The Wise Cleaning Life Of A Returning Genius Hunter [EN]: Chapter 71

070

Only thirty minutes had passed since the subjugation team entered the dungeon.

“What… what did you just say?”

The report that just came in was unacceptable.

“The dungeon entrance has disappeared! It’s not visible on the cameras, and there’s no detection of supernatural power!”

“What on earth are you talking about? The entrance disappeared?”

“Exactly as I said.”

Team Leader Pyeon’s voice trembled slightly.

“So, you’re saying… the dungeon suddenly closed?”

Team Leader Pyeon seemed unable to answer. Instead, he swallowed hard and nodded.

At that moment, my mind began to go blank.

A dungeon closing before subjugation is complete? That was impossible.

Even in my past life, I had never heard of such a thing.

‘What on earth…?’

I couldn’t believe it. Unconsciously, I covered my open mouth with my hand.

It was completely unexpected. How could anyone have predicted this? That a dungeon would suddenly disappear in the middle of an operation.

No, more important than that right now….

“What about the subjugation team? Can we communicate with them?”

“Communication has been down for a while. We’re still trying, but….”

Thump!

The desk shook violently. The command center turned cold as I slammed my fist down. But there was no time to worry about the atmosphere.

If even communication was cut off, it was certain. The dungeon had truly closed.

The dungeon where over 100 subjugation team members were deployed.

‘Shit. What the hell is going on…?’

Once trapped inside a closed dungeon, there’s no way out until it reappears, no matter how many bosses you defeat.

That’s beyond a hunter’s ability or a commander’s skill. You just have to wait, whether it’s a week or a month, until the dungeon decides to reappear.

However, in my memory, the closest reappearance of a water dungeon is….

‘…one year later.’

What were the chances of over 100 subjugation team members surviving in a water dungeon for a year?

Shit, there’s no way that’s possible.

‘Over 100 people annihilated. In my operation…?’

My head spun. I gripped the desk, trying to calm my breathing.

Okay, panicking won’t solve anything. I need to stay calm in times like these.

Annihilation? I can never allow such a ridiculous thing to happen under my command.

‘Shit, something was wrong from the start.’

The fact that a dungeon I didn’t remember suddenly appeared was suspicious from the beginning.

But now that it’s already happened, I have no choice but to accept it.

This is definitely not a coincidence.

The unexpected appearance of the dungeon. The dungeon closing during subjugation, which shouldn’t have happened.

Two things that can’t normally happen have occurred. Can this really be explained by coincidence?

The only explanation is that someone is deliberately controlling the dungeon.

And there’s only one organization capable of that.

The International Association.

‘It wasn’t just a rumor….’

A bitter smile crept across my face.

If they really did this, it’s no different from declaring war on us.

But….

‘Why?’

Why would the International Association go to the trouble of manipulating dungeons to do this to the Korean Association? A demonstration for refusing the merger?

Or retaliation for exposing the corruption of the US branch?

Or maybe….

Could they be trying to carry out a hostile takeover?

‘Those crazy bastards, pulling off this kind of trick right under my nose….’

I gritted my teeth. But there was no time to be angry.

What’s important now is that someone is using a Dimension Stone [a powerful artifact capable of manipulating dimensional spaces] to control the dungeon.

And if it really is the International Association doing it….

There’s still a way.

I immediately grabbed my cell phone.

Chief Secretary Lee Ah-young’s voice came over the receiver.

“Hello?”

“About the Goliath suits [advanced underwater breathing apparatus] the subjugation team is wearing. What’s the maximum time they can breathe underwater?”

“It depends on the situation… Why?”

“Just answer me first.”

I was so rushed that a half-mixed, edgy tone came out.

Chief Secretary Lee Ah-young seemed to notice that something unusual was happening and immediately answered in a serious voice.

“On average, four hours. But it will be shorter if they fight. Then it will be barely two hours.”

“I understand.”

“Um, is something wrong…!”

I heard her asking something, but I had already hung up.

Maximum four hours, minimum two hours.

It’s dangerous to assume they won’t be fighting in the current situation.

So, since the operation started thirty minutes ago… there’s roughly an hour and a half left.

If I can reactivate the Dimension Stone within that time, I can prevent annihilation.

So, I need to contact the International Association somehow.

And whether it’s through threats, persuasion, or a deal, I have to get them to reopen the dungeon.

As soon as that thought formed, my body moved on its own.

“I’ll borrow a car.”

“Yes? W-where are you going? C-Chief! Chief!!”

Leaving Team Leader Pyeon’s voice behind, I ran out of the temporary command center.

I immediately got into the car, started the engine, and took out my cell phone again.

I hesitated for a moment whether to make a call, but I couldn’t afford to worry in this situation.

“Oh, what’s wrong? Is the operation going well?”

Association President Park In-beom.

I had been trying to keep problems from reaching his ears, but now that it’s come to this, there’s nothing I can do. It’s clearly beyond what I can handle.

“Please convene a board meeting immediately.”

“…Something happen?”

“Yes.”

I took a deep breath.

“We might have to fight the International Association.”

I said in a low voice.

“…I’ll prepare it.”

The Association President didn’t ask for a reason. Without saying anything more, he hung up the phone.

I floored the accelerator.

Fortunately, the road was empty thanks to the prior control of the surrounding area.

Vroom—.

The engine roared as if it would explode. In my haste, I accelerated even more and sped across the bridge when suddenly….

Bang!!!

With a huge roar, the car soared into the sky.

An impact that made me feel like I was losing consciousness.

The moment my body floated in the car, what came to my mind was….

‘Shit. This is a scene I’ve seen a lot…!’

