48. Sign the Contract First
Kang Moo-hyuk clasped Seong Seon-je's outstretched hand, quickly sizing up his opponent.
Unlike his overall cold impression, a smile played at the corners of Seong Seon-je's mouth.
Seong Seon-je maintained his polished, welcoming smile as he appraised Kang Moo-hyuk in return. The evaluating glint in his eyes was unmistakable—the kind of gaze that sized people up. It was a look Kang Moo-hyuk knew well. An occupational hazard, perhaps. Anyone in a strategic role ended up viewing others through that lens.
'Don't judge a guild master by appearances, they said. Indeed. Now I get it.'
Joo Se-ah eyed Seong Seon-je warily.
Kang Moo-hyuk spoke first, flashing his own practiced salesman's smile.
"You recognized me right away. I didn't expect to run into the Slayer Guild's strategic team leader like this."
"You're quite the celebrity these days. I had a late lunch anyway—spotted you coming in. Were you here to see me, by any chance?"
"Sharp as ever."
"I handle most of our external affairs."
"I tried booking an appointment, but they hung up the moment I mentioned Iron Will Guild. Guess our guild master's reputation precedes her."
"Few can handle Joo Se-ah the hunter—or should I say, Guild Master Joo's—temperament. You're the impressive one for putting up with it and working alongside her, Director Kang."
"Hard to say. I've never experienced her temper myself. She's always been reasonable and open to discussion, in my experience."
"That reasonable lady turned this lobby into a warzone not long ago. Haha. But out of old sentiment, we didn't send the bill."
"If the guild master lost her temper, there must have been good reason."
For a split second, Seong Seon-je's smile cracked. He quickly schooled his expression, but not before a faint twitch at the bridge of his nose betrayed him.
'Is this a challenge?'
Kang Moo-hyuk was indirectly implying that Slayer Guild had provoked Joo Se-ah's outburst.
Seong Seon-je decided to relocate first.
"No point standing here. Shall we head to my office?"
Their elevator conversation stayed light—polite chit-chat about recent events.
Congratulations on Iron Will's relocation and the goblin extermination. The usual platitudes about taking care of one's health amid busy schedules.
As they talked, Kang Moo-hyuk recalled Seong Seon-je's background.
'Slayer Guild's strategic and tactical team leader. A-rank hunter. 36 years old. Once a hunter even more promising than Joo Se-ah is now.'
He'd been tipped as the next S-rank, but one day he abruptly stepped back from fieldwork to join the strategy team.
At the time, it was rumored to be a ploy to position himself for expedition leader. But he'd stuck to desk work ever since, rarely hunting personally.
He never officially retired, but effectively, he had.
'Top-tier as both hunter and strategist. No good comes from lingering conversations with men like this.'
19th floor.
The elevator stopped, and they walked a quiet hallway to an office bustling with secretaries.
For a mere team leader's space, it was excessively grand—rivaling any major corporation executive's suite.
'Even for Slayer Guild's strategy chief, this seems excessive.'
Kang Moo-hyuk felt a twinge of unease.
It didn't suit an extreme efficiency expert like him—pure extravagance.
As the office's owner arrived, the secretaries hastily rose, but Seong Seon-je waved them down and opened his private office door himself. Far larger than the secretaries' antechamber, and even more opulent.
He ushered Kang Moo-hyuk inside, closed the door, and said,
"Tea? What kind?"
"No tea, thanks. Guild business is pressing—can't stay long."
Kang Moo-hyuk cut straight to it. Seong Seon-je's eyes narrowed appraisingly.
"I like that. Time is money for both of us. Let's hear it—what brings you?"
"Here to sell something. Just checking if you're in the market."
"Does Iron Will have anything worth selling to us? No offense—purely a matter of scale between our guilds."
"No offense taken. It's fact."
"Good. I'm blunt—tends to ruffle feathers. Most get angry when I state realities. But you seem different, Director Kang."
Seong Seon-je raised a thumbs-up in feigned praise, but Kang Moo-hyuk's face remained impassive.
