209. No Need to Bare Our Teeth
When it was daytime in Korea, news from the distant eastern land reached a small Middle Eastern kingdom that had been independent for less than twenty years, in the dead of night shrouded in darkness.
Satellite signals shot toward a massive villa tucked away in a remote corner of the tiny kingdom.
"Yes, that reporter there... The most important value we hunters pursue? Of course, it's not money. You know, that thing. Peace. ...Yeah, you're right, Reporter—it's a bit cliché and boring. But think about just two months ago. We were trembling in fear from the evil dragon's assault. The Tumen River defense line collapsed, and countless lives were lost. Reclaiming Korean soil was sheer luck. We nearly lost our peace. If that dragon had pushed south from the start, even as an S-rank, I couldn't have stopped it. In that sense, the guilds gathered here in Sinuiju have made a massive decision to protect this land."
The TV screen flashing LIVE showed Korea's most famous hunter holding a press conference.
A banner reading Sinuiju Guild Council Inauguration Ceremony hung above the podium where the hunter stood, and below it, leaders from Korea's top major guilds showed their faces.
"Hmph! A tier guild alliance? You learn something new every day."
Son Jung-beom snorted at the TVs covering the 5-meter walls on either side. His scoff carried clear mockery.
Eum Yeong-jin, sitting beside him, wore the same expression.
"But isn't it ridiculous? The ones who took over the hunter world in our place, and their rep is Joo Se-ah? Not that I'm saying it myself, but we've chased out the wolves and invited in the tigers."
He sat alone on an 8-person sofa curving gently to the right of the 4-person sofa where Son Jung-beom lounged, his face twisted in frustration.
He'd softened it by calling them wolves, but in the end, they were losers who couldn't live up to their guild's name. They'd retreated plotting a comeback, but the irremovable scar on their pride was undeniable.
Unlike Eum Yeong-jin, who couldn't contain his boiling rage, Son Jung-beom spoke calmly, resigned.
"She's Korea's one and only S-rank. And she's in bed with Slayer, so who can stop them? Even I'd want in on the board they've set up."
"As long as that board holds, we can't return to Korea. And we can't play warlord forever in the Middle East or next door in Africa. To settle here, we'd have to uproot the entrenched stones, but foreign guilds struggle with manpower anyway, so starting a war is a burden."
"No plans to root elsewhere. We'll go back someday. For that, that board's gotta go. We need to shake it somehow."
Son Jung-beom's resignation wasn't defeat. He was a realist. He'd given up catching Joo Se-ah directly. Instead, he eyed intrigue against her organization and allies. For that, he was ready to link up with the Chinese again anytime.
"Even if Hwangryong Guild betrayed us, with Makyung there, Chinese and Korean hunters are bound to clash. They'll want spare cards too."
"Can we trust 'em? Once bitten, twice shy."
"Who in this business trades on credit? Those types died off long ago."
"Fair point, but..."
"I know what worries you, Vice Guild Master. Can't bet everything on the Chinese with our backs exposed. That's why we'll pull in Gildanryeon."
"Gildanryeon? Japan?!"
Son Jung-beom grinned bitterly at Joo Se-ah on the TV.
"Yapping excitedly about S-rank. Better enjoy the laughs now. Baekho Guild will surely revive—"
BAM!
Son Jung-beom couldn't finish before hurling himself behind the sofa. Shattered stone piled onto his seat.
Eum Yeong-jin leaned back at the explosion. The 8-person sofa toppled, shielding him. He quickly propped against the fallen cushions and peeked beyond.
Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud.
Heavy footsteps echoed amid the thick concrete dust, revealing a silhouette.
"J-Joo Se-ah...!"
Eum Yeong-jin gawked, eyes flicking between the TV figure and the real thing.
It was definitely live. Not a recording. Internet news and streamers were broadcasting it too.
How the hell did the witch get here?!
More shocking than their safehouse exposed, Joo Se-ah met his gaze.
"I told you, you're definitely on my list."
A chill. Overwhelming killing intent. Eum Yeong-jin froze solid.
Then a shout as the living room door shattered.
"Guild Master!"
Baekho Guild's elite hunters burst in armed. More poured through the breached outer walls.
Only after surrounding did they recognize the intruder.
"The Witch!"
Park Beom-il reacted first, charging Joo Se-ah head-on.
Mid-stride, his frame shifted. Shoulders broadened, eye level rose. Hair turned to beastly mane, limbs grew inhumanly massive.
Mana cloaked his dagger-like claws.
Beast Claw
Claws slashed crosshatch at Joo Se-ah.
But.
Clang! Clank!
No weapon or shield needed. They didn't even graze her armor.
Park Beom-il's strike bounced off her outstretched left palm.
"My... cl, claws..."
His beast form's near-impenetrable claws snapped. He stared in disbelief at his hands, then Joo Se-ah's face.
