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

Kang Mu-hyuk's suspicion of the Tsar Guild stemmed from the incident when Yeom Soohyung's group was attacked on the day they entered Vladivostok.

The Federation had started negotiations with the Tsar Guild right after he decided to go on the raid, late on the night before Yeom Soohyung's group was to leave the country.

It was a nine-hour flight from Moscow, where the Tyrant Guild was located, to Vladivostok, and two hours from Korea.

Meaning, that without prior leakage of information, it was physically impossible for the Tyrant to have arrived first and waited for them.

'If there was a leak, the Tsar Guild, a party with a vested interest, is likely to have the motive for it, rather than the Federation.'

Of course, he didn't suspect the entire Tsar Guild from the beginning. Initially, he thought an individual guild member had strayed.

Betrayal in exchange for money or membership in the Tyrant Guild.

Having gone through the incidents with Do Kyung-hoon and Cho Choong-hyun before, he emphasized even more on that aspect. However, another suspicion sprouted from the fact that the Tsar Guild, despite knowing Vladivostok better than the back of their hand, failed to find the whereabouts of the Tyrant at all.

'Moreover, the reactions from the Vladivostok administration and the local council were suspicious. Despite the fact that the area was under the jurisdiction of the Tsar Guild, they were more hurried to denounce the Tyrant than to solve the problem.'

When the Federation contacted the Tsar Guild regarding Ju Se-ah's smuggling into the country, Alex sensed this subtle atmosphere and reported it to Kang Mu-hyuk.

Of course, there was no certain information. He was just expressing dissatisfaction with the typical laid-back nature of the Russian bears, with whom the message never got through.

'Taken separately, these signs might not seem unusual, but they were too unsettling to just overlook. They were matters that required to be checked somehow.'

Consequently, Kang Mu-hyuk had to unfold one of the stories he had prepared in advance to clear his doubts.

Fortunately, Anton was not familiar with this kind of fight. The reason was his hasty nature that he sensed while conversing with him.

"It doesn't matter who ordered it, you answer first. How did you find out?"

"You mean someone indeed planned this."

"Jeez. Am I talking to a ghost? With every word you say, you just get everything out of me. I'd even believe you if you said you were a mind reader."

"No wonder, it didn't seem like something you'd plot, Guild Master Anton, and as I thought, there was someone else involved."

"What do you mean it doesn't seem like something I'd do? Are you mocking me?"

"Is it possible for you to summon that person in charge here?"

"This damn Korean. Are you not listening to me?"

Anton, frustrated, complained to Dmitry, who sighed and asked on behalf of the irritated Guild Master, "Why are you looking for the person in charge?"

"Because I need to understand their intentions."

"Intentions?"

"It just seems like the plan is too grandiose just to embarrass the Tyrant and make him withdraw from this city."

"You're implying they have ulterior motives?"

The atmosphere around Anton, which had been light until a moment ago, shifted.

As he asked with a stern face, Kang Mu-hyuk shook his head.

"I can't definitively say there's another motive involved. It's just that I need to confirm."

"And you're saying you want me to drag my people in for this confirmation of yours?"

"We'll have to wait and see if that person is actually one of your people."

As Kang Mu-hyuk made his meaningful remark, Anton almost cursed out loud.

'This guy really has a snake's tongue.'

He was smoothly flicking his tongue, and there seemed to be no way to avoid his temptation.

The problem was that he got the feeling that ignoring the raised suspicions could significantly shake the entire Tsar Guild.

"He's trustworthy. We've worked together for a long time. He's a local here. Not an original member, but no one has worked harder than him for the growth of the Tsar Guild."

"Again, I'm not asking for an explanation, but confirmation. I can't trust anyone until I've verified them."

 Anton ultimately couldn't overcome the snake's temptation.

"Dmitry. Bring Makar."

Makar, who was called to the Guild Master's office, noticed there were not enough chairs and brought one in from outside to sit at the side of the table.

Anton introduced them, as Makar faced Kang Mu-hyuk, skipping over No Song-rin.

"This is Makar Voronin, our Deputy Director of Intelligence. Makar, this is Kang Mu-hyuk, Team Leader of the Korean Iron Will Guild."

Makar seemed surprised by the unexpected meeting but soon composed himself and addressed Kang Mu-hyuk.

"But why did someone from the Korean Guild call for me?"

"I want to hear the reasons for the operations against Igor Dudnik."

