The Wise Cleaning Life Of A Returning Genius Hunter [EN]: Chapter 60

059

Near Jamsil Station, in a certain building.

The Ares Guild Office.

“A janitor was appointed as the head of the operations division?”

A man with a burly physique spoke, his voice rough.

Cha Seok-hyun of the Mechanic Class.

The leader of Korea’s top guild, ‘Ares,’ and officially ranked 2nd in Korea.

“That’s what I’m saying! Unbelievable.”

Yu Ji-woo, Cha Seok-hyun’s longtime friend and the guild leader of Korea’s 5th-ranked guild, ‘Aphrodite,’ replied.

Korea’s top sniper class.

Ranked 9th in Korea, she was a hunter with skills no less than Cha Seok-hyun’s.

Like this, the upheaval in the Korean Association, including the ‘Association Gate,’ was spreading rapidly, not only among the general public but also within the hunter community.

“Hahaha! It’s quite the shake-up. Who would have thought that old fogey den would change so much!”

“Is this something to laugh about?”

Yu Ji-woo continued, unfazed.

“Everyone’s buzzing because a janitor has taken command. Some are even saying that if we move now, we might be able to take over the Association.”

“What are you talking about now?”

“What else? He’s a janitor, not from the control team or a hunter. They’re saying that the Association will falter because such a person has risen to the head of operations.”

“Hmm… that’s strange.”

Cha Seok-hyun crossed his arms and shook his head.

“What is it?”

“That head of operations… I think he’s more likely to devour than be devoured.”

A baseless statement.

Cha Seok-hyun tended to rely on his intuition for such judgments.

The important thing was that his intuition was almost always correct.

Therefore, Yu Ji-woo also showed interest, as if intrigued.

“Hmm, if you say that, I’m curious about what kind of person he is.”

“Well, there might be an opportunity to meet him soon.”

Cha Seok-hyun smiled.

The story of Kim Jun-woo was an issue not only in the guilds but also among independent freelance hunters.

In a small bar in Itaewon.

A man reading a newspaper in that dimly lit place chuckled as he read the headline.

“A janitor, huh… what a coincidence.”

The man said, taking a sip of his drink.

Yang Min-ho

Wizard Class.

Officially ranked 59th in the world.

Korea’s officially ranked No. 1 hunter.

Officially registered as a freelance hunter, but in this industry, he was known by another name.

At that moment, the man’s phone rang.

“Yes, this is Yang Min-ho.”

A middle-aged man’s voice was heard over the phone.

“Is that about the request?”

“Um…….”

“Well, it’s possible… but that kind of thing is a bit pricey.”

“Yes, yes.”

“Yes, then let’s do it right away.”

Yang Min-ho hung up the phone and raised his glass again.

His other job was taking money to solve problems.

Hunters, ordinary people, politicians.

Threats, kidnappings, political maneuvering.

It didn’t matter who made the request or what it was.

As long as he was paid, he would handle any request cleanly, and that’s why he was called ‘the Cleaner’ in this field.

***

Support Team, Hunter Management Office.

Chief Aide Shin Soo-ji visited to inform them that the research facility expansion proposal had been approved.

“Th-that passed?!”

As expected, Lee Ah-young was startled as soon as she heard the report.

“It’s going to cost a tremendous amount of money… did they even read the proposal?”

“Roughly. Honestly, I’m also a bit taken aback.”

Chief Aide Shin Soo-ji also scratched her head.

Lee Ah-young was confused about whether to be happy about this or not.

Of course, expanding the Support Team’s research facilities was essential in the long run.

However, support for the Support Team had always been treated as ‘unnecessary expenditure,’ making it difficult even to bring up the topic.

But finally, that person had risen to the head of operations. Lee Ah-young thought it was an opportunity to at least bring it up.

However, it was just that, she had only brought it up, and it was a proposal she sent without much expectation… she never thought it would be approved so quickly.

