Against the Clock: The Team Leader’s Pursuit of Glory

Kang Mu-hyuk made a proposition to Darden.

"What will you do? Will you end this here? You wouldn't want the city to be contaminated with poison, would you?"

"If Oopoomangbawoo has awakened, there's no hope for this place anyway. At least half will be tainted with poison, no matter how poorly done."

If it were Oopoomangbawoo before it became active, one could hope to cautiously lure it out using a giantized Hunter.

The reason was because that creature, true to its name, had no mercy for things smaller than itself, but conversely, it became docile towards larger beings.

However, once it began to move actively, that method wouldn't work.

There was no choice but to forcefully drag it out, and resistance would be fierce. It was obvious that the venom released during the fight would ruin the city.

"Even if we are able to subdue Oopoomangbawoo, the city will be destroyed, we wouldn't escape the blame. The people from Nazezhinsky will make sure to direct the resentment of the citizens of Vladivostok towards us. I don't need to follow their tune."

Kang Mu-hyuk scoffed at Darden who was still calculating profits and losses amidst this situation.

"You people are not Hunters."

"What?"

"A Hunter is someone who hunts monsters. Whether they face criticism or praise. Only those who hunt monsters regardless of any situation, without minding everything else, are called 'Hunters.' Though of course, revenge might be more important than hunting in Russia, but at least in Korea, we prioritize hunting monsters and saving people."

Kang Mu-hyuk's words provoked Igor. He felt as if he was being criticized.

"Hey, Корейский(Korean). Don't be yapping. You're testing my patience right now."

"You're the one who needs to tone it down. Our Guild Leader hasn't even said anything wrong, so what?"

Sparks flew between Ju Se-ah and Igor. The halted fight seemed ready to reignite at any moment with hostile glares being exchanged.

Darden broke the tension with a comment, "Not a bad try. Touching on our professional conscience, huh? But save that for the Federation. After Nazezhinsky 14 years ago, we stopped believing in conscience, pride, and duty. Only the weak spout that nonsense. I saw with my own eyes what happens to those who believe in that. Betrayed. Exploited. And eventually killed. So─"

Darden paused for a moment. Then he snarled at Kang Mu-hyuk, "Don't try to force your ridiculous beliefs on us."

Despite the adversary's intimidating and almost mad gaze, Kang Mu-hyuk was unfazed and retorted, "So, what you're saying is that you're scared right now?"

"This son of a......!"

Darden growled and stepped towards Kang Mu-hyuk when Ju Se-ah warned him, "Don't move. Unless you want to die."

"I'll kill you quicker than I kill him, woman."

"Try me."

While Ju Se-ah kept Igor in check, No Song-rin, who had been tending to Kozlov, stood behind Kang Mu-hyuk with a karambit knife suddenly in hand.

Even Nikolayev, a subordinate of Darden's, armed himself, causing Darden to halt.

Kang Mu-hyuk spoke again.

"We'll take the blame."

"What?"

"I'm saying that we'll take the resentment of the citizens of Vladivostok on ourselves."

"Are you trying to scam us right now? What's this nonsense now?"

"We'll take on the Oopoomangbawoo raid. In return, release our team members. After all, the giant trait has become useless now, hasn't it?"

"..."

Darden compared the strengths of the Tsar Guild and these Koreans.

There was no escaping the impending tragedy, even with the still unbelievable inclusion of the woman suspected to be an S-ranker.

'The tricky part about Oopoomangbawoo is that it continuously leaks poison during battle. The amount of poison it sprays increases when it's injured or agitated.'

The poison was so virulent that once it hit the ground, it completely turned the surrounding area into a land of death.

If by chance they managed to kill it, the poison powerful enough to engulf an entire city would spread instantaneously. Hunters could resist it, but for ordinary people, it'd mean instant death.

Even if people were evacuated safely, the loss of abandoning a city that was the foundation of all their lives would be difficult to recover from. It meant the complete economic collapse of a region.

'I can't believe he's going so far as to step into a situation where there's nothing to gain. Look at him acting like a Hunter.'

With that thought, Darden was startled.

Unconsciously, he had been carrying an understanding of what a Hunter's duty was, what the essence of their existence meant. It was a thought that had never crossed his mind before.

And the one who had awakened that thought was.

'Kang Mu-hyuk... somehow the more I talk to him, the more annoying he gets.'

He no longer wanted to be in the same place as him.

Darden realized that agreeing to Kang Mu-hyuk's demands wouldn't really be a loss for the Tsar Guild. In fact, depending on the outcome, it could be quite beneficial to use.

If the hunt failed, they could simply turn their backs, and if it succeeded, they could exploit the situation of the damaged city to implicate the Tsar Guild as well.

