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

Maintaining his hospitality smile, Sung Seon-je sized up Kang Mu-hyuk. His scrutinizing gaze felt palpable, like the look of someone assessing another. It was a look that Kang Mu-hyuk himself possessed. Could it be considered an occupational hazard? Anyone in the position of a Strategy and Tactics Team Leader naturally began to see people in this manner.

'So that's what the Guild Master meant by not being fooled by appearances. I see.'

Ju Se-ah was on guard against Sung Seon-je while Kang Mu-hyuk spoke with a salesperson's smile etched on his face.

"You recognized me immediately. I didn't expect to see the Strategy and Tactics Team Leader from the Slayer Guild so soon."

"Aren't you famous these days? I just happened to have my lunch late as I saw you as I came in. Did you come looking for me?"

"You're quick to catch on."

"I handle most of the external affairs after all."

"I tried to make an appointment, but as soon as I mentioned the Iron Will Guild, I was immediately cut off. Our Guild Master's reputation doesn't seem very good."

"Not many can handle Hunter Ju Se-ah, or Guild Master Ju's personality. It's quite impressive that you, as the Guild Leader, can work with her while managing that personality."

"Well, I haven't experienced the Guild Master's personality first-hand. She's usually reasonable and easy to communicate with."

"That reasonable person turned this lobby into a battlefield not too long ago. Ha ha. I didn't send a bill, though, due to our old friendship."

"If the Guild Master got angry, there must have been a reason."

For a moment, Sung Seon-je's smile faltered. He quickly regained his stoic expression, but couldn't hide the subtle twitch of his nose.

'Is he trying to pick a fight?'

Kang Mu-hyuk implied that the reason for Ju Se-ah's tantrum was to be blamed on the Slayer's side.

With that, Sung Seon-je decided to change the setting.

"Instead of standing here, shall we move to my office?"

The conversation during the elevator ride mostly involved light personal updates.

About the relocation of the Iron Will Guild, public opinions on Goblin subjugation, and obligatory conversations about maintaining health while working.

As they spoke, Kang Mu-hyuk recalled Sung Seon-je's career.

'Slayer's Guild Strategy and Tactics Team Leader. A-Rank Hunter. 36 years old. Once he was a more successful Hunter than the current Guild Master Ju Se-ah.'

He was expected to become the next S-Rank, but one day he suddenly stepped back from fieldwork and moved to the strategy and tactics team.

At that time, it was assumed that the move was to aim for the position of Expedition Team Leader, but he later devoted himself solely to desk work.

Although he never officially declared it, he essentially retired from active duty.

'He is top-notch, as a Hunter and as well as a Strategy and Tactics Team Leader. There's nothing good about having a long conversation with such a person.'

The 19th floor.

The elevator stopped and they crossed a quiet hallway to enter an office where several secretaries were at work.

The office was excessively large for a team leader. It was on par with a top-tier corporation executive.

'Even for the Strategy and Tactics Team Leader of the Slayer's Guild, this is a bit much.'

Kang Mu-hyuk felt a sense of unease.

It was an extravagance that did not suit the extreme efficiency-oriented man.

As the secretaries hurriedly tried to rise from their seats upon the leader's arrival, Sung Seon-je waved them down and personally opened the door to his private office. It was far larger than the secretary's room where several people were waiting. Its luxury was equally impressive.

He ushered Kang Mu-hyuk inside, closing the door behind them.

"What would you like to drink?" he asked.

"I'm fine, thank you. I have a lot of guild matters to attend to, so I can't stay long," Mu-hyuk replied, promptly getting to the point as his counterpart's eyes widened in surprise.

"I appreciate that. I respect people who value their time. So, tell me, what brings you here?"

"I have come to sell something. I wanted to see if you would be interested in purchasing it."

"Do you think Iron Will has anything worth selling to our guild? Ah, don't take it the wrong way. I'm not belittling you, just considering the scale of our respective guilds."

"I'm not offended. It's a fact."

"I'm relieved. I can be quite straightforward and end up hurting people's feelings. Most people get angry when faced with reality. But it seems Guild Leader Kang is different."

He gave a thumbs-up to compliment his guest, but Kang Mu-hyuk's face remained emotionless as he spoke.

"I obtained some good items from the recent Goblin raid. They are probably the items that the Slayer guild needs most at this moment."

"Us? Now you've piqued my interest. No more suspense, let's hear it."

His hands rubbed together in anticipation as he leaned forward toward Kang Mu-hyuk.

"I want to sell Rider Wolves. Fifty billion each."

His counterpart furrowed his brows, calculating for a moment before opening his mouth.

"How many do you have?"

"Twenty in total."

"A trillion? The price falls pretty neatly. It's a rare Gate beast, I get it. But it seems a bit expensive. Were the Goblins in North Pocheon golden or something?"

[ED: Golden Goblins are considered auspicious beings in Korean Mythology. While a golden goblin is something that brings fortune and wealth.]

"Isn't the supply in our country scarce? And it's not like importing them is easy. From a market perspective, I think this is actually cheap. Of course, the price may drop in the future."

"In the future?"