"Guild Master, surely you didn't disclose the plan to an outsider?"

Instead of answering, Makar frowned and looked back at Anton. Anton scratched his neck, seemingly troubled, and averted his gaze.

"It wasn't the Guild Master who said it; Team Leader Kang Mu-hyuk found out about it."

Dmitry stepped in to defend Anton. Makar scrutinized Kang Mu-hyuk with newfound admiration.

"I don't know how you knew, but you are impressive. I thought we maintained decent security."

"You still haven't answered. Why did you do it?"

As Makar tried to change the subject, Kang Mu-hyuk asked bluntly. Makar answered straightforwardly, "Isn't the answer too simple? Because we can't beat an S-ranker with strength."

"So you carried out these operations? Even to the point of involving our people?"

Kang Mu-hyuk displayed anger, but Makar shrugged nonchalantly as if it was a shame.

"I'm sorry about that. But I have no regrets. The Oopoomangbawoo situation was a crisis for Vladivostok but also an opportunity for the Tsar Guild. As much as public opinion against the Tsar Guild worsened when half the city stopped functioning, the Tyrant Guild's overwhelming expansion intensified. We inevitably needed a solution to this dilemma."

"So you used the Oopoomangbawoo situation? Risking the fate of the city and even endangering Hunters who offered help?"

"There was no other plan or way out. Had we avoided the immediate threat, and only blocked it sloppily, the Tyrant Guild would have targeted Vladivostok again someday. There's no guarantee that we could stop them then, either. We decided to act now, while all eyes in the Russian Federation were on us, to ensure the Tyrant Guild wouldn't dare to make a move in the future."

 It was a logical explanation, but Kang Muhyuok continued to feel a sense of unease.

At first, he couldn't figure out why, but as he listened, he soon realized what was causing this feeling.

 "Every word is true. So you did it out of loyalty for your guild? I can understand that."

"Thank you for understanding. Right now, we are also doing our best to resolve this situation, so please..."

"But."

"??"

"You keep mentioning only the Tyrant Guild. Unlike the others who prioritize the Tyrant. As you said earlier, an S-ranker has just that much presence and power. Yet, you hardly mentioned the Tyrant."

When the Tyrant was mentioned, Makar's eyebrows twisted. A flash of anger swept through his eyes.

It was such a minor change that no one, except Kang Mu-hyuk, whose observational skills were beyond ordinary, noticed.

Makar, who had been pressing his lips tightly, carefully opened his mouth.

"The job of the head of the intelligence team is to judge the movements of organizations, not individuals."

"Ah, is that so? I was just wondering if talking about the Tyrant was uncomfortable for you."

"......"

"......"

"Maybe it's because I've recently experienced some unpleasant incidents, but I've developed a kind of illness where I can't rest until I confirm what's happening. I'm about to start that verification now. I hope you'll understand."

"Mr. Kang, you sure have a talent for making conversations difficult. So, what are you asking for our understanding?"

Kang Mu-hyuk, unfazed by Makar's seemingly mocking tone, said, "I'm about to leak a piece of information to the Tyrant. About a person named Makar Voronin, the head of the Tsar Guild's intelligence team. It would also be a good idea to inform us about the operations you plan to conduct against the Tyrant Guild from now on. Oh, and I should probably add to find out more details about you before that."

"Hey, you, just because we're complying with you, what the hell are you trying to pull here? Makar has been my right hand for over 10 years. He's one of our people, family as you said! He's a native of Vladivostok and a loyal person. If we start doubting him, then no member of the guild is free from suspicion!"

Anton stood up in anger.

Kang Mu-hyuk looked up at him without flinching.

"You need to think carefully here, Guild Master Anton Ivanov."

"Think what?!"

"Whether every member of the Tsar Guild really can be trusted."

"!!"

As Anton was at a loss for words, Kang Mu-hyuk glared at Makar and continued, "There's a reason why Igor Dudnik is called the Tyrant, right? Until he received the government's protection, he was unrestrained and caused various problems. He has many enemies within Russia too, doesn't he?"

"......"

"Before I inform the Tyrant about you, I'll ask one last thing. Is your target the Tyrant, the Tsar Guild, or are both part of your plan?"

"Phew─"

Makar sighed deeply and hung his head.

That was when it happened.

Something glittering seemed to fly from his possession towards Kang Mu-hyuk's face.

"I knew it."

