Chapter 9

"Ta, Tanaka...!"

Just as I was about to leave after conveying my resignation, Suda stood up.

Even a former explorer, he’s still tough.

"I won’t forgive you, Tanaka... making me lose face like this...!"

Suda’s eyes still held a strong anger.

Even though it looked painful for him to stand, he didn’t seem to be broken. His towering self-esteem wouldn’t allow him to fall.

If I attack any further, it might be life-threatening, and that’s a tough call.

"You guys! What are you doing! Kill that criminal who hit me!"

Suda shouted with a face that made it hard to tell who the real criminal was.

Naturally, the employees were confused, flustered about what to do.

"Really useless employees! You! Just stop him! I’ll cut your pay!"

"Ah!"

Suda singled out one employee and, with his brilliant black tactics, such as "If your salary stops now, you’ll be in trouble, right?" and "I’ll make sure you can’t work in this industry," he quickly took control of the employee’s mind.

The employee quickly became Suda’s puppet.

"S-Sorry. I won’t hurt you, just hold you down..."

The intimidated employee approached me with bare hands.

I remember this employee joined last year and was a promising young talent.

We’ve never explored a dungeon together, so his strength is unknown.

"Sure. Come at me."

"Yes..."

The employee took a forward-leaning stance and charged at me.

He intended to trip me and take me down, then mount me.

It’s a good move to restrain someone.

But his movement is too linear and, most importantly, slow.

I let the tackle come almost to me... then I struck the back of his exposed neck with a chop.

The employee instantly lost consciousness and collapsed. He probably didn’t even understand what happened.

I moved the employee to the side so he wouldn’t get involved and turned my gaze back to Suda.

Suda, seeing me, gritted his teeth in frustration.

"Useless bastard... I won’t let it end with just a pay cut..."

"Give it up, Suda. This whole situation is being broadcast. It’s over, for you and this company."

"Shut up! Thanks to me, this company grew this big! I won’t let it be destroyed! Hey, Gouda, you do it!"

Suda shouted, and a tall man stepped forward from among the employees.

Gouda Masahito, an explorer of the Black Dog Guild.

Standing at 190 cm with a muscular build, he had short, neatly cut hair and a stern face.

Unlike the young employee earlier, he holds an A-class explorer license and is a strong explorer. Suda relies on him.

"Gouda! Kill him!"

"..."

Gouda stood silently in front of me.

He’s a junior, but we’ve explored dungeons together many times. He won’t be easy to take down like the last one.

As I was thinking about how to handle him, Gouda suddenly grabbed my hand firmly.

"Mr. Tanaka, you’re finally quitting, huh? I support you."

"…Huh?"

Gouda blessed me with a low, intimidating voice.

What’s going on?

"I’ve always thought that Mr. Tanaka is too big for this guild. You should fight on a bigger stage."

"Ah, um, thanks?"

When we explored dungeons together, I thought he didn’t like me because he never talked, but it seems that wasn’t the case.

Gouda sincerely blessed me. Naturally, Suda didn’t like his attitude.

"Hey, Gouda! Why are you wagging your tail for that scum!"

"Mr. Tanaka is a senior who taught me the basics of being an explorer. I can’t follow the president’s orders, no matter what. Besides... if I attacked you seriously, I’d just be defeated. The president must know that, right?"

"Ugh...!"

Suda fell silent at Gouda’s words.

I don’t think that’s true. I think I could have a good match with Gouda.

"Mr. Tanaka. I’ll stop the president. Go ahead."

"Really? Thanks a lot."

I patted Gouda’s back and tried to leave the company.

I could hear Suda’s loud voice from behind, but I ignored it.

Finally, I can leave this company. Just as I thought that... the company’s door was suddenly opened forcefully.

"Everyone, don’t move. We are from the Association Operations Bureau Audit Division. We’ve come due to a report."

The group that entered was dressed in suits.

The Association Operations Bureau they mentioned is an internal department of the Monster Countermeasures Ministry, essentially a government organization. It must have been a report from the viewers of the broadcast. With all that commotion, it’s no wonder they reported it.

"Haha! The wind is in our favor, Tanaka! Officials! Arrest that criminal! He hit me!"

Suda shouted happily.

However, the officials walked past me and arrested and restrained Suda.

"…Huh?"

Suda let out a shrill cry.

Unable to understand the situation, a suited female official stood in front of Suda and declared,

"Suda Masahiro, you are under arrest for violating the Explorer Labor Standards and the Awakened Special Law."

[To the Readers]

If you enjoyed this novel and

"Found it interesting!"

"Want to know what happens next!"

Please change the ☆☆☆☆☆ button to ★★★★★ to support me!

Thank you very much!