"We're planning to add a ranch to our guild's new business line. The Rider Wolves we obtained this time will be useful. We will probably be able to continuously produce a supply of Rider Wolves. Come to think of it, it's just like a golden Goblin."

His counterpart felt his mouth turning dry.

'The first Gate Beast ranch in the country? And they are wolves... If they succeed in breeding, the Iron Will Guild would rapidly rise in the ranks. They might even overshadow an A-tier, no, a Tier-ed Guild.'

From his perspective, Kang Mu-hyuk's words were spot on. Rider Wolves were worth their weight in gold. Foreign guilds that had their own ranches were busy enough dealing with their own Gate creatures.

Tier-ed guilds, including the Slayer Guild, were trying their best to import from abroad, but 'Tiny Ponies,' resembling small horses, were the best they could manage. And even those were in short supply.

He didn't ask whether the Rider Wolves breeding project would be successful. If there was a plan, then that confidence was well justified.

'The problem is, why would he reveal such a secret so easily?'

Before he could ask, Kang Mu-hyuk beat him to the punch.

"If my goal was to sell at a high price, it would have been better to gather the Tier-ed Guilds and put them up for auction. There would have been no need for me to come to the Slayer Guild."

"Exactly my point. Why the Slayer Guild? Especially when you're not on good terms with our Guild Master. Surely you're not thinking of winning us over?"

"Well, that's...."

Kang Mu-hyuk remembered the conversation he had with Ju Se-ah a few days ago.

"No matter how much we need the funds. Selling the wolves to the Slayer guild? I'm against this deal. We can't give our baby wolves to those guys!"

"Since when were they baby wolves?"

"High-priced ones at that, so of course they are my cubs."

"Excellent. It's only proper for a Guild Master to have an attachment to the Guild's assets. Seems like you are finally taking on the role of a Guild Master."

At Kang Mu-hyuk's sarcastic applause and words, Ju Se-ah bristled.

"Are you mocking me?"

"Of course not. But we still have to do business with the Slayer."

"Why?"

"Rider wolves are like the goose that lays golden eggs. With our current power, we can't protect the goose."

"Even when I am here?"

"365 days a year, 24 hours a day. If you're confident enough to camp next to the wolves and guard them, then it's no problem. In the old days, people used to keep vigil for three years. Why don't you give it a try?"

"So... What's the plan?"

In response to Ju Se-ah's pressing question, Kang Mu-hyuk pointed with his index finger.

"Firstly, we need to secure funds for guild operations. We're almost out right now. We just barely managed to cover the acquisition costs of C Warehouse by pulling funds from the group. We are also struggling to get our shares in the backdoor listing through the acquisition of Taesung Machinery. At the very least, we need to prepare funds to reorganize the guild headquarters and run it stably."

"And the second point?"

"Secondly, we need to ensure safety. We will redefine our relationship with the Slayer Guild. Frankly speaking, your animosity with the top guild in the country was the worst choice for our guild."

"Who wants to be hostile? It was their provocation that made me react. They are not so easy guys. They may laugh it off during the deal, but they will wipe their mouths and stab you in the back later. I can assure you. My hand could even seize a sword."

"Who would dare challenge the hand that resists even Drake's Breath?"

"That's how untrustworthy they are. Don't you understand metaphors?"

"I might not know metaphors, but I do know the rules of dealing with untrustworthy people."

"What kind of rules?"

"We're going to establish a contract for a continuous supply, not a one-off deal."

"Wolves?"

"Yes. I plan to give over 50% of the sales share of the exported wolves."

"That means..."

"We will become partners."

"Guild Leader Kang."

At Sung Seon-je's voice, Kang Mu-hyuk snapped out of his thoughts.

"Oh, I apologize. I was just sorting out some thoughts. You asked me why I came to the Slayer first, right? Firstly, those who need a mount like the Rider Wolf the most are the Slayer. They are the ones most actively attacking the large Gates. A mount is necessary if they want to speed up."

"Even a newly awakened Hunter knows that."

"Next, I want to improve the relationship between Iron Will and the Slayer. More precisely, I want to clear up the bad blood between Slayer and Guild Master Ju."

"Just with twenty wolves? They aren't even free. That seems like a low price."

At Sung Seon-je, who was stroking his chin and appearing difficult, Kang Mu-hyuk reassured him quietly.

"Of course, we need to establish a continuous relationship. That's why we're proposing a partnership. We will give you the right to purchase half of the wolf's supply first."

"All of it."

"..."

"We will purchase all of the supplies in the future. Of course, we'll have to adjust the price."

"That's difficult. We can't afford to be hostile with other Tier-ed guilds by selling exclusively to one guild."

"Even if I make it so that you can't sell to anyone else?"

Sung Seon-je's expression changed. It was an emotionless, blank expression.

He didn't give off Hunter's intimidation. His voice wasn't lowered. He just spoke calmly.

The voice of the Strategy and Tactics Team Leader of the Slayer Guild was enough to be picked up in your ears even if you were talking in your sleep.

"Let me repeat myself, it's impossible."

Kang Mu-hyuk replied, without any inflection in his voice.

"I guess the negotiation