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

Men, in contrast to the excited atmosphere, loitered in front of the gate. They smacked their lips regretfully as they watched the bus enter the hunting grounds.

"Shoot! We're too late!"

"This is bad. Who would've thought she'd go into North Pocheon. I thought we had her cornered with 'Butterfly' (a tracking skill). We were too careless."

"Butterfly isn't foolproof. Anyway, that North Korean woman was smart. If you want to hide, this is the place."

"What should we do?"

"What do you mean what do we do? We're going to take her down and catch her."

"They're checking IDs here, right? Our Korean nationality has been revoked. Our Hunter's licenses are from China. We can't get in."

"Damn, the higher-ups said to handle it within three days. Do you know what happened to the guys who lost her in the Demonic Realm?"

"What happened in Sinuiju? We nearly had her and then she slipped right through our fingers. Brokers are cunning, gotta give them that. Claiming to protect their 'clients' and all. They're really just 'Black Merchants'. Anyway, if we don't catch her here... Ugh, just the thought is horrifying."

With that statement, the men felt a wave of anxiety.

Their lives were luxurious due to their change of nationality from Korea to China, but they also faced significant responsibilities. Their loyalty to the guild and the Chinese government was always tested, and they faced ruthless punishment when failing to complete their tasks.

In China, Korean-descent Hunters were treated little better than dogs kept well-fed only to be exploited. Even the guilds that supposedly treated them better were no different.

Some Hunters regretted their choices, but there was nothing to be done about the spilled milk. Fear of repercussions prevented them from reclaiming their original nationality once they became Chinese Hunters.

Their only remaining option was to do their best to complete the mission.

"Should we jump over the fence?"

"Forget it. I saw the Iron Will guys riding wolves around."

"We can just get rid of them."

"It's not just one or two of them; you'll get caught right away. Are you confident you can if you bump into Ju Se-ah? That woman can fold an ogre in half. I'd rather not get caught by the witch."

"Damn, Ju Se-ah just had to make this her turf. What a headache."

After much deliberation, the men had only one option.

"Let's go in. But we're not sneaking around."

"What else if we don't sneak in?"

"There's a guy in Yongsan who's great at forging stuff. He does computer hacking too. Even the Ujungdo guys use him."

"What about the tickets? It's by reservation here. I heard it's booked till January."

"We'll have to buy them. With money. It's being traded on the Market."

"Damn, it's going to be expensive there. Do we have no other choice?"

"Just keep an eye on the gate while the rest of us wait until we get the stuff. I'll report back to the higher-ups."

The men quickly scattered each to their roles after setting the plan.

Kang Mu-hyuk mulled over the conversation he had with Director Cha Gil-joo.

'Demonic Realm... These kinds of movements right after I warned them to watch the north? Now I understand why Director Cha is being sensitive.'

Even if Darden harbored hatred, direct disruptive actions on the Korean peninsula were limited due to inter-state relations. If the Tyrant Guild was up to something, it could only happen in the Demonic Realm, adjacent to the border.

The vast Demonic Realm region, encompassing parts of Manchuria and the Russian border, was frequently visited by Hunters from the surrounding three countries.

It wouldn't be strange for the Tyrant to take out his frustrations on Korean Hunters in that area, recalling what he did to Nazezhinsky.

Moreover, he could potentially drive powerful monsters towards the Korean border areas. Such tactics were common around the world and clever enough to leave no evidence, making it difficult to blame someone.

Unless there was a Stage 3 alert, low-ranked Hunters were usually on the perimeter of the border, so there was a high chance of exponential increase in the initial damage.

Kang Mu-hyuk couldn't ignore the possibility of such a scenario, hence his warning.

Be wary of the Demonic Realm.

'If an S-rank acts out pettily, it's not a prank but a disaster. If the Tyrant really moves, our Guild Master will have to stop him. Of course, if he comes at us with guerrilla warfare, even that option of ours will be futile. More importantly, revealing that we have an S-ranker on our side would hurt us even more. Ultimately, everything would get messed up.'

