Guild Clash in the Penthouse
Taejeong's flustered question hung in the air. "Who...?"
The staff member's expression shifted as he replied, "I'm Cha Min-su, reconnaissance captain of the Hanrasan Guild headquarters."
"What? What the hell is this...?"
"Sit down for now." The man pointed to the sofa in the reception room.
"What the fuck is going on here? And who are these people?"
Despite Taejeong's irritated tone, Cha Min-su remained utterly unfazed, leaning back leisurely on the sofa.
"Ah, these folks with me? They're just my subordinates I brought along for safety. I get it's confusing, but let's sit and talk it out. Not that it would come to that, but if you refuse to chat, I'll have no choice but to settle this by force. What's it gonna be? Care to have a civilized conversation with me from here on out?"
Anyone could see it was a blatant threat, and a whirlwind of thoughts raced through Taejeong's mind.
A guild and armed hunters. What the hell was happening all of a sudden?
Whatever it was, one thing was clear: the gear on the hunters lined up behind wasn't ordinary.
Honestly, he'd never seen hunters decked out in such flashy equipment in his entire life. Not even in his agency, which had its share of high-level hunters, had he laid eyes on gear like that.
I couldn't have done anything wrong. No way they know I'm a hidden class, right?
It was the most plausible explanation given the circumstances. A reconnaissance captain from guild HQ? That meant high-ranking executive. For someone like that to bring troops to track down a single guest in a hotel room... there was no other reason worth considering.
"I don't know what's going on, but I'll hear you out."
"Smart choice."
As Taejeong sat on the sofa, Cha Min-su leaned forward slightly and continued.
"I've introduced myself, so now let me tell you about our guild. Hanrasan. Officially ranked 16th by the government. A specialist guild with about 9,000 hunters and 100,000 employees. And we've never once fallen out of the top 20 in the corporate rankings."
Taejeong recalled the brief info he'd skimmed on Hanrasan that morning. He'd focused on the top ten, so he hadn't dug deep, but it was definitely in the upper ranks.
"So why would a powerhouse like that come after me?"
"We know you're a hidden class."
"Hidden? What are you talking about?"
"Hunters who use machines aren't exactly common. Hell, you're probably the only one. We did our homework, so don't bother denying it. We'd just be wasting each other's time."
Even though Taejeong had half-expected it, he couldn't hide his shock at Cha Min-su's words.
How the hell did they find out?
He'd been meticulous—always moving solo, hunting with utmost caution. Entering gates, exiting them, even inside dungeons, he'd never let his guard down.
Then a name flashed in his mind.
No way. Jo Yong-seok? Nah, that was Jeonics. Maybe one of those guys on the mountain was from Hanrasan?
As Taejeong ran through possibilities, Cha Min-su spoke again.
"No need for long-winded talk. Bottom line: join our guild."
"Hanrasan?"
"Our intel says you don't belong to any guild yet. Growth without one is impossible anyway, and we're not some second-rate outfit. Sounds like a solid offer for you."
Cha Min-su wasn't wrong. 16th in Korea overall— not top ten, but a guild with real competitive edge that could climb anytime. Conditions were TBD, but they wouldn't be bad.
"Can you give me time to think?"
"Sorry, but now that you've made contact with us, you decide here and now."
"And if I refuse?"
"Refuse? Then why do you think I brought these guys?"
Cha Min-su glanced back at his lined-up hunters, and Taejeong's face darkened.
Not certain, but it screamed intent to use force.
So I've got no choice but to go along?
No other options seemed available.
"Mind telling me what conditions you'd offer?"
"Top-tier treatment in the industry, of course. Though we'll need to run some tests on you first. So, decided?"
"Doesn't seem like I've got alternatives... Fine, I'll do it."
"Excellent decision."
Cha Min-su stood and extended a hand. Taejeong rose and shook it.
That was when it happened.
Click.
A commotion erupted at the entrance. Cha Min-su frowned and barked loudly.
"What the hell? I said no one comes in!"
A unfamiliar voice replied from the doorway. "So this is the famous penthouse at Hanrasan Myeongdo Hotel."
"What?"
Sensing something off, Cha Min-su turned. Armed hunters were already flooding into the living room.
His own forces instantly drew weapons.
"Who the fuck are you!?"
The leader stepped forward. Cha Min-su's eyes widened in disbelief.
"You... you?"
"Long time no see, intel chief. Or should I say reconnaissance captain now?"
