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

The Slayer Guild's strike team was created to immaculately deal with conflicts with other guilds.

The team wasn't listed in the organization's chart. Their mechanism was pre-briefing the Hunters who were strong with regards to face-to-face combat and had a strong sense of duty from among the members of each party, and summoning them only when necessary.

In fact, this method weakened the team's organization. It was less efficient than continuously training and executing operations repeatedly with a single purpose.

However, the strike team's very purpose was sinful, which would have made it problematic if other guilds protested or if it became a political issue. It inevitably became a team in name only, as if turning a blind eye.

Among the strike team, Gam Wooyoung was the famous Hunter rumored to be strong in personal combat.

Using his message skill, he boldly entered through the unfinished factory's main Gate.

"Team Leader Sung, I couldn't bring many people because I was worried about drawing attention. Will it be okay if I proceed alone?"

"We received the address in a suspicious manner. It was way too easy. It might even be a trap. As a way to reduce the risk factor we will secure the surrounding area and wait."

"Wow! Then what about me? So is it okay with you if I get thrown into a trap?"

"We need to crush the trap head-on, even if it's just to warn the enemy. We chose a decisive force that could eliminate them rather than planning a half-baked operation."

A smile flickered across Gam Wooyoung's lips.

"A decisive force, huh... Hehe! As expected, the Team Leader trusts me.'

As he nodded in satisfaction, a message from Sung Seonjae made him frown.

"Though if Hunter Ju Se-ah was in your place, she would have charged in without any hesitation."

"Ah, so I'm just a chicken taking the place of the pheasant, huh?"

[TN: (substitute// the next best thing)]

Sung Seonjae reassured the grumbling Gam Wooyoung.

"It might take more time, but Hunter Gam Wooyoung, you'll prove to be even more significant than the pheasant. Regardless of Hunter Ju Se-ah, you are our guild's next ace."

"Tch! You really know how to put someone through a rollercoaster."

Even with the battle ahead, Gam Wooyoung hummed a tune as he entered the factory.

The ceiling, punctured here and there, allowed moonlight to illuminate the interior.

The steel frame was exposed, and the structure felt wide, like an open field with few walls.

Overhead, the building was designed to have five floors, but it was still just a skeleton, with no floor visible.

"Wow, this is so obvious."

His skin tingled as the nape of his neck felt chilly. His spine went cold, and his feet felt hollow, just like the sensation of riding the Viking at an amusement park.

Gam Wooyoung felt exhilarated by the murderous aura surrounding him.

"How did you know I like this kind of thing?"

Gam Wooyoung licked his palate with his tongue, rolling it slowly as if savoring delicious food. The moment he swallowed the saliva filling his mouth---

Swoosh!

Dozens of silver beams poured towards Gam Wooyoung from the darkness.

He darted to the right and a weapon landed in the spot he had just vacated.

'Shuriken!'

The windmill-shaped throwing stars used by Japanese ninjas caught his eye. It was burrowed deeply into the concrete, but the unique shape was instantly recognizable.

Those killer weapons followed the spots that Gam Wooyoung dodged. He continued to sidestep, narrowly avoiding the lethal weapons.

When it became too difficult to evade the lethal weapons arriving from all directions, he drew the right twin sword to strike them down first---

Boom!

"Damn it! Now they're even throwing exploding ones?"

Gam Wooyoung drew his left sword as well.

A red blade and a blue blade.

The Blue-Red Divine Twin Swords.

It was a custom-made lethal weapon forged from the fangs of a Blue and Red Twin-Headed Serpent he had caught himself.

"45 meters in the front, two; 30 meters to the left, three; 40 meters to the right, two; upper left diagonal..."

As he dodged, Gam Wooyoung was assessing the directions from which the lethal weapons were emerging.

Now that he had a rough idea of the enemies' locations and numbers, it was time to counterattack.

Gam Wooyoung aimed for the closest group on his left first. In multi-enemy combat situations for Hunters, it was common sense to break through one side of the encirclement and then proceed clockwise or counter-clockwise to deal with the rest. Such tactics were second nature to him.

"You're all deaaaad now... Huh?"

What fell over Gam Wooyoung as he charged was a metal net. Given that it couldn't be cut easily even when he struck swiftly, it seemed to be made of a special material.

The net's effectiveness was not just due to its toughness.

"Arghhh---ughhh---f-f-fuckkk---electric shockkkk."

The net that captured Gam Wooyoung was not just any net. It was a special net made from a superior grade item known as 'Electro Stone,' which has 'lightning' properties.

As soon as his capture was confirmed, two enemies emerged from the darkness and approached slowly.

Just as they got close and tried to stab him with swords resembling rapiers, a sword shining brighter than the weak moonlight seeping into the factory, tore through the net. The light from the sword even sliced through the enemies who had approached Gam Wooyoung.

Thud! Thump!

"Gotcha, bastards?! Did you really think I'd be caught by something like this......"

Gam Wooyoung was surprised to see the enemies fall without even a scream.

"What the, these guys? Could it be these guys were......?"

His thoughts were cut short.

A flashing light from below wrapped around him.

Boom!

