Chapter 46. How About Kicking Them Off the Family Registry?
The place where Tae Jin-seong had summoned him this time was not the residence where they had first met.
A lodge nestled in a quiet spot on the outskirts of Seoul.
The expansive grounds were private property, with no one around except the chairman's attendants.
The sedan carrying Kang Moo-hyuk pulled up at the lodge entrance.
A bodyguard guarding the lodge hurried over and opened the rear door.
At a glance, it seemed like deferential service for an honored guest, but depending on the owner's decision, the situation could flip in an instant.
"This way."
He followed where Jeong Sil-jang led.
As he approached the lodge entrance, a peculiar sight caught Kang Moo-hyuk's eye.
Unlike the other bodyguards, a man was sitting at a shaded table under a parasol, sipping a drink. He looked utterly ordinary at first glance, but for some reason, he kept drawing the eye.
Kang Moo-hyuk slowed his pace. Unable to tear his gaze away, he observed the man intently.
The moment the man turned his head and their eyes met, a sharp prickling sensation stabbed the back of Kang Moo-hyuk's neck.
An unpleasant feeling. Like he'd glimpsed something uneasy and dangerous.
He stopped completely and stared the man down.
Only when the man's face fully emerged from the shade did his features come into sharp focus.
'That guy's...!'
Kang Moo-hyuk's eye twitched.
"The chairman is waiting. Please hurry..."
Jeong Sil-jang started to urge him on but faltered upon seeing the man rise from under the parasol.
"It's fine. It's fine. Who dies if that old man waits a bit?"
The man waved dismissively, flashing a sly smile and tone toward Jeong Sil-jang. Then he turned his attention to Kang Moo-hyuk, extending a hand as if for a handshake.
"Name's Kim Myeong-jun. I handle this and that under Chairman Tae."
"Kang Moo-hyuk. In the end, I'm under Chairman Tae too. In a way, we're family."
Kang Moo-hyuk clasped Kim Myeong-jun's hand. A foul stench emanated from his mouth. The stench of lies, devoid of any real odor. Kang Moo-hyuk knew the man's true identity.
'Kim Myeong-jun. Han Seong Enterprise executive. Ujungdo alum, prison buddy with No Song-rin. Frontman for Slayer Guild.'
He was the Han Seong Enterprise guy he'd told Gong Du-ri to hack when recruiting No Song-rin.
He hadn't expected the man to pop up here. Then again, it wasn't all that surprising.
Chairman Tae had founded Taeseong Guild with Slayer Guild's backing, and while Han Seong Enterprise posed as a mid-tier item-processing firm on the surface, it reeked of Slayer underneath.
The ties between Chairman Tae and Han Seong Enterprise were thick as thieves.
'Jeong Sil-jang might even be Han Seong Enterprise too. No wonder a hunter of that caliber sticks with the chairman. Makes sense if he's loaned out from outside.'
Kang Moo-hyuk pieced together the situation in an instant, then spoke without a hint of agitation.
"Mind giving me a business card? We might do business together down the line."
"Shall I?"
Kim Myeong-jun reached into his suit's breast pocket, then patted his outer pocket and pants leg, frowning in mock distress.
"Aigoo! What a mess. Forgot my cards. Haha, who cares about a scrap of paper? If the chairman needs me, he'll connect us just fine."
"You must be close to the chairman."
"Not close, exactly. He just calls on me 'cause I get the job done."
"Contractor, then. I'm at least full-time."
Kim Myeong-jun's lips twitched at the jest before settling.
He'd indirectly probed if the man was an outsider to the group.
As Kang Moo-hyuk moved to continue, Jeong Sil-jang interjected.
"The chairman is waiting."
Kang Moo-hyuk's eyes gleamed. Jeong Sil-jang's tone sought permission from Kim Myeong-jun.
'Jeong Sil-jang fears Kim Myeong-jun. Clear hierarchy.'
Kim Myeong-jun didn't press further. He told Kang Moo-hyuk,
"Go on. Rich, powerful old men get short tempers with age."
"Shame. In this barren place, you seem like someone I could actually talk to."
"It's not just today. We'll cross paths again."
"Next time, I'd like it to last longer than this."
Kang Moo-hyuk resumed walking. Jeong Sil-jang guided him with his usual blank expression. Glancing back, he saw Kim Myeong-jun waving with a grinning face—enough to fool anyone into thinking they were old pals.
"Not even a hunter, and he's no pushover. No wonder Joo Se-ah's been so bold lately—with a guy like that around. This is gonna be a pain."
Kim Myeong-jun's smile faded as he muttered to himself, clucking his tongue repeatedly at Kang Moo-hyuk's retreating back, as if truly vexed.
"The promise?"
Tae Jin-seong fired off the curt question the moment he laid eyes on him.
He brushed dust from his desk, his stubborn mouth set even tighter in its usual line.
"Failed. Joo Se-ah's too capable."
"Not because you lacked the skill?"
"Less a lack of skill, more that it felt pointless."
"Pointless?"
"Even if I wrecked my career to seize the guild, what good would it do?"
"You're not hungry enough yet. Starve a bit, and you'll realize how sweet that seat is."
