#279. Something Seems to Be Underway
Dwayne came striding over, breathing heavily through his nose with each heavy step. The ground sank deep under his footprints.
"You think glaring and flexing your fists is gonna scare anyone?"
Joo Se-ah snorted at his show of force.
'Did he really think that'd work on me?'
She'd learned from their previous clashes that fights between S-ranks were half a battle of momentum.
It was laughable that he thought these timid little tricks—punching holes in the asphalt—would break her spirit.
'Wait. That's not the ground breaking... it's melting?'
The asphalt was melting like cheese under a red-hot fork. The scenery around Dwayne shimmered and distorted. Heat haze rose up, and a strange sweltering heat began to creep into the surroundings.
Joo Se-ah tensed. She could tell at a glance that Dwayne's ability was going to be a real pain.
'That's not a fire-attribute trait. It's raw, high-temperature energy.'
Even with her ironclad body, durability, inexhaustible stamina, recovery power, and strong resistance to all magic, she wasn't invincible.
A trait that tapped into primal power beyond borrowed elemental forces was something even she had to watch out for.
Kang Moo-hyuk had clocked it too.
'A pointless brawl where nothing's gained. Responding to obvious bait with fists would just expose the Guild Master's capabilities needlessly...'
His thoughts halted there.
'No way. Is this a test?'
Dwayne Dix.
Freelancer.
An existence outside America's Super S control policy, embodied by the likes of Igor Dudnik.
In a way, he was an irregular in the national system—a hunter who operated freely without major government crackdowns because he kept the balance without causing big incidents.
If he stirred up trouble, he'd end up like America's Igor Dudnik, wouldn't he?
'If he'd lived recklessly, he wouldn't have this freedom now. He knows his place and holds back. His public rep isn't that of a rude asshole either.'
Kang Moo-hyuk sorted his thoughts in the brief moment before Joo Se-ah and Dwayne clashed, stepping in to stop the fight.
To do that, he needed the other side to pull their punches too.
"Lawrence Hunter."
"Call me Miss or Lawyer, not Hunter. I don't wanna share a title with that idiot. Director Kang Moo-hyuk."
"Dunno if he's an idiot, but shouldn't we stop the fight first?"
"I'd get way more mileage out of him taking a few punches."
"Fights between S-ranks don't end at public nuisance. Cities we protect from monsters could get wrecked by hunters instead. That's worse than monsters."
"That guy's a monster already. Guess he can sink lower? Kinda wanna see the bottom."
"Sounds serious, but I'll take it as a joke. Betting LA on one chat doesn't add up."
"Shame, but calling it here makes cleanup easier. I've already got three years of work piled up from his lawsuits. Don't need more from him trashing LA."
As the two S-ranks amped up their auras, Maria shouted loudly.
"New York Bree Cheeseburger!"
"What?"
Dwayne faltered slightly.
"I'll buy you that burger you can't get even waiting two nights in line."
"You're talking about that New York legend—thick steak aged special for days, grilled in butter, topped with sliced Bree cheese melted for extra umami, with the family artisan secret sauce?"
"Yeah. The one you can't eat unless your New York ban lifts."
"Ooh, you—who always refused to grab one for me out of laziness—why now?!"
"Stop the fight instead."
"Ten of 'em, and I'll think about it."
"They only sell one per person. It's for me."
"Then five..."
"Two. No more haggling."
"Deal!"
The murderous tension evaporated. The scorching heat that melted asphalt turned into a balmy breeze.
Joo Se-ah muttered in disbelief at the anticlimactic halt.
"He puts up with this for a burger? After taking a hit? No pride, or just stupid?"
"Hey!"
"What? Wanna go again?"
"That's no ordinary burger. It's the New York Bree Cheeseburger!"
Dwayne wagged his index finger, shaking his head. His eyes were already drifting toward distant New York. With dreamy eyes like a man fulfilled, he said,
"People go mad when they can't eat what they crave. My infinite hunter stomach can't be filled by just anything—only delicious food satisfies it. It's been four years since the court banned me from New York. Maria's the only one who'd fetch one. Everyone fears this S-rank. But my trials end here. Finally, New York Bree Cheeseburgers. Heh."
"So you're bragging about being a loner?"
Joo Se-ah felt stupid for even engaging.
"That guy's weird, right? The tyrant's the same, and Nikolai Kamenisky too. Do all S-ranks go nuts?"
She whispered to Kang Moo-hyuk, who was equally thrown.
'Does the Guild Master know she's S-rank and say that?'
But he kept it to himself.
Anyway, the situation was defused, and now they could talk.
This was Kang Moo-hyuk's stage.
"Ms. Lawrence. You said you're Dwayne Hunter's agent. I'm Guild Master Joo Se-ah's agent. Talk to me."
"No need for stiff 'Ms. Lawrence.' Just Maria. We're not here to fight—casual chat's better, right?"
"Fights aren't always fists. Gotta hear the details to decide if we fight or not."
Maria smiled outwardly but grimaced inwardly.
'Not working? Usually this softens the mood, lowers guards. Tough nut.'
Steeling herself, she said,
"I've got a proposal."
