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

• Zone Leader Yoshimura.

"Chairman Han."

• Though there\'s no trust between us, I thought we agreed to shed as little blood as possible.

"That\'s why I haven\'t touched your precious Ju Se-ah."

• Get your words straight. You didn’t choose not to touch her. You _can’t _touch her.

Yoshimura made a throaty noise to express his displeasure.

Han Byung-gu did not stop there but pressed him further.

• Tell me which Zone Leader the men who are in Korea are affiliated with.

"Men who’re in Korea?"

• The Assassin Group! Don\'t play dumb. I\'ve already confirmed it before contacting you.

"Assassin group? I\'ve never heard of such a thing."

Han Byung-gu fell silent for a moment.

Yoshimura was once a comrade-in-arms and had long since turned into an enemy, but he was not thick-skinned.

He would rather attack openly and directly than cunningly hide his intentions and scheme plots.

That was why, after careful consideration of all his former colleagues from the Japan Guild Alliance, he got in touch with him.

‘Did another Zone Leader act independently, without Yoshimura’s knowledge, or have his acting skills improved?\'

Han Byung-gu decided it was time to back off. He had already achieved his goal for making the call. Having warned Yoshimura who had influence within the alliance, some change was bound to happen. He’d have to decide his next steps after observing those changes.

-Let me ask you one last thing. Please, do not forget the tragedy of the \'Battle of Nine Dragon Ridge (Guryong Ridge).\'

With those words, Han Byung-gu hung up the phone.

Yoshimura couldn\'t put the handset down.

‘Nine Dragon Ridge...\'

Nine Dragon Ridge was one of the fiercest battlefields during the Great War.

A graveyard for Hunters, resembling nine dragons coiling around.

Though the battle ultimately led to a glorious victory, the hidden stories behind it still remained a scar for the old-generation Hunters that were still alive.

Mentioning this battle was akin to Han Byung-gu mentioning the Maginot line. He didn’t mean to expose the secret history but to remind him of its consequences.

"Seeing how Chairman Han mentions Nine Dragon Ridge, he must be really angry... Sigh, that damn incident won\'t leave me even in my old age."

Muttering to himself, Yoshimura clapped his hands. The sliding door opened, and a man who was kneeling bowed his head.

"Make preparations for a visit to the Alliance. Looks like we’ll have to go for an outing after a long while."

After ending the call with Yoshimura, Han Byung-gu visited North Pocheon with Aila and her group.

It was for the contract between the Iron Will Guild and the World Hunter Federation.

It was planned to proceed gradually over time, but with the opening of North Pocheon scheduled for the end of December, they decided to take advantage of the current lack of attention on the matter and resolve it quickly.

Han Byung-gu was acting as the mediator for this contract, attending to ensure that the agreement was properly followed by taking opinions from both sides.

"The details have been exchanged in advance, so what\'s there to talk about at length? Let\'s sign this and be done with it."

Han Byung-gu urged them. As Ju Se-ah was checking the contract, she casually asked, "Aren\'t you going to see your granddaughter before you leave?"

"You, seriously...!"

"What are you getting angry about?"

"Clearly, you\'re doing this on purpose. You brat! Yes, our family is a mess! Satisfied?"

"Jeez, it\'s not like I said anything wrong. Why are you suddenly self-criticizing? You’re putting me in an awkward position."

"Oh, this is so frustrating. What did I ever see in you...”

"It\'s a bit weird saying this myself, but, well, I\'ve always been pretty good-looking, you know."

Ignoring the bickering duo that seemed to be at odds whenever they met, Kang Mu-hyuk spoke to Aila.

"There seems to be a slight change here. The part about the animal keeper here. Instead of a North American ranch, it says the Federation will dispatch one themselves?"

"Yes. Though this information is confidential, the Federation is also raising tamed monsters. In fact, our know-how, breeding facilities, and technology are more advanced than other ranches."

