31. The Right Time Will Come.
The evening before the site survey in Pocheon.
A sharp middle-aged woman's voice pierced into the basement of an old single-family home.
"Hey, Gong Du-ri! Quit the computer and eat already!"
"I'm good. Ordered a burger."
"Fast food again? What's the point of Mom slaving over a home-cooked meal if you won't touch it?"
"Mom's cooking tastes like crap."
"You little—!"
"Why are you so violent? That's why I won't get married. Scared I'll end up like Dad."
"A total loner like you talking marriage? Bring home a girlfriend first, then talk."
"Who said I'm a loner?"
"The only 'girlfriend' this mom knows you have is a roll of toilet paper, you punk."
"Mom!"
"Though I get it—you came out of my womb, but which girl would date you? Who'd like a guy holed up at home all day? If you want even a girl friend, quit the games and get a job already!"
"This isn't a game. Just 'cause it's on a computer doesn't make it a game. And I'm making money without a job."
"Please, my son."
After the mother-son spat ended in a draw, peace returned to the basement—just in time for the doorbell to ring.
Gong Du-ri hit the remote by his side. The front gate opened, followed by footsteps.
"Delivery."
"Oh, Team Leader Kang. Over there on the table... just a sec. Almost done."
Kang Moo-hyuk set the bag on the table and glanced at Gong Du-ri's intense work on the screen.
"Hacking guild systems again? I told you, it won't work."
"Argh, failed again today. What the hell—who is this guy? No matter how hard I pound, it won't—gah!"
Only after Kang Moo-hyuk's fist thwacked his crown did Gong Du-ri pull his hands from the keyboard.
"Ow... that hurts..."
"Don't mention my name if you get caught. I don't want a stain on my record."
"Won't get caught. No way. They're not rookies in this business. Search the whole world—no one's catching me with both hands free."
"We should've kept you in the guild somehow and watched you. A leopard can't change its spots—you got busted peeking at Titan's classified docs and booted. And now you're at it here?"
"I never got caught online. It was offline."
"Nothing to brag about. Be grateful they didn't hand you to the cops."
"And now you're putting me to good use. Heh."
Gong Du-ri slid his wheeled chair like a sled to the table. He tore into the burger Kang Moo-hyuk had bought and stuck out a hand.
"You come crawling when you're desperate. Pay up already. Dug through the Corrections Bureau DB for Ujungdo inmate records."
"Where's the rest?"
"Here."
Gong Du-ri offered a USB, and Kang Moo-hyuk tossed a thick envelope from his pocket in return.
Gong Du-ri wiped sauce-stained hands on his pants, opened the envelope, and checked the contents.
"Sniff sniff. Ahh, nothing beats the smell of cash. Thought something big since you called after ages—didn't expect a side gig like this. Heard you left Titan? New job?"
"Taeseong Guild. Don't you watch the news?"
"Ooh! Taeseong? That massive corp?"
"Yes. Took the expedition leader spot."
"Ex-Expedition leader? Whoa! Big shot now, Team Leader Kang—no, Leader Kang! Salary must be nuts, right?"
"Decent enough. Mind if I use this computer?"
Kang Moo-hyuk opened the nearby laptop and scanned the USB files.
In the brief time Gong Du-ri demolished a burger combo, Kang Moo-hyuk memorized the gist, mulling how to leverage it.
"So what's this about? Slayer Guild's subcontract item maker has an Ujungdo alum as exec. Not even a guild. No Song-rin said you wanted intel on him—his cellmate. Why?"
"Not certain yet. Just some guesses."
"Guesses?"
Kang Moo-hyuk sifted the fragmented info he'd gathered so far.
Joo Se-ah's the illegitimate daughter of Taeseong Group Chairman Tae Jin-seong. She joined Slayer ten years ago as a teen prodigy—the first to enter a tier guild. Next year, Taeseong founded their guild. Slayer consulted in the early days. Connected? No Song-rin joined Taeseong four years ago on Guild Master Chu In-ho's recommendation. Chu was expedition leader at mid-tier Great Honor before Taeseong, then moved to Slayer. And this guy.
Kang Moo-hyuk stared at the photo on the monitor.
Kim Myeong-jun.
Imprisoned in Ujungdo for hunter murder.
In Ujungdo same time as No Song-rin. Somehow pulled strings and got out after seven years. Now exec at a small firm specializing in item post-processing.
An A-rank hunter playing corporate drone? Suspicious as hell.
Kang Moo-hyuk drew two solid conclusions from the data.
First: Slayer-affiliated manufacturer.
This setup screamed satellite guild camouflage.
Surface-level small biz, but likely run like a guild inside.
Most suspicious: cleaners. No way an Ujungdo vet's just managing. Titan tried something similar. Tier guilds have at least one.
Titan never allowed it under Kang Moo-hyuk's strategic oversight. Who knew post-retirement.
Other possibility: pawn targeting Taeseong Guild.
Chairman Tae seemed disinterested in the guild except for Joo Se-ah—unlike other corps using theirs as private armies.
A tier guild planting a mole in an indifferent corp guild?
"Satellite guild?"
"Why bring up satellites? Aren't those illegal subs?"
"Satellites differ from subs. More like an industry wink—unofficial but tolerated."
Sub-guilds were straight-up illegal shadow ops—secrets even in existence, mostly crime.
