Chapter 114: Call for Joo Se-ah!
A group of men paced restlessly in front of the gate, their mood clashing sharply with the excited buzz around them. They smacked their lips in regret, watching the bus head into the hunting grounds.
"Damn it! We were one step too late."
"This is annoying. Who'd have thought they'd head into North Pocheon? I slapped a Butterfly tracker on her, figuring she'd be trapped like a rat in a hole. My bad for letting my guard down."
"Butterfly isn't foolproof, so what can you do? Still, that North Korean bitch showed some brains. Ain't no better spot to hide."
"What now?"
"What do you mean? We follow and grab her."
"They're checking IDs here. Ours got wiped from Korean records. Our hunter licenses are Chinese. Can't get in."
"Shit, they gave us three days to wrap this up. You know what happened to the guys who let her slip in Makyung?"
"And in Sinuiju? We had her almost cornered and let her get away. Gotta hand it to those sleazy brokers—they know how to sneak out a 'guest.' The Black Merchant, my ass. Anyway, if we fuck up here too... Ugh, just thinking about it is nightmare fuel."
That one line sent a wave of anxiety through the group.
Thanks to switching their nationality from Korean to Chinese, they'd lived cushy lives—but the responsibilities were crushing.
The guilds and Chinese government constantly tested their loyalty, and failure meant ruthless punishment.
To China, Korean-descended hunters were barely better than pampered dogs—fed well just to be worked harder. Even the guilds that treated their "dogs" decently were like this.
Some regretted it, but spilled water couldn't be gathered back. As Chinese hunters now, they couldn't reclaim their Korean citizenship without fearing backlash.
All they could do was give their missions everything.
"Wanna sneak in?"
"Cut it out. I saw Iron Will folks riding wolves around earlier."
"Just sweep 'em quick."
"There were too many. We'd get caught right away. You confident you could run if Joo Se-ah shows? The woman who folds ogres in half? No thanks to getting caught by the witch."
"Fuck, Joo Se-ah picking this place as her base is such a headache."
After agonizing, the men settled on one option.
"We go in. But not sneaking."
"How, then?"
"Yongsan has a guy who fakes IDs perfectly. Hacks systems too. Even Ujungdo villains use him."
"Tickets? It's reservation-only. Booked solid through January."
"Buy 'em. Cash. They trade on the Market."
"Damn, that's pricey. No choice?"
"Just in case she slips out, the rest of you stand by and watch the gate till I get the gear. I'll report up."
With the plan set, the men split off to their roles.
Kang Moo-hyuk mulled over his conversation with Cha Gil-ju.
Makyung, huh... Right after I warned him to keep an eye on the north, this happens. No wonder Cha Gil-ju's on edge.
No matter how much Darden hated him, national interests kept him from crossing into the peninsula for sabotage. If Tyrun Guild stirred trouble, it'd be limited to Makyung, right on the border.
The vast Makyung spanned Manchuria and parts of the Russian border, frequented by hunters from all three neighboring countries.
Recalling what the Tyrant did to Najejinsky, it wasn't a stretch to imagine Russian hunters venting on Koreans there.
Worse, they could herd strong monsters toward the Korean border. It happened worldwide—subtle tactics leaving no evidence, hard to pin blame.
Without a Level 3 alert, low-rank hunters manned the lines, so certain monster types could rack up exponential early casualties.
Kang Moo-hyuk couldn't ignore this scenario. That's why he'd warned them.
Watch Makyung.
If an S-rank acts childish, it's not a prank—it's a disaster. If the Tyrant really moves, Guild Master would have to step in. Guerrilla tactics would render that useless, though. Worse, it'd expose our S-rank. Everything goes to hell.
Pondering Tyrun's involvement, Kang Moo-hyuk's mind snagged on Cha Gil-ju mentioning China too.
Another headache. Russia moves, China follows? Or vice versa?
Russia and China were rivals over Far East gate rights.