"Oh? You wanted to fight me too, right?"
Joo Se-ah pulled her fist back over her shoulder.
"Fuck! Been saying let's fight since— Guhk!"
Park Beom-il's elongated muzzle whipped around. Neck snapped with it. Body front-facing, face rearward, he crumpled.
Park Beom-il's death lit the fuse.
"E-Plan! Scatter!"
"Spread out every direction!"
The hunters knew fighting an S-rank was futile.
All they could do: flee every which way.
A few might survive if lucky.
Of course, Joo Se-ah allowed no such thing.
"Underestimating S-rank, huh?"
Her right foot, lightly raised, stomped. Thud. Mana storm radiated concentric circles from her.
Invisible, but cracking floor tiles like spiderwebs tipped them off.
Problem: they couldn't grasp her intent.
But they learned quick. None escaped while confirming her move.
Safehouse and nearby hunters all stiffened. Like bugs in webs, immobile.
"Turns out S-ranks can do this. Tried it 'cause the Tyrant used it—nailed the imitation pretty well."
The S-rank basic: Mana Hold, used by the Tyrant on Char Guild hunters during the Upu Mangbau raid fiasco.
Mana Hold
Master surrounding mana to dominate space.
Seemed like Go Eul-ji's power at a glance, but processed ambient mana without traits/skills—less mana/stamina drain.
Satisfied with the new technique, Joo Se-ah drew her back-sheathed sword. Her eyes locked on Son Jung-beom, unescaped.
"Tigers leave hides behind, right? Thanks. I'll put it to good use."
"Wh-what..."
Son Jung-beom realized and yelled.
"You don't mean the underground...!"
He couldn't continue.
Joo Se-ah's blade engulfed him.
Three months later.
"Long time no see, Chairman. How's the health? Doc says you're much better."
Kang Moo-hyuk visited Tae Jin-seong with an unusually bright face. First time smiling at him since faking flattery in early Iron Will days.
"Pisses me off seeing that mug. We're not here for chit-chat. Business only."
"Felt bad always scowling at you, so I came smiling for once, and you greet me like that?"
"Guess time flies. Old sayings ain't always right. Seeing you, I could spit even on a smiling face."
"Save the spit for your son, not me."
Kang Moo-hyuk set a document envelope on the table.
"Proof on the request Vice Chairman Tae Su-cheol—your eldest—put to Baekho Guild."
"Hmph, quick work. Baekho's been swallowed ages ago—bringing it now? Calculations done? How to use it."
Despite wanting it, Tae Jin-seong chided Kang Moo-hyuk.
Kang Moo-hyuk grinned back.
"Son Jung-beom backed up guild data and burned HQ files, so catching him direct delayed it. Plus, Baekho's docs were massive. Encrypted—took time to crack."
"With Baekho assets you chased to the end, even ghosts'd help. Taking this long on one cipher? Nah. Admit you slacked on other shit—more convincing."
"Sinuiju kept me busy too. Honestly, Tae Su-cheol's low priority."
"...Ha? Ballsy. Used my logistics for the vault heist, and this payment? Complain, and you'll choke."
Tae Jin-seong feigned anger, scowling fiercely.
Kang Moo-hyuk nodded.
"Fair. Even your kids can't withstand your back—how could I?"
"..."
Tae Jin-seong shut down, no retort. He stared at Kang Moo-hyuk ambiguously, tongue-clicking.
"Can't win with words. Tch tch."
Then he eyed the unopened envelope long.
Kang Moo-hyuk spoke cautiously.
"Not burying it, right? If hesitating to take down the VP, leave it to me. Hate to ask parents to off their kid. I'm specialized in ending bad guys anyway. Tae Su-cheol's no big deal."
"Nah. Family matters stay in-house. I'll handle it."
"Seems decided. Hesitated plenty?"
"Did. How to end him. Moment he tried killing me, father-son bond snapped. Just sorting next steps."
"Group drama's not my biz. Just keep our deal. Guild goes independent from Taeseong. Hand all authority to Guild Master Joo Se-ah—no more meddling. Do that, and no need for me to bare my teeth at you."
Kang Moo-hyuk smiled, but Tae Jin-seong couldn't. He knew all Kang Moo-hyuk had done.
Or maybe knowing 'all' is his camouflage. Who knows what dangerous shit he's pulling where I can't see.
Enemy like Kang Moo-hyuk...? Tae Jin-seong lacked confidence.
He wasn't a tiger anymore.
Old, sickly. Not long left. Even prime, Kang Moo-hyuk was tough.
And those eyes. No hesitation biting me.
Tae Jin-seong bet money; Kang Moo-hyuk bet life.
Non-hunter life meant little in hunter world—but Kang Moo-hyuk differed.
He'd carved an unignorable name in Korea's—no, Asia's—hunter scene.
"Bring Se-ah to HQ soon. Wrap it quick."