84. Shouldn't the Desperate Side Make the First Move?

"Alex, Raven. Don't hurt him."

Alex and Raven charged forward at Aila's command.

Mr. Jo kicked over a street cart to block their view. Bungeoppang machines, red bean paste, dough, and other debris rained down on Aila. Alex stepped in front of her, batting the objects away.

Raven smashed through the cart as he reached for Mr. Jo. The moment his hand closed around him, only an afterimage remained, the real body vanishing.

Raven didn't panic. He expanded his senses. It was basic training for any hunter, but an A-rank's sensory perception bordered on superhuman. He spotted the invisible foe and launched himself.

"Ah, damn! What a pain."

Mr. Jo, who had been scrambling up a utility pole, leaped away from the pursuing Raven and landed on the ground. She didn't show it, but she was inwardly shocked that he'd found her so quickly.

'He sniffed me out even when I was disguised as a bungeoppang vendor. Does he have some kind of trait?'

Mr. Jo prided herself on her stealth and disguise skills—no one could match her, not even A-ranks. For him to locate her so fast was suspicious.

Raven reacted swiftly and closed in. Mr. Jo tossed a smoke grenade at the ground. It wasn't ordinary smoke; it was a special item laced with paralyzing venom extracted from a poison mist lizard.

But Raven pressed on unaffected, swinging a fist at Mr. Jo.

'What the hell is this monster? Even A-ranks flinch from this smoke!'

Mr. Jo spun away in shock, her body twisting like a top. The punch whistled through empty air.

Three times in a row.

That was how many times Raven had missed his target.

'Not A-rank. B+ at best. But he slips away like an eel.'

At this point, it was clear the opponent had some freakish trait.

"Raven, he's out of non-perception range."

Alex called out, and Raven shook out his hand before turning back.

"Didn't expect an assassin-type hunter like that in Korea. Where'd he come from?"

"Who knows. I didn't sense any real hostility. Just curiosity, maybe? Probably. He had a lot of questions. Shame. Shall we head back?"

"Yes. After you."

Aila waved her hand, and the scenery shifted. Nothing had actually changed—it just felt like the air lightened. At the same time, the empty road filled with crowds of people.

Passersby now filled the space around Aila's previously vacant area, but no one entered within two meters of her. Only Alex and Raven acknowledged her presence.

And one other person.

'A skill that makes her space and existence imperceptible? What the hell is that woman's deal? She spotted me too. If I hadn't blended into the crowd, I'd have ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠been made instantly.'

The moment Mr. Jo slipped into the throng of pedestrians, his doppelganger trait shifted his appearance and clothes. He pulled his hat low and left without a backward glance.

Kang Moo-hyuk pondered Mr. Jo's report.

'Ran into foreign hunters in front of the Hunter Association? One woman with long ears, not quite human? Used some space-magic-like skill?'

The woman's identity was secondary. Foreigners linked to the Association pointed to one obvious group.

'Han Byung-gu was active during the Great War era. Korea was the world's hunter hub back then. The current World Hunter Federation setup isn't unrelated. Not East Asian, so not neighbors. Foreigners at the Association? Obvious who they are.'

The World Hunter Federation.

Even civilians had heard the name. Despite the fame, its presence was faint—even hunters dismissed its influence.

'That's for average hunters. In reality, it wields massive sway over top-tier hunters and guilds. They say the world's strongest, richest guilds are the Federation.'

Assuming they were Federation, the woman's identity fell into place.

'Can't confirm just from long ears, but she sounds like an elf from the movies. There were rumors of Ain races appearing on Earth once, but the Federation debunked it. Maybe not just rumors?'

Linking long ears straight to Ain was a stretch, but his mind kept drifting there.

'Whatever. The Federation suddenly showing up at the Association in Korea, a place they ignore? Probably because of my report.'

Reports on new or threatening monsters were shared via the Federation.

Kang Moo-hyuk had deliberately added "summoning" when mentioning the goblin matriarch.

He'd grown cautious after encountering the unheard-of creature.

It might be unrelated, but his instincts whispered he'd meet Federation folks soon.

He already had plans for Federation contact—no need to panic.

But one concern lingered.

"They say Federation moves are never good news. Hope nothing comes of it."

A month after the orc tribe raid, media and the public still buzzed about Iron Will Guild.

But the hunter world was abuzz over something else regarding Iron Will.

A sudden announcement on the Guild App. It was neatly formatted like card news, with images and bullet points.

"What the hell is this goofy ad?"

Joo Se-ah stared at the business venture Kang Moo-hyuk had hyped, her face a mask of bewilderment. It was plastered with playful, cheeky phrasing.

"Ah? The 'meeting' bit? Not literal killing. You won't even need to step in every time. Just think of it as a warning."

"No, it looks like some local amusement park promo."

