Mr. Kim Strikes It Rich with Auto-Hunting [Novel] Chapter 74

Chapter 74

Workers sent by the Manpower Management Director?

What Is this all of a sudden…?

As he tilted his head and looked forward again,

he still saw unfamiliar people.

One, two, three… four.

Four of them, no less.

“Wait… How did you get here?”

Park Mu-pal blinked.

The Manpower Management Director is a South Korean Revolutionary Talent.

Then these people must also be…

South Koreans.

Is this a dream?

Or an illusion seen right after dying?

Otherwise,

how could people sent by the Manpower Management Director possibly be here…?

A brief moment of denial.

However, he quickly regained his senses.

It was just moments ago that he faintly heard the sound of multiple rocket launchers firing.

Right about now?

They’re about to hit.

SFX: Sssshhhhh-!!!!

Just as expected.

With so many lives on the line, I need to pull myself together.

“We appreciate the thought, but it’s dangerous here! Seeing as you came all this way, surely you have a way back? There’s no way to stop those, so everyone, go back!”

People sent by the Manpower Management Director.

The sentiment is appreciated.

But…

they’re subordinates.

They’re not the Manpower Management Director himself.

Then it’s meaningless.

How are we supposed to block multiple rocket launchers?

Unless it’s a Revolutionary Talent over Level 61,

meaning, unless the Manpower Management Director came himself.

For anyone else, stopping it would be impossible.

In that case,

wouldn’t it be better for anyone who can to survive rather than all of us dying together?

…With that thought in mind, he told them to turn back.

“Yes, Director! Target confirmed, intercepting right now!”

Huh?

Intercept…?

Don’t tell me, the rockets?

The one spouting nonsense was

a man dressed in Joseon-era military officer attire.

No, wait, mister.

You do have a cannon on your shoulder, but…

it’s just a tiny cannon at best.

You’re going to intercept multiple rocket launchers with that?

He’s out of his mind.

“Th-that’s pointle—”

Before he could even stop him,

SFX: KBOOOM-! BOOM!

The man in the military uniform began firing the cannon mounted on his shoulder.

One shot, two shots, and three shots.

The cannonballs fired in succession soared high into the sky, and then—

SFX: KABOOOOM-!!!

Wait?

Did something just explode up there?

No way…

Did he really hit and detonate the rockets?

With that tiny cannon, no less?

“Huh… What on earth.”

“……, there are still some left.”

“Understood! I will intercept to the very end!”

What’s left?

How does he know?

While Park Mu-pal tilted his head in confusion,

once again, SFX: KBOOOM-! BOOM!

The result?

“Interception complete! Allow me to introduce myself once more! Pleasure to meet you! I am a High-grade worker sent by the Manpower Management Director, Yeo Hae, who will be in charge of the Northern subcontractor—that is, the Revolutionary Talents Unit!”

Every single one successfully intercepted.

And with pinpoint accuracy, without a single miss.

“What kind of monster is…”

“Haha…, your intentions are admirable, but your worries were unnecessary. Did we not say the Director sent us? Dealing with this much is trivial.”

“Right! Worries are useless!”

No, realistically speaking, you guys are the abnormal ones here.

How can a human block multiple rocket launchers?

Unless they’re a monster past the 61st floor…

“Rookie! Good job!”

“Not at all!”

And what’s this now?

It feels like that monster isn’t even the leader.

Well…

The real leader was the Manpower Management Director in the first place.

Since they said from the start that the Director sent them.

Besides, what does it matter?

What matters is that they saved me and my comrades.

“Comrades, aren’t we far too late in greeting our benefactors? Repeat after me. Thank you for saving us!”

“Thank you!”

For now, the crisis was averted.

The problem was…

“Since they’ve already fired the rocket launchers, it won’t end here. Wouldn’t it be better to move to a safe place now? I will repay the debt of saving my life this time, no matter what.”

“Haha, do not worry. Now that we have arrived here, we have no intention of letting the subcontractor people die.”

Subcontractor?

Did he accept us under the Manpower Management Director?

“I will ask just one thing first.”

“Ask as much as you want.”

“By any chance, have you stationed other Hunters around the perimeter?”

Other Hunters?

No way.

“This is everyone.”

“Then they must be rats… Boss, what do you think we should do?”

