53. I'll Live Up to Your Expectations
Do Kyung-hoon flinched. Without giving him time to collect his thoughts, Kang Moo-hyuk pressed on.
"No matter how much the hunter world revolves around money and rank, there are still some taboos you have to respect. You went too far, trusting Titan to back you up. Do you really think you can handle the consequences?"
Kang Moo-hyuk had already devised a plan to clean up the mess on his way to meet Do Kyung-hoon. That plan included permanently blacklisting him from the industry. At the very least, no mid-tier guild or higher would touch him.
There was no harsher punishment than forcing an A-rank hunter to bounce between small guilds like Iron Will for the rest of his life.
Do Kyung-hoon could sense that Kang Moo-hyuk wasn't bluffing. The sheer presence of a non-hunter was overwhelming. He had to admit he was completely outmatched in intimidation.
'Damn it. Where did this guy come from? I fell for it too easily. Should've played dumb.'
This was no longer just about leaving the guild. His entire hunter career could be over.
On top of that, the hunters from his faction around him were starting to waver. His close aides, whom he'd tipped off in advance, held steady, but the younger ones who didn't know about the Titan transfer yet had uneasy looks in their eyes.
They might even think he was abandoning them to jump ship.
Explaining and reassuring them now wouldn't work—the situation was too dire. The leader was watching, after all. If it were just the leader, maybe, but Joo Se-ah was the problem. Her glaring eyes made even an A-rank like Do Kyung-hoon uncomfortable.
'I panicked and didn't think this far. Calming them down now won't erase the seed of doubt I've already planted. Shouldn't have tried talking here.'
Even though Kang Moo-hyuk had suggested moving elsewhere, Do Kyung-hoon had stayed in the cafeteria because of Joo Se-ah.
Hunters were a profession where fists spoke louder than words.
Do Kyung-hoon didn't believe hunters were bound by the law. Otherwise, the chaos in South America, Africa, and Eastern Europe made no sense. Ujungdo wouldn't exist either.
And what about Jang Deok-gu? A guy like that walking the streets freely was a glitch in the national system.
Joo Se-ah hadn't used force on guild members before, but Do Kyung-hoon knew her infamous reputation—especially as the "Walking Catastrophe." He figured he could be her next target.
His shallow calculation was that she wouldn't dare cause trouble in a crowded place. But it had backfired spectacularly.
He'd painted himself as a public traitor.
Do Kyung-hoon felt the need to assert his power. A direct hunter showdown was out—he'd lose. All he had left was leveraging his influence in the guild.
"Leader Kang, you know who's got my back, right? Taeseong Group's vice chairman is pushing for me. That's why you're threatening me, knowing that?"
"The vice chairman? That's it?"
Kang Moo-hyuk threw back the sneer Do Kyung-hoon had worn earlier.
"No matter if you're the leader or guild master, one word from Vice Chairman Tae Su-cheol and..."
"I'm curious too. What happens with one word? Who do you think he'd side with?"
As Kang Moo-hyuk smiled leisurely, Do Kyung-hoon realized his mistake.
'No way? The vice chairman too?'
The thought froze his tongue. At this point, it was clear they'd come prepared. Otherwise, he wouldn't stand so firm after the vice chairman was mentioned. Do Kyung-hoon cursed his own carelessness, even knowing they'd made contact.
In reality, there'd been no exchange between Kang Moo-hyuk and Tae Su-cheol over this incident. But Kang Moo-hyuk knew which side Tae Su-cheol would pick.
'He'd ditch anyone who doesn't serve his interests.'
Kang Moo-hyuk, who had kept Joo Se-ah far from Seoul, versus Do Kyung-hoon, who resented it and took external orders to dismantle the guild.
Unlike his father, Tae Su-cheol harbored plans to privatize Iron Will later on. Do Kyung-hoon had misread it as merely eliminating a succession rival. Tae Su-cheol wouldn't look kindly on him.
"Hunter Do Kyung-hoon. If you have nothing more to say, please leave guild headquarters. Don't forget to return the satellite phone from the equipment room on your way out."
Kang Moo-hyuk ordered the stone-faced Do Kyung-hoon to get out. Then he addressed the hunters around him.
"Those who've decided to transfer to Titan, leave with him. We'll handle contract terminations through lawyers separately."
Before Do Kyung-hoon and his crew could pack up and leave, Kang Moo-hyuk headed out first. To wrap up the Do Kyung-hoon matter.
He went up to Seoul. Straight to Yeouido.
Titan headquarters.
No Song-rin was waiting out front.
"I got the call, but damn, this blew up big."
"Not necessarily."
"You planning to make it even bigger?"
"Ask them."
Kang Moo-hyuk nodded toward the cameras. No Song-rin realized they'd been under surveillance since the guild entrance.
Sure enough, as soon as they entered the lobby, a man approached like he'd been waiting.
"Long time no see, Team Leader. Or should I say Leader now?"
"Didn't expect Hunter Jang Yi-hyeon to greet us. Using Titan's 1st party leader as a guide? Vice Guild Master is going too far. If the treatment's lacking, come to Iron Will anytime. Doors are always open."
