You Fired the Master

Jo Youchan's face lit up the instant he saw the name on the incoming call.

"Dad!"

Jo Paldeok. Guild Master of Jingyeok.

"You're out of the Tower?"

"Yes!"

"Nothing going on?"

Oh, there was plenty going on. Jo Youchan couldn't keep the grin off his face.

"You haven't even seen the news, have you?"

The faint tap of a screen came through the line as Jo Paldeok started digging around online mid-call.

"So, here's what happened..."

Youchan walked him through everything. Then only the important part was left.

"Dad, it's not like that."

"About that..."

Tower records?

Jo Youchan's mouth curled into a slow, wicked smile. He hesitated for a beat. I can tell him, right? He said he was registering as a hunter today. The articles will be out by tomorrow anyway.

"Dad. Don't freak out, okay? The person is..."

A massive tremor and a deafening roar shook the Hunter Management Headquarters to its foundations.

"Hhhk—!"

"A-an earthquake!?"

Yoon Seongcheol, Head of Conquest Planning, and his subordinate scrambled down to the first floor. What they found in the lobby was a gaping hole blown straight through the wall.

"A terrorist attack?"

A hunter was a human weapon. That was precisely why the state controlled unauthorized climbing — get stronger in the Tower, and you were no different from an illegally armed combatant. Hunters had caused no shortage of disasters throughout history, so Yoon Seongcheol's mind went to terrorism as a matter of course.

Fortunately, the lobby was full of witnesses. The receptionist spotted Yoon and spoke up at once.

"That man is Master! The Master!"

"Excuse me!?"

"A Chinese man impersonating Master tried to kill him. But instead, well... that happened."

The details would have to wait for a proper investigation. Yoon and his subordinate, however, had already caught the scent of something far bigger, and they started whispering.

Hey. This is...

This is what Director Jeong Sangguk was talking about!

A special gift, he'd said. That gift was Master!?

How did the senior even know Master personally?

Priorities first — contain the scene. The Awakened Police Division arrived shortly after, a specialized unit that handled hunter-related crimes. Fortunately, Hyeonseok's questioning was deferred. Several factors had been taken into account: the number of witnesses, the fact that the attacker was a wanted Chinese operative, Yoon Seongcheol's forceful advocacy — and, above all, the fact that ironclad identity verification was possible.

Whoosh—

Hyeonseok materialized back where he'd been standing.

"H-he's the real Master!"

"So that hole was really punched by a fourteenth-floor hunter?"

"Per Headquarters' verification, we will not be taking him into custody on-site."

Any follow-up investigation would be quietly buried later, once a certain future Headquarters Director stepped in personally.

The two of them escorted Hyeonseok upstairs. Only then could he finally breathe.

Hah... I really went and caused a scene on registration day, just like I did on my first day at work.

Fortunately, it hadn't blown up any further. The higher-ups who'd gotten a call from Jeong Sangguk had already smoothed everything over.

"A pleasure! Yoon Seongcheol, Head of Conquest Planning, Hunter Management Headquarters."

"Kang Hyunwoo, Team Leader, Conquest Planning."

"Do Hyeonseok. Newly registered hunter."

Hyeonseok started with the attacker.

"C-China is targeting me?"

A chill ran down his spine. The kind of thing you only ever saw in movies, happening to him in real life. The two Headquarters officials, however, were the ones who actually had goosebumps.

"According to the data, he was a thirtieth-floor hunter. And you dropped him in a single blow with fourteenth-floor stats..."

"Thirtieth floor? Ah. So that's about where the thirtieth floor sits."

The offhand calm in his voice startled them all over again. They put their heads together in a whisper.

Good lord. I never imagined Director Jeong's "gift" would be Master.

Are you sure you heard the senior right? I thought he was sending us Hanwoo beef or something.

He sounded so pleased, said we'd be in for a real surprise... I figured he was mailing us a care package.

And that care package had been Master. They were surprised, all right.

"Wait a moment, Hunter Do Hyeonseok. Senior Jeong's SS-Rank Clear — was that...?"

"Ah. Yes. I offered him a word or two of advice."

"Don't tell me Hunter Jo Youchan as well?"

"Yes."

Yoon Seongcheol nearly short-circuited on the spot. As if being monstrously skilled in his own right weren't enough — the man had produced two SS-Rank Clears from the people under his guidance.

If this man sided with the nation...

Not as a corporate hunter. Not as a guild hunter. As an asset of the Republic of Korea. It would be the kind of achievement that sat on Yoon's record for decades.

"Would you have any interest in contracting with the government...?"

"I'm sorry."

"W-would you at least hear the terms? We'll match whatever you ask!"

"I'm planning to help my father's guild."

"Your father?"

Hold on. He'd said his name was Do Hyeonseok.

"Would you happen to be Hunter Do Hyeoncheol's son?"

"I am."

"Whoa, sir!"

Beside him, Team Leader Kang Hyunwoo all but bounced in place.

