148. What Do You Want?
"We don't have to listen to that guy. Proceed as I say."
"Yes, Chairman."
Oh Jeong-su hurried out of the chairman's office and immediately called the vault keeper in Myeongdong—the man who managed the group's slush funds. He was particularly useful for times like this, when stocks needed to be bought under false names.
"This is Oh Jeong-su. Prepare to dump Taeseong Machinery shares. When I give the signal, process them fast."
After hanging up, Oh Jeong-su felt the old craving for a cigarette. He tried gum instead, but it did nothing for him.
"This is why I can't quit smoking."
He finally sent his secretary to buy some and headed to the rooftop. The employees who'd come up for a post-meal smoke before overtime scattered like roaches at the sight of the owner's son, bowing at ninety-degree angles as they fled downstairs.
"Just my luck. I thought it'd be empty up here."
Alone in the barren rooftop garden, he lit up and coughed violently as nicotine and tar assaulted his lungs for the first time in ages. After a few deep drags, the familiar haze returned, soothing his dizzy mind into a languid calm.
"Ah, this is the stuff. Hooo~ Holding back from something this good would make anyone sick."
He pulled out his smartphone and stared at Kang Moo-hyuk's number in his contacts. His thumb hovered over the call button several times before retreating. In the end, he shoved the phone back in his pocket.
"Sorry on a personal level, but it's just business. No hard feelings, Raid Leader Kang Moo-hyuk."
Kang Moo-hyuk had been glued to his computer since early morning, tense with anticipation.
'They say Hanju's Chairman Oh Jeong-su makes Taeseong's Chairman Tae Jin-seong look patient. He'll be moving fast from the get-go. Wonder what trick he'll pull?'
He was monitoring portal site news while also requesting Hanju-related intel from those working with Mr. Jo.
Right at nine o'clock.
"Right on cue."
As the stock market opened, Kang Moo-hyuk spotted the breaking news.
Taeseong Machinery. Pushing Merger with Iron Will Guild.
Iron Will Guild Aiming for Backdoor Listing?
Taeseong Machinery shares began to fluctuate wildly.
A call came in from Mansu, who'd briefed him at the hospital in Mr. Jo's stead.
"Counter right away. Leak a rumor through your channels denying any listing plans. We'll handle the rest."
Kang Moo-hyuk called Kim Dal-pil, the reporter connected to Joo Se-ah.
"Reporter, about that article I mentioned yesterday—can you run it now?"
"It's the truth. No merger. Put it under the guild master's and my name if you want. Mention the chairman in a follow-up if needed."
"I warned Hanju to back off quietly. They ignored it and stirred this up for a quick buck. Retail investors will get wrecked. By the time the group verifies and responds, it'll be too late. Chairman Tae Jin-seong's intentions are what matter most, right? Block him, and we're good."
"Thanks for the hard work."
"Put an embargo on Sinuiju for now. It's sensitive."
With the prepared plan in motion, Kang Moo-hyuk now just had to wait.
Soon, the upward red graph line began its slow descent.
The market seemed to dismiss the rapid merger rumor and correction as a typical blip.
"He'll call soon."
Ring ring! Ring ring!
"No class act. Yes, Kang Moo-hyuk speaking."
"Speak."
"You picked the cheapest option out of the choices. Pump the stock to skim more slush funds? Not much gain beyond a few bucks."
"You didn't call just to chat. What's up?"
"Why tip me off?"
"I'll take the goodwill. But you're not gunning for the Hanju Resort at Sanjeong Lake, are you? The building we're using as HQ."
"Hanju Resort was no longer Hanju property legally when it became a special activity zone."
"Harsh to say, but your dad's got a... temperament."
"Guess our friendly chat ends here."
"Thanks for all your help. Take care."
Kang Moo-hyuk quietly hung up. Legal disputes with Hanju loomed, but the big knot was untied. His work wasn't done yet, though.
'Hanju should've stayed quiet, but they bit us and drew blood. The piranhas smelled it.'
One of those piranhas called right away.
"No blunder. Within expectations, Chairman."
"Hospital food's no good. See you at one after lunch."
He cut off the chairman mid-sentence and pulled forward a postponed plan.
"Guild Master, it's me. Yes. Summon Hunter Ryeon Jeong-mun. His sworn brothers too."
Tae Jin-seong, meeting again after just a day, looked far brighter than before.
Kang Moo-hyuk was reminded anew just how spiteful the old man could be.
'He looks a decade younger now that he's in a good spot. Or maybe tormenting me is his secret to longevity.'
Tae Jin-seong greeted him warmly.
