I'll Definitely Collect This Debt!
Kang Moo-hyuk had begun suspecting Char Guild the day Yeom Soo-hyung's team was ambushed upon arriving in Vladivostok.
The Federation had started negotiations with Char Guild right after he decided on the raid—late the night before Yeom Soo-hyung's group departed.
It took nine hours to fly from Moscow, where Tyrun Guild was based, to Vladivostok. From Korea, just two.
Unless information had leaked in advance, it was physically impossible for the Tyrant to arrive first and lie in wait.
'If intel leaked, Char Guild—the party with the most to gain—would have the strongest motive over the Federation.'
Of course, he hadn't suspected the entire guild from the start. At first, he'd chalked it up to rogue elements among their ranks.
Betrayal for money or a spot in Tyrun Guild.
He'd seen it before with Do Kyung-hoon and Jo Choong-hyeon, so he'd leaned toward that explanation.
But another seed of doubt sprouted when they claimed to know Vladivostok like the back of their hand—yet couldn't locate the Tyrant at all.
'And the reactions from the Vladivostok administration and local council were off. Places under Char Guild's thumb, yet they focused on condemning the Tyrant instead of solving the problem.'
When the Federation had reached out through Char Guild about Joo Se-ah's smuggling, Alex had picked up on the odd vibe and relayed it to Kang Moo-hyuk.
It wasn't hard proof, of course. Just complaints about the typical laid-back Russian bear attitude that didn't listen to reason.
'Individually, they're signs you could brush off without a second thought. But together? Too nagging to ignore. Needed verification one way or another.'
With no choice, Kang Moo-hyuk deployed one of his prepped scenarios to clear his suspicions.
Fortunately, Anton wasn't used to this kind of verbal sparring. It stemmed from the impulsive nature Kang Moo-hyuk had sensed in their talks.
"Whoever you are, you answer first. How'd you figure it out?"
"So someone did plan it."
"Damn, it's like talking to a ghost. You pull everything out of me with just words. I'd believe you if you said you were a mind reader."
"No wonder it didn't feel like your doing, Guild Master Anton. Someone else was pulling strings."
"What do you mean it didn't feel like my doing? You mocking me?"
"Could you call in the person responsible?"
"This Korean—you ignoring me or what?"
Frustrated, Anton pounded his chest and vented to Dmitri, who sighed and stepped in for the irritated guild master.
"Why do you need the person in charge?"
"To gauge their intent."
"Intent?"
"Using a scheme this elaborate just to humiliate the Tyrant and drive him out of the city feels overly grandiose."
"You think there's more to it?"
Anton's lighthearted air shifted in an instant.
As he asked with a hardened face, Kang Moo-hyuk shook his head.
"Can't say for sure there's another motive. Just needs checking."
"And that's why you want me to drag in my man?"
"Whether he's your man remains to be seen."
Anton nearly cursed at Kang Moo-hyuk's loaded words.
'This guy's tongue is a serpent all its own.'
He flicked it just so, and there was no easy escape from the temptation.
The problem was ignoring the suspicion felt wrong—and letting it slide might shake the entire Char Guild.
"He's trustworthy. Worked with me for years. Local boy. Not a founding member, but no one's contributed more to growing Char Guild."
"As I said, it's not about defense—it's verification. Can't trust anyone until it's confirmed."
In the end, Anton couldn't resist the serpent's lure.
"Dmitri. Bring Makar."
Makar, summoned to the guild master's office, saw there weren't enough seats and dragged in a chair from outside, settling at the table's side.
Skipping over No Song-rin, he faced Kang Moo-hyuk directly. Anton made introductions.
"This is Makar Boronin, our intel chief. Makar, this is Iron Will Guild's leader from Korea, Kang Moo-hyuk."
Caught off-guard by the unscheduled meeting, Makar masked his surprise and addressed Kang Moo-hyuk.
"What brings a rep from a Korean guild to summon me?"
"I want to hear why you orchestrated the op against Igor Dudnik."
"Guild master, you told an outsider about the plan?"
Makar frowned at Anton instead of answering. Anton scratched his neck awkwardly, averting his eyes.
"Guild master didn't spill—Kang here figured it out."
Dmitri defended Anton. Makar eyed Kang Moo-hyuk up and down with fresh admiration.
"No idea how you knew, but impressive. Thought we'd locked down security tight."
"You haven't answered yet. Why?"
As Makar tried to deflect, Kang Moo-hyuk cut in sharply. Makar answered straightforwardly.
"Isn't it obvious? Couldn't beat an S-rank with brute force."
"So you pulled this scheme? Dragging in our team too?"
Kang Moo-hyuk showed anger, but Makar shrugged nonchalantly, as if regretful.
"Sorry about that. No regrets, though. The Upu Mangbau crisis threatened Vladivostok—but it was also Char Guild's chance. With half the city shut down and public opinion souring on us, Tyrun Guild ramped up pressure to move in. We needed a way out."
"So you exploited the Upu Mangbau mess? Betting the city's fate, endangering hunters who offered help?"
"No other plan would work. Dodging the immediate threat is pointless if Tyrun comes back later. No guarantee we'd stop them then. Had to act while all of Russia watched—ensure Tyrun thinks twice next time."
The logic held, but Kang Moo-hyuk still felt off.
He couldn't pinpoint why at first, but as Makar explained, the source clicked.
