Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Unwelcome Company
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BAM!
Maeng Do-sik, the leader of the Black River Guild, slammed his fist on the desk, unable to contain his anger.
“This time, too?”
“Yes.”
“To think they'd reject even a special request!”
A few days ago, unable to wait any longer, he had submitted a special request for a gate raid.
Not even a B-rank, but a C-rank.
And yet, it was assigned to another guild.
“The guild members are growing restless.”
For the past 100 days, Black River hadn't been assigned a single gate.
All six guilds, including theirs, hadn't been assigned a single gate, but that fact offered little comfort.
The bigger problem was the low-rank gates needed for training new recruits.
Having gone 100 days without a gate assignment, the rookies' training was falling far behind.
At this rate, the guild itself would collapse within six months.
“More importantly…”
The vice leader hesitated for a moment before adding with a sigh.
“Kang Han-su is discussing a transfer with other guilds.”
“What?”
Kang Han-su was a core member of Elite Team 1.
With several key members already having left, losing Kang Han-su would mean a significant loss of strength. More importantly, if a pillar of the guild like him left, it would likely trigger a chain reaction of departures from other members.
“The recent termination of his sponsorship contract seems to have been the final straw.”
Guilds were another form of corporation.
While they generated various profits through gates and monsters, that alone was not enough to sustain a guild. That's why sponsoring corporations existed, as well as companies that supported individual guild members.
In Min Ha-na's case, she had seven sponsoring companies.
She was the only one in Black River to have so many individual sponsors.
Kang Han-su had three.
Since these companies acted as sponsors, the income from them was immense. That was why they thought he wouldn't go as far as leaving the guild, but it seemed he had reached his limit.
“I'll have to meet with Kang Il-seop.”
“I'll make the arrangements.”
This was what the vice leader had been insisting on for some time. If they didn't resolve the situation, the guild could wither away.
As Maeng Do-sik swallowed his pride, the vice leader immediately contacted the Hunter Management Bureau. However, the response did not come as quickly as his anxious heart desired.
After a long two-hour wait, a short reply came back.
—Available in three months.
The unexpected answer made the vice leader doubt his own ears. But even after double-checking, the response was the same.
For the next three months, there would be no opportunity to even negotiate.
“We can't even make this issue public…”
It was a problem that had started with their own mistake, after all.
If this became public, the fact that the guilds had colluded over gate raids would be exposed. This was why the six major guilds had been unable to respond properly.
“We underestimated Kang Il-seop.”
In three months, the departures would be in full swing.
Once the guild members scattered, the whole truth would eventually come out.
Just as the vice leader's sigh deepened, an agent rushed in with a printout.
“Vice Leader! An urgent request for support!”
“A support request? From where?”
“The Eurasian Gate Cooperation Association. It's an official notice sent to all member guilds.”
The vice leader checked the official document, written in English.
“An S-rank gate!”
Globally, S-rank gates appeared about twice a year.
The first S-rank gate had been confronted by 500 hunters, but a break still occurred. It was finally dealt with in France after a bloody battle involving 2,000 people.
The sluggish launch of the Hunter Association had also accelerated after the appearance of that first S-rank gate.
Even after that, S-rank gates brought many disasters, but as time passed, humanity had become somewhat capable of handling them.
This was because exceptional hunters had emerged, and continuous hunting had led to better items.
Recently, performance had improved even more, not just from acquired items but also thanks to special Awakeners with crafting-related abilities.
“This might be the breakthrough we need.”
Although not as bad as in the past, an S-rank gate was still considered a disaster.
This was because one had never been cleared without casualties.
“Guild Leader!”
The vice leader rushed to Maeng Do-sik, determined to turn this disaster into an opportunity.
The news of the S-rank gate that opened in Moscow, Russia, was broadcast worldwide as breaking news. Naturally, an official notice arrived at the Hunter Management Bureau, but it wasn't through the usual channels.
“Welcome.”
The person who visited the Hunter Management Bureau was the director of Russia's own Hunter Management Bureau. A middle-aged blond man with a strong, square jaw and thick eyebrows, his demeanor was impeccably polite, contrary to the arrogance in his eyes.
