Against the Clock: The Team Leader’s Pursuit of Glory

Chapter 52 - I Will Live Up to Your Expectations

Do Gyeong-hoon flinched. Without giving him a chance to gather his thoughts, Kang Mu-hyuk continued speaking.

"No matter how lucrative the Hunter's game is, or how high the rank, there are still taboos that must be observed. You trusted Titan and went too far. Are you prepared to pay the price?"

Kang Mu-hyuk had already devised a plan to handle the situation before meeting with Do Gyeong-hoon. The solution included permanently barring Do Gyeong-hoon from the industry. He could make sure there would be no place for him in at least a mid-tier guild.

There was no punishment as cruel as an A-rank Hunter like Do Gyeong-hoon having to roam around small and medium guilds for the rest of his life.

Do Gyeong-hoon felt that Kang Mu-hyuk's threat was not an empty one. The influence of this non-Hunter was impressive. He had to admit that he had been completely overpowered.

'Damn it. Where did this come from? I was caught too easily. Should I have tried to dodge this instead?'

Now it was not just a matter of leaving the guild. His entire Hunter career might be over.

Moreover, his own faction of Hunters was wavering. While his closest confidants were steadfast, the younger Hunters, who were unaware of the deal with Titan, seemed uneasy.

Perhaps they believed that Do Gyeong-hoon was abandoning them.

But explaining and calming them down wasn't an option. The situation was far from favorable. It wouldn't be a problem if only the Guild Leader was watching, but Ju Se-ah was the issue. Her wide-eyed stare was burdensome even to an A-rank Hunter like Do Gyeong-hoon.

'I didn't think this through in my panic. Any suspicion I dispel now will not easily fade. I shouldn't have agreed to talk here.'

Despite Kang Mu-hyuk's suggestion to move elsewhere, Do Gyeong-hoon remained in the cafeteria because of Ju Se-ah.

After all, Hunters were closer to fists than words.

Do Gyeong-hoon didn't believe that Hunters were within the bounds of the law. Otherwise, the chaos in South America, Africa, Eastern Europe, and the necessity for moderation wouldn't be explainable.

What about Jang Deuk-goo The fact that such a person could roam the city freely was a flaw in the national system.

Although Ju Se-ah had never used her power against guild members, her infamy---particularly as a walking calamity---was well-known. Do Gyeong-hoon thought that he might become a target of that disaster.

His naive assumption that being in a crowded place would protect him had backfired.

He had publicly become a traitor.

Do Gyeong-hoon felt the need to assert his strength. However, he didn't have the wit to handle a battle of skills with a Hunter. All that was left was to exercise his influence within the guild.

"Guild Leader Kang, you do know who's backing me, right? Vice President Tae Soo-cheol of Taesung Group is supporting me. Do you threaten me knowing that?"

"Just a Vice President?"

Kang Mu-hyuk threw back the mocking smile that Do Gyeong-hoon had given him.

"No matter if you're a Guild Master or a Guild Leader, with just one word from Vice President Tae Soo-cheol..."

"I wonder too. With one word, what will happen? Who will truly support us?"

As Kang Mu-hyuk calmly smiled, Do Gyeong-hoon felt a sudden regret.

'Could it be? The vice-president too?'

His thoughts went there, and his tongue became paralyzed. By this point, it was clear that something had been deliberately prepared. Otherwise, despite mentioning the vice-president, he would not have acted so rigidly. He was greatly to blame for being careless even though he knew they had already been in contact.

In reality, there had been no interaction between Kang Mu-hyuk and Tae Soo-Cheol regarding this incident. But Kang Mu-hyuk knew which side Tae Soo-cheol would choose.

'He's someone who can abandon any side if it doesn't benefit him.'

Kang Mu-hyuk, who pushed Ju Se-ah far away from Seoul, and Do Gyeong-hoon, who harbored dissatisfaction and received support from external forces to dismantle the guild.

