73. This Gear is the Real Deal

Lee Jin-joo rendezvoused with Joo Se-ah and relayed Kang Moo-hyuk's plan.

Joo Se-ah had heard the broad strokes but missed the finer details, so only now, with Lee Jin-joo's report, did she grasp the full picture.

"Hah, that guy's something else. I knew he was the type to go all out, but flooding the entire headquarters? Didn't see that coming."

"He looks mild-mannered, but he's got a radical streak. Can't deny his methods get results, though."

"True. A thousand orcs? Sacrificing one building might be a bargain at that."

Lee Jin-joo couldn't help but notice how much Joo Se-ah resembled Kang Moo-hyuk.

Rumors said she lights up at the sight of monsters, ready to tear them apart. A radical just like the boss?

Joo Se-ah didn't question Kang Moo-hyuk's strategy. It might shock others, but to her, it was obvious.

To win with inferior forces, you had to accept losses and craft the best plan possible. Risking hunters' lives to save a few bucks was the one thing she despised most.

In that sense, Kang Moo-hyuk and Joo Se-ah made damn good business partners.

"So what's our job? The boss gave orders, right?"

"Yes. Leave the hunting to the other guilds and block the boss's escape. He said if the orc chieftain slips away, we could see an orc rampage like in China."

"Ah, so that's his angle? I thought he wanted me sticking around to tackle the boss myself. Makes sense—blocking orc units while raiding the gate simultaneously would be too much. I clocked the other guilds incoming and figured he was up to something."

Joo Se-ah got it immediately and ditched the gate idea. She trusted Kang Moo-hyuk's call. They'd already called in folks to handle the boss anyway—no need to push it.

Lee Jin-joo, used to Titan's cutthroat style, wasn't so sure. Guilds prioritized profit. Handing the big prize to rivals while betting the farm? Risky.

"You okay with that?"

"With what?"

"Letting the boss go. I get the boss's style, but for the guild, it's a huge loss."

"Don't care who bags it, long as the monsters die for sure. Not like I'm above money, but getting greedy here could screw us all."

Lee Jin-joo nodded, as expected. Then, in a sly tone:

"Still, just in case, the boss had a few policies to pass on. 'Laying groundwork for later'—didn't catch the details."

"Always worrying, that guy. Thorough as hell. What'd he say?"

"If they go for the boss or attempt the raid, do it like this..."

Lee Jin-joo glanced around for eavesdroppers, then whispered.

After hearing Kang Moo-hyuk's full message, Joo Se-ah blurted out:

"Whoa, that's dirty."

"Right? Total asshole move. I think so too."

Agreeing with Lee Jin-joo, Joo Se-ah started to chuckle and add more, then froze. Footsteps approaching.

Lee Jin-joo spotted the intruder a beat later. Recognizing him, she murmured to Joo Se-ah:

"Taeguk Guild, Jo Ik-jun, strategy team leader. Back at Titan, the boss dealt with him mostly. Not worth wasting words on."

"Taeguk's A-rank, huh? Messing with the boss means he's no pushover."

Jo Ik-jun approached slowly, giving them time to clock him, then spoke:

"First time meeting. Jo Ik-jun of Taeguk Guild. I head strategy."

"Yeah. Joo Se-ah."

Joo Se-ah shook his proffered hand with a friendly smile. She mirrored it but stayed sharp.

If he went toe-to-toe with Boss Kang Moo-hyuk, he's no ordinary snake.

Jo Ik-jun glanced aside.

"And you—familiar face. Lee Jin-joo Hunter, long time."

"Yeah, Team Leader Jo."

"You both look tense. Gate raid worries? Or North Pocheon on your mind?"

"We're all busy. Get to the point."

Joo Se-ah cut him off sharp. Jo Ik-jun paused, then got down to it.

"For this gate raid—how about teaming with Taeguk Guild?"

"We've got our own plans."

"Iron Will's situation is obvious. No games. Even you, Guild Master Joo, can't solo it. Your real firepower? Just you and Lee Jin-joo Hunter."

"Not playing games—we're choosing partners."

"Partners? Who? Not Slayer, your old rivals, right? Titan's vice master showed personally, but he'd avoid the boss. Other guilds look promising, but equals to Iron Will now?"

"You can match that?"

"Power-wise, Iron Will's short. But I know what Kang Moo-hyuk brings. Rate you high too. We can reach a fair deal."

Joo Se-ah rubbed her chin, pretending to mull it over, eyes on the ground.

Not even scheming, and it's unfolding just like the boss said.

She recalled Kang Moo-hyuk's advice via Lee Jin-joo. Not 100% certainties, but high-probability scenarios.

"If Taeguk's Jo Ik-jun approaches, don't take him at face value. Good guys share the pie. If he offers alliance first, nine times outta ten, he's sabotaging. The rare sincere ones only show when there's scraps left—so treat it all as bullshit."

This? Spitting in the pot before we pick a partner.

Joo Se-ah saw through it. Green as guild master, but a decade in top guilds as a hunter.

