Chapter 9
Chapter 9
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: Teynen Guild (1)
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Mana stone energy was now being discussed as one of the eco-friendly energy sources.
The entire world was cutting back on fossil fuels to combat global warming, but it was impossible to meet all power demands with just solar, wind, and hydroelectric generators.
That's where mana stones came in as a viable alternative.
Using technology acquired from other dimensions, humanity had begun converting the magical energy in mana stones into electricity.
Thanks to rapid technological progress, even F-rank mana stones could now generate vast amounts of electricity.
Moreover, as new weapons powered by magical energy were developed, demand for mana stones skyrocketed.
To the point where supply simply couldn't keep up.
All mana stones purchased by the Hunter Association were funneled straight into the national treasury.
After all, the entire purchase budget came from national funds to begin with.
"Arbon."
"Yes, understood."
Arbon contacted the bus drivers again and canceled the truck rental.
A short while later, the Hunter Association sent over a phone number.
When Kang-hyuk messaged that number with the detailed address,
[We'll arrive on site in 30 minutes. Please wait just a moment.]
came the reply.
"Send the detailed address to the bus drivers too. Tell them the area's safe, so they can come in."
"Yes, understood."
With that, the homunculi sat down amid the piles of mana stones near the villa and took a 30-minute break.
About 27 minutes later, the trucks rolled into the street.
Kang-hyuk raised his right hand toward the trucks.
A staff member from the Hunter Association's Sejong City branch, riding in the passenger seat, stepped out of the vehicle.
"Are you Hunter Park Kang-hyuk?"
"Yes, that's me."
"The mana stones..."
"They're over there."
The staff member looked in the direction Kang-hyuk pointed.
"Whoa... that's a lot."
A small crane that had followed the trucks approached the mana stones.
While the stones were being loaded onto the trucks, the homunculi dispersed around the area, entering alert mode.
All of them had now reached the realm of Highest Expert.
Arbon, in particular, had advanced to Mid Sword Master, making him a match for an S2-rank Hunter.
"Payment for the mana stones will be deposited within a week. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us."
"Yes, got it."
"Then, we'll be on our way..."
Once the trucks and crane departed, four small buses approached the villa building.
"Board the vehicles!"
The homunculi filed onto the buses one by one.
Thus, the GH Guild members returned home without a single casualty.
Upon arriving at GH Guild's First and Second Headquarters, the homunculi prepared their naturalization applications.
"For place of origin... just say you came from another dimension. Something like a dimension ruled by otherworld races should work. The reason for defection is solid enough."
"Yes, we'll look into other dimensions."
"Good, thanks for the effort."
Arbon and the others fabricated documents for their origins, past records, and the like.
They submitted naturalization applications in turn, then took the Hunter qualification exam and Korean language test.
Were they all possessing A-rank Hunter-level abilities or higher?
In any case, their naturalization permits, resident registration cards, and Republic of Korea Hunter licenses were issued swiftly.
Additionally, with Kang-hyuk as the representative, they officially established the GH Guild and enrolled all the naturalized homunculi as members.
The Association side caught wind of the newly rising GH Guild and grew suspicious.
"All the newly naturalized Hunters... joined the GH Guild founded by Hunter Park Kang-hyuk?"
"Yes. They say they met Park Kang-hyuk while subjugating magic beasts in Wanjugun. Also, aside from these new otherworlders who've naturalized, there are apparently many more otherworlders who crossed into Jeollado and are living in hiding."
"Hmm..."
"The issue is that four small buses entered and exited Wanjugun with Hunter Park Kang-hyuk a few days ago. He claims they were Hunters he knew from his porter days..."
"As for whether Hunter Park Kang-hyuk is an otherworlder..."
"Unlikely. There are proper records of him. His parents are alive too."
"...For now, investigate the GH Guild. Keep tabs on Hunter Park Kang-hyuk's movements as well."
"Yes, understood."
Kang-hyuk checked on Arbon's naturalization process, then spread his wings and flew straight to Geochang County in Gyeongsang Province.
The naturalization procedure had been simpler than expected.
'Better to grow the homunculi first, then get them naturalized.'
It was preferable to having them live in hiding like some criminal outfit.
Kang-hyuk arrived in Geochang County in just one hour.
Like Wanjugun, the town center was deserted due to the magic beast attacks.
Summoning a single homunculus cost 10 mana.
In other words, he could summon 24,749,316 homunculi at once.
Excluding the ones already summoned, that left room for over 18 million more...
He could summon them all in one go if he wanted.
Of course, he had no intention of doing so.
He summoned 500,000 in Gyeongsang Province and another 500,000 in Jeollado, then reinforced some of them as escorts.
The 1 million summoned homunculi were organized into 20 legions, subdivided into divisions and brigades.
Kang-hyuk appointed those who had grown to Highest Expert as officers.
