#252. I'll Learn from Watching Something Really Good.
“Joo Se-ah. Age twenty-six. S-rank. Main position: tank. Sub-positions...
“Liam, who doesn't know that? Cut the long story and get to the point. How did that Joo Se-ah end up in America?”
Secretary of State Madeline's irritation made Liam jump straight to the heart of it.
“As you know, S-rank hunters need special visas from every country. They're like walking nuclear missiles, so entry approval procedures are mandatory...”
“Not that either. Next.”
“She entered during the LA incident. Communications were down, so the report was delayed. No immigration check, naturally.”
“But the visa was approved?”
“Yes. I checked the system. It was approved.”
“Why didn't I, the Secretary of State, know about an S-rank applying to come to the US? Hell, why didn't even the Deputy Secretary in charge of operations know?”
Liam broke out in a cold sweat. There was no excuse if accused of negligence.
But Madeline had no intention of assigning blame. Her judgment was that this wasn't the kind of problem you could just block.
Seasoned in politics, she couldn't shake the suspicion that someone had orchestrated this.
“With the Bertrand Lefebvre precedent, issuing a visa to naturalize an S-rank would clearly benefit the nation, so we'd welcome it. The issue is that I, the top official responsible for the system, received zero reports on this. That's against national interests. Exaggerating a bit, it means we might not even know if our own S-rank causes trouble abroad. Conversely, some faction could be using Joo Se-ah to plot something on US soil.”
“...”
Madeline noticed Liam wasn't fully focused, lost in his own thoughts.
“What? Something ring a bell?”
“Not exactly ringing a bell, but something doesn't add up.”
“What?”
“Joo Se-ah left Korea—or rather, got her visa approved—before the LA incident. The chaos hit mid-flight. Whoever lured her here couldn't have predicted it. They probably haven't even made contact yet. Not enough time to wrap things up.”
“They'll move now.”
“It's a race to who meets her first.”
“Check flights.”
“Should I go?”
“You've got other things to handle, Liam.”
“Then who?”
“I'll pull strings I trust. Can't rely on anyone high up in State right now.”
Madeline's firm tone weighed heavy on Liam. He figured a storm was brewing at the State Department.
'The Ice Secretary lives up to her name.'
Rumors even said the President watched his words around her.
Her charisma was that commanding. Foreign leaders treated her with near-head-of-state protocol, all too aware of her sharp eyes.
“What about me, then?”
“First, let's clarify enemies and allies. How likely is Hamilton behind this? If he orchestrated it, he'd have contacted her in LA already.”
“He's new to the White House. Field guy with no connections in the administration. Not foolish enough to spy on State.”
“He's good at backroom ops. Back in his active days, he squeezed intel out of weak spots and tortured people into vegetables.”
“Pointing that out means... you suspect...”
“Set up an internal investigation team at State now. Check who with system access pulled Joo Se-ah in. Also, anyone linked to Hamilton or vulnerable to blackmail.”
After mulling her orders, Liam asked cautiously.
“Security clearance up to what level?”
“Level Seven. Report only to me—no one else but you.”
“I'll assemble reliable people.”
“Push forward, but trust no one. Not even me. Suspect everyone, dig deep. I'll authorize preemptive candidates for most cases.”
“What about the President or VP?”
Liam was covering bases for potential fallout.
Hiding from the President was one thing; keeping it from the VP chairing the National Security Council could border on treason.
Hunter matters—especially S-ranks—were that perilous.
“I'll brief the President myself. Once we have something solid.”
“Guild Master Joo Se-ah, mind if we talk a moment?”
The man who'd only exchanged names at their first meeting suddenly called out to Joo Se-ah.
'Alexander... Hamilton, was it?'
She'd let trivial details go in one ear and out the other, but remembered the name since Kang Moo-hyuk called him a key business partner.
“What business does Director Hamilton have with me? On my way back from the bathroom? If you've got something to say, we could've done it in the room.”
“Ah! No misunderstanding. Just wanted to get familiar with an S-rank hunter.”
“Why bother getting familiar? Business goes through Raid Leader Kang Moo-hyuk. I gave him full authority—dealing with me's pointless.”
“Impressive trust in the raid leader.”
“No one's better at the job. Love how he goes feral for monster hunts too.”
“Handing raid leader to a civilian was a bold gamble. Respect for that call.”
