117. Not a Bad Proposal at All.
After finishing his call with Char Guild Master Anton Ivanov, Kang Moo-hyuk set aside his piled-up work for a moment and sank into deep thought.
'Five gates with value rivaling the Blagoveshchensk Gate... No matter how I look at it, something's off. How could gates like that appear all at once?'
Even Kang Moo-hyuk, who could recite the World Hunter Association's history word for word, had never seen or heard of such a phenomenon anywhere.
'Fine, gates are irrational by nature, so let's chalk it up to that. The standoff between Russian and Chinese hunters probably escalated things too. With the stakes involved, blood's bound to spill.'
But even accounting for all that, the current situation felt suspicious. There was no concrete evidence or warning signs to doubt it, yet Kang Moo-hyuk couldn't shake the unease about the events unfolding in Makyung.
"Can't do a damn thing about it right now. Frustrating."
The issue was that Kang Moo-hyuk—no, Korea itself—was a third party in this mess.
There were no vested interests in Makyung, no justification to intervene. Even if profit could substitute for justification, Iron Will wasn't equipped to touch it.
The best Korea could manage was something on the level of Slayer Guild bridging the gap, but considering the scale of guilds involved in Russia and China, even that wouldn't be easy.
'For now, I should share the intel with Department Head Cha Gil-ju. Tell him it's unrelated to the Vladivostok incident, so no worries. Plus, knowing movements in Makyung lets us prepare for contingencies.'
Kang Moo-hyuk reached for the receiver. But the desk phone rang first.
He checked the caller ID. A familiar number.
"Oh, right. Almost forgot about this."
He gathered his thoughts as the phone rang a couple more times, then answered.
"Yes, Director. To what do I owe the call?"
Tae Su-man.
Taeseong Group's Strategic Planning Director and the owner's second son spoke in a displeased tone from the receiver.
-If I don't reach out first, it's impossible to hear from our director these days.
"I've been busy. As you know."
-Hmm, busy?
A mocking snort came through.
-Sure, busy as hell. Cleaning out Jo Choong-hyeon. Sweeping away all my lines over there. What's next? Kidnapping?
The voice was sharp, but Kang Moo-hyuk replied calmly.
"You called because you knew Jo Choong-hyeon had been turned by the Chairman, right? He even targeted my life. Thanks to the Chairman, I couldn't touch him outright and had to boot him from the guild fast. And this isn't a bad outcome for you either, Director."
-All that for my sake? Cutting the entire strategic team?
"The old strategic team was under Jo Choong-hyeon's thumb. Who knows whose influence reached the Chairman? Better to cut them all out rather than waste time sorting loyalties."
-And your alternative left me with no choice but you, right?
"Not the only option, but focus on the fact that no one else would do better than me, regardless."
-……
Tae Su-man fell silent for a moment.
He couldn't get the full details since Jo Choong-hyeon was gone, but he'd gotten word from a mole planted in the Chairman's secretariat that there'd been friction between Kang Moo-hyuk and the Chairman.
On the surface, it looked like Kang Moo-hyuk had bowed unilaterally, but the reality was different.
The Chairman had merely tested loyalty, and Kang Moo-hyuk had ducked low to dodge the blade.
And that was the key.
Kang Moo-hyuk was still alive. He'd passed the Chairman's test. That alone proved his capabilities sufficiently.
'Perfect timing with Jo Choong-hyeon vanishing too. The Chairman probably doesn't care. Doesn't see Kang as much of a threat either. Views him more as a tool to leash Se-ah. Otherwise, no way to explain the lack of follow-up on Jo's disappearance.'
Jo wasn't that important, but more than that, Kang Moo-hyuk's utility outweighed it.
The same went for Tae Su-man.
In the end, he had to accept the choice Kang Moo-hyuk had forced. He didn't trust him, but as long as they could use each other, allying was advantageous.
-Damn, I fell for that silver tongue once. No options left now. Even if you're plotting to cut me out, I'd have to play along. Great.
"Not a line that gets cut so easily, is it, Director?"
-So you're saying you'd cut it if you could?
"I'm hanging under you, Director. Cut me, and I drag you down too. Unless you're planning suicide in front of the Chairman, I have no reason to cross you."
