Fractured Brotherhood
The day after dismantling the black market run by the Yamamoto expedition, I paid a visit to Ichijo, an S-rank Japanese hunter.
Surveillance from Zhang Wei's side was tight—always at least two A-rank hunters nearby—but if I wanted to meet him, it wasn't hard at all.
Ichijo's face registered shock at my sudden appearance after I'd neutralized his watchers in an instant.
"Who the hell are you?!"
Ichijo fumbled for his weapon in a panic, shrinking back in a way that didn't suit an S-rank hunter at all.
He must have suspected I was a Yamamoto hunter come to execute a traitor.
I locked eyes with him for a moment, meeting the frantic flicker in his gaze.
Truth be told, brainwashing an S-rank hunter is no easy feat.
Crushing their ego outright is simple enough with brute force, but full mental domination or subtle suggestion is another matter entirely.
Like with Lee Ha-na or Jeong Soo-ah before, it's straightforward if they're mentally exhausted or put up no resistance.
But S-ranks have innate resistances and iron wills, demanding precise control of my power.
Luckily, Ichijo was cornered—shattered by betrayal and terrified that Yamamoto's people might come for him any moment. It made domination straightforward.
With the Magic Eye's aid, a brief eye contact was all it took before Ichijo dropped to his knees.
"My lord! This Ichijo offers you everything I have!"
I'd just acquired a valuable S-rank pawn.
Alongside Toda, I hoped he'd prove useful in many ways going forward.
If he handled things cleanly, I planned to keep him even after this affair ended.
After all, fresh S-rank talent like this didn't come around often.
Over the next few days, I received various reports from Toda.
The expedition's mood was far from normal.
And who could blame them? Overnight, they'd lost six S-ranks, numerous A-ranks, lower ranks besides, and even their black market. The atmosphere was toxic at best.
To top it off, word spread that Ichijo—one of their S-ranks—had betrayed them. The Yamamoto brothers were reportedly furious enough for murder to erupt at any moment.
Indeed, in an official setting, Kazuki had publicly lambasted Kazuma over Ichijo's betrayal, and Kazuma fired back just as fiercely over the black market collapse.
The brothers' simmering feud, once kept under wraps, had erupted into the open.
Perfect, I thought.
Acting on Toda's intel, I began my own maneuvers.
I funneled goods seized from the Yamamoto black market into Zhang Wei's underground channels, one by one.
With the brothers' infighting sowing chaos internally, did the Yamamoto side even have the bandwidth to track Zhang Wei's movements?
I doubted it—and sure enough, they bit the bait quickly.
All their suspicions, once baseless, were confirmed as fact.
The Yamamoto expedition concluded Zhang Wei's crew had hit their black market.
How could they stay cool-headed seeing their own stolen goods peddled so brazenly?
Retaliation was swift.
Thus began all-out war between the two camps.
The external enemy was just the unifier they needed amid their internal disarray.
At least on the surface.
Lately, Seoul's back alleys had grown chaotic.
Hunters from the Yamamoto expedition clashed daily with those under Zhang Wei.
Injuries were routine; deaths piled up. The skirmishes were turning lethal.
Even oblivious regular hunters caught wind, and now rumors reached civilians.
The Association or government could intervene any day without raising eyebrows.
Normally, they'd pull back under that pressure—but the Yamamoto side, eyes bloodshot with rage, showed no restraint.
Acting like this was their homeland, they rampaged worse than back in Japan.
Zhang Wei's forces met them head-on without flinching, escalating the brawl further.
No top-ranks like S-ranks had stepped in yet, but the trajectory suggested it wouldn't be long.
While the two sides bled each other dry, I moved in the shadows.
Tipped off by Toda on fight locations, I teamed with Ichijo for strikes.
To balance the scales—since Yamamoto had suffered heavier losses in the black market raid—I targeted Zhang Wei's hunters.
I didn't forget to brainwash a few promising ones along the way.
A bit late, but it was time to plant spies in Zhang Wei's camp too. With Toda's help, I recruited several Japanese hunters for odd jobs.
The Magic Eye selected them under my direction, so ranks varied—but one was even A-rank.
I hadn't learned his name yet, but he seemed sharp enough. I'd know soon.
Higher-ranked than Toda the C-rank, but I left his oversight to Toda entirely.
It might overwhelm Toda, but I hoped he'd grow into it.
I didn't know exactly how hunter growth worked, but like with the lizardmen before, a good grind should do it.
At least A-rank. S-rank would be ideal.
Time to work him hard.
As I subtly evened the odds between Yamamoto and Zhang Wei, their feud intensified.
The S-ranks, who had held back, finally stirred.
Things were about to get busier.
Naturally, with Zhang Wei holding more S-rank muscle than Yamamoto, I'd prioritize them to rebalance.
Ichijo, nursing grudges from prior beatings, was thrilled.
Fine. Here's your revenge.
"Gahk…!"
The notorious Chinese S-rank hunter 'Yeo Mun' spewed blood and collapsed.
"You bastard…! Ichijo! Lord Zhang Wei showed rare mercy, yet you… dare…!"
"Hmph! Mercy? He said it himself—'just using you'! Did you think I'd tamely play along?!"
