Chapter 23: It Should Only Be Used on Monsters
Lee Cheol-jung closed the proposal without flipping through the remaining pages.
"Aren't you going to check it?"
"The conditions aren't the important part."
Kang Moo-hyuk nodded in agreement.
"You still need to look it over."
"You're not the type to lowball me with some ridiculous price. This proposal is overwhelmingly in my favor. So what's your angle?"
"For Titan to advance to a tier guild, its finances need to be spotless, right? The C Warehouse is nothing but problematic dead stock that's a liability for you as guild master."
"That's not what I mean. I'm saying there's nothing in it for you. That's why I'm asking your real intentions. Is there some hidden side deal?"
"To be honest."
Here, Kang Moo-hyuk took a sip of coffee and paused for a beat, but Lee Cheol-jung leaned in closer, his focus sharpening.
"The C Warehouse might be dead weight to Titan, but not to me."
"Not dead weight?"
"Do you remember what I said when I started the C Warehouse project—the original concept?"
It was over five years ago, but Lee Cheol-jung recalled it clearly.
"You said it would change the paradigm."
"Yes. I'm planning to make that shelved idea a reality at Taeseong. I'm going to overhaul hunting from the ground up."
A hollow laugh escaped Lee Cheol-jung—not dismissal, but skepticism along the lines of can you really pull that off?
"I respect you highly, but I never thought it was feasible. Sure, it intrigued me once. But there were no results, were there?"
"That's because you drove out the talent needed to make it succeed. The vice guild master was a major obstacle. It was a plan to fundamentally shift the paradigm. Even with the guild throwing everything behind it, internal sabotage made failure inevitable."
"So you're confident you'll succeed this time and want to take it over."
"Who can be certain of any plan? Hunting strategies go sideways the moment you step into a gate. Just think of it as a challenge."
"An expensive challenge at that."
Only then did Lee Cheol-jung pick up the proposal booklet and start turning the pages.
As he leaned back on the sofa, scanning the contents carefully, something caught his eye.
He looked up at Kang Moo-hyuk, eyes widening.
"Raid leader?"
"Yes."
"Not strategic team leader—raid leader?"
"Yes."
"Ha? Joo Se-ah's lost her mind. She revived the raid leader system?"
"Our guild master hears that kind of thing now and then. But she's more reasonable than you'd think."
Lee Cheol-jung stared at Kang Moo-hyuk, who spoke as if it were no big deal, utterly exasperated.
Handing over the C Warehouse barely registered anymore. Once it was out of his hands, it was someone else's problem.
But the raid leader system? That he couldn't ignore.
It was quiet for now, but once word got out, vultures would swarm, ready to tear it apart.
"This has your fingerprints all over it. You shouldn't be so casual about it. Word will spread through the industry soon. Expect pushback from all sides—maybe even politicians getting involved."
"Just because it failed before doesn't mean it will fail again. I'm prepared for that much."
"You know why it failed, right? The raid leader system is basically run by non-hunters—professional managers. The casualties from civilians directing hunters who knew nothing about the hunt? Massive. Bringing it back is a direct challenge to the current guild structure. Especially for my generation that lived through it—and those veterans are the heavyweights in the industry now."
Kang Moo-hyuk knew exactly why Lee Cheol-jung was dragging him into this debate. It wasn't mere advice. It was concern for an old comrade.
Lee Cheol-jung was ambitious, but he was also the last romantic from the era just before guilds fully corporatized. He still held onto that camaraderie forged in tough times.
But to Kang Moo-hyuk, the worries rang hollow.
They stemmed from hunter-first thinking.
"I'm a civilian, but I'm no novice when it comes to hunting."
"You know that's not the point. Fine for you, but what if it spreads to other guilds? The big corporate ones already parachute in half their people. What if this gets formalized and civilian execs grab raid leader spots, causing backlash?"
"The past failure wasn't the system's fault—it was a lack of experience. Back then, not just raid leaders, but hunters across the board were green. The approach itself isn't flawed. The industry has matured now, with the capacity to handle it."
