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

Chapter 83 - The One Who Misses Takes the Next Step

"Alex, Raven. Don't hurt him."

Upon hearing Aila's command, Alex and Raven sprang into action.

Mr. Jo kicked over a street stall to obstruct their view. Fish-shaped bun machines, sweet bean paste, and dough flew through the air toward Aila. Alex stepped in front of her, swatting the items away.

Raven destroyed the street stall as he reached out for Mr. Jo. The moment Mr. Jo was caught by Raven's hand, only afterimages remained, and his actual body vanished.

Unperturbed, Raven expanded his senses. This was a basic skill any Hunter mastered, but an A-rank Hunter like Raven had almost supernatural sensing abilities. He located his invisible foe and lunged at him.

"Ah, what a nuisance!"

Mr. Jo, who had been climbing up a utility pole, landed back on the ground, narrowly avoiding the lunging Raven. He showed no emotion but was internally startled by how quickly Raven had discovered him.

'He found me even though I was disguised as a fish-bun vendor. Does he have some special ability?'

Mr. Jo prided himself on being unparalleled in the arts of stealth and disguise. Even against an A-rank, he didn't feel inferior. Yet, it was suspicious how quickly his opponent found him.

As Raven swiftly pursued, Mr. Jo threw a smoke bomb on the ground. This wasn't just any smoke; it contained paralyzing substances extracted from the 'Toxic Lizard.'

However, Raven seemed unaffected and threw a punch towards Mr. Jo.

'What kind of monster is this? Even A-ranks flinch at this smoke!'

Mr. Jo twisted his body like a spinning top to dodge. The punch hit nothing but air.

Three times in a row.

The number of times Raven had missed his target.

'He's not A-rank. At best, B+. But he evades like an eel.'

By this point, it was clear that the opponent had extraordinary abilities.

"Raven, he's moved beyond the detection zone."

Hearing Alex, Raven dusted off his hands and turned around.

"I didn't expect to find another assassin-class Hunter in Korea of my level. Where is he from?"

"Who knows? I didn't feel any hostility, just curiosity? That's probably it. I had a lot of questions. It's a shame. Shall we go back?"

"Yes, I'll escort you."

As Aila waved her hand, the surroundings seemed to change. In reality, nothing had; it simply felt as though the air had lightened. Simultaneously, the once-empty street bustled with people.

While the area around Aila filled with pedestrians, a two-meter radius around her remained empty. The only ones aware of her presence were Alex and Raven.

And one other person.

'A skill that makes both her space and presence unnoticeable? What exactly is she? She even noticed me. If I wasn't hiding among people like this, I'd have been exposed.'

Having quickly changed his appearance and attire using his Doppelganger abilities, Mr. Jo pulled his hat down and left without regret.

Kang Mu-hyuk received a call from Mr. Jo and sank into thought.

'A run-in with foreign Hunters in front of the Hunter Association? And one of the women had long ears, like she was not human? Used something like spatial magic?'

The woman's identity was a secondary concern; if they were foreigners involved with the Association, he had some ideas.

'Han Byung-Gu, the President of the Hunter Association, was active during the Great War era. Korea was the center of the world's Hunter community back then. It played a role in the current World Hunter Federation structure. If these are foreign Hunters visiting the Association, it's pretty obvious who they are.'

The World Hunter Federation. It was an organization whose name was familiar to even ordinary people. Despite its fame, its actual influence seemed insignificant, even among Hunters.

'From the perspective of average Hunters, maybe. But in reality, the Federation wields significant influence over top-tier Hunters and elite guilds. Some even say that the most powerful and wealthy guilds are members of the Federation.'

If his adversary was from the Federation, then the woman's identity could be inferred from that alone.

'Her long ears don't conclusively prove anything, but she does resemble an elf from a movie. There were rumors before that Ain-species appeared on Earth. The Federation had dismissed those as baseless. Could those rumors have been true?'

While it was a stretch to connect long ears to the Ain-species, he couldn't help but let his thoughts wander in that direction.

'Whatever the case, the Federation, which hardly paid any attention to Korea, has suddenly contacted the Association. Could it be because of my report?'

His report was shared with the Federation whenever new or threatening monsters appeared.

Kang Mu-hyuk had intentionally added the keyword 'summoned' when mentioning the Goblin Matron.

Experiencing an unknown entity had made him more cautious.

Although it may not be related, his intuition told him that he might meet with Federation representatives soon.

He had already prepared a plan for when he would have to deal with the Federation, so there was no need to panic.

However, he had separate concerns.

'The Federation taking action isn't a good sign. I hope nothing's amiss.'

A month had passed since the Orc tribe raid, but the Iron Will Guild was still a hot topic in media and public discussions.

However, the Hunter community was buzzing about Iron Will for a different reason.

It all started with an announcement that appeared on the guild app one day, neatly organized like a card news article.

[Iron Will Guild opens North Pocheon Special Activities Zone.]

