34. What Will You Put in a Pauper's Pocket?
Even today, the house in Sangdo-dong famous for the highest decibel levels in the neighborhood kicked off the morning with Mrs. Kim's booming voice, as she aimed to shatter records once more.
"Gong Du-ri! Where the hell are you off to first thing in the morning?!"
"Where else? I'm moving out. You told me to get out yesterday."
"What bullshit is that? I meant go do something useful, not this crap."
"I got a job."
Mrs. Kim's eyes bulged wide as she crowded right up to her son. Now that she looked, he was decked out in a full suit. The unfamiliar sight made her suspicious as she prodded him.
"A job? You didn't get scammed again, did you?"
"Room and board provided, full benefits, fat paycheck. Taeseong Group. Big corp scouted me."
"Oh my god! What is this? Is it real, my son?"
"Your tone's doing a total one-eighty from a minute ago. Anyway, I'm in a rush, so heading out first. I'll call a moving company for the rest later."
"Moving out?"
"Time to stand on my own two feet."
"We'll talk about that later. Hehe, my boy. You can't leave without breakfast."
"No time. Gotta go now or I'll be late."
"Alright, my busy boy. Come home for dinner? I'll make something tasty."
"Aigoo, I told you they provide room and board there for a while. Probably can't make it. Anyway, I'm off."
"Son, have a good day."
Mrs. Kim waved as Gong Du-ri rushed out the front door.
Gong Du-ri was thrilled about his first day commuting to Taeseong. A top-tier talent in security, but his innate curiosity had him swinging his keyboard wildly, landing him blacklisted everywhere.
For a socially isolated hacker, crime was the only way to eat.
Luckily, thanks to Kang Moo-hyuk, he could at least scrape by.
Now, wearing a major corp badge? He was overwhelmed with emotion.
'Jackpot. I'm big corp now.'
Gong Du-ri stepped out with a spring in his step.
'Damn, big corp my ass?'
He'd jumped at Kang Moo-hyuk's offer of a spot at Taeseong Group.
But the job was at a guild.
Well, Taeseong Guild was under the group umbrella. Though the name change made even that affiliation suspect.
Gong Du-ri grimaced again, eyeing the lineup standing with him.
"Hey, kid. Long time no see. Try not to fuck around with that keyboard this time. Or you'll catch a blade."
"Didn't expect you here, Team Leader Pyo. Haha..."
Pyo Beom-hee was the one who'd caught Gong Du-ri peeking at Titan Guild's classified docs.
Enemies and natural predators in one.
Gong Du-ri immediately backed down, averting his eyes.
No matter how much he disliked it, a rabbit couldn't glare at a tiger.
Not wanting to tangle with Pyo Beom-hee, he glanced around casually and spotted a new face.
A two-meter giant covered in beard.
"Who's that furry old dude?"
"Support Team Leader Yeom Soo-hyung. He's holed up in the warehouse, so you wouldn't have seen him."
An Ji-il, entering the office, answered Gong Du-ri's question.
Seeing his old colleague from the same department at Titan—both non-hunters with plenty in common—Gong Du-ri lit up.
"Ji-il hyung! You too?"
"What, I can't join?"
"Nah, it's just... Boss Kang doesn't like you much."
"Join a guild for the people? Nah, it's the work."
"I'm here for the cash..."
As An Ji-il greeted the others, Kang Moo-hyuk entered with Joo Se-ah.
"Whoa! No way, Joo Se-ah, Joo Se-ah."
"I know, chill out."
An Ji-il scolded the excited Gong Du-ri.
Kang Moo-hyuk scanned the group and spoke.
"Welcome to Iron Will Guild, everyone. This is Guild Master Joo Se-ah."
"Nice to meet you all. Joo Se-ah here. Thrilled to have you on board thanks to Expedition Leader Kang Moo-hyuk's recommendations. Looking forward to your contributions. Let's do this."
Clap clap clap!
Gong Du-ri, clapping, awkwardly lowered his hands seeing no one else join in.
"Some couldn't join yet due to cleanup duties, but we've filled the critical spots. Let's get to work."
Gong Du-ri, already bummed about joining a non-Taeseong affiliate guild instead of a grand welcome, made a sour face at the immediate start order.
Kang Moo-hyuk assigned tasks one by one.
"Mr. Gong Du-ri, you'll head the Situation Room operator team."
"T-Team leader?"
"You'll double as system security for now. Head up and run a security check right away. Firewall too. Plug any leaks."
Stunned by the unexpected promotion, Gong Du-ri numbly nodded, then realized the solo burden and shot up his hand.
"Wait, me alone?"
"Of course not. Pull from department staff as needed. Managing personnel is team leader duty—get used to it."
"T-Team leader stuff... Right. Haha..."
"I handle C Warehouse?"
An Ji-il stepped up first. Kang Moo-hyuk handed over a USB.
"Monster subjugation plans ahead of guild relocation. Select gear matching my specs. Can't move everything at once due to space—rest after move."
"Got it."
"Management team for me, right?"
"Yes. Team Leader Pyo, I'll introduce team members separately. Management had the fewest quits from the relocation, so good for team sync."