“Thank you for allowing me to visit.”
Director Doyev of the Russian Hunter Management Bureau.
Russia was one of the five board member nations of the Eurasian Hunter Federation.
Russia, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and China.
Korea lacked the competitive edge to be included among them.
Nevertheless, Doyev flew to Korea immediately after the first emergency meeting concluded.
There was a compelling reason for him to do so.
“I was unable to prepare a gift.”
Doyev was famous for his direct way of speaking. There was a reason he was being so polite now.
“We need Mr. Bae Wang-sik.”
A formal document was placed on the table.
As this was expected, Kang Il-seop had already prepared his answer.
“The Korean government hopes to be of assistance in this matter. We will review it favorably.”
“Can I not have an answer right away?”
“I must ask him directly. I cannot disregard his personal wishes.”
“I will meet with him myself and persuade him.”
Kang Il-seop shook his head.
“As you know, he doesn't like these kinds of procedures. You will have a response before you board your plane.”
Despite not getting what he wanted, Doyev showed no dissatisfaction.
“Russia does not forget the help of its friends.”
This was the best he could do.
Pressed for time, they exchanged farewells and left the Hunter Management Bureau. The emergency meeting would resume as soon as they were on the plane.
Ten minutes after they left.
Wang-sik opened the door to the director's office and walked in.
“Have you heard the news?”
“Yes. I heard someone from Russia came in person?”
“It seems they came here first. The entire operation will change depending on your participation.”
“This will be the third time for Russia.”
He had experience helping Russia in the early days. The first time was when a Dungeon Break occurred in the snowy fields of eastern Russia, and Wang-sik had dealt with the problematic boss.
After that, when an S-rank gate appeared, a direct request came, which led to his second expedition.
“They're pretty unlucky. For an S-rank gate to appear twice in the same country.”
“Wouldn't the probability be higher since their land is so vast?”
“Well, that could be it. Or maybe there's something over there.”
Kang Il-seop agreed with that sentiment.
“Are you going?”
“Wouldn't it be a problem if I didn't?”
“Our relationship with Russia is good, but isn't that all thanks to you anyway? Before you started helping them, it was hard to even get the Russian director on the phone.”
“I have to go. If it's an S-rank, there should be something to gain.”
“Thank you. But may I ask one more favor?”
Wang-sik nodded.
“Take Min Ha-na with you.”
Wang-sik didn't ask why.
“Alright. It'll be great experience for her. But with Min Ha-na gone too, won't there be a problem with our gate raids?”
“This is an emergency. We'll have to assign the rest to the guilds.”
The appearance of the S-rank gate made Kang Il-seop bend his principles.
Of course, his agents had grown significantly, so they should be able to hold their own.
“Doyev will be pleased.”
Kang Il-seop deliberately made the call and turned on the speakerphone so Wang-sik could hear.
“Agent Bae Wang-sik has accepted. The Hunter Management Bureau will be sending Agent Bae Wang-sik and Agent Min Ha-na to provide support.”
—Thank you. Russia will never forget this.
The joy in his voice was palpable.
—We will arrange the flight.
“Just grant us special clearance, and we'll make our own way there. You don't need to worry about this side of things anymore.”
—Thank you so much.
Kang Il-seop hung up the phone and said.
“You'll be seeing some old friends.”
“I suppose so. I'll go get ready for the trip, then.”
“Alright. Things will be ready by the time you get back.”
Their moment of calm ended there.
Hearing that a special flight had been arranged, Wang-sik headed to Incheon Airport.
Min Ha-na and Kang Il-seop were already waiting there.
Min Ha-na, who was talking to Kang Il-seop with a flushed expression, saw Wang-sik and her face stiffened.
“That's a good look. Stay cool in battle.”
“Do I have to receive training in Russia, too?”
“You'll learn a lot even if I don't teach you. Though you'd learn more if I did. What'll it be?”
Wang-sik's question was cruel.