Kang Mu-hyuk continued to ponder how to respond to the possibility of Tyrant Guild's involvement, when he suddenly remembered Cha Gil-joo mentioning China.

'This is a headache. Did Russia cause China to respond, or was it the other way around?'

Russia and China were rivals contesting the Gate rights in the Far East. With the transformation of the northeastern three provinces into Demonic Realm and the blurring of national borders, bloody conflicts among Hunters were common.

Each time, the governments of the involved countries either issued statements blaming each other or, led by the guilds, buried the fact that a conflict had even occurred.

As nations are staking their lives to reclaim the Demonic Realm, naturally, if one side made a move, the other followed regardless of the reason. All this time, Korea had stepped back from the competition between these two countries. The shrimp barely managed to protect its back in a whale fight. However, the Oopoomangbawoo incident slightly changed the flow of events.

"Vladivostok is the Far Eastern base for Russian Hunters heading to the Demonic Realm. Having formed a cooperative relationship with the Tsar Guild that controls it, we naturally have a route to enter the Demonic Realm, though we're far from capable."

That was why Kang Mu-hyuk was concerned about the Demonic Realm.

Whether he wanted it or not, if something happened in the Demonic Realm, all related forces would inevitably be sucked in like a black hole.

If Iron Will meddled carelessly, they could be instantly pulverized.

Still, it couldn't be ignored.

'Indeed, entering the Demonic Realm isn't a matter of choice; it's inevitable. The domestic Gate market is already saturated. At some point, the Korean Hunter community will have to expand northward to continue growing. It was with this in mind that I reached out to Russia...'

Kang Mu-hyuk's worries weren't baseless. There were already groups preparing to enter the Demonic Realm.

Slayer Guild.

Their desire for Rider Wolves wasn't just about Gate conquests. The quantity they wanted was excessively high for that alone.

Kang Mu-hyuk predicted that Slayer's ultimate destination would be the Demonic Realm.

Slayer, aiming to be not just the best in Korea but the top in Asia and a world-class guild, would naturally look northward. Since this coincided with the plans he had in mind during his time at Titan, he could figure out their intentions.

And now, in charge of Iron Will, this thought was still valid. However, the approach to entering the Demonic Realm had changed from the original plan.

"We must wait for Slayer to move up."

Not a solo entry, but an alliance. Or cooperation.

Considering the vast area of the Demonic Realm, even a Tier-ed guild would feel the burden of tackling it alone. Plus, the conflicts with China and Russia had to be factored in. Ultimately, the strength and leadership to unify the Korean Hunter community were needed.

Regardless of whether he liked Slayer or not, no other guild in Korea currently wielded as much influence as they did.

"Without sufficient information, I can't make a decision."

While the Korean Hunter community's intelligence about the Demonic Realm was lacking, Kang Mu-hyuk had his own card to play. He picked up the phone and connected to a newly established line.

"Secure the call."

-Yes, Director. Where should I connect you?

"Russia, Vladivostok."

After getting off the bus, Lee Sookyoung was indifferent to the admiring looks of other Hunters towards Hunters' Village.

With her life in immediate danger, she had no leisure to tour hunting grounds or facilities.

She had only one reason for coming to this place, where she had never stepped foot before.

The old South Korean land.

Survival.

'They say Ju Se-ah the Hunter is here, so those bastards can't act rashly.'

The past few days had been a continuous series of chilling moments. She had managed to shake off her pursuers in Demonic Realm, but it seemed they might have a tracking skill, as they had followed her right up to the Yalu River crossing.

With no other choice, she hid in the crowded northern border city of Sinuiju.

Sinuiju was infamous for its congestion, being close to the Demonic Realm and a border city adjacent to China, yet somehow her pursuers had managed to track her down like ghosts.

She exhausted all her strength to shake them off, and realized it was difficult to continue eluding her pursuers. She thought it better to hide in a remote area, a place they wouldn't think to look for her.

That was why she chose North Pocheon.

As they were closing in on her, she heard about the opening of North Pocheon Hunters' Village, where Ju Se-ah was located.

'I've heard a lot about Comrade Ju Se-ah.'