Lee Cheol-jung fell silent under Kang Moo-hyuk's steady gaze.
It reminded him of their Titan days.
Right was right, and what had to be done, had to be done—no matter who said it.
It earned him plenty of enemies. frontline hunters covered in blood and guts didn't scare him off; if anything, they backed down from his intensity.
Realizing he had no counter, Lee Cheol-jung shrugged.
"Does me taking the raid leader role mean you won't accept this proposal?"
"That's a different matter."
"Then we'll acquire it for 320 billion won."
"Still cutting off 100 billion... What if I asked for more?"
"I could have gone lower. It's a total headache for Titan. But considering your position, I set it at the line where it actually helps you—fair compromise. Need adjustments?"
"No need. Just testing you. You probably have Plan F ready anyway. Haggling's your specialty."
"I'll draw up the contract based on this proposal and send it over."
As Kang Moo-hyuk rose without hesitation, Lee Cheol-jung considered suggesting drinks but remembered he didn't indulge and let it go.
Regretfully, he escorted him to the elevator.
In the hallway, their eyes met a loitering staffer. Recognizing the vice guild master's secretary office, Lee Cheol-jung glared.
The staffer, knees weakening under the top hunter's presence, froze like a frog before a snake.
Kang Moo-hyuk, recognizing the familiar face, sighed and stepped between them.
Out of Lee Cheol-jung's sight, the staffer exhaled shakily and bowed deeply. Heart pounding, legs trembling, sweat-soaked, he looked up at Kang Moo-hyuk.
Kang Moo-hyuk whispered in his ear.
"Tell the vice guild master not to worry. I'll keep my promise. Say I was just dropping by today."
He patted the man's shoulder and nudged him away. The staffer scurried off.
"Quite the celebrity."
"Have you eaten? I haven't yet."
"Using me as your free pass?"
"You won't let me go nicely anyway, and a tail would be annoying."
Lee Cheol-jung, who had been reluctant to part ways himself, welcomed the suggestion.
"Like sushi? I know a great spot—my regular place. Let's go."
* * *
Jang Deok-gu stopped by a sauna near the guild.
He entered the locker room still wearing his shoes.
"Sir, you can't go in like that. Take off your shoes."
The manager tried to stop him in alarm, but shrank back upon meeting Jang Deok-gu's eyes.
His massive build was intimidating enough, but the eyes that crushed opponents and the face scarred from countless fights screamed "fistfighter."
In this era, that look meant either gangster or hunter.
The vibe said the latter.
"I'll be quick."
That single line sent chills down the manager's spine.
Quickly end what?
The manager glanced at the white envelope now in his hand. Bundles of bills peeked out.
Realizing what it meant, he stammered, trembling.
"J-just don't kill anyone."
"If the talk goes well, I'll leave quietly."
Grinning, Jang Deok-gu strode into the bathhouse without undressing.
The soaking patrons flinched at the clothed intruder.
Jang Deok-gu headed straight into the sauna marked "sweat room."
Three men sat in the steam-filled narrow space.
"What the hell?"
The two in the corners shot to their feet.
They froze upon recognizing him.
"Senior, no public decency? You strip before coming in here."
The center man removed his towel turban and spoke.
"Do Kyung-hoon. I heard you got my message yesterday. Didn't receive it?"
"Mi-ran told me. You wanted to meet."
"Figured the expedition leader was busy, so I came myself."
Do Kyung-hoon eyed Jang Deok-gu's outfit.
Not standard gear, but far from unarmed.
Blades concealed in belt and boots, plus the armor coat hunters carried for emergencies outside gates.
Considering Jang Deok-gu's skill, it was overkill against the naked Do Kyung-hoon.
"Senior, we've kept the peace by not crossing lines. You know it's best we don't see each other's faces."
"You stayed quiet because messing with you meant shitting blood. But the moment you heard the new raid leader's a civilian, you sent someone. Who's crossing lines now?"
