146. If You Were Aiming for My Complacency, You Nearly Succeeded.
Tae Jin-seong, the chairman, woke up in the middle of the night.
Ever since he'd been injured in that midnight assassination attempt by unknown assailants, his stamina had been waning, and his sleep had grown much heavier. With no fixed bedtime, he woke whenever he pleased.
'Ugh, guess I really am getting old.'
The hospital room was dim, lit only by a faint bedside lamp. Turning his head, he saw lights from outside filtering through the unc curtained window, casting shadows across the ceiling. The shadows danced about like actors in a play.
That was when it happened.
Thud!
A mysterious sound struck the hospital room floor.
"If you're awake, how about we chat? Chairman."
Tae Jin-seong turned toward the dark corner untouched by light. A shadowy figure rose from the sofa area. Leaning on a long cane, it approached slowly—tap, tap, tap.
"Kang Moo-hyuk..."
"Is this how you're going to handle things?! Strutting around as a top-tier guild, and you can't even do the basics?!"
"What?!"
"Jeong Sil-jang, you mean? I didn't know that either."
"Then use an A-rank from your side..."
"Is that such a big deal?"
Tae Jin-seong bristled at the man's casual tone. Hunter or not, how dare he disrespect someone older and of higher social standing? To a man who'd lived his life as the crown prince, it was an insult.
Sensing it, the man shifted to a calmer voice, unlike before. He was a civilian, but a chaebol heir. With each holding the other's weaknesses, emotional squabbles were a waste when they were in the same boat.
"Then another high-rank..."
"So what do you expect me to do?!"
Kang Moo-hyuk looked down at the old man known as a titan of the business world.
The vibrant face that belied his seventies was gone, replaced by exhaustion.
Liver spots bloomed across his skin, and the wrinkled flesh sagged deep like cracked dry earth.
'Still got that sharp gaze, though.'
Lying down, Tae Jin-seong glared up at Kang Moo-hyuk.
"Visiting in the dead of night? No manners."
"Oh? This cane's a get-well gift. Made from expensive wood from the Makyung."
"Regifting your used one?"
"It's barely used. A day or two? Take it as a token. Seemed like you need it more than me."
"Not at that stage yet."
"You will be soon."
"..."
"I sneaked a peek at your medical chart."
"Snooping medical records is illegal, no?"
"They just handed it over. Illegal too, sure. But in this line of work, fussing over laws or morals gets nothing done."
"Guess I need to clean house at the hospital."
"Won't help. Why do you think they showed me your records?"
Tae Jin-seong said nothing, just stared up silently.
He was the man who'd turned Taeseong from a minor player into a top conglomerate. Thrust into leadership in his thirties during the Great War, he'd endured. Even the Small Wars hadn't broken him. Not even the heads of major guilds dared cross him lightly.
Most couldn't hold his gaze, but Kang Moo-hyuk met it coolly, emotionless. The chairman averted his eyes first.
Kang Moo-hyuk continued.
"No immediate life threat, but aggressive mana exposure. You won't keep your old health. It'll worsen. Like any old man, the aging you've delayed with gate herbs will accelerate."
"Hmph! Old men die. What's got you so excited? Bad taste."
"Harsh for someone who survived death, but you ordered plenty of cruelty yourself. Just listen."
"..."
"Time's no longer on your side. The hospital knows, that's why they gave your info to me—working with Guild Master Joo Se-ah."
"Already lining up successors? Listen, Kang Moo-hyuk. I'm Tae Jin-seong! I've got plenty of life left... urk!"
Tae Jin-seong tried to sit up in anger but collapsed back from the pain.
Kang Moo-hyuk stepped closer, setting the cane by the bed.
"Bearable now, but you can't plan 10, 20 years ahead anymore. What about succession?"
"Why worry about that?"
"Not worried. I was, before I knew. Now I do—why this mess happened."
"What?"
"Why you tried to oust Vice Chairman Tae Su-cheol."
