169. I Intend to Make a Formal Request.
Kang Moo-hyuk's words were a form of provocation.
It was a protest that they hadn't done their jobs properly, forcing him to step in.
Veteran politicians who had weathered three or four terms couldn't possibly miss the implication.
But snapping back in anger would only backfire. It would amount to half-admitting fault. When faced with an unconventional move from the opponent, the proper response was to counter with standard rhetoric.
The assemblyman facing off against Kang Moo-hyuk adjusted his glasses and maintained a cool demeanor. He looked up at Kang Moo-hyuk with perfect posture and spoke.
Overstepping one's authority refers to actions beyond one's remit, and especially when it comes to matters involving monsters or hunters, they must be conducted within the bounds of the law. Otherwise, we'd end up like the lawless zones in Africa or South America. Don't we have the history of the North Korean hunters' coup to remind us? To protect the Republic of Korea's freedom, democracy, and rule of law, we cannot tolerate overreach under any excuse.
The assemblyman appeared to be addressing Kang Moo-hyuk, but his words were really aimed at the public watching the broadcast, seeking their agreement.
One of the assemblyman's aides in the back discreetly checked his smartphone. He was monitoring the real-time chat reactions to the hearing streaming online. When the assemblyman glanced over, the aide gave an OK sign from out of the camera's view. Good reactions.
Emboldened, the assemblyman raised his voice with conviction.
What do you say? Is there anything wrong with my words?
No, sir. You're absolutely right, Assemblyman.
Then, as a representative of the legislative branch, you must admit your fault in putting the assemblymen who visited Cheongjin City and the civilian broadcaster staff in danger, and take the appropriate responsibility.
If it's legal responsibility, I'll bear it.
The assemblyman felt a surge of confidence as his opponent surrendered more easily than expected.
'Word in the guild world is he's got a silver tongue. I was on guard, but of course. What could a guy hanging around with those brute hunters do anyway? If I wrap this up neatly, my name recognition will skyrocket. This election's in the bag.'
Victory was sweet, but the assemblyman knew better than to push a guild representative too hard.
This was the raid leader appointed by Joo Se-ah, Korea's top hunter. Her symbolic status alone made unrelenting pressure unwise.
He decided to leave his opponent an escape route—one premised on the legislature's mercy and magnanimity.
We are not unaware of the hard work guilds and hunters do to protect the public from monsters. While your actions were undoubtedly illegal, we understand that circumstances on the ground can differ. Therefore, Raid Leader Kang Moo-hyuk's overreach should be handled with due consideration of extenuating circumstances. And so...
But this isn't a courtroom, is it?
Pardon?
No, you've been going on about the legislature this and legislature that. It almost sounds like you're judging guilt or innocence like a court. This isn't a place to pass sentences, is it?
Didn't you just admit your wrongdoing and express remorse? That's how it sounded to me.
I said I'd take legal responsibility.
Are you playing word games with me? Isn't that the same thing?
Kang Moo-hyuk turned more blatantly toward the camera than the assemblyman had and spoke.
Guild Law Article 17. I'm referring to the emergency provisions for urgent situations. I meant I'd take legal responsibility for how far a guild can intervene to control a crisis in an emergency.
The assemblyman bristled at Kang Moo-hyuk's response.
Isn't that just dodging responsibility? Citizens died to orcs, and a war broke out in Sinuiju with hundreds of hunters clashing. Are you saying you'll pin all that on some emergency provision special circumstance and slink away?!
The assemblyman's voice echoed through the hall even after his speaking time expired and his mic cut out.
Kang Moo-hyuk clasped his hands behind his back in a relaxed stance, tilted his head slightly upward to gaze at the ceiling, and replied.
I deeply regret the citizens lost to the orcs. But before that, I must point out the failure to secure the northern Pocheon border fence. At the time, border security hadn't yet been transferred to our guild. I later learned some checkpoint staff even took bribes to arrange illegal civilian tours of special activity zones. If you're holding our guild accountable for that, I wonder how many guilds could stand pure by those standards.
Guilds did their utmost to hunt monsters. But even their best efforts didn't always yield good results.
Monsters slipped through and ravaged homes, or raid failures forced entire regions to evacuate. Casualties and property damage were as common as traffic accidents.
If every such incident became an issue, guilds would grow passive in monster extermination and gate raids.
When Iron Will brought up the pre-handover management issues in northern Pocheon, the assemblyman—who knew such cases well—couldn't rebut rashly.
Kang Moo-hyuk didn't stop there; he brought up Sinuiju as well.
Sinuiju is the same. First, territory. Whose land is Sinuiju, Assemblyman?
...Republic of Korea territory.
The assemblyman answered reluctantly.
It was a trap. Sinuiju's borders had blurred since Makyung's formation, but Koreans still saw it as Korean soil.
