No Take-Backs Later
Taeguk Guild was an A-rank guild that, like Titan Guild, had deep roots in Yeouido. In fact, it had a longer history than Titan. It took pride in having survived the Great War era. But lately, it had been overshadowed by Titan, which had a much shorter history, and resentment was brewing.
Jo Ik-jun had earned recognition as the head of the strategic team in this storied, prestigious guild.
His strength lay in his decisive ruthlessness, which belied his outward appearance.
That ruthlessness was on full display in today's meeting. The other guild members held their breath, watching his every decision.
"We're scrapping Hunter Jeong Ho-yeon. His body's wrecked. Why's everyone so quiet? Oh? Was that too harsh? Sorry, my bad. Let me rephrase. We're kicking him out of the guild. Pass it on to HR and get the paperwork done. You there, Deputy Lee—you look like you've got something to say. Spit it out."
Suddenly singled out, the deputy fidgeted before cautiously speaking up.
"Hunter Jeong seems to still want to stay active. His body's in bad shape from the aftereffects of the last hunt, but with proper potion treatment and rehab, he could get close to his peak form..."
"You really think it's just aftereffects from the last hunt?"
"Pardon?"
"That guy's broken beyond repair. Sure, he could handle short skirmishes. But a gate? No way. Everyday life might be fine, but he's not the type to recover with treatment or rehab."
"But the medical team said..."
"Dream moth powder mixed with hallucinogenic mushroom spores. It's trending among some hunters as a cocktail these days. Long-term use tanks your focus and slows recovery. Word is Jeong Ho-yeon was into it. Then he goes on risky hunts anyway, so injuries pile up. Everyone, keep your hunters in check. Tell them to manage their bodies properly. If they mess around with that junk and break down, they're out—no warnings."
"Understood."
"Oh, almost forgot. The medical team lead's out effective immediately too. Tell HR."
The staff shot puzzled looks his way. Was it because they'd misjudged Jeong Ho-yeon's condition? Jo Ik-jun addressed their doubts.
"Reason: Concealing and falsifying hunter info for bribes. Jeong Ho-yeon paid him off, that bastard."
Only then did it click, sending chills down their spines. How much did this guy know about what went on inside the guild?
No matter how much guilds interfered in everything, grasping a hunter's physical state and employee corruption this perfectly was unreal. It drove home just what kind of man Jo Ik-jun was.
"Meeting's over for today. I've got a guest."
* * *
Jo Ik-jun sensed a subtle shift in Kang Moo-hyuk's aura as the man sipped his coffee. He'd always been a tough opponent before, but now, in such a short time, he carried an air of seasoned gravitas.
Does the position make the man, or was he always this capable?
A non-hunter exuding the presence of a gate-conquering pro.
Jo Ik-jun was impressed inwardly but masked it, teasing Kang Moo-hyuk playfully.
"Man, it's been forever. Last time was the Seogang University Gate, right?"
"Long time no see, Team Leader Jo Ik-jun. Hope everything's been smooth."
"Plenty of drama, but no major disasters is a win. Oh yeah, you're a raid leader now, huh? Can't treat you casual like old times. What do you say, Raid Leader Kang Moo-hyuk? Go formal and talk business?"
Jo Ik-jun switched to a businesslike tone mid-conversation. In that instant, his usual light demeanor gave way to the dignified authority of Taeguk Guild's strategic team leader.
"What's a C-rank fringe guild raid leader got to stand on ceremony for? Just like old times."
"Fair point. No need for formalities between us. Speak freely."
"I don't know about 'us,' but let's get to business first."
"Shoot. What's up?"
"I'm here about a transfer request."
"Raid Leader Kang Moo-hyuk. Don't do this to me."
"Why the sudden tone shift? You said casual."
"Word's out you poached Hunter Lee Jin-joo from Titan. Who're you targeting now? Pretend I didn't hear that."
"Can't even hear out a proposal between 'us'?"
"What 'us'? Not listening. La la la."
Jo Ik-jun plugged his ears and shook his head. Kang Moo-hyuk pressed on undeterred.
"I'm proposing we recruit Hunter Baek Seong-bin."
"What? Why that dead weight?"
"You weren't listening?"
"Ugh, damn it! You tease me like that and drop this?"
"You call him dead weight, yet he's still in Taeguk Guild. Under you, Team Leader Jo, who cuts people without hesitation."
"A lottery ticket. One I haven't scratched yet. Was gonna put him on the release list next quarter anyway."
"And then you'd agonize. Postpone to the next quarter. Rinse and repeat for years now? Four, going on five?"
"Four years, one month... Wait, you'd just toss a kid with a healing factor? I'm not indecisive by nature. Even you'd end up like me with him. Too valuable to ditch, too much headache to keep. Total gaeryeok."
Kang Moo-hyuk recalled Baek Seong-bin.
Top-tier healing factor. But tactical awareness in the gutter. Acts on impulse. Charges in relying solely on recovery—zero aggro control. Teammates endangered countless times. Actual casualties too.
Yet oddly, no party members ever died.
Kang Moo-hyuk zeroed in on that.
Records show utter disasters that should've been unrecoverable. But fatalities? Near zero. Same for non-gate ops. Even in botched field situations, civilian deaths were rare.
