Dragon's Wrath and the Blacklist Declaration
Apgujeong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. The nation's largest hunter-specialized comprehensive hospital, Apollo Medical Center.
In the spacious sofa of the director's office, two men sat facing each other with grave expressions. One was Choi Myungseok, director of Apollo and vice president of the Korean Healer Association. The other was Kim Hyunseok, president of the Healer Association, who had been ousted from Zeus Guild just days ago.
"So... you're saying the entire Zeus headquarters building went to that damn vet?"
Choi Myungseok asked in disbelief. Kim Hyunseok nodded, his hand trembling around his teacup.
"That's right. Lee Shinwoo's gone mad. Handing over a 500 billion won building just for unclogging a dragon's ass! This is destroying the order of the medical market!"
Poisonous venom filled Kim Hyunseok's eyes. As an S-rank healer, the authority he'd built over a lifetime had crumbled from an unknown vet's single "plunge." Since that day, treatment for association healers had plummeted to rock bottom.
'Healer sirs, can't you fix constipation?'
'The vet fixed it in one go, but healers have shit cost-performance.'
The hunters' mocking words stabbed like daggers.
"We can't let this stand, President."
Choi Myungseok's eyes flashed.
"Our hospital's cancellation rate has already exceeded 40%. All the VIP clients are flocking there. Intel says even Ares Guild Master Ma Dongtak ditched us for them."
"What? Ma Dongtak?"
"Yes. He came here for Cerberus treatment, but when our healers couldn't touch it, he stormed out in rage."
Choi Myungseok bit his lip. The hunter market was small. Rumors spread fast, trends even faster. If they left Kang Jinhyeok alone, not just Apollo but the entire Healer Association would lose their rice bowls.
"Let's do it by the book."
"The book?"
"He has a medical license, but no 'Hunter Specialized Medical Personnel Certification'? It's straight-up illegal practice."
Choi Myungseok smirked slyly and pulled out a document envelope.
"I've got lines into the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Hunter Management Bureau. We'll hit him with a special audit for 'unlicensed medical practice' and 'illegal magical beast smuggling.'"
"Oh ho, an audit..."
"Shut down the hospital, splash it all over the media. 'Greedy vet grazes ecosystem-disrupting beasts in the city heart.' Catchy, right?"
Public opinion war and administrative sanctions. The strongest weapons of the establishment. Color finally returned to Kim Hyunseok's face.
"Perfect. Show them what happens. How dare a lowly animal doc invade the sacred realm of healers."
The two men's sly laughter filled the director's office. But they didn't know. The opponent they were poking was a monster who'd long surpassed "law" or "common sense."
The next afternoon. Zeus Medical Tower lobby.
Uninvited guests stormed the peaceful hospital. About twenty officials in navy suits, trailed by broadcast cameras and reporters.
"Medical Supervision Division, Ministry of Health and Welfare! Where's Director Kang Jinhyeok?!"
"Hunter Management Bureau Special Enforcement Team! Here for investigation on illegal magical beast breeding report!"
The officials waved warrants and shouted. Waiting hunters and beasts scattered in surprise. Camera flashes popped like fireworks.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?!"
Manager Park Cheolwoo rushed out to block them. His S-rank hunter intimidation poured out, but the officials scoffed.
"Hey now, Mr. Park Cheolwoo. Obstructing official duties? Can't you see the warrant?"
"We got a tip. Unverified treatments here, dangerous beasts running loose!"
The team leader jabbed Park Cheolwoo's chest with a finger. Backed by connections, he was full of swagger.
"Commencing seizure and search now. Hand over all treatment records, open the underground isolation zone!"
"Reporters! Film this! Capture every bit of this illegal den!"
The journalists eagerly snapped away.
Park Cheolwoo's fists trembled. Crush them by force? Bad PR. Let them be? Hospital rep in ruins.
"Move! You gonna step aside or not?!"
As the enforcers shoved Park Cheolwoo and forced toward the treatment rooms—
[Kuuuung...]
A low vibration rumbled like the earth shaking. The lobby temperature spiked instantly.
