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

Chapter 6 - Staying Too Long

As Kang Mu-hyuk swallowed the words he wanted to say, Lee Cheoljung opened his mouth after a moment of contemplation.

"Form an attack team at dawn and be on standby. If we're short on people, we can use some of the Expedition team members."

"Are you suggesting using the Expedition team?"

It was a relief. It seemed that the guild master was still able to view the situation objectively, so he boldly approved the support of the Expedition team.

Other guilds rarely touched the Expedition teams. They were mostly excluded from low-ranked Gate raids as they focused on the most dangerous locations within the Gates.

"And as soon as you can reach the vice-guild master, have him report to the headquarters immediately. We need to apprehend Ma Taesik."

"Yes."

After leaving the guild master's office, Kang Mu-hyuk tried to contact Ma Taesu by phone dozens of times, but the call did not connect. At this point, his suspicion had turned to certainty.

Just as the morning passed and it was almost time for work, Ma Taesu contacted them first.

"My youngest caused trouble. I'm on my way now."

From his first words, Ma Taesu was already implying that he would protect Ma Taesik.

'This isn't good.'

Not long after the call, Ma Taesu arrived at the headquarters. Judging by how quickly he arrived, it seemed he had been waiting nearby.

Kang Mu-hyuk greeted Ma Taesu in person. He looked worn out. Although he seemed resigned with a sigh that escaped him, a sense of determination could be felt in his eyes.

As an 'all-rounder' with no flaws as a Hunter, there was no choice but to believe that Ma Taesu would handle the situation well, given his outstanding abilities as a vice-guild master.

Next to him was a sullen Ma Taesik. He glared at Kang Mu-hyuk with resentment in his eyes. He still appeared to be out of his senses.

At this point, it was hard not to pity the man. Moreover, Ma Taesu, who had Ma Taesik as his younger brother, seemed even more pitiful. His 20-year career was now marred by his foolish sibling.

Ignoring Ma Taesik, Kang Mu-hyuk led Ma Taesu to the guild master's office, intending to mediate between the two.

"I'll show you in."

As they got off the elevator, unexpectedly, it was Lee Cheoljung, not the secretary, who arrived to meet Ma Taesu. His gaze pushed Kang Mu-hyuk away, signaling him not to interfere.

Faced with that firm and solid gaze, Kang Mu-hyuk stopped in his tracks

At that moment, the information surrounding the current situation flashed through Kang Mu-hyuk's mind.

The expressions of the guild master and the vice-guild master were at odds. Their faces not only held complex emotions, but also unspoken words.

Kang Mu-hyuk's mind raced until it arrived at a certain truth.

'Could it be...'

Lee Cheoljung spoke to the absent-minded Kang Mu-hyuk.

"I'll take it from here. Team Leader Kang, go back to work."

Kang Mu-hyuk waited for the guild's two giants to enter, then asked the secretary for a favor.

"Secretary Jeong, please let me know when their conversation is over."

After returning to the situation room, Kang Mu-hyuk remained restless. His gaze was fixed on the Gate in Sillim-dong, but his mind was entirely focused on the guild master's office.

The other employees couldn't even speak to him due to his stern expression.

Feeling like he was ruining the atmosphere, he went down to the office to do some paperwork, but he couldn't focus.

Less than an hour had passed before he received a call from Secretary Jeong.

"The conversation with the vice-guild master has ended. Guild master is looking for the team leader."

Kang Mu-hyuk was puzzled by the Guild Master's request.

He figured that if he had to step in, it would only be for the Ma Taesik case. Why was the guild master looking for him instead of the vice-guild master?

It was ominous.

Upon entering the guild master's office, Lee Cheoljung was looking out the window. Kang Mu-hyuk made his presence known. As a Hunter, Lee Cheoljung would have sensed it, but it was a signal to start the conversation.

Without turning around, Lee Cheoljung asked, "Any contact from Min-soo yet?"

"We only received a report that they're still searching."

"Well, Min-soo can handle it on his own."

"You didn't call me here because of the rescue team report, did you?"

"How are you so quick-witted? I've never been able to hide anything from you."

Lee Cheoljung spoke casually, as if he had removed his title of guild master, like an older brother from the neighborhood.