What?

Is the Director here?

“Understood.”

Guess not.

Seems like he’s communicating somehow…

“Rookie!”

“Yes! New worker, Yeo Hae!”

“Stay here and guard with Robin! Got it?”

“Yes, understood!”

Before the doubt could even clear,

the two vanished.

Leaving behind the man called Yeo Hae,

and one person quietly handling a bow.

“Director comrade, what on earth is happening?”

The Revolutionary Talents comrades who had been holding their breath and reading the room—

feeling relieved only now,

approached stealthily and poured out questions.

Not that Park Mu-pal knew the answers either.

At most, just that the Manpower Management Director accepted them?

However, one thing was certain.

“Comrades, it seems we might actually survive.”

Thanks to Comrade Manpower Management Director.

* * *

The recently upgraded monitoring feature.

The effect?

Communication via radio function is possible.

I felt it normally, but this time I realized it anew.

“This radio feature is really convenient.”

“Boss, moving out?”

“Yeah. Let’s go. You said there were rats, so we have to catch them first.”

“That is correct. I see bastards observing this area, so we must clean them up first.”

Even right now.

If it were before?

I wouldn’t have known why they suddenly moved.

Since the radio works, I can grasp the situation immediately, which is great.

“This mage shall go first, so follow.”

“Got it!”

Whoa.

As expected of Lord Unjang.

I felt it during China too,

but every time we dispatch like this, he’s so reliable.

Still, bastards observing.

Who could they be?

North Korean People’s Army?

I wondered, but—

As soon as we arrived at the place where the rats seemed to be hiding, their identities were revealed immediately.

“What the hell?!”

Huh?

Isn’t that Japanese?

SFX: Whack!

“What are you saying?! When in Korea, speak Korean!”

No, wait.

Arthur, if you beat them up while saying that…

In the first place, it’s not like this place uses standard Korean either.

“Wh-what is the meaning of this?! We were just passing by!”

What’s this?

They speak fluent North Korean.

Why did they use Japanese earlier?

Were they flustered?

Then shall we startle them once more?

“Todd, please.”

“Yes, Director.”

With just a brief word tossed out,

Todd, who was attached to Lord Unjang’s belt, landed on the ground.

And then he spoke.

“You seem to be Japanese guests, so what brings you here?”

“N-no. It’s a misunderstanding.”

“A living teddy bear…?”

Hey, mister.

You’re muttering to yourself in Japanese from the back.

You guys aren’t really on the same page, are you?

Well, then again.

If a teddy bear suddenly pops out and starts talking, it’s natural to be flustered.

That much I can understand.

SFX: Whack!

“Korean!”

Looks like that guy doesn’t understand.

“Worker Arthur, he said, ‘Teddy bear?’.”

“Teddy bear, that’s right.”

True enough.

Still, no matter how much I think about it, it’s strange.

Why are Japanese people here?

“Hmm… Director. These guys look like trained agents no matter how you look at them.”

“Todd sees it that way too, right?”

“Yes, Worker Unjang? I would appreciate it if you subdued them.”

“Haha, wouldn’t disposing of them be cleaner?”

Man.

Saying such bloodthirsty things in a calm voice.

“We might have a use for them elsewhere, so please spare them.”

“Understood.”

“This is unfair!”

They screamed something or other, but were subdued in an instant.

Next up?

“Shall we go have an interview with Kim Il-jung now?”

Let’s meet him first.

If he seems hopeless, then well…

“Ah, Director. Before that, may we stop by the Revolutionary Talents Unit for a moment? A good plan came to mind. I will explain on the way.”

Sure.

Either way, our workers’

running speed makes it seem like the blink of an eye.

Since we’ve already started this,

might as well do it properly.

* * *

Revolutionary Talents Unit Combat Bureau Director, Park Mu-pal.

Just rescued from death by people from the Manpower Management Director’s side.

What should he do now?

“Um… Is there anything I can help with by any chance?”

Even when he tentatively asked,

“It’s fine for now!”

The military officer rejected it.

What about the other one?

“…….”

Not even a reply.

So what could he do?

He had no choice but to wait quietly.

Fortunately, the silence didn’t last long.

“Rookie! Guarded well?”

“Yes, sir!”

“Nice job!”