Disaster, killer, witch.

With such ominous nicknames, it was clear what her personality was like. Although it was rare to find a Hunter with a good-natured personality, Ju Se-ah was a Hunter nobody wanted to associate with.

Wasn't she the one even the Slayer Guild had given up on due to her cruelty and brutality?

While she couldn't ask such a fearsome Hunter for help, Lee Sookyoung thought that the pursuers would not dare to act rashly if she was near Ju Se-ah. She inquired about an illegal broker skilled in Hunter matters. From the broker, she managed to secure a ticket into the special operations zone of North Pocheon.

She had to spend all the money she had saved during her five years as a freelance monster Hunter, but it was worth it for her life.

'Even after five years of hunting monsters, to be penniless after buying a single entry ticket to a hunting ground... How pathetic of a situation am I in? I should have learned Seoul dialect earlier instead of wasting effort on Culture Language(Pyeongyang dialect). I can't even hide my origin now. With this damn mooth(mouth) of mine, all I can do doing dailywork(freelance) hunting. How would I save any money?'

After briefly lamenting over her circumstances, Lee Sookyoung acted like an experienced Hunter who had roamed in the Demonic Realm for a long time, and proceeded with the plan she had prepared.

She decided to arrange for camping equipment first. There was no guarantee that the pursuers wouldn't follow her here. If there was nowhere else to hide, it was better to hide within the hunting ground.

'I have to survive. Dying here would feel unjust. Wasn't I at least an A-rank Hunter?'

Just as in Demonic Realm, Lee Sookyoung once again fortified her will to survive.

From the entrance parking lot of Hunter Village, Seo Suji couldn't close her gaping mouth.

"Wow, this place is the proper deal!"

She wasn't the only one surprised. Although there were some differences, other people's reactions were similar.

It was indeed surprising because deep within the Special Operations Zone, where monsters roamed, there stood a village.

As soon as they entered the village, the lineup of restaurants and cafes captivated the group.

"People say you gotta see Mt. Geumgang after a meal. Let's eat first."

At Lee Cheoljin's suggestion, Seo Suji quickly scanned the restaurant signs but couldn't decide easily.

"I can't decide at all. What should we eat?"

"Let's have ribs. When you think of Pocheon, you think of Idong ribs."

After much deliberation, they entered a rib restaurant. It was an odd time between breakfast and lunch, but the place was already full.

Most of the customers were Hunters. You didn't have to identify them by their clothing or demeanor; the piles of ribs on each table were a giveaway. The meal, which started with 30 servings for three or four people, could not have been for the average person's stomach.

Lee Cheoljin immediately flagged down a server as they sat down.

"Auntie, 30 servings of ribs, please."

"Why are you ordering so much from the start?"

Seo Suji scolded him. Lee Cheoljin shook his head and retorted.

"Isn't it a Hunter's rule to eat ten portions per person? You need that much to use any type of  energy."

"But it's morning?"

"It's lunch now. We missed breakfast. We have to make up for the lost calories."

Soon, large trays of meat arrived at the table one after another. Lee Cheoljin began grilling the ribs with care. It didn't take long for the three of them to go through 30 servings.

The tables were unusually large compared to typical restaurants. The grill in the middle was also quite wide, almost three times the size of those at ordinary barbecue places.

In the start, they thought about why it was so huge, but they realized its benefit as they cooked.

"Maybe it's because the grill is so big? We're not interrupted while eating. I always got annoyed at restaurants because the cooking couldn't keep up with the eating pace."

"Definitely. Since a guild operates the place, they seem to really understand Hunters."

The group, moved by the meticulous attention to the small inconveniences Hunters felt in regular restaurants, quickly devoured the pile of ribs. They were also surprised again at the checkout.

"Wow! They take cards here!"

"Using a card inside the Special Operations Zone... That's really amazing!"

The surprises didn't stop there. They continued as they picked where to stay.

"All the pensions are full. If we knew this would happen, we would have booked rooms first before eating."

"Let's go to a motel then."

"I don't like motels."

