The Wise Cleaning Life Of A Returning Genius Hunter [EN]: Chapter 59

058

Several weeks have passed since the unexpected storm hit the Korean Association, but its aftermath showed no signs of subsiding.

The biggest issue was the chain of exposures revealing corruption, both big and small.

The ‘Association Gate’ eventually touched the political world.

Apparently, some branch managers colluded with city council candidates to arbitrarily adjust the dungeon subjugation rates within the city.

‘Well, it was a common occurrence, so there’s nothing new to be surprised about.’

Dungeons being used as weapons during election season by the conservative party was a long-standing tradition. It’s just the first time they’ve been caught.

Thanks to this, all branches were subjected to prosecutorial investigations, national audits, and parliamentary hearings, causing utter chaos.

The sighs from the newly launched Planning Division could be heard all the way here.

Of course, none of this had much to do with me.

I had more pressing internal matters to attend to within the Operations Division.

Naturally, the recent incident brought about significant changes to the Operations Division as well.

First, as Director Lee Doo-shik had foreshadowed, Chief Seo Min-cheol was transferred to the Ulleungdo branch. [Ulleungdo is a small island off the east coast of Korea.]

Seo Min-cheol wasn’t a Hunter, so if he had been fired, he would have ended up as a team leader in some small to medium-sized company, spending his later years listening to complaints.

In the end, he remained with the Association, which was fortunate for him.

Following him, Lee Soo-yong was transferred to the Asan branch in South Chungcheong Province. [Asan is a city in South Korea.]

Considering he was one of the starting points of this gate, it was a rather light punishment.

Knowing this himself, he accepted it without much complaint.

A major reshuffle also took place among the Hunters, and Kim Min-joo was assigned as the team leader of the newly formed Operations Team 1.

Just half a year ago, she was a B-rank Hunter, and now she became the team leader of the Korean Association’s top elite team.

Furthermore, in the recent rank assessment, she achieved first place with overwhelming results, becoming the fourth A-rank Hunter in Korea. She was ranked 4th domestically.

For a while, it was a huge fuss among her colleagues, but she didn’t seem particularly impressed.

‘Well, she’s not the type to care much about ranks.’

More than anything, she’s not someone who will end up at just A-rank.

Meanwhile, the Cleaning Team saw a steady increase in applicants, and now they were even conducting open recruitment.

As a result, a total of 10 Cleaning Teams were newly established.

Moon So-yeon and Han Sang-hyuk were each offered the positions of team leader for Teams 7 and 8, but for some reason, they both declined.

In the Support Team, Chief Kang Hyun-sook was caught up in the gate and removed, with Lee Ah-young taking control.

The Control Team didn’t undergo significant changes, except for the replacement of a few individuals involved in the gate.

Listing only the major changes, it amounts to this much.

This period can truly be called a time of upheaval. And the one who handled all this administrative work was none other than…….

Me.

“Even quitting is tough……”

Some are desperately trying to break through the hellish competition to join, while others are anxiously trying to leave.

I sat at my office desk and swept back my hair.

On the desk, there was still a mountain of documents to review.

Next to it, a mother-of-pearl nameplate was engraved with an unnecessarily long title: ‘Republic of Korea Otherworld Association, Operations Division Chief.’

Seriously, the more I think about it, the more absurd it is.

What organization puts someone who will retire in a month in the position of division chief?

Just in case, I reconfirmed whether I could really retire in a month, and the Association President smiled and said, ‘Unless something unexpected happens.’

Unless something unexpected happens…….

Does that mean that if something unexpected happens, they won’t accept my resignation?

I might end up stuck in this position with a high title for years, unable to even approach the International Association.

I only have five years left, and I can’t waste time on such meaningless things.

Accident-free discharge.

No, accident-free resignation.

No matter what happens, I have to spend this one month quietly.

For a week, I just sat quietly and worked.

I was so cooped up in the office all day, staring at papers, that I started to hallucinate.

It got to the point where I missed cleaning.

‘Damn it…….’

Of course, there were definitely benefits to becoming the division chief this time.

[Achievement Condition Met]

[Average Annual Salary of Dungeon Cleaners Exceeds 100 Million Won]

[Acquired Skill: Fallen Angel – Unlocked.]

[Dungeon Cleaning Team Application Competition Rate Exceeds 30:1]

[Acquired Skill: Limit Break – Unlocked.]

[Dungeon Cleaners Achieve 2nd Place in Job Preference Among 20s Age Group]

[Acquired Skill: Destroyer – Unlocked.]

[Dungeon Cleaner Full-Time Conversion Rate Exceeds 50%]

[Acquired Skill: Rolling Paper – Unlocked.]

Etc…….

I was able to unlock almost all the skills.

In fact, it would be more accurate to say that I artificially achieved them all, rather than them being unlocked.

Now, I’m in the position of division chief.

Operations Division Chief, who can manage all four organizations: Operations, Control, Support, and Cleaning.

Conditions like raising the Cleaning Team were easier than snapping my fingers.

[Currently Reached Unofficial S-Rank]

[Currently Reached Unofficial Domestic Ranking 1st, World Ranking 37th]

Looking at that phrase in the system window, I seriously considered registering my rank.

After all, my first goal was to unlock skills and become a Hunter again.

‘But well, considering the scope of activities, it might be better not to register…….’

If that’s the case, I wonder what the benefit of becoming a Hunter now is.

Unlike Hunters, who are bound to subjugation whether they like it or not, I’m in a position where I can do anything now.

I was having personal concerns when it happened.

Knock knock―

“May I come in, Division Chief?”

“Yes. Come in.”

A woman entered the office with a knock and bowed lightly.

She was Shin Soo-ji, the aide newly assigned with my promotion.

