#287. I'll Visit You Soon.
The World Hunter Federation headquarters housed three critically important forbidden zones.
The first was the Round Table.
This was the federation's supreme decision-making body, accessible only to the chairman and committee members. Even their aides needed special permission to enter, and only essential personnel could occasionally poke their heads in during major deliberations.
The second was 'The Tree of Life', commonly known as the Tree of Life.
The Tree of Life formed the heart of the Mother Tree Council and served as the nest for the Ain races affiliated with the federation.
Access was granted to only a handful within the federation, and its location was known solely to a select few at the highest levels.
The third was a place everyone knew of, yet no one knew its whereabouts or had ever entered.
It sealed all secrets related to the federation—and its most dangerous artifacts.
Federation members called it 'Pandora's Box'.
Only five individuals could enter Pandora, with Round Table Chairman Ekhisar being the most prominent. Of the remaining four, two identities remained undisclosed, while the other two were the federation's S-rank hunters.
Those two S-ranks also held commander positions within the federation.
World Hunter Federation Core, Pandora
The two sole permanent residents of this place passed the time by chatting about the latest hot topics to stave off boredom.
"Uncle Emil, you hear the rumors?"
"What rumors?"
"Word is the new commander's not even a hunter."
"Well, there's no rule saying a commander has to be a hunter. It's brains that count."
"We're already pissed about A+ rank commanders, and now it's some civilian? The federation's a damn circus."
"Gerth's got skills, even if he's no S-rank. You acknowledged that yourself, Alexander."
"Separate issue. That scheming bastard's too shady for my taste. Even the Darkside or Mira heads would have to bow to him. Guy's more villain material."
"He's got results. Hard worker. We can sit here comfy 'cause Gerth's busting his ass."
Alexander snorted at Emil's words.
"Hah! If that guy were S-rank, we wouldn't be stuck here. We'd rotate shifts. Same reason I'm sour on this non-hunter commander. Should've recruited another S-rank."
"Commanders aren't for guarding this place. They need to operate outside. That's why I'm optimistic about this non-hunter. Rumor is Aila Priga from the Mother Tree Council picked him herself. An elf's choice? Must be something special."
"Even if Aila picked him, doesn't mean zero complaints. Someone's stuck here."
"Patience. Barrier completes soon—no more babysitting duty."
Alexander brightened, clenching his fist like it was perfect timing.
"Good. Decided. I'll meet this fourth commander when I get out."
"Job interview?"
"Close enough. Gotta vet the guy I'll trust my back to."
"Just don't cause trouble."
Kishin Takeru, chairman of the Japanese Guild Union Council and an S-rank, was meditating to quell his rage.
But his tangled thoughts refused to settle. Even in lotus position, news from across the sea in Korea tormented him relentlessly.
'Idiot. Strutting like the U.S. president, but can't even hold Joo Se-ah. Should I have spoon-fed him?'
The ancient monster from the Great War era still eyed Korea hungrily. He'd leaked Joo Se-ah's movements to the U.S. and schemed to pin her there.
The problem? No damage dealt—instead, he'd handed her the title of LA's savior. Her influence had only grown.
Consequently, Korea's hunter scene buzzed with energy, advancing at a frightening pace.
'No intel network in the U.S., so can't track it. Lobby politicians?'
Kishin hadn't a clue where his plot went wrong. Never dreamed the U.S. president would blab about Japan ties.
So he could only reassess the situation at a high level.
'Slayer's an issue, but Han Byung-gu's glaring too—hard to move directly. Could escalate to international incident. Hunter assassinations across borders? Too risky under treaties.'
At this rate, Korea might surpass Japan again. Even one more S-rank could break free in a flash.
Time for other means.
His meditation ended there.
"Who's there?"
"Yes, Chairman. Any orders?"
"Activate all lines into Korea. From Kim Myeong-jun to Iga-cho's remnants who couldn't return."
"Include the new line at the Guild Cooperation Office?"
"Obviously."
"What are the orders?"
"Mobilize every intel network. Find weaknesses to shatter Joo Se-ah's guild. Shake her circle. Diminish her influence, spark conflicts with other guilds or state agencies. Exhaust every method."
"Understood. I'll relay that."
A full day after Kang Moo-hyuk's group returned, TV and the internet overflowed with Joo Se-ah news.
Communities praised her, slamming U.S. tricks. Detailed LA raid reports via U.S. media fueled national pride, mouths chanting her name nonstop.