Noh Song-rin blocked the attack with a karambit knife. What fell to the floor was a small lethal weapon resembling a shuriken.

As soon as Makar's attack failed, he leaped back. Seizing the moment, Dmitry lunged forward, tackling his lower body as if hugging it.

Makar was the intelligence team leader of the Tsar Guild, but his own strength was merely at B-rank.

From the start, his attack was doomed to fail, and escape was impossible.

"This bastard! Was Team Leader Kang telling the truth?!"

Anton, furious, strode towards Makar, who was held by Dmitry. His aura filled with murderous intent, and his expression distorted to the point one might mistake him for a demon.

"Don't kill him!"

If Kang Mu-hyuk hadn't intervened, Anton might have really kicked Makar's head in. A B-ranker couldn't possibly remain unscathed from an A+ rank Hunter's kick.

Kang Mu-hyuk approached Anton and said, as if puzzled, "It would have been better for you to deny it to the end. There's no physical evidence, only circumstantial evidence."

"Killing you seemed like the better idea. I thought you'd uncover all my plans if I let you live."

"There are four A-rank Hunters here. Didn't you know the attack would fail?"

"......"

"You're hiding something more. Another plan? Information? Ah, you leaked information. What did you leak?"

Kang Mu-hyuk read the slight changes in expression and interrogated his opponent.

Realizing Kang's intention, Makar clamped his mouth shut.

"Oopoomangbawoo... The Tyrant... The Tsar Guild... Something that would trouble the both of them? Something..."

Kang Mu-hyuk probed him with various questions, gauging his reactions. Then, a certain possibility came to mind.

"You must've needed to incite conflict, so you left alone what was difficult to mess with right away since it could expose your intentions, right?"

"......"

"Something that won't get noticed, is easy to mess with and can complicate matters. So far, we've been the biggest victims of this situation. Damn it! Was that it?!"

Kang Mu-hyuk ground his teeth as he spoke.

"Don't tell me, did you sell out our Guild Master this time?"

"We've arrived, Guild Master Ju se-ah."

The WIG craft stopped at the rendezvous point and sent a flashing signal, and at a slight distance, a light turned on.

Soon after, the sound of an engine approached, and a small Russian fishing boat drew near.

Ju se-ah opened the door, stepped out onto the wing of the WIG craft to climb up, and expressed her gratitude to the pilot.

"Thank you for your efforts. Have a safe journey on your way back."

"It was an honor to help you, Guild Master."

"Me? I'm just the Guild Master of a mere C-rank guild."

"Didn't you rank first in this year's beauty rankings for Hunters? I'm a fan. Haha!"

"Do they still do that? I thought it had been discontinued..."

Ju se-ah gave a rotten smile, but the pilot couldn't see it in the darkness. She trailed off and stood on the wing, ready to jump onto the approaching boat.

At that moment, something came flying with the intense light of bursting flames.

'An attack?'

Only then could she see that the man standing on the deck was carrying something on his shoulder.

Having participated in several joint operations with the military, Ju se-ah immediately recognized what it was.

'That's an anti-tank missile?!'

Ju se-ah quickly drew her sword and split the missile that was aimed at the WIG craft, causing an explosion like thunder that shook the quiet sea. She attempted to climb aboard the fishing boat through the spray but had to throw herself to intercept another incoming missile.

After intercepting two missiles, Ju se-ah fell into the sea. As she surfaced, swallowing seawater, she shouted.

"Get out of here quickly!"

Startled by her roar, the pilot hurriedly turned the WIG craft's bow.

Before the WIG craft could gain speed, another missile was launched, but Ju se-ah, floating in the vast sea without a foothold, couldn't chase after the missile. With no other choice, she threw her sword to smash the missile.

"Ah, that was an expensive sword... I won't be able to recover if it sinks into the water! Ugh! I'll definitely make you pay for this!"

Having confirmed the WIG craft's safe escape, she was ready to counterattack immediately.

She had expected a follow-up attack but...

"Who are these guys? They fired missiles and then ran away? In front of me?"

The fishing boat had already disappeared far into the distance.

Ju se-ah, known for never letting her prey escape whether it was a monster or a villain, found it challenging to pursue a vessel by swimming.

She soon recalled her predicament.

"How far was it from here to Vladivostok? Wait, more importantly, which way is north?"

And this, the strongest Hunter of the Republic of Korea was cast adrift on the cold winter sea under a cloudy sky without a single star.