White Ink 1
"Hello. I'm Choi Deokhui, head of the Enchanter Workshop."
The woman who appeared alongside Kim Seungmin greeted them politely and introduced herself. The moment he heard her name, information on one person from the files he'd reviewed flashed through his mind.
Choi Deokhui. Head of the Enchanter Workshop and Korea's top enchanter by skill. She was also the founder who had gathered enchanters and built the workshop into what it was today—a true powerhouse of a woman.
"Yes, nice to meet you. I'm the enchanter Kim Suho."
He introduced himself to Choi Deokhui not as a leatherworker, but as an enchanter, and she reacted as if it were only natural.
"I thought as much. If you don't mind, could I ask you a question?"
"Sure, go ahead."
"Are you perhaps a Dual Class?"
Kim Suho had expected her to ask about the white ink. But her question surpassed his expectations, introducing a term he'd never heard before.
Dual Class? The name alone made it obvious what it meant. But he'd never heard the actual term Dual Class used. Not even from Lee Musin or his guild members, who knew about his potion-making and leatherworking abilities following his potion skills.
In a situation where he couldn't explain anything about being an NPC, it was a perfect phrase to describe his abilities. Still, he was curious how Choi Deokhui knew the term.
"Dual Class, huh. That's what they call it. Yes, that's right. But how do you know about Dual Class, Workshop Head?"
"It was about fourteen or fifteen years ago. I heard about it from an American enchanter during a magic pattern trade. Back then, I just thought it was a light joke. An absurd story, you know. I completely forgot about it until I heard about you, Mr. Kim Suho, and the memory resurfaced."
"Fascinating. To think there might be others like me."
He kept a calm facade, but inside, he was stunned. Even learning about Irregulars hadn't shocked him this much. What classes did they have? What synergy did those two classes produce? Did a hunter with a true Dual Class even exist? Questions flooded his mind.
But that wasn't the priority right now, so he pushed the Dual Class thoughts aside and returned to the main topic.
"Let's leave the Dual Class talk there and get to the point. You came here in person, so it seems like you've made up your mind. I'm curious what that decision is."
Assuming she wouldn't visit without reason, he wondered what price she'd offer.
"I want to know exactly what you desire, Mr. Kim Suho. Why do you need enchanters? What do you plan to do by gathering them? Please be honest."
She seemed to have grasped the hints he'd dropped through Kim Seungmin and posed a fitting question. Satisfied, he smiled and began his answer.
"You're aware that Support Guild has a potion workshop and a leather workshop, right?"
"Of course."
"I'm planning to add an enchanter workshop. After that, a forge. And beyond that, every production-type workshop that exists in the world. My goal is to create the world's top production guild—one no one can rival."
Having decided to reveal his abilities, he had no intention of doing things halfway. His aim was to ensure no one like Lee Sehyuk would ever dare scheme again.
Choi Deokhui flinched at his ambition pouring out, but quickly regained her composure.
"That's quite the greed. Do you think it's possible?"
"Do you see it as impossible? You said hunters with two classes are called Dual Class. So what do you call it with three classes? Or four?"
This time, even Choi Deokhui couldn't hold back her shock, stammering in response.
"S-surely you don't mean... that's possible? No, that's impossible."
"You'll see in time. More importantly, let me finish answering your question. I'm offering two choices. First, disband your current workshop and join the new one in Support Guild. Naturally, you'd become guild members, and I'd be the workshop head. Second, become a satellite guild under us. In that case, I won't interfere at all. You'd just follow guild-level directives. What do you say?"
He expected it would take time for her to decide, and that she'd choose the second option. But Choi Deokhui answered immediately.
"I'll join the guild."
Stunned by the unexpected response, he asked again.
"Why? Joining the guild means losing everything you've enjoyed as workshop head. No regrets? The second option has no discrimination either—no need to worry. That includes the white ink. Still want to join?"
"Of course."
Despite his lengthy explanation, she showed no hesitation.
Curiosity piqued, he pressed.
"What's the reason?"
"First, I can't refuse the guild master's terms. Rejecting would put the Enchanter Workshop on the brink of collapse. So that option was off the table from the start."
It wasn't wrong. He wouldn't act directly, of course, but her workshop couldn't compete with one he created. The time gap alone made its downfall inevitable, and she clearly recognized that.
"The remaining two were easy to choose from. I saw your strong ambition and the power to realize it. No reason to hesitate on joining. As for surpassing Dual Class... honestly, I don't know. But your current ambition and strength are more than enough. And above all..."
She trailed off, pausing dramatically. An inexplicable unease stirred—an odd anxiety he couldn't pinpoint. Her lips twitched, her shoulders subtly shaking, as if she was desperately holding back laughter.