Baek Seong-bin's botched ops filled volumes. They took up huge chunks of incident reports submitted to the Hunter Association—public docs anyone in the biz could access, like guidelines to avoid repeats.
Kang Moo-hyuk had once hypothesized and dug into Baek Seong-bin. Unfortunately, as Yeouido rivals gunning for tier status, Titan and Taeguk couldn't entertain transfers.
But Iron Will had zero skin in that game. Worth a shot.
"So you're gonna let that time bomb rot away forever? Bad for Hunter Baek Seong-bin and Taeguk Guild alike."
"I know, but you pushing like this makes me wanna hold out even more."
"I'll sell five Rider Wolves."
"What?"
"Next shipment only."
"..."
"You're eyeing a Red Gate, right? Rumor has it you're up against Titan. Reds are war from the gatekeeper on. Rider Wolves give you leverage to team with top gatekeeper raiders. Bigger shares in later clears too."
"Ha? Still the same old Kang, reading people like a book."
Jo Ik-jun always liked this about Kang Moo-hyuk. He knew when to play hard to get, when to lay it out straight. Sometimes dropped irresistible offers without overreaching. Maximized win-win.
That's how Taeguk and Titan, perennial snarlers, had managed coordination—even cooperation—back when Kang Moo-hyuk ran strategy.
"But five's too few. Not free either—we're paying. At least ten..."
"Fine. Ten it is. No favors on future shipments."
A warning shot: one-and-done deal. Jo Ik-jun realized he'd overplayed his greed and backpedaled.
"Just talking, y'know. Five's not bad."
"Supply issues'll ease soon. Play the long game."
"So ongoing supply after?"
"No contracts. Slayer Guild gets that perk."
"Supply without a contract? What's that mean~?"
"Personal attention from your raid leader."
"Tch! Fine, you win."
Jo Ik-jun chewed his lower lip at Kang Moo-hyuk's words.
Putting me in his pocket to pull strings? Damn, it's like handing over the leash. Can't pass it up, but taking it feels off.
Pure gaeryeok, yet he concluded he had no choice.
"Baek Seong-bin... Rider Wolves..."
Hearing about Rider Wolves had hit Jo Ik-jun like "screwed."
Kang Moo-hyuk's old home was Titan, and Taeguk's beef with them meant potential purchase discrimination.
Tier guilds were circling too, but A-ranks like Taeguk gunning for tier wouldn't back down.
Tough, but he'd figure something out. If not for Kang Moo-hyuk.
But that worry vanished.
Was Baek Seong-bin worth it?
Wasteful, but better to transfer than let unscratchable—maybe never—lottery rot.
Finally waving the white flag, Jo Ik-jun issued a cautious warning.
"Hunter Baek Seong-bin. Potential's real. But he might never pop. You know that, right?"
"You forget what I did before strategy at Titan?"
"What was it... Oh, right. Hunting coordinator."
"Gotta train him up proper."
"That glow-up on Lee Jin-joo back then? Your handiwork. Lured her with it, huh. Still, she was a winner. Odds like that are rare. Baek Seong-bin's a mess—no take-backs later."
"Figured that's what you were getting at with the concern. Don't worry. No regrets here. And you, Team Leader Jo—no whining later."
"Who'd return Rider Wolves, you lunatic?!"
* * *
"So I really got sold for wolves."
Baek Seong-bin in person came off as timid? No—reserved fit better.
Quiet by nature, low sociability.
But his hunt behavior screamed anything but timid.
Would a timid guy charge an ogre fist that ruptured his guts?
Healing factor didn't numb pain. Knowing that agony and still diving in took serious guts.
Tons of healing factor holders devolved to mediocrity, scared of the hurt.
Kang Moo-hyuk felt some spin was needed on the transfer.
"Not sold for wolves. We traded our top asset to bring you on."
"I know how the guild rates me. Dead weight. And you trade Rider Wolves for trash like me? Those are huge right now—I know the value. Way overpay for my transfer."
"Overpay? Nah. Not giving 'em free—just allocating supply. I think we got the steal. Snagged you for that price."
"What do you see in a hunter whose everything but the healing factor's busted?"
Baek Seong-bin trashed himself without hesitation. Too self-deprecating for a Taeguk B+ rank.
But Kang Moo-hyuk saw no despair or disappointment in his eyes. Stubborn resolve, instead. Steady gaze, direct eye contact.
Kang Moo-hyuk figured his judgment was spot-on.
"Healing factor. Rare trait. Heals fast from anything. Impressive, sure—prized in the industry. But get this: Almost no healing factor hunters reach the top. Even globally. Why?"
"Uh, dunno."
Baek Seong-bin fumbled, never having pondered it.
"Overconfidence. Head stays on, they don't die easy—no sense of crisis. No risk-taking, no growth."
"That's it?"
"Not 'just.' Lacking crisis awareness and excess bravado kill purpose and drive. Not all, but most I've seen share it. Even the famous ones overcame via mental discipline—but limits exist."
"Never crossed my mind. Too busy surviving to worry about confidence. Sounds like another world."
"That's exactly why I'm recruiting you."
"Huh? What..."
"Desperate, aren't you? More than anyone when people die."
"..."
"No personal details mentioned... Hunter Baek Seong-bin, ever lost someone to a monster?"