"Urk…! You! Won't you avenge yourself against the Yamamoto brothers?!"
"I won't dirty my hands relying on scum like you for my revenge!"
Slash—
Ichijo's blade severed Yeo Mun's head.
He stared impassively at the rolling skull, then turned.
"My lord! The enemy commander's head is yours!"
"…Well done."
I eyed Ichijo's eager bow with mild distaste.
What to make of him? The epitome of a loyal warrior.
In his Japanese terms, a samurai, perhaps?
His devotion pleased me, but there was a catch…
"Whatever blocks my lord's path, this Ichijo will cleave with all my might! Just command me!"
His kneeling evoked Toda.
Yes, Ichijo was an exemplary warrior—with one qualifier.
'Blindly devoted.'
Good or bad?
His loyalty charmed me, but the excess was the issue.
Still, no harm to me. Let it be for now.
One—no, two such subordinates weren't so bad.
…Come to think of it, most Magic Eye-brainwashed ones end up like this.
Not mere suggestions, but deep conditioning like Toda or Ichijo left them uniformly fanatic.
Fine for a couple, but all of them? Problematic.
Thus, Ichijo and I steadily whittled Zhang Wei's forces.
Enlisting a few via Magic Eye, I learned China fielded a staggering twenty-five S-ranks.
Ichijo had said Yamamoto had thirteen—so nearly double in S-rank power alone.
With Korea's S-ranks numbering around thirty, China's depth awed once more.
Fourteen billion people yield monstrous numbers.
The mainland surely had more. Impressive in every sense.
With so many S-ranks, trimming a few wouldn't show.
No regrets in culling.
Was it the rapid attrition of low-ranks and high-ranks alike?
Zhang Wei's side began hesitating.
No fool, he sensed something off.
But unlike his heavy losses, Yamamoto took minimal hits—so they pressed harder, no thought of stopping.
Sensing weakness, they aimed to crush Zhang Wei utterly.
Did Wang Feng's shadow not concern them?
Or plan to deal with him post-victory?
Either way, music to my ears.
The more they felt superior, the slacker they'd get—ripe for other ideas.
Late night, nearing dawn.
With most forces tied up fighting Zhang Wei, someone slipped quietly into Kazuma's chambers.
"…Who goes there?"
A low growl and crushing pressure slammed toward the intruder—Ichijo.
Ichijo bowed hastily toward Kazuma, who sat back-turned, not even glancing.
"Have you been well, Lord Kazuma?!"
"…Ichijo. What gall brings you before me?"
Ichijo gritted his teeth against the oozing killing intent.
His voice trembled as he spoke.
"It's a misunderstanding, Lord Kazuma."
"Misunderstanding? What's to misunderstand? Your betrayal of me? Or handing our intel to those snakes? No excuses! Atone with your head!"
Thud—
Kazuma rose, drawing his greatsword to behead Ichijo in one stroke.
Desperate, Ichijo blurted:
"All a misunderstanding! I didn't betray—I was betrayed!"
The blade halted at his crown.
Kazuma, weapon undrawn, asked coolly:
"Explain."
Sssring—Kazuma sheathed his sword.
Deciding to hear him out? Ichijo pressed on, fearing a change of heart.
"All Yoshida's doing! He was colluding with Zhang Wei first! And Kazuki too…!"
"Enough! Ichijo! Sowing discord between Kazuki and me, eh? Your 'misunderstanding' is lies—you betrayed us!"
"Set brotherly bonds aside and hear me coldly! This is Kazuki and Yoshida's scheme!"
Kazuma raised his greatsword again—but it stayed put.
"…Convince me. Every detail, nothing omitted!"
Sheathing once more, Kazuma prompted. Prostrated, Ichijo smirked faintly.
As his new lord commanded, he methodically swayed Kazuma.
United against Zhang Wei outwardly, the brothers' bond was cracked deep—easy prey.
"Yoshida as vanguard, Kazuki—no, that bastard—aims to oust you completely!"
"Urgh…!"
"Recall Kazuki's attitude toward you? Subtle disdain, never overt—but there! Stay passive, and you're done!"
Kazuma fell silent, lips tight. Simmering killing intent betrayed his leanings.
"…Ichijo. Proof you didn't betray? And if betrayed, why not report immediately?"
"I wanted to, but branded traitor, I'd die before explaining!"
"…I see. So you slipped in during lax HQ defenses?"
"Yes! I trusted you'd judge objectively, Lord Kazuma!"
Kazuma nodded slowly.
Ichijo piled on:
"I didn't idle! I've secretly culled Chinese forces to help!"
"…So their S-rank drop was your doing?"
"Yes!"
That sealed it.
Kazuma fully trusted his once-loyal right hand—evidence solid.
Conversely, hatred for brother Kazuki and Yoshida swelled.
"…Kazuma. I spared him for brotherhood, but striking first changes everything… unforgivable."
He muttered, unbridled killing intent leaking.
"Ichijo!"
"Yes, Lord Kazuma!"
"One head suffices for the Yamamoto expedition! From today, I lead it! Aid me!"
"As you command!"
At last, Kazuma moved to eliminate his brother.
Civil war ignited.
A lone serpent, watching all, smiled quietly.