The Wise Cleaning Life Of A Returning Genius Hunter [EN]: Chapter 349

348. After Story 5

“Hyungnim…!”

Gold Mine Capital.

In CEO Choi Jang-seok’s office.

A man burst through the door, urgently seeking Choi Jang-seok.

“What is it?”

“Hyuk-tae hyungnim [term of respect for an older brother or male figure] and his guys… we can’t reach any of them.”

“……What?”

Choi Jang-seok’s eyes narrowed at the news.

The subordinate carefully gauged his reaction before cautiously asking,

“Could they have been caught by the police…?”

“No.”

But Choi Jang-seok was firm.

“If they were caught by the police, they would have at least contacted us.”

“Then…….”

“There’s only one situation where they’d be completely out of contact.”

Choi Jang-seok’s eyes gleamed.

“Hyuk-tae, that bastard, met Kim Jun-woo.”

“……!”

At the same time, the subordinate’s eyes widened.

But his surprise was fleeting as he asked with a hopeful expression.

“T-Then, isn’t that a good thing? Kim Jun-woo might contact us soon…….”

“Perhaps.”

Choi Jang-seok leaned back in his chair.

“If Hyuk-tae was captured, he would have definitely relayed my message, but since we still haven’t heard anything… I suspect Kim Jun-woo rejected my request.”

“What…? What are you saying? He captured Hyuk-tae hyungnim and isn’t looking for us?”

“No. It’s not that he’s not looking for us, it’s that…….”

The moment Choi Jang-seok calmly uttered those words.

“H-Hyungnim! We’ve got word from Hyuk-tae hyungnim!”

Another subordinate rushed into the office in a flurry.

At the same time, Choi Jang-seok felt a sense of relief that his ominous premonition had been wrong.

“That’s a relief.”

“W-Well, that’s…….”

The subordinate continued with a troubled expression.

“It’s not Hyuk-tae hyungnim… it’s the, the hospital that contacted us.”

“……What?”

“Hyuk-tae hyungnim and the others were all found on the street with broken legs……”

“…….”

Choi Jang-seok started to get up, but slumped back into his chair.

Wrong? It was exactly right.

Right. The reason we haven’t heard from Hyuk-tae despite meeting Kim Jun-woo… isn’t because he’s going to forgive us or not look for us.

It’s just…….

“It seems things have gotten a bit twisted.”

It’s not about requests or anything, it’s about wiping us out as he sees fit.

“S-Should we bring Hyuk-tae hyungnim here for now?”

“No. He’s already got a tail on him. If we move rashly, we’ll only put the others in danger.”

“What? What do you mean the others are in danger?”

“Kim Jun-woo, that bastard, is probably going to mess with our guys indiscriminately. If you catch his eye, you’ll end up like Hyuk-tae.”

“W-What does that…….”

The subordinate looked like he couldn’t understand.

“Is the Secretary-General of an international organization trying to resolve this privately?! That’s just insane…!”

“Exactly.”

Choi Jang-seok replied instantly.

“Kim Jun-woo has no intention of resolving this legally. He’s just going to crush everything he sees. He’ll take care of us one by one, and when I’m the only one left… that’s when he’ll step away from this.”

“W-Why would he…….”

“I messed with his subordinate, so he’s going to pay me back in kind.”

“…….”

Choi Jang-seok sighed deeply before continuing.

“Tell all the guys who are out there right now to come back.”

“…….”

“I was short-sighted.”

A calm voice.

But he couldn’t hide his flustered expression.

“Kim Jun-woo… has no intention of meeting me.”

He was much more dangerous than he thought.

Of course, he knew he was a violent guy. He also knew that he wouldn’t step in unless the situation was serious enough.

That’s why he used a violent method himself.

He had to instill that level of crisis to bring him out.

But if it’s like this…….

‘We might have to hide instead…….’

Choi Jang-seok ran his hand through his hair.

What should I do?

How can I get my message to Kim Jun-woo?

He muttered to himself, glancing at a small frame on his desk.

‘…….’

A young woman wearing a graduation cap and smiling brightly.

Choi Jang-seok stared at his daughter’s picture for a long time.

***

“Oh, did you find out?”

Not long after Kim Min-joo started moving under my instructions.

A call came in from Min Yoo-jin.

「Roughly.」

“…Roughly?”

「There’s a limit to investigating without letting it get into other people’s ears. I did as much as I could, so don’t complain.」

I refrained from answering at her sharp tone.

I felt like I wouldn’t get a single speck of information if I said another word.

“So? What are the Black Light guys? I’ve never heard of them before. Did they break off from the Far East gang?”

The Far East gang was the most famous organized crime group in the Seoul area.

They were getting protection from the assemblymen for doing political favors… especially with Assemblyman Jung Hoon.

Of course, after Assemblyman Jung Hoon was imprisoned, they rapidly weakened and eventually fell apart.

I heard that some of the executives formed other organizations.

If it’s an organization I’ve never heard of, there’s a high probability that the Black Light gang is one of them.

…Or so I thought.

「No.」

“No?”

「These Black Light guys…….」

She trailed off for a moment.

「They’re not an organized crime group.」

“……What?”

She gave an incomprehensible answer.

“What are you talking about? They’re beating people up, if they’re not gangsters, what are they?”

「I’m a little puzzled about that too…….」

The sound of papers rustling came from the other side of the phone.

