Who Proposed It?
Though he'd recently switched sides a bit, No Song-rin was fundamentally a double agent.
Of course, Kang Moo-hyuk had coerced him into it through blackmail, but unexpectedly, he'd found it enjoyable.
It wasn't just fun—he had a real talent for it. Dealing with Kim Myeong-jun was still terrifying, but he no longer cowered during the act. Even he found that surprising.
Has doing this crap for so long made it feel natural that I'm on Kang Moo-hyuk's side now? Damn, this is embarrassing.
No Song-rin figured he'd been picked for this Russia trip as a disposable pawn, but Kang Moo-hyuk saw it differently.
Hunter Jang Deok-gu is more ruthless than anyone in front of enemies, but he's not suited for missions requiring shortcuts and outright illegality like this one. When it comes to dirty work, no one's better than Hunter No Song-rin.
For this incident, Kang Moo-hyuk needed someone to handle the rough stuff. No Song-rin was perfect for dealing with fellow hunters without scruples.
"That must be Kozlov."
A face matching the photo of the local guide Alex had sent beforehand was waiting at the airport.
"Mr. Yuri Kozlov?"
"You must be Raid Leader Kang Moo-hyuk. And this is...?"
"No Song-rin."
"Pleased to meet you. Shall we talk on the move? I've got a car ready."
Kozlov shook their hands and hurried them along.
"Tyrun Guild eyes are still everywhere. And the Tyrant seems to be holed up somewhere in Vladivostok."
"Where'd you get that intel?"
"We're linked with Char Guild. No one in this city has better information than them."
"Yet they got ambushed. No prior warning at all."
"Can't argue with that. But if the enemy was the Tyrant, it makes sense. Say what you will about an S-rank—they're in a league of their own. His guild's one of Moscow's top tiers, so missing a lightning strike like that isn't unbelievable."
"They say even God doesn't know what Char Guild doesn't in Vladivostok. Surprising."
"Char Guild isn't God. They're human—they make mistakes."
Even denying fault, Kozlov couldn't meet their eyes while defending Char Guild.
He's covering for them despite saying it's unavoidable. Is the coordinator role making him avoid discord, or is he cautious as a native Russian?
Kozlov was a federation affiliate, but a fixture in Russia. He had to be sensitive to local guild rivalries.
Kang Moo-hyuk considered his position and asked,
"Wasn't blaming you for missing the Tyrant's ambush. What matters now is where he is. Any leads on hideouts?"
"Unfortunately not yet. Char Guild's intel team is going all out, but there's so much disinformation it's hard to sift through."
"Then start from the source of that intel."
"The intel team? What do you plan to—"
Kozlov trailed off as Kang Moo-hyuk replied casually,
"The one who sold Yeom Soo-hyung's team info to Igor Dudnik. Gotta root out spies first to get work done."
"!!"
Cold sweat trickled down Kozlov's back.
They'd suspected a spy, but with Igor in Vladivostok, even Char Guild hadn't touched it.
The Tyrant's presence alone threw Vladivostok's top guild into panic.
And now an outsider steps in to catch the spy?
No guild would allow it. Getting caught would be a scandal—losing face, branded as a powder keg guild.
In macho Russia, guildmates were like brothers. Betraying one was bad enough; letting an outsider nab them was humiliation beyond kneeling.
They told me from upstairs to stay sharp around Kang Moo-hyuk... but this seems rougher than I braced for.
* * *
Char Guild Master Anton Ivanov stared incredulously at the outsider requesting a private audience.
He'd made time at the behest of federation liaison Kozlov, an acquaintance, but every word grated.
If not for the table between them and the distance to the sofas, he might've smashed the guy's head in rage.
Does this bastard have nine lives? A non-hunter talking like a suicidal maniac.
"Raid leader"—a title unheard of in Russia—made him wonder if views on hunters differed between Korea and here.
But recalling hunters as borderless, ageless, genderless scum, things probably rolled the same everywhere.
Simply put, this Korean's behavior crossed lines in either country.
"So you're saying catch the spy first—and you'll do it yourself? In one hour?"
"Not certain. Just eliminate the most likely lines. If it works, we catch 'em. If not, oh well."
"Hey, Dmitri. Am I the idiot, or is he speaking alien? No clue what he's on about."
Anton shrugged at his vice master Dmitri with a smirk, then sobered.
"Listen, Raid Leader Kang Moo-hyuk. First, a premise: We Russians don't hate Koreans. See you as solid business partners—better than those unreliable Japs. No offense there."
"......"
"And my real feelings? Hey, Korean. Where's this nonsense coming from? Think federation backing makes you invincible? Get out before I ventilate your skull."
Anton's killing intent had No Song-rin fidgeting with his pocket. He felt the karambit blade's curve.
Trailing Raid Leader Kang's gonna give me a heart attack first.