"Fine. We'll release them."

"We'll be taking Kozlov with us."

"Alright. We'll allow that too."

"Darden!"

Igor shouted. Without even looking at his brother, Darden said, "Take them away before our Guild Master loses his temper. Your guild members will be sent straight to the Tsar Guild."

As Darden made his decision, an infuriated Igor punched the ground.

The asphalt shattered, and the earth caved in, forming a sinkhole.

Ju Se-ah, looking down at Igor who had sunk into the ground, did not let her guard down.

But Igor did not argue further and leaped away from the scene. The howls of a wild beast echoed behind him as he disappeared into the distance.

"Guild Master. I know you must be tired, but I think you need to prepare for the raid," Kang Mu-hyuk approached Ju Se-ah and spoke.

Ju Se-ah smiled faintly and whispered into Kang Mu-hyuk's ear, "Tired, yes. I swam through the winter sea, after all. My body is definitely not in its normal state."

Ju Se-ah was not someone to complain about being weak just from swimming in cold water. Kang Mu-hyuk understood what she meant.

"Do you mean... Did you overexert yourself just now?"

"Yes. I bluffed. It was my first time using that power... so it seems I've strained myself by forcing it."

Kang Mu-hyuk led the group as naturally as possible to where the sports car was parked.

He first helped Ju Se-ah into the back seat and then laid the unconscious Kozlov next to her. No Song-rin took the driver's seat, and Kang Mu-hyuk was about to get into the passenger seat when Darden, who hadn't noticed Ju Se-ah's condition, spoke to Kang Mu-hyuk.

"I'm telling you this just in case. Your Guild Master is now on the target list of the intelligence agency. She even illegally entered the country. If this raid goes wrong too, it's going to become a diplomatic issue."

"We're ready for that."

"By the way, we have some connections in the intelligence agency too. If you run into trouble, come find us. We'll see if you can talk as well as you did today then."

"Thank you for your consideration. But you guys better focus on your conduct. Well, then."

Kang Mu-hyuk left those words behind and quickly got into the car.

Darden grimaced and yelled, but his voice was drowned out by the loud exhaust of the sports car.

Spitting in the direction where the sports car carrying Kang Mu-hyuk had disappeared, Darden muttered, "Thought I was rid of one annoying nemesis. Seems like another stubborn one has appeared. My damned luck."

"I... I tried to stop him. That person... I didn't know Makar would do that."

In front of Anton, Olga muttered as if confessing, her eyes gray with what seemed like regret over her decisions, pondering if there had been a better choice.

"Olga. You were foolish. Makar isn't as good as you thought."

Olga buried her head, almost touching the table.

"You probably heard from the Vice Guild Leader. It turns out that Makar was scheming during several raids where the guild elders were sacrificed. He harmed his own family. And you were complicit in it."

While Makar was out having escaped, the survivors caught by Anton from Nazezhinsky easily confessed to their deeds.

It was not a gesture of cooperation. It was a curse mixed with anger and swearing. It was a time of denunciation, for shouting why their revenge was justified.

"But Makar clearly told me! He said he would only threaten to get the Tsar Guild to acknowledge the wrongs they did in Nazezhinsky and to obtain a formal apology and not go further."

"Did you believe the promise of a man who killed his comrades and used monsters to take people hostage? He's a terrorist, Olga."

Olga didn't speak anymore. Seeing how she didn't pursue Makar or flee, it seemed she was aware of her wrongdoing.

"It's going to be hard to just let this slide. Once the Oopoomangbawoo case is settled, the authorities won't stay quiet. I'll defend you as much as I can, but... it's probably best to be prepared."

"If you make a mistake, then you gotta be punished."

Anton sighed as he left the interrogation room.

Despite her long service to the guild, he didn't have an ounce of forgiveness in him for her having been blinded by love and committing such acts.

Kang Mu-hyuk and Ju Se-ah were watching through the glass window of the interrogation room.

With a complex look, he followed Anton to the guild leader's office and asked, "What's the current situation with Oopoomangbawoo ?"

"It's quiet for now. Other than some destruction immediately after it became active, there's been no significant movement."

"Has there been any trace of Makar?"

"Since he entered the area where Oopoomangbawoo is active, there hasn't been any confirmation. The Hunters who followed him had to retreat due to Oopoomangbawoo's activities."

"Given the situation, should we assume that this Makar is controlling Oopoomangbawoo?"

At Ju Se-ah's words, Kang Mu-hyuk nodded. Anton sighed in agreement.

After getting seated into the guild leader's office, Anton continued the conversation.

"What will we do about Kozlov's safety?"

"He should be left to the Federation. There may be some grievances with the Tsar Guild, but there's no helping it."