With the Northeast Three Provinces turned to Makyung, borders blurred, leading to frequent hunter bloodshed.
Governments traded blame via statements, or guilds buried it.
With nations risking lives to pioneer Makyung, one side's move forced the other's—reason be damned.
Korea had stayed back, barely saving its back from the whale fight.
But the Upu Mangbau incident shifted things slightly.
Vladivostok's the Russian hub to Makyung. Teaming with the Czar Guild that controls it gives us a foothold. Not that we're ready yet.
That was why Kang Moo-hyuk watched Makyung.
Like a black hole, any trouble there would suck in all involved forces—willing or not.
Botch it, and Iron Will turns to dust.
But ignoring it wasn't viable.
Makyung expansion's inevitable, not optional. Domestic gates are saturated. Korean hunters will push north eventually. That's why we cozied up to Russia...
His worries weren't baseless. Some were already prepping for Makyung.
Slayer Guild.
They didn't just want Rider Wolves for gates—the numbers were too high for that.
Kang Moo-hyuk figured Slayer eyed Makyung.
Aiming beyond Korea's top to Asia's strongest, world-class—they had to look north.
It matched plans he'd eyed at Titan, so he saw through them.
And leading Iron Will now, it still held.
Just the approach differed.
Wait till Slayer climbs higher.
Not solo—alliance or partnership.
Makyung's scale daunted even tier guilds alone, plus China-Russia clashes.
Korea needed unified strength and leadership.
Like it or not, no Korean guild matched Slayer's influence.
No intel, no decisions.
Korea's Makyung info was weak, but Kang Moo-hyuk had cards.
He picked up the receiver, dialing the new line Gong Du-ri set up.
"Secure line."
-Yes, Commander. Where to?
"Russia, Vladivostok."
Stepping off the bus, Yi Suk-young felt no thrill at the hunter village drawing awed gasps from others.
No time to gawk at hunting grounds or facilities with her life on the line.
She had zero interest in the village—her only reason here was survival.
To live, she'd set foot on old South Joseon soil for the first time.
Joo Se-ah and her hunter comrades are here, so those bastards won't dare act rashly.
The past days had been a nonstop thrill ride.
She'd shaken pursuers in Makyung—good—but they tracked her to the Yalu River ferry like they had pursuit skills.
Forced into crowded Sinuiju, the border city near Makyung and China, infamous for chaos. Yet pursuers sniffed her out every hideout like ghosts.
Shaking them with all she had, she judged it impossible. Better a remote spot—or somewhere they knew but couldn't reach.
Enter North Pocheon.
As the noose tightened, she heard of the hunter village opening—with Joo Se-ah there.
Heard a lot about Comrade Joo Se-ah.
Calamity, Killer, Witch.
Nicknames dripping doom screamed her personality. Hunters weren't known for sweetness anyway. But even they shunned Joo Se-ah.
Rumor was Slayer Guild cut her loose over her brutality.
No way to ask that scary hunter for help—but her presence should deter pursuers.
Yi Suk-young scouted an illegal broker versed in hunter dealings, snagging a ticket to North Pocheon special zone.
It gutted her five years of freelancer savings, but life cost more.
Five years hunting monsters, and one gate pass leaves me broke. What a sorry lot I am. Shoulda learned Seoul dialect sooner—instead slaved over cultured speech (Pyongyang talk) and can't hide my roots. This damn mouth's bad habits won't quit, stuck doing day-labor hunts. No wonder no savings.
Short self-pity over, the Makyung-veteran hunter stuck to her plan.
First, camping gear. No guarantee pursuers wouldn't follow. If cornered, hide in the hunting grounds.
I'll survive for sure. Dying here'd be too unfair. Gotta hit at least A-rank first, right?
Like in Makyung, she steeled her survival will.
From the village entrance parking lot, Seo Su-ji couldn't close her gaping mouth.
"Whoa~ This place is the real deal!"
She wasn't alone—reactions varied but echoed hers.