"Just wanted to talk. Could've been a friendly drink discussing the guild's future."
"Would've been better going straight to the guild master."
"Next time, I'll visit the guild master."
"Stay away from the raid leader outside guild grounds."
"I'll tell the guys."
Jang Deok-gu nodded and turned to leave.
Sweat poured from Do Kyung-hoon—not from the heat. His towel hung heavy, soaked, weighing on his shoulders.
A hunter beside him exhaled held breath and spat angrily.
"Boss, isn't that guy too cocky? Strutting like the guild master's backing him..."
"Shut it."
"Huh? Y-yes, sir..."
"We just brushed death's door. Got it? Never engage that monster with fewer than two parties. You'll all get shredded."
Honestly, even two might not be enough, but pride kept him from admitting it.
I get the guild master's great, but why's a guy like that under him? Totally different worlds.
* * *
The moment Kang Moo-hyuk returned to the office, he sensed the unease.
It came from the management team, who had just moved in today.
No one showed it openly, but his sharp eyes caught it.
Hanging his jacket as he sat, he called over the partition.
"Team leader, what's going on? The vibe's off."
Strategic team leader Jo Choong-hyeon hesitated.
He'd heard they were aligned with the higher-ups, but this man didn't seem the type to fold easily—yet here he was, cooperating. Suspicious.
But Kang Moo-hyuk's one line convinced him.
"I survived Titan with moves like this. You're playing nice with Tae Su-man too, right? Think of it as good office politics."
He still reported to Tae Su-man, but as an ally, there was no need to treat him like an enemy on first re-meeting.
"Some trouble with the managers."
"Trouble? That team's rowdy every day. Anything I need to know?"
"One of the hunters is a rough type."
Before Jo Choong-hyeon could finish, Kang Moo-hyuk's face hardened, and he strode toward the management team.
He'd been too busy to meet them yet, but the team leader spotted the raid leader and stood to greet him.
"Hello, raid leader. I'm Kim Dong-yong, head of management."
Kang Moo-hyuk barely acknowledged the greeting, scanning the team before planting hands on hips.
"Who's the staffer in trouble?"
"Pardon? Oh, that..."
"Need a lawyer? Settlement? Disciplinary committee?"
His questions were straightforward.
Hunter assaulting a civilian? Fight with another hunter? Harm to guild staff?
"Tell me."
He pressed the hesitating Kim Dong-yong.
"Th-the third one..."
"Same old discipline. Up till now."
"Yes. It won't make a difference."
Kang Moo-hyuk frowned at Kim Dong-yong, head bowed low.
Hunters treating managers like servants was a problem everywhere.
The worst guilds intimidated victims into silence.
Power abuse scandals had blown up before, but guild lobbying buried them fast.
But.
Not at Titan.
Least of all in a guild he ran.
Calming his anger, Kang Moo-hyuk spoke evenly.
"Where's the injured staffer?"
"In the infirmary for now."
"Transfer to the guild partner hospital immediately. Guild covers premium room and full diagnostics."
"Partner hospital... Taeseong Hospital?"
"Why? Problem?"
Jo Choong-hyeon, following, answered.
"Word goes to group HQ. Could trigger an audit."
"If we're wrong, we deserve the audit."
"If they decide it tarnishes the group image and boot the hunter, expect backlash."
"Backlash...?"
Kang Moo-hyuk scoffed instead.
"Perfect. Time for a warning anyway."
"Pardon?"
Ignoring Jo Choong-hyeon's question, Kang Moo-hyuk continued.
"Listen up, everyone. You came here to work. Not to be dragged around. Hunters may be strong, but they're not your masters. Don't get used to the unfairness. Don't let them play lord. We're guildmates. Colleagues. Remember that."
"But they hold the knife!"
One manager burst out bitterly. A coworker tugged his sleeve.
"Quiet, Oh deputy."
Kang Moo-hyuk stopped the peacemaker with a raised hand. Then he fixed the shouting manager with a piercing stare.
"That knife should only be used on monsters."