"Told the promo team to handle it—they went lighthearted. But that's the concept, so no big deal."

"……."

Joo Se-ah felt a wave of confusion.

'What kind of concept is this? Feels so cheap. What's the angle this time?'

As always, she waited, and Kang Moo-hyuk explained.

"No outlet or hotel yet, so we spruced up the existing motel district for low-rank hunters."

"Even so, this screams budget."

"Guild can't handle high-ranks yet. Goblin tribe's gone, monsters leveling up overall in North Pocheon, but grounds aren't high-rank ready. High-ranks chase prestige anyway. This B-tier vibe filters them out naturally."

Joo Se-ah knew the business details, but not that it'd launch this way. Kang Moo-hyuk had always been dead serious.

But thinking deeper, it fit his endless talk of leveling up hunter baselines and popularizing gear. Easier to spread via needy low-ranks than picky elites.

She sighed over the app notice and moved on.

"We'll watch this. Manpower okay?"

"Lodging, food court, hygiene via 'South Pocheon Partnership'—locals prioritized. Scarce jobs, so essential hires smooth. Checkpoints need training, so outsourced to Hanju Group's security, training our hires alongside."

"Taeseong deliberately excluded?"

"Awkward handing them the gates."

"They'll complain. 'Family first,' etc."

"Framed as unfair internal dealing violation. Guild Cooperation Office sent official warning—had to switch providers."

"Damn, boss, your tricks are something."

"Invoke the government, and tricks become legit."

Next: funding.

Joo Se-ah scowled at the numbers, overwhelmed.

"HQ repairs tight—where'd this cash come from?"

"Pooled 'North Pocheon Reconstruction Fund' with Hanshin Financial from last loan. Guild law allows Credit Guarantee Fund backing—filled quota fast. Round 2 underway."

"Even with the clause, those reviews are tough……."

"Guild Cooperation pushed, Assembly pulled strings."

"Cooperation fine. Assemblymen?"

"Few photos, mentions in interviews—they handled it. Korea's always security-sensitive. Monsters ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠tie to defense—bipartisan support. Elections next year amps it."

Kang Moo-hyuk downplayed it, but it wasn't easy.

Joo Se-ah knew Slayer's Sa Mun-hyeok greased politics with funds and "muscle."

Guilds with money, power, force still bowed to elected officials in democracy—unless overthrowing the state. Compromises kept guilds running.

'No ethics debate—guild lacked pull for Slayer tactics. How'd he sweet-talk them? Heard he swayed opinion, but details? Zilch.'

They wrapped minor items.

As Kang Moo-hyuk tidied papers, the conference room extension rang.

Joo Se-ah, rising to leave, answered.

"Hello."

"From where?"

"What does that old coot want?"

Hearing "Association," Kang Moo-hyuk paused.

"Guild Master, speakerphone."

At his low murmur, Joo Se-ah switched to speaker and set the receiver down.

"Why so polite all sudden? Spouting nonsense again?"

"Between us, manners only at funerals. I'll wear black."

"I learned monster-head-cracking before that. Weird talk like last time? Hanging up."

Her threat drew a sigh from the line.

"Why him?"

"Could be a trap."

"Your image screams shady."

"Blame dealing with you. Self-reflect first."

She could picture his face flushing purple.

Kang Moo-hyuk cut in to end the bickering.

"Chairman, Kang Moo-hyuk here. Federation matter?"

"Silence confirms. Later than expected."

"Minors or not, hunters own their contracts. Won't stick."

"Hey, what's that mean, old man?!"

As they squabbled again, Kang Moo-hyuk pressed on.

"Tell the Federation's Ain rep: meet quietly, our turf."

Silence, then a new voice.

"We provide venue. Desperate side moves first, no?"

Kim Myeong-jun had a headache lately. Sleepless nights, lost appetite.

"Damn it. How am I supposed to touch Joo Se-ah?"

Orders from above felt rushed. Disrupt Iron Will. Even indirectly, it'd clash with her.

Ways to harass existed, but the bind was the no-go situation.

"National guild hype everywhere—poke it wrong, I take the heat. Slayer's watching too? Their union bails on failure, but I'm stuck eating shit or buried. Or flee abroad."

Chae Dae-su spoke from the opposite sofa.

"Other ideas?"

"What?"

"Dropped the Titan job midstream."

"……."

"Didn't report up for old times' sake. No big loss, played along. But stall again? Can't cover."

"You covering me?"

"Just messenger for the elder."

Messenger Chae Dae-su speaking out meant trouble brewing.

Kim Myeong-jun glared silently.

'Kang Moo-hyuk stung me—can't move rashly. No contract, but truce holds. Backstab means war. Can't defy now. Buy time.'

He sighed, nodding.

"I'll think of something."

"Expect good results."