The Wise Cleaning Life Of A Returning Genius Hunter [EN]: Chapter 82

081

One week into the project.

Connecting roads throughout all of Vietnam was, naturally, impossible given the constraints of cost and time.

We initially targeted several key regions known for high dungeon emergence rates.

While focusing on improving existing roads and installing helipads at strategic locations, we also established a reporting network using a smartphone application. This allowed anyone, anywhere in the country, to report new dungeon appearances.

By the second week, the operational system was gradually solidifying.

Kim Min-joo’s diligent work began to yield tangible results.

Meanwhile, Han Yu-bin’s efforts to expand the cleaning team were also slowly paying off.

The rationale behind prioritizing the cleaning team over other teams was to efficiently recover monster byproducts and maximize profits from each subjugation.

As the budget grew, the project gained momentum, which naturally attracted more investors.

Third week.

We generated over fifteen times our initial investment.

I used those profits to establish a dedicated support team.

I also formally requested support for necessary personnel and equipment from the Korean Association. The Association President promptly dispatched Director Lee Ah-young to assist.

The support team rapidly expanded as the ten cleaning teams were recovering dozens of valuable byproducts daily.

The expansion of the support team, in turn, facilitated the expansion of the operations team.

With access to better equipment and higher-quality care, we were able to conduct operations far more efficiently than before.

This created a positive feedback loop for all teams involved.

The number of dungeons we could subjugate daily continued to climb, and Han Yu-bin had to further expand the cleaning team to keep pace.

The more byproducts recovered, the larger the support team became.

Naturally, the operational efficiency of the operations team improved as well.

The association was beginning to achieve financial self-sufficiency.

About a month passed in this manner.

Finally, the Korean Association’s Vietnam branch, officially named the Hanoi Operations Headquarters, was established.

In reality, it was simply a matter of purchasing an abandoned building on the outskirts of Hanoi and making basic repairs. Nevertheless, we finally had the foundation of a proper, independent association.

Of course, there was still much room for improvement.

But that was just a matter of time and delegation.

The remaining personnel would have to handle the rest.

“…It looks like full subjugation operations will be possible throughout Vietnam starting this week. The other teams are now functioning smoothly on their own without our direct supervision,” Kim Min-joo said, while reviewing documents at her desk in the Headquarters Planning Office.

“Ugh… I might actually get some free time now.”

I stretched expansively.

Indeed, I hadn’t slept more than three hours a day for the past month.

Thanks to that, I could barely distinguish between being awake and working for the past week.

But it wasn’t just me.

Han Yu-bin was constantly recruiting new cleaning team members, and Kim Min-joo went out on subjugation missions every day without fail…

‘They really went through hell during this past month.’

I sighed deeply.

“I’m glad it all worked out in the end. You’ve all worked incredibly hard.”

“We’ve only just established the basics. The future is what truly matters. How’s the logistics hub progressing?”

“The logistics center is still under construction, but a company has already won the bid to manage the distribution operations. Mr. Huin has been in negotiations with the surrounding associations, though they weren’t exactly thrilled about it.”

“They’ve been using the roads for free until now, so they’re bound to be upset when we suddenly start charging them. They’ll also feel like we’re trying to exert control over them.”

“Isn’t that precisely the point?”

“Well, yes, in a way.”

We now possessed a tool to counter the influence of the international associations.

They would feel pressured to openly challenge us now that we had established a formal branch.

If they interfered with our operations and we raised the hub distribution fees, they would ultimately suffer the financial consequences.

Keeping the international associations in check and gaining leverage to prevent them from meddling in our affairs was the primary objective of the Vietnam project. In that regard, we had accomplished everything we set out to do.

“I think we can start preparing to head back to Korea soon.”

“Oh, Director Lee Ah-young already returned to Korea.”

“Why so soon? And without even saying goodbye?”

“She’s extremely busy with headquarters duties. But she mentioned that she greeted you, sir?”

“…?”

“But you weren’t even listening…”

Ah, could that have been what she said early the day before yesterday? I was so engrossed in work that I didn’t pay attention and just gave her a cursory response…

“Anyway, she told me to tell you that she’s very upset with you.”

“…She’s not a child.”

I sighed.

“Anyway, let’s wrap things up here.”

I stood up.

“Contact the director. Tell him to bring the disposal resolution [official document authorizing the disposal of assets] and the account information for receiving the allowance [stipend or payment].”

“Yes, sir.”

It’s the final stretch.

We need to acquire what we need to acquire and distribute what we need to distribute.

Once that’s completed, we can finally return to Korea.

***

Republic of Korea Other Dimension Management Association, Vietnam Branch.

Hanoi Operations Headquarters, Operations Control Room.

Huin was deeply moved as he looked at the equipment, which, while not brand new, was still a significant upgrade from what they had before.

It had only been a month since they were subjugating monsters in makeshift tents with virtually nothing.

None of their equipment functioned properly, and they had to risk their lives even in Green-grade monster subjugation operations [monsters are classified by color-coded grades, with Green being a relatively low threat level].

Of course, they couldn’t expect any subsidies, and their salaries were at the minimum wage level.

They endured, clinging to the thought that they were alive simply because they couldn’t afford to die.

Even that was a desperate situation that was slowly reaching its breaking point.