"This is a propaganda goldmine! We can bury the anxiety around the top-floor conquest for the time being!"

Hyeonseok felt his face heat a little at the reaction.

I know Father's reputation is something else, but... that much?

Yoon Seongcheol nodded slowly. Master, the son of a legend. The kind of narrative that would make journalists and the public lose their minds.

And this tanks the odds of him emigrating, too.

Recruiting him as a government hunter had failed — but this picture was plenty satisfying on its own.

"Anyway. That's why I'm staying with Jingyeok."

"What a shame. A real shame. At least take a look at the benefits, then. You never know how you'll feel later."

Yoon held out a catalog.

"Ah. Sure."

There were enough benefits to fill a catalog? And the contents were dazzling.

"A-an annual salary of ten billion won!?"

"On the low side, honestly, relative to the value Master will command going forward. But we'll renegotiate as your floor count rises."

On top of that: legal immunity for incidents like today's, ministerial-level protocol, a private residence in the heart of Seoul. And if he ever hit a wall in the Tower, he could draw treasure-grade items from the national treasury.

This was getting genuinely tempting.

Do I just... sign?

If it weren't for his father, he would have folded on the spot. And besides — Uncle Paldeok's offer might be just as good.

He clenched the hand that had been hovering over the page and held it still.

"If you change your mind, please tell us. And if anything inconvenient comes up like it did today, call this number..."

"Ah. Yes, sir."

Another backer, just like that. Come to think of it, they'd called Jeong Sangguk "senior." Did that put Jeong above this man?

He wrapped up the conversation cleanly and walked out of the Headquarters building, leaving the enormous hole he'd punched in the wall behind him. There was still something he needed to do. He called immediately.

"Are you at the headquarters building?"

Something good? Obviously.

"I'm heading over!"

You're about to have something to be fired up about too, Dad.

The Vice Guild Master sat in his office, turning the same thought over and over.

Of all people, Jeong Sangguk had to go and hit SS-Rank.

Jeong Sangguk had been an enemy for a long time already. Anxiety had dried his mouth to paper. At this rate, a 40th-floor clear was only a matter of time — and the next Headquarters Director seat was as good as his. Yoo Sangyeon had made himself a very large enemy.

Damn it.

Who could have seen this coming?

How did a talentless hack like him even pull an SS-Rank? How?

Two SS-Rank Clears in a row, both out of Jingyeok, the first in a decade — that was strange enough on its own. Fine. Stretch it, and you could write Jo Youchan off as coincidence. The kid was a genius.

But Jeong Sangguk? That was wrong. Something was off.

There's something here.

He dug into what the two of them had in common, and a peculiar detail surfaced.

Both of them were assigned to Support Team 3?

Jeong Sangguk had transferred to Team 3 all of two days ago. There was no way that was nothing.

The Vice Guild Master listened through the illegal bugs he'd planted throughout the building, catching every conversation they had. And he found it.

"...Hah."

The Vice Guild Master sank back into his chair. They're coming after me?

...No. This isn't something I can ignore.

Their little scheme was already producing results. Jo ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Youchan and Jeong Sangguk were living proof.

Do Hyeoncheol's hand-picked successor, Do Hyeonseok? A new legend?

He couldn't let that stand. The sale of the guild to a foreign buyer was right around the corner. He summoned a subordinate.

"Have Do Hyeoncheol and Do Hyeonseok both forcibly expelled. Today."

"Sir?"

"Shall I repeat myself?"

The subordinate looked uneasy at the sudden order.

"There will be blowback. Do Hyeoncheol is retiring soon, so that can be managed — but Do Hyeonseok is a staff employee. Employment law, pushback from the rest of the staff..."

"I'll take full responsibility."

A hard play. He couldn't give them even one more day to keep maneuvering. Do Hyeonseok had barely started, and look at the mess already.

Fine. I caught it in time. That means I've ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠already won.

Blowback? All he had done was wrongfully dismiss a single employee.

Jeong Sangguk, on the other hand, could not be touched. Fire an SS-Rank hunter? The guild vote would have him removed by nightfall.

Hyeonseok, though. He'd raised an SS-Rank hunter? An achievement that abstract had no way of being proven in front of the guild members. In a courtroom, even less so. Who would believe it?

"It's done."

Not long after.

"Vice Guild Master. Do Hyeoncheol is requesting a meeting."

"I'll go to him. Where is he?"

"In his own office."

Vice Guild Master Yoo Sangyeon went downstairs to find Do Hyeoncheol.

I win, Do Hyeoncheol.

The door opened, and a shout hit him in the face.

"Yoo Sangyeon! What the hell is this!? Fine, do what you want with me — but firing my son—"

"Did you really think everything would go your way?"

Do Hyeoncheol's brow furrowed.

"What?"

"It's over. Step down quietly, Do Hyeoncheol. Do that, and I'll convert it to a voluntary retirement and make sure you keep the pension."

"What kind of nonsense is that."

