Chapter 177: Time to Get Close
Cha Gil-ju had come straight to Kang Moo-hyuk in Chongjin City.
"If you had business, you could've just called. Why drag yourself all the way up here?"
"Better than Seoul. I escaped."
"They must be giving you hell from above."
"I'm getting summoned left and right—it's a headache. I wrapped up the urgent stuff and slipped out on a 'business trip'."
Kang Moo-hyuk knew exactly how much Cha Gil-ju was suffering, thanks to the constant venting during their calls.
Both major parties were shaking him down over nominations, the Blue House was playing good cop bad cop, grilling him nonstop, and the media was hounding him for scoops like rabid dogs—he'd even been tailed.
"I'd take guild politics any day. This isn't human work. Can't even curse them out, and negotiations or persuasion? Forget it."
The biggest headache was the press, especially the broadcasters. With gates and special zones off-limits for mana-interfered filming, they were salivating over rare raid footage in open hunting grounds. No way the ratings vampires would let this opportunity slide.
"Honestly, if it weren't for China, I'd ignore the reporters and PDs. But I'm terrified a broadcast might leak classified info. Even our partners' staff are stuck inside, mouths shut."
Monsters didn't run spy rings, so info control wasn't a thing—until now.
But the undisclosed truth behind the Tumen River War was China's involvement. No choice but to rein in the media frenzy.
"You think your people can actually stop them?"
"They cry 'right to know' and swarm anyway. It's driving me insane."
Kang Moo-hyuk could see why Cha Gil-ju was at his wits' end.
Just around Chongjin University, big media outlets, broadcasters, tabloid sites, and personal vloggers had clogged the area.
Without police barricades, it'd be swarming with people trying to film the integrated raid force.
The backlash from blocked shoots and resulting complaints all landed on Cha Gil-ju's desk—no quiet days in his office.
And amid that, Japan's proposal had stirred up the political world, splitting politicians into pro and con camps. Unable to withstand the pressure, Cha Gil-ju had used it as an excuse to flee north.
Kang Moo-hyuk shrugged, as if he'd seen it coming.
"I figured Japan would make a move somehow, but damn, the timing's annoyingly perfect."
"Right? It's like they're reliving the Imjin War. 'Righteous Quest to Punish Ming—let us pass through'? They want to hit the Makyung, so step aside? What a joke."
"The situation does echo that era."
During the Imjin War, Toyotomi Hideyoshi had demanded passage through Joseon to attack Ming China. Swap Ming for Makyung, and with China scheming there, it wasn't far off.
"We have to refuse, obviously. But just in case, I said we'd discuss it without committing."
"Smart move. Flat-out rejecting would've made them plot something else. Buy time with the Makyung aid offer while we plan countermeasures—that's best."
"They can't be sincere about helping, right?"
"After betraying us in the Great War? No goodwill there."
"So what's their angle?"
"Their intent's obvious: screw over Korea. No need to guess. Better to trace why they're proposing this now."
"Why?"
"From the Tumen River incident to setting up Chongjin's defense line—Japan poked in several times, but we let it slide. Offering aid only now? Suspicious as hell. Especially when Korea's not desperate enough to grasp at straws."
"True, it's off. If they wanted in, they'd wait for the gate boss raid to fail, then offer a hand... Wait! They're planning to sabotage the raid...!"
Cha Gil-ju's eyes bulged. The mere thought ground his teeth.
Japan's backstab in the Great War had gutted Korea's hunter elite. Losing this integrated force's stars would set them back decades.
Kang Moo-hyuk shook his head.
"Not that. Hitting the integrated force would take serious firepower. Plus, tier guilds' raid teams are here, and we've got volunteers too. Even if they try, we've got countermeasures—they won't get a shot."
"Phew, good to hear."
"Nah, my hunch points elsewhere."
"Where?"
"Doesn't Korea have someone who makes Japan hit the panic button?"
"You mean... Guild Master Joo Se-ah?"
"Looks like word on our guild master's info leaked."
Cha Gil-ju froze, his mind racing with worries.
'Info on Guild Master Joo Se-ah hitting S-rank. Did it come from our side? If so, who? Blue House? Slayer?'
Those in the know were limited: Iron Will's top brass, Cha Gil-ju at Guild Cooperation, a handful at the Blue House, and Slayer Guild.