"Come in. Seeing you so often, I might get attached. Hate to love it."
The smile was soft, but the stubborn greed etched around his mouth was unmistakable.
Kang Moo-hyuk's head throbbed at the thought of bickering with these two old monsters from Taeseong and Hanju. It didn't scare him, but the constant interference with guild business grated.
'Once the guild's independent, it'll all be water under the bridge. Just hold out a bit longer.'
He returned the smile and entered the room.
"I hear there's no such thing as natural enemies. Can't agree more on that front."
"Mind yourself when I smile."
"Like always, I brought something to your taste, didn't I? That's minding myself."
"Filling my belly changes nothing if it's poisoned. The chef who sold out for cash is the only winner. My gut pain? Not their problem."
"Then today, I'll sample your cooking instead, Chairman."
"Cooking? Recalculate. Spit out what you fed me yesterday."
"Why should I?"
Tae Jin-seong looked dumbfounded at Kang Moo-hyuk's shameless dodge.
"You really don't know? You squashed the backdoor listing yourself. Smells like a guild independence ploy. Now that I've caught on, your fallback's gone if that promise fails. To stay ahead of me, you needed that lifeline. I'd think twice about funny business knowing you had options even after I'm gone."
"That's why I told Hanju to exit quietly. Too many victims to ignore."
"Nasty dish. Teaming with Hanju? Your ingredient pick was off. That old codger's greed is bottomless."
"Matches yours?"
"Getting cocky. Still think you have me by the throat? We're both gripping each other's."
Kang Moo-hyuk approached the bed. Yesterday's gift cane was there. He picked it up.
"You've been using it? Pretty solid, right?"
"Expensive stuff grips the hand nice."
"From Sinuiju. Made by a hunter—descendants of old North Korean hunters. They call their place Prison Village. Great craftsmen and hunters too. Years in Makyung make them experts on terrain and monsters."
"Still can't follow your tangents. What's this got to do?"
Kang Moo-hyuk stroked the cane and continued.
"Registered a guild just with them. Perfect timing—resident IDs issued. Got guild cooperation office and association help for Korean hunter licenses."
"Irrelevant."
"Experimenting with a new structure: three top hunters as chairs, guild master seat vacant. They can appoint one by consensus if needed."
"!!"
"You get it now? Iron Will's not my only lifeline. Quit as guild master? Easy. Keep pushing, and Joo Se-ah heads to Sinuiju. Hunt monsters with the new guild instead."
"What? Ditch Hunter Village and rider wolves? Wild idea. Forgot why Se-ah took my Taeseong Guild offer? Even hailed as top hunter, building a guild's different. Taeseong's backing got her here."
Kang Moo-hyuk suddenly burst out laughing—pfft.
Tae Jin-seong scowled. Not at the mockery. A bad premonition hit.
Bad feelings about Kang Moo-hyuk always panned out poorly.
"Top secret, but you're her biological dad, so... Should I say? Feels wrong either way..."
"Testing an old man's patience? Quit teasing."
"Guild Master Joo Se-ah hit S-rank."
"!!"
"Go public, and plenty of Iron Will hunters follow us. Not bragging—reality. Sinuiju and Iron Will hunters plus an S-rank? Unmatched foundation."
"Hmm..."
"Rider wolves? Iron Will has tier guild contracts. Penalty fees are steep. Supply without me? Monster ranching ain't easy. Might struggle without my setup... Taeseong's loaded, but still hefty. I jacked up those penalties."
He'd hiked penalties trading current shortages for future potential—but hid that.
Despite the teasing tone, Kang Moo-hyuk's flat delivery ground Tae Jin-seong's teeth.
He knew it, but felt the ruthlessness anew. He struck back at the weakness.
"Didn't peg you as irresponsible with monsters. Strip it all, North Pocheon suffers. Citizens face monsters again, Hunter Village loses jobs. Investments pulled. Who'd join that mess?"
Kang Moo-hyuk countered the smug grin.
"No eternal foes or friends after all."
"Meaning?"
"Guild law has a compulsory handover clause for affiliated zones. Long story short: if the affiliated guild can't function, government can force rights to another guild."
"..."
"Hanju's Chairman Oh will love it. North Pocheon for the taking. He was already raging about the resort."
"Heh, hehehe... hahaha... Shameless in business—no face, no pride."
Tae Jin-seong laughed hollowly.
Kang Moo-hyuk handed back the cane, serious.
"Chairman. This isn't business."
"..."
"It's war to the death. Monsters or men. What do you expect from someone fighting for their life?"
Tae Jin-seong's total defeat.