"Wh-what?!"
"Earthquake?!"
Gazes locked on the lobby center, behind a massive pillar. There, a huge red lump with a "Security Chief" nametag slept soundly.
Disturbed from deep slumber by the noise, Security Chief Fire Dragon Balakas slowly lifted his head.
"Grrr... (Who's the mosquito buzzing?)"
A house-sized head poked from behind the pillar. Golden slit pupils glared down at the officials. Crimson flames and smoke puffed from his nostrils.
"H-huh?!"
"Dr-dragon?!"
The team leader's legs buckled. An S-rank dragon, only seen on TV. Facing it for real was another level of terror. With Dragon Tongue passively active, the ordinary officials could barely breathe.
Balakas irritably raised a forepaw, slamming it down before the "No Entry" line in front of the officials.
Kwang!
The marble floor shattered, shards flying.
[Get lost.]
No words spoken, but the message was crystal clear.
'One more step, and you're well-done barbecue.'
"Gaaah!"
"S-save us!"
The cocky officials screamed and fell on their asses. Reporters ditched cameras and backpedaled. Official power? Warrants? Just scrap paper before a dragon.
Then, elevator doors opened. Out stepped a man, coffee in one hand, smartphone in the other—Kang Jinhyeok.
"Fuckin' noisy. Quiet down before I report you for business interference."
Jinhyeok tsked at the chaotic lobby, approaching the trembling team leader on the floor.
"You the one in charge?"
"Uh, w-we got a report... warrant..."
"Warrant? Show me."
Jinhyeok snatched the crumpled paper. Skimmed it, then snorted.
"Magical beast breeding violation? This hospital's licensed as a 'Special Purpose Magical Beast Protection Facility.' Zeus Guild vouched."
"St-still, unlicensed medical practice..."
"License? Got my vet license. I treat beasts, not people."
Jinhyeok shredded the warrant. Held the scraps to Balakas's nostril. Whoosh. Dragon breath turned them to ash instantly.
"See? Incinerated."
"Th-this is obstructing official—!"
"You're the obstruction. Can't you see the patients lined up behind me?"
Jinhyeok pointed back. There stood Ares Guild Master Ma Dongtak and dozens of pissed-off rankers, arms crossed, turns delayed. Their glares rivaled the dragon's lethality.
"Hey, suit clowns. I've waited two weeks for today. If you cancel it... you know."
Ma Dongtak cracked his knuckles with a wooden crunch.
"Eek!"
Officials and reporters were cornered. Dragon ahead, S-rank hunters behind.
And Ares Guild Master Ma Dongtak, no less. Ragged training pants, but his bulging muscles screamed presence.
To them, this was extradition territory beyond Korean admin reach.
"Three seconds. Or our security chief might think you're snacks."
Jinhyeok raised fingers.
"One."
"Retreat! Everyone retreat!"
With the team leader's scream, officials fled like receding tide. Shoes flying off unnoticed—pathetic spectacle.
Situation over. Lobby hunters cheered.
"Whoa! Director, nice!"
"God Jinhyeok! Even chases off bureaucrats!"
But Jinhyeok's face stayed cold. He spotted an ambulance marked "Apollo Hospital" amid the fleeing crowd. Obvious puppet master.
"Touched what they shouldn't have."
Jinhyeok beckoned Park Cheolwoo.
"Manager Park. Set it up."
"Set up what?"
"Live stream. They rolled out the mat—time to dance."
One hour later. Notification on the world's biggest video platform, Mitube.
As the stream went live, viewers exploded: 10k, 50k, 100k... Hit 500k in seconds. Chat scrolled at light speed.
Background: director's office. Jinhyeok in gown, arms crossed. Behind him, mini-Balakas (shrunk but not humanized) peeled and chomped tangerines—peel and all—on the sofa.
"Hello. Arcana Animal Medical Center Director Kang Jinhyeok here."
Jinhyeok stared into the camera.
"Something unsavory happened at the hospital today. Ministry of Health and Welfare, Hunter Management Bureau showed up. On someone's 'orders,' of course."