It was a strong déjà vu.

***

A restaurant near Insadong [a district in Seoul known for traditional crafts and tea houses].

Han Yu-bin, Han Sang-hyuk, and Moon So-yeon visited the place for lunch after finishing their morning work.

It had been quite a while since the three members of the divided team had gathered like this. They had been incredibly busy with various incidents.

“But we’re quite relaxed now, right?”

Immediately after sitting at the table, Moon So-yeon started the conversation.

“That person is gradually settling in.”

Han Yu-bin nodded.

Han Sang-hyuk chimed in.

“The more I think about it, the more I don’t know whether to say it’s amazing or absurd. A guy who was the youngest member of the cleaning team just half a year ago is now the head of the operations division.”

“Why? Are you jealous?”

“Bullshit. I can only be jealous of someone similar to me, but he’s too far beyond, so I’m not even envious.”

Han Sang-hyuk chuckled.

“This operation will end well without any problems, right?”

“What are you talking about? He’s the chief in charge. It’s a waste of time to worry.”

Han Yu-bin answered as if there was nothing to think about.

Even though there were parts he didn’t like, he was someone whose skills he acknowledged.

A red-ranked water dungeon.

When Han Yu-bin first heard about the operation, he volunteered to participate. In the end, he was flatly rejected.

At the time, there was no reason to question his judgment, so he accepted it willingly, but if a problem arose, he was going to step in first without holding back.

Well, it seems to be going smoothly since there’s no contact.

There’s no way there would be a problem with that person’s operation.

Han Yu-bin smiled slightly.

“But Yu-bin unnie [Korean term for older sister or female friend], the thing you told me about last time, is it real?”

Then, Moon So-yeon asked in a serious voice.

But Han Yu-bin tilted his head because he couldn’t remember anything.

“Why, that rumor. That a certain organization within the International Association mercilessly kills those who are a threat to them….”

“Ah~.”

Han Yu-bin chuckled as if her serious expression was cute. To think she would be worried about the story he had told her as a late-night tale.

“A rumor is just a rumor. Organizations that aren’t well-known are like that.”

“T-that’s right? Hahaha…….”

“Why? Are you afraid of being targeted by the International Association?”

“Hey, what am I… I’m more worried about Jun-woo.”

Well, if the rumor is true, that could be the case. Han Yu-bin agreed inwardly.

The scale of the work he was doing was truly enormous. He was definitely someone who would be attacked several times over.

“Well, even if it’s true, it won’t matter to that person.”

“Yes? Why?”

“I haven’t heard the details either… but that person apparently keeps his defense skills active all the time? He can’t relax after being attacked once, or something like that.”

Everyone made puzzled expressions at the rather ambiguous story.

Han Yu-bin shook his head as if there was nothing to worry about.

“And well, that person isn’t someone who would be easily defeated, right? I’m not worried about him dying, but rather worried about him killing someone.”

Han Yu-bin was half serious, but the other two burst into laughter as if it was absurd.

***

Thump, crash!

The car that had soared into the sky fell back to the ground.

“Ouch, my head.”

Yang Min-ho, who was watching the scene while sitting in the driver’s seat of the truck, tapped his forehead.

It was quite a tremendous collision. Even the defense skill ‘Low Panic’ that he had cast on himself in advance couldn’t absorb all the impact.

Well, if that’s the case for me, that guy is done for.

“Hmm….”

Yang Min-ho rested his chin on the steering wheel and stared straight ahead.

There was still no movement in the half-destroyed car.

Looking at it, a sense of emptiness washed over him. Why did he act so cocky back then if he was going to die like that? He was ashamed of himself for thinking that he might have something.

Yang Min-ho clicked his tongue and got out of the truck. He had to check anyway to report to the higher-ups. Of course, it was obvious without checking.

“Let’s see….”

He approached the car and tried to stick his head into the shattered window.

[Acquired Skill: Destroyer]

Bang!!!

Then, an unexpected attack came flying. Yang Min-ho was thrown out like a bullet by the sudden impact and flew through the air.

He crashed into the bridge railing with a dull sound.

“Ha, haha….”

Yang Min-ho shook himself off and let out a hollow laugh. His gaze turned to the half-destroyed car.

Crack!

“Shit, I’m going to be busy as hell.”

A man broke through the car door, which was crushed like paper. A man staggering, holding his head as if the shock hadn’t worn off yet.

Chief Kim Jun-woo.

Yang Min-ho was genuinely surprised. He already knew that guy was an ability user.

But ability users are basically human beings. The reason they are praised as strong is because of their abilities, not because their bodies are special or have immortal abilities.

Therefore, unless they are armed with skills or equipment, ability users are not much different from ordinary people.

That’s why hunters are also easily exposed to ambushes, and field workers take advantage of that gap to do their work.

Yang Min-ho had been doing his work that way until now. He had never failed even once.

Isn’t it obvious?

Which hunter would use their skills in everyday life? They’re always so full of themselves that they can’t imagine being attacked.

Besides, that bastard was driving at full speed and crashed into a truck.

It’s not an impact that you can withstand with your bare body.

It was definitely supposed to be.

But what the hell is that….

‘What the hell is he doing?’

Yang Min-ho stared at Kim Jun-woo and smiled.

Kim Jun-woo seemed to have recovered, and he rotated his shoulders and neck, making cracking sounds.

Soon, his gaze landed directly on Yang Min-ho.

“Hey.”

A low voice.

Yang Min-ho involuntarily got goosebumps at the chilling force.

“I told you I’d kill you if you ever crossed my path again.”

Kim Jun-woo’s eyes flashed.