The abandoned partially constructed factory construction site filled with a blast, as if the entire place had turned into a giant speaker.

"Team leader, how long do we wait? We heard an explosion. If something happens to the Party Leader Gam ..."

"Trust me, our next ace is not as easy as he appears."

The Hunter leading the strike team fell silent at Sung Seonjae's reply. He had no choice but to agree with Sung Seonjae.

'Indeed, Hunter Gam Wooyoung was the only one in the guild who fought hundreds of battles against that witch.'

Some in the guild avoided dueling with Ju Se-ah because of pride, fear, or concern that it would turn into a massacre.

But Gam Wooyoung was different. He was not afraid of defeat. He did not avoid pain or shame. He challenged again after hundreds of defeats and even when he was close to death.

With each defeat, he grew stronger. Eventually, he shed his status as a prospect and was cast in expeditions, triumphing in various raids.

Now, he had reached a position where no one would criticize him even if he didn't undergo hard training.

Yet, despite gaining high honor and wealth, he continued to challenge Ju Se-ah and lose.

With each loss, he became tougher.

After Ju Se-ah left, Gam Wooyoung gradually became the center of the Expedition team.

No one in the guild doubted Gam Wooyoung.

The Hunter who had just spoken with Sung Seonjae suddenly realized something and exclaimed, "This must be your method of training. I heard this was how you conducted real battles during Hunter Ju Se-ah's time too. It's said that lions push their cubs off cliffs... Truly, as expected of you, Team Leader Sung."

"That's just because Ju Se-ah was tough."

"..."

At the moment the Hunter found himself at a loss for words.

Then the noise suddenly ceased and Gam Wooyoung walked out through the entrance he had entered.

He was dragging his steps, his royal blue armor coat torn here and there, and the bodies of enemies he was dragging in each hand testified to the scuffle that had occurred.

Gam Wooyoung threw the corpses in front of Sung Seonjae.

Sung Seonjae glanced down at them indifferently.

"They're puppets. The kind the Japanese sometimes use. Except for a few controlling them from the inside, the rest were all dolls. They even self-exploded them right there! I destroyed the core of the last puppets right away and secured the evidence."

"That was a very efficient trap. If they have a self-explosion feature, they must be quite expensive. If everyone had rushed in recklessly, there might have been some casualties," Sung Seon-je mused as he inspected the puppet closely.

His smartphone rang at that moment. He checked the time and answered the call.

"You've really timed this call perfectly."

-Did the hunt go well?

"It left a bad taste in my mouth. Just like you said, it was a bust."

-Then, you must have decided what to do next.

"It seems you and I are on the same page."

Sung Seonjae was annoyed by Kang Mu-hyuk from the Slayer Guild's perspective but he personally admired him.

'From the moment we received the wrong information, everything started going according to Kang Mu-hyuk's plan. Using that is another matter. I never thought someone would set up a game like this against the Slayer.'

Seeing someone dealing so openly after a long time felt more refreshing than unpleasant.

-I'll give you the address. Guild Leader Ju Se-ah will be waiting for you.

"Before tonight ends. Let's strike while the enemy feels relieved thinking they've fooled us."

-I'll set the time of the attack at dawn.

"3 AM. Any later, and we risk involving civilians."

-Yes. We'll make the preparations.

Sung Seonjae remembered the address Kang Mu-hyuk provided and ordered the Hunters to withdraw.

Gam Wooyoung, who had been listening to the call, asked with a puzzled look, "It seems he knows where they are hiding. Aren't we going there?"

"If we move directly from here, the enemy will notice. We need to withdraw and send another strike team."

"Who?"

"Party Leader Ha Hye Sung."

Gam Wooyoung's face soured at the mention.

"It sounds like Se-Ah is conducting a joint operation with the Alliance. Is it okay to send Hye Sung?"

"Ha Hye Sung is the Expedition party leader and our current ace. He knows how to separate personal matters from professional ones."

Sung Seonjae got into the car with Gam Wooyoung and made a call. Although their task here was finished, his work as the Strategy Team Leader was just beginning. Handling the aftermath was crucial when problems arose.

-This is Woo Byung-gi speaking.

"The embassy staff. Was it Mr. Tanaka?"

-Yes.

"Ensure he's secured before I get to the headquarters."

-Understood.

"Good work, Mr. Cho."

-That was it? Following Sung Seonjae around?

"We can't afford to have them strike the Iga Clan first and cause problems."

-My goodness, they say there's no one to trust in this business but to have me shadow him even after making arrangements with them because you can't trust them. Team Leader Kang, you've really been corrupted.

"I'll deposit the pay for hiring you into your account. Please, bear with it a little longer until the operation is over."

No sooner had the call ended than another phone lying next to him rang.

Kang Mu-hyuk checked the time displayed on the office monitor.

[Seoul 21:21]

[Vladivostok 22:21]

He picked up the receiver.

-Hello, Mister Kang?

"Team Leader Pyo? I heard the raid was scheduled for tomorrow. Is there any issue?"

-Bang!

Kang Mu-hyuk pulled the phone away from his ear due to the sudden explosion sound.