"Lee Mu-bae? How the hell did you get here?"
Lee Mu-bae. Ranger Guild's intel advisor, a special-grade hunter ranked S in combat power.
He and Cha Min-su had clashed two years ago over the New Yongsan office site.
But how was he showing up here, deep in enemy territory?
"What the fuck do you think you're doing? Do you even know where you are?"
Lee Mu-bae smirked at Cha Min-su's furious tone. "Why? We paid good money to be guests here too. Don't be like that; it'd hurt our feelings."
"Shut your mouth. This is blatant provocation. You know what this means?"
"What, war at worst?"
"What did you say?"
"Truth be told, I didn't expect you here. Figured some mid-level manager at most. Good thing I brought backup."
"What do you want?"
"What do I want? Stupid question. When an S-rank hunter from a rival guild storms in with troops, it's obvious. That young guy behind you? Hand him over."
Cha Min-su's face hardened. His hunch was right.
This just got complicated. Him coming personally means they're ready for a fight...
Cha Min-su was S-rank too, so one-on-one he wouldn't lose. The issue was Lee Mu-bae's troops. Not just more numerous, but better composed than his recon team.
Combat specialists vs. intel gatherers—even at similar grades, the gap was huge.
If it came to blows now, Cha Min-su's side would lose.
But worry quickly faded from his eyes.
Lucky this is the reception room.
His hand subtly moved toward a switch on the wall. An emergency muster button to call reinforcements nearby.
Hold out until they arrived, and they'd win.
"Hey, Lee Mu-bae."
"Giving up?"
"Give up? Don't be ridiculous. But if you want this guy, maybe we negotiate terms."
"Stalling for time, huh."
"If you're so confident, come and get him. A clash means you won't walk away unscathed either."
"And?"
"If your offer's better, we'll let the kid decide."
"Fine. Then we add one condition to whatever you proposed. Hell, we could even offer guild master if you want."
"Wh-what? You spouting nonsense from where?"
"You're the one talking shit. Attack!"
At Lee Mu-bae's order, the hunters charged.
Cha Min-su's face twisted. He'd tried to buy time for reinforcements, but they'd seen right through it.
Facing the onslaught, he drew his sword and leaped forward. His lined-up hunters followed into the fray.
Clang!
Klang!
Shuuuuaak!
Thud!
In seconds, the melee erupted. The hunters' blinding swordplay, movements too fast to track, and skill blasts had already demolished every piece of furniture in the living room.
A space bigger than a gym lay in ruins in mere moments.
Watching it unfold live, Taejeong was dumbfounded.
What the actual fuck? A bolt from the blue.
Hanrasan and Ranger. Never dreamed guilds like these would come for him, let alone fight to the death over it.
With power beyond imagination.
Is this what guild wars look like?
He'd only heard rumors; first time seeing it for real.
Admiration was short-lived. Worry flooded in.
Ranger, fighting Hanrasan, had a notorious rep. One of the guilds you never joined, per community consensus.
If Hanrasan lost, he'd be forced into Ranger.
His gaze drifted to the entrance.
Could I Blaster my way out?
He shook his head immediately. Breaking through that chaos? Suicide.
All he could do was wait.
Ten minutes into the fight, Cha Min-su's hunters started dropping, injured one by one. Some already combat-ineffective.
Knowing this, Cha Min-su cursed the absent reinforcements. They should be here by now.
Clashing swords with him, Lee Mu-bae taunted as if urging surrender. "Just hand him over. You're done in five minutes."
"Bullshit."
"Waiting for backup? Think we've been sitting on our hands?"
"What?"
"Game over. Don't make it worse."
Lee Mu-bae was right; the scene told the tale.
Time to decide. After agonizing, Cha Min-su's lips parted.
"Deputy! Eliminate him!"
At the order, a hunter from the right rear shot toward the reception room.
Better dead than handed to enemies—a brutal industry rule.
Panicking, Cha Min-su yelled, "Stop him!"
"Too late."
"You bastard!"
As Lee Mu-bae realized, Taejeong stared at the massive light sword hurtling toward him.
It overwhelmed his vision. No dodging that.
These fuckers are even worse scum.
As he squeezed his eyes shut, bracing for the end—
Suddenly, something red surged up before him.
The incoming sword shattered into thousands of fragments, scattering.
And there, blocking his path, stood the back of a woman with long red hair.