"We acquired some prime goods from the recent goblin subjugation. Likely exactly what Slayer needs most right now."
"Us? Now I'm curious. Out with it—no teasing."
Rubbing his hands in anticipation, Seong Seon-je leaned forward.
"Rider Wolves. 5 billion per head."
Seong Seon-je's brow furrowed as he mentally calculated for three seconds before responding.
"How many?"
"Twenty."
"A hundred billion? Nice round number. I wouldn't play numbers games with rare gate mounts, but that's steep. Were those northern Pocheon goblins made of gold?"
"No domestic suppliers, and imports are tricky. By market logic, it's a bargain. Prices might dip later, of course."
"Later?"
"Planning a breeding operation as a new guild venture. Got a solid stock this time. Should provide steady Rider Wolf supply. Come to think of it, golden goblins indeed."
Seong Seon-je's mouth went dry.
'Korea's first gate mount breeding farm? Wolves, no less... Success there, and Iron Will skyrockets. A-rank, even tier guilds would have to watch out.'
From his perspective, damn it all, Kang Moo-hyuk was right. Rider Wolves fetched whatever price you named. Foreign gate mounts were snapped up by guilds in countries with breeding programs.
Tier guilds like Slayer scraped for imports, but Tiny Ponies were the limit—and even those were scarce.
Seong Seon-je didn't question the breeding viability. The confidence suggested a plan.
'The real puzzle is why leak such sensitive info so casually.'
Before he could ask, Kang Moo-hyuk pressed on.
"If price-gouging were the goal, I'd auction to all tier guilds. No need to come to Slayer."
"Exactly. Why us? Bad blood with your guild master. Not out of nostalgia, surely."
"Well..."
Kang Moo-hyuk recalled his conversation with Joo Se-ah days earlier.
"Cash-strapped or not, selling wolves to Slayer? I'd nix this deal. Can't hand our wolf pups to those bastards!"
"Since when are they our wolves?"
"Expensive babies—mine by default."
"Impressive. Proper guild master mindset, showing attachment to guild assets. Finally acting the part."
As Kang Moo-hyuk clapped, Joo Se-ah bristled.
"That's sarcasm, right?"
"Perish the thought. Still, we deal with Slayer."
"Why?"
"Rider Wolves are golden geese. We can't protect them with our current strength."
"Even with me?"
"365 days a year, 24/7. Tent by their side? They did three-year mourning rites back in the day. Give it a shot."
"...So what's the plan?"
Kang Moo-hyuk raised a finger at her quick capitulation.
"First: Secure operating funds. We're nearly broke. C Warehouse acquisition was covered by group loans; Taeseong Machinery detour for backdoor listing strains our shares. Need capital to stabilize HQ at minimum."
"Second?"
"Safety net. Reset ties with Slayer Guild. Honestly, feuding with Korea's top guild is the worst choice for us."
"Who picks fights for fun? They poked first—I squirmed. They're no pushovers. Smile through deals, then stab you in the back later. Bet on it. I could swear on my hand."
"Who'd take a Drake's Breath-resistant hand's oath?"
"That's how untrustworthy they are. Don't you get metaphors?"
"Metaphors no, but dealing with the untrustworthy? Yes."
"How?"
"Not one-offs—ongoing supply contract."
"Wolves?"
"Yes. Ceding 50% sales share of shipped wolves."
"Meaning...?"
"Partnership."
"Director Kang."
Seong Seon-je's voice snapped him back.
"Ah, sorry. Just organizing my thoughts. You asked why Slayer first? They need gate mounts most—aggressively tackling large gates. Speed demands mounts."
"Even new awakenings know that."
"Next: Improve Iron Will-Slayer relations. Specifically, bury the hatchet between our guild master and yours."
"With twenty wolves? Not free. Too cheap a fix, no?"
Kang Moo-hyuk murmured soothingly to Seong Seon-je, who stroked his chin with a contrived frown.
"Naturally, ongoing ties ahead. Hence the partnership: First dibs on 50% of shipments."
