Was the Guild a Strange Place Too?
“This isn’t exactly the mood for introductions, is it? Interrogation room and all.”
No Song-rin’s snide reply drew a light chuckle from Ryeon Jeong-mun, who withdrew his extended hand.
“With skills like yours, you’re probably not a freelancer. Mind if I ask which group you’re with?”
“Not like we’re in a position to share affiliations, are we?”
“We could get friendly from here on out, couldn’t we?”
“Friendly with what? You?”
“You planning to stay prickly forever? If conversations keep going like this, getting out of here won’t be easy.”
“A threat? Too bad—threats playing with my life don’t work anymore. I’ve heard ‘em all before.”
No Song-rin thought of Kang Moo-hyuk.
To make a real threat, you’ve gotta be on that level.
Control all the info, dictate every situation. Lure them to your turf, back it with irresistible power—that’s when a threat clicks into place.
Even No Song-rin, who’d thrived in a world where tricks and intimidation were polite chit-chat, had been frozen solid by such a threat for the first time in his life. And from a regular guy, no less.
Watching others squirm under Kang Moo-hyuk afterward had been... vindicating? Comforting, maybe?
Seeing that tongue lash from the same side was downright soothing.
Ryeon Jeong-mun shrugged off No Song-rin’s utter lack of reaction, easing the tension.
“Must be a misunderstanding. I’m just laying out the facts.”
“You’re the one who’s confused. You think I came in here quietly because I wanted to? I held back ‘cause the kids were there. Hate hearing kids cry more than anything. If they’d gotten hurt and started bawling, it’d be a headache. But now that they’re gone? I could walk out whenever I feel like it. Just keep that in mind.”
No Song-rin scowled fiercely, laying down his warning, but Ryeon Jeong-mun responded with a pleased expression.
“That’s exactly it. You gave up the fight to avoid hurting the kids. It struck me as odd that a hunter on my level would come along so peacefully. Made me think you’re not a bad guy.”
“You’re misunderstanding in a weird direction.”
“I’ve heard the situation already. That subway tunnel’s basically a playground for the local kids—they come and go all the time. But this time, they wandered into a sealed-off area. Adventurous bunch, always stirring up trouble, but heading toward the smuggling route caught us off guard. We got the report late and scrambled out.”
“Sloppy management, huh.”
“Exactly. Our screw-up. But when we heard a hunter who’d found the kids and brought them out came back to base without a fuss from our team... that surprised me. Folks using those passages usually go berserk when caught. They know how we handle it.”
“How do you handle it?”
“Execution.”
No Song-rin whistled, followed by a hollow laugh. He’d figured this place was rough, but damn.
“Living it hits different. Brutal.”
“We can’t afford half-measures if we want to protect this place.”
No Song-rin sensed unyielding resolve in Ryeon Jeong-mun—a commanding presence he’d never seen at Ujungdo. But it felt familiar. The vibe of the ones who’d thrown him in there.
Ah, trauma flashback. Shit! Same damn style, same cold eyes as those prosecutor bastards.
He knew from experience these types were the hardest to deal with. Kang Moo-hyuk had that aura. Joo Se-ah too. The ones who intimidated him always carried something unique.
Feeling the momentum shift against him, No Song-rin changed tack.
“Hard to spill my life story to folks I don’t trust.”
“What kind of trust are we talking?”
“Heard this village’s full of old North Korean hunters and their kin. But you’re throwing around ‘hunter’ and ‘activity squad’ like it’s nothing. No dialect either. Could pass for Seoulites. Not suspicious here in Sinuiju?”
Ryeon Jeong-mun let out a wry chuckle.
“Just trying to make it easy for you, Hunter No Song-rin. Truth is, it’s not natural for me—sweating bullets inside. I mix terms sometimes ‘cause I get confused too.”
“No need to baby me. Speak how you want.”
“Should I?”
“Sudden casual talk? Hey, I meant speak freely, not—”
“Eh, whatever. Do you.”
As No Song-rin grumbled, Ryeon Jeong-mun continued.
