The Wise Cleaning Life Of A Returning Genius Hunter [EN]: Chapter 356

355. Extra Story: After Episode 12

“Chairman.”

Joseph, Secretary to Chairman Tom, cautiously called out as he entered the American Association located in Long Island, New York.

“I’ve just received word that Chairman Lee has arrived at the airport. The business department staff is picking her up, so she should be here in about 30 minutes.”

“…She came quickly. What about the closure of Sector F?”

“It’s been taken care of. The managers have all returned to their respective positions.”

“Good.”

Chairman Tom nodded once, then lowered his voice and continued, “From now on, we don’t know anything, and we have nothing. As long as we don’t do anything suspicious, there won’t be any problems, so take care of yourselves.”

“Um, but…”

Instead of answering, Secretary Joseph brought up something else.

“According to the business department staff’s report, Chairman Lee Ah-young didn’t come alone… Chief Han Yu-bin came with her.”

“…What?”

Chairman Tom’s eyebrows twitched at that moment.

“Han Yu-bin… are you talking about our former operations team leader…?”

“That’s correct.”

“Why is that person here?”

“It seems she’s here as Chairman Lee’s aide… but I’m not sure.”

“Tsk…”

Chairman Tom openly showed a troubled expression.

He had good reason to, as the American Association and Han Yu-bin had quite a deep-seated bad history.

The worst scandal in the American Association’s history, committed by Control Team Leader Jason.

The incident where a Filipino Hunter died because of his slush fund.

Of course, he wasn’t directly involved in that incident, and all the people involved had been punished, so Han Yu-bin probably didn’t have as much animosity towards the American Association as before, but…

‘That doesn’t mean she’ll be friendly to us…’

Knowing her personality, Chairman Tom couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

More than anything, she had risen to the position of operations team leader in the American Association.

She knew the internal affairs of the American Association better than anyone in the Korean Association.

‘The fact that she accompanied her means…’

It’s not something trivial like an aide to the chairman.

It’s certain.

Those guys smelled something.

There’s no reason to bring that person along unless they’re planning to find something to exploit here.

“For now, act as usual… and put someone on Han Yu-bin.”

“Someone, you say?”

“We don’t know what her purpose is, so we don’t know what she’ll do. Keep a close watch on her without her noticing as much as possible. And keep her away from Chairman Lee.”

“…Understood.”

“Report immediately if you notice anything suspicious.”

Secretary Joseph nodded.

As he left the office, Chairman Tom took a deep breath.

Currently, WDSO [World Dungeon Suppression Organization] has begun full-scale preparations to put an end to the Otherworld Dimension situation.

The Korean Association has already started trying to adjust the dungeon appearance rate this week, and top associations around the world will also gradually reduce subjugation accordingly.

And WDSO is building all the alternative infrastructure for this from above.

WDSO is a pioneer and savior, distinctly different from the previous international associations.

If you only look at that, who would dare to challenge WDSO’s actions?

They’re going to end the Otherworld Dimension situation that has plagued the world for over 50 years, and they’re even managing industries to replace the subjugation of each country.
The problem isn’t that.
The real problem is…

‘What comes next…’

If all infrastructure is built under WDSO’s leadership and the Otherworld Dimension situation ends, the center of the international community will be Korea.

Even after dungeons, abilities, and subjugation disappear, WDSO and Korea will wield influence around the world, and all industries will be in their hands.

Of course, if that happens, the United States will no longer have any authority.

Naturally, the government also finds this a very uncomfortable situation. No, beyond uncomfortable, they’d want to avoid the United States stepping down from the throne at all costs.

Accordingly, the majority of U.S. senators and top-level personnel are also demanding solutions to this problem.

So… from now on, it’s not about subjugation or anything like that.

After the Otherworld Dimension situation ends, can the United States regain the influence that Korea and WDSO have?

No, even after the Otherworld Dimension situation ends, the United States of America must maintain its throne as the leader of the world.

To that end, the American Association has used every possible method for the past year.

And finally, the end of that preparation was in sight.

‘Hoo…’

Chairman Tom leaned back in his chair.

A sense of tension that he couldn’t hide was evident on his face.

Along with that, a subtle emotion was also emerging.

The very fact that he felt a sense of crisis from a small association in Asia was something his pride wouldn’t allow.

‘I must…’

So no matter what happens, he must make the project a success.

***

“Hello. I’m Lee Ah-young.”

Chairman Lee Ah-young faced Chairman Tom alone in his office and offered a handshake.

“Thank you for coming such a long way. I’m Thomas Downey.”

Chairman Tom also stood up from his seat and accepted the handshake with a welcoming expression.

After a brief greeting, the two sat down facing each other.

Chairman Tom spoke first.

“By the way, what brings Chairman Lee here? Coming all the way to America without any notice… it must be quite a big deal.”

“No, it’s not that serious…”

Chairman Lee Ah-young smiled slightly and continued, “I have a favor to ask of Chairman Tom.”

“…A favor?”

“As you know, we are reducing the subjugation industry. Most of it is going well without any problems… but I’m concerned about a few weaker countries.”

