Even This is Allowed
Kang Moo-hyuk let out a heavy sigh as he looked at Go Eul-ji.
"I'll assign you a legal team. For now, turn yourself in. Hmm... You're a minor, but harming people as a hunter comes with aggravated penalties. Steel yourself."
"What the hell? You saying I'm the criminal here?"
"............Huh? No, you're not."
"What's with that? The long pause up front?"
Kang Moo-hyuk cleared his throat to shift the mood and asked,
"By the way, who are those people tied up back there?"
Nine hunters floated in midair, their limbs tightly bound with monster-restraint ropes.
Go Eul-ji scratched her head and replied,
"Not sure exactly, but probably those four over there are one side, and those five the other. The five were originally six, but one died. The four killed him."
At Go Eul-ji's explanation, the four hunters protested through their gags.
"Mmph! Mmmphmmph."
"Mmmpphh, mmph mmph mmphmmph."
"Their mouths are sealed too."
"They were too damn noisy."
"Leave them as is for now. Let's hear the full story. No skipping details."
Go Eul-ji explained everything she knew.
Park Beom-il's thuggery at the community center, Pyo Beom-hee's order to monitor him, stumbling upon the two parties fighting while tailing him, Park Beom-il trying to wipe them all out, and how she'd intervened to stop him and escape.
"I ditched the stealth tail and jumped in. Looked like he'd kill 'em all if I didn't. Funny part? He tried to take those five with him. Basically advertised they were his targets. Didn't expect me to haul everyone out. Heh, you should've seen his panicked face, Boss. Priceless."
Go Eul-ji shrugged and wiped under her nose.
'Ahem. See what I can do? Praise me already.'
Kang Moo-hyuk addressed Go Eul-ji, who was preening like she'd made some brilliant call.
"But Go Eul-ji Hunter, that was Team Leader Pyo's mission. Why'd you bring them here?"
"Wait, no praise? And suddenly that?"
"What was that? Speak up, I didn't catch it."
"No, I mean... Team Leader Pyo was busy. Wasn't around. Phones don't work here, couldn't reach her. Couldn't just wait forever, so I brought 'em."
"Yes. I get the gist of how it went down."
Kang Moo-hyuk figured Pyo Beom-hee had tasked Go Eul-ji because of that list she'd brought. Even with Jang Deok-gu watching, reining in problematic hunters one by one was tough. Couldn't just let bombs like Park Beom-il roll around unchecked.
Especially for Pyo Beom-hee, who'd handled hunter care and incident cleanup at Titan Guild—it must've grated on her.
In that light, Go Eul-ji was perfect. No other duties, and a telekinesist's mobility and restraint made her ideal for keeping hunters in check.
'She handled it well this time... but any fight, even brief, is risky. Picking a brawl with foes two ranks higher? If she'd gotten hurt or killed, it'd spark an unavoidable clash.'
Joo Se-ah would've mobilized then, maybe even war. Kang Moo-hyuk wasn't sure he could stop her.
Having grasped the situation, he moved on. Pointing at the hunters one by one, he said,
"Baekho Guild's target was probably not those five, but these four."
"Huh? The four? I was gonna let 'em go."
"You intervened midway. You said there was one more guy with Park Beom-il Hunter, right? Probably Go Tae-seop Hunter."
"A Go like me?"
"He's got strong combat power but lacks command skills, so he handles party orders for Park Beom-il. Cautious type, never overreaches. That's why Baekho always pairs them. To control Park Beom-il."
"Whoa~ Even for a tier guild like Baekho, how do you know all this without seeing 'em, Boss?"
"Basic for a strategy chief. I track key figures in tier guilds, A-ranks, mid-tiers. Even promising small-guild hunters."
"Your brain must ace memorization. Lemme borrow it for exams."
Ignoring Go Eul-ji's sparkling eyes, Kang Moo-hyuk continued,
"Go Tae-seop's temperament—if he'd known you were Iron Will, he'd have avoided conflict. Most hunters are 'all or nothing,' but veterans know what to bite and spit."
"So he spat out something he couldn't chew?"
"Reasonable call on his part. But like a thief shooting his own foot. Caught stealing, you grab your stuff and bolt. Gotta erase evidence."
"Ah, so that's why he tried taking 'em? Wipe 'em clean so no leaks."
Go Eul-ji mimed slitting throats, making the five bound hunters flinch.
Kang Moo-hyuk scanned the nine, their expressions varied.
The five looked troubled, grim, rotten-faced. The four who'd committed murder seemed relieved instead. But one of them still looked pale, uneasy.
"You three—Seo Su-ji Hunter, Lee Cheol-jin Hunter, Yoo Tae-jin Hunter—I know from the Gangbyeonbuk-ro incident, got your profiles. So you're the one they were after. Go Eul-ji Hunter, unseal just this one's mouth."
The pressure over the pointed hunter's mouth lifted. His body stayed bound.
Kang Moo-hyuk addressed him.
"I'm Iron Will Guild Leader Kang Moo-hyuk."
"I-I'm Yi Suk-young."
Yi Suk-young blinked in greeting, head immobile.
'North Korean?'
Kang Moo-hyuk's eyes sharpened. Feigning calm, he asked,
"Yi Suk-young Hunter. One question. Why were they after you?"
* * *
Tae Su-man frowned the instant Joo Se-ah entered the VIP room of the high-end salon where he'd first met Kang Moo-hyuk.
"Didn't expect you."
"Boss is busy. Me too. Just dropping by since I'm in Seoul. Gotta head back soon."
"Outing? You didn't see Dad?"
"Killed two birds."
Joo Se-ah flopped onto the sofa opposite, attitude sloppy. But as she draped her arms over the backrest, Tae Su-man felt an odd pressure.
