Laborer Mr. Kim Reaps Sweet Rewards with Auto-Hunting - Chapter 72

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 72

Park Mu-pal?
North Korea’s number one ranked Hunter.
Currently leading a rebel force….

“You want to take him on as a subcontractor?”
“Yes, sir. The enemy of my enemy is a friend, isn’t that right? If we bring Park Mu-pal under your command and provide support, it’ll be perfect!”
“Hmm….”

That’s actually a good idea.
Is this guy a genius?

“You’re right. It is good. If we register him as a subcontractor, we could move operations there easily if something unexpected happens.”
“Exactly! That’s exactly what I mean!”

The key to subcontractor registration is—

[Worker Dispatch]
– Office (Truth’s Eye)
– Office (Truth’s Eye, Beijing)

That’s it. Worker Dispatch.
What does it do?
Transfer to a subcontractor location.
If I set up a subcontractor in North Korea….
I could move there whenever I need to.
And it’s a rebel force?
Even better.
If things go south, I can hand off the cleanup to them.

“And sir, even if the Management Bureau or South Korea respond strongly and resolve it well, isn’t it better to have as many escape routes prepared as possible?”
“That’s true. You never know when or how you’ll need it.”

If I just set up the means to escape, well.
It’ll get used somehow.
If something blows up suddenly without any preparation, that’s a real headache.
Later, if a need comes up?
I’ll use it then.
If nothing happens, that’s fine too.
Then what….
At the very least, I could go sightseeing at Mount Kumgang.
The problem is.

“So… this Park Mu-pal person. How are you planning to bring him into the subcontractor roster? The situation seems a bit different from what we did with Truth’s Eye….”

He’s in North Korea, for starters.
That alone isn’t easy.
And I don’t even know exactly who he is.
Though, I suppose….
It was similar with Truth’s Eye too, wasn’t it?
No, wait.
With Truth’s Eye, I could at least gather some information….
But Park Mu-pal?

“Wouldn’t it be rough….”
“No, sir. It’s possible.”

Hm?

“If you entrust this to Todd, I’ll make sure it proceeds successfully.”
“Oh, you think you can manage it?”
“Yes.”

Really?
If Todd says it, I trust him.
My teddy bear, Todd.
Every task I’ve left with him has always been handled flawlessly.
I wonder if this time will be the same.
Curious.
So go ahead and try it once.

* * *

Truth’s Eye, Beijing office.

Guild Master Kim Seon-woo.
And a small teddy bear, Todd, were having a conversation.

“Heh heh, the results of this task were splendid as well. The Manager was quite satisfied with your excellent abilities.”
“You’re too kind. Isn’t this all thanks to the Manager trusting me with the work?”
“Not only competent but humble too—truly wonderful.”

A remarkable sight: a teddy bear praising a grown man.
Others would be astonished to see it.
But Kim Seon-woo, being the one directly involved, had grown accustomed to it.
Since he’d begun taking subcontracts from the Manager.
He’d seen that teddy bear once or twice already.

“Not at all. I simply did as you instructed.”
“Heh heh, such humility. It was the sort of task that could’ve turned dangerous, yet we all know you gave your absolute best.”

That was true.
Honestly, it was.
This was the second mission he’d received as a subcontractor for the Manager.
To put it plainly.
Making contact with the Awakening Management Bureau.
He’d been told it could be dangerous.
From the moment he heard about it, he’d had a bad feeling.
And for good reason.
The Manager?
Everyone was after that Hunter.
And here he was, having a connection to the Manager made public?
One wrong move and the whole world would be on his heels over something this big.

“Ha ha….”
“You’ve worked hard again this time. This is a gift from the Manager, so please accept it.”

What would it be this time?
He took a quick glance—
Huh?

“A weapon…, is it?”
“Yes. Since you work so diligently for us, we must ensure your safety. That’s what the Manager said.”
“Wow…. Thank you! Thank you so much!”

Incredible.
Amazing.
That famous Personnel Manager-Made Weapon?
You’re giving me that?
This is insane….
Kim Seon-woo, Guildmaster of Truth’s Eye.
Not exactly built for combat.
I barely scraped through the lower floors.
But….
with this, I could climb several more levels.
For the first time in my life, I actually want to go back to that tower.

“This belongs to another staff member—Yi Min-guk, I believe. Hold onto it and pass it along when you see him.”

Unbelievable.
He has one for Yi Min-guk too?
So this is the Personnel Manager.
How could anyone phone in the work after this?
Whatever task comes my way, I have to give it everything.
That’s why I put my whole soul into the act when I made contact with the Awakening Management Bureau.

