The Wise Cleaning Life Of A Returning Genius Hunter [EN]: Chapter 351

350. After Story 7

“It was about a year ago.”

At the Geumgwang Capital office.

Choi Jang-seok continued, avoiding my eyes and bowing his head.

“My daughter said she wasn’t feeling well. I thought it was just a bad cold, so I went to the hospital to get some medicine… but they said it was pancreatic cancer. At 29 years old.”

“……”

“Well, the metastasis was quite advanced, and surgery itself was impossible, so the doctor said she wouldn’t last more than three months.”

I was momentarily taken aback by the unexpectedly heavy story.

“She tried chemotherapy, but the results weren’t good. Eventually, it spread throughout her body, and now all treatment has been stopped.”

“I’m sorry to interrupt, but if she was given three months to live a year ago and is still holding on, that means there’s still hope……”

“My daughter has a unique skill.”

Choi Jang-seok looked at me as he said that.

“Immortality.”

“……!”

“Even if cancer cells spread throughout her body and her organs lose function, her breath won’t stop.”

I felt like I had been hit in the head with a hammer.

“Do you know? The pain from cancer is beyond imagination.”

“……”

“The pain, enough to make you lose consciousness, continues 24 hours a day, but because she doesn’t die, she has to endure it with a clear mind.”

He stared at me and added a word.

“For life.”

I didn’t show it, but it was quite shocking to me.

So, I refrained from answering and waited for him to finish speaking.

“Now, I’m keeping her asleep all day with narcotic painkillers, but even that is becoming financially difficult to afford. If she wakes up even for a moment, she has to feel that terrible pain.”

“Are you saying……”

“Yes.” Choi Jang-seok put his hands together and brought them to his mouth.

“What I need isn’t an Ability Stone.”

***

Gi-seok University Hospital, Choi Mi-rae’s hospital room.

“T-that means……”

Lee Ah-young’s pupils trembled greatly as I told her the story from the office.

“That’s right. Choi Jang-seok isn’t trying to save his daughter.”

I looked at the sleeping woman and continued calmly.

“He’s trying to let her go.”

By using a Counter-Ability Stone, not an Ability Stone.

‘……’

Choi Jang-seok’s words to me as I left the office kept echoing in my head.

I tried to dismiss the thought and glanced at Lee Ah-young, who was trying to swallow her tears.

“Choi Jang-seok said that you have to get married to know some things, and you have to have children to know others.”

“……”

“So, I still don’t know. Should I grant this… or should I refuse?”

I looked at Choi Mi-rae and continued.

“I came here thinking that I would be able to decide if I met Mi-rae in person… but I don’t know anymore.”

“……”

Just because there was this situation, it doesn’t justify his past actions and methods.

Choi Jang-seok himself admitted that, and said he would provide sufficient compensation to the victims and receive punishment.

Of course, that doesn’t erase the damage to the employees.

It’s true that people who had nothing to do with it were hurt because of his personal circumstances.

But if I grant Choi Jang-seok’s request here… what about my employees?

In a situation where it’s not enough to hold the perpetrator accountable and compensate them, it’s shameless for the Secretary-General to sympathize with the perpetrator and accept his request.

Above all, both WDSO [World Defense Special Operations] and I are just getting established.

If we lose the trust of our employees with a clumsy choice, WDSO will be driven to the edge of a cliff again.

At the same time, civic groups and organizations that have been looking at us unfavorably will seize this opportunity and tear us apart without mercy.

‘There have always been many complaints about the bank item monopoly and the subjugation rights monopoly……’

However, it’s humanly difficult to pretend not to know when I do know.

Damn it.

That’s why I tried not to meet him as much as possible.

“Now I don’t know what’s right anymore.”

In the end, I couldn’t choose anything and let out a deep sigh.

“So, I’ll leave it to the Chairman’s judgment.”

“……”

She had been silent since earlier.

I don’t know if it’s because she’s afraid she’ll burst into tears if she opens her mouth, or if she can’t easily make a choice either.

“…Call a board meeting.”

Finally, she made a choice.

***

WDSO Korea Association Seoul Headquarters.

A board meeting was convened with a total of 16 directors, including myself and Chairman Lee Ah-young.

Chairman Lee Ah-young explained what had happened and conveyed Choi Jang-seok’s request.

Whatever decision was made, the consent of the directors was required, but they were already quite negative about this matter.

“Was it the Black Light Gang? Thanks to the gang members who participated in the assault rushing to the police, the media smelled it too. It’s only a matter of time before it becomes public.”

Director Song Cheol-sik spoke first.

Following him, other directors also added a word each.

“Our employee was clearly harmed, and if we unilaterally grant the perpetrator’s request, public opinion will be no joke.”

“With this incident, more people may make even greater demands, citing their own circumstances.”

“In fact, apart from all that, I have no face to show to the employees who were harmed.”

“……”

Chairman Lee Ah-young was silent.

Of course, persuading them was well within her ability.

Unfortunately, her mental state wasn’t very good after visiting the hospital.

“There is a solution.”

So, I stepped in on her behalf.

“First of all… of course, we will prosecute Choi Jang-seok, the head of the Black Light Gang, for ordering the assault. Of course, that includes the gang members who directly participated in the assault.”