“Here are the subjugation plans for the 10 Operations Teams for next month. The Control Team says they need your approval by today to schedule and gather information.”

She placed the approval documents on the desk.

I scribbled my signature without even looking.

“It’s done.”

“……”

A look that seemed to say, ‘What kind of person is this?’

But what can I do?

I don’t care about next month’s plans. I just need to endure this month.

“Is there anything else to report?”

“……Yes. The Support Team has submitted a proposal to expand the item research facility. You know the Time Stone we acquired during the last joint operation? They want to research it, but the conditions aren’t suitable.”

“The proposal?”

“They said they sent it by email.”

I immediately checked my email and opened the attached file.

The proposal, created in PPT [PowerPoint presentation], contained quite detailed information on the necessary equipment, personnel, and budget.

It was clearly Chief Lee Ah-young’s handiwork.

As I was roughly reading through it, Aide Shin Soo-ji added an explanation.

“It’s definitely beneficial in the long run if the research facility is built, but the estimated budget is over 50 billion won. I think it’s better to reject it…….”

“How much budget does the Operations Division have left now?”

“Approximately 82 billion won.”

“Proceed with it.”

“Yes, yes?! Then the operation budget for next month will be in danger…….”

“It doesn’t matter. Proceed with it.”

This time, a look that seemed to say, ‘Is he crazy?’

Of course, I wouldn’t be satisfied with just this.

“And while we’re on the subject, let’s replace all the Control Team’s equipment this time. The communication keeps cutting out, and sometimes the dungeon mapping has errors, so it’s time to change it.”

“Ah, yes… within the remaining budget as much as possible…….”

“Instead of that, let’s get the next quarter’s budget in advance and proceed with it. I’ll talk to the Association President.”

“……Yes.”

“And isn’t the Cleaning Team’s equipment too analog? What era is it where they’re still working with protective suits and brooms? Since it’s come to this, let’s support each Cleaning Team with one high-tech suit each.”

“……”

A brief silence followed.

Afterward, Aide Shin Soo-ji reluctantly nodded and left the office.

I leaned back deeply into the plush chair and let out a long sigh.

Just as I was about to take a breather, the office door opened again.

“How is it, is the Division Chief’s job manageable?”

This time, it was Control Team Leader Pyeon Chang-hyeon.

“Yes, well. So-so.”

“Haha! For someone who says that, you don’t look too good.”

“It’s because the higher-ups put me here arbitrarily.”

Team Leader Pyeon Chang-hyeon laughed out loud.

“So, what brings you here in person? Is there a problem?”

“Yes, well… it’s a problem if you call it a problem.”

“What is it?”

“Um… to put it bluntly.”

He then continued with a light sigh.

“Things are dangerous as they are.”

“Yes…?”

“Even though the Operations Team has been reorganized in various ways, too many Hunters have left due to this gate incident. With the current personnel, there will be problems starting with next week’s operation.”

I already knew that there were quite a few vacancies in the Operations Team due to this incident.

However, I didn’t think it was a very serious matter.

Back in my day~ we subjugated red dungeons with just 10 people, you know.

“According to our analysis, we need to fill at least 32 more people to reach a stable level.”

“There are Hunters everywhere, so won’t it be a problem finding them?”

“It’s a problem because those Hunters don’t want to come to the Association.”

“……Is that so?”

“The Association’s image has deteriorated a lot due to this gate incident. It’s obvious that they’ll be wary of joining.”

“Hmm…….”

Anyway, they’re too comfortable.

“It’s impossible to receive new recruits for now. The only thing we can do right now is to scout guilds or freelancers. I’m planning to proceed with that starting tomorrow.”

“Is it that urgent? It doesn’t seem like we can’t do operations at all.”

“It’s at a level where we can somehow manage, but as I reported before, an otherworld wave was detected near Incheon Port this time.”

“……?”

I have no memory of hearing that at all.

“Don’t you remember? You even approved the report back then.”

“Ah, ah…… I remember. Yes, that’s right.”

Damn it, I should at least read it next time.

“Our team predicts it will be an underwater dungeon.”

“An underwater dungeon?”

I frowned without realizing it.

Underwater dungeon.

A dungeon that appears in the sea. Only Hunters capable of underwater combat are selected for the subjugation team, but in reality, there aren’t many Hunters with underwater breathing-related skills.

Even after subjugation, it’s almost impossible to confirm whether there are any remaining monsters, so secondary damage occurs frequently.

If such a dungeon is scheduled to appear, it’s definitely urgent to fill the personnel…….

‘But did an underwater dungeon open around this time……?’

I was seriously retracing my memories when.

Team Leader Pyeon Chang-hyeon spoke again.

“Anyway, we need to replenish personnel in preparation for the underwater dungeon. Our team will try to contact a good guild, so…….”

“No. I’ll do it myself.”

“Are you okay? You’re busy enough with your current work.”

“It’s an important matter. The division chief should do this himself.”

Team Leader Pyeon Chang-hyeon was slightly impressed.

Of course, that’s the superficial reason, and the real reason was a bit different.

At least while I’m scouting, I don’t have to do other work, right?

It’s much better to be out and about than cooped up in the office.

“Then I’ll leave it to you.”

“Yes. Don’t worry.”

Team Leader Pyeon Chang-hyeon repeatedly expressed his gratitude and left the office.

I leaned back in my chair and sank into thought again.

The question from earlier wouldn’t leave my mind.

‘An underwater dungeon…….’

No matter how much I think about it, I don’t remember an underwater dungeon opening around this time.

Of course, the Association’s circumstances and external aspects are flowing completely differently from my past life… but wasn’t the appearance of dungeons 100% consistent with my past life?

Then why did an underwater dungeon that didn’t exist suddenly appear?

I kept stroking my chin.