Shared enemies meant shared fate.
That was the relationship between Kang Moo-hyuk and Tae Su-man.
-Fine. We're not in the trust business anyway. But we need some guarantee to work together.
"How do you want me to prove it?"
-Simple. Se-ah. No, Guild Master Joo Se-ah. Heard she came to HQ today?
Kang Moo-hyuk sensed a tremor in Tae Su-man's casual question.
'Anxiety, tension. Fears the Guild Master stepping into the group. In that case...'
Best to use what he could. He'd just been planning for this. Kang Moo-hyuk was waiting to see what Joo Se-ah brought back from her meeting with the Chairman.
He flipped his passive, dependent act into assertiveness.
"Curious why she went in?"
-Busy with the Hunter Village opening, then suddenly shows up. Wouldn't you be?
"Nothing major. The Chairman summoned her."
-And you don't know why?
"He didn't say exactly."
-She's not the type to just accept that from you.
"Of course I have guesses."
-What guesses?
"The six months the Chairman promised the Guild Master. Time for evaluation has come."
-Ah, that birthday promise? Close the guild or not.
"No. In this situation, pushing that would be tough. Even for the Chairman, he can't shut down a guild with these results overnight. He hates anything that tarnishes the group's reputation."
-Then?
"Doesn't have to quit the guild to join the group."
-!!
A dry swallow came through the receiver after a pause.
Kang Moo-hyuk gave him time to process, then spoke.
"Director, looks like it's time we meet again."
-Busy man like you wants to meet now? Got some good news?
"Not a bad proposal for you either, Director."
* * *
Joo Se-ah headed to the Samseong-dong headquarters to meet her biological father, Tae Jin-seong.
Even without working there, her face served as her pass. Not because the HQ staff treated her as the Chairman's daughter, but as Korea's top hunter.
"Welcome, Guild Master Joo Se-ah. The Chairman is waiting."
The secretary who greeted her at the elevator led her to the royal-floor Chairman's office.
Joo Se-ah paused at the door, taking a light deep breath.
'Gates are easier. This place is just...'
No monsters, yet even as an S-rank, it still made her uncomfortable.
"If you're here, quit hovering and come in already."
As she hesitated, Tae Jin-seong's sharp voice came from beyond the door.
Joo Se-ah scowled and flung the door open.
"Awakened as a hunter since last time? How'd you know I was out here?"
"Sigh that loud, even a deaf old man would hear. Sit."
Tae Jin-seong moved from his desk to the sofa. Joo Se-ah closed the door and perched on the farthest edge from him. As distant as their father-daughter bond. Awkward to outsiders, but the Chairman ignored it and spoke.
"Tea?"
"Not here for tea time, Chairman."
Joo Se-ah spat bluntly.
"Not even calling me father anymore."
"When did you ever see me as a daughter?"
"If I didn't, would I make you guild master and add you to the family register?"
"Both just tricks to drag me into the group. Because you needed it."
"You knew and still took the guild master offer."
"Quit acting like charity. That's called a deal. Don't talk like you gave it for free."
"Group poured in a fair bit of money, I hear?"
"Peanuts compared to signing Korea's top hunter."
Tae Jin-seong eyed Joo Se-ah anew, her unyielding retorts as always. She caught the unfamiliar gaze and asked.
"What?"
"Gutsier now. Way you talk's changed."
"Dunno?"
"Taking after that guy under you."
"Under me? You mean Director Kang Moo-hyuk?"
"Bad influence."
"If it displeases you, Chairman, guess I learned well."
"Staring at each other long just hurts feelings. To business."
"When did we ever not hurt feelings?"
"Don't get cheeky."
Tae Jin-seong glared. Joo Se-ah stared back in an eye fight.
After a staring contest, Tae Jin-seong tsked first and looked away. His youngest daughter unflinching irked him.
'My other kids avoid my eyes like the plague, but this one... Tsk tsk.'
Hunters fight monsters, so no dodging eyes, but this was temperament.
She didn't fear him. Tae Jin-seong was sure she'd defy him even without being a hunter. That was one reason he wanted her in the group.
"No long talk. Keep the guild, join the group."