Do Hyeoncheol still hadn't pieced it together. In the Vice Guild Master's eyes, it just looked like a loser thrashing.

"What, was being thrown out by my hand that humiliating? You burned through that much guild money on so-called rehab. I'd have thought you'd be satisfied."

"Yoo Sangyeon. Something's changed in you. What are you afraid of?"

"Afraid? The one who should be afraid is you, Do Hyeoncheol."

The argument was still flying when another voice cut in from the doorway.

"Dad?"

Both men looked toward the door. Hyeonseok, arriving as promised. And then—

"What are you talking about? The Vice Guild Master is forcing you out? I thought you were retiring because rehab wasn't working."

"Hyeonseok."

Do Hyeoncheol panicked and tried to usher his son back out. The Vice Guild Master got there first.

"Mr. Do Hyeonseok. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠As of today, you are dismissed."

"Excuse me?"

Do Hyeonseok, the man who produced SS-Rank hunters. He would have raised the guild's value considerably. They could have sold it for a higher price.

But he's trying to drive me out?

There was no reason to take the risk. Not getting greedy for a higher bid — kicking Hyeonseok out — ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was the correct call.

"This guild is already in my hands. Don't do anything foolish. Go look after yourself somewhere else."

Hyeonseok's face tightened. He couldn't quite follow the machinery grinding behind all this. What he did know was that this man was putting him and his father in a corner.

And not a retirement. A firing.

I can get fired. Dad can't.

His father's ending was not allowed to be filthy. This wasn't some disposable guild. This was the guild that held his father's youth. This was Uncle Jo Paldeok's guild.

To be thrown out of a place like that. He couldn't let that happen.

Is there a way? If I use the fact that I'm Master...

He was still turning it over when another voice walked into the room.

"Vice Guild Master Yoo Sangyeon."

The three of them each reacted differently.

"Jo Paldeok!"

"Uncle Paldeok?"

"G-Guild Master."

Jo Paldeok. Guild Master of Jingyeok.

"If you're here, that means the top-floor conquest—"

"We'll talk about that later. First things first."

Jo Paldeok's gaze settled on Yoo Sangyeon. A faint tremor ran through the Vice Guild Master's frame.

"...You've returned much sooner than expected. You've had a long journey, Guild Master."

"Vice Guild Master. I already have the full picture. By the authority of the Guild Master, you are dismissed."

Yoo Sangyeon bit down on his lip. He did not step back.

"The Guild Master does not have that authority."

Even a Guild Master could not casually remove a Vice Guild Master.

"You'll need to follow proper procedure. Shall we put a dismissal to a guild vote?"

He looked thoroughly sure of himself. The Vice Guild Master was certain a majority would never materialize. This guild was already halfway his.

"Fine. Let's do that."

"Hah. It will be a waste of time."

"No. If the justification is strong enough, even the people in your camp won't be able to cover for you blindly."

"And what would that powerful justification be? Don't tell me it's that you two were shown the door."

"That's right. More precisely — Hyeonseok."

Hyeonseok flinched.

"Me?"

"Guild Master, that's absurd."

Even so, the Vice Guild Master only snorted.

"The ability to produce two SS-Rank Clears. Impressive, I'll grant you. But how do you plan to explain that to people? That some new hire on a support team was secretly a peerless expert — is that the story you're going with?"

Hyeonseok's ability was still unknown. All that had spread was that Support Team 3 was unusually competent. Given time, they might have been able to make people accept what Hyeonseok could do. But as a justification to flip a vote on the spot, it was far too abstract, far too vague.

Do Hyeoncheol put a hand on Jo Paldeok's shoulder, trying to hold him back.

"Paldeok. That won't be enough. You'll just catch a backlash. Hyeonseok and I will be fine. Let's leave it here."

"You're right, Hyeoncheol."

"Good. Then let's just—"

"There's no need to go to a vote at all."

The Guild Master was still smiling, perfectly at ease.

"Vice Guild Master. You know it too. The Awakened Strategic Management Act, Article 3, Paragraph 4."

Yoo Sangyeon tilted his head. For all his other faults, he had come out of the Ministry of Justice.

"Yes, I know it. If a guild executive deliberately causes serious impairment to the guild's combat strength, they may be punished on par with the crime of insurrection."

"You sought to inflict serious impairment on this guild's combat strength in order to sell the guild to a foreign buyer. The resulting damage is so severe that you will be punished for treason."

"Serious impairment of combat strength? I'll say it again — Hyeonseok's abilities are not a justification that—"

The Guild Master's words cut the argument dead.

"...What did you just say?"

"On the grounds of personal profit, you expelled Master from this guild."

Expelling Master. That was, without question, a "serious impairment of combat strength." Even the Vice Guild Master's own people would have no choice but to turn their backs. The justification was airtight.

"That's... th-that kid is...?"

The Vice Guild Master did not look like a man who had fully absorbed the reality that had just landed on him. Do Hyeoncheol, equally stunned, turned to stare at his son.

"Master...? Hyeonseok is...?"