164. Something Big Is About to Blow Soon.
Kang Moo-hyuk needed to see the big picture.
Just holding the line won't cut it.
The defensive line, centered on Baekam County with Cheongjin City on the eastern coast and Hyesan City south of Baekdu Mountain as its flanks, was hanging by a thread—like a candle flickering in the wind.
Baekam County was especially vulnerable.
It lay where the Ma-cheonryeong Mountains stretched north-south from Baekdu Mountain and the Hamgyeong Mountains ran southwest-northeast from Gaema Plateau, culminating in Korea's highest peak, the Baekdu Plateau.
In other words, it was prime monster territory—rugged mountains perfect for their movements.
In human wars, high ground favored the defenders. But against monsters? Completely different story.
If they slipped down through the hard-to-watch foothills, even hunters on high alert would miss some. And one monster could slaughter hundreds of civilians in seconds. No such thing as "just one"—every single one mattered.
Hunters can't perfectly seal a 150km line.
Theoretically, throwing every available hunter at it could plug every gap. But in practice? Impossible.
Hunters varied wildly in skill. Not everyone could solo a strong monster. Most needed at least a minimal party, sometimes a half-raid team, occasionally a full one.
Even weak monsters in large numbers required matching forces.
If a named monster descends, that sector's breached in seconds. Can't risk hunter lives by throwing them in blindly. So we run minimal recon and strike teams where monsters move... but how long can that hold?
Hunters waited at key strongpoints spaced along the line. They'd scout around, then handle detections. Any breakthroughs got sniped by rear-guard marksmen.
Kang Moo-hyuk pushed for a more aggressive mobile defense with elite forces, but without command over all guilds, it stayed on paper.
No one offered better ideas beyond defense, and the line was slowly overloading.
Still subtle, invisible to most. But Kang Moo-hyuk, sleeplessly compiling frontline intel, saw it clear as day.
Hunters are tiring. Supplies are dipping, bit by bit. Tier guilds hoard their people; mid and small ones fear casualties and sit out. Guilds like that? Freelancers dodge the hot zones too. Southbound monsters are ramping up.
That wasn't all.
Government downplayed crises pre-election. Media, scared of monsters, stuck to official releases—no fieldwork. If tier guilds hadn't shouldered the load, the line would've crumbled already.
He'd raised it at an Iron Will leadership meeting. Yi Suk-young, ever at his side like a secretary, had asked curiously.
"I heard those tier guilds got strong influence down south and such. Why don't they tell the people 'bout our situation here?"
"Because their influence grows. Government knows chaos hits if they pull out, so they concede a lot. Tax exemptions on gear buys right now, probably. Their vaults are wide open—stockpiling while they can."
Government and guilds, using each other.
Why the crisis dragged on.
Time for Kang Moo-hyuk to decide. No more watching—he'd seize control.
Couldn't predict the fallout perfectly, but protecting people meant no hesitation.
"Talking's done. Time to show with actions."
Force the immobile to move.
Hunters followed those who acted first.
He picked up the receiver.
"Yes, it's me. Kang Moo-hyuk. I need to discuss something with Guild Master Anton Ivanov."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Vladivostok's top guild, Char.
Char's leader, Anton Ivanov, pondered Kang Moo-hyuk's call.
"If it were just tricky, I'd refuse... but this?"
Kang Moo-hyuk's proposal was impossible to ignore.
Anton pulled out the guild's top-secret Ma-gyeong map.
Compiled from Char's raids: monster ecology, vegetation, resources—and recent gate locations.
"Mudanjiang."
His finger tapped Mudanjiang City, once a major hub in Heilongjiang, now part of Ma-gyeong.
240km northwest of Vladivostok—practically next door.
A ruined shell swallowed by Ma-gyeong, but once home to 3 million. Area-wise, like Gyeonggi, Gangwon, and Chungcheong combined. Monster-heavy, especially tribal types nesting in buildings—headache to clear.
Touch one, the tribe swarms. Bipedal weaklings with crap hides—no artifacts, bad ROI. Skipped 'em 'cause too much hassle... now overgrown.
A gate there? Outbreak would trigger a chain migration.
Normally, 'Ma-gyeong Treaty' says first finder claims it—China or Russia. But this? Can't pass.
The treaty: joint monster response; governments stay out of guild/hunter clashes.
No wars between nations, but hunter fights fiercer than ever.
Gates equaled cash—treaties be damned on prime ones.