• Hunt various monsters in North Pocheon hunting ground, with designated routes for different ranks and parties.

• Enjoy tax-free benefits at Iron Will headquarters' monster byproduct purchase service.

• Shop for supplies, repair broken equipment, and relax at Iron Will headquarters.

• Why waste time and money traveling? A clean, affordable Hunters' village awaits you.

• Enjoy a coffee while studying the monster encyclopedia. Turn your hunting into a business. Network with other Hunters at the café.

• Whether you're a beginner, wanting to keep up with new hunting trends, or need hunting expertise, end your worries now. Register for courses led by top-tier instructors.

• Rent exclusive Iron Will Guild hunting equipment. Once you experience the convenience, you won't go back. Welcome to a new world.

• Criminal activities by powerful Hunters within the Special Activities Zone will be dealt with directly by Guild Master Ju Se-ah. Beware, troublemakers.

• Special consideration for couples. Opening on December 26th. See you in North Pocheon.

"What is this? What's with this cheeky advertisement?"

Ju Se-ah looked at the actual project Kang Mu-hyuk had told her to expect and her face turned incredulous. What she saw was full of whimsical phrases that appeared to be a joke.

"Ah? Are you saying this because of the meeting? The phrase 'will be dealt with directly' is not meant literally. You don't have to get involved every time. Just consider it a warning."

"No, that's not it. This looks like some kind of local amusement park advertisement."

"I told Team Leader Pyo to handle it, and it did come out a bit light-hearted. But the concept is set that way, so it's fine."

"..."

Ju Se-ah was momentarily confused.

'What kind of concept is this? It looks so cheap. What's the scheme this time?'

As always, Kang Mu-hyuk began to explain after a brief pause.

"Since we can't construct outlets or hotels yet, we've focused on refurbishing existing motels and targeting a lower-ranked customer base."

"But even so, this concept seems too budget-oriented, doesn't it?"

"Our guild's capacity can't handle an influx of high-ranked players. Even though the dominant Goblin tribe has disappeared and the overall monster level in North Pocheon is rising, the hunting grounds are still not at a level to accommodate high-ranks. High-ranks will seek out appropriate locations for the sake of their reputations. Announcing it with this B-grade vibe will naturally filter them out."

Ju Se-ah had already reviewed the business plan, so she understood the overall picture, but she didn't expect it to start this way. After all, Kang Mu-hyuk had always been very serious in his approach.

However, upon further thought, she realized it wasn't a bad starting point for Kang Mu-hyuk's long-mentioned agenda of leveling the playing field among Hunters and making hunting gear more accessible.

It was easier to disseminate Iron Will's methods through the less impressive low-ranks than the demanding high-ranks.

Ju Se-ah resigned herself to the guild's advertisement and decided to move on to the next report.

"Let's wait and see about this. Any issues with manpower?"

"For lodging management, food courts, and sanitation, we prioritized hiring local residents through the 'South Pocheon Mutual Cooperation Plan.' The area already has few job opportunities, so essential staffing was smooth. However, for the checkpoint security, we outsourced it to Hanju Group's security firm as they require basic training. We plan to concurrently train newly hired staff."

"You intentionally left out Taesung, didn't you?"

"It would be awkward to entrust the Gate to them."

"People will talk. They'll say you should look after your family business first."

"We addressed that by citing regulations against unfair internal transactions. Since the Guild Cooperation Division sent out an official warning, we had no choice but to outsource."

"I must say, you're quite crafty."

"Craftiness becomes the standard when backed by the government."

Next was the issue of funding.

Ju Se-ah frowned as if she was nauseated just looking at the numbers.

"We're already tight on funds for the headquarters' repairs, where did you pull all this money from?"

"We established the 'North Pocheon Reconstruction Fund' with Hanshin Financial Group, whom we had previously borrowed from. According to guild laws, it's guaranteed by a Credit Guarantee Fund, so we quickly reached our initial target. A second round of funding is also being prepared."

"I know that even if it's stipulated in guild laws, it's hard to get such a fund approved..."

"The Guild Cooperation Division pushed for it, and we had support from members of the National Assembly, so it was easier than expected."

"Support from the National Assembly too?"

"Having taken a few photos and mentioned it during the interview, they took care of it quite well. You know how sensitive South Korea has always been to national security issues. When monsters became a matter of national security, politicians from all sides were willing to step up. Of course, there's an election next year, so they're probably even more attentive," Kang Mu-hyuk said casually, but it was far from easy.

Ju Se-ah was well aware of how the Guild Master of the Slayer Guild, Sa Mun-Hyuk, collaborated with politicians. Providing campaign funds was a given, and they even offered the commodity of 'violence' to some politicians. The guild had wealth, power, and military strength, but they couldn't ignore the influence of democratically elected representatives.

Unless they wanted to overthrow the country, they had to cooperate with them in some way, so they ran the guild with moderate compromises.