"All."
"..."
"All future shipments. Price adjustable, of course."
"Can't do that. Monopoly sales would burn bridges with other tier guilds."
"Even if we block sales to everyone else?"
Seong Seon-je's face hardened, utterly emotionless.
No hunter aura flared. Voice stayed even. Just calm statement.
A Slayer strategy chief's authority demanded note-taking even in sleep-talk.
"Impossible, as I said."
Kang Moo-hyuk replied tonelessly.
"Negotiations failed, then."
As Seong Seon-je rose and brushed his hands, Kang Moo-hyuk added,
"No matter. Already out of my hands."
"Out of your hands?"
"Submitted Rider Wolf breeding proposal via Guild Cooperation Office. State subsidies are nice, but best is tonight's 9 PM news. Brass loved it—major achievement. Headline: 'Korea Joins Gate Mount Supply Nations.' Boosts approval ratings. Then I'll pitch similar to other tier guilds—Slayer excluded. Oh, Titan's my old home; might spare them a few."
Titan was deliberate. A-rank holders getting wolves while top-tier Slayer misses out? Need aside, loss of face.
They locked eyes, a staring contest lethal enough for hundreds of deaths if glances killed. No killing intent, but tongues ever ready to strike.
How much time passed?
Finally, Seong Seon-je's smile crept back slyly.
"So, account details?"
"Sign the contract first."
Kang Moo-hyuk grinned back, pulling out the pre-drafted contract.
After Kang Moo-hyuk left with the Slayer-stamped contract, a man entered Seong Seon-je's office.
More precisely, emerged from it. He'd come through a hidden wall door, seamless to the naked eye.
"Sudden message skill contact, what a hassle. Borrowing my office for theater—pointless."
"Less theater, more stage for the guild master to witness personally."
The one Seong Seon-je called guild master: Slayer Guild Master Sa Mun-hyeok. Thus, this was his office, not Seong Seon-je's.
Kang Moo-hyuk's unease made sense.
"Fits the profile you eyed as successor. Your spitting image. Maybe even more tenacious."
"Tempted? Poach him?"
"Pass. No desire to see that face again."
"Haha, even you can't handle Joo Se-ah, Guild Master?"
"Fight her, it's war. Can't indulge her cuteness anymore."
Sa Mun-hyeok spoke gravely, unlike Seong Seon-je's smile. He voiced his true thoughts as guild master.
"Rider Wolves, eh? Tasty bait he brought."
"Nicely packaged. Leveraged government for media play. 'Tier or not, reputation hits if you covet'—threatens other tiers into inaction."
"They're approval-hungry with elections next year. Perfect timing. Luck?"
"Luck's useless without skill. He seized the moment."
Sa Mun-hyeok eyed Seong Seon-je's nod of approval curiously.
"You, bested for once, no grudge?"
"Grudge over twenty wolves? Second raid team's supplies breathe easier. Scouting eases up—wide gate ahead. Domestic gate mounts without import hassles? Attractive deal."
"Not all of them."
"Never planned to sell all. Just haggling like merchants—test the waters. Exceeded expectations; satisfying trade."
Sa Mun-hyeok shook his head at Seong Seon-je's banter, frowning displeased.
"I delegate fully, so not my affair... But Joo Se-ah thriving twists my gut. 'Cousin buys land, my belly aches.' Rider Wolf supplier guild? Iron Will's fame surges overnight."
"Steady wolf supply? Forgiving old grudges is profit."
"Gates galore to clear. No time for thundercloud squabbles. Handle the wolves. Thanks to him, my plan accelerates—satisfied."
Why Seong Seon-je could smile despite the hit.
His long-gestating plan.
"Aimed for max Dragon Horses. Better Rider Wolves instead—divine sign to complete it."
"Recall the U.S. monster ranch team. Pointless anyway. Prep for next phase once wolf numbers fill."
Seong Seon-je's passion reignited after years. A ray of light on his half-abandoned project.
'A hundred Rider Wolves. That seizes Asia's gate hunting dominance!'