“Respect? We lacked proper hunters. America's the same, right? Hunters who see monsters as cash cows. Power-trippers using them as pawns. Hope you're not one of those assholes, Hamilton. Anyway, I'm busy—got places to be.”
Despite Joo Se-ah ending the talk abruptly, Hamilton couldn't muster a reply. An S-rank's presence was beyond him.
As she vanished down the hall, his legs gave out, back sliding against the wall.
'Whew. Waited till before Sacramento for future gains, but didn't even break even.'
Coop with Kang Moo-hyuk was one thing; national interest another.
An S-rank in the US—why not snag her while here? Hamilton figured persistent contact might sway her eventually.
He'd planned to start light, exchange pleasantries. Instead, she pierced his intent instantly.
“Hoped reeling in Joo Se-ah would drag Kang Moo-hyuk too. Both tougher nuts than expected.”
Regretful of the first encounter but undeterred, Hamilton flew to California's capital, Sacramento.
Kang Moo-hyuk was LA's busiest man on the carnivorous wasp hive raid. Or rather, few hunters cared.
Gunpowder Guild, pledged to help, and Call My Name, in for guaranteed shares, gave their all in defense but lukewarm on the hive.
“Just confirming again.”
— What?
“The hive.”
— Ah, hive raid? Don't get so serious. Haven't forgotten.
“Then can I get your formation plan? How's the raid team shaping up?”
Gunpowder's guild master Dwight Hill gave a vague response to Kang Moo-hyuk's request.
— City's not normalized yet. City Hall, LAPD—total mess. Securing peace, mopping up hidden monsters comes first. Plus gates popping up around LA. Seven near opening. Close 'em before bigger damage.
“Of course. Gotta do that. But planning's desk work, right? You're not hunting personally, and Hunter Crime Unit data shows gates have time. Hive raid's the immediate threat. Can't delay.”
Dwight tried dodging with gates as excuse, but Kang Moo-hyuk's prep on LA gates foiled it.
— Thing is, we tallied wasps during defense. Can't recall exact numbers. Insanely many. Analysts say hive spans the whole underground city.
Feeling cornered, Dwight showed his true colors.
“Quit stalling. Spit it out.”
— Recalculate terms.
“How?”
— First, Rider Wolf first shipment our way. Renegotiate price down. Arrange direct meet with Hamilton. Set upper-level meeting too. Guild branch—East Coast tricky, so DC liaison office. Few more items—discuss in person.
Dwight made it sound simple, but nothing was easy.
Rider Wolf domestic tier guild shipment was next month. Breaking it meant penalties, wrecked relations.
Exporting strategic gate goods abroad first? Bad for Iron Will image.
'Direct Hamilton meet skips me. Upper-level's President. DC office irks East Coast. Refuse, they doubt our sincerity.'
Top guilds ran regions like fiefdoms—scheming inevitable.
“Too much of anything bloats you...”
— My gut's big—handles plenty.
“Sometimes small bites still bloat. If it's rock-hard.”
— Not getting it? Speak plain.
Kang Moo-hyuk pulled the office receiver from his ear. Put his smartphone to his mouth instead.
“Relay for me.”
That was it.
A response came from the smartphone.
— Hold on.
Kang Moo-hyuk back to office receiver.
“Says wait, Dwight.”
— What the... crunch! crash! Who the hell?! smack! guh! thwack! krrgh! pow! urk...!
Screams, groans, emergency bells blared from the receiver.
Soon after shouts and roars from intervening hunters, the waited voice returned.
— Delivered.
“What'd he say?”
— What? Gave him a few whacks.
“Words? I said show strength then talk...”
— Thinks you'll get it? Figure it out themselves.
Kang Moo-hyuk realized things progressed too far, too fast.
“How without words? Even beatings need explanation.”
— Sometimes they get it sans words. Hey, Dwight guild master.
— grrr...
— Hmm, can't talk? But he gets it. Right, Mr. Dwight?
— guuuhhh...
— Just nodded. For real!
Kang Moo-hyuk rubbed his forehead. He'd underestimated Joo Se-ah. No—S-rank patterns.
Jang Deok-gu, listening quietly beside, spoke up.
“Told you I should've gone. Not Go Eul-ji. She can't say no to Guild Master.”
“Sent her to gain experience under you...”
“Fighting's one thing. Teaching Guild Master? I'll learn from watching something really good.”