Satellites? Legally unrelated, no contracts. But everyone knew they danced to a tier guild's tune.
Arrow fodder for dirty jobs or scam bait. Sandbags, basically.
"Spill. Looks fun."
"Better you don't know. Too deep, and if traced—can't guarantee your safety."
"Pfft, no. Hunters rule offline; I rule online."
"Drop it. Dig more here."
"Where? Hanseong Enterprise? Why?"
"Exec's not the only Ujungdo link. Employee records, company ops—check it."
"Security's lax, corp systems are trash. Hack won't yield much. They just handle metal."
"Offline's separate."
"Using that detective uncle?"
"Who else but old comrades for discreet work?"
"Ugh. Hate guild reunions. No good memories. If dragging me in, hire me at Taeseong. Lemme wear that corp badge. Mom's nagging's driving me nuts."
"The right time will come soon enough."
Now. Pocheon survey site.
No Song-rin grumbled, kicked the ground a few times, then hopped in his sedan.
Joo Se-ah approached Kang Moo-hyuk, probing slyly.
"What'd you chat so long with No Song-rin about?"
"Just some constructive talk."
"With him? Talking to orcs would be more productive."
"Not sure about orcs. But he listens more than expected. Let's head back to the guild."
Better if the guild master stays in the dark for now. Can't have her storming Slayer and messing things up.
The next day back at the guild.
Joo Se-ah got a shocking declaration from No Song-rin first thing in the morning.
"I fully support Taeseong Guild's move to North Pocheon and registering it as our home base. I'll assist Guild Master Joo Se-ah to ensure a smooth relocation."
"Uh... so. What. Another scheme? Hidden cam?"
"Scheme? I'm hurt. No cam either. Just vibing with Leader Kang Moo-hyuk's vision. Feels like this is my path forward."
Kang Moo-hyuk, what scam did you pull now?
As Joo Se-ah met No Song-rin with a twisted not-quite-smile-not-quite-frown, Kang Moo-hyuk sought out Choi Mi-ran.
"Hunter Choi Mi-ran. First time at the inauguration parking lot—been a while."
"Y-Yes... haha... Sorry for being rude then..."
"No issue. Happens. Thought I was an outsider."
"R-Right. I'm shy with non-guild folks—get prickly."
"Guild's moving soon anyway, so parking's whatever. Use your spots as usual."
"Leader. About the move... really North Pocheon?"
"Yes. Next month."
"Eek! That fast?"
Kim Seong-hyeon, hovering nearby, chimed in.
"Problem?"
"Not a problem, just... sudden."
Kang Moo-hyuk crossed his arms, nodding understandingly at Kim Seong-hyeon's grimace.
"Hunter Kim Seong-hyeon has a point—it's rushed. Others must be rattled too."
"Yeah. We're small fry, but some explanation for the move would've helped..."
Choi Mi-ran seized the chance to voice pent-up gripes.
Kang Moo-hyuk feigned deep thought, face grave.
"How about this?"
"What?"
"Round up hunters around you unhappy or anxious about the move. Not a full briefing, but I'll hear concerns directly, brainstorm solutions."
"Really? Everyone's worried sick. Perfect."
Kang Moo-hyuk rolled up his sleeve, tapping his watch.
"Lunch? I'll book a spot. How many?"
"Group chat's got 54? Maybe 30 can make it."
"Book big. I'll text details. Come, dine, discuss the guild's future."
"Guild Master. True about Taeseong's Leader Kang proposing to take C Warehouse?"
"Not official yet. How'd you hear? Contracts exchanged already."
Ma Tae-soo glared at Lee Cheol-jung's casual reply, but the guild master brushed it off.
"Must thrill the vice master. Shedding a guild white elephant."
"Ha? Thrilled. Great news for the board and shareholders."
"Not bad for you either. Means Leader Kang's done with us."
Ma Tae-soo flinched, busted.
Kang Moo-hyuk had always coveted C Warehouse.
He'd signed a no-return pledge, but Lee Cheol-jung might lure him back anytime.
Taking C Warehouse eased that worry.
In a way, Kang Moo-hyuk signaled he'd never return to Titan.
But ditching C Warehouse isn't all good. Removes one of the guild master's weaknesses. A parting gift?
C Warehouse and Kang Moo-hyuk.
Guild master lost a vulnerability, discarded a weapon.
Which won? Too soon.
"That C Warehouse... Leader Kang really thinks it'll succeed? Looked like trash to me."
"Same. Why it's been warehoused years. But oddly, doesn't feel like a flop. Know his style? Cuts losses fast. Decisive. If he's dragging it out, something's there. Fun to watch from afar now he's elsewhere."
Lee Cheol-jung chuckled, but Ma Tae-soo felt no ease.
Amid industry buzz over leader roles reviving, news hit: Taeseong claiming North Pocheon special zone as base.
Guild Cooperation Office welcomed it, pledging full gov support.
Guilds missed the protest window; watch-and-see sentiment grew.
Even corp guilds watched keenly.
Unprecedented guild politics game of chicken.
If Leader Kang leaves Seoul, not bad for me.
Why the unease?
Like tossing a magnetized disaster afar—but it'd snap back eventually.
Screw that. Focus: seize Titan.
If plans held, Kang Moo-hyuk's return wouldn't matter.
Ma Tae-soo wanted C Warehouse gone quick to cut ties fast.