"Proposal... Super S? Major guild? Or the federal government? With a freelancer tagging along, not Super S. Same reason rules out guilds."
"Quick on the uptake."
"Not many places pitch to S-ranks at this stage. Proposals gotta match the rank."
Maria realized once more Kang Moo-hyuk was a headache, then continued.
"Guessing the content too?"
"Maybe. Second Bertrand? And cozy up to the US government?"
"The second part's key. Spot-on."
"Nothing impressive. Anyone following US politics knows. The President's hatred for the Super S and major guild system is public. Government's not naturalizing S-ranks to help rivals."
"Most don't state it with your conviction just from news."
Maria admired his insight.
But to Kang Moo-hyuk, it was obvious deduction.
'Exit ban on Guild Master Joo Se-ah for visa issues and illegal strategic export. Bringing in a freelancer negotiator. Hard to miss.'
He glared at Maria with wary eyes—actually at whoever lurked behind her.
The planner.
Maybe the President, maybe a staffer.
But who didn't matter. The real focus was elsewhere.
'Why does this feel malicious? I know the President resents the guild system, but is he reckless enough for this? Appointing Hamilton—a negotiator—as Hunter Policy Director suggests he doesn't ignore Super S or agencies this extremely.'
As Kang Moo-hyuk's mind tangled, Maria spoke.
"No fun negotiating with you—you see through everything. You know the proposal, predict conditions from Bertrand's case."
"You'll hype it as unprecedented."
"Standard opener."
"Just checking—no hope it works?"
"Honestly, came hoping. But chatting shows it's futile. You won't budge easy."
"If we end talks now, any downsides?"
"Aw! Worried about me?"
"Not you. Us."
Lip service worked on those with something to lose, a Kang Moo-hyuk skill.
Maria clapped disappointedly.
"None. Clients probably didn't expect much."
"Then why negotiate...?"
"Embarrassing, but... this meeting pressures Guild Master Joo Se-ah. Even if we shut up, rumors leak."
"I see."
His calm reply puzzled Maria.
"Predicted that too?"
"More like, I'd do the same."
Somehow, she liked Kang Moo-hyuk.
Most got pissed at troublesome entanglements. He stayed cool.
Best reaction for someone delivering rude proposals.
Relieved like solving a tough case, she stretched and stood.
"Mission accomplished. Good negotiation, Director Kang Moo-hyuk."
Maria offered her hand.
"No gains—good negotiation?"
"Receiver doesn't care, proposer unscathed. All formality. Head honchos handle the rest."
"I'm a head honcho too. Headache ahead."
"With an S-rank in pocket. They got nothing."
"Makes it easier."
Kang Moo-hyuk stood, shaking her hand.
"Post-negotiation gift."
"Love expensive ones."
"S-rank info—fair price?"
"Expensive info too."
"Other S-ranks moving too. Hundred percent."
"Obvious. Rumors spread. Win-win either way."
"Predict which?"
"Tough. No intel."
"Only one mobile now. The one I mentioned."
"Bertrand?"
"Yes."
Kang Moo-hyuk knew North American S-rank basics but lacked US details.
So he didn't swallow info blindly—couldn't verify.
"How so sure?"
"Easy. S-ranks don't listen. Even to their guild master. Lazy, selfish bunch."
"Yet you brought one?"
"Who? Dwayne? Idiot owes me. Freelancer sounds fancy, but he's a bum. Nothing better, so he tagged along."
Made sense.
"Bertrand?"
"Even best offers don't change nationality without reason. Talkative S-ranks rare. Rumor: he obeys his guild master well. Dunno why. If that master wants Joo Se-ah, he'll send Bertrand."
"Valuable. Need countermeasures."
"Glad it's a good gift."
"Hope no strings."
"Hard to befriend. Just two handlers griping about problem kids."
Maria pointed behind. The two S-ranks eyed each other from afar.
Ending the bench summit, Kang Moo-hyuk looked skyward with a sigh.
'Whew. Thomas stuff piling up too. Korea return won't be smooth.'
Back in LA, Hamilton spent frantic days mediating between state government, guilds, and Hunter Crime Unit.
Just two days passed, but he felt a decade older from the workload.
Inter-agency turf wars were fierce.
State prioritized social recovery and civilian aid; guilds wanted rewards for leading the crisis response.
Crime Unit cracked down on troublemaking hunters amid the chaos.
They caught guild hunters on crimes, moved to arrest.
Guilds protected members—lose one, hunters bolt. Guilt irrelevant; shield and advocate for benefits.
Conflicts sparked: armed clashes one side, unilateral hunter assaults on officials the other.
Hamilton slaved reconciling, compensating, cooperating.
Just now, settling one, he collapsed on the office couch corner when a disturber arrived.
"Director, need a check."
"Haa... Director Kang. Up all night. Later?"
"White House matter."
"Ugh. Sleep in grave. What's up?"
"Any word from White House?"
"What word?"
"President. Any orders on Guild Master Joo Se-ah?"
Carnivorous wasps aside, sudden Joo Se-ah mention darkened Hamilton's face.
"S-rank tip-off? Serious."
"Yeah. Looks like something's going on we don't know about."