[Indeed. Allow me to reintroduce myself. I am Kim Seon-woo, Guildmaster of Truth’s Eye.]

I remember it vividly even now.
When I first met the director from the Awakening Management Bureau.
My hands trembled from nerves, my palms slick with sweat, but I held the register to the very end.
The inspiration came from two people on the main contractor’s side.
Guan Yu and Todd.
Something about that way of speaking seemed so dignified.

The result?
A success.

Just reading the posts that went up on the Awakening Network told me everything.
And hearing Todd’s confirmation sealed it.
On top of that, they’re giving me weapons as a reward?
This is….
no need for words—the answer was already there.
One hundred percent satisfaction.
So will they hand me the next assignment now?

The assignments the Personnel Manager gives.
At first I thought they were absolutely insane.
How am I supposed to pull this off….
How many times did I mutter something like that?
But now?
Honestly, I’m starting to look forward to it.
The difficulty is brutal.
Yet somehow it’s always doable.
When you deliver results, the sense of accomplishment follows.
Incredible.
I mean—
helping land a blow against China.
Making secret contact with the Awakening Management Bureau.
If I were still at the Private Detective Guild, there’s no way I’d ever experience something straight out of a movie like this.

“The next assignment involves the North Korean rebel forces. Do you think you can handle it?”
“What sort of work would it be?”

The next assignment Todd was about to outline.
I leaned in, eager to hear—

“So you’re saying you want to send some support to the rebel forces?”
“That is correct.”

Huh?
Out of nowhere?
This won’t turn a profit.
I’ll do it because I’m told to, but I don’t understand the reasoning.

‘Am I reading this wrong?’

Todd, that man.
At first, his image was intimidating.
Of course, he’s nothing like Guan Yu, whom I met only briefly and then never saw again….
But he’s still plenty fierce.
I deliberately imitated the two of them when I went to meet the director of the Awakening Management Bureau.
That said, things have changed over time.
Now I understand that bear’s temperament well enough.
Right now he’s only sketching out business plans.
The goal?
Always money, or resources.
Even making weapons to help the entire world….
…was tied to profit to some degree.
But now, supporting rebel forces all of a sudden?
Without any compensation?
Ah….
Is it because of North Korea’s provocation?

North Korea’s missile threat.
Kim Seon-woo certainly knows about it.
They really did mention the Personnel Manager out of the blue back then.
What’s the world’s reaction?

– Why are they acting up again???
– That country’s always like this….
– But why mention the Personnel Manager?
– Didn’t something bad happen?

For now it’s just wondering why.
The moment that thought landed, though.
I got a clear feeling.
Wait.
This pattern looks similar to what happened in China back then.
So then….
Could it be.

“For now, send some support to the North Korean rebel forces as I mentioned, and conduct an investigation at the same time.”
“An investigation, sir?”
“Yes. Find out who they are, what process led them to rise up this time—all of it.”
“Understood, sir.”
“You can manage it?”

I can see the shape of it now.
This….
If those North Korean bastards don’t straighten up, they’re going to catch it.
I’m already looking forward to it.
I’ve never liked how they’re always stirring up trouble anyway.
And.

“No problem, sir.”

At this level, it’s actually manageable.
The China route that Truth’s Eye has already opened up.
Quite competent, actually.
Especially when it comes to intelligence from inside North Korea—easier still.

“After that, I’ll speak with you once I’ve confirmed the information.”
“Yes, sir.”

After that, he said.
Probably meaning he’d try to approach them if they seemed trustworthy?
Better to scout that route too, just in case.
Oh, and.

“That assignment you gave me before—finding a house with a Han River view. I’ve completed it this time. You can move in immediately.”
“Oh? Is that so?”

Of course.
Exactly what you wanted.
A spacious house with a Han River view.
I found it carefully, so you can look forward to it.

* * *

A night when the moon hung high.
Near Pyongyang, a rebel hideout.

“Sigh….”

Operations Chief of the Revolutionary Talent Corps.
Park Mu-pal, now the rebel leader, exhaled smoke from his cigarette with a sigh.

“Every day feels like it’s draining the blood from me, Gi-rae….”

Somehow they were maintaining a thread of survival.
But….
Could you even call this living?

“Those People’s Army soldiers and our Revolutionary Talent Corps alike….”

It had been how many days of this suffocating standoff?

“If Kim Il-jung hadn’t gone crazy and fired those missiles in the middle of everything….”

It could have gotten really dangerous.
South Korea even fired missiles back in response, he’d heard.
Because of that, the People’s Army had pulled back a little.
And they’d been able to breathe, if barely.

“At least the families of my comrades are still safe. That’s something to be grateful for.”