'Before questioning ethics or conscience, our guild doesn't have the capability to act like Sa Mun-Hyuk. How did he manage this? I heard he influenced public opinion, but he never said how it was done. How can anyone know?'

After addressing a few more items on the agenda, they concluded the meeting. Just as Kang Mu-hyuk was organizing the documents, the phone in the conference room rang.

Just as Ju Se-ah was about to stand and leave, she answered the call. "Hello?"

"Ah, fortunate that you picked up, Guild Master. This is Assistant Oh Jeong-yeon from the communications team. We have an external call for you. Would you like to be connected?"

"Who is it?"

"Hunter Association President Han Byung-Gu."

"Why would he be calling?"

"Excuse me?"

"Nevermind. Connect me, please."

Upon hearing the mention of the Association, Kang Mu-hyuk stopped what he was doing. "Guild Master, put it on speakerphone."

Complying, Ju Se-ah switched to the speakerphone and put the receiver down.

"Ju Se-ah, Guild Master, it's been a while. No problems lately?"

"Why are you so smooth all of a sudden? Planning to spout some nonsense?"

"You rascal! I was trying to be formal, and you're ruining the mood!"

"Shouldn't the only time we observe formalities be at your funeral? I'll make sure to wear black."

"Tsk, tsk. Even if the Legendary-tier item, Three Rivers Five Rings, is involved, nobody but you would dare treat me like this."

"I learned how to defeat monsters before I acquired Three Rivers Five Rings. If you have nonsense to spout, I'll just hang up."

A sigh came from the other side of the phone.

"Fine, you stubborn brat. Let's get to the point. I'd like to meet your Guild Leader. Whether you come or not is up to you."

"Why our Guild Leader?"

"Come and find out, won't you?"

"How do I know it's not a trap?"

"What would I gain from setting a trap?"

"It's just your image. You come off as sinister."

"You...you little...oh my, my blood's boiling. How could such an impudent brat be the next-generation S-rank? Heaven is truly indifferent."

"Maybe I turned out this way because I've been dealing with you. You should reflect on yourself first."

Even if she couldn't see him, she knew his face would be turning different shades of red and blue.

Kang Mu-hyuk had heard enough of the needless bickering and intervened. "President Han, this is Kang Mu-hyuk. Is this about the Alliance matter?"

"..."

"Your silence suggests I'm correct. You took longer to contact us than I expected."

The tension was palpable as the voice on the other end of the phone spat out, "You're stirring up so much trouble, it's hard to keep track of you. Wait, that's not the point. You tricked my granddaughter into signing a contract with your guild, didn't you? We're getting a lawyer to nullify that."

"Minors are also responsible for contracts they sign as Hunters. So, your lawyer won't be of much help."

"What kind of guild recruits an idol, for heaven's sake? Are you as senseless as your Guild Master?"

"What does it matter to you, old man?!"

As the conversation once again escalated into bickering, Kang Mu-hyuk hurriedly interjected, "Please relay this message to the Elders of the Alliance. We should meet in a secluded place."

After a brief pause, an unfamiliar voice responded, "So, it seems your man was the scout from last time. We'll meet today, Guild Master Kang Mu-hyuk. Just tell me the place."

"The location will be provided by us. After all, shouldn't the party with regrets be the one to move?"

Kim Myung-jun had lately found himself in a bind. Thanks to this vexing issue, he had many sleepless nights and had lost his appetite.

"Damn it. How am I supposed to deal with Ju Se-ah?"

He felt that the higher-ups were acting too hastily. They wanted him to disrupt Iron Will, and even if he wasn't going after Ju Se-ah directly, he would inevitably clash with her. Of course, there were many ways to counteract her moves, but the problem was that he couldn't act recklessly.

"If I mess with the People's Guild now, when they're the talk of the town, I'll be the one who gets burned. What am I supposed to do about the Slayer? If something goes wrong, the Union can just fold and withdraw, but I'd have to either stay here and take the heat or go underground---maybe even flee the country."

Sitting on the opposite sofa, Chae Dae-su finally spoke, "Are you considering other options?"

"What do you mean?"

"Didn't you also hold back on the Titan matter?"

"..."

"I didn't report it to the Elder considering our long-standing relationship. And it seemed like it wouldn't be a big hit to you, so I went along with your tempo. But if you sit back and mess this up again, I won't be able to overlook it."

"Who are you to overlook me?"

"I'm merely relaying the Elder's wishes as his proxy."

Hearing these words from Chae Dae-su, who claimed to be merely a messenger, made Kim Myung-jun realize how badly the situation had deteriorated.

Kim Myung-jun eyed him coldly.

'It's difficult to make a move immediately because of Kang Mu-hyuk. Even though we didn't sign any contract, we essentially have a peace treaty. If I stab them in the back now, it's an all-out war. But I can't oppose them at this moment either. I need to buy some time.'

With a sigh, Kim Myung-jun closed his eyes and nodded, "Let's think of a way to handle this."

"I hope a good solution comes to mind."