What's going on? Why's she like that?
As his unease grew, Choi Deokhui spoke again.
"You said I've enjoyed benefits as workshop head? In the Enchanter Workshop, my role was just the mother bird listening to the complaints of thirty-one fledglings. If you're willing to take that over, why would I refuse? Looking forward to working with you, Guild Master."
He couldn't shake the feeling he'd been had, watching her desperately suppress a grin.
What? Did I just get played?
"Looking forward to working with you too, Guild Master."
Suddenly, she stood, bowing a full ninety degrees. Kim Suho froze in place.
"Hmm... the Five Major Guilds, huh. I'll handle that."
The Enchanter Workshop harbored more problems than expected. More precisely, one issue—the contract with the Five Major Guilds—had snowballed into countless others.
The terms were simple: The Five Major Guilds sell magic pattern tomes acquired from dungeons to the Enchanter Workshop. The workshop decides on purchases. In return, they engrave those patterns for free on gear for the selling guild, for one year.
On paper, no issues. But a massive poison pill lurked: the free engravings for the selling guilds.
The Five Major Guilds averaged 200-300 members each. Choi Deokhui had assumed free engravings per pattern would match those numbers. But they actually exceeded a thousand pieces on average. An absurd figure anyone would suspect included gear from other guilds.
She'd raised objections, but the Five Major Guilds crushed the workshop with sheer power. Thus, it had become half their slave.
The problem? Contracts remained unfinished on some patterns. Even disbanding and joining Support Guild wouldn't make the Five Major Guilds let it slide.
Choi Deokhui explained this, and Kim Suho said he'd handle it.
"Are you sure? Just fulfill the current contracts, then stop buying their patterns."
She sounded worried, but he brushed it off casually.
"It's fine. Five Major Guilds or not, doesn't matter. If they keep bothering us, cut ties entirely. No worries."
His mindset had shifted dramatically. Before, he'd have leaned toward her suggestion. Now? No bowing to the Five Major Guilds. Especially not to unfair treatment like this.
He had no desire for pointless bloodshed, but he could retaliate with methods only he could employ.
This was his chance to show the Five Major Guilds exactly who he was. What happens when you cross the world's one-of-a-kind hunter. And the benefits of aligning with him.
And they weren't the only ones in his sights.
"I'll handle the Five Major Guilds, so no more worries there. More importantly, you've got a backlog with Japan, right? And a few other places."
A bitter smile crossed Choi Deokhui's face at his question.
"Yes. We had no choice because of the high-grade mana ink."
He gave her a meaningful smile.
"Then how about dancing a proper sword dance this time?"
"Pardon? Sword dance?"
She tilted her head.
"Yes, sword dance. With the divine blade called white ink, here's your chance."
Waves of emotion swept her face. She bowed over 120 degrees in gratitude.
"Thank you. Truly, thank you."
And in her bowed gaze burned a fire he'd never seen before.
Japanese Enchanter Association.
Knock knock.
"Mr. Saneda, a package arrived from Korea's Choi Deokhui."
His female secretary entered the president's office holding a small parcel.
"Choi Deokhui? Looks like my education paid off. Let's see what gift she sent this time."
Saneda tore open the package from Choi Deokhui as he spoke. A gift wouldn't immediately lift the export ban, but depending on it, he might advance it by a day or two.
Inside was a small vial containing a bit of opaque white liquid.
"What's this? What did she send?"
As he gently shook the vial, he spotted a letter beneath it.
Assuming it explained the liquid, he read on.
Dear Mr. Saneda,
I am Choi Deokhui from the Republic of Korea. We have finally developed the crystal ink you anticipated so eagerly in Korea...
"Puhahaha! She's lost her mind!"
Laughter exploded the moment "crystal ink" appeared, and he tossed the letter aside.
Crystal ink? The Japanese Empire had staked its pride, mobilizing over a hundred enchanters and two hundred potion makers for five years. A miserable failure. That's when they realized: crystal ink couldn't be made with hunter power.
Now, Choi Deokhui from Korea claimed this tiny vial held it. How could he not laugh?
As his laughter dragged on, a chill crept up his throat—a foreboding sensation.
Playing games with me in this situation?
With Korea's current state, provoking him meant forever forgoing high-grade mana ink imports. Sane or insane, no one would dare.
Staring piercingly at the vial, Saneda summoned his secretary.
"Bring Verum, mana ink, and two engraving pens immediately."
Until she returned, his eyes never left the vial.
"If this is a prank, I'll make her pay dearly."
Moments later, Saneda's face twisted into an expression he'd seen many times before. He hastily smoothed the crumpled letter, read it again, and called the secretary.
"G-get the plane ready now. T-to K-Korea—! H-hurry!"
To be continued in the next chapter...