173. They've Really Flexed Their Muscles
Kang Moo-hyuk sent the raid party list he'd prepared in consultation with Seong Seon-je to the Guild Cooperation Office.
Cha Gil-ju reviewed the list and contacted each guild.
The reactions from the drafted hunters varied wildly.
Some grumbled, others saw it as an honor. There were those annoyed by the hassle, those treating it like a picnic, and those just clocking in for work.
Seoul-based tier guild, Nagurne Guild.
"Expedition airborne mages Gong Jung-mun, Na Young-sik, Choi Tae-soo. You three are drafted for the unified raid party."
Gong Jung-mun, the senior of the trio, asked puzzled.
"Just three of us? We're a tier guild. Isn't this a mistake, boss?"
"How many gates are we raiding right now? Plus, we sent two parties to the Cheongjin defense line. If we send everyone on the list, we'd have to shut down the guild. This is a compromise, so go and don't embarrass us."
"When have we ever embarrassed ourselves out there?"
"I'm saying don't cause trouble. You know Seong Seon-je's there, right? Don't give him any ammo to make the guild master headache."
"Ahh, Seong Seon-je... I hate that guy."
"Who likes him? If he'd stayed in strategy, he'd be shuffling papers. Why's he crawling back to the front lines? At least if it was expedition leader So Sang-yeop, I'd get it."
"I hate So Sang-yeop too."
"Name one decent guy in Slayer. Be grateful it's not Joo Se-ah."
"Joo Se-ah or Seong Seon-je, same difference—just different flavors of psycho. Buff psycho, sly psycho."
"Anyway, if I hear you Nagurne kids fucked up, I'll make you hate me more than Seong Seon-je."
Jeju-based tier guild, Green Narae Guild.
"Gye Myeong-sik, Do Do-hee, Mun Il-soo, Seo Se-in? Damn, they stuck us with the problem child fab four? Even on drugs, it'd be hard to draw this lot."
"Aigoo, boss, why so harsh? We're expedition hunters, at least. Someone overhears, they'll think we're the screw-up squad."
"Se-in, just you behave. You."
"Want me to kill you, Myeong-sik?"
"Me? You? You got wrecked by Do-hee. Heh."
"Hey, that was a game. That bitch was a Grand Master."
"Why'd a silver scrub mouth off to a GM?"
"You hid your rank and logged in on an alt, didn't you? Cheating the bet with fake rank?"
"Even irl, you're trash."
"Wanna go?"
"Bring it."
Do Do-hee and Seo Se-in grabbed each other's collars, tempers flaring. The Green Narae expedition leader whacked their heads like whack-a-mole.
Thwack! Thwack!
"Ack!"
"Ow... A tank hitting people's heads..."
"You idiots! Get your asses to Makyung right now!"
Busan-based tier guild, Ssaulabi Guild.
"Go."
"Don't wanna."
"Sung Sam-sik. Go while I'm asking nicely."
"No."
"Wanna die?"
"Nope."
"Go."
"Not going. You go, bro."
The other Ssaulabi expedition hunters watched the bickering pair, shaking their heads in exasperation.
A latecomer hunter, clueless about the situation, asked a colleague.
"What's up with Sung Sam-sik and Jeong Doo-sik?"
"Got drafted to the unified raid. Baby bro's digging in his heels."
"Ah, so Doo-sik's persuading him?"
"If Sam-sik won't go, senior Doo-sik has to."
"Huh? Only one spot from our guild?"
"Nah, two."
"Then why's Doo-sik acting up? Who's the other?"
"Doo-sik."
"Huh? If Sam-sik bails, Doo-sik goes instead. So why're they shoving it on each other?"
"Boss trolled 'em. Said one of 'em goes. Been at it three hours. Tch, stubborn bastards."
"Just tell 'em straight and boot 'em. Last time they pulled this for three days."
"Nah, seeing how long they last this time. Boss said leave 'em. If they're still at it when he gets back from errands, they're off the expedition."
"Those mule-headed idiots. Both getting kicked."
Soon, the weary hunters watching the expedition maknaes drifted away like the tide, but the standoff showed no signs of ending.
"Go."
"Nope."
Their mule-headedness persisted until the expedition leader returned from his outing.
Fuming at the predictable circus, the leader bellowed.
"Get out! You brats! Keep it up and you're expelled!"
"Thank you for coming. Thank you. You'll be a huge help here. Yes, thank you."
Kang Moo-hyuk wove through the crowd in the Cheongjin City Hall parking lot, shaking hands nonstop and expressing gratitude. Most surrounding him were hunters, with freelancers making up a hefty chunk.
Since the volunteer army recruitment announcement five days ago, hundreds of hunters poured in daily. Before a week passed, they'd blown past the 500 goal, nearing 3,000.
Kang Moo-hyuk set everything aside to show his face at the volunteer raid registration desk. Anyone seeing him might mistake him for a campaigning politician.
"Wonder what scheme he's cooking, commuting here morning and night. Rub his fingerprints off at this rate."
Han Byung-gu peered down from the 5th-floor window at City Hall, scowling.