“They’re saying they’re going to provide massive support not only to the expansion but also to the Control Team and the Cleaning Team. They’re even pulling from the next quarter’s budget… I have no idea what they’re thinking.”

Chief Aide Shin Soo-ji shook her head.

Lee Ah-young smiled at the sight.

“Why, why are you smiling?”

“No, I was just thinking… there was a time when I was like that too.”

Chief Aide Shin Soo-ji tilted her head.

“Soo-ji, you’ve never worked with the head of operations, have you?”

“……That’s right. I’ve only been in the Administration Headquarters since I joined the company. Well, I’ve heard a lot of stories about him.”

“Then it’s understandable that you find it hard to understand.”

“Yes…?”

“Even if you don’t understand… that person is never the type to do things without thinking.”

“Isn’t that the case for everyone?”

“That’s true, but he’s on a different level.”

Chief Aide Shin Soo-ji looked like she didn’t understand.

“He sees what others see, and even beyond that. Sometimes I wonder how far he’s looking.”

“Come on… there’s no such person.”

“Just look at this incident. This gate, the head of operations planned it all from the beginning, didn’t he?”

Shin Soo-ji was silent.

She had met and talked with Director Lee Ah-young several times for work, but this was the first time she had praised someone to this extent.

“Besides, when he was in the Cleaning Team, he took such good care of his colleagues. He couldn’t stand anyone messing with his colleagues. He can’t stand injustice. Anyway, he’s capable, a good person…….”

Lee Ah-young’s praise didn’t stop easily.

“I know this is a rude question, but…….”

At that moment, Chief Aide Shin Soo-ji, who had been listening quietly, carefully opened her mouth.

“Do you perhaps… like the head of operations?”

“I do.”

An answer without a moment’s hesitation.

It was so much so that Chief Aide Shin Soo-ji, who had asked the question, was taken aback.

Then Lee Ah-young smiled.

“As a person.”

Smiling brightly, Lee Ah-young stretched while sitting down.

“Anyway… I’m glad it passed. I wanted to study that thing quickly.”

She looked at the vacuum tube installed in the corner of the management office.

Inside, the Time Stone emitted a faint yellow light.

Chief Aide Shin Soo-ji was also momentarily captivated by the mysterious light.

“Bank item… right? An item that can only be handled for research purposes.”

“That’s right. You know it well?”

“Roughly. But is that such a dangerous item?”

“I don’t know either.”

Lee Ah-young shrugged.

“Yes, yes?”

“I’ve only heard about it, but this is the first time I’ve actually seen it. Loop dungeons appear occasionally, but not all dungeons drop Time Stones.”

“Still, if the International Association designates it as a dangerous item, shouldn’t you be able to find information about it?”

“If you were Soo-ji, would you disclose that information?”

“Ah…….”

She nodded as if she immediately understood.

“Of course, there is some information about other bank items. It is said that Ability Stones can forcibly grant abilities to those without them.”

“…That doesn’t seem very special.”

“The point is that it can be granted to things other than people.”

Granting abilities to things other than people?

She had no idea what the effect would be.

“And conversely, Anti-Ability Stones are said to eliminate abilities… and Dimension Stones can create dungeons at will. There’s all sorts of things.”

“Hmm.”

Chief Aide Shin Soo-ji replied appropriately.

It wasn’t a particularly interesting story.

“But there’s no information about just that one. I have no idea what it is.”

“…That’s amazing.”

“That’s why I proposed the research lab expansion. I wanted to see what it was.”

“I see.”

“Oh, I’m sorry for giving you too much TMI [Too Much Information] when you’re busy.”

Lee Ah-young clapped her hands and said.

“Ah, it’s okay. I’m not that busy.”

“Huh? I heard you’re conducting a large-scale recruitment.”

“That’s true, but the head of operations is handling it all himself. He hasn’t even come to the office since yesterday.”

“That’s like him. What’s he working so hard for when he’s leaving in a month anyway?”