Who could possibly say they didn't want to learn in this situation?
“Haha. I feel reassured with you two here.”
“So, are we leaving right away?”
“No. You have company.”
“Company?”
“Those who applied as representatives of their guilds, not the government. Russia gave them permission, so they're coming along.”
A short while later, a group arrived before them.
Seeing them, Min Ha-na's eyebrow twitched.
Shin Myeong-sik of the Black River Guild.
Jang Jong-oh of the Wind Guild.
Lee Myeong-jin of the Sun Guild.
They were the aces of their respective guilds.
A-rank hunters like Min Ha-na, they represented the Republic of Korea and belonged to the guilds currently being denied gate assignments by the Hunter Management Bureau.
“We've also received permission.”
Shin Myeong-sik of the Black River Guild handed a document to Kang Il-seop.
He was a man with a slender build and sharp, slanted eyes, and the look he gave Min Ha-na and Wang-sik was not friendly.
“I've already been informed.”
Kang Il-seop, already aware of the contents, glanced over it briefly and handed it back.
Once everyone had gathered, he spoke to his chief of staff standing beside him.
“I trust you'll handle things well.”
Kang Il-seop handed over all authority for this expedition to his chief of staff, who would be accompanying them.
“Have a good trip.”
As he left, Min Ha-na muttered.
“Sometimes, I really don't know what the director is thinking.”
The group followed the chief of staff towards a special departure gate.
Right before boarding the plane, they went through a final document check. This included their individual hunter registration cards.
“Hold on.”
But upon seeing Wang-sik's registration card, Shin Myeong-sik frowned.
“C-rank?”
A hunter's registration card listed their Awakening rank.
Shin Myeong-sik had just seen it.
The other two who came with him were just as surprised to hear he was a C-rank.
“He was a C-rank?”
They were aware of Wang-sik's existence.
‘I heard he even gets special invitations from overseas?’
‘Didn't they say Russia invited him personally this time, too?’
At least A-rank.
They had thought he might even be an S-rank, of which there were only six in the world, so confirming he was a C-rank was more bewildering than surprising.
“Let's board.”
The chief of staff led the way, with Wang-sik and Min Ha-na following. Shin Myeong-sik and his companions boarded the plane, unable to shake their confusion.
A strange tension filled the first-class cabin after they took their seats.
They might have traveled in peace, but Shin Myeong-sik from Black River, who had seemed irritable from the start, began to taunt them.
“Is it fun, serving the country? Fun enough to betray your guild?”
At the word "betray," Min Ha-na shot back.
“Shut your mouth. Just how much have you been sucking up to him? I can smell Maeng Do-sik's ass all the way from here.”
“What did you say? How dare you…”
“If you're just tagging along, you should just shut your eyes and sleep.”
“You've gotten arrogant. You were almost cute when you were begging me to teach you a thing or two.”
“And I certainly learned my lesson. That bastards like you shouldn't be treated like human beings. Still luring your female fans into bed these days?”
“Shut up!”
Shin Myeong-sik finally exploded. But Min Ha-na was not one to back down.
As they both stood up from their seats and glared at each other, the flight attendant was the most flustered.
“We are currently at an altitude of 30,000 feet. If you do this here…”
Following the flight attendant's trailing voice, a calm voice cut in.
“Unless you want us all to die, I suggest you sit down.”
At the chief of staff's words, Min Ha-na sat down first. But Shin Myeong-sik did not.
He couldn't care less about some chief of staff from the Hunter Management Bureau.
“Who does a mere secretary from the Hunter Management Bureau think they are, interfering…”
*Shing!*
With a sound that tore through the air, a chain shot out and wrapped around his body. Unable to avoid the sudden attack, Shin Myeong-sik tried to break the chain with his strength, but he couldn't summon any power.
“What are you doing!”
Wang-sik didn't answer, instead rising from his seat and moving toward an area of the plane without seats.
A startled flight attendant rushed over to block his path.
“What are you trying to do…”
“Just going to open the door for a second. To throw this bastard out.”
Wang-sik stood before the emergency exit.