"The mighty Taeseong Chairman going back on his word?"
"My promise was no disbanding the guild, not dictating your position. Recall what I said."
Thinking back, it was true.
'I'll give you six months. Normalize the guild by then. Otherwise, disband it.'
Joo Se-ah realized she'd been had, absurdly.
"What conglomerate pulls this sneaky shit?"
"One word difference changes payout by an order of magnitude. That's business. Failing to catch it means you're lacking as guild master. Still much to learn."
Sneaky, but arguing meant losing, so she clamped her mouth and pulled out her prepared line.
"Doesn't mean I ever said I'd ditch the guild for HQ."
"Denying it now?"
"No way you'd just let it slide. No contracts anyway. Verbal wasn't clear-cut."
"Want to void it?"
"I don't work loose. Call it a proposal."
"Proposal?"
"I'll join HQ. Make me a spot."
"Ho."
"But I keep running the guild too. All duties as guild master. Office'll be empty plenty."
Tae Jin-seong instantly saw where it came from.
"That director tell you to?"
"Knew you'd say that. Director Kang said to pass it on. Concede gracefully to you for profit. Don't take detours, compromise smart. Figured you'd get it."
Tae Jin-seong burst into hollow laughter as she finished.
"Reverse means yield a bit to me too."
"Oh, and he added: 'Try grabbing everything, lose it all.'"
Tae Jin-seong stared at Joo Se-ah. More precisely, glared at Kang Moo-hyuk behind her.
'Said to coax and soothe Se-ah, but he gets results.'
Glad she'd yielded a bit, but irked that inscrutable Kang seemed to puppet his daughter. Made him petty toward Kang's successes he couldn't match.
"That silver-tongued fox still at it, huh? Hard to handle those types. Careful. Oil ignites fast, burns everything—foe and friend. Best keep distance to avoid the flames."
"Guild's my business. I handle personnel."
"Take it as advice."
At her sharp tone, Tae Jin-seong lightened the mood.
"Guild listing soon. Hate negotiating affiliation, but good's good. Self-motivated's best. Fine, keep guild duties. But come running when called."
"Unless it's urgent."
"Even urgent, clear time."
"We'll coordinate. Can't during monster hunts."
Surprised again at her concession where he'd expected resistance, Tae Jin-seong nodded.
"Good. I'll consider that."
Smiling kindly outwardly, his inner thoughts were sinister.
'First step's hardest for toddlers. Once taken, walking and running follow quick. Kid, like it or not, you'll move to my plan.'
* * *
Mr. Jo alternated glances between the woman who just entered the cafe and the photo on his smartphone.
"That's her. Comes here after lunch, per intel."
A famous dessert cafe near Taeseong Group HQ, where the secretary bought treats for the Vice Chairman's afternoon.
Mr. Jo approached Kim A-young casually as she sipped her coffee after picking desserts.
Pretending to grab a napkin from the nearby service table, he timed it as her eyes turned, slipping the drug into her cup.
'Not harmful. Just strong diuretic.'
Soon after a few more sips, Kim A-young rushed to the bathroom.
Mr. Jo followed with a delay.
Flush sounds from her stall. Mr. Jo waited, then struck as she emerged.
"Gah!"
The sleep powder worked; her legs buckled, collapsing.
Mr. Jo caught her, dragged into the stall, and locked it.
'Transformation needs direct contact. Such a hassle. Not filming a movie every time.'
Deep breath in the occupied stall, his form began shifting.
Kim A-young's face.
"Ah, aa."
Voice matched too. Mr. Jo grabbed her ID and phone, swapped clothes, then called someone.
"It's me. Third stall here. I'm heading into Taeseong; handle cleanup. Wipe her memory when I call later. Out cold six hours at least."
Handed off to cleanup crew, Mr. Jo infiltrated Taeseong.
Appearance and ID matched; no suspicions.
'Infiltration success. Time to ransack the Vice Chairman's office?'
She greeted fellow secretariat staff leisurely, stashed desserts in the pantry, sat at her desk as if nothing happened, and tuned into the Vice Chairman's office.
Concrete walls no issue for his eavesdropping skill.
Soon, the Vice Chairman's voice on a call.