Char Guild was mid-tier in Russia, between tier and A-rank by Korean standards. Manpower-wise, even Korean tiers deferred.
Why poke a taboo against such a guild, courting death?
Kang Moo-hyuk, numb to threats, endured and spoke.
"Russian guilds treat members like family, brothers, right?"
"You think that's why I let a spy slide?"
"Koreans too. We call guildmates family—sharing meals, living together."
"Ha? Save your family? Trying to guilt me now?"
"Not that..."
Kang Moo-hyuk leaned toward Anton, signaling something vital.
Anton perked up, curious.
"When it comes to saving my family, it's all or nothing for me."
"!!"
"Take it that way."
Kang Moo-hyuk straightened politely, leaning back.
"You son of a—!"
"Whoa, Master Anton! Calm down, calm! Kill Raid Leader Kang and it blows up!"
"Let go, Kozlov! He's threatening me—a non-hunter playing games?!"
"Cool it, Master! Upu Mangbau's still out there. Act rash and Vladivostok's toast."
Kozlov and Dmitri restrained him; Anton simmered down.
No Song-rin, who'd instinctively gripped his karambit, whispered,
"You're insane, Leader."
"This is fine. As they said, with Upu Mangbau, they can't touch us."
"That's what you call this...?"
No Song-rin gave up scolding the oblivious negotiator. He always dominated and succeeded, despite the tightrope.
Kang Moo-hyuk added to the still-fuming Anton,
"So, using our kidnapped members for your scheme? Drop it."
"What now?"
"Char Guild didn't know the Tyrant was coming to Vladivostok? Didn't anticipate him hitting our team? Can't even find his hideout? You expect me to buy that?"
"Hmph! Thinks S-ranks play by lower rules? Even we can't do the impossible."
"True. Tyrant's S-rank—not one to hide. His personality's the opposite."
"So what if Igor's a hothead?"
"Time to admit it."
"What're you—"
"The spy leaking our info to the Tyrant? Char Guild. It's you, right?!"
Silence fell.
Kozlov, late to the shock, glared at Anton.
"What is this, Master Anton? Is Raid Leader Kang right?"
"Hahaha!"
Anton burst out laughing. Kozlov frowned. Kang Moo-hyuk stayed stone-faced. As tension chilled, Anton waved it off.
"Sorry, sorry. Too absurd not to laugh. Hey, Leader. Why feed info to Igor gunning for us? Novels need logic. This is sloppy—how else to mooch meals?"
Kang Moo-hyuk raised a finger.
"One: Tip the Tyrant off about solving Upu Mangbau. Two: Lure him to hit Iron Will members."
"Premise wrong. Say we lured the hit—why tell him about Upu when your hunters might die? Who's making that gamble?"
Anton cut in; Kang Moo-hyuk continued unfazed.
"Gamble? No. Tyrant has no need to kill our members. Killing risks backlash. He's leashed by Russian government—not some anarchy. Better to capture and negotiate. Continue?"
Anton couldn't interrupt.
"Three—and key: Leak to Vladivostok media and communities that Tyrant's abducting for Upu solution to steal the city. Paint him shameless. With Upu resentment peaking, public blasts federation. Central gov can't back him, forces pullout."
"Pure fiction!"
"Before Vladivostok."
"......"
"Asked federation for their top intel asset. Thousand Eyes, right?"
"Thousand Eyes!"
Kozlov gasped, hand to mouth. Anton noticed.
"Thousand Eyes? You know it?"
"Low clearance—don't know details. But it's federation's pinnacle intel. Letting him use it... they must value Raid Leader Kang highly."
"What's it do?"
"With right conditions, it uncovers any targeted info infallibly."
"Gave federation two keywords."
Kang Moo-hyuk jumped in post-explanation.
"Vladivostok and Igor Dudnik. Find his hideout. Might have by now. Why Char can't find him? We'll know soon. Talk then?"
Anton ruffled his hair.
"Damn! Dmitri, told you I hate this crap!"
"M-Master..."
"Fine, I leaked. Since it's out—how'd you know?"
"Got something else curious."
"Curious? Whatever, I'm more curious!"
Anton barked; Kang Moo-hyuk stayed mum. Anton surrendered.
"What? Spit it."
"This plan. Who proposed it?"
* * *
Aila asked Alex about the nagging mystery.
"Alex. Did Gong-i Kang Moo-hyuk really get Thousand Eyes? Round Table wouldn't allow it."
"Not exactly. Didn't even know it existed."
"Then how...?"
"Just asked for help."
"Help?"
"One: What’s federation's top intel asset? How it works, power, if our Russia agents know. Just info."
"Just info?"
"Yeah. Rumors float around; revealing the truth's no big ask."
"And with that?"
"Dunno details. Overheard blackmail? Negotiation? One ingredient for his scheme."
"Ingredient? For what?"
"Not sure, but he suspected Char Guild from the start."