Unlike his father, Tae Soo-cheol intended to privatize Iron Will in the future. Unaware of this, Do Gyeong-hoon simply misunderstood that he was trying to eliminate his competitor for inheritance. Tae Soo-cheol had no reason to think highly of him.

"Hunter Do Gyeong-hoon. If you have nothing more to say, please leave the guild headquarters now. And don't forget to return the satellite phone equipment on your way out."

Kang Mu-hyuk ordered the expulsion of the tightly closed-mouthed Do Gyeong-hoon and then looked around at the surrounding Hunters.

"Those who have decided to transfer to Titan, please leave together. We will handle the termination of the contracts separately through a lawyer."

Before Do Gyeong-hoon and his group packed up to leave the guild, Kang Mu-hyuk set out first. It was to finish the business with Do Gyeong-hoon.

He went up to Seoul and headed straight to Yeouido.

Titan headquarters.

Noh Song-rin was waiting there.

"I did receive a call, but this situation seems to have escalated quite a bit."

"You don't know yet."

"You mean it's going to get even bigger?"

"You should ask them."

Kang Mu-hyuk gestured to the camera with his chin. Noh Song-rin realized he had been under surveillance from the guild entrance.

As evidence, as soon as he entered the lobby, a man seemed to be waiting and approached.

"It's been a long time, team leader. No, I should call you Guild Leader now."

"I didn't expect Hunter Jang I-hyun to greet me. Using the team leader of the 1st party of the Great Titan Guild as a guide, Vice Guild Master is too much. If you feel undervalued, just let me know. Iron Will is always open."

"It's an honor to receive a scouting offer from you, Guild Leader. But the treatment isn't bad. At least a party leader must serve you, so I came out to avoid being rude. Let's discuss the rest in the office."

Upon arriving at the Vice Guild Master's office, Jang I-hyun slightly blocked Noh Song-rin's way. Noh Song-rin glared at him with a hostile look.

"What is it?"

"It's courtesy for the subordinates to step out when two people have a private talk."

"What? Are you playing the loyal servant? Are all A-rank guild Hunters so rigid?"

"You must not have even come close to A-rank to say that. This isn't rigidity; it's discipline."

"Ah, is this you picking a fight? Shall we see the skills of that arrogant A-rank guild Hunter?"

"It's not about picking a fight, but if you wish to test me, I'm more than willing."

Both Noh Song-rin, gritting his teeth, and the expressionless Jang I-hyun stood face to face, so close their breaths could mingle, when Kang Mu-hyuk stepped in.

"That will be enough, Hunter Noh Song-rin. If a guest strikes the host, it would be a problem for me."

At Kang Mu-hyuk's words, Jang I-hyun wore a shocked expression. He sighed, forgetting the quarrel that had just occurred.

"If you say so, it really seems like you are no longer a person of Titan. Quite disappointing."

"Heh!"

Noh Song-rin chuckled from the side as if he found the situation delicious.

"Please wait quietly without causing unnecessary problems."

"Am I some adolescent troublemaker? I do have some discernment."

"Are you referring to the discernment that got you caught in Ujungdo?"

"Heh!"

"Ugh...!"

In a fit of revenge-like laughter, Jang I-hyun made Noh Song-rin groan.

Kang Mu-hyuk implored again before entering the office of Vice Guild Master.

Time had passed, but Kang Mu-hyuk was still greeted with the same appearance he had known from his days at Titan.

Ma Taesu greeted Kang Mu-hyuk with the same gentle demeanor, unchanged from before.

"Sit."

Kang Mu-hyuk had barely taken a seat before Ma Taesu as he got straight to the point.

"I will let the Hunters who have decided to transfer go. But please don't shake things up anymore."

"To pretend to concede with such trivial kids. Becoming a leader has made you quite the sly snake. Or were you always like that?"

"This is not a favor, but a request. I'll be polite up to this point."

"Request? Polite? Your jokes have certainly increased. Or has your gall grown? Hahaha!"

Ma Taesu laughed heartily. He shook his head as if it were preposterous. There was no respect in his attitude from the start.

"Shall we continue?"