Alex, who was well-versed in the Federation\'s affairs, answered on behalf.

Kang Mu-hyuk found the modified clause suspicious.

"The new clause seems quite generous. I mean, the Federation wasn’t even willing to get involved in this before."

"Of course, we have prepared a contract with the original conditions as well. If you find this one burdensome, you can revert to the original."

"A different condition than before means there must be something more that you want."

"It\'s nothing big. Just a few troublesome matters the Federation would like you to handle on our behalf."

Kang Mu-hyuk pondered deeply.

\'The Federation, no less powerful than World-tier Guilds, is asking me for a favor, even though it claims to have no real authority?\'

Something did smell fishy.

As Kang Mu-hyuk displayed signs of suspicion, Aila spoke up.

"Three trials. Our Federation doesn\'t just partner with anyone. Only those who pass these trials are given the opportunity to join hands with us."

"Partnering with North American guilds would certainly make business smoother in many ways. But that would also mean just as much increased interference, because maximizing profits is practically their primary goal. However, the Federation doesn\'t expect anything from Iron Will. We have enough money, power, and influence; there\'s not really a need for us to extend a helping hand to a C-grade Korean guild."

Alex quickly added.

"Aren’t you going through with this contract because you have something to gain from that C-grade guild?"

Kang Mu-hyuk retorted.

"World peace benefits all of humanity. But that doesn\'t mean Iron Will has to sacrifice its small interests for a greater cause. Iron Will will get its benefits, and we pursue peace. Isn\'t that a win-win situation?"

Despite the seemingly noble rhetoric, Kang Mu-hyuk was not convinced and became certain.

‘They could’ve easily gained cooperation through the existing contract. Seeing how they added a more forceful contract clause means there’s something more to it.\'

Kang Mu-hyuk had no choice but to act oblivious to this. As per the written contract, there was nothing to lose. In fact, it was a tremendous gain.

There might be procedural issues with foreign capital investing in domestic guilds. Despite the Federation\'s financial support or loans being possible, the real allure was the ability to share the Federation\'s systems and infrastructure.

\'But why am I hesitating then? That lack of information is making me uncertain.\'

As Kang Mu-hyuk was lost in thought, Han Byung-gu tapped Alex on the shoulder.

"Wait a moment. Let’s have a chat somewhere else. You too, Aila."

"Should I move?"

As Kang Mu-hyuk made a move to stand up, Aila gestured for him to stay.

"It\'s okay, Mr. Kang Mu-hyuk."

As Aila murmured something, a mana barrier enveloped Han Byung-gu and Aila\'s group, making their voices inaudible.

Their voices couldn’t be heard.

A completely isolated place.

Ju Se-ah admired the sight.

"That\'s impressive. I can\'t even feel their presence inside. It\'s definitely not a skill. What could it be?"

"It must be magic."

"Magic? It doesn’t quite seem..."

"It\'s probably a different type of magic that Aila uses, not the skill-based magic we\'re familiar with."

Kang Mu-hyuk stared intently at Han Byung-gu and Aila\'s group, or more precisely, at their lip movements.

‘As I thought that’s not Korean. The lip shapes are different. What should I do? If it\'s not Korean, it’s hard to lip-read...\'

But Han byung-gu was speaking Koeran. The fact that he could still understand the others means they had been using a language-related skill to communicate.

Kang Mu-hyuk focused solely on Han Byung-gu\'s lips.

• Are you trying to enlist him as a Federation member? Even though he\'s not a Hunter?

• A commander? That\'s a cheat key. And the Elders agreed to let that slide?

• I didn\'t realize that the mysterious being was so important. The higher-ups sure moved their heavy asses quickly.

• So, how will they test him? Are they going to make him do something unreasonable?

• My goodness. And how did they say they came up with that? He\'s going to have a tough time.

• Make sure they adjust it suitably. The result doesn’t matter, but be careful; he\'s no ordinary guy. This could escalate quickly.