Not arrogance. Not her top-hunter aura. No intimidation or hunter menace. Just a familiar glint in her eyes.
Like looking at his father.
"Did the Boss get to you? Awkward. Wasn't planning to meet my baby sis like this. Didn't think of you as 'mine,' but figured business partner at least. Guy's got no manners."
"This biz ain't for the mannerly. Skip chat, business. Bro."
"Slippery eel now, huh? Calling me 'bro'."
"If 'bro' seals a guild takeover, it's a steal. Can do cute too. Br'o'."
"Stick to normal. Doesn't suit."
"No dice? Figures, cutesy ain't my thing."
Tae Su-man felt drained from the start but pressed on.
"Anyway. You eating the guild? You? Who just hands it over?"
"I'll take the guild. You take the group. Fair trade? Feels like I'm losing a bit."
Tae Su-man choked. She'd circled to alliance.
"So no regrets on the group?"
"Monsters are my thing. If you block anyway? Guess I'll eat the group too. Hassle, but. Flip side: leave the guild alone, independent, and I'll back you."
Tae Su-man stared silently. Thorny words same as ever, but her handling was slicker now. Negotiation skills honed, knew when to leverage.
'Reminded me of someone. Guess she learned from Kang Moo-hyuk.'
Collecting thoughts, he spoke.
"How do I trust you won't pull that on Dad?"
"Big bro's greedy. Hate losing what's 'his'? Don't wanna team with him and get backstabbed."
"I'm greedy too."
"Dogs or pups, same breed. Cuter one's nicer."
"Your mouth."
"Not old enough for sweet-talk sis. Ask Dad for a redo—late bloomer possible."
Chatting fueled his rage. Never cute sis, now monstrous.
Tae Su-man adjusted to avoid sinking deeper.
"Fine. Guild's yours. But no independence. Do what inside group. Won't meddle."
"Hey, Tae Su-man."
"......"
"Grab all, lose all. Chairman or VP. Can't win greedy. Give up what's smart."
Joo Se-ah, deadpan threat delivered, added casually,
"Oh, and post-group takeover, no backing out or trouble brews."
"Verbal contract's binding? Write a memo if scared."
"Pass. Know you'd twist it. Not collaring with paper. Don't need contracts."
Joo Se-ah tapped the table lightly. Crack—marble top shattered, table split.
"Hunter world's got a saying: Why talk when good fists work? At my level, I handle quiet. What? Your imagination."
"Threats now? Baby sis grew up."
"Someone told me lately: Top hunter? Even this is fine. Hope you're not first, Tae Su-man."
Tae Su-man swallowed dryly.
* * *
Kang Moo-hyuk had the hunters who'd targeted Yi Suk-young confined in special facilities. Isolated Seo Su-ji's group too. For later testimonies.
He knew them from Gangbyeonbuk-ro, but hunters flip on situations or gain—couldn't fully trust.
He offered Yi Suk-young, now free, a seat.
"Coffee okay?"
"Got somethin' sweet?"
"Sweet?"
"That yella sweet fruit juice. Been to hell and back, cravin' sugar."
"Ah, orange juice? Don't stock sweets."
"Then coffee berry tea. With sugar."
Kang Moo-hyuk brewed and served hot coffee personally. Softer mood, he asked again,
"Okay, Yi Suk-young Hunter. Cleared the room for easy talk. Need context to help. North hunter chased south—why?"
"Honestly dunno. Think it's what I saw in the 'Monster Conglomerate'... but no clue what."
"Makyung. What'd you see?"
Gate in Makyung tensed Kang Moo-hyuk.
China-Russia clashes heating up there. Coincidence she'd flee here now? Unrelated to known events?
His instincts sharpened. Yi Suk-young continued.
"Monster gate. Unknowns call it gate. Saw one... weird."
"How so?"
"Normal gate has gatekeeper. No? Means cleared, right?"
"Yes."
"But cleared? Should unlock with key, enter at range. Instead, no entry—some device suckin' out weird force field near gate."
"Device?"
"Red force field covered gate. Like blockin' somethin'. Keepin' monster inside from out."
"Sealing the gate?"
Nothing came to mind. No known seal methods.
Closing bomb?
'Too risky outside Makyung—side effects.'
Closing bomb.
Last resort to nuke uncleared gates pre-outbreaking.
Simple: Blast external gate entirely.
But cities? No. EMP-like shock fries all electronics citywide.
Power outage years to decades, scale-dependent. Whole area reverts primitive.
City dies even sans monsters.
'Not just a blocker. Alternate use? Worth killing witnesses?'
Kang Moo-hyuk pegged it as one of Char Guild's five gates, planning responses.
"Still, Sinuiju broker tip led to North Pocheon 'Hunter Activity Squad'—good call. Met a reasonable squad leader. Saved my skin."
Yi Suk-young sipped coffee casually. Kang Moo-hyuk chilled, doused.
"Hold on. North Pocheon on someone's rec?"
"More hinted at hunter village here. My choice. Bro pulled me from pursuers—top loyalty."
North hunters rarely southbound. Rumors deterred, life-or-death.
Kang Moo-hyuk knew Joo Se-ah rumors up north: monster, scum.
Yet she'd come. He'd wondered why.
'Broker means Sinuiju broker risked to extract? Odd.'
Brokers served well, fee-scaled. Cheap cheap, pricey premium.
North hunter Yi Suk-young couldn't afford premium.
"Know the broker who suggested North Pocheon? Name, age, origin?"
"Name... ah, got his 'self-intro paper'."
Yi Suk-young rummaged, pulled tattered wallet, handed card.
“Anything You Need” CEO Hyeon Jeong-geon
"Ha? Why's he popping up?"