But how long would that last?
They’d break through them first, then clean up that side too.
So he’d spoken seriously to the Revolutionary Talent Corps under his command.
Defect to the other side now, he’d told them.
But….

“These idiots.”

He’d told them to go.
Not a single one left.
“Die together,” they say. Or something like that.
God, these stubborn bastards.
All this talk of loyalty and honor.

“At this rate, we’ll all starve to death anyway….”

Even Hunters need food to survive.
The stockpiled rations were nearly gone.
And on top of that—

“The Tower’s difficulty keeps climbing. The 61st floor is still light-years away….”

The 61st floor—their only real hope?
It had become nearly impossible.

Ding!
[A new comment has been posted.]

– It’s not too late even now. Defect to Japan’s embrace, and we will solve all your problems for you.

“Damn these vultures.”

They see right through everything.
The moment things get difficult, there they are again with their offers.

“Hah….”

I can’t let my comrades starve because of me….
Maybe I really do have to shake their hand.
Just as his thoughts tangled into knots—

Whoosh.
He felt someone approaching through the shadows with deliberate stealth.

“Who’s there!”

Park Mu-pal.
Awakened in Flame Magic.
But still—
His reflexes were sharp, honed by years as a Hunter.

Whoosh!

An assassin come to kill him?
He tensed, readying a fireball to hurl—

“Aaah! Please spare me!”

A child’s voice….
What in the world?
He glanced down.
A ragged child, a beggar’s brat.

“Are you a Flower Swallow?”
“Yes, sir! Please, I’m begging you, don’t kill me!”
“Wait. Tell me what you’re doing sneaking up on me, and then I’ll decide.”
“I—I came to deliver two messages, sir!”

Two messages?

“I mean, dig under the big boulder below that stretch of river. And there’s this person called the Personnel Manager—he said he’d pass along a message….”
“The Personnel Manager?”

Why would that Revolutionary Talent Corps member get involved?

“He said he’d help if you wanted.”

He’d help us?
The Personnel Manager?
Could it be….
We could all survive?

Park Mu-pal—North Korea’s finest revolutionary talent.
By nature, he’d never been ambitious.
Getting by was all the aim he’d had….
But somehow, comrades had come to rest on his shoulders.
Was this what they called responsibility?

What did he want most right now?
The safety of his comrades, himself included.
And an environment where the people could live free from worry about towers or dungeons.

“The Personnel Manager….”

What did he want? Why would he help?
Honestly, I don’t know.
Can I trust him?
Part of me worries.
But….
If it’s the Personnel Manager.
Isn’t he worth trusting?
India, Egypt, and now North Korea.
Judging by his track record so far, he doesn’t seem like the type to turn a blind eye to the people’s peril.

“Hah….”

After smoking his last cigarette down to the butt,
Park Mu-pal spoke.

“Go on then. Tell me what he said we should do.”

* * *

[Tower of Chaos, Level 67 successfully cleared!]
[Level increased.]

“Whew, we’re back….”
“Sir! Senior Worker Yeo Hae reporting successful mission completion and return!”
“Everyone did well.”

Not quite a level per day, but steady tower progression.
We were already at level 67.
The difficulty certainly ramped up as we climbed higher.
Though we still managed to clear it in under thirty minutes.
You could see the fatigue settling into our workers’ bones.

“Ta-da! Rani finished one too!”
“Well done, our Rani. You worked hard.”
“Yeah! Rani worked hard! But there’s still so many left….”

Oh my.
Even Rani looks exhausted for once.
Well, I suppose…
Loving to craft and having the stamina for it are two different things.
She’s been making things nonstop for days now—of course she’s tired.
But I’ve prepared some good news for these hardworking Workers.
You see…

“Alright, everyone, listen up! We’re moving soon!”
“Moving?”
“Yep, moving.”
“Oh wow, moving! Like we did last time!”
“That’s right.”

Moving preparations?
Done.
Contracts are signed.
Bags are packed.
The movers will arrive soon.
A smooth move and we’re finished.
And this time is different from last time, too.
Back then we just got the Training Ground, remember?
This time? I can’t even guess what will appear.
The current Personnel Management Office is temporary.
After we move?
We’ll have the official Personnel Management Office opening.

“Phew…”

I’m already looking forward to it.

“So Rani, you’ll take us to the amusement park too, right?!”
“Of course, naturally.”
“Whoa…! Yes!”

Why would the amusement park be a problem?
According to Todd, my disguise will be unlimited from now on.
We can go anywhere.
So.
Everyone, just head back for now.
We’ll see you in a bit.
All of you, look forward to it.
It’s an expensive place with a Han River view.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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