"!!"
Kang Moo-hyuk pulled out his smartphone and played a file.
[AUDIO RECORDING: 5 Years Ago]
"Ah, Dr. Kim. Tae Su-cheol here. Heard Dad got his checkup? How's it? No issues, right? Ah, good. Healthy as ever. Haha, 100 years old? Could be. Never gets sick..."
Tae Jin-seong listened to the end and snorted.
"Bugging now?"
"From five years ago."
"..."
"Someone I know gave it. Thought it useless at first—petty spite? Sounded like a dutiful son checking on Dad."
"..."
"Called back. One word: 'Would a guy who cares about his dad's health pull this shit?'"
"..."
"Clicked instantly. Vice Chairman's obsessed with your health. When'll you sicken? Die? Hand over the group?"
"So what?!"
"You're nearing eighty. He's in his fifties. Sure, injured now, but gate herbs could've kept you to 90, 100. He'd be 70s, 80s then. What's the point inheriting with little time left? Unsure if he'd stay healthy like you."
Tae Jin-seong's jaw trembled. Family shame exposed, rage boiled over.
Kang Moo-hyuk pressed on.
"Other heirs his age are taking reins. Younger chairmen abound. How long as vice, as heir? Tired of waiting. He wanted you gone."
"Enough!"
"So he hired Baekho Guild, failed. You figured it was him. Replaced dropout kids with Guild Master Joo Se-ah—"
"I said enough! Who do you think you are?!"
"Listen whether you like it or not. People died hating it—because of you."
"Security! Guards! What are they doing?!"
"How'd I get in?"
Tae Jin-seong stopped yelling. Furious, but reason held. Time hadn't dulled his mind yet.
Breathing ragged but controlled, as Kang Moo-hyuk leaned in.
"Chairman. Your era's ending. Assassination failed, but goal met. Think ahead. Sit him in your chair? Guild Master's not interested, by the way. Time's not yours. Our guild won't wait on your choice. We win by waiting."
Tae Jin-seong felt his breath catch. Eyes still fierce like a tiger's, but fading. He realized: he was an old tiger. Time to skin him.
"Lucky for Se-ah you're around—or unlucky, group might shatter thanks to you."
"Group's not her concern."
"Just hunt monsters. Take a guild. I tried employing a madman toppling Korea's top firm. My life's biggest mistake."
"Time's short."
"I know. Better than you—my body's failing."
"Not that. Your health leaking out. Less health, less influence over the group."
"So? Oust Su-cheol now? Regrettable, but no grounds. Even I can't. Lines I gave him are his now. Shareholders, execs supporting me—all his. If I could've purged clean, I'd have by now."
Kang Moo-hyuk tapped the bedrail, straightening.
"Way to oust him."
"What?"
"Clear disqualification."
"No way..."
"Even in this monster world, Korea values 'filial piety.' Your lines won't follow a traitor."
"Think I haven't? No proof. Suspicion alone won't cut it."
"Baekho Guild?"
"Why them?"
"Dirty jobs mean dirty clients untrusted. Proof's there. Take time, but I'll get it."
"Baekho's tier guild. Tough. With my health unknown, delays kill it."
"More urgent for me. Done playing succession games. Want guild focus. End this, hunt monsters carefree."
"Hah? Carefree? Survived Great and Small Wars, supported hunters. Know how brutal. Why pull Se-ah out? Not carefree."
Tae Jin-seong sneered. Kang Moo-hyuk scoffed back.
"Not for you to mock."
Contempt in cold eyes stoked Tae Jin-seong's rage, but chilled him more.
True to rumors: this man would do anything for monsters. Crush Taeseong if obstacle. This deal his last patience.
"Fine. I'm at disadvantage. Let's join hands."
"Won't drop my hand even with reverse gears."
"..."
"Joke."
"If that dumb joke aimed for complacency, nearly worked. Pitiful, really."
"..."