Several types of accommodations were available in the village, with motels being the most common. However, with their remodeled interiors and services, these motels were closer to mini-hotels.

But the problem with such nice accommodations was:

"A million won per night? For a motel room?"

The lodging fees were also expensive. But for Hunters, such costs were not a problem.

"That's pretty cheap?"

Outside, people may look down on freelance Hunters, but a capable party could earn in one hunt what ordinary people wouldn't dare dream of. The reason they always talked about money was because as much as they earned, they also spent a lot.

From repairing and replacing Hunter weapons to life-saving potions. Money seemed to drain out as if there were a hole in their bank accounts.

Naturally, their sense of money was different from that of ordinary people.

"This level of service at this price in the middle of a hunting ground? Maybe not outside, but here it's a steal."

Unlike typical motels, the accommodations they chose had large windows, and after settling in, the group went out to explore Hunters' Village.

Specifically, they wanted to check out the Hunter Community Center and the training curriculum promised to low-rank Hunters, which had been advertised by Iron Will. They were also interested in other content such as guild rental equipment and tax-free weapons shopping.

All of these were things every freelance Hunter craved.

The more Lee Cheoljin toured Hunters' Village, the more he was impressed.

"Bro, once you get a taste of this place, who would want to go back to Mt. Jiri?"

"That place is far from Seoul, and the terrain is complicated, and really annoying. In comparison, this place has more flatlands, making hunting easier. Still, I bet the more profitable monsters are likely over there."

"But here, they don't deduct taxes."

Yu Taejin nodded at Lee Cheoljin's remark.

Although a 10% commission was deducted when handing over monster byproducts, it was much better than the 30% tax imposed elsewhere.

Additionally, it was convenient that they didn't have to go outside for byproduct processing, which reduced travel time. Using Hunters' Village as a camp meant no need for camping out. Just being able to rest adequately outside of hunting was heaven for Hunters.

"Let's finish looking around."

Seo Suji, looking around here and there, eagerly led the group onward.

A day after entering the special operations zone, Hunters began to move in earnest. No matter how many leisure activities Hunters' Village offered, they were here to hunt, after all.

Sensing the shift in the atmosphere, Hunters crowded into the community center.

This place offered a variety of services, including the exchange of information among Hunters, maps of hunting grounds provided by Iron Will, real-time price changes of byproducts, and sales brokerage.

Hunters who entered individually without a party used a matching program provided by the guild.

The coordinators of Iron Will took into account the Hunters' ranks, positions, weapons, and hunting styles to form ideal party members. This system was distinct from the usual method where Hunters formed parties through a guild app's bulletin board.

The community center was set up in the main lobby of Iron Will Guild's headquarters. Previously, it was a space for Iron Will members, but Kang Mu-hyuk had suddenly transformed the lobby and cafeteria into a community center.

The lobby, now bustling with Hunters, saw minor disputes arise as Hunters from various regions gathered together. Whenever such disputes occurred, Iron Will members would intervene and give them a warning.

"Causing trouble can lead to expulsion. Expelled Hunters will be banned from entry for one year."

For freelance Hunters, being unable to enter the special operations zone meant difficulty in joining parties. This warning was effective for freelancers who lacked a steady income. However, Hunters are naturally defiant. It was jokingly said that the higher the rank, the worse their hearing.

Despite the warnings, some Hunters blatantly ignored them.

"Did you say that to me?"

A man, who seemed to be wearing muscles instead of armor, turned around. He had just been causing a scene at the reception desk. The member issuing the warning stepped back, startled by his gaze.

'Damn it, he's definitely high-ranked. What's a guy like him doing here?'

The man scoffed.

"Even the receptionist here... You guys really can't understand simple requests. Did I ask for too much? I just asked for Ju Se-ah to be called!"

His last words, charged with mana, made nearby Hunters stagger. Several of Iron Will's civilian staff even fainted. Hunters quickly caught the falling staff, preventing any serious injuries.

That was when it happened.

"Is Ju Se-ah your damn dog?! What makes you think you can just call her like that?!"

A voice as thunderous as the man's rang out through the center.