“Word’s already spreading through the city. Chinese goons sicced dozens of hunters—including two top-grades—on some outsider, but he shook ‘em off and vanished. Matches your description. Even used a pocket knife.”
“So? Gonna rat me out? Hand me over?”
“Nah. We’re not that cozy with the Chinese. Straight talk: help us out? We’ll make it worth your while.”
No Song-rin went on guard.
Asking for help before explaining, promising big bucks.
Nine times outta ten, it’s a scam. Or some dangerous shit.
He dialed back the suspicion, per Kang Moo-hyuk’s teachings.
Reveal nothing, play along or feign curiosity to draw out info.
Damn, he was starting to mimic the boss.
“Heard prison village folk are broke-ass beggars. I don’t come cheap. What’s your funding?”
“We’re not broke—we’re limited to selling to Chinese activity squads in Sinuiju. Not ‘cause we can’t hunt. Cash on hand’s tight, sure.”
“Not money... trading goods, then?”
“You can go anywhere—Seoul or whatever. Sell our monster loot as payment? You’ll rake it in.”
“Fine. If the haul’s fat. So, what’s the job? Don’t beat around the bush.”
Ryeon Jeong-mun didn’t hesitate at No Song-rin’s prodding.
“Assassination.”
“What?”
“There’s this guy, Hyeon Jeong-geon. An outsider. He’s about to shatter the peace we’ve guarded in this village for years.”
Kang Moo-hyuk grilled Hwang Dong-soo deep into the dawn.
Family ties, his father’s disappearance, how Dad obsessed over outside work and left Mom struggling to hold things together—petty family drama.
Mom’s illness came from shouldering it all alone. Hwang Dong-soo awakened as a hunter and kept things afloat, but too late. She was fading to sickness.
Not crucial info for Kang Moo-hyuk, but he listened silently as Hwang Dong-soo poured out his woes.
I told him the upsides of helping me, but there’s no real trust between us yet. Bigger offer comes, he flips. Need to build something—thin, short-term. He didn’t kill me outright, talked instead. Not a bad heart. Just enough bond to make him hesitate before betraying.
Pure calculation, but for the grudge-burdened Hwang Dong-soo, someone listening was enough.
He kept talking, unwittingly spilling village details Kang Moo-hyuk wanted.
“...That’s how I ended up here, taking odd jobs.”
Hwang Dong-soo’s nickname was “Ruffian.”
Not for bad behavior. For decapitating monsters or hunters in one stroke.
Even Chinese hunters acknowledged his skill. His guandao in battle was Sinuiju’s trademark for him.
Achieved without guild support, high-tech gear, or pro training.
A- rank.
A true gem in the mud.
Third-grade top hunter in local terms. No higher than A-rank, and three in prison village.
Ryeon Jeong-mun, Cheon Deok-su, Hwang Dong-soo.
Used to be four.
Jeong Ye-bun’s husband, Kim Byeong-joo, was A-, but betrayed by Cheon Deok-su to Chinese guild “Rakwa”—lost his life.
Cheon Deok-su then led his crew to the Chinese side as frontmen.
Opposing him: Ryeon Jeong-mun. Same rank, he formed a patrol to guard the village, check Cheon Deok-su, block Chinese incursions.
Hwang Dong-soo stayed neutral, lone wolf. Youths followed him, but he never forced or lorded over them. Earned respect.
Then Hyeon Jeong-geon shows up, just as strong. Rocks the fragile balance. And starts digging into Chinese guilds like Rakwa.
Hyeon Jeong-geon started with food and supplies—friendly. Now? Not so much.
His anti-Chinese moves threatened the village’s survival.
Kang Moo-hyuk pieced together why he and Hyeon Jeong-geon got ambushed.
Hyeon Jeong-geon was sold out to the Chinese by someone here. Probably watched the whole time.
Now it got tricky.
Both Ryeon Jeong-mun and Cheon Deok-su had motive.
Cheon Deok-su, Chinese puppet. Ryeon Jeong-mun, patrol leader—couldn’t ignore a troublemaker like Hyeon Jeong-geon.
Former village benefactor or not, too risky to handle personally—use Chinese hands instead?
