The Wise Cleaning Life Of A Returning Genius Hunter [EN]: Chapter 62

061

Declaration of war?

A civilian guild against the Association?

Did they all take some kind of drug?

No, putting that aside for now…….

‘Why at a time like this…….’

Is it so hard to have just one month of peace?

I suppressed my bitter feelings inwardly.

Of course, Team Leader Pyeon seemed just as furious about the current situation.

“We also want to avoid conflicts with guilds, but… this is clearly crossing the line.”

Instead of answering, I sighed once more.

Team Leader Pyeon continued, his voice tense.

“This is nothing short of a challenge to the Association. They’re moving deliberately, taking advantage of the internal chaos caused by the rapid reorganization!”

“……”

“We need to be firm, especially in times like these. I’ll deploy the entire operations team immediately. We’ll try to resolve it through dialogue if possible… but we should also consider using force if necessary.”

Using force.

My eyebrows twitched at those words.

“And we plan to take legal action regarding the interceptions that have occurred so far. I’ll report to the Association President as well……”

“Ah, no! W-wait a minute.”

My voice involuntarily rose.

This guy is trying to blow things up!

“Hahaha. Is it really necessary to go that far? The Association President must be very busy too.”

“But we can’t just not tell him. The legal team has already started collecting evidence. At this rate, the damages will exceed tens of billions [of Korean won, roughly equivalent to millions of US dollars].”

My hands trembled.

Who doesn’t know that the damages will increase?

However, if we involve the legal team over a mere few bucks, things will get too big.

And if it reaches the Association President’s ears… my timely retirement is out the window.

‘I absolutely can’t let that happen!’

I have to end this on my own terms, no matter what.

I gathered my thoughts and cautiously opened my mouth.

“I’ll try to resolve it myself, so please tell the legal team not to move. And don’t report it to the Association President either.”

“Resolve it? How…?”

“If we talk it out, wouldn’t we be able to figure something out?”

Team Leader Pyeon looked quite frustrated.

But he didn’t press the issue any further.

“……I understand. If the Director is saying that, you must have a plan.”

“Haha, thank you.”

“We’ll put it on hold for now, but as you know, Director, we can’t afford to keep taking losses from our perspective.”

“I know.”

It was a hasty and careless answer, but Team Leader Pyeon looked relieved.

As soon as Team Leader Pyeon left the office, I took out my phone and called the leader of Operations Team 6.

“Han Yu-bin, where are you right now?”

「I just finished a job near Jamsil. I heard interceptions are happening?」

“Yes, I just heard about it. That’s why I’m calling.”

「Don’t tell me you want me to handle it?」

“Not right now… but please stand by, just in case.”

「Stand by?」

“We might have to… consider using force.”

「……Are you serious?」

“Yes.”

「What if a war breaks out because of a misunderstanding?」

“That’s why I’m asking you, Han Yu-bin. You’re perfect for unofficial matters.”

I heard a hollow laugh over the phone.

「Alright.」

“Just in case, please pretend you didn’t see the interceptions until I say otherwise.”

I confirmed it again and hung up.

But I still couldn’t shake off the uneasy feeling.

Something is very, very wrong.

I understand that the guilds have built-up resentment towards the Association. I can even understand them looking down on me for being a former janitor.

But does it really make sense for them to openly carry out large-scale interceptions against the Association?

What benefit does the guild get from messing with the Association?

No matter how I think about it, something smells fishy.

More than fishy, it stinks.

As soon as that thought crossed my mind, my head started throbbing again.

‘What is this at the end of my career…….’

I gritted my teeth.

I grumbled to myself for a moment.

I grabbed my coat and left the office.

Nothing will be resolved if I just sit still.

First, I needed to find out why the guilds were doing this.

***

Near Sillim-dong.

In front of a navy-grade building-type dungeon.

The 39th-ranked guild in the country, the ‘Seven Stars Guild,’ was just finishing an interception and coming out.

The most important thing in an interception is swift subjugation.

If you’re a B-class hunter or higher, you can clear a navy-grade dungeon with just four or five people in 30 minutes, but civilian guilds aren’t likely to have that much power.

That’s why the entire guild had to participate in the subjugation and somehow push through with numbers.

Of course, the more people there are, the easier it is to get noticed, so after the interception, they had to scatter immediately and hide…….

Just as they were about to scatter, the phone of Son Jong-hyun, the leader of the Seven Stars Guild, rang.

“Yes, Hunter Yang Min-ho.”

A low, deep voice was heard over the phone.

「Has the Association not responded yet?」

“No. There’s been no particular movement so far…….”

「That’s strange. They’re not the type to stand still while their dungeons are being taken right in front of their eyes.」

Hmm, a faint breath.

「I overestimated the newly appointed Director. I didn’t think he’d be this soft.」

Yang Min-ho chuckled.

“Hunter Yang Min-ho…….”

Then, Guild Leader Son Jong-hyun opened his mouth in a trembling voice.

「Speak.」

“Are we really… allowed to do this?”

「What do you mean?」

“The damages are too great. If a claim for damages comes in… we can’t handle it. Even if it’s weakened, the Association is still the Association.”

「Haha, hahaha.」

A sharp laugh.

「That’s why you guys are always clinging to the Association.」

A sudden dagger flew in.