"That's actually for the best. The Federation has been a headache for us as well. The bigger issue is dealing with Oopoomangbawoo. A single rampage devastated a whole street. Fortunately, there were no people there because we evacuated in advance... but we can't do anything about the poison. Right now, it can still be purified, but if it gets any worse, the place will become uninhabitable."

"The preparations for the raid are complete. We've received word that our guild members have been released from Tyrant, so we can go hunting anytime they arrive."

Anton grimaced at Kang Mu-hyuk's words.

"The stage for solving this with giantization traits is over. The entire city will be contaminated with poison before we can get it into the barrier box we prepared."

"That was 'Plan A.' There's also a 'Plan B.'"

"Plan B?"

"We can't be 100% sure, but it should work as we prepared in advance. The real problem is catching Makar. We don't know what else he might do. It would be problematic if he causes trouble during the raid."

"That's why our guild's scouting party is on standby. We'll deploy them immediately to find him. But what is this Plan B..."

Just as they were about to ask about Plan B, Anton's smartphone rang.

It was on the table, so the screen was immediately visible.

[Makar Boronin]

Everyone fell silent.

Anton hesitated for a moment before he reached for the phone. Kang Mu-hyuk extended his hand to stop Anton and said, "He must be agitated from messing things up. Don't provoke him."

Anton nodded and answered the call.

"Makar..."

-Guild Master, I will switch to a video call.

Suddenly, the call switched to a video, and Makar's face appeared on the screen.

Under the nearly spent, blurry halogen light, he seemed to be floating in the darkness, with only his head visible.

-Is Guild Leader Kang Mu-hyuk there? Make sure he's visible too.

Anton glanced at Kang Mu-hyuk. Kang Mu-hyuk nodded, and they moved closer together so both could appear in the smartphone camera.

-Impressive. Being there means you've escaped safely from the Tyrant's hands, I assume?

"You're the one who's bold. Or should I say reckless? I didn't expect you to contact us first."

-Because my intention is not slaughter. I'm offering a chance for dialogue.

"Lunatic mad! Then why did you dare mess with Oopoomangbawoo?!"

Anton gritted his teeth and shouted.

-Guild Master, if you wish, I can wait until all the citizens of Vladivostok have evacuated the city. Of course, that's unless you plan to send your members in the meantime.

"..."

-Of course, you can't do that, can you? After all, doing so would diminish the status of the Tsar Guild. Considering the chaos that would ensue and the cost of restoring a paralyzed city, the Tsar Guild wouldn't be able to escape responsibility either. As the head of the guild's intelligence team, I understand how difficult guild management can be.

"How absurd. Are you pretending to be a guild member now?"

-Are you still pretending to be a saint?

"What?"

-Don't pin all this on me. Because this is about the Tsar Guild. It's about punishing your guild for the crimes it committed.

"What are you talking about?!"

-You're not going to say you don't know about the Nazezhinsky incident now, are you?

"Are you saying the tragedy of Nazezhinsky is our fault? That's ridiculous."

-Go ask the retired former Guild Master what he did 14 years ago. Where did the tragedy start? Go ask him that and come back.

"I'm somewhat aware of the circumstances of this matter as well."

Kang Mu-hyuk interjected. Anton, realizing there was a story he didn't know, was at a loss for words and looked questioningly.

Kang Mu-hyuk responded to him.

"There was a powerful boss monster that emerged from the Gate opened by the outbreak, right? I heard that the Tsar Guild lured that boss monster and other monsters to Nazezhinsky to protect Vladivostok. Of course, I'm not sure if that's true."

"That can't be! The former Guild Master wasn't that kind of person!"

Anton erupted in anger, and a scoffing sound came from the screen.

-The Federation's intelligence is impressive indeed. Even the current Guild Master doesn't know the stories you know. But is Kozlov safe?

"He's safe for now. But let's finish talking about you. What do you need to hear? What should we do to prevent you from meddling with Oopoomangbawoo?"

-You're difficult but at least you get what I'm saying. I'm not asking for much.

"I heard from Olga. Would an official apology from the guild suffice? If what you're saying is true, we're willing to apologize."

Anton responded positively, but no expectation could be seen on Makar's face.

Kang Mu-hyuk felt uneasy about that part.

'He's too calm, not agitated at all. A plan over ten years in the making just fell through. Whatever we do, he's bound to cause trouble.'

Makar continued.

-I don't even expect that anymore. It's a story that will anyway be buried... a story that will be forgotten anyway, isn't it? It's a world that only remembers tragedies only when they become their own...

"So, what do you want?!"

-Guild Leader Kang Mu-hyuk. I want to talk with you. One on one.