He knew answering would play into Kang Moo-hyuk's hands, but silence might look like denying the territory, so he spoke.
Exactly. Korean land. Yet Chinese guilds tried to seize it.
Then inform the government and handle it diplomatically...
As I said earlier, it's not the Chinese government—it's Chinese guilds. The Liaodong Peninsula is already half-independent from the Chinese government due to Makyung blocking the way. If our government steps in, China will too. Then it escalates from guild skirmishes to war between nations. Cities bordering Makyung can't be resolved by talk. Do you think China will yield a city their guilds already hold? If we protest half-heartedly and let it fizzle, Sinuiju quietly becomes Chinese soil.
Isn't that insulting the government?! Take it back!
Starting to lose ground, the assemblyman bellowed to shift the mood. His aide's signals showed online reactions weren't favorable.
Committee Chairman Jeong Woo-su subtly turned his mic back on, as if lending support—without formally requesting extra time, and no other assemblymen objected.
Emboldened by his colleagues' tacit support, he counterattacked.
Even if we concede your point a hundred times. Does that mean mobilizing guilds for war? With hunters who have a history of coups, no less?
We'll address that too. The coup was by the previous generation of the hunters who just got citizenship. It's unrelated to Sinuiju's current residents. You're not suggesting guilt by association in a democracy, are you?
Isn't the hunter profession a special case?! People with that power pulled that stunt—who wouldn't see them suspiciously?!
Well said. Hunters are a special profession. Makyung is too. That's why China and Russia signed a treaty not to let governments intervene in hunter disputes within Makyung.
Urgh...
At a loss for rebuttal, the assemblyman gritted his teeth.
The extra speaking time meant to back him up had become Kang Moo-hyuk's weapon. He pressed on relentlessly.
Sinuiju has been Korean land that's not quite Korean land until now. Bordering Makyung, Chinese hunters treated it like Dandong—a city inside Makyung. They even tried claiming it outright. Sinuiju's hunters, descendants of old North Korean hunters, couldn't stand by while Chinese guilds took over. They asked for my help through an old colleague, and with time short, I had no choice but to intervene under Guild Law Article 17. The result, as you know, was driving out the Chinese hunters and fully incorporating Sinuiju into Korean territory.
No one in the hall could utter a word against Kang Moo-hyuk's resounding voice.
Even as the supposed defendants, the committee was on the defensive. Jeong Woo-su considered calling a recess, but Kang Moo-hyuk drove the final nail.
To reiterate: Sinuiju is now fully Republic of Korea territory.
Jeong Woo-su lamented failing to stop that last statement. As a seasoned politician, he could imagine its impact on the viewing public without seeing it.
Like locking the barn after the horse fled, Jeong Woo-su banged the gavel belatedly.
We'll take a short break.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Before the break, I have something to say first.
Kang Moo-hyuk looked at Jeong Woo-su and requested the floor. Unprecedented, but Jeong Woo-su couldn't ignore him.
The hearing was a kind of public trial, with assemblymen as judges. Rejecting the "defendant" now would paint them as defeated to the public.
Make it brief.
His face was already in the dirt; no deeper to fall.
Kang Moo-hyuk spoke.
I came for a hearing on the Cheongjin City incident, but it feels like we're skirting the real issues without asking the important questions.
Isn't Cheongjin the same as Sinuiju—overreach?!
The assemblyman who'd just taken a hit snapped irritably.
Kang Moo-hyuk ignored him and continued.
Cheongjin City will only get worse. The defensive line might even push back to Gangwon Province.
Who'd let that happen? The government's preparing countermeasures.
A ruling party assemblyman grumbled at Kang Moo-hyuk.
Simple measures won't hold it.
Why do you think that?
Sensing the gravity in Kang Moo-hyuk's expression, Jeong Woo-su asked.
The collapse of the Tumen River defense line wasn't just monsters moving south. Precisely, it was an outbreak from a gate near Jilin Province.
Outbreak...
I suspect the gate boss emerged. Once the boss heads south, the current crisis will seem trivial. Several other gates show signs of opening too. It could rival the two past wars in chaos.
Kang Moo-hyuk hadn't seen it, but the online chats exploded. Viewers glued to the TV froze. Late lunch-eaters forgot to chew. Coffee dribbled from lips, cigarettes burned fingers unnoticed, taxi drivers ignored green lights, passengers didn't urge them on despite running meters.
For a moment, the Republic of Korea stood still.
Everyone remembered the nightmares of the Great War and Small War.
Kang Moo-hyuk spoke as if rousing the stunned nation.
To that end, I formally request the government and National Assembly.
W-what do you mean?
Jeong Woo-su barely regained his wits and stammered.
Kang Moo-hyuk took a shallow breath and opened his mouth.
Authorize the formation of a national unified strike force.