#292. If You Don't Want to End Up in a Mess, Back Down Now.

Joo Se-ah double-checked the background on the student Go Eul-ji had hit.

Name: Jin Sun-mi, senior in high school. Father: Jin Do-jun. Mother: Park Ga-young. Father Jin Do-jun is the CEO of Jin Do Logistics. He's the third son of the Jin Do Group chairman. Ugh, not a great connection with Taeseong. Of all people to tangle with, she picks them? Classic Eul-ji.

Not good, but also a close business partner.

That was the relationship between Taeseong and Jin Do.

"Listen up. Eul-ji, you're graduating soon, so you need to start learning the basics if you're gonna dive into real guild life. This mess happened because you're missing that stuff."

"We study in the guild too?"

"You think hunters are just dumb muscle bashing monsters?"

Go Eul-ji gave Joo Se-ah a long stare.

"What's with that look? You saying I'm the dumb one?"

"No way! Me? Dare to think something disrespectful about you, Guild Master?"

"Your training time's doubled for a while. I'll sacrifice my schedule to train you myself."

"Wait, I didn't even say anything!"

"Penalty for causing trouble."

Go Eul-ji protested her innocence, but it fell on deaf ears.

Joo Se-ah picked up the thread from earlier.

"You knew Jin Sun-mi was Jin Do Group's princess, right?"

"Kinda? Rich kid vibes? But why's that ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠matter?"

"Jin Do Group's one of the four pillars of Korea's potion industry. What happens if we can't use their potions?"

"There's three others, whatever."

"You know those three are all in the same boat?"

There was a group called the Potion Cartel.

Taeseong, Jin Do, Hanju, Artisan Community.

On the surface, these four competed, but unofficially, they colluded on prices, controlled production volumes, and dominated the industry.

Excluding countless small and mid-sized firms, these four supplied half of Korea's potions, so even major guilds treaded carefully.

"Get it now? You poked a bear from one of those families."

"Can't we just use small company potions? Helps the little guys too."

"We could. Problem is securing high-grade ones."

"Why high-grade?"

"They hold 50% of total production, but nearly 80% of high-grade potions. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠You dense sidekick!"

Joo Se-ah flicked her forehead with an annoyed knuckle rap. Go Eul-ji threw up a desperate barrier, but it pierced right through, leaving a bump on her forehead.

"Ow! I'm basically an adult now. You always hit me."

"Don't cause trouble then."

"Tch! If Jin Sun-mi's Jin Do royalty, you're Taeseong royalty too. Same cartel, right? Use your connections for once."

"My connections?"

"Yeah."

To Go Eul-ji, who knew nothing of Taeseong family drama, it seemed simple. But to Joo Se-ah, leaning on that line wasn't appealing.

Plus, she'd already blown up the succession by going independent. Even if the vice chairman bore the blame, shaking the heir structure made begging for favors awkward without thick skin.

Anything else aside, Chairman Tae Jin-seong's still kicking. As long as he's active, no way he'd risk the core business that dominates via bloodlines.

Another issue: relations with Hanju, a cartel pillar.

Once allies with Iron Will, but guild independence soured things over dumping shares in a backdoor listing firm. The stubborn owner would cheer any cartel sanctions on Iron Will.

Hanju's second son, Director Oh Jeong-su, was friendly, but he lacked pull in potions.

Artisan Community's left... but they're super conservative, usually follow cartel decisions.

Meaning no bailing via connections.

"Hang on. Why's Jin Do Group's granddaughter at your school? Myeongjin High's right there—fancy private school for rich kids near them."

"Guild Master, you calling our school trash?"

"Not that. They have their own spot. School's networking for them. Perfect for building connections."

"Ahh~!"

"You really didn't know?"

"Dunno. Heard she caused issues at a couple schools before transferring."

Joo Se-ah grew more puzzled.

"They don't expel or transfer unless it's huge. Alumni power the place. Plus Jin Do's got pull."

"You know it well, Guild Master? Rich kid perks?"

"Had to. It was my school."

"Eek?! You went to high school?!"

Go Eul-ji gaped, frozen in shock.

"Why so surprised? I was a student once too. Name on the roll, skipped classes mostly. Hit gates instead."

"No classes but still graduated? No grade retention?"

"No expulsions or transfers, so no retention. All rich kids. Plus I was hunting since middle school. Special exemption, no issue with diploma."

"Whoa, wish I'd awakened hunter cert sooner."

"You jealous of that now?"

Joo Se-ah pinched Go Eul-ji's chubby cheek. She resisted, but failed.

"Anyway, can't sit idle. Gotta check Myeongjin High."

"Boss Kang said he'd handle it. All good then?"

"He ain't a magic wand."

"But he fixes everything snap."