"He's grateful the hunters showed for the warzone. To them, Director Kang's top volunteer brass. Probably boosting morale by showing high-ups care."
Cha Gil-ju defended Kang Moo-hyuk, but Han Byung-gu shook his head.
"Director Cha still doesn't get that punk. He wouldn't drag himself through that hassle daily for some petty ploy. Honestly, sly bastard like that, never saw his like even in my active days. If we'd had one like him in the Great War, the Chinese and Japs would've been the ones shitting bricks like we did back then."
"Haha, come on. Makes Director Kang sound like the villain."
"Not just villain. Archvillain fits better."
"Whatever, it's not as chaotic as the Great War days, so no need to worry that much."
"We'll see. Back then, no lines to hold, no principles needed—just pure desperation. Overdo the unconventional, it turns radical. Things are precarious now too."
Under Han Byung-gu's gaze, Kang Moo-hyuk kept stamping his face on the volunteer hunters before moving to the next task.
The parking lot crowd were individuals, met casually outdoors, but guild masters joining as units needed separate arrangements.
Of course, no majors or even mid-tiers among them, so small guilds volunteering as units carried weight.
Not out of admiration for justice or duty. Unit guilds were tactically useful—long-honed teamwork beat solo randos.
First day, Dog Fighting Guild and kin; over five days, 17 small-to-mid guilds hit Cheongjin.
Mostly extras, C-grade or below. Occasional C-grades, but better than nothing.
Today, though, a near-B-grade guild declared intent to join.
Kang Moo-hyuk met Twins Guild's master and vice in the city council chamber.
"Long time no see, Director Kang Moo-hyuk. Twins Guild Master Oh Cheol-jin."
"Vice Master Oh Cheol-su."
Kang Moo-hyuk knew them.
Gangbyeonbuk-ro Ichon Hangang Park Gate.
The twin brothers who'd failed to stop the oldster sorcerer, triggering outbreak.
Back then, mana addiction relapse kept him from meeting them post-incident. But he'd heard they were stand-up hunters.
Master and vice risking necks upfront bonded the crew tight. Despite brothers stuck below A+, guild rated near B thanks to solid average ranks and combat chops.
Kang Moo-hyuk recalled latest intel on Twins as he shook hands.
"Grateful you came all this way to help. Heard you both hit A-rank recently. Congrats, Guild Master Oh Cheol-jin. Vice Master Oh Cheol-su too. Rumors say B-grade promotion soon?"
"Thank you. You keep tabs on us. All thanks to you, Director Kang Moo-hyuk."
"Me?"
"Ichon Gate. Without you and Guild Master Joo Se-ah, we'd be dead."
"Ah, back then...?"
"Plus, surviving unlocked rank-up paths. Many guildmates who scraped by then leveled up too. Wouldn't be here without you two. Ichon flop would've tanked the guild. Anyway, here to repay that debt."
Not intentional, but Twins' aid was prime omen for Kang Moo-hyuk.
He beamed, all-in gratitude.
"Huge help. Thanks again."
"We're honored. We'll hold the line best we can."
Cheongjin Grand Hotel convention room.
Grand Hotel, provincial but in monster-hunting hub Cheongjin—home to Hamgyongbuk-do's top guilds—boasted Seoul five-star amenities.
Half the city wrecked by southward monsters, but southern-located Grand Hotel dodged the flames.
Thus, prime spot for national unified raid kickoff.
Dozens of hunters and hundreds of support staff sat at tables labeled by guild.
Hunters gorged on endless food and drinks, laughing loud.
!!
Sudden mood shift.
A man just entering the convention room.
Seong Seon-je.
No aura flex, no flashy gear. His mere presence hooked every eye.
His rep, record—monsters felled, villains crushed. Hunters who'd partied with him hailed pre-Joo Se-ah next-gen S-rank material.
Slayer Guild hunters followed.
'So Sang-yeop, Ha Hye-seong, Gam Woo-young, Go Won-mae. Noobs? Even Yeo Mun-gi? Slayer's really flexed hard?'
Dragon Hunter Guild's Jeon Ye-seong—guild master, sole drafted from his crew.
Still frontline active, plus he lobbied hard, so Guild Cooperation couldn't ignore.
Reluctantly, Seong Seon-je slotted him as vice raid leader.
Tier guild master aside, undeniable skill made it easy.
Slayer crew took seats; Seong Seon-je mounted the corner podium.
"Everyone's here. Let's kick off the ceremony."
Slayer hunters clapped. Others joined half-heartedly. Applause faded; Seong Seon-je spoke.
"Start with key roles and face time. Me first: Raid Leader Seong Seon-je, at your service. Vice Raid Leader: famed Dragon Hunter Guild Master Jeon Ye-seong."
Seong Seon-je pointed. Jeon Ye-seong stood, bowed; brief applause.
"Advisor: Hunter Association Chairman Han Byung-gu. Busy with volunteer raids, absent. Everyone knows him, skip. Next... operations officer? Ah, ops officer: Iron Will Guild Director Kang Moo-hyuk."
Murmurs swelled at Kang Moo-hyuk's name.