Unlike the noisy outside, North Pocheon remained peaceful today.
Kang Moo-hyuk handled urgent matters with Seong Seon-je first thing at dawn.
"I see. Yes. Understood. And can you keep watching Park Chung-su, Team Leader Seong?"
-Not cut him down now?
"His family's hostages. Even I'd have no choice."
-Why not rescue them immediately?
"Valid, but I'd rather leverage this. Park'll suffer, but he did it—tell him to tough it out."
-Feeding disinformation, eh?
"Can't help getting blindsided, but he's an insider now. Useful someday. Prep for extraction anyway—they might wise up and eliminate him."
Seong Seon-je chuckled inwardly. Use everything usable, without crossing lines.
'Does he pity Park or see him as a card? Either way, I like it.'
Seong agreed.
-Fine. Can't refuse our Raid Leader. But loop me in on fun—don't hog it.
"Got it. Call if anything changes."
After hanging up, arms-crossed Joo Se-ah nearby asked,
"Park Chung-su, right?"
"Yes. As you heard—blackmailed with family as hostages. They don't know."
"Good."
"What's good? Family's collateral."
"He didn't fold for money. Not a corrupt betrayal."
"Betrayal's betrayal."
"Family's family. Worked with him enough—nearly heartbroken. Imagine if I were hostage. What would you do?"
"Wouldn't budge."
Kang Moo-hyuk stated flatly. Joo Se-ah lit up, surprised.
"Knew it?"
"Obviously. You'd have a plan."
"Huh?"
"Taking you hostage is impossible premise. No plotter catches you willingly."
"Just hypothetical. Taking it serious makes me what? Embarrassing."
"Pointless assumption. Can't imagine you captured by anyone..."
"Enough. Can't joke with you."
"Joke? Wasn't funny, but scenario's fresh."
"Wanna taste fresh blood?"
She brandished a fist; he flinched back.
"Hunter assaulting civilian lands in Ujungdo."
"Ujungdo hold an S-rank?"
"Nope. Joke. Ironic nod to S-ranks above law. Borrowed your style."
"Seriously gonna hit you?"
As Joo Se-ah swallowed 'patience' repeatedly—
Trrring! Trrring!
The third receiver rang—old-school bell tone.
Kang Moo-hyuk tensed. Guild emergency line for external members.
'Who's out now?'
He answered warily.
"Kang Moo-hyuk."
-Raid Leader?
"Go Eul-ji? What hap—"
-Save me.
"Ambush?!"
-What? Stuck at school.
"They hit the school?!"
-No attackers—reporters, stations... Hey, close the curtains! Mister reporter! Classroom invasion's foul!
Go Eul-ji yelled suddenly, noise grating his ear.
-Anyway, face exposed. Sneaked past airport, but... Damn, embarrassing? Fix this.
"Early dismissal, fly out?"
-Ah!
Her gasp like enlightenment. She babbled excuses, ashamed.
-Panicked. Grandpa brainwashed me—no identity slips.
"Exposed anyway—no backlash for using powers. Head to HQ. We'll assess."
After hanging, Kang Moo-hyuk sighed; Joo Se-ah probed.
"Eul-ji? Reporters there?"
He nodded, flipping on TV. Commotion like this? News fodder.
Sure enough, a news channel covered her.
"That footage... LA? Filmed there?"
"Her fave idol vid. Gunpowder HQ lobby. She dodged there?"
"Outright names her. Rare name—no deniability."
"Sigh. Graduation soon, but this publicity's headache."
"Not bad? Fame's a hunter's weapon."
Joo Se-ah downplayed, but Kang Moo-hyuk looked graver than ever.
"Not that. Headache elsewhere."
"Elsewhere?"
Beep-beep-beep!
Second line rang.
"Spoke too soon."
"Guild Cooperation Office line."
"Hunter Association knows too."
"Old man?"
"Take it?"
He spoke to air.
Door ajar, papers fluttered in breeze.
Joo Se-ah gone.
"No one trustworthy."
Earplugs in, he picked up.
-You bastard! Sloppy personal info! My granddaughter's face out—how ya fixin' it?!
Han Byung-gu's roar vibrated the receiver.
Kang Moo-hyuk pondered dodging the fury.
'Yeller wears you down. Counterattack.'
As Han huffed, he said calmly,
"Got unique items? How many?"
-...Wrong number. Sorry. Hanging up.
"I'll visit soon."
-Gone. Business trip—don't come.
"After you return..."
-Year-long. Stay away.