They had worked together for a long time, and sometimes they spoke informally in private. That was his style. The media praised it as "big brother leadership."

The guild members also liked Lee Cheoljung, who was usually strict but occasionally showed a softer side.

However, Kang Mu-hyuk's expression became even more serious. After nearly ten years together, he knew Lee Cheoljung's personality well. He couldn't help but be nervous, knowing that Lee Cheoljung tended to smile more kindly when difficult topics came up.

"Don't you have something to say? If I don't say it, you'll probably pester the vice-guild master or others. The others feel burdened. I called you here to ask me. No, I called you here to confirm your suspicions. You're the type who won't be satisfied until you do, right?"

"It's just gathering information for risk management. It's not that significant."

"Right. You're the type to prepare in advance, so I understand that you get anxious if you can't be certain. But this time is different. What good will it do to learn something you don't need to know?"

"Even if I know, I'll keep it to myself, as always."

"It's uncomfortable that only you know."

Lee Cheoljung turned around, and sparks flew from his eyes.

Facing his imposing presence, even the experienced Kang Mu-hyuk found it difficult to withstand. Lee Cheoljung was being considerate, but as a non-Hunter, even slight pressure made his hands and feet tremble.

Kang Mu-hyuk, breaking out in cold sweat, racked his brain intensely.

'Knowing the Guild's number one secret is dangerous. I've known that since before. I have to make sure that secret remains a secret, just as I've always done.'

It was a familiar situation.

Lee Cheoljung constantly tried to confirm the loyalty of his guild members. The process was never smooth. There were always conflicts, and when they were resolved, someone would fall from their position.

Kang Mu-hyuk's rise to the position of Strategy and Tactics Team Leader, despite being a non-Hunter, was in the same context. He was indeed talented, but he was also a remnant of the guild's early growth when he helped consolidate the internal anti-guild leader factions.

Kang Mu-hyuk had taken advantage of Lee Cheoljung's suspicions to become the Strategy and Tactics team leader. Sometimes cunningly, and at other times pretending to be bold, he had secured his position.

As Kang Mu-hyuk was organizing his thoughts, Lee Cheoljung asked first, "What do you know so far? Even if I didn't tell you, you'd have figured it out, right?"

"There's a lot that depends on chance, so it's not really worth reporting."

"Leave that part out. Tell me only what you know."

Firmly spoken, Kang Mu-hyuk could no longer evade. He realized Lee Cheoljung's intention. He wanted to confirm through Kang Mu-hyuk whether his tactics had worked and if there were any loopholes.

After taking a deep breath, Kang Mu-hyuk began.

"Today's incident was definitely a coincidence. However, it seems like you had your eye on the issue with vice-guild leader afterward."

"In what way?"

"There were signs even before. I had overlooked them as insignificant in the past. The circumstances of Hunter Lee Jin-joo's involvement with Ma Taesikk... are quite suspicious."

"What suspicion? That I caused the problem and ordered Ma Taesik to be expelled?"

Kang Mu-hyuk flinched. Even though he tried to speak indirectly, the response came in bluntly.

He calmly continued, undeterred.

"Well, only you know that, Guild Leader. All I know is that Hunter Lee Jin-joo expressed her intention to join the Strategy and Tactics team after Ma Taesik had joined. It's not a lie that she wanted to join the Strategy and Tactics team, but the timing is peculiar."

"And?"

"That you knew the vice-guild master was pushing Ma Taesik into the Strategy and Tactics team and let it be? That's it. The Gate structure signal and Ma Taesik's accident... it was a coincidence, but it would have happened eventually. You just seized the opportunity well."

"Someone might misunderstand if they heard that. It sounds like I conspired to drive the vice-guild master away, doesn't it?"

'Well, didn't you?'

The retort rose to his throat but was swallowed back down.

At times like this, Kang Mu-hyuk resented his quick wit. No, could this even be considered wit? It was just embarrassing to say his brain worked exceptionally well.

It had been like this ever since he was young. When he studied, he understood and memorized faster than others. The same was true when he gave up college despite his good grades and joined the guild.

His situational understanding and insight shone through in the Titan Guild's "Raid Simulation Strategy Contest."

Entering the guild through the contest was due to Lee Cheoljung's whim, but the subsequent achievements were all Kang Mu-hyuk's abilities.