"Honestly, hilarious. Calling me unlicensed, ecosystem disruptor. Who saved the ones their healers couldn't touch and wanted to euthanize?"
Jinhyeok tossed a stack of charts on the desk.
"Check the records. Penguin heatstroke, dragon constipation, griffon fracture... All 'untreatable' from other hospitals. I fixed 'em. Now they interfere? Means patients' lives matter less than their rice bowls, right?"
Chat opinion boiled over.
Jinhyeok sipped water, lowering his voice.
"Fine. They want by the book? I'll play. I'll run my hospital my way too."
He spread his fingers at the camera.
"Effective immediately, we're enforcing a 'Blacklist.'"
"One: All healers registered with the Korean Healer Association."
"Two: Guilds affiliated with Apollo Medical Center."
"Three: Departments of the officials who raided today."
"No one on this list sets foot in my hospital. Ever."
Declaration of war. Chat froze. Too shocked to type.
"Bring cash? No. Beg on knees? No. Your precious partner dying? Not my problem. Go to your fancy licensed healers."
"Oh, and."
Jinhyeok added.
"Pre-booked on the list? Auto-canceled. Grievances to the association or director. 'Why can't I get treated cuz of you?'"
Sowing discord. Diabolical, effective. Hunters' rage now aimed at association and Apollo, not him.
"That's it. Ah, Guild Master Ma Dongtak? Thanks for waiting. Come in."
Jinhyeok opened the door, stream still live. Hulking brute Ma Dongtak entered, three-headed Cerberus tail-wagging behind.
"D-Director! Saw the stream! Felt so damn good!"
"Welcome. So this is the infamous hellhound."
Jinhyeok approached Cerberus casually. Viewers held breath. Treating that ferocious beast on stream?
"Heard it bit a healer's arm at Apollo?"
"Yes... Embarrassing. Temper's too nasty."
"Not temper."
Jinhyeok petted the center head. Side heads growled, snapping at his hand. He didn't dodge—flicked their noses like knuckle-rapping.
Snap! Snap!
"Yelp!"
"Yip!"
"See? Jealousy."
"Jealousy?"
"Cerberus has three egos. But owner always pets center head, feeds center mouth first. Sides feel neglected. Affection deprivation."
Jinhyeok pulled three treats from his pocket. Fed all three mouths simultaneously.
"Eat equal. No fighting."
Miracle. Always snarling, biting heads now meekly munched, tails (one tail, really) wagging wildly.
"No way..."
Ma Dongtak gaped. Jinhyeok winked at camera.
"See? No magic or curse lift needed. Just 'attention' and 'understanding.'"
"Our hospital heals minds too. Except association scum."
Stream end. Screen black, but fallout nuke-level.
That night. Healer Association site crashed from traffic overload. Apollo customer lines burned.
"Cancel the contract now! Penalty? Bullshit! Cuz of you, can't go to Director Kang for my baby!"
"Dropping association. Too filthy."
"Get the director out!"
Hunters revolted. Partners were lifelines, family. Only doc who could heal refusing? No loyalty to cause.
Zeus Medical Tower director's office. Jinhyeok poured wine, gazing out window. Phone buzzed nonstop with deposits.
"PR war, success."
Jinhyeok smiled. Obstacles cleared. Hunters would believe him if he said beans made bean paste.
Then, an old photo on the desk caught his eye. His wife, Yoo Isu.
"Watching? Your hubby's wielding real power now."
Jinhyeok downed the wine. Money, fame, now power in hand. One left: Open the door to where she was—the Abyss.
"Manager Park."
"Yes, Director."
"Post notice tomorrow. 'High-price buy for rare minerals & dungeon byproducts.' Especially dimension stones—lifetime free treatment for bringers."
"Dimension stones...? Only in S-rank dungeon boss rooms."
"Exactly. Time rankers loosened up."
Jinhyeok's eyes sharpened. No more hospital play. Time to assemble "Jinhyeok's Avengers" to save his wife.