Mudanjiang's gate? Called "second Blagoveshchensk"—goldmine. Chinese guilds held it, but Russian ones eyed it hard.
"Fake? All a conspiracy? Suspected, but Tumen River crisis from a gate outbreak? Knew they were nuts, but China's lost it."
Anton mulled Kang Moo-hyuk's words.
'Tumen River tied to Jilin City gate. Monster surge south means boss nested between. They fled to Korea. Mudanjiang blows? Where's that boss head? If Russia's known gates open too... worst case.'
Gate bosses sensed each other outside. Monsters fought for turf—except strong ones avoided injury, holding domains.
'Mudanjiang's boss heads east—only option. Harbin northwest, Jiamusi north, Jilin southwest.'
Vladivostok hit too.
Kang Moo-hyuk's closer: 'Second Najejin incident.'
Anton couldn't sit. He called for his car, summoned his vice.
"To Vladivostok Council. Time to hash it out with Moscow."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Brother's back—good news. But what's this?"
Darden waved a business card at Igor, who tore into steak bare-handed.
"Witch gave it. Said call."
"Witch? Joo Se-ah? She tracked you to Ma-gyeong?"
"You ghosted her, so she bugs me?"
Darden checked the card. Korean script—useless—but English below: Kang Moo-hyuk.
Snake you lose money talking to. Dodged Char's hassle, now hits brother?
Ridiculous.
Never dreamed he'd use S-rank Igor as messenger. Joo Se-ah was guild master—his boss. Treating her like an errand girl? Unheard of.
But brother took her pitch and brought it here? Insane.
Igor's moniker Tyrant for nothing. Rage blinded him to kin. Ignored all but his words. Darden had negotiated with Moscow for his bailout—Russia's worst villain till then.
Had to know how she pierced that.
"No idea how she swayed you. Thought no brawl was win."
"Tried."
"Why stop...?"
"Brought booze. Jerky too. Dry in Ma-gyeong—forced sober. Mine gone. Can't smash the supplier—waste if bottles break."
"Booze? Ha?"
Darden's baffled laugh cut short as Igor continued.
"Couple drinks, chat... sounded legit."
"What chat?"
"Alliance."
"Alliance?"
"Smash Chinese. Gate blows soon. Details on that number."
"Hah! Funny guy. World where today's friend is tomorrow's foe—no reverse. Trust for alliance? What's in it for us?"
"Gives what you need now."
"Need?"
Darden tilted his head.
What could a Korean offer? Tyrun outclassed Iron Will in size, funds—despite their S-rank.
Curiosity surged.
No. Falling for it already.
While Igor ate, Darden warred internally: don't fall for tricks... but judge for yourself? Face twisted a dozen times.
"Annoying. Curious? Call. Uses own guild master as gofer—not bluffing. You lose nothing to that Kang guy. Hate it? Hang up."
Darden paused.
"Right. Reject if bunk. Decide post-call, like brother says."
He dialed.
Ringing forever—sleepy voice answered.
-Kang Moo-hyuk speaking.
"Nearly 10pm here. Dawn there? Woke you."
-4am. Knew time, called anyway—curious, huh?
Darden gritted teeth. Caught out—irritated. Voice sharpened.
"Sent guild master to brother—your urgent need? Hang up?"
-Vladivostok press conference soon.
"What?"
Tried intimidation—sudden pivot to Vladivostok. Interest snagged. Rage followed realization.
Fox. Devour next meet.
Ears perked.
-Heard Upu Mangbau mess hit hard. Kremlin protection waning?
Tyrun's Moscow ties to Upu Mangbau? Open secret.
Russia custom: no poaching territories.
Tyrun, Moscow-backed, eyed Vladivostok—seen as central control grab.
Worse: tried wiping the city. Local guilds, autonomies furious.
Moscow couldn't fully grip vast Russia—distanced from Tyrun scandal.
Rivals hit Tyrun ops, hunts.
Kang Moo-hyuk caused this—Darden seethed.
"Taunting?"
-Broker Vladivostok-Moscow reconciliation. Tyrun mediates. Char steps for them.
"!!"
-Moscow concedes big, but calms other autonomies.
Darden pondered, poked holes.
"Vladivostok-Moscow peace? Others follow? Not their rep."
-Not reps, but crises unite.
"Unite? Those sand grains?"
-Ma-gyeong blows soon.
"Blows?"
-Russia's east could vanish.