203. A True Win-Win
Kang Moo-hyuk's words hit Guan Hong like a revelation, and his first reaction was to curse Bi Yuanjun inwardly.
'So it wasn't giving me a chance after all. I was the bargaining chip. Bi Yuanjun! Not a sword dragon, but a damn fox.'
He'd stuck his neck out without knowing, so from Guan Hong's position, it was inevitable he'd feel wronged.
But he quickly readjusted his thinking. Even if he'd known in advance, nothing would have changed much.
Hunters lived and died by their ranks, and the Sword Dragon was S-rank. There was an unbridgeable gap—if he wanted you dead, you died. In the guild hierarchy, Guan Hong was far outclassed anyway; he never really had a choice.
The only regret was whether he could have maneuvered the situation to his maximum advantage.
'No. It's not too late yet. Kang Moo-hyuk singled me out for a reason.'
He pondered what that reason might be. One thing came to mind immediately. Kang Moo-hyuk had pointed out the two men Guan Hong had brought, suggesting he wanted to discuss something no one else should hear.
'Like, for example, my lifeline? Something I can only get by deceiving my own guild.'
If Kang Moo-hyuk just tossed it his way, Guan Hong felt like he'd snatch it up in a heartbeat. He was that desperate. The lifeline Bi Yuanjun had thrown him was a rotten rope.
Kang Moo-hyuk read the desperation on Guan Hong's face.
'Restricting information from Hwangryong Guild to keep Guan Hong from getting ideas actually worked in my favor. Such a shallow play. Trying to manipulate someone as quick on the uptake and resolute as Guan Hong. If I reveal the truth, it'll shatter instantly.'
Guan Hong wouldn't see Hwangryong Guild as allies anymore.
"Now that you seem to grasp the situation, I'd like to proceed with the real discussion just between us. I'll have my people step out too."
Kang Moo-hyuk's proposal drew immediate backlash from Xiao Zan and Yuan Hao.
"What the hell? Kicking out the negotiation team?!"
"You gotta be kidding."
It wasn't just the Chinese side. Joo Se-ah and Jang Deok-gu, who hadn't been looped in on the private meeting beforehand, objected too.
"Guild Leader Kang, those guys are hunters. You gonna leave our leader alone with them? What do we even trust?"
"I'll follow orders, but if shit hits the fan, I can't guarantee your safety."
"Uncle Jang, follow what orders? No way. I ain't allowing it. You gonna hand our leader over to the bastards who blew up gates in Makyung?"
Kang Moo-hyuk turned to Joo Se-ah, who was glaring daggers.
"It's fine, Guild Master. Teacher Gwan's in a pretty tight spot right now. Harm me, and he falls into the abyss. Play his cards right in this talk, and he saves himself. No reckless moves. In that sense, we're a community of fate."
Guan Hong was floored by Kang Moo-hyuk's assertion.
A community of fate where touch me and you die too? Where was that ever a thing?
He'd packaged it like advice for Guan Hong's benefit, but it was straight-up blackmail.
'And the worst part is, it's true.'
Guan Hong sighed and glanced back.
"Everyone out."
"Teacher Guan!"
"Team Leader Guan!"
Xiao Zan and Yuan Hao shouted, but Guan Hong's follow-up left them no choice but to tuck tail.
"You two made major blunders in Sinuiju too, right? This negotiation has to go well for you to survive in the guild going forward."
Their mouths clamped shut like they'd been glued, and they shuffled out. At this point, even Joo Se-ah couldn't push back. Kang Moo-hyuk's glance flipped her resolve.
"Fine. I gave you full authority, so I'll play along. Hey, you. Touch our leader, and I won't let you live or die. I'll show you how vicious an S-rank can get."
"N-no worries, Guild Master Joo Se-ah. I value my neck too—that's why I'm doing this."
As Joo Se-ah turned for the exit, Kang Moo-hyuk whispered to Jang Deok-gu as he followed.
"Keep those two who left out of it—make sure they can't interfere."
Meaning, keep them from eavesdropping. Jang Deok-gu nodded and exited.
With just the two principals left, the negotiation room fell silent. Kang Moo-hyuk spoke first.
"No interruptions now."
"Still haven't heard why you named me as negotiator."
"I said it earlier. Teacher Gwan's in a tough spot."
"I didn't peg you for the sentimental type."
"When someone's desperate, they'll grasp at straws. Means you can create a situation advantageous to me in negotiations."
"So you're exploiting my weakness."
"I basically pursue win-win."
"Even with enemies?"
"Negotiating means turning enemies neutral, or even allies, right?"
Guan Hong tapped the table lightly, pointing out the flaw.
"That's the part I can't wrap my head around. I don't know you inside out, Leader Kang Moo-hyuk, but from your track record, the Makyung incident seems beyond what you'd tolerate. The type to finish things, no compromise. That's why you killed Sim Wol, isn't it?"
"I didn't kill Namsan's Demon. Russia did."
"Yeah, that's true enough. Anyway. How could you even consider negotiating with Hwangryong Guild?"