"Don't rush. Slowly... strengthen your abilities."
"Yes, understood."
"The First Legion Commander will act as Supreme Commander in my stead. Each Legion Commander, take the inner cores from the boxes. Starting today, distribute LV.2 inner cores to regular soldiers, and LV.3 to officers."
Of course, the officers had already consumed LV.12 inner cores over two days to secure 240 mana.
With their current mana, they couldn't sustain Highest Expert sword aura for long.
"Once all soldiers reach Low Expert or higher, contact me. I'll send reinforcements."
"Yes, understood."
These forces would later be deployed to conquer North Korea.
They'd demand about 30% of North Korean territory from the South Korean government, ceding the rest in exchange.
The homunculi began securing supplies from the empty cities in Gyeongsang and Jeolla Provinces to sustain themselves.
Once GH Guild's revenue grew, he planned to supply vehicles and goods to each legion.
"...At least get them some vehicles."
While Kang-hyuk was laying the foundations for his nation-building, Kim Min-chan, master of Teynen Guild, heard the news about GH Guild and let out a hollow laugh.
"They... founded a guild?"
"Yes."
Min-chan furrowed his brow, sinking into thought for a moment.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Teynen, Goguryeo, and Hwarang dominated Korea's Hunter world.
In other words, the high-rank dungeon gates were divided three ways.
The Hunter Association merely managed them.
The three great guilds monopolized the high-rank gates.
At this rate, they might have to cede some territory to GH Guild.
And Teynen's influence would wane as a result.
"If they'd joined another major guild, fine—but founding their own? No, if he won't join Teynen... it might be better to just eliminate Hunter Park Kang-hyuk."
Once GH Guild started growing in earnest, it would become a threat to Teynen.
"Hunter Arbon, an S2-rank, has joined GH Guild."
"Make a scouting offer to him."
"Yes, understood."
Min-chan quietly closed his eyes.
'Park Kang-hyuk was just an E-rank. Fresh off reawakening... I could take him out myself.'
Even with that otherworlder Arbon around, it was no issue.
Teynen had five S2-rank Hunters alone.
Among the three great guilds, Teynen boasted the most S-rank Hunters.
Min-chan wanted Teynen at the pinnacle of Korea.
It was close now.
Three S3-rank Hunters under Teynen would soon promote to S2.
In a few years, Teynen would reign supreme.
But Park Kang-hyuk's emergence was shaking the board.
If Goguryeo or Hwarang got their hands on him, all plans would go up in smoke.
"Killing a national power-level Hunter with my own hands feels a bit off."
Still, taking out Park Kang-hyuk would net him an enormous experience gain.
"Check GH Guild's schedule right now."
"We've already done that. The Association reserved an A-rank dungeon for them."
"Tch, cocky bastards..."
The Hunter Association was supposed to mediate between guilds, but it rarely did so effectively.
Even Association Chairman Lee Ho-seok struggled against guild masters—what could the Association's Hunters do?
All they could do was politely request guild cooperation.
"If the Association gets chummy with GH Guild, it'll be a real pain."
Min-chan nodded once at his vice master's opinion.
"Check the A-rank dungeon GH reserved first. And... summon the S-rank Hunters."
"Including Hunter Lee Soo-jin?"
"Leave her out."
She had a strong sense of justice.
She'd oppose assassinating Hunter Park Kang-hyuk.
Eliminating her would hurt Teynen too.
She was an S2-rank, after all.
"We'll prepare right away."
Teynen confirmed the gate GH had reserved, then immediately contacted the manager and handed over 100 million won in cash.
The manager swallowed hard, eyeing the small box stuffed with 50,000-won bills.
"If the op succeeds, we'll pay another 200 million right away. Cash."
"Ah..."
"Just pretend we were never here. Shut off the CCTV for a bit."
"Ah... got it."
The gate manager nodded eagerly.
An S1-rank Hunter dying in an A-rank dungeon?
The world might scoff.
But a freshly reawakened S1-rank who overestimated himself? That happened plenty.
Of course, none had been national power-level...
'Sh... should be fine, right?'
The manager smirked faintly as he fondled the bills.
At that moment, around 20 S-rank Hunters gathered in the master suite on the top floor of Teynen Guild headquarters.
Among them was S3-rank Hunter Lee Sung-ho.
He listened to the master, his eyes gleaming.
"Park Kang-hyuk's supernova rise will hurt our Teynen Guild too. It'd be great if he joined us, but... better to eliminate him before he goes to the Association or another guild. Peace of mind."
"Doesn't the mere existence of a national power-level Hunter shift national influence? Especially to check China—don't we need Hunter Park Kang-hyuk for that...?"
As several Hunters raised objections, Sung-ho's brow twitched slightly.
Min-chan listened calmly to his officers' concerns.
It was only natural, considering the national situation.