Oh.

The people from earlier.

Wait…

They brought back a bunch of people tied up?

“Rookie and Robin guard these bastards together!”

“…What Is this.”

Wait.

That archer.

He could speak?

“They are Japanese agents, Worker Robin. We captured them because they were hiding and spying on this area, but Mr. Park Mu-pal over there? Do you have any idea about this by any chance?”

“Uh… A teddy bear…”

“I don’t think that’s what’s important right now, is it?”

No, wait.

How can a teddy bear’s aura be that terrifying?

Japan, huh.

“The ones who helped from behind when the Revolutionary Talents Unit revolted together this time were Japan. And even after that, they kept contacting us to naturalize.”

“Aha.”

“Haha, this seems fairly certain then.”

“That’s right, Worker Unjang.”

“Huh…?”

Unjang?

Come to think of it…

Back there.

The tall man with the long beard.

He remembered seeing him on AwakenerNet.

It’s that Guan Yu who turned China upside down a while ago.

Surely when China was thrown into chaos,

there was endless talk about how a god descended to punish them and whatnot…

Why is he here?

After a brief moment of doubt,

he immediately understood.

Guan Yu was also the Manpower Management Director’s person.

If that’s the case…

Didn’t we latch onto the right person?

It’s not just a matter of possibly surviving…

Maybe the country itself could be overturned?

While listening to the conversation with anticipation,

the teddy bear started speaking again.

“Now then, Revolutionary Talents comrades. I will explain a scenario from now on, so just proceed according to it.”

* * *

Prime Minister’s Office in Tokyo, Japan.

“What happened?”

“I apologize, still no contact…”

“Ha… There’s no way agents would lose contact without a reason, so we can’t rule out the worst-case scenario.”

Japanese Prime Minister Hayato Miyamoto let out a deep sigh.

Just why did the situation get so tangled up?

“Everything was clearly a perfect plan up until we heard the news of the multiple rocket launchers firing…”

The deal with North Korea’s Chairman, Kim Il-jung.

Up to that point, it was successful.

Although giving up one of the precious Manpower Management Director-made weapons they managed to secure was a shame,

if they could bring back a 60th-floor Hunter in return?

It was rather a gain.

“It was a divine move where we might even salvage a few more if we got lucky…”

“That is correct.”

A few rocket rounds?

Ordinary Hunters would disappear instantly.

However, high-floor Hunters are different.

A few would more than likely barely survive.

Rescue only those quickly and bring them over.

That was the promise made with that North Korean pig.

Additionally, the safety of the North Korean rebel Hunters’ families?

The North Korean side was scheduled to protect them.

Since having that leash was necessary to control the Hunters brought over to Japan.

A flawless plan.

He thought success was only a matter of time, but—

“In this case, wouldn’t it be better to scrap the proposal to mediate the dispute with South Korea?”

“Obviously. Drop it immediately and contact all the countries that agreed to support us.”

“Understood!”

SFX: Click!

“Phew…”

With the aide leaving, the office grew quiet.

Prime Minister Hayato Miyamoto held his throbbing forehead.

Mediation or whatever.

Now was the timing to cut off the tail.

Up to the point of trying to help North Korea?

That’s fine.

Under the guise of humanitarian aid or whatever, throwing money around can bury it.

However, direct transactions took place?

If even the details of that were leaked,

cleaning this up wouldn’t be easy.

Fortunately, very few people knew about it, so starting with eliminating them…

SFX: Clack-!

“Prime Minister!”

That aide.

It’s a pity because he works well, but he’ll have to be sent away too.

Once this matter is resolved first…

“Yes, did you make the calls?”

“Th-the North Korean Chairman is reported dead.”

“What…? Where?”

“Found dead in his office at the Workers’ Party Building No. 1…”

No, wait.

The Chairman died right in the middle of Pyongyang without any battle?

Does that even make sense?

Wait?

Come to think of it…

Something like this happened during China too.

The President himself was swept up in the storm called Guan Yu and died just like that.

Don’t tell me.

“And Yi Sun-sin has reportedly descended upon the North Korean Hunters’ camp, condemning Japan for aiding the North Korean regime’s oppression of its people from behind the scenes…”

Yi Sun-sin?

That Yi Sun-sin?

No.

What on earth is…