“Guildmaster. What’s my role going forward?”
Kang Moo-hyuk gathered his thoughts, eyeing the now-respectful Hwang Dong-soo.
“This village needs talk over fists. Agree?”
“Yes. We’re on bad terms now, but we were all like family. No bloodshed. That’s why Ryeon Jeong-mun and Cheon Deok-su hold back.”
“Hunters tend to ignore the powerless.”
“True enough.”
Hwang Dong-soo smiled bitterly.
“So let’s make ‘em listen.”
“How?”
“You’ve got a following of youths, right?”
“Yeah, but... you wanna use them?”
“Why? Not keen?”
“They’re green, naive. Feels wrong exploiting that...”
Kang Moo-hyuk stared. Hwang Dong-soo froze, wondering his misstep.
After a beat of silence—not too short, not too long—Kang Moo-hyuk spoke.
“They become hunters without that resolve?”
“N-no. For the village, I’d stake my life. It’s just...”
“Not talking about you. The youths following you, not aligned anywhere. Think they lack your resolve?”
“...”
Ignoring Hwang Dong-soo’s turmoil, Kang Moo-hyuk pressed.
“Talk solves most, but no guarantees on zero sacrifice. Holding knives at throats, claiming no blood? Hypocrisy. Prep for worst-case. If that’s a no-go, we can’t work together.”
“Gather people... like you said... change the village?”
Kang Moo-hyuk replied instantly to Hwang Dong-soo’s question.
“No.”
“If not, why bother with the hard path...”
“Changing the village isn’t my job. It’s yours. I’m no hunter—can’t fight alongside. But I can show the way. Choosing it? Up to you all.”
“A path that could kill villagers?”
“Coming to kill me for your mom’s treatment? Your choice. Listening now? Yours. Time for another. Risky road, endure sacrifice and fight—or dodge.”
Hwang Dong-soo, head bowed long, finally met Kang Moo-hyuk’s eyes. Choice clear without words.
Kang Moo-hyuk nodded.
“Round ‘em up. Set the board before dawn.”
Outside Sinuiju, Hyeon Jeong-geon pointed at the pair facing him, double-checking.
“So, you’re Iron Will Guild?”
“Not me. On a job. Only she’s Iron Will.”
Hyeon Jeong-geon frowned at Mr. Jo’s pointed girl. Dark tunnel hid it, but moonlight revealed a shockingly young face.
“A kid?”
“Yup. Kid. Problem?”
“Damn, kids these days got no fear?”
“Not toward weaklings.”
“You stronger than me?”
“Wanna test it? You didn’t look so hot back there.”
Hyeon Jeong-geon snorted incredulously at Go Eul-ji’s taunt.
Hunters judging by age was dumb, but same rank? No way a high schooler outmatched him. Not arrogance—how much experience could she have?
He was a vet at killing people, more than monsters. No need to nitpick her flaws.
As fists seemed imminent, Mr. Jo intervened.
“Passage blocked—night’s short. Gotta find a new route back to Sinuiju. Not bicker. And Eul-ji, watch your mouth. Picking fights a hobby?”
“Grandpa taught me. Get disrespected here, you’re done. Experience backs it. Concede once, they push forever.”
“Your grandpa... sigh, Great War survivor’s wisdom made you this way. Don’t care since I’m not your guild, but Guildmaster Kang’s got it rough ahead. Your guildmaster’ll hear if she finds out.”
“Why drag guildmaster into everything? Not a threat.”
“It is. Keep causing issues, I report to Joo Se-ah.”
Hyeon Jeong-geon cut in.
“Kang Moo-hyuk mentioned—let’s handle that first. Iron Will sending you means they know something’s up with him?”
“He alive?”
“For now.”
“What? Vague much?”
“Not dying yet. But problems cropped up.”
“Speaking of problems—we got one too.”
“What?”
“Rescue team’s just us two. No guild backup.”
Hyeon Jeong-geon rubbed his temple.
“Nuts. Not just weirdos—guild’s a strange place too?”
Hyeon Jeong-geon found himself warming to the guild.