“So, you’re not going to grant Choi Jang-seok’s request?”

“No.”

I answered immediately.

“We will grant his request.”

“H-but……”

“If that fact gets into the media, the repercussions will be severe.”

“The situation is unfortunate, but we should look at it from a more objective perspective here……”

I shook my head at the directors’ remarks.

“Instead of granting Choi Jang-seok’s request, I plan to completely exclude the content and detailed circumstances from this matter.”

“……?”

“Exclude it from this matter?”

“What does that mean?”

They had faces that didn’t understand well.

I spoke slowly.

“We have decided to treat this incident as Choi Jang-seok, a gangster, trying to get an Ability Stone from me, awakening as an ability user, and absorbing surrounding organizations. Choi Mi-rae’s case has nothing to do with this incident. I plan to proceed that way for now.”

“……!”

“……!”

“Fortunately, I have someone I know at the police station, so they will convey that to the media as well.”

There was a stir in the room.

“We are holding the perpetrator who terrorized our employee accountable without leniency. As a result, we have done what we have to do. Even if it spreads to the media, there will be no problem externally or morally.”

“……”

“……”

“So, what do you directors think?”

They also seemed hesitant to make a decision easily.

They were just clearing their throats and looking at each other.

If this agenda is passed, Choi Jang-seok, who was once praised as a hero of the streets, will lose the path he has taken, covered in all sorts of infamy.

He will not be able to avoid imprisonment, and even if he is released in his middle age, he will have to face a daunting reality.

Our choice will completely destroy a person’s life.

The directors probably know that too.

But we all vaguely know.

In fact, those things are not worth worrying about for Choi Jang-seok.

As long as there is something he must do, even if he sacrifices all of his past and future.

“If the Secretary-General says so……”

“My heart isn’t very comfortable, but… that seems to be the best way.”

Eventually, everyone gathered their opinions into one.

I glanced at Lee Ah-young, and she nodded once instead of answering.

“Then let’s proceed as is.”

***

“……It’s a difficult task.”

At Eclipse.

I met with Director Chloe.

“Is it possible?”

“Well… nothing is impossible. Except that it’s a little difficult for me.”

“Helping one person isn’t a big deal, is it?”

“It’s funny that you’re saying that. Since when have you been such a humanitarian?”

“……”

At her words, I unknowingly made a contemptuous expression.

“What? You’re not expecting me to have some trivial feelings like family love, are you?”

“I didn’t expect it… but I still wondered.”

“I’ve seen worse while working at the International Association. Of course, I know that judging the severity of the situation is also a terrible thing, but……”

She continued with a rather empty look in her eyes.

“As I tried to ignore it, I became insensitive.”

“The world calls that a sociopath.”

“I know. But… so what? That’s who I am.”

“……”

Never mind.

“Anyway, please prepare as I said. As soon as possible.”

Chloe crossed her arms and nodded.

Then, as if something came to mind, she opened her mouth again.

“Oh, right. How are you going to handle the budget? The amount will be no joke if you do it according to your plan.”

“I have something in mind. It’s not confirmed yet, though.”

“You’re not planning to do it with the headquarters budget, are you?”

“Well, not that……”

I smiled slightly and continued.

“I was thinking of starting a new business this time.”

“……?”

“Well, let’s get permission right away since we’re talking about it.”

I immediately took out my cell phone.

Then I called that number, which I hadn’t called in a while.

「Secretary-General! Long time no see.」

A cheerful voice echoed unchanged.

“Have you been well, Chairman?”

「Ah, really! You shouldn’t do that, even if it’s the Secretary-General. Please call me comfortably.」

“Haha, I understand.”

Former Head of Overseas Business at Karma Corporation.

And now, Chairman Ha Seong-il, who has become the head of Hanbyul Group.

「Anyway, what’s going on?」

“I’m sorry that I only contact you when I need you, but……”

「It’s enough that I’m needed. Please tell me.」

“I need some money.”

「How many trillion would you like?」

“……?”

Is he crazy?

His scale has gone crazy since he became chairman.

“I don’t think I need that much……”

I told him the story so far.

「I see…….」

His voice also sank as the content was heavier than expected.

「I’ve seen many parents trying to save their children, but this is the first time I’ve seen someone trying to let them go. It must be very difficult.」

“It would be.”

「So, you’re trying to release Mi-rae’s ability using a Counter-Ability Stone? Well, our side can fully cover the operating costs…….」

“No.”

I cut him off and answered immediately.

“Not a Counter-Ability Stone. I’m going to use an Ability Stone.”

「……Yes, yes?」

“Immortality is a Berserker-class skill, so it looks very efficient at first glance, but it’s quite self-destructive.”

「That’s right.」

“Therefore, I plan to greatly increase Mi-rae’s ability with an Ability Stone and make her go into a frenzy. If the ability becomes extremely unstable, I will try to interfere with other abilities by controlling the Ability Wave.”

「…….」

“Director Chloe said it’s a possible theory, so it’s worth trying.”

「J-just a moment.」

He cut me off as if he needed to organize the words I had poured out without rest.

And then…….

「So, what you’re saying now, Secretary-General…….」

“Yes.”

That’s why it’s good to have someone who understands what I’m saying.

I smiled slightly and answered immediately.

“I’m going to save Mi-rae.”