「I guess you’ve already forgotten how you swallowed your pride and bowed down to get dungeons, even while being ignored by the Association.」

“That’s not it, but still, this isn’t fair…….”

「Fair? When has the Association ever been fair? To the Association, you guys are just easy-to-use pawns.」

“…….”

「Even if the Association has reformed, do you think they’ll reach out to you? Not at all. The Association doesn’t care about guilds in the slightest.」

“Yes, I suppose so…….”

「Above all, the Director who was appointed this time is a former janitor who doesn’t know anything. And he hasn’t even been appointed for long. This means the Association is at its weakest. If one or two interceptions occur, they might take legal action or whatever, but if all the guilds rise up like this, the inexperienced Director will try to negotiate somehow.」

Yang Min-ho paused for a moment and continued.

「That’s when you get a promise for re-evaluated dungeons. I told you once before. You have to take care of your own rice bowl; no one will take care of it for you.」

Guild Leader Son Jong-hyun couldn’t say anything.

He also fully agreed with his words.

「If you miss this opportunity, you’ll live your whole lives clinging to the Association like bugs. Guild Leader Son Jong-hyun, do you want to live like that?」

“No, I don’t.”

「Then keep going. Give those nasty Association guys a taste of their own medicine.」

“Yes, yes!”

Son Jong-hyun’s voice was filled with energy again.

As soon as he hung up, he opened his mouth to the guild members.

“Let’s go to the next point and wait. We’re a little behind, so hurry…….”

“How fortunate.”

Before he could finish speaking, a woman’s voice interrupted.

Son Jong-hyun quickly turned his head.

There was a face he had never seen before.

He wondered if she was another guild member, but judging from her attire, that didn’t seem to be the case either.

‘Damn it. Could it be the operations team…?’

Son Jong-hyun gritted his teeth.

If it’s the operations team, the situation becomes quite difficult.

If they get caught here, other guilds could be in danger.

Whether they run or fight, they must avoid getting caught at all costs.

Fortunately, they have far more people.

He thought he could do something about it.

“Judging by the uniform… you must be from the Seven Stars Guild.”

The woman spoke first.

Son Jong-hyun nodded, not letting his guard down.

“Who are you?”

“I’m Kim Min-ju, the leader of Operations Team 1 under the Otherworld Dimension Management Association.”

“……!”

At the same time, Son Jong-hyun’s face hardened.

The Association’s youngest elite team leader.

The youngest and highest-performing A-rank hunter in the country.

Ranked 4th in the country.

Unique class ‘Sword Saint,’ Kim Min-ju.

Anyone who eats dungeon rice [makes a living as a hunter] in this industry would know her name.

‘Damn it, of all people…….’

Son Jong-hyun’s hands began to tremble.

Should he run? Or should he beg for forgiveness now?

Whatever choice he makes, it won’t work in front of that monster.

Then, Kim Min-ju opened her mouth in a calm voice.

“Stop now.”

At the same time, her eyes flashed as if warning.

“Before you use force.”

***

A small bar near Itaewon.

Yang Min-ho finished his call at his favorite bar and picked up his glass again.

But before he could even take a sip, his phone rang again.

“Yes, Congressman.”

「How’s it going? Is it working out well?」

“There’s no response yet, but it’s only a matter of time. The Association can’t just stand by while their dungeons are being taken right in front of their eyes.”

「Good. I’m glad I asked you to do it.」

Congressman Jung Hoon of the Future Democratic Party.

A veteran politician aiming for his third term in the Seoul district.

He was the client for this job.

「Because of this gate, the Association has completely cut ties with the political world, which has been difficult in many ways. I thought the Association would run wild if things continued like this.」

“I understand well. Congressman, you don’t have to worry anymore; just focus on preparing for the election.”

Something was said in response, but Yang Min-ho hung up at an appropriate point.

The request that he, the so-called janitor, received this time was to ‘lower the public’s trust in the Association.’

In other words, it was a political maneuver by a party that had put forward ‘national conversion of subjugation rights’ as a campaign promise.

Due to this gate, people who were attached to the political world were largely removed, and the Association became completely independent from political forces.

Politicians began to fear the Association, which had escaped their grasp, and sought to seize the subjugation rights held by the Association as a means to keep them in check again.

This request was the foundation for that.

As soon as Yang Min-ho received the request, he contacted the guilds in Seoul. Then, he stirred up the guilds by saying that they had a chance to take revenge on the Association.

The longer they’ve lived at the bottom, the easier they are to handle.

If you entice them with the bait of upward mobility, they’ll move as if they’re willing to give up their lives.

So, will the Association really try to negotiate?

No way.

Even if he’s a former janitor, there’s still a trace of his past.

Above all, he can’t fool my eyes.

Director Kim Jun-woo.

That bastard is more vicious than Seo Min-cheol.

He’ll use all the means he can, including legal battles.

Once a conflict arises, it won’t easily subside and will escalate into an even bigger dispute.

The more heated the dispute, the better.

If it even leads to a physical confrontation, that would be even better. It would be an opportunity to instill distrust in the Association among the citizens.

Distrust in whether those who are fighting tooth and nail for their own interests can really protect my safety.

Then, if they bring up ‘government recovery of subjugation rights’ as an election promise at the right time?

‘I can hear the sound of money rolling in from here.’

Yang Min-ho raised the corners of his mouth and sipped his drink.