213. See You in Three Days.
Kang Chang-su recited the personal details.
"Name: Thomas Lee. Age: 24. Korean adopted into a third-generation Korean-American family. Notable condition: mana addiction hunter."
Kang Moo-hyuk thought his ears had deceived him for a moment.
"A hunter? That's a bit strange, isn't it?"
"You caught on quick. It doesn't match any known cases of mana addiction at all. Being a hunter is a contradiction in itself. You know why, right?"
"Mana addiction is a rejection response from the body being overly sensitive to mana, but hunters take mana into their bodies to awaken and gain superhuman strength."
"Can't prove it, but there's one hypothesis."
"What hypothesis?"
"He awakened as a hunter while carrying the onset factor, and the disease developed afterward."
"Awakening probability for hunters: 0.37%. Mana addiction strikes one in a million. Fewer than ten thousand cases worldwide. Most die. Or they're on life support. Definitely an extremely low probability."
"Even if someone with mana addiction had the potential to awaken as a hunter, they'd likely develop symptoms or die before awakening."
This was the biggest roadblock in mana addiction research. The disease was so rare that securing enough cases for study was impossible.
Even if they lucked into a volunteer, their weakened body couldn't withstand the treatment process. Unless they started treatment immediately upon onset like Kang Moo-hyuk had, patients whose condition had progressed couldn't even make it to Korea.
"Mana addiction doesn't even have a disease code in Korea. Without comparing symptoms and test results case by case, people overlook it entirely. Many just die thinking it's some unidentified terminal illness. In countries with underdeveloped medical systems, cases aren't even reported. You're a really lucky case. Thanks to your guild master, a Taeseong Hospital doctor took notice and diagnosed it properly. That met the bare minimum for attempting an imperfect treatment."
That minimum was a healthy body before full onset. The initial treatment was so risky that a weakened state couldn't endure it.
Mana addiction accelerated in devouring the body over time.
Progression varied by individual, but once symptoms advanced, it snowballed uncontrollably.
That was why Kang Chang-su couldn't find volunteers for his research.
Kang Moo-hyuk realized what his father meant.
"A hunter's body could endure it."
"Right. The treatment you couldn't finish even after six months of slow progression. We'd need tests for details, but theoretically, it's possible."
Kang Moo-hyuk decided to head to LA. Sending his father alone wasn't ideal given the situation there.
Back in North Pocheon, he reviewed the file on Thomas Lee his father had given him.
"Ithaca Guild. Of all places..."
Ithaca Guild was like Baekho Guild in Korea.
They didn't commit outright crimes, of course. In America, more sensitive to guild crime than Korea, acting like Baekho would draw public authorities and major guilds, leading to immediate dissolution.
But American guilds couldn't survive on legitimate business alone. Complicated interests and a winner-takes-all free-market facade strangled mid- and small-guild funding.
So loopholes abounded.
Distributing gate-sourced hallucinogens without addictive components, smuggling captured monsters for "research," emergency use of medical gate resources without approval, and so on.
They looked like guild accountability issues on the surface, but these sly evasions were the dark underbelly of the American guild industry.
Ithaca was the king of loopholes. When trouble arose, top law firms backed them, true to America's litigious nature. Without ironclad evidence, toppling Ithaca was tough.
'I've gone too far. Lately, I've dealt with people who won't listen, so I subconsciously jumped to crushing Ithaca Guild first.'
Kang Moo-hyuk viewing Ithaca as an enemy wasn't baseless.
He wanted to pull Thomas out of Ithaca. Treatment for mana addiction mattered, but hunting while symptomatic was dangerous above all.
The problem: Thomas the hunter knew it too.
Kang Moo-hyuk read the opening of the email Thomas sent his father. Korean-American or not, adopted young, he shouldn't know Korean—yet he'd written in Korean, not English.
Straight to the point, no sob story. The first paragraph laid out the hunter's key situation.
Kang Moo-hyuk noted Ithaca's mention right away.
"Could be nothing, but it keeps nagging at me."
Something else seemed to await him in America, unspoken in the email.
Here, Kang Moo-hyuk hesitated.
'Ultimately, mana addiction is personal. With guild work piling up, an indefinite US trip feels off.'
Broadly, the leader's health was public domain, but recruiting for research over treatment bordered on dereliction of duty.
"Yeah, drop it. I'd just tangle with the Federation needlessly. No guarantee of research success anyway."
He voiced it aloud to shake off lingering thoughts when his phone rang.
It was Kang Chang-su from the afternoon.
"I have one hypothesis I didn't mention. Thomas Lee's hunter position is listed as mage. C-rank. But if mana addiction is cured, how might his mana hypersensitivity apply? Makes me curious what that hunter's abilities could become."
"Doesn't seem important enough to call about specifically."
