69. Does Your Shoulder Feel a Bit Lighter Now?
“Move it, fast!”
“Grab only the important documents and trash or abandon the rest! You seen orcs reading?!”
“Ditch personal items and just get your bodies out!”
“Equipment room—issue combat gear immediately, seal the rest of the C Project items! Hurry!”
Kang Moo-hyuk issued the full evacuation order for the guild. Since the headquarters was inside a special activity zone that could be hit by monsters at any moment, they had a pre-prepared manual.
The members jumped into their assigned tasks according to the drilled procedures. They'd trained plenty, but it still wasn't second nature, so complaints echoed here and there.
Kang Moo-hyuk realized there wasn't time to micromanage everything. He set priorities. Move the guild's most critical assets first.
C Warehouse was out first—the gear's bulk and weight made it impossible in this timeframe.
So they went with pouring dollworm coagulant, made from the stomach acid of the worm monster dollworm, mixed into concrete, right into the warehouse.
It hardened completely within hours for an airtight seal, and without the special emulsifier, even other guilds couldn't break it easily. Everyone stocked it for emergencies.
Kang Moo-hyuk headed to the support team first—for the rider wolves. No dedicated breeding department, so the support team handled them on a makeshift basis.
“Per headquarters evacuation manual, we'll extract strategic assets first. Rider wolves are priority one. Assigning trailers right away. Team Leader Yeom Soo-hyung, take the females and pups to Nampocheon for evacuation. Shelter them in the secured stables. For the males, exclude the young studs we'll use as seed wolves and deploy the rest for combat.”
“Stables where?”
“The ones from the member who sacrificed to the orcs this time. Empty now, already cleaned. Some blood scent lingers, but it's familiar to rider wolves—no issue. Got Pocheon City's cooperation, so use as temporary housing until the crisis ends.”
“Good instincts. Thinking of that spot right away.”
With C Warehouse and rider wolves secured, little remained worth taking from headquarters.
Just shipping non-combat staff to Nampocheon.
“Guild with so little stuff, packing's a breeze. We came in with one truck, after all.”
Pyo Beom-hee's words had a point. Kang Moo-hyuk took only what he absolutely needed, abandoning the rest.
“All staff evacuated?”
“Everyone except Equipment Team Leader An Ji-il and ops Gong Du-ri.”
“Why me?! I'm a civilian!”
Gong Du-ri tore at her hair in protest.
“Shut it. Need one keyboard pounder.”
“Team Leader Pyo can do it too!”
“I swing blades. Wanna swing 'em for me?”
“No thanks. I'll stick to keys.”
Gong Du-ri knew Pyo Beom-hee could mean it, so she backed down fast. She'd ignored a "joke" once and regretted it.
“Sorry to drag you in, Team Leader Gong, but I need an operator while I handle orders. Field's all danger, but we'll keep the command vehicle as rear as possible. Minimal escort too—no need to worry.”
“Half-casual orders already? You're in combat mode. No escape hatch anyway—what can I do? Fate's fate. I'll pound keys.”
“Oh, and.”
Kang Moo-hyuk whispered in Gong Du-ri's ear. Not hiding it—Pyo Beom-hee heard too. Her eyes widened as Gong Du-ri's did in shock.
“For real? Yeah, right?”
“Real. Handle it now.”
“Aigoo, jackpot.”
Gong Du-ri smacked her lips repeatedly, heading out to execute.
Pyo Beom-hee, eyeing the prize Gong Du-ri got, confirmed anyway.
“That order just now—know it's unavoidable here. But post-crisis, it's pure loss. You sure?”
“What's to regret that's not in my hands? Focus on winning now.”
“Fair. Gotta be that ruthless to move everyone.”
Pyo Beom-hee nodded, convinced. Kang Moo-hyuk issued new orders.
“Team Leader Pyo, round up the members again. Time to brief the orc counter-plan.”
“Plan ready already?”
“Rough draft from before. Refined it in Nampocheon.”
“Pre-made contingency? Assuming we'd abandon HQ like this... Hate to say as someone who's seen you in action, but not the easy path, huh?”
“Situation's not easy.”
He ignored her unease, delivering his piece.
“And tell Expedition Leader Lee Jin-joo to come to my office first.”
* * *
Knock knock.
“Sir, you called?”
“Come in. Close the door.”
Lee Jin-joo tensed. Closing the door meant no leaks—Kang Moo-hyuk's signal.
She sat where he gestured. He sat opposite, opening carefully.
“Called you for a separate mission, Expedition Leader Lee Jin-joo.”
“Me?”
“Yes. Form two A-Team parties from the new recruits and head to Cheorwon. Guild Master'll be waiting.”
“Pulling our top available forces? For delay or ambush?”
“Expedition team's core role.”
“Expedition? You don't mean... raid the gate now?”
Kang Moo-hyuk clamped his mouth, staring at Lee Jin-joo.
Silent affirmation.
Two parties plus me and Guild Master. Just 12 for a gate? That's insane.
Lee Jin-joo was baffled but didn't reject outright. She raised practical issues.
“Raid the gate, fine. But this lineup's impossible. Plan for HQ fallback. Orcs win here, loop north, hit our rear—we and Guild Master escape, sure. Rest? Dead. Means hit boss before we crumble... It'll go wrong.”