But…

“Team Leader, here are the planning reports for this week’s eight operations teams. Please review them and adjust the schedule as needed.”

“Ah, yes. Give them to me.”

Nguyen, the Operations Team 1 leader, approached Huin with the documents.

“Um, Operations Team 4 went out for subjugation the day before yesterday, so mark them as low priority as possible. Prioritize deploying Teams 2 and 7. How is the cleaning team’s progress?”

“No problems to report. At the current rate, we should be able to proceed with the next operation without any delays.”

“Still, just in case, have the support team continuously monitor and report on their status.”

“Understood.”

Huin leaned back in his chair again.

Eight operations teams.

Seven cleaning teams.

A dedicated support team, something they had never even dreamed of before.

In addition, although still small in scale, there were accounting, business, and planning departments.

The association currently employed a total of approximately 200 people.

It had truly become a proper association.

“I really can’t believe it.”

Team Leader Nguyen echoed, as if the reality was still sinking in.

“To build an association from scratch.”

“Yes, in just one month…”

Control Team Leader Huin also found it difficult to comprehend the current situation.

In fact, when he was initially informed that they would be establishing an association, he assumed they would simply inject a large amount of capital.

He worried about what would happen if they left the existing system untouched, constructed a decent building, and then abandoned the project, claiming their job was done.

Of course, Huin’s concerns were all pleasantly unfounded.

Kim Jun-woo began to address the fundamental problems that were hindering their progress the most.

In the process, he adjusted the operational system to better suit their specific conditions and circumstances. He initiated a self-purification process within the association, which had become corrupt and was considered beyond redemption.

Above all, the strategy of fostering growth across all teams by prioritizing the expansion of the cleaning team was something he could never have conceived of.

As a result, all teams and team members within the association were able to actively and effectively perform their respective roles.

He didn’t just provide them with weapons; he taught them how to use them effectively.

It was only natural that many people in the Vietnam branch felt a sense of pride and confidence as members of the association.

From the perspective of someone who had witnessed this entire transformation, it was almost awe-inspiring.

“I thought they were sending a subordinate, but they sent a savior.”

Huin smiled.

Kim Jun-woo had proven his capabilities in a seemingly hopeless situation.

Experiencing firsthand what he had only imagined in his mind made him question the competence of the leaders he had served under in the past.

“If you want to delegate to subordinates, you need to possess this level of ability.”

Team Leader Nguyen joked, as if he were thinking along the same lines.

“With this much competence, I think I’d do it even if you told me to live as a slave.”

“Tsk… I’m not so sure about that.”

Kekeke, Nguyen burst out laughing.

“Anyway, I feel a little sad that they’re leaving now.”

A smile crept onto his face as he suddenly recalled his first meeting with them.

To think he had considered trying to profit by selling them out.

What a foolish notion that was.

“But the branch manager will stay and take over, right?”

“I assumed so too, but he said he would never do it.”

“Really? Then who will be the branch manager?”

Huin scratched his head with an awkward expression.

Team Leader Nguyen, who immediately understood the implication, chuckled.

“You’ve made a name for yourself.”

“What do you mean by making a name for myself…? I simply placed a spoon on a table that was already set.”

It was at that moment, as they were chatting in a pleasant mood, that…

Thump—

The office door burst open, and someone entered noisily.

It was Viet, the Director-General of the General Political Department [a high-ranking government official].

Team Leader Nguyen was startled by the unexpected visit of the Director-General, but Huin showed no particular reaction.

“Wow, you must be doing well these days? Your face is glowing.”

“What brings you here?”

“Geez, now that you’re affiliated with the Korean branch, you don’t even show any respect for your superiors.”

Director Viet clicked his tongue, feigning displeasure with Huin, who hadn’t even bothered to greet him properly.

He then gestured towards Nguyen, who was standing next to him.

The gesture was a clear instruction to leave the room.

Nguyen immediately exited the office.

“Ahem.”

After confirming that Nguyen was gone, Director Viet handed over a document.

Huin opened the envelope and examined the document without uttering a word.

And soon after, his face turned pale.

“W-What is this…?”

“You don’t need to know the details. Just secretly place it in Kim’s office.”

“What do you mean…?”

Huin was shocked as he grasped the contents of the document and the meaning behind Viet’s words.

“Are you going to get greedy now?”

“Who would have thought that they would succeed in making things work this far? So, are you saying you can’t do it? It’s not difficult. And it won’t harm you.”

“Even so, you shouldn’t go this far!”

“Listen, Huin.”

Director Viet’s voice dropped to a lower register.

“Think carefully. This is Vietnam, and there’s still no one in Vietnam who can defy my orders. And you’re one of them.”

“…”

“When those guys go back, who do you think will be more valuable to you, the Korean Association or me? Just because the chair you’re sitting on has changed a bit, you think you’ve become someone important? Don’t be naive. No matter what position you hold, as long as you live in this country, you can never truly be independent from me.”

“…”

“No matter how large the association grows or how high your position rises, I’m still the one holding your leash. So, do as I say now.”

Viet leaned forward, bringing his face close to Huin, and whispered.

“If you do this for me, I promise I won’t take your position away from you.”

Soon, Huin’s body began to tremble slightly.