Chapter 104: I Want to Have a Conversation with You.
Kang Moo-hyuk made his proposal to Darden.
"What will it be? Are we ending things right here? Wouldn't it be a problem for you if the city gets contaminated by poison?"
"If Upu Mangbau has awakened, this place is already done for. At the very least, half the city will be poisoned."
Before it became active, there had been some hope of carefully luring it out with a gigantified hunter.
The beast was merciless toward anything smaller than itself, true to its name, but it became docile around larger beings.
But once it started moving in earnest, that approach wouldn't work.
They'd have no choice but to force it out, and its resistance would be fierce. The poison it spewed mid-battle would devastate the city—it was obvious.
"Even if we take down Upu Mangbau, we can't avoid the backlash if the city gets wrecked. The Na Je-jin-ski crew is scheming to make sure Vladivostok's citizens blame us no matter what. No need for me to play along with that."
Kang Moo-hyuk clicked his tongue at Darden, who was still coldly calculating the costs even now.
"You're not hunters."
"What?"
"Hunters are people who hunt monsters. Regardless of blame or praise. No matter the situation. That's what we call those who hunt monsters above all else. Maybe revenge matters more than hunting in Russia. But in Korea, at least, saving people by slaying monsters comes first."
Kang Moo-hyuk's words provoked Igor. He felt like he was being condemned.
"Hey, Koryo-in. Watch your mouth. You're testing my patience."
"You watch your temper. The guild master isn't wrong."
Sparks flew between Joo Se-ah and Igor. Their glares were fierce enough to reignite the interrupted fight on the spot.
Darden stepped in to defuse the powder-keg tension.
"Not a bad attempt. Hitting us where it hurts—our professional conscience. Save that for the Federation, though. Ever since Na Je-jin-ski fourteen years ago, we don't believe in conscience, pride, or duty. That's talk for the weak. I've seen what happens when you trust that crap. Betrayed. Used. Dead in the end. So—"
Darden paused. Then he bared his teeth and barked at Kang Moo-hyuk.
"Don't force that bullshit on us."
Even as the man's eyes burned with madness, Kang Moo-hyuk didn't flinch.
"So you're scared, then?"
"You little...!"
As Darden growled and advanced on Kang Moo-hyuk, Joo Se-ah warned him.
"Don't move. Unless you want to die."
"Your sister goes before you do."
"Try it."
While Joo Se-ah kept Igor in check, No Song-rin positioned himself behind Kang Moo-hyuk, karambit knife already in hand.
With even the subordinate Nikolai drawing his weapon, Darden halted.
Kang Moo-hyuk spoke again.
"We'll take the hate."
"What?"
"The resentment from Vladivostok's citizens. We'll shoulder it for you."
"Are you trying to sell me something? What nonsense is this?"
"We'll handle the Upu Mangbau raid. In exchange, release our guild members. That gigantification trick's useless now anyway, right?"
"......"
Darden sized up Char Guild and the Koreans' forces.
He still couldn't quite believe it, but even with the suspected S-rank woman, they couldn't escape the tragedy ahead.
'Upu Mangbau's tricky because it constantly leaks poison during battle. Wounds or excitement make it spray even more.'
That poison was vicious—once it hit the ground, it turned the area into a dead zone.
If killed, it would engulf a whole city in seconds. Hunters could resist, but civilians would drop dead instantly.
Even with safe evacuation, abandoning a city full of life and economy would be irrecoverable. One region's total collapse.
'Jumping into a no-win fight. A non-hunter playing dress-up.'
The thought startled Darden.
Deep down, he'd been harboring what a hunter's duty meant, its purpose. A notion that had never crossed his mind before.
And the one who'd stirred it was...
'Kang Moo-hyuk... Talking to him just pisses me off more.'
He wanted out of there.
Releasing them cost Tyrun nothing—and could even be leveraged later.
If they failed, disavow. If they succeeded, tie Char Guild to the damaged city.
"Fine. You're free."
"We're taking Kozlov too."
"Deal."
"Darden!"
Igor bellowed. Darden ignored his brother.
"Get them out before our guild master flips. We'll send your people straight to Char Guild."
With Darden's decision final, Igor slammed his fist into the ground in rage.
Asphalt shattered, the earth caved into a sinkhole.
Joo Se-ah peered down at Igor in the pit, vigilance unbroken.
But Igor said nothing more, leaping away. A savage beast's howl echoed from his retreating back.
"Guild master. You must be exhausted, but we need to prep for the raid."
Kang Moo-hyuk approached Joo Se-ah.
She gave a faint smile and whispered in his ear.
"Exhausted? Yeah. Swam the winter sea. Body's not quite right."
Joo Se-ah wasn't one to whine over a cold swim. Kang Moo-hyuk got it.
"You... overdid it just now?"
"Yeah. Bluffed it. First time using that power... Forced it out, and something gave."
Kang Moo-hyuk casually led the group to the sports car.
He seated Joo Se-ah in the back first, laying the unconscious Kozlov beside her. As No Song-rin took the wheel and Kang Moo-hyuk moved for shotgun—
Darden, oblivious to Joo Se-ah's state, called out.
"Just so you know—your guild master's on the intel agency's radar. Illegal entry too. Botch this raid, and it's diplomatic hell."