"This world has no eternal enemies or allies, right?"
"I'm not fool enough to buy that casual bullshit."
It looked like a tense standoff, but Kang Moo-hyuk held the knife.
Guan Hong wanted a reason he could accept—at least minimally. That way, he could commit to a path.
Kang Moo-hyuk held up two fingers.
"Two reasons."
"Two?"
"This negotiation. You know who reached out first?"
"Yeokcheon Guild..."
"Hwangryong's enemy."
"Enemy of my enemy is my friend? Nah. By that logic, Hwangryong's a bigger threat to you than Yeokcheon..."
Guan Hong spat it out then denied it himself.
Iron Will's bad blood with Hwangryong was far deeper than with Yeokcheon. Yeokcheon had dipped a toe in Makyung, sure, but never crossed swords with Iron Will. At most, they'd provided funds, items, and some troops against Russia.
But when Kang Moo-hyuk smiled next, Guan Hong realized he'd nailed it.
"For real? Yeokcheon? Why? They haven't done shit to you yet. Wait—no. If you got gate valve data, Yeokcheon's the prime suspect. Why check the ones who helped?"
It was genuine curiosity, less advice for Kang Moo-hyuk.
Kang Moo-hyuk briefly explained the setup behind this meeting, then addressed the question.
"I don't trust Yeokcheon. Or more precisely, Baek Gwi."
"Baek Gwi... Him being a descendant of old North Korean hunters. Hiding it this long is impressive. Even Hwangryong couldn't dig it up. But it fits. Impenetrable guy. His schemes are real, though. Gathered the anti-Hwangryong faction, built a guild, now a force to reckon with. No surprise."
"Baek Gwi seems to offer reasonable terms at first glance, demanding nothing excessive. But something feels off."
"Mind sharing what's off?"
"No need to drag it out. Why reach out to me now? A guy with his pull could've returned to Korea anytime. I suspect he's timed this after prepping something big."
Whether Baek Gwi was scheming or not, Kang Moo-hyuk couldn't know. But suspicion alone wasn't enough to reject when urgent fires burned. He accepted while preparing contingencies.
"Enemy of my enemy is friend. That enemy might become Baek Gwi someday."
"Then I could be your ally then."
Kang Moo-hyuk liked Guan Hong's response.
'Pushing himself over Hwangryong Guild. Sharp as expected.'
Hwangryong could never be his ally. Their unchecked ambitions were beyond his control.
Kang Moo-hyuk didn't overestimate himself. He could only influence a fraction.
"That's why I'm putting you back at Hwangryong's center."
Now that compensation for Guan Hong's role emerged, he could finally smile.
"Hearing that, now I'm curious about the second reason. That seems like your real pitch."
"Spot on. My real proposal: a tripartite hunter council—Korea, China, Russia."
"!!"
* * *
'A hunter council? No way that flies.'
That's what he'd thought.
But it made sense once explained.
Guan Hong felt chills at Kang Moo-hyuk's scheming.
'Loose federation, not ironclad alliance. Just liaison offices for minimal structure? Centered on Hwangryong, Iron Will, and Char Guilds?'
Boiled down, the three guilds run the show.
And Kang Moo-hyuk's plan was brilliant.
'Hwangryong absorbs Nakil? Filling Sim Wol's spot?'
It could work.
He'd dismissed it at first. Sim Wol's death was Hwangryong's fault, after all.
But Kang Moo-hyuk cut to the essence before blame.
'Nakil has no S-rank now.'
That alone created a chasm with Hwangryong.
'Announce Sim Wol died heroically against Zmei Gorynych. Heroize Nakil Guild to soothe them, fold into Hwangryong. Gate valve data? Off the table. Can't hand it over—needs safeguards. Instead, defuse Russia's Makyung pressure. Future disputes through the council. Boosts each nation's guild influence in Makyung. Resist? Hand over the valve itself.'
Not a bad scenario.
Iron Will handles Sinuiju alliances; Char sets up Russian guild reps via Kamenisky. That was the core.
"Good. Worth a shot."
In the car back to Beijing, Guan Hong committed.
Reject, and he'd wander fringes at best—or lose his head at worst.
Succeed, and he'd carve a spot at headquarters.
'So all I gotta do is sneak out Expedition Team 3's families?'
When Kang Moo-hyuk named Dinigerel and Shirinai, Guan Hong realized he'd come prepared. Poaching insiders left no escape.
He saluted Kang Moo-hyuk inwardly. Not for matching his own Makyung grand strategy.
What impressed was the greater cause.
'One warning upfront. I never fully cut Hwangryong as enemies because of Zmei Gorynych. Don't know when that dragon wakes, but when it does, hell unfolds. I'm prepping to hunt it. First step: the council. Botch it, and I'll destroy you most viciously. No side thoughts.'
Blackmail, sure. But it felt good.
Guan Hong could justify his actions.
Not betrayal—action for the greater good.
Noble sacrifice against the evil dragon. No guilt.
'Legitimacy, gain, even personal satisfaction. A true win-win.'