Staking My Neck for Success
Dinigeol and Sirinnai made their decision far more quickly than expected.
Dinigeol sought out Kang Moo-hyuk even before the day changed.
"I'll be your witness. But on one condition."
"Your families, right?"
"Yes. Our families... and those of our fallen comrades..."
"Hold on a moment. There's something we need to clarify first. The only ones I can take responsibility for are the families of you two here. Extracting every single family member of the Hwangryong Guild's Expedition Team 3 is no easy task. Of course, I'll do my utmost within what's possible, but I can't guarantee everyone's safety, so I'm saying this upfront."
It was a cold rejection of their request, but Dinigeol nodded in understanding.
"Thank you for being honest. If you'd promised blindly, I would've suspected you instead. We're not trying to push our luck. Just do your best."
"In that case, from now on, there's only one thing for you two to do: recover your strength as much as possible until the time comes. I'll contact you when needed."
With preparations complete, Kang Moo-hyuk judged it was time to negotiate.
'Evidence of Baek Gwi's gate opener, testimonies from the entire former Hwangryong Guild expedition team, and the actual device secured by Kamenisky. That's everything we can do. Now it all comes down to who we're negotiating with...'
Kang Moo-hyuk contacted Baek Gwi.
"Please arrange a negotiation table with Hwangryong Guild."
-The location will be Sinuiju. Is that acceptable?
"Yes. And one more thing."
-What condition?
"We'll designate the negotiator on our side."
-You're naming a specific person? Hmm. Who do you want?
"Guan Hong. Make sure the negotiations happen with him, no exceptions."
The Makyung Gate Opening Operation.
Hwangryong Guild had dubbed it the "Makyung Grand Plan," but its failure had drastically narrowed Guan Hong's standing within the guild.
Fortunately, unlike other hunters whose failures led straight to death or expulsion from the industry, Guan Hong's past contributions earned him a stay of execution.
"What's the point of a hunter being demoted to a desk job? I'd have rather been expelled and fled to another country. This is no different from exile."
Guan Hong had been assigned alone to a Hwangryong Guild branch office in a coastal city near Namsan Island. Sending him to a one-man outpost was a warning, inspired by China's worst hunter prison—self-reflection or else. It was also a threat: step out of line, and you'd be thrown into Namsan Island.
No hunter who knew this would act rashly. Guan Hong was no exception.
A few days into his branch life, a sudden summons came from guild headquarters.
Anxiety gripped Guan Hong.
'Headquarters isn't forgiving sins. They're calling to eliminate me or use me as a discard card.'
After much deliberation, he concluded the former was unlikely. If they wanted him dead, they'd have done it already. Hwangryong Guild was ruthless and cold, but they rarely reversed a verdict once given.
It tied to the leadership's face. In China, saving face was a gravely important ritual. Ignoring it often sparked guild wars or duels to the death among hunters.
"Then they must have a task for me."
Seeing it as an opportunity, Guan Hong rushed to Beijing, where headquarters stood.
He was led to a massive conference room overlooking the city.
A lone man stood in the center.
"It's been a while."
"Vice Chairman Bi Won-jun! You've been discharged. How's your health?"
"The internal injuries need more time, but movement's no issue. Don't just stand there—sit."
Guan Hong swallowed dryly and took his seat. Though not their first conversation, tension gripped him.
Unlike his days as strategic team leader, he was now a disgraced subordinate. Positions shape people, and losing his had humbled him.
Moreover, the man held his life in his hands—one wrong word, and it was over the cliff.
"I didn't call you for nothing."
Guan Hong realized it was Bi Won-jun, not headquarters, summoning him. An official decision would've started with that.
He listened intently to Bi Won-jun's words.
"A request came from Korea to set up negotiations. Yeokcheon Guild rabble arranged it."
"Yeokcheon Guild? No need to heed those bastards..."
"None. We hate them, but they're temporary allies now, so we can't ignore them outright. Might as well hear them out."
"Then, the reason you called me..."
"You'll handle this negotiation."
As expected—an opportunity, and a crisis.
Guan Hong anticipated their leverage.
'Succeed, and I'm back in favor. Fail, and it's my head.'
But he couldn't refuse.
Guan Hong asked cautiously.
"Who's the counterpart?"
"You already guess. Tell me—who do you think?"
Guan Hong gathered his thoughts. Blurting it out was easy, but he needed to showcase his insight. He paused dramatically.
"Not the Korean government—they lack the will and capability. Not the Integrated Assault Force or Slayer Guild either. Seong Seon-je's leadership is top-notch, but the force isn't unified. Handling it through the Moon Guild would breed backlash later, and separate deals outside raids would slight the government that approved the integration. That leaves one man."
"Intriguing. Pointing to a person, not an organization."
"He has an affiliation. Iron Will Guild. Kang Moo-hyuk, right?"