"We're prepared."
"We got lines to intel too. Things go south, come find us. We'll see if you talk as smooth then."
"Thanks for the concern. Worry about yourselves."
Kang Moo-hyuk left it at that and hopped in.
Darden grimaced and yelled, but the sports car's roar drowned him out.
Darden spat toward where the car vanished.
"Thought I'd shake one annoying tie. Now I've got another persistent one. Bad luck."
"I... tried to stop him. I never thought Makar would..."
Olga muttered penitently before Anton, her eyes gray with regret, pondering better choices.
"Olga. You were naive. Makar's not the good guy you thought."
Olga buried her face near the table.
"You've heard from the vice master by now, but Makar's been exposed for sabotaging raids where our elders died. He betrayed his family. And you went along."
While Makar escaped, Anton had captured Na Je-jin-ski survivors, who confessed freely—not cooperation, but furious curses justifying their revenge.
"But Makar said! He'd stop at threats—for Char Guild to admit and apologize for wronging Na Je-jin-ski."
"Believe a man who kills allies and holds people hostage with monsters? He's a terrorist, Olga."
Olga fell silent. No chasing Makar, no fleeing—she knew her guilt.
"This won't blow over quietly. Once Upu Mangbau's done, authorities won't sit idle. I'll defend you as best I can... but brace yourself."
"If wrong, punishment's fair."
Anton sighed and left the interrogation room.
Despite her long service, blinded by love—no forgiveness.
In the one-way glass room stood Kang Moo-hyuk and Joo Se-ah.
He gazed sadly at Olga beyond, then followed Anton to the guild master's office.
"How's Upu Mangbau now?"
"Stalemate. Aside from initial destruction, no major moves."
"Makar's location?"
"Lost track after he entered its area. Hunters pursuing had to retreat from its activity."
"Circumstantially, Makar's controlling it?"
Kang Moo-hyuk nodded at Joo Se-ah's words. Anton sighed agreement.
Seated in the office, Anton continued.
"What about Kozlov?"
"Federation's call. Char's got grievances, but unavoidable."
"Better that way. Federation headaches us too. Upu Mangbau's the real issue—one mess, one street razed. Lucky evac—no casualties... but poison's inevitable. Still purgeable now, but worse and it's uninhabitable forever."
"Raid prep's done. Tyrun released our members—soon as they arrive, we hunt."
Anton shook his head at Kang Moo-hyuk.
"Past gigantification fix. City's poisoned before barrier box seals it."
"That was Plan A. Plan B's ready."
"Plan B?"
"Not 100% sure, but prepped—it'll work. Bigger issue: catching Makar. Can't predict his next move. Mid-raid trouble's bad."
"Our scout party's waiting. Sending them now. But Plan B is...?"
Anton's smartphone rang as he asked.
On the table, the screen lit:
All fell silent.
Anton hesitated, then reached—Kang Moo-hyuk stopped him.
"He's pissed from the botch. Don't provoke."
Anton nodded and answered.
"Makar..."
-Guild master, switching to video.
The call flipped to video, Makar appearing.
Under dim halogen, near death's door, his head seemed to float in darkness.
-Kang Moo-hyuk's there, right? Let him in view.
Anton glanced; Kang Moo-hyuk nodded. They shifted close for the phone to catch both.
-Impressive. You're here, so you slipped the tyrant's grasp unscathed?
"Bold or reckless? Didn't expect you'd call first."
-Slaughter's not my goal. Leaving room for talk.
"You madman! Touching Upu Mangbau?!"
Anton snarled.
-Guild master, if you want, I'll wait till Vladivostok evacuates. Long as you don't send hunters in the meantime.
"......"
-Of course not. That'd tank Char Guild's rep. Factor in chaos, paralyzed city recovery costs—you can't dodge blame. As intel chief, I get guild management's hell.
"Absurd. Pretending guild loyalty now?"
-Still playing saint?
"What?"
-Don't pin this on me. Char Guild—you—paying for your sins.
"What the hell?!"
-No denying Na Je-jin-ski now, right?
"Blaming us for Na Je-jin-ski's tragedy? Ridiculous."
-Ask your retired ex-master. What you did fourteen years ago. Where that tragedy started. Go ask.
"I know the gist."
Kang Moo-hyuk interjected. Anton, stunned by unknown history, eyed him questioningly.
Kang Moo-hyuk answered.
"Outbreak gate spawned a boss monster, right? Char lured it and others to Na Je-jin-ski to protect Vladivostok. If true."
"Impossible! Ex-master wasn't like that!"
Anton exploded; laughter echoed from the screen.
-Federation intel's sharp. Even current master's in the dark. Kozlov okay?
"For now. Your turn. What do you want? What stops Upu Mangbau?"
-Reasonable guy, as expected. Don't want much.
"From Olga. Official apology statement? If true, I'm willing."
Anton conceded positively, but Makar showed no hope.
Kang Moo-hyuk sensed unease.
'Too calm. No rage after decade-plus plan crumbles. Whatever we do, he'll act.'
Makar spoke.
-Don't want that anymore. It'll get buried anyway. Needs to become your tragedy to remember...
"Then what?!"
-Kang Moo-hyuk. I want to talk. One-on-one.