"Honored by the scouting offer, Leader. But treatment's fine. Gotta be at least party leader level to escort you properly. Let's talk details in the office."
In the vice guild master's office, Jang Yi-hyeon subtly blocked No Song-rin. No Song-rin shot him a dirty look.
"What?"
"It's polite for underlings to step aside during private talks."
"Ha? Loyal dog, huh? All A-rank guild hunters this stiff?"
"Never been near A-rank, huh? This ain't stiffness—it's discipline."
"Oh yeah? Hanging shit on me? Wanna test that fancy A-rank skill?"
"Not picking a fight, but if you wanna taste it..."
As the grinding-teeth No Song-rin and stone-faced Jang Yi-hyeon got nose-to-nose, Kang Moo-hyuk intervened.
"That's enough, Hunter No Song-rin. Can't have a guest beating up the host."
Jang Yi-hyeon looked shocked at Kang Moo-hyuk's words. Forgetting the bickering, he sighed.
"Hearing you say that... you really ain't Titan anymore. Kinda disappointing."
"Hmph!"
No Song-rin snorted smugly from the side.
"Don't cause trouble. Wait quietly."
"What am I, some angsty teen? I got that much sense."
"That sense from your Ujungdo days?"
"Hmph!"
"Ugh...!"
Jang Yi-hyeon's vengeful snort drew a groan from No Song-rin.
Kang Moo-hyuk warned him again and entered the vice guild master's office.
Though time had passed, it still felt like the old Titan days welcoming him back.
Ma Tae-soo greeted him with the same haughty posture as always.
"Sit."
Kang Moo-hyuk sat where indicated and cut straight to it.
"I'll let the transferring hunters go. But no more poaching."
"Pretending to yield on trash like that. Leader now, and you've turned sly. Or were you always?"
"This isn't a request—it's a demand. Politeness ends here."
"Demand? Polite? You've gotten funnier. Or bolder? Haha!"
Ma Tae-soo laughed heartily, shaking his head in disbelief. No respect from the start.
"If you keep going?"
"Next time, it won't end as a joke."
Kang Moo-hyuk stared unblinkingly, piercing him like a staring contest, and continued.
"If you want the guild master seat, fight for it internally. Don't mess with quiet guilds."
"So you knew. Figured it out already? We kept it quiet. But stopping's inconvenient. This is business."
"Felt more like personal grudge than business."
"Killing two birds—one stone. We've got history, right?"
Kang Moo-hyuk nodded.
"True. Still some unsettled scores. Guess I'll clear some grudges too."
"Against me? You? Looking forward to it."
Try it, his attitude said. Ma Tae-soo dismissed Kang Moo-hyuk. Still saw him as a mere team leader. Talented, but limited as a non-hunter. That hadn't changed either.
Kang Moo-hyuk stood without replying.
"Glad you're expecting it. I'll deliver. See you."
"Take care. Don't go far."
Ma Tae-soo was surprised by the abrupt exit with no gains but hid it, sending him off casually.
'Thought he'd grovel more.'
He felt uneasy but figured Kang Moo-hyuk couldn't pull off anything damaging.
'Arrogant punk. Go ahead and try. Think I'll budge? At worst, he holds back rider wolves.'
He already had a counter for that.
Union shareholders had offered mounts via Japanese routes.
Not as good as rider wolves, but with tier guilds prioritized, A-rank Titan wouldn't get them anyway.
'Without that offer, I'd hesitate... Anyway, getting help all around. Why's Union targeting Iron Will?'
A doubt flickered, but the guild master seat being close swept it away.
Kang Moo-hyuk pulled out his smartphone as soon as he left Titan HQ.
After the tone, a perky woman's voice rang out.
"Huh? What? Less than a day and you're calling already? No results yet?"
"Got a question."
"What?"
"You said you saw Union reps and Executive Director Kim Myeong-jun, right?"
"From afar, while delivering coffee. Sneaky peek."
"Between the two, who looked superior?"
"What kinda question is that?"
"Which one's the boss? Who gives orders. What'd it look like?"
"Dunno. No clear clues. From tone and expressions, seemed equals."
"Can't have two heads, so maybe both lackeys. Got it. Call if you dig up more."
He hung up, and No Song-rin immediately asked.
"Kim Myeong-jun again?"
"Come to think of it, you said he's your Ujungdo buddy?"
"Buddy? That collar-leashing bastard from the same cell? Got me blacklisted at Slayer 'cause of him. Landed me in your grip too."
No Song-rin grumbled.
Kang Moo-hyuk chuckled and explained. It was top-secret, shared only with Joo Se-ah and a few trusted others, but he revealed it to get No Song-rin's take on Kim Myeong-jun.
After hearing it all, No Song-rin let out a hollow laugh.
"Kim Myeong-jun? No way~! Guy bold enough to pitch business to Slayer first. Ain't working under nobody."
Kang Moo-hyuk caught something off in the response.
"Wait! What'd you say?"
"What? That he ain't nobody's underling?"
"No, before that. He pitched to Slayer?"
"Oh, that? Yeah. Hanseong Enterprise thing. Kim Myeong-jun proposed it to Slayer."
"!!"