"As expected of Teacher Guan. Correct. Kang Moo-hyuk is leading it. You have full authority. Deal with him—resolve everything on the gate opener and Makyung Gate opening."
"What's the scope of that authority?"
"Monetary compensation—calculate costs yourself. Agreements with no real losses, cooperation and reparations within headquarters' approval."
Full authority in name, but minimize concessions and close the deal.
A grim brief for a negotiator.
Yet Guan Hong replied calmly.
"Then I'll select the negotiation team myself."
"Ho, bold even in dire straits. That's the Guan Hong I know. Who do you want?"
"Xiao Zan and Won Ha-o for minimal escort and show of force."
Bi Won-jun's eyes widened.
"Interesting picks. Both lost to that Kang Moo-hyuk, no?"
Xiao Zan was the commander shattered by Joo Se-ah at the Yalu River Iron Bridge. Kang Moo-hyuk had positioned her there, so it counted as his defeat.
Won Ha-o too— he'd moved on Sinuiju with the missing Jang Jung-shin. The operation's failure by Kang Moo-hyuk meant grudge there as well.
"A losers' alliance?"
"They'll unsettle the opponent at minimum. Their grudges make it look like we're sabotaging on the surface."
"Word of warning: don't botch it. We can weather a failed deal, but it delays the guild's grand plan. Plus, Nakil Guild's movements are odd since losing Sim Wol. No offensives for now—we're in defense mode."
"Don't worry. I stake my neck on success."
"This won't drag on. I'd like to conclude here if possible."
Kang Moo-hyuk, with only Joo Se-ah and Jang Deok-gu, skipped greetings and got to business.
"Same here. Not nation-to-nation, just guild-to-guild—no need for reports or haggling."
Guan Hong welcomed it outwardly, but inwardly felt cornered. He had to feign composure.
'Coming to negotiate without exposing the opener is positive. They know pushing Hwangryong after declaring Makyung entry sows discord.'
Guan Hong probed Kang Moo-hyuk's mind.
First time seeing him, but he knew Sinuiju and Tumen River feats. The assembly hearing video for the Integrated Assault Force. Even the unofficial Russian ploy to eliminate Sim Wol.
His assessment: 'A staunchly pragmatic idealist.'
An actor unbound by means for ends.
'But with convictions. Otherwise, he'd never grasp 'brake.' Use him right, he's a treasured sword; wrong, a killer blade.'
Balancing opposites fascinated. Such types thrived in chaos, self-destructing in peace.
Yet balanced—astonishing.
Guan Hong felt rare pressure. Even borrowing S-rank Sim Wol from Nakil hadn't tensed him so. Situation or foe? Unclear.
One certainty: failure today was impossible.
"Our terms first. Hand over the gate opener and all evidence. Eternal silence. Simple."
"And the price?"
Guan Hong slid a folded paper across the table.
Kang Moo-hyuk unfolded it casually, eyes dropping to the numbers.
"Compensation. To Iron Will only."
Kang Moo-hyuk snorted indifferently. Guan Hong's eye twitched.
'A hefty sum.'
Iron Will, under Taeseong Group, wasn't cash-strapped, but ignoring it was hard. For a still C-grade guild, it was foundational.
Kang Moo-hyuk seemed unmoved, but inwardly startled.
'Clever amount. They researched us thoroughly.'
Iron Will's Taeseong independence was public knowledge.
Post-split, cash for autonomy was vital.
Hwangryong's figure tempted.
'Looks tasty, but it's poison. Covering a national incident as a mere guild deal? One leak, and it's treason.'
If intentional, poison with a smile.
"No thanks on the money. I'd be lying if I said it didn't tempt, but it's not urgent."
"Items then? Uniques we can't easily part with."
"Uniques... Tempting, but artifacts spark guild wars by existing. Expected you'd refuse."
"Then guild promises... What terms do you have in mind?"
Kang Moo-hyuk's lips twitched, then he scratched his head.
"Teacher Guan, you don't know how this table was set."
"Pardon? What do you..."
"Those two behind you—Hunters Xiao Zan and Won Ha-o? Whether to rile me or burden the table, picking grudge-holders shows you misunderstand this meeting's point."
Xiao Zan and Won Ha-o, silent backdrops till now, glared at "grudge-holders."
As killing intent flared, Joo Se-ah shot them down. Xiao Zan, burned before, averted eyes. Weaker Won Ha-o couldn't meet an S-rank's gaze.
Joo Se-ah quelled her aura.
Kang Moo-hyuk nodded thanks and continued.
"Anyway, without grasping the meaning, proposals will circle emptily."
"Judging without stating? Speak plainly. What don't I know?"
They stared silently. Outward calm, inward chess match.
Kang Moo-hyuk spoke first, measured.
"I designated you as negotiator."
"!!"
One phrase.
Guan Hong grasped the intent, gasping.