Just rusty on negotiations without responsibility on the line.

But with solid mentorship? No one to underestimate.

Hunters had rank. Her charisma outshone all.

Stance set, Joo Se-ah looked down at Jo Ik-jun coolly.

"Sure, Slayer and us bickered plenty. But now? Official MOU, partners. No biggie shaking hands. In this game, even enemies bow to cash. Nab the mine gate, old grudges? Dust.

"Titan's vice master? Starved for achievements to hit guild master. Perfect mutual use."

"You know they're not that simple. Slayer's Seong Seon-je? You know him best. Ma Tae-soo? Hyena. Win-win? Lucky if they don't bite."

"Team Leader Jo Ik-jun!"

Joo Se-ah raised her voice, cutting him. He shut up.

Not just volume—mana-laced intimidation shook him.

Rude normally, but field power plays were unspoken norm.

Jo Ik-jun knew; couldn't rage. He'd pulled it himself, even on Kang Moo-hyuk. Just never backfired before.

Lee Jin-joo watched tensely.

Step in if it turns to fists?

Verbal scraps escalating? Common. Taeguk rivals pre-Kang Moo-hyuk; blades anytime.

Silence broken, Joo Se-ah eased off:

"Appreciate the concern, but no meddling."

Jo Ik-jun, aura crushed, conceded defeat.

His creed: Fold clean on flipped tables.

Gamblers bust holding losing hands.

Then? Grovel smiling through skull cracks for scraps. In this world, walking away whole was mercy—cut losses.

Probing Joo Se-ah was a gamble anyway. Pride here? No upside.

Jo Ik-jun hid annoyance, retreated.

"Shame. We could've ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠been great partners."

"Plenty of chances."

Joo Se-ah left the door cracked. No burned bridges—today's foe, tomorrow's ally.

Jo Ik-jun gone, Joo Se-ah exhaled.

"Whew~ How does Boss Kang handle this crap daily? Rather smash the boss."

"He's my role model, but these spots? Never adapt. Against Jo Ik-jun level? I'd fold."

Lee Jin-joo naming him flashed Seong Seon-je in Joo Se-ah's mind. To her, he was that: monster devouring the unwary. Rank-plus nuisance.

And he was here.

Joo Se-ah sharpened up. Anything could happen.

Stay frosty or get eaten.

Hundreds of monsters marching? Rare sight even for hunters.

No cinematic grandeur. Orcs looked savage, hulking frames intimidating.

Clanking crude iron, thudding axes gripped hearts with dread.

Some tore into fresh-killed roe deer limbs mid-march. Shrill screams echoed from still-living prey. Prey included monsters too—all fodder to voracious orcs.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Beyond wild: primal terror in motion.

Shivers like this in ages.

An Ji-il filmed from afar, cloaked in scouting kit camouflage and scent disruptor spray, hidden along Sanjeong Lake path.

Relaying footage his mission, though Kang Moo-hyuk nixed it—too risky.

An Ji-il felt duty-bound, volunteered.

Kang Moo-hyuk's C Project, built by his hands.

Titan shareholders cursed "C Hell" warehouse as money pit, but he believed it'd pioneer monster extermination.

Testing upgrades now, feeding orc intel to hasten it.

"Boss Kang, you seeing the feed?"

"Tweaked it plenty, but resolution? Who knows. Mana stones too pricey for tests usually."

"No holding back, then."

An Ji-il zoomed on the orc horde.

Lenses handmade chasing monster corneas gleamed, delivering crisp detail to Kang Moo-hyuk.

He panned slowly for assessment.

Camera locked on a standout orc.

Ogre-sized, unarmored, body tattooed red dye in totem-like shamanic patterns.

"Fierce-looking bastard. Their boss?"

"Monsters ain't my thing, no thrill. But telescoping faces from here? Upgrade smash hit."

Beep.

"Ugh! Eats mana stones like candy, though. Damn inefficiency. Mid-grade per five minutes? Neck snap."

"Don't jinx. Proof in pudding. Could get shelved like at Titan."

Kang Moo-hyuk reaffirmed, fired up.

The change Kang Moo-hyuk envisioned was already underway in the guild.

"Finally here."

Spotting the orc vanguard, Jang Deok-gu launched.

Waited for road passage, struck left flank.

Ambush caught orcs off-guard, but green Iron Will hunters flailed too.

Jang Deok-gu hit a orc wing, experiencing C Warehouse revolution firsthand.

Messy as hell, zero casualties. Miracle? Or this gear?

Goblin raids? Just recon aid. But party orders? True power dawned.

Linked hunting.

Real-time wireless: precise, instant commands per hunter. Fewer errors, max efficiency.

Messaging skills comfier, but rare, costly, limited.

Short-range gear? Universal.

Low-ranks botch links sans status shares or party sight.

Fill that? Slash dumb low-rank deaths.

"C Warehouse... this shit's legit."

Jang Deok-gu felt Kang Moo-hyuk's growing shadow, commanded on.