Why Would I Ask If I Didn't Know?
Seong Seon-je, bored out of his mind from the endless paperwork, suddenly felt his senses sharpen.
It was shocking enough that Kang Moo-hyuk was in Sinuiju—a place on Korean soil but not truly Korean territory—and now he was asking for rescue? From him? Not cooperation, but outright salvation?
The request coming through the receiver was hard to swallow at face value.
Even setting aside the need to probe that scheming mind of his, he didn't even know the full situation.
And the opponents were Chinese guilds, no less.
He's talking about starting a war. Was he always this extreme?
As Seong Seon-je hesitated in silence, unsure how to respond, Kang Moo-hyuk pressed on.
-I'm sure you're hesitating because you don't know the situation here. Things are urgent, so I can't explain everything from the beginning. But it's true that the Chinese guilds are trying to take complete control of Sinuiju.
"Sinuiju's a lost cause anyway. Do we really need to step in? Spill blood over it?"
-We haven't confirmed it yet, but these Chinese guilds are connected to top-tier ones on the mainland. Sinuiju is just a bridgehead for dominating hunter rights on the Korean Peninsula. If we don't act preemptively...
"That's it?"
-...
Seong Seon-je feigned boredom with a light yawn as he shot back.
"Come on, this is Kang Moo-hyuk we're talking about. Not the obvious stuff everyone knows. Don't just talk your way around it. There has to be something else. Something to pique my interest."
-I'll give you Sinuiju.
"Hmm, still bargaining with something that's not even yours. Same old bad habits."
-You're after Makyung, right? Sinuiju makes a fine bridgehead.
"Hamgyongbuk-do's better for that. Solid infrastructure in the 'Naseon' area, closer access to Makyung via the Tumen River, and fewer clashes with the Chinese."
-But there are people here.
"People?"
-Descendants of old North Korean hunters. You've looked into Sinuiju, so you know about them—the Prison Village folks. Hunters and their families who've made Makyung their home for decades. They know the monster ecology, distribution, vegetation, geography, resource spots—everything at a glance. Even Slayer would take ages just to gather and organize that intel. The costs and blood it'd cost in the meantime... These people are invaluable human resources that could shave years off Slayer Guild's timeline. And by the way, the ones fighting alongside me right now? They're them.
"Whoa..."
Seong Seon-je wedged the receiver between his shoulder and ear, clapping genuinely impressed.
"Almost had me there. Keep going a bit more."
-You're greedy. Even money can't buy what I'm offering.
"There are a few pesky issues. You need to solve those too. Like, for example, Sinuiju being the perfect size to conquer... and then get indigestion from?"
Seong Seon-je added,
"Small as it is, Sinuiju's still a city. Kick out the Chinese, and it'll be a ghost town. Guarding it while pushing into Makyung? Not realistic. Those North Korean hunters speeding things up by years? All for nothing."
-Bring in other tier guilds. Form a coalition just for Sinuiju and Makyung. Set up joint raid protocols, with Slayer as chair. You're not planning to tackle Makyung solo anyway.
"Good idea. But will they listen to us? Tier guilds like mine don't exactly take orders well."
-You've got rider wolves. The difference with and without them in Makyung or gates is night and day. Mobility, transport—efficiency like that? We'll use them as collateral to pull them in.
Seong Seon-je nodded approvingly, dialing another number while keeping the line open.
"Strategic team leader. Prep an expedition force. Gear: full Class 1 combat readiness. Opponents: hunters. Transport: helicopters. Secure enough for full embarkation. Assemble members within the hour. Stand by until further orders."
After issuing the command, he turned back to Kang Moo-hyuk.
"Alright, preps are underway. But to launch? Answer my next question."
-Is it about justification?
"Knew you'd get it. Even after dealing with the Chinese guilds there, it doesn't end. We've got their backers to handle. Half-abandoned land or not, it's Korean soil. One wrong spark, and blood flows. We need some justification to hit them without China intervening directly, right?"
-That one's simple to solve.
"Simple?"
Seong Seon-je was genuinely surprised this time. In a way, this was the toughest hurdle.
Slayer had considered Sinuiju as a base for their Makyung plans but shelved it as a last resort due to China clashes. No matter how hard they pondered, no good answer emerged.
They needed justification to shut up the Chinese guilds. Unjustified intervention meant direct confrontation.
Even for Slayer Guild, facing China head-on was daunting.
-The justification is protecting Republic of Korea citizens.
"Citizens? You mean there are Koreans living th... Wait. The North Korean descendants?"
-Yes.
"That makes even less sense. The government? If you're banking on the Guild Cooperation Office, that's a misjudgment. They're sensitive to public opinion—no way they'd greenlight something this reckless."
-It's tough, but doable.
Seong Seon-je wavered at Kang Moo-hyuk's firm reply. Logically, it didn't add up. Yet somehow, the confidence rang true.
Strategist's judgment says 'no.' But hunter's gut screams 'go.' Damn, what a troublesome guy. Mess this up, and we're the ones bleeding.
As he agonized, Kang Moo-hyuk's voice rang like an alarm.
-Explosions in the distance. Combat's started. No escape route from here. Without Slayer's help, I'll be buried today.
"Guilt-tripping? Waste of time."
-I'm emphasizing the golden opportunity. Miss today, and Slayer—no, Korean hunters as a whole—won't dream of Makyung. Think time will fix it? What Korea's lacked isn't time or skill—it's chances. Why shout 'even if I can't have it, no one will' at tough gate bosses?