Lee Cheoljung made good use of Kang Mu-hyuk, not only in defeating monsters but also against the 'humans' who challenged his authority.

"It was an interesting perspective. As always, Team Leader Kang's thoughts are fascinating. But wouldn't such an interesting story be more precious if only I knew?"

"Is there any other advice you need? Anything else I should do?"

"Um... no, no. I've already talked to the vice-guild master, so there's no need to make a big deal out of it. Just help our family with their concerns. Now go."

Kang Mu-hyuk hastily left the guild leader's office, barely managing to exchange pleasantries with Secretary Jeong.

He reflected on what had just happened. It seemed like he had been summoned to be reprimanded.

Kang Mu-hyuk knew Lee Cheoljung well, and Lee Cheoljung knew him just as well.

Lee Cheoljung didn't want any unnecessary information to leak.

'Jang I-hyun is the party leader belonging to the vice-guild master's side. The distress signal was an accident, but it coincided with Ma Taesik's revenge plan. Vice-guild master had no choice but to consider both sides. Ultimately, the vice-guild master's sibling ended up eating his own side.'

There was nothing he could do.

He would have to wait and see the atmosphere at the next board meeting or shareholders' meeting, but it would probably be difficult for the vice-guild master to regain his footing. The forces pushing him would likely keep their mouths shut.

'I've been in this position for too long. I've seen it all.'

He wasn't talking about his position as the head of the Strategy and Tactics Team.

Although he had been promoted a little over three years ago, he had been devising schemes for Lee Cheoljung for much longer than that. How many Hunters had been sacrificed by Kang Mu-hyuk under the pretext of guild development and integration?

He now realized that it was naive to think that he could focus solely on monster hunting now that he had become the head of the Strategy and Tactics Team.

Kang Mu-hyuk was increasingly dissatisfied with the fact that he was being swept up in politics rather than monster hunting.

Suddenly, he remembered Ju Se-ah's sarcastic comment.

'Is the Titan Guild really all that different?'

"I really have nothing to say."

Bad news never seemed to come alone, as chaos erupted in the situation room in the evening.

"Again?! Is this a joke?"

It was a distress signal.

It bore the identification number of Park Min-soo's party.

When even the party that had gone in for rescue sent a distress signal, the guild was in an uproar.

At least this time, there was a brief report on the cause of the distress signal.

"Invisible monsters? Like Jungle Chameleons?"

"No, it's not that. They say even detection doesn't work. The report suggests it's an Unknown."

Lee Cheoljung sighed. He thought he had handled the vice-guild master issue well, but now they had to deal with an Unknown monster?

It was a difficult situation.

Since the vice-guild master had surrendered, his line was now Lee Cheoljung's responsibility.

Although there was nothing he could do for the Hunters who had already fallen, he had to ensure the survivors returned safely.

"With an Unknown, there's no information, so risk assessment is useless. Hm, I'd like to go by myself, but..."

"That's not possible."

Kang Mu-hyuk opposed the idea. He was concerned about the guild members' safety, but this was merely an advance party for the Yellow Gate.

Could the guild leader personally go hunting in a Gate of this level?

Setting goodwill aside, the guild was bound to be evaluated as lacking in capability. The image of a guild aiming for Tier 1 would crumble.

Lee Cheoljung understood this well enough. He proposed another alternative.

"Then, how about the Expedition leader...?"

"That won't work either. This is merely an advance party responsible for the periphery, not a boss raid or deep area cleanup. If a top Hunter were to step in just for a few Expedition members, it would itself become a factor in the guild's evaluation."

"Isn't it the same whether we deploy an Ace or an Expedition leader?"

"Of course, we must conserve our Aces as well."

"If all of these options are out of the question, how do you plan to catch an invisible Unknown? You said detection doesn't work against it, right?"

"Of course, there is an alternative."

"Haha, as expected of Team Leader Kang."

As Kang Mu-hyuk confidently spoke without hesitation, Lee Cheoljung nodded in relief.

However, his face contorted at Kang Mu-hyuk's next suggestion.

"Please open Warehouse C."

"Did I hear that wrong? Did you just say Warehouse C?"

"Yes. Warehouse C is correct."