• Just closing the eyes and letting it be. It\'s still not a bad offer, so let\'s not dwell on it.

As soon as the conversation concluded, the mana barrier disappeared.

Kang Mu-hyuk had managed to piece together Han Byung-gu\'s words just then.

‘Even though it’s limited, I\'ve got the gist of what I need to know. If the Chairman, who dedicated his life to the development of Korean guilds, is willing to consider it, it must not be a bad offer. But what does becoming a member entail? I’m sure I’ll face just as many restrictions as the benefits I get.’

As Kang Mu-hyuk pretended to check the documents while waiting, Aila spoke to him.

“Sorry to keep you waiting. Mr. Han Byung-gu just had a lot of unnecessary concerns unlike how he used to be.”

“Huh? Wait till you get older. I bet you\'ll end up just like me.”

“I\'m actually older than you.”

“Ugh...”

“Aila is older than the old man here? Wow, to think he lectured me on Elders first.”

Ju Se-ah teased with a disbelieving laugh, but Han Byung-gu didn\'t really respond, maybe because he didn’t have a comeback.

Pushing the contract forward, Kang Mu-hyuk spoke up.

“I have a few more questions I\'d like to ask.”

“Ask away.”

“Does the support mentioned here apply to that neck tie pin as well?”

Alex flinched at Kang Mu-hyuk\'s question, and shot a glare at Han Byung-gu.

“This technology is a Federation secret. We can’t have someone blabbing about it everywhere, even if that person is you, Mr. Han.”

“It wasn\'t me!”

Han Byung-gu strongly denied it with a wave of his hand, and Kang Mu-hyuk came to his defense.

“Mr. Chairman didn\'t tell me. It\'s just that every time you spoke, mana moved through the tie pin. It seems like a skill related to interpretation... I haven\'t heard of any modern items being developed with embedded skills yet. I guess the Federation has exclusive technology for that.”

“Mana... You can see it as well? Impressive. You’re right. It is the Federation’s technology. We\'ve managed to encapsulate skills within objects. Of course, the process is complex and the cost is significant, so commercialization is still a challenge.”

Kang Mu-hyuk shook his head at the subtle refusal.

“It seems there\'s been a misunderstanding. I\'m not asking you to share the technology.”

“Oh? So you\'re asking if you can get it. Of course, if you sign the contract, we could give you a few of these.”

“I didn’t mean that either, but I\'ll gladly accept it if you offer.”

Alex realized his mistake at having inadvertently promised to give something he wasn\'t obliged to.

Though he didn’t think it was a waste, he felt somewhat outmaneuvered in the negotiation.

“To be precise, I’m asking if it\'s possible for you to provide technical support for the equipment of the Iron Will Guild.”

“Equipment?”

Kang Mu-hyuk asked them to wait for a moment and then had An Ji Il bring several pieces of equipment from Storage C.

Aila put on her robe, trying to minimize the number of people who knew of her identity.

Once Kang Mu-hyuk laid out the equipment, Alex showed interest.

“These are communication devices.”

“They can be used in special operation zones and even inside Gates.”

“Even inside the Gates?”

“Their efficiency drops, so they’re only good for short-range communication, but they have the advantage of not needing expensive message skills.”

Alex looked quite astonished, because he fully grasped the implications of Kang Mu-hyuk’s words.

“So even low-rank Hunters could use it.”

“Exactly. A lot of inexperienced low-rank Hunters often have accidents because they can\'t properly exchange orders. By mass producing this equipment, those needless sacrifices could be drastically reduced.”

“What exactly are you asking of us?”

“We\'d like technical support to improve and reduce the cost for mass production.”

“I’m sure it’s just about improvements, right?”

“We\'ll also need manufacturing facilities and a distribution and sales network.”

Alex rubbed his chin, pondering for a while before asking,

“Do you have more equipment besides these?”

“We have a whole warehouse full of them!”