Kang Moo-hyuk eyed the last man, the hulking figure nearly scraping the ceiling.
"Team Leader Yeom Soo-hyung, you'll take Support Team."
"Same work as before?"
"Yes."
"Can pick my people?"
"Don't bully them."
"I'll try."
After assigning the new hires, Kang Moo-hyuk headed to the guild master's office at Joo Se-ah's summons.
She wasted no time with her question.
"Who was that bearded guy earlier?"
"Support Team Leader Yeom Soo-hyung."
"I know the name. Spill."
"Former hunter."
"Knew it. Felt like one. But support team? He could main-tank for an A-rank guild easy."
Joo Se-ah's surprise was justified.
Support team was slang for pack mules.
Managing warehouse, hauling supplies—that was it.
Few tasks, but backbreaking, so high turnover.
"Management lead being a hunter's weird enough, but support too? And not low-rank? What a waste. Titan must be rotting with hunters."
"Yeom is actually B+ rank. Quit hunting due to circumstances. I said 'former' because his hunter license is revoked."
"Revoked?"
"Personal matters—I can't discuss."
"Don't need to know... but B+? Not A- or higher? Weird. My instincts can't be off."
Kang Moo-hyuk stayed silent as Joo Se-ah tilted her head.
Her instincts weren't wrong.
'Team Leader Yeom's trait is special.'
Like Joo Se-ah's rank-defying physical/magic defense, Yeom had his edge.
That was likely her hunch.
"Curiosity satisfied?"
"Nothing to satisfy. You won't tell anyway. Long as they do the job."
"Not much time left. This subjugation excludes top ranks as much as possible—ramp up low-rank training."
As Kang Moo-hyuk rose, Joo Se-ah grabbed him.
"Really sticking to B-rank and below?"
"Overall skill-up for the future. No major risks, so strict party play."
"Wouldn't it be better if I handle it quick and focus on guild setup?"
"If you can cover all North Pocheon 24/7, sure."
"Got it. Just worried."
Seeing her troubled look, Kang Moo-hyuk probed.
"That bad?"
"Not bad, but... after Slayer Guild, our guys look iffy."
"Tier guilds make A-ranks look subpar."
"Goblins vary wildly in level. Data shows a long-established mega-tribe. Plenty evolved ones likely."
"Irregulars too, probably."
"Exactly. No telling what variants."
Goblins bred fast—one generation months.
With ample prey, they ballooned to hundreds, thousands.
Special zone limits size, but a decade-old tribe meant generations of level-ups.
Irregular mutants expected.
Kang Moo-hyuk had planned for it.
"We'll prepare, but some sacrifices inevitable."
Joo Se-ah latched onto "prepare" over "sacrifices."
Kang Moo-hyuk's Titan record proved his raiding chops.
"I'll prep them best I can."
Time passed.
The day before ops launch, Kang Moo-hyuk stopped at his officetel.
He'd been crashing at guild barracks—needed fresh clothes.
Plus, restock mana addiction meds and syringes.
After a quick shower and packing, he applied a needle-free laser injector to his arm.
Pricey and rare, but convenient, no marks—stocked in bulk.
Dosed biweekly, it didn't fully suppress.
Outbreak mana floods required extras.
The drug hit, light vertigo like motion sickness. He sat eyes closed till it faded.
"Whew, sucks but better than worsening. Thankful for that."
Muttering to shake it off, he grabbed his bag and headed to the parking lot.
'This a cliché now? Waiting in lots?'
Men blocked his car. No hostility—polite distance, businesslike.
"Chairman wants to see you."
"Chairman?"
Only one came to mind.
'Taeseong Group's Tae Jin-seong.'
Timing sucked.
Silent through name change, relocation announcement.
Calling now, as he headed to Pocheon?
'My most vulnerable moment.'
Chaebol kingpin lived up to it.
If not intentional, even craftier old fox.
'Expected it eventually...'
Tae focused on Joo Se-ah, the real prize over rituals.
Guild fate in a new leader's hands? He'd notice.
No dodging—chance to gauge his thoughts.
"Lead the way."
Kang Moo-hyuk's first impression of the chairman:
'Uncanny resemblance.'
Stubborn eyes identical to Joo Se-ah's.
Genes impossible to hide.
No awe entering Korea's richest enclave, but pointless admiration hit here.
"Expedition Leader Kang Moo-hyuk."
Stubborn lips parted in a firm line.
Kang Moo-hyuk thought Joo Se-ah dodged those lips, replying.
"Yes."
"Heard you've lined up connections everywhere."
Plain words, but Kang tensed inwardly.
'Means meeting his sons? But 'seen' not 'heard.' Runs the group hands-on?'
Subtle confidence in total control.
Hiding would backfire from the start.
No intent anyway—Kang answered carefully.
"Can't slap away offered hands with my slim means. Starving, I'll take cold rice gratefully."
"Hm, good attitude. Pauper's pride only hurts himself."
"Spot on. Keep the pocket open always."
Belittling metaphor, but Kang played along casually.
Tae Jin-seong's brow arched, one eye narrowing appraisingly.
Like judging merchandise—unpleasant scrutiny.
Kang met it steadily, countering.
"What will you put in a pauper's pocket, Chairman?"