“Right. Small numbers, low ranks, tight time, thin support—enter gate, someone's dying.”
Even with Joo Se-ah, same. She couldn't babysit through a raid. Gates demanded peak role performance. Otherwise, just nannying.
“You know that, yet raid mid-battle?”
“No choice. Consider worst case.”
“Worst case?”
“Five years ago, China. Orc Uprising. Know it?”
“Ah.”
Lee Jin-joo got it.
Orc Uprising.
China's war-scale incident.
Tribe chief escaped to Inner Mongolia after subjugation, rallied local orc forces, built power—then struck.
China lost tens of thousands to orc ambushes.
Big population, many hunters—but vast land, too many spots to defend. Couldn't fortify every small city near Inner Mongolia.
Kang Moo-hyuk eyed beyond this battlefield—to the frontlines. No letting this spill past Cheorwon and Pocheon.
“Orc chiefs are strong individually, but excel in breeding and evolution. Vengeful too. Wipe this unit—they'll bolt, sense it. Absorb scattered tribes in Gaema Plateau or Manchuria, evolve... endless trouble. Yalu and Tumen fronts tied up year-round, not just winter.”
“Yeah, avoid that nightmare.”
Lee Jin-joo bought the gate raid rationale.
Northern lines swarmed seasonally—hunters tied all year?
Freelancers aside, big guilds hated it. Absent hunters meant societal chaos—state-level no-go.
“Huh? First expedition lead gig, and so many lives on the line. Shoulders heavy.”
“Real fight starts now. I'll lighten that load.”
“Huh?”
Desktop chime rang, shattering the heavy air.
Kang Moo-hyuk stood, checked the monitor, continued.
“Waited alert's here.”
“Alert?”
“Check Guild App... Ah, smartphones glitch here, right?”
Lee Jin-joo tilted her head at the sudden Guild App mention.
Kang Moo-hyuk, eyes on monitor, told her.
“Had Team Leader Gong post a notice on Guild App moments ago. Take a look?”
Lee Jin-joo shifted beside him.
“This...”
“Open gates—anyone enters, no raid ranking. Know that?”
“Bait with mines?”
“First to boss gets mining rights. That's the rule.”
Lee Jin-joo was floored. Kang Moo-hyuk's bait was irresistible to any guild. Opening it for others—even she regretted it, forgetting raid or crisis.
“So what you said earlier...”
“Orc blockers won't come—this draws gate raiders aplenty. Don't know other guilds' forces, but Orc Lord won't hold. Expedition—prioritize sealing escape routes over boss.”
Lee Jin-joo gaped wordlessly.
Kang Moo-hyuk asked calmly.
“Shoulder feel lighter now?”
* * *
Slayer Guild Strategic Tactics Team Leader's office.
Clap clap clap clap clap!
Seong Seon-je checked the Guild App alert on his smartphone, clapping silently awhile. Stopped at the right moment, spat his held line.
“Brilliant. Gate with mines? Cheorwon's no minefield—jackpot. Eat it, boom.”
A real strategist suspects first here.
Real info? Orc-blocker fakeout? Borrow others' muscle for free loot?
Whatever—Kang Moo-hyuk's name carries credit. No lies. Even schemes, mines make it forgivable.
Real key elsewhere.
Post this—everyone skips orcs for gate. He knows. Yet posts... Means Iron Will solos 1,000 evolved orcs?
No bluster, no braggart. Even bravado calculated.
Seong Seon-je drummed fingers on desk.
Tap tap tap!
Rhythm quickened, then halted.
“Wanna spectate Pocheon. But no being the fool who can't claim mines even given.”
Grabbed receiver, dialed ops room.
“Me. Saw Cheorwon Gate? Call all first-string.”
* * *
“Yesss! Woo!”
Under the Taeguk-marked guild emblem, Jo Ik-jun threw hands up in cheer.
Hopped a few times, phoned ops.
“Cheorwon Gate! All helis! Book every civvy chopper firm too—block others preemptive! What? Extras carry our guys, gear. Rookie? Duh. Oh, call last raid floppers too! What? Vacation? Screw work—vacay later. Performance hole filler! Flop again, I rip 'em personally, orc bait!”
Jo Ik-jun geared up personally to check site. Donned armor coat with huge Taeguk mark, exited.
Riding elevator to ops, recalled neighborly rival.
Body distant, news closer. Leader Kang Moo-hyuk. Stands out anywhere.
He didn't suspect fake info either. Not blinded by greed. Rival, but solid on work—no bad intel.
“Wait. Orc horde how?”
Strategist mind on Cheorwon Gate—but Pocheon nagged.
Jo Ik-jun squirmed, hooked more on Pocheon.
“Argh! No sales pressure, I'd go there. Grr! Curious, so curious.”
As Jo Ik-jun itched, other guilds stirred.
Fastest: Titan Guild.
Vice Guild Master Ma Tae-soo, at HQ, moved himself.
“Like or hate Kang Moo-hyuk, not a bullshitter. Mines mean performance boost. Shareholder appeal. Rally all my hunters.”
Speed guilds rushed—others lagged, gauging trends.
Mostly no ties to Kang Moo-hyuk. Heard rumors of his handling, but no firsthand—doubt.
Midsize went "worst case even," smalls crashed for scraps.
That hesitation sealed Cheorwon Gate shares.