"Next time, it won't end with a funny joke."

Kang Mu-hyuk seemed to forget to blink. He stared piercingly at his opponent as he spoke.

"If you desire the Guild Master position, solve it within the guild. Don't meddle with another's guild that's minding its own business."

"You knew after all. Have you already figured that out? I thought I was being discreet. But stopping now will be difficult. This is business, after all."

"For business, it feels quite malicious in the way it's schemed."

"It's a little bit of venting, too. You know there's some resentment between us."

Kang Mu-hyuk nodded.

"Yes, there are still unresolved feelings between us. Well, I will vent some as well."

"To me? You? This is going to be exciting."

It was a challenge. Ma Taesu was ignoring Kang Mu-hyuk. He still saw him as a team leader. He thought he was capable but limited since he wasn't a Hunter. That, too, was one thing that hadn't changed.

Kang Mu-hyuk didn't reply but stood up.

"I'm glad you're looking forward to it. I'll be sure to meet your expectations. Farewell, then."

"Take care. You won't go far."

Ma Taesu was surprised when Kang Mu-hyuk suddenly announced that he was leaving without achieving anything, but he didn't show it. Instead, he sent him off with an air of nonchalance.

'I thought he would grovel a bit more.'

He felt a nagging sense of unease deep down, but no matter how he thought about it, it seemed unlikely that Kang Mu-hyuk could do anything to harm him.

'Pompous brat. Try and challenge me. I won't even flinch. At most, he won't sell me the Rider Wolf.'

He had already found a solution to that problem.

The main shareholders from Union Asset Management had offered to supply riders through a Japanese route.

It might not be as good as the Rider Wolf, but in the current situation where purchase priority was given to the Tier-ed Guild, the opportunity wouldn't likely come to a mere A-rank Titan.

'Had it not been for that offer, I might have hesitated... Anyway, I ended up receiving help in various ways. But why did the Union tell me to counter Iron Will?'

A fleeting doubt crossed Ma Taesu's mind, but he quickly dismissed it as unimportant, given that the Guild Master's position was close at hand.

...

As soon as Kang Mu-hyuk left Titan's headquarters, he picked up his smartphone.

A lively female voice answered at the end of the ringtone.

"Huh? What's up? It hasn't even been a day; why are you calling already? There's no progress yet."

"I have something to ask you."

"What is it?"

"You said you saw Union's representative and Executive Kim Myung-jun that time, right?"

"From afar, not up close. I caught a glimpse while delivering coffee."

"Then, who seemed to be in charge?"

"What are you talking about all of a sudden?"

"I'm asking who appears to be the boss, the one giving the orders. How did they look?"

"I don't know. There was no clear clue as to who was above the other. From their tone and expression, they seemed to be on similar levels."

"Since there can't be two bosses, perhaps both are subordinates. Understood. Contact me if you gather more information."

No sooner had he hung up than Noh Song-rin asked, "What's this about Kim Myung-jun?"

"Come to think of it, he and Hunter Noh Song-rin were classmates at Ujungdo, weren't you?"

"Classmates with a scumbag who puts a leash on his peers? That jerk ruined my nose at Slayer, thanks to which the Guild Master caught me by the scruff of the neck too."

Noh Song-rin grumbled.

Kang Mu-hyuk chuckled, and then explained the situation. It was top-secret information shared with only a few trusted people, including Ju Se-ah, but he revealed it to hear Noh Song-rin's opinion about Kim Myung-jun.

After hearing the explanation, Noh Song-rin scoffed.

"Kim Myung-jun? No way~! He's too big-headed to go to the mighty Slayer Guild and propose a business first. He's not one to be under anyone."

Kang Mu-hyuk found something strange in Noh Song-rin's answer.

"Wait! What did you just say?"

"What? That he's not one to be under anyone?"

"No, not that. You said he proposed business to the Slayer Guild?"

"Ah! That? Yes. It's about founding the Hanseong Enterprise. Kim Myung-jun proposed that to Slayer."

"!!"