The last two were prime suspects.
"Easier to look abroad. Russia's got Char Guild and Tyrun Guild alone. It's probably spread further. And China—after clashing with Geomryong of Imperial Dragon Guild, her rank's basically public."
"Russia, China... We allied with Russia. So China."
"Likely. But they wouldn't leak precise S-rank confirmation."
"Info's inaccurate? Why?"
"If they were sure she's S-rank, Japan wouldn't go official like this. They'd aim to eliminate her outright—S-rank hunters draw every intel agency if they move abroad. Sneaking out's tough."
S-rank hunters could slip away short-term, but long-term tracking? Impossible. The US alone assigned one geostationary satellite per S-rank strategic asset.
World Hunter Federation's Thousand Eyes made hiding even harder.
"Plus, Imperial Dragon can't admit her rank-up—not with Baekho Guild in the mix."
"Why's that?"
"What guild wants to fight an S-rank? Tier guilds included."
"Ah!"
"If Baekho learns Joo Se-ah Guild Master's exact rank, they'll ditch the Imperial Dragon alliance. Slayer and other tier guilds freaking out over Japanese incursions in Korea? They'll sniff it out either way. Not what Imperial Dragon wants."
"So you're saying Imperial Dragon needs to stir Japan against Korea but can't afford Baekho bailing? They just wafted an S-rank scent Japan's way?"
"Exactly. I'd do the same."
Cha Gil-ju suddenly missed Seoul.
Hunter politics were everyday churn, but international entanglements scaled it up. One slip, and Korea's fragile base crumbles—damage incalculable.
Fall now, and they might never rise.
"We gotta reject flat-out."
"Hold off on that. Need to think it through."
"How?"
"Part of me wants to lure them here and wipe them out. Pit them against China. Or the gate boss... Hmm, alliance with China too."
As Kang Moo-hyuk murmured—more to himself—Cha Gil-ju cut in before it turned too sinister.
"Guild Leader Kang, whatever works... just make it containable. No killing Japanese hunters on Korean soil."
"Oh? Off Korean soil's fine?"
"Not Makyung either."
"No one notices deaths there."
"They're 'allies' on the surface. Total wipe in Makyung blows up."
"If we don't lift a finger..."
"Please."
Cha Gil-ju clutched Kang Moo-hyuk's sleeve. Had to stop him—this man followed through on ruthless plans. No wonder Chairman Han Byung-gu trusted him yet trembled.
"Fair enough, timing's off. Wiping a few raid teams won't solve it anyway."
Kang Moo-hyuk smacked his lips, shelving it. Cha Gil-ju sighed in relief—then shuddered at "not now."
'He'll do it later?'
Whenever "later" was, the intent chilled him.
"Here's the play."
"What?"
"Announce mid-March raid schedule. Negotiate entry early March."
"Wait, seriously taking their aid?"
"Nah. Why take rice cake you can't eat? Just stall so they can't scheme. We'll finish the raids before."
Cha Gil-ju counted days.
Two weeks to early March.
'Four named, one boss. Even Korea's best crammed in—insanely tight. Major raid every three days? Impossible by any standard.'
"Normally yeah. But thanks to someone, it's doable."
"Who?"
Kang Moo-hyuk's stern face softened into a friendly smile.
"We need to get close to Baekho Guild."
Ki-sin scowled at his subordinate's report.
"They're accepting too eagerly."
"Must be desperate."
"So what do they want?"
"Close the Jilin City gate while the integrated force takes the boss."
Ki-sin weighed Korea's demand.
'Won't fight alongside—worried we'll sabotage the boss raid. Suspicious... yet want us to seal the boss gate? Trekking Makyung's dangers to kill the gatekeeper is grueling before risky.'
Invite Japanese hunters, dodge the risks, use them where convenient.
Solid ploy from Korea's view, but it rankled.
'I proposed it, got close to what I wanted... but something's off.'
His gut screamed no.
But backing down meant losing face—he'd pitched it first.
"Tell Gil-dan-ryeon to send a negotiation team. Make terms favorable to us—no, burdensome for Korea—but don't break talks. Probe their real intent."
"Yes."
"And relay to Kim Myeong-jun. Have him dig too."