Chapter 86. Words Aren't Enough.
Go Eul-ji tried her best to ignore it, but her instincts wouldn't let her.
It was the aftereffect of the forced injection training her grandfather had ingrained deep into her body. She couldn't just leave potential dangers nearby alone.
Her grandfather had taught her to eliminate or avoid such risks immediately. It was a behavioral pattern etched into her since before puberty, so she couldn't just consciously forget it now.
"Ugh, screw manners and all that—I can't take it anymore!"
"Right? You can't take it either, huh? Kyaa~ Oppa!"
As Kim Nari let out a shriek-like cheer, Go Eul-ji's eyes flashed.
'Looks like that guy hiding over there and the crowd below aren't on the same side. If I nudge this one a bit, those guys will handle him themselves, right? They'll feel uneasy too and clear out. Then I can watch the oppas in peace. Okay.'
Go Eul-ji could sense Mr. Jo without even looking. In the space she had marked, she could feel everything and touch everything.
She applied her power subtly, so no one noticed. It was such a tiny force that even Mr. Jo didn't feel it.
Clatter clatter roll!
Go Eul-ji's will rode the mana across space. The screws on the display rack behind the stage, which Mr. Jo had been using as footing, came loose. The rack tilted, and the items on it came tumbling down.
Mr. Jo quickly reached out and grabbed the railing, but he couldn't stop the noise.
"Who's there?!"
"Dare?!"
Kim Myeong-jun and Ryu Shin shouted at the same time.
The Iga-jo hunters guarding Ryu Shin burst out from the darkness and swiftly surrounded the source of the sound.
But Mr. Jo had already slipped away.
The Iga-jo hunters found only traces of someone in the swept dust and messaged Ryu Shin via skill that an intruder had been there.
"Looks like we missed them. Slayer Guild, maybe?"
At Ryu Shin's question, Kim Myeong-jun shook his head.
"Even if Slayer is watching the Japanese hunter world, they couldn't move this fast. They'd only know someone entered Korea at best."
"Hiding from our team—and even my eyes—means they're no small fry. Who else but Slayer has that kind of skill?"
It was blatantly dismissive of the Korean hunter scene.
Kim Myeong-jun didn't think Ryu Shin was overconfident. They had the skills for it. But he did feel it undervalued Korean hunters.
Their constant phrase "the fallen peninsula hunters" even popped up in Japanese news, showing how much they looked down on Korea.
"Even if not Slayer, Korea has plenty of formidable hunters."
"Did my words offend you? Didn't mean to downplay it—with talents like you around."
"I mean there are actually remarkable ones."
"Sure, like Joo Se-ah. Though she's ex-Slayer too."
Ryu Shin grudgingly named Joo Se-ah, but Kim Myeong-jun's mind flashed to Kang Moo-hyuk.
'Why does that non-hunter come to mind first?'
Instinctively, Kim Myeong-jun marked Kang Moo-hyuk as more dangerous than Joo Se-ah.
Joo Se-ah could elevate an individual or group at best, but Kang Moo-hyuk could change the entire hunter world.
In that sense, the Japanese Hunter Federation might unknowingly be targeting Korea's vital point.
Of course, no reason to share that assessment with Ryu Shin. Kim Myeong-jun was too twisted to cooperate amiably when in a bad mood.
'Come to think of it, Kang Moo-hyuk disappearing isn't good for me. Iron Will has few enemies. If only Joo Se-ah's left, she'll get crushed before growing. Then I'd just watch her crash and burn nearby, ruining my life. Tricky. She needs to grow just right for me to thrive too.'
Ironic that he was the spearhead against Joo Se-ah's faction yet bound in shared fate with her.
Suddenly, it hit him. Crisis is opportunity. He'd thought this venture offered no gain whether success or failure—likely harm instead.
But a shift in perspective could turn it to his advantage.
'For that, I need Kang Moo-hyuk. Unlike Japanese or Slayer, he listens. Should I reach out?'
Unaware of Kim Myeong-jun's scheming, Ryu Shin decided to leave the scene.
"Can't stay exposed. Let's end today's meet."
"Where to contact?"
"I'll reach out."
Kim Myeong-jun sensed Ryu Shin didn't fully trust him. Not discrimination, but innate suspicion.
'No trust on either side.'
Best prepare his own escape.
'Necronomicon...'
Aila's explanation continued afterward.
Cases like the "Amazon Goblin Matriarch" and "Sader's Necromancer" were more numerous than Kang Moo-hyuk expected. Some publicly known but manipulated, others unrecorded entirely.
The World Hunter Federation deemed them all linked to "unknown entities."
"Not just summons. Many cases ended in total annihilation, though phenomena varied. But this time's different from precedents."
"You mean our guild master and I survived?"
"Yes. We expect you two hold not just witness value, but clues to these mysteries. Anything helpful? Even trivial."
Kang Moo-hyuk pondered.
'The anomaly: I saw the ominous black mana during the matriarch's summon. Others didn't. The reason for that difference is probably...'
Mana addiction.
The most logical suspect.
'Revealing mana addiction's fine. It's an unsolved time bomb, but not exploding soon. But it exposes my weakness. Need safeguards—and to price it right.'
Seeing Kang Moo-hyuk deep in thought, Aila grew impatient. He seemed to know something, yet wouldn't speak. She held back, knowing pressure could ruin it. Humans suspected flawless approaches.
Finally, focus returned to Kang Moo-hyuk's distant gaze. He turned and said,
"First, request Chairman Han Byung-gu guarantee secrecy."