「First of all, it’s an organization that was created when ability user organizations were running rampant in the past. It was an organization with the nature of a vigilante group that banded together to protect the commercial district and citizens at the time.」

“…….”

「Well, most of the members were people who had their stores taken away or were harmed by ability user gangsters. Some of them are said to be former gangsters, but that hasn’t been confirmed.」

In the days when the association and suppression system were not yet perfect.

Among the ability users, there were those who chose the path of stealing other people’s money instead of becoming hunters.

There was no need to risk their lives like hunters, and there was nothing easier than messing with those weaker than themselves.

Of course, they have almost disappeared due to a massive crackdown now, but if it’s an organization that has been active since then…….

‘It’s been over 30 years already.’

I’ve never heard of it, including before the regression.

How could that be?

“……Could it be.”

「That’s right.」

Min Yoo-jin replied as if she already knew what I was going to say.

「The reason why the Black Light gang hasn’t been revealed is that they haven’t caused any official problems.」

“……Ha.”

「Well, according to what people said at the time, they protected the merchants without receiving any compensation. It was such a long time ago that not many people remember it… but at least everyone who remembers it seems to have received help. The reason why they named the group the Black Light gang was probably a kind of preemptive strike to give a warning to other organizations.」

“So those guys suddenly became real gangsters now?”

「Well, that’s a bit ambiguous too.」

Min Yoo-jin clicked her tongue and continued.

「They’re currently in the financial business called Gold Mine Capital, but it’s a bit different from other loan businesses.」

“What’s different?”

「It’s not just about giving out loans, it’s about paying the monthly rent on behalf of small business owners. Ordinary citizens can’t use it, and there have been no illegal acts, injuries, threats, or extortion in the debt situation process.」

“…….”

My head started to get complicated at her explanation.

「Anyway, according to the investigation, they’re not bad guys.」

“Then what’s this all about?”

「I don’t know.」

“What?”

「Isn’t that what you’re supposed to find out? I can only arrest those guys you sent straight to the hospital. Well, of course, if it’s a case of assault, I can investigate it properly then…….」

“There’s no way those guys will admit it.”

「Exactly.」

They would never mention their hyungnim.

‘Well, that’s how I can solve it myself…….’

I bit my lip at the unpleasant aftertaste.

If they were undoubtedly bad guys, I could proceed with the work comfortably.

But if they’re ambiguous like this…… I can’t help but think of things I shouldn’t.

‘There must be a reason why they did this.’

The moment I think that, I’m giving justification to what they’ve done.

「If you’re really curious, why don’t you meet them and talk to them? I heard their boss asked to meet you.」

“No, that’s not going to happen.”

「Geez…….」

“If I consider every reason, every unavoidable circumstance, where would I find a bad guy in the world?”

「Are you very angry?」

Min Yoo-jin threw out a casual remark.

“Quite a bit.”

I replied immediately.

Something was strange, but I didn’t need to worry about it.

Whatever it was, they were the kind of guys who went around hitting people, and I’m not generous enough to look at the circumstances of criminals.

「Well, I understand. But don’t make things too big. There’s a limit to how much I can turn a blind eye.」

“Okay.”

「Then…….」

Just as I was about to hang up.

Noisy sounds started to be heard from the other side of the phone.

At the same time.

「…Who are those bastards? Hey, what is it!」

Her agitated voice was heard.

“What is it? What’s going on?”

I asked, but she hung up without answering.

It seemed like something had happened…….

I wondered if it was something I should care about, but then.

Ring―.

Soon after, I received a call from Kim Min-joo.

“How did it go? Did you get anything?”

「Teacher, I caught one of the members, but…….」

Kim Min-joo hesitated for a moment.

「When I asked about the whereabouts of the other guys, they said that all the members who were involved in the assault went to turn themselves in…….」

“What?”

Wait, could it be…….

Was that what Min Yoo-jin was shouting about just now…?

‘Did they just come to turn themselves in?’

Only then did I grasp the situation and put my hand on my forehead.

Damn it, if it’s like this…….

「As you know, Teacher, if all the members are handed over to the police, we can’t do anything about it anymore.」

“…….”

Damn it.

Did they notice that I started a rat hunt?

No, even so, I never thought they would come out like this.

They don’t want to get caught, so they go into the cage themselves?

‘Ha…….’

Whoever it is, they know me quite well.

There’s no way they would make this choice unless they knew what I wanted and what I was trying to do.

Yes, what I want is not to hand them over to the police willingly.

If I was going to solve it legally in the first place, I wouldn’t have stepped in myself.

I was just going to set an example myself.

I was going to mess up all the members below and leave the boss alone, and then step away.

It was the only way to pay back the price of messing with my subordinate and destroy everything he had.

But if it’s like this…….

‘I’m going to have to let go without doing anything.’

The thought flashed through my head, and then a burst of laughter came out.

Yes.

If it’s a guy who knows me well, there’s only one reason why he made this choice.

If you really want me to pay the price with my own hands, come and find me.

That’s what it means.

“…Kim Min-joo.”

「Yes, Teacher.」

I quietly took a breath.

In fact, I can stop here.

Anyway, the guys who turned themselves in will be punished, and if I’m lucky, I can reach the boss.

I just need to give up my desire to deal with it myself.

However.

“I’ll have to take a step back this time.”

I wouldn’t have started in the first place if that was the case.

“Let’s go see what that great face looks like.”

「……Yes.」

I don’t know who that guy is, I don’t know what kind of nonsense he’s going to say…….

I will make him pay the price with my own hands.