An Ji-Il was caught off guard after suddenly being called. As he realized what was happening when he stood there blankly, his excitement burst out and he shouted.

Alex’s eyes widened, startled by the outburst, and he laughed.

“Remarkable. Not everything there may be useful, but we might find quite a few items of the Federation’s interest if we dig through it.”

"They\'re all useful!"

An Ji-Il shouted again, his excitement palpable.

“Alright then. I\'ll have to discuss it with the Federation\'s development department, but we\'ll consider it positively.”

"Ooh, yes!"

An Ji-Il clenched his fist in victory, his enthusiasm evident. Seeing his excitement, Kang Mu-hyuk thought he made a mistake.

‘Damn it. We should’ve gotten more out of it. Now that they\'ve seen how much we want this, we might be at a disadvantage.\'

Seeing An Ji-Il\'s joy, Alex turned back to Kang Mu-hyuk with a satisfied smile.

“It seems we\'ve done as much as we can for you, Captain.”

Alex signed the contract and pushed it forward.

Kang Mu-hyuk sighed on the inside and handed the contract to Ju Se-ah.

She signed the contract without finding any fault with the quick negotiation. Though the Guild Master wasn’t included in the discussion, she approved it immediately because they agreed on certain terms beforehand and she had given full authority to the Captain.

After taking a satisfactory look at the concluded contract, Alex moved on.

“Now, shall we discuss the trials?”

“Vladivostok.”

The Federation assigned Kang Mu-hyuk a mission in the closest location possible, considering he couldn’t travel far due to guild responsibilities.

They agreed to inform him about the second and third missions only after he was done with the first one.

“It\'s not going to be easy. Are you sure you should have taken this on? ‘Oopoomangbawoo’ , seriously? Honestly, this is madness.”

“They said they wouldn\'t hold me accountable if we failed. And that it wouldn’t break the contract either.”

“What the hell kind of trial is this, anyway? I mean, they said it doesn\'t affect the contract.”

Kang Mu-hyuk was also constantly suspicious of that.

‘I think it is related to the membership they talked about. The word _trial _seems to imply that failure equals disqualification. But then, they mentioned that it doesn’t matter if we fail. They didn’t talk much about that, so I don’t know.’

While reviewing the document containing the first trial\'s details multiple times, Kang Mu-hyuk was more engrossed in uncovering what might lie beneath the surface of the trial than worrying about the trial itself.

Noticing his preoccupation, Ju Se-ah asked, “Aren\'t you worried about the trial?”

“I am worried.”

“It doesn\'t seem like you\'re that worried?”

“Well, they said it’s okay if we fail, didn’t they? There’s no penalty either.”

“Well, yeah. It\'s common to lose on a mission in our field, but it\'s still frustrating. And if we fail, we’ll be looked down upon in future collaborations too.”

“We haven\'t failed yet.”

“This is practically setting you for failure. I mean, it\'s ‘Oopoomangbawoo’!”

Kang Mu-hyuk checked the monster captured in the photo.

A bird-type monster with the plump body of a penguin and the beak of a pelican.

Though it couldn’t fly, its appearance resembled a bird, so that was how he classified it.

“Even I can\'t handle this one cleanly. Besides, I’m on the Russian intelligence agency\'s list, so I won’t even be able to get a visa easily.”

“Do you mean the SVR, the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service? What about them?”

“I beat the shit... Let\'s say, I had an encounter with some Russians during the time with Slayer. Long story short, the only way I can get there is if I’m smuggled there.”

“We weren\'t planning to include you in the raid team anyway.”

“Then, who are you sending? Hunter Lee Jin-joo? Are you going to dispatch the Expedition team? When even Vladivostok\'s top guild failed to handle it."

Kang Mu-hyuk placed the photo of the ‘Oopoomangbawoo’ on the whiteboard, securing it with a magnet, then pointed at it.

"For this trial, we\'re in luck. We don’t need to go far. One person is enough."

"One person? No way!"