"I'm infamous for a tight lip. Speak freely."
"Most untrustworthy thing in the world is people's mouths. Verbal promises don't cut it."
"Want a contract?"
"Not from you, Chairman."
"What?"
Kang Moo-hyuk turned to Aila.
"Aila must vouch."
"Me?"
Aila's eyes widened, pointing at herself.
Raven, quietly aside, bristled and grabbed Kang Moo-hyuk's collar.
"Hey! Who do you think you're messing with?!"
"And who are you to butt in?"
Raven flinched, noticing Joo Se-ah's hand over his.
'When did she grab it?'
A light grip immobilized him. It was pure killing intent binding his body. He regretted instantly.
Aila had praised Joo Se-ah as S-rank touching, yet A+ in practice for lacking control.
'Same rank, but this gap already?'
But Raven wouldn't back down from intimidation. Stubborn, he tried lifting Kang Moo-hyuk by the collar.
His aura shifted; veins bulged on his skin, muscles thickened, mana turned to raw strength.
Not seeing mana like Kang Moo-hyuk, but Joo Se-ah noticed.
"Weird ability, huh? But who's showboating in front of who?"
Crunch!
"!!"
Joo Se-ah clenched, and Raven released, knees buckling. Gravity felt tenfold on his shoulders. The ground cratered under his knees.
'Lost in strength?'
Raven bit his lip, mustering energy.
"Enough!"
"But Alex...!"
"Know your shame, Raven. Aila's calm, and you barge in? If you do, win. What was that without gauging the foe?"
Under Alex's rebuke, Raven bowed his head.
As things settled, Joo Se-ah released and stepped back.
"Get up, Raven. Kang Moo-hyuk was no rude to me. If he asks that, it's burdensome for him. Fair demand."
Aila personally helped Raven up and faced Kang Moo-hyuk. Unfazed by the commotion, his eyes stayed on her.
'Such detached eyes. Just the gaze, I'd believe he's our kind, not human.'
Maybe that's why she trusted him?
Aila said,
"Kang Moo-hyuk, what guarantee do you need?"
"Secrecy first. What I share could be my weakness."
"Applies to Han Byung-gu too."
"He's itching to devour me. If leaked, he'll use it to drag me down."
"You brat! Think I'm that petty? Not selfish enough to leverage gate threats!"
"Didn't you call right after I recruited Go Eul-ji? Said you'd kill me."
"That was... grandkid involved—who stays calm? No, Aila, why that look? Think I'd really kill?"
"Well, I recall you once threatened a hunter... and actually killed them."
"That scum was a villain!"
Kang Moo-hyuk pointed at the fuming Han Byung-gu.
"See? Need secrecy plus safety guarantee."
"Hmm... yeah, seems so."
"Aila... why agree?"
Han Byung-gu grumbled, but Aila ignored.
"How to promise? Not verbal, you said."
"Contract, obviously."
"Not just silence? Frankly, I offer little. Magic lessons? But humans can't inherit our skills."
"Federation handles compensation. Deal, Mr. Wilkinson?"
Alex looked troubled, then sighed at Aila's glance.
"My authority's limited. How much?"
"Classify my secret as top Federation intel. Even Hunter Association head won't blab."
"Hmph! Federation mandates don't seal lips completely."
"So you'll spread rumors? Question Korea's Hunter Association chairman's autonomy?"
"Well... grr. Cough! Silver-tongued punk."
Joo Se-ah giggled at Han Byung-gu's bitter smile—he couldn't win verbally.
Han Byung-gu glared at guild master and leader but stayed silent at Kang Moo-hyuk's words.
Kang Moo-hyuk took it as acceptance and continued.
"Second: safety, as Aila mentioned."
"Safety?"
"Recently, we cleared a war-level mission beyond our capacity—huge losses. Plus, we have rider wolves."
"Coveters incoming."
Alex got it.
"Tier guilds have supply contracts for minimal Korean safety, but not foreign interference. With our guild master S-rank confirmed, expect direct attacks, not just checks."
"True, some despise Korean hunters. But no direct troops—China, Japan are Federation backers; can't provoke."
"No troops needed. A support declaration."
"Federation avoids official guild comments."
"Not words."
"Then...?"
"Federation support for rider wolf breeding."
"Support?"
"Federation influences US politics; guilds fund them heavily. Not just Asia covets rider wolves. We want advanced US ranching know-how. Federation brokers it."
"!!"
"Strange folks?"
Seong Seon-je tensed at intel team report—Japanese-sourced.
Lee Kang-san, Japan intel head, scratched his head over files.
"No clear moves. Suspicious: all gear checked out from Japan Hunter Federation storage arrived Incheon Airport. Users must be here."
Seong Seon-je agreed.
'Some Federation branches too secret to track people. Gear trail's the limit. They think us fools?'
Sudden doubt. Too easy?
"Using commercial flights openly—too sloppy?"
"No tricks or disguises apparent."
"Why?"
"Diplomatic baggage."
"Japan gov's bold now. Grilled embassy—yep, up to no good."
To cold Seong Seon-je, Lee Kang-san asked,
"What now?"
"Delivery spot?"
"Tracing."
"Not sneaking, not hiding. Arrogant toward Korea—likely used connected routes over tourist. Check Yakuza-linked businesses first. Something'll turn up."
"Yes, sir."
Lee Kang-san checked his notepad, cautiously.
"But prepare ourselves?"
"How?"
"Alert other tiers for cooperation?"
Seong Seon-je smiled bitterly.
"Would've if possible. All busy surviving. We stay sharp."