His eyebrows twitched at Lee Ah-young’s words.

“Concerned, you say? What do you mean by that?”

“I mean that subjugation accounts for too much of their national industry. No matter how much we need to resolve the Otherworld Dimension situation, we can’t forcibly dismantle their national industries. But if we forcibly reduce them, it could lead to big problems.”

“Ah… well, I understand that point.”

“More than anything, because they are weaker countries, their subjugation capabilities aren’t that great compared to their high dependence on subjugation.”

“You’re saying that you can’t stop subjugation in the current situation, but you can’t just leave it as it is.”

“That’s right.”

Lee Ah-young took a breath and continued, “Secretary-General Kim Jun-woo and I have decided that a third party needs to intervene to solve this problem. Someone needs to provide an industrial infrastructure to replace subjugation and reduce the proportion of the subjugation industry, and in the process, someone else needs to subjugate on their behalf.”

“I understand what you’re saying, but what does that have to do with us?”

“So we’re trying to integrate associations from countries in similar situations. The goal is to carry out subjugation on behalf of weaker countries, thereby reducing their subjugation proportion. And that integrated association…”

Lee Ah-young paused, gauging Chairman Tom’s reaction.

And then, she carefully brought up the main point.

“I’d like the American Association to take charge of it.”

“…….”

Lee Ah-young quietly looked at Chairman Tom.

Judging by the fact that he wasn’t too surprised, he seemed to have roughly expected her to bring up that story during the conversation.

Of course, it’s right to give him time to think here, but Lee Ah-young, feeling unnecessarily impatient, added a few more words.

“Of course, I know that this isn’t a welcome proposal from the American Association’s perspective. But in order to end this situation as soon as possible…”

“…I understand.”

And then, an answer that made Lee Ah-young doubt her ears was heard.

“……Yes?”

“We will take charge of the integrated association and proceed with it.”

She asked again, just in case, but the answer was still unwavering.

Lee Ah-young hesitated for a moment with a dumbfounded expression.

Because no matter how she thought about it, it wasn’t a story that could be accepted so readily.

The American Association is also in the process of reducing subjugation.

Asking them to carry out subjugation on behalf of other countries now is tantamount to ignoring their current position.

So she, as well as Kim Jun-woo, naturally thought they would refuse, and even brought Han Yu-bin along to prepare a solution.

But they’re accepting so easily?

‘Something’s strange…’

Lee Ah-young kept her mouth shut and watched Chairman Tom for a while.

“Thank you for accepting so readily.”

Without saying anything else, she simply conveyed her gratitude with a light smile.

At the same time, Chairman Tom nodded and replied.

“There’s no reason to hesitate when it’s for the sake of humanity.”

“…We’re relieved to hear you say that.”

Chairman Lee Ah-young said that and stood up from her seat.

“I’ll deliver the detailed business plan tomorrow. I just arrived, so I think I should rest a bit today.”

“Of course. If you tell my secretary, they will guide you to the hotel.”

“I will. Then, goodbye…”

Lee Ah-young left those words behind and hurriedly left the office as if she had something urgent to do.

“Why did you come out so quickly?”

Han Yu-bin, who had been waiting outside, followed with a puzzled expression.

“They accepted.”

“…Yes?”

Lee Ah-young answered without making eye contact, as if her head was complicated.

“They accepted the integrated association proposal.”

“…Didn’t you say they would refuse?”

“I did.”

Lee Ah-young’s calm voice.

But Han Yu-bin, who didn’t realize what that meant, shrugged and said, “Well, anyway, it’s a relief that things worked out…”

And then, Han Yu-bin stopped talking.

It was because Lee Ah-young’s expression caught her eye.

There wasn’t even a trace of relief on her face.

“…Is something wrong?”

Han Yu-bin asked cautiously, and Lee Ah-young replied with a cold expression.

“The corners of his lips went up.”

“…The corners of his lips?”

“He definitely looked nervous until I came in. As soon as I asked him to take charge of the integrated association, the corners of his lips went up.”

Even so, Han Yu-bin’s reaction was that she didn’t understand.

Only then did Lee Ah-young look straight at Han Yu-bin and add an explanation.

“There are only two situations in which you can show that kind of reaction. Either Chairman Tom sincerely wanted to help the weaker countries…”

Then she carefully continued, “Or he was relieved because it wasn’t the story he was expecting.”

“…….”

“Which one do you think it is, Yu-bin?”

Han Yu-bin hesitated to answer for a moment.

Of course, it wasn’t to think about the answer to the question.

Just…

“It’s obvious.”

It was such an obvious question that there was no need to answer.

Lee Ah-young nodded as if agreeing with her answer.

“Those bastards… they’re hiding something.”

“It’s not the first time, is it?”

“Now that it’s come to this, it seems like Yu-bin, you’ll have to move.”

Instead of answering Lee Ah-young’s words, Han Yu-bin let out a slight chuckle.

“Let’s see what they’re hiding.”

Lee Ah-young smiled coldly.