Tae Jin-seong clucked his tongue and shook his head.
Kang Moo-hyuk snorted softly. Tae Jin-seong's forehead vein bulged at the perceived insolence.
"Slaughter the cow the moment hunger hits, and how do you farm next season? Guilds rest on hunters at their core. No reason to follow a failed non-hunter leader. You knew that, which is why you greenlit my guild master bid so easily."
"You knew, and still asked for the seat."
"If I hadn't made that offer, would my sincerity have gotten through? I probably wouldn't have left here in one piece."
"And now you think you will?"
At Tae Jin-seong's words, Jeong Sil-jang stepped forward from the study entrance.
Kang Moo-hyuk felt naked killing intent at his back but pressed on.
"When I work with someone, I value 'win-win.' Last time, I was dragged here in a rush and couldn't offer a satisfying proposal."
"Long tongue means you're grasping at straws. Go on."
Kang Moo-hyuk drew a deep breath and exhaled sharply.
"Point is, no matter the path, get Joo Se-ah under your shadow, right?"
"Being in the guild doesn't put her under my shadow."
"No idea why, but I know you treat the guild like your own child. So here's my advice: since you're giving it away, why not strike it from the family registry entirely?"
"Cut the roundabout talk. Get to the point."
"List Iron Will Guild on the stock exchange."
"!!"
Tae Jin-seong gaped at the sudden proposal.
Listing? Even for an A-rank guild, it was no small feat. Few A-ranks were public; most were private tier guilds. Iron Will—barely scraping C-rank without Joo Se-ah—was talking IPO. Absurd.
Tae Jin-seong's stunned expression was only natural, like he'd been sucker-punched.
'Without Joo Se-ah as guild master, it's generously C-rank at best.'
Kang Moo-hyuk knew it sounded ridiculous even to him, but he believed it feasible.
The reason? Taeseong Group itself.
Tae Jin-seong saw through his scheme and let out a hollow chuckle of disbelief.
"If you're just thinking 'Taeseong can make it happen,' I'm disappointed."
"I know Taeseong has dozens of affiliates, including some shaky listings. Taeseong Machinery's in a rut—perfect. We spruce it up nicely and acquire it. Not a bad picture."
"Hmph! A backdoor listing, then? No guild's tried that, far as I know."
"Because they're guilds."
"Guilds?"
"Most folks still don't see guilds as corporations. Hunters included."
"Raking in cash hand over fist, and they don't see it that way? Hilarious."
"That's the reality. Even the Guild Act's worded ambiguously."
Seven years ago, the National Assembly slapped guilds with the Guild Act to curb tax evasion from their massive earnings.
But guilds were tied to national security against monsters, too vital to box strictly as corporations.
The lax, vague clauses could be a noose or an earring, depending on interpretation.
The public still romanticized guilds as heroic bands.
Hunters positioned themselves betwixt profit and heroism.
Thus, guild ops diverged from standard business norms.
Even spotting the loophole, it was sacred ground for some—untouchable.
"Fine, say it lists. What do I gain?"
Tae Jin-seong asked as if humoring him.
"First, Joo Se-ah naturally folds into the group. I saw it at Titan—guild masters don't run stock companies solo. Your half-independent guild becomes a proper listed affiliate."
"...And second?"
Tae Jin-seong couldn't deny his ears pricking despite deeming it reckless.
Sensing the shift, Kang Moo-hyuk continued.
"As a public company, the guild master becomes a contracted salaryman. Joo Se-ah holds no real stake in Iron Will. Rank won't matter—shares will."
Tae Jin-seong's dusting hand had stilled unnoticed.
That evening.
Kang Moo-hyuk slipped into a high-end bar to meet someone discreetly.
It was the same VIP bar where he'd met Taeseong's second son, Tae Su-man, but tonight's host ran it personally—security tighter.
No sooner had Kang Moo-hyuk settled in the private room with premium liquor and snacks than the door opened, admitting the host.
Oh Jeong-su of Hanju Group.
"Long time, Director Kang. Come to think of it, I never congratulated you on the North Pocheon goblin extermination. Should've made time to visit Sanjeong Lake."
"Thank you. Can't summon a busy exec like you. I come to you."
"All smooth sailing?"
"The ampoule kits last time, the construction firm hookup this time—thanks to your help, it's progressing decently."
"No big deal, haha. Felt bad just tossing a mid-tier builder contact instead of Hanju stepping up."
They poured drinks back and forth but merely filled glasses—no one sipped.
After exchanging updates, Kang Moo-hyuk cut to the chase.
"Picked up the shares?"
"Not too pricey, so we're hoarding as much as we can, but..."
"Not under Hanju's name."
"Of course. We use proxies. No flags raised. But why Taeseong Machinery...?"
"Still secret, but..."
"Hanju and Iron Will are pals, right? In the same boat."
"Fair. Hiding from a benefactor like you feels rude. We're securing friendly shares."
Oh Jeong-su pondered, then asked with dawning realization.
"You planning to acquire Taeseong Machinery with Iron Will?"
"Yes. Prepping the listing through them."
Oh Jeong-su froze in shock at the confirmation.