Appearing with verbs in their past form, or grouped with nouns after の is 末(すえ), a word meaning ‘end tip’. に will follow 末(すえ) , marking the ‘tip’ as the point from which something will result.
While this grammar pattern is usually translated as ‘after (A), (B)’, or ‘as a result of (A), (B)’, the nuance is on various things having happened along the way, and then finally reaching the ‘point’ or ‘conclusion’ of (A).
-
色々(いろいろ)と考(かんが)えた末(すえ)に、お父(とう)さんの会社(かいしゃ)を継(つ)ぐことに決(き)めた。
After much thought, I decided to take over my father’s company.
迷(まよ)いに迷(まよ)った末(すえ)に、彼女(かのじょ)と別(わか)れることにした。
After much hesitation, I decided to break up with her.
5年(ねん)間(かん)にわたる争(あらそ)いの末(すえ)、アメリカ軍(ぐん)が撤退(てったい)を開始(かいし)した。
After five years of conflict, the U.S. military began to withdraw.
社長(しゃちょう)と長(なが)い議論(ぎろん)の末(すえ)に、人事(じんじ)の伊藤(いとう)さんをクビにすることに決(き)めた。
After a long discussion with the president, we decided to fire Ito-san from human resources.
末(すえ)に may highlight either positive or negative results, but will suggest that some long-lasting effort or struggle eventually resulted in (B).