Sensing that the situation was not good, he urgently called out to Pyo Beom-hee.

"Team Leader Pyo?! Team Leader Pyo Beom-hee!"

-Whoa, that scared me.

"What's going on?"

-I don't know! We were suddenly attacked!

Noisy talking in Russian could be heard in the background.

"You're under attack?!"

Kang Mu-hyuk's question was met with only the sound of chaotic shouting and screams; no direct answer came through.

A moment later, Pyo Beom-hee's voice was heard again.

-I'll escape first and then call you! Ask the federation about the rest...

That was the last thing she said before the call was cut off.

Kang Mu-hyuk stared blankly at the handset.

"What on earth is happening?"

Rewinding time to when Pyo Beom-hee arrived at Vladivostok's Knevichi International Airport...

[Vladivostok 19:37]

"Team Leader Kang? Yeah. I just met the guide from the federation. No. The raid is scheduled for tomorrow. For now, we're heading to the hotel. Seems like the Tsar Guild also has preparations to make. Well, we can have a shot of vodka and a good night's sleep before work. Ah, we won't have too much. Just a bit to wet the throat. Ha-ha. Alright. I'll contact you before we start working. Yeah, don't worry. Take care of your side of things too. Good night, darling."

As soon as the call with Kang Mu-hyuk ended, Pyo Beom-hee raised both hands in excitement.

"Hurray! Freedom!"

"Freedom? How many hours do you think that'll last?"

Just after retrieving his carry-on from the conveyor belt, Yeom Soo-hyung shook his head in disdain.

"Ah, seriously. Tch! You're always making such a fuss. Do you have any idea how hard it was for me, who once roamed the dazzling world of entertainment, to be trapped in North Pocheon? Those few hours are precious to me."

"Weren't you busy managing idols?"

"I'm just saying. You really don't get it, do you?"

Yeom Soo-hyung pondered over where he might have misunderstood.

In the meantime, the man who was the federation's guide smiled and said, "The hotel you'll be staying at has a nice bar. The west side of the city might be paralyzed due to the Oopoomangbawoo, but places that sell alcohol are still open."

Pyo Beom-hee alternated her gaze between the man and the tie pin tucked into his left breast pocket.

'Such a fascinating item. We don't need an interpreter at all.'

It was an item loaned by the federation for this mission, embedded with interpretation skills.

Kang Mu-hyuk showed considerable interest in this item, even going so far as to specifically request that Pyo Beom-hee not return it after the mission but to bring it back with her if possible.

While drooling over the item's capabilities, Pyo Beom-hee spoke.

"Hey, are the people here in Russia just desensitized, or do they trust their guild that much? Oopoomangbawoo is quite a dangerous monster. We're talking about a situation where a city could be wiped out if things go wrong, yet instead of evacuating, they're selling alcohol?"

"People here are a bit tough, I guess? Haha. Of course, there's also a lot of trust in the Tsar Guild. After all, it's the guild that has been protecting Vladivostok, which is not more than a few dozen kilometers from the border of the demonic realm. While it may be difficult to subdue Oopoomangbawoo entirely, keeping it from leaving the western corner is manageable enough. Plus, it's quite cold here during winter. It would be hard for a population of 700,000 to find a place to evacuate to."

Pyo Beom-hee understood immediately. It was the same situation in Pocheon, where they were from.

Just as there were those who couldn't leave despite living next to a special operations zone, those who had established their lives in Vladivostok could not easily leave the city.

Pyo Beom-hee and the group unpacked their luggage in a luxury hotel located in the heart of the city.

"I'm in the room next door. This room is for you, Hunter Pyo Beom-hee, and the one next to it is for Hunter Yeom Soo-hyung. The raid is scheduled for 2 PM tomorrow, so please rest well today. I'll see you in the morning. Ah. The bar is on the 17th floor of the hotel."

Pyo Beom-hee tossed her luggage aside and headed straight for the elevator.

In a high-end hotel lounge, fitting its luxurious ambiance, it was elegant yet cozy.

"I wanted a bit more raucous atmosphere."

As someone who primarily enjoyed the act of drinking over the setting, she didn't mind the decor and settled down with her drink.

"Ah! This is it! This is the taste. Russian alcohol isn't bad at all."

As she continued drinking, her expression suddenly turned fierce.

'What's this? This crude poison?'

The moment she took a sip from the new bottle she received, Pyo Beomhee could tell.

It was a tingling, sour taste. It was so subtle that most might overlook it, but she, with her expertise in handling poisons, couldn't be fooled.

Pyo Beom-hee quickly discerned the components of the poison.

'Paralysis, sleep. Is it a Red Venom Toad? This isn't cheap stuff. Just a messy combination. How long until it kicks in? A few minutes? It won't work on me, though.'

Pyo Beom-hee staggered deliberately as she stood up.

"Ah, I'm getting drunk. I should head to bed then."

As she approached the elevator, two men positioned themselves on either side of her.

'Hunters.'

The setup was so cliché it was almost amusing, but she figured that those who had laced her drink wouldn't care about such details.

'I thought this trip to Russia was going to be healing for me, but it looks like we're about to shoot an action scene.'