"You have to go to America. Think I don't know you? Guild work first, your health later. So I'm giving you a reason. A mana-addicted hunter who overcomes it might unlock amazing power. You'd know that potential well, having the same disease. With no mages in the guild, recruiting overseas talent is perfect justification."
Then it clicked for Kang Moo-hyuk. He needed a reason to go to America.
Not just personal healing, but something public-serving, future-proof for the guild.
For Kang Moo-hyuk, obsessively ethical about guild duties, it was essential.
"If it's too hard, I'll go myself."
"No. This time, pure gratitude. I'll go to America."
"Good. Guild matters are vital, but prioritize yourself sometimes."
"No. Since I'm flying to America anyway, handling one thing is wasteful. Might as well wrap up others too."
"Hello? Oh, Leader Kang. Decided yet?"
Aila caught the breathing nuance over the line. Her sensitive elf ears picked up subtle emotional cues in the respiration.
Useless in forest days, but invaluable living among humans in this world.
Her guess spilled from Kang Moo-hyuk's mouth.
"America. I'll go. Test conditions from before still valid?"
"Of course. This test isn't a raid. But content might invite disputes, so we'll handle security."
"No changes to test details?"
"Right. Starting funds: one million dollars. Use Federation support to expand Leader Kang's influence in the local hunter scene."
"Grading criteria?"
"No right answer, unpredictable results. That's why it's infamous for difficulty. No fixed grading."
"Fail penalty?"
"Iron Will-Federation contract holds. But no extra privileges. Full members get perks more useful than raiding red gates, depending on use."
"Examples?"
"Federation Intelligence. Tempting?"
Silence on the line. Then a cough. Caught off guard.
"Intelligence? 'Thousand Eyes' too?"
"Even full members access varies by security clearance. Raising it is your job. But you could indirectly sample Thousand Eyes. Ask someone with access, say. Other intel sources help too."
"Good. Nothing pricier than intel. Federation's top-tier in quantity and quality. Mission location next. I pick, right?"
"Yes. Where?"
"Los Angeles."
"Really going to LA? What about work here?"
Joo Se-ah glared like she'd never let him go. Less worry for him, more for herself.
Papers towered to the ceiling on her desk. Better than before, but desk work still killed her.
"First time seeing an S-rank risk overwork death. Please don't go."
"Flight booked for tomorrow."
Kang Moo-hyuk eyed Joo Se-ah pinning his shoulders from her seat and changed tactics.
Initially, long-term vision: US training inevitable for guild future, strengthening World Hunter Federation ties, personally tying it off.
Useless against her resolve.
He revealed the hidden reason.
"Just for you, Guild Master. This US trip ties to my illness. Might find a cure lead."
"Illness... mana addiction? Incurable, right? You said manage, not cure."
"Father found another way. Just potential, but worth trying."
Joo Se-ah couldn't hold him back. Iron Will needed Kang Moo-hyuk; his illness risked sidelining him anytime. Curing it made a month's absence a steal.
"Take proper bodyguards then."
"Already selected."
"No Song-rin alone isn't enough."
"Jang Deok-gu too."
"Teacher?"
"As I said, solidifies World Hunter Federation ties. His experience useful everywhere."
"No way! That test again? After Russia?!"
"No danger this time. Political."
"When a guy who risks life on routine says that, zero trust."
Joo Se-ah puffed her cheeks, arms crossed.
"Really. No risks. But prepped backups just in case."
"Why's Leader Kang on the same flight? Monitoring my vacation now?!"
At Incheon Airport, Go Eul-ji shrieked spotting Kang Moo-hyuk.
Finally free, but leader on the same LA flight.
He never vacations; must be work.
'And I'll get dragged in.'
Explained him arranging her concert trip personally. To exploit her.
"No. Vacation. No work."
"LA concert was pure favor. But it snowballed. Still, your quick wits please me."
"Of course. New slave acquired. Why me? No Song-rin-ajusshi suffices. Why squeeze me too? Even brought Teacher."
"Slave? That's how you saw me? And why am I ajusshi, Jang 'ssi teacher? Wait, Leader Kang—really think that?"
No Song-rin clutched his chest, hurt, glaring at Kang Moo-hyuk for defense. He averted eyes.
Before No Song-rin spoke, Kang Moo-hyuk cut in.
"Not that. Pleased you've grown, grasping my intent."
"Pleased is pleased. Means you'll exploit me anyway?! Sorry, no. Really no."
Moments later.
"Whoa, first class ever. Amazing. Seat's a bed. Nari, you tried this?"
"Not free, you know."
"Think first class sways me? I'm no lightweight hunter. Freedom over chains. No forcing unwanted work!"
After LA arrival.
"Prestige Penthouse Room?"
"BTA concert: 2 nights, 3 days. You and friend use entire 27th floor. Guild token for your hard work. Decline if you want."
"Yes, Leader. I love restrictions. Grandpa's so Spartan. See you in three days."