Anyway…….

Lee Ah-young smiled bitterly.

***

Jamsil, Songpa-gu.

He had already spent 30 minutes wandering between the high-rise buildings under the scorching sun.

“It’s around here…….”

He checked the phone map and the surroundings alternately.

Then he stopped in front of a building with a familiar address.

‘This is the place.’

After checking the location once more, he immediately entered the building.

Arriving on the 12th floor by elevator, the ‘Ares’ logo was prominently displayed at the office entrance.

‘Fitting for the No. 1 guild.’

He was staring blankly at the logo, which seemed somewhat childish, when.

“Ah, you’ve arrived.”

A woman came out of the office.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Heo Jin-ah from the accounting department.”

“I’m Kim Jun-woo, I contacted you.”

“Please come in. The representative just came to work and is waiting for you.”

She followed her into the office.

The interior had the atmosphere of an ordinary company. About 20 employees were sitting at their desks working.

“You can go into this conference room. Would you like a cup of tea?”

“Ah, yes. Something cold, please.”

As he entered the conference room alone, a burly man who had been waiting stood up and shook his hand.

“Wow! Nice to meet you!”

That man, reminiscent of a gorilla, is the representative of this place, the Ares Guild, and the current No. 2 ranked hunter in Korea.

Guild Leader Cha Seok-hyun of the Mechanic Class.

“I’m Cha Seok-hyun. I wanted to meet you, but I don’t know what to do with myself since you came to visit me in person!”

‘Well, we weren’t that close in my past life either… but he was someone I had encountered a few times.’

But his fussiness is still the same.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Kim Jun-woo, the head of the Seoul Operations Division of the Otherworld Dimension Association.”

“Of course, of course. Who in this industry doesn’t know the head of operations.”

“Is that so? I don’t remember doing anything noticeable.”

Then Cha Seok-hyun laughed out loud.

“You’re being too modest. A janitor-turned-head of operations, it would be stranger if the rumors didn’t spread.”

‘Anyway, the guild guys are always interested in the Association’s affairs, now and then…….’

“Honestly, I’m a little curious. What on earth did you do in that old fogey gathering?”

“Well. There’s nothing particularly…….”

He trailed off because he didn’t have anything to say.

‘To be honest, I’m a little puzzled as to why I’ve become so well-known.’

Cha Seok-hyun laughed loudly again and immediately moved on to another topic. He was quick-witted, unlike his size.

“I received the information you contacted me about. You’re conducting a scout?”

“Yes. There’s been some internal trouble in the Association, and we’re short on operations personnel.”

“Still, it’s the Association. It shouldn’t be so urgent to fill a few vacancies.”

“It’s not to the point where there will be immediate problems… but according to the Control Team’s information, an underwater dungeon is likely to open at Incheon Port soon. We’re going to prepare in advance since we have to fill it anyway.”

‘Hmm,’ he crossed his arms and let out a faint breath.

“But is there a reason why you specifically chose our guild?”

“There was no choosing or anything. Isn’t it the undisputed No. 1 guild?”

“Hahaha! Didn’t you have a conflict with our vice guild leader last time? I naturally thought you were out of favor.”

My eyes narrowed for a moment.

I wondered if I had ever met the Ares vice guild leader, but then I remembered the cleaning team recruitment interview.

Shin Tae-hwan was the vice guild leader here.

“Well, I tend to separate public and private matters.”

“Hahaha! I see.”

Cha Seok-hyun smiled and nodded.

He took out the documents he had prepared in advance and got to the point.

“This is the scout contract. If you read it, you’ll see that it’s a pretty good deal. If you have a list of people waiting to transfer…….”

“I’m sorry, but I’ll decline.”

Cha Seok-hyun bowed his head.

He hadn’t even taken out all the documents yet.

“……Yes?”

“I’m sorry to have you come all the way here and say this. But I don’t think we’ll be able to proceed with the scout.”

‘What on earth…….’