A whole village plunked deep in a special zone crawling with monsters? Breathtaking.
Food stalls and cafes lined the streets, instantly hooking the group.
"Even Diamond Mountains wait for food. Let's eat first."
At Lee Cheol-jin's suggestion, Seo Su-ji scanned signs but dithered.
"Can't pick. What to eat?"
"Ribs. Pocheon screams portable ribs."
They picked a rib joint. Off-peak, but packed already.
Mostly hunters—piles of ribs per table screamed it, no need for gear or aura checks. Three or four devouring 30-person servings? No normal stomachs.
Lee Cheol-jin raised a hand post-seating.
"Auntie, 30 servings of ribs here."
"Starting that huge? Barbarian much?"
Seo Su-ji scolded. He shook his head.
"Hunters do 10-man portions per person—rule of thumb. Gotta fuel up."
"Breakfast?"
"Lunch now. Skipped breakfast. Calorie top-up time."
Soon, massive meat trays piled up. He grilled meticulously.
Three polishing 30 servings? Quick work.
Tables were huge—grills triple normal BBQ spots.
Curious at first, but grilling revealed why.
"Big grill means no interruptions. Hate when grilling lags eating pace."
"Guild-run knows hunters' quirks."
Impressed by thoughtful details, they demolished the pile.
At checkout, more shock.
"Whoa! Cards work!"
"Cards in a special zone? Mind blown."
Awe continued at lodging.
"Pensions full. Shoulda booked first."
"Motel fine."
"Hate motels."
Varied stays dotted the village—motels dominant, but remodeled like mini-hotels.
The catch?
"Million per night? Motel room?"
Pricey as hell.
But hunters shrugged.
"Cheap."
Freelancers got flak outside, but solid parties raked insane cash per hunt.
They griped money 'cause expenses matched income.
Gear repairs, swaps, life-saving potions—money vanished like sieves. Gold sense diverged from normals.
"This service mid-hunt at this price? Steal here."
Unpacking in a big-windowed room, they toured—aiming for Iron Will's hyped community center and low-rank training.
Rentals, duty-free gear shopping—freelancer catnip.
The more they saw, the more Lee Cheol-jin marveled.
"Bro, taste this place and Jirisan's done."
"Too far from Seoul, terrain's a pain. Here? Flat, easy hunts. But more profitable mobs there?"
"No taxes here, though."
Lee Cheol-jin nodded at Yoo Tae-jin's point.
10% byproduct fees stung less than 30% taxes.
No outings for sales saved travel.
Village as base meant no camping—hassle-free rest post-hunt? Hunter heaven.
"Finish touring."
Gawking Seo Su-ji eagerly dragged them on.
Day two, hunters mobilized en masse.
Fun aplenty, but hunts called.
Sensing the shift, they swarmed the community center.
Info swaps, Iron Will maps, live byproduct prices/sales proxy—full services.
Solos used guild matching.
Coordinators paired by rank, position, weapons, style—beyond app boards.
Housed in Iron Will HQ lobby—ex-unit space, but Kang Moo-hyuk flipped it to center with cafeteria.
Bustling with hunters, but diverse origins sparked scuffles.
Iron Will units warned.
"Cause trouble, get expelled. Banned a year."
Freelancers struggled partying sans zone access—warning hit home.
But hunters ignored words by nature. High-ranks notoriously "deaf."
Warnings unheeded, trouble brewed.
"Talking to me?"
A muscle-armored brute turned. The reception jerk from moments ago.
The warning unit flinched back at his glare.
Damn, high-rank obvious. Why's he here?
The man sneered.
"Reception girl's same. Dense as rocks. I ask too much? Just call Joo Se-ah!"
Mana-laced roar rocked nearby hunters; some Iron Will civilians fainted. Hunters caught them—no major hurts.
Then—
"Who the hell calls our Guild Master like a dog?! Why you yelling?!"
A voice boomed through the center, matching his thunder.