanning several pages appeared on the screen.

“This is the information that was gathered immediately after the dungeon appeared. It’s been updated a few times since then, but since it’s been neglected for a few months, there isn’t much information…….”

“Team Leader Pyeon, get out.”

“……Yes?”

Team Leader Pyeon Chang-hyeon’s eyebrows twitched greatly.

Head Seo Min-cheol glared at him with sharp eyes and opened his mouth again.

“Didn’t you hear me? Get out. Who’s going to monitor the site if Team Leader Pyeon is in here?”

“…….”

“I can check this much on my own, so just get out.”

“…Understood.”

Team Leader Pyeon Chang-hyeon bowed his head and turned around.

“If you need anything, please call.”

“Okay.”

As soon as he left the information room, Seo Min-cheol pulled a chair up to the computer and sat down.

Then he slowly read the file in front of him.

As expected, there was no information about the possibility of a dungeon intervention or that it was a one-way dungeon anywhere.

Seo Min-cheol looked around once more, then placed his hand on the keyboard.

Tap, tap, tap―.

He began to write something in the special notes section.