"Yeah, yeah. Obvious—we know if not now, never. Still gotta grab it anyway."
-And it's possible. Calculations check out. You've got some plan in that head too. Just solve justification, and it's doable.
Seong Seon-je groaned in frustration.
They'd barely tangled before, yet it was always like this. Maddening proposals he couldn't ignore. And that needling way of speaking left a bad taste. Annoying didn't cover it.
Smart and annoying? Infuriating.
Pushing aside regret that he wasn't simpler-minded, Seong Seon-je said,
"Gotta report to the guild master. I get the urgency—hold on. Solve justification, and we'll move as fast as possible."
-Thousands of lives on the line. Hoping for good news.
"On my name, Seong Seon-je, I promise. Support's coming. If guild master says no, I'll go alone—and some'll follow. So hold out."
-One more thing. Need to call Guild Master Joo Se-ah. But Baekho Guild's blockading North Pocheon. Long story—later. For now, get them to back off.
"Baekho? Tier guilds pulling that crap? We can't clash head-on—influence and all. No reason to. But we can block provocations. North Pocheon HQ defense is the issue?"
-That's enough. Waiting.
The call ended, and Seong Seon-je immediately contacted guild master Sa Mun-hyeok.
"Guild master, it's me. Emergency agenda. Need your approval."
* * *
"Yes, this is Cha Gil-ju. Huh? Director Kang Moo-hyuk. Number didn't show—scared me. What's up suddenly... Sinuiju?"
Guild Cooperation Department head Cha Gil-ju tensed at Kang Moo-hyuk's out-of-left-field Sinuiju talk.
After a brief rundown, he unwittingly yanked at his neatly combed hair.
"So. Unknown Chinese guilds scheming in Makyung, could impact the peninsula? Taking Sinuiju's prep work? Hard to know what to believe. Evidence? ...None, huh. Sounds chaotic around you... Combat? What the— Urk!"
A sudden blast made him yank the receiver away, rubbing his ringing ear before urgently calling out.
"Director Kang! You okay?"
Relief at the reassurance, but he knew Kang was in danger.
"Don't know details, but anything I can do now? ...What? What do you mean? Old North Korean hunters? Beyond my paygrade. Public opinion aside, accepting that invites opposition attacks. No reason to shoulder political heat defending them..."
-Guild Master Joo Se-ah hit S-rank.
"!!"
-First Korean S-rank since the Great War. Influence and symbolism speak for themselves. This news buries all issues. Keep it secret for now—Japan and China's threats are real. Assassins or other attacks possible.
"Is that... for real?"
-We decide packaging and promo. But we can frame it supporting government. Timing ours too. By election season latest, we'll prep for Korea's S-rank declaration.
Cha Gil-ju slumped, tension draining as he leaned back.
Kang continued.
-We'll hit Slayer and Sinuiju's Chinese guilds. Solve nationality issue, and China can't intervene directly.
* * *
BOOM! BANG!
Kang Moo-hyuk flinched at nearby blasts. Still some distance, but a collapsing line could flood enemies here fast.
He dialed for final arrangements.
-Director Kang? You okay?! What's going on? Where are you?
Joo Se-ah's barrage made him pull away until it subsided, then lean in.
"Sinuiju."
-Why would I ask if I didn't know?
"In combat now."
WHOOSH! BOOM!
Perfect timing for blasts; Joo Se-ah pressed frantically.
-What's that noise? Fighting? Why? Against who?
"Chinese guilds in Sinuiju. Fighting them with local old North Korean hunter descendants."
-Why so calm, like it's someone else's problem? What now? Help, right?!
"Heard about Baekho. Slayer'll rein them in. Their expedition's coming."
-Slayer? What the hell's happening? Never mind. I head to Sinuiju? Where?
"Sorry for vague, but you have a different role."
* * *
No Song-rin eyed Mr. Jo—disguised as Hyeon Jeong-geon—with distaste.
"Can't get used to it. Doppelganger trait? First I've heard. Means you could turn into me? Creepy as hell."
"No choice. Don't wanna be your face either."
"How old are you? Short-tempered brat. Ugh, gonna slash you."
"Put the blade away. Handle that guy first."
No Song-rin gripped a hunter, hand over mouth, crushing his face into the ground.
He spun the knife from Mr. Jo toward the hunter's throat—stab.
Foam at the mouth, the hunter died. No Song-rin offered the corpse.
"Transform."
"Ujungdo style, huh? Killed without hesitation."
"Gonna die anyway. You wouldn't?"
"Avoid killing usually... but today? My head rolls otherwise. Exception."
Mr. Jo touched the forehead. Moments later, he transformed—clothes copied, gear swapped.
No Song-rin marveled, instructing.
"Got it? Your job: buy time. Sabotage their orders like I said."
"Using a pro spy like me in danger zone. Hate Kang Moo-hyuk. Gonna curse him."
"Invite me if you're cursing."
"Hate the director?"
"Yeah, loads. Smug like you."
"Smug? I'm paid."
"Salary too."
"Hate him, yet your job's guarding him?"
"Yeah. Save him to save myself. Can't escape without his brains."
"Bragging about being dumb. Tsk. Yo, knife away?"
"Stop poking. Killing plenty now... Damn it!"
Mr. Jo flipped him off laughing, vanishing.
The missed slash cleaved air. No Song-rin grumbled, hid the body, and slipped away.
"Wonder if it'll work. Hope so?"