"He's slick, sure... but can't keep mooching. Gotta do my part as guild master. You behave at school too. No slacking into retention."

Joo Se-ah scolded her and picked up the receiver.

No dedicated secretary for the guild master at Iron Will. Communications team handled it.

She checked the extension and dialed.

"It's me, Joo Se-ah."

Oh Jeong-yeon panicked at the rare call from a guild master who'd never assigned her a single errand.

She quickly composed herself.

"There's this elite high school for rich kids called Myeongjin High. One of their old students, Jin Sun-mi, now at Daeseong High with Eul-ji. Jin Do Group granddaughter. Check why she transferred."

Joo Se-ah hung up. Go Eul-ji let out an impressed whistle.

"Ooh, that was total guild master vibes."

"You still don't get how serious this is?"

"I do. No potions."

"Think Iron Will can't get one potion? Something else."

"What then?"

"You screw up, next year it's prison not graduation."

"Retention?"

"Not that school."

"Then which?"

"Ujungdo."

"Huh?"

"No Song-rin'll love it. New classmate."

Joo Se-ah grinned. Go Eul-ji clawed her head, wailing.

"Nooo! Me in the same class as No? No way—!"

"Why sneak in again? Said you were leaving."

Hirbat village chief Doki, bruise under his eye, turned away from Han Byung-gu with a scowl.

Han Byung-gu wanted to snap back but held it. He needed a favor now.

Emotions from their recent spat lingered, so Kang Moo-hyuk spoke instead.

"Chief, heard Hirbat are famed alchemists."

"No experts like us with herbs. Think hunter potions fell from sky? We passed down know-how from Great War. Basics still follow Hirbat secrets."

"Heard a patent firm holds those formulas."

Doki glared at Han Byung-gu.

"Loose lips. Spilled already?"

"Not me. Our Secretary Bae said."

"Ki-tae opens up without your order? You told him. You made him manager, right?"

"You're weirdly soft on Secretary Bae?"

"Only reason I don't cut you off is Ki-tae. Good kid cleans up your mess, breaks his back."

"Can't argue that."

Doki praised Bae Ki-tae; Han Byung-gu agreed.

Bae Ki-tae opened the trunk, pulling something out.

"Thank you, Chief. And this humble gift..."

"Ahem, no need. Wasn't asking for this."

Wild ginseng liquor in Doki's hand.

"Bribery?"

"Gift, not bribe. You ever try?"

"I give plenty. Booze sometimes."

"Cheap swill. Whose nose ya pulling?"

"Don't know you turn dwarf drunk?"

"Who ya calling dwarf?!"

Their bickering stalled talks, so Kang Moo-hyuk stepped close to Doki.

"What? Headache close like this?"

"If I become manager, regular supply: ginseng liquor, snake wine, traditional soju, wine, whiskey, etc."

"Kid's bad influence. Know his drunken rages?"

Han Byung-gu warned, but Kang ignored.

In a world of ruthless means, booze supply was fine.

Doki perked up.

"What ya want?"

"You provide remaining potion patents to Korea?"

"Worldwide."

"Ones with forced stop clause?"

"One in Korea. Pricey."

"Where?"

"Artisan Community. They use it."

Kang Moo-hyuk smacked his lips, disappointed.

Jin Do would've been perfect.

Not ideal, but Artisan Community worked as backup.

"Mind if I use the patent agent rights?"

"Ain't manager yet."

"Soon."

"Then no."

"Royal Salute, Ballantine, Johnnie Walker Blue. Don't drink much, but pick pricey ones."

"Intern's staff too. Right?"

Han Byung-gu chuckled at Doki's flip.

"Born charmer."

But did Kang know?

What Hirbat "dwarfing" drunk meant.

Think I avoid it for nothing? Make 'em drink in front of me. Tsk. Good lesson this time. Won't offer booze again.

Seeing Kang's doom, Han Byung-gu forgot his granddaughter, smiling happily.

Kang approached. Han Byung-gu schooled his face.

To the stern man, Kang whispered cautiously.

"Watch the boss's back. I'm just intern."

"You little shit!"

A stern-eyed lawyer visited Joo Se-ah. He handed a card and cut to chase.

"School violence committee for Go Eul-ji Hunter. Hunter court too."

"Settlement?"

"Victim wants punishment. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠No petition or settlement."

"Harsh on a kid? Heard not badly hurt—just tripped running."

"Tripped hunter. Client's civilian."

"Going all in?"

"Guild Master Joo Se-ah knows their family. Shouldn't have started. S-rank or not, can't ignore public opinion. Ditch her to avoid mud."

Essentially, abandon Go Eul-ji.

Joo Se-ah's smiling face chilled. The lawyer flinched.

"Jail I'd get. But ditch the kid? Hey, counselor. Tell your client: If you don't want to end up in a mess, back down ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠now."