"Not a wrong word in there. Loyalty to the guild? Understandable."
"Thanks for understanding. We're doing our best to resolve this mess too…"
"But."
"??"
"You keep mentioning only Tyrun Guild, Makar. Everyone else prioritizes the Tyrant. An S-rank has presence to match their power—yet you barely touch on him."
Makar's brow twitched at "Tyrant." A flash of fury in his eyes.
Too subtle for anyone but Kang Moo-hyuk, whose observation transcended normal limits.
Lips pressed tight, Makar spoke cautiously.
"Intel chiefs judge organizations, not individuals."
"Oh? Thought maybe the Tyrant talk bothers you."
"…."
"…."
"Lately, after some bad breaks, I get this itch—can't rest without verifying everything. Time to scratch it now. Bear with me."
"You sure know how to make talks tough, Leader Kang. What permission you asking for?"
Ignoring Makar's snide tone, Kang Moo-hyuk pressed on.
"From here on, I'll leak intel to the Tyrant. About Char Guild intel chief Makar Boronin. Might as well include your upcoming plot against Tyrun. Oh—and tell him to dig deeper on you first."
"Hey, enough's enough. What the hell? Makar's been at my side over ten years. Family, like you said! Local loyalist. Suspect him, and no member's safe from doubt!"
Anton shot up, bellowing.
Kang Moo-hyuk met his gaze steadily, unflinching.
"Think carefully here, Guild Master Anton Ivanov."
"About what?!"
"If every Char Guild member is truly trustworthy."
"!!"
As Anton froze, Kang Moo-hyuk fixed on Makar.
"They call him Tyrant for a reason, right? Before government backing, he ran wild, stirring trouble. Lots of enemies in Russia, they say?"
"…."
"One last question before leaking you to him: Is the Tyrant your target? Char Guild? Or both—in your plan?"
"Hoo—"
Makar sighed, head drooping.
Then it happened.
Something flashed from his pocket—straight at Kang Moo-hyuk's face.
"Knew it."
No Song-rin blocked with his karambit. A small dart-like throwing weapon clattered to the floor.
Makar leaped back as his attack failed. Dmitri lunged, tackling his legs.
Intel chief or not, Makar was just B-rank.
His strike never had a chance, nor escape.
"You bastard! Leader Kang was right?!"
Anton stormed toward the pinned Makar, rage boiling, face twisted demon-like.
"Don't kill him!"
Without Kang Moo-hyuk's restraint, Anton might've stomped his skull. A B-rank couldn't survive an A+-rank kick.
Approaching Anton, Kang Moo-hyuk said curiously.
"Denying to the end would've been smarter. No hard proof—just suspicion."
"Killing you felt better. Feared you'd uncover everything if I let you live."
"Four A-ranks here. Knew your attack would fail, right?"
"…."
"You're hiding more. Another plot? Intel? Ah—leaked info. What is it?"
Kang Moo-hyuk read micro-expressions, guiding the interrogation.
Catching on, Makar clamped shut.
"Upu Mangbau… Tyrant… Char Guild… Something to screw them both? Something…"
Kang Moo-hyuk probed reactions, then it hit.
"Too risky to touch now your intent's exposed—so leave it. Needed to spark conflict, huh?"
"…."
"Something subtle, easy to hit, complicating things. We've been the biggest victims so far. Damn! That's it?!"
Kang Moo-hyuk gnashed his teeth.
"You—did you sell out our guild master this time too?"
"We've arrived, Guild Master Joo Se-ah."
Wigsen halted at the rendezvous, flashing signals. A light blinked back from a short distance.
Soon, engine rumble heralded a small Russian fishing boat approaching.
Joo Se-ah stepped out, climbed the wing, and thanked the pilot.
"Thanks for the hard work. Safe trip back."
"Honor to ferry you, ma'am."
"Just a C-rank guild master—what honor?"
"Topped this year's beauty hunter rankings? Huge fan. Haha!"
"They still do that? Thought it died out…."
Joo Se-ah forced a sour smile, hidden by darkness.
Brushing off the rest, she leaped from the wing to board.
Then—blazing flare and a streaking projectile.
'Attack?'
Now she spotted the man at the rail, shouldering something.
From joint ops with the military, Joo Se-ah recognized it instantly.
'Anti-tank missile?!'
She whipped out her sword, slicing the missile aimed at Wigsen. Thunderous blast rocked the quiet sea. Water sprayed; she aimed for the boat—but another missile forced her to dive.
After downing two, Joo Se-ah plunged into the sea. Surfacing, gulping brine, she yelled.
"Get out of here—now!"
Her roar jolted the pilot into turning Wigsen.
Before it accelerated, another missile flew—but adrift in open ocean without footing, Joo Se-ah hurled her sword, shattering it.
"Ahh, that was an expensive blade… Sinks, and it's gone forever? Damn! This debt—I'll collect it for sure!"
Confirming Wigsen's escape, she prepared counterattack.
Expecting more fire—but…
"What the—? Just missiles and run? In my face?"
The boat had vanished into the distance.
Joo Se-ah never let prey—monster or villain—escape once targeted. But swimming after a ship? Tough.
Then reality hit.
"How far to Vladivostok? Wait—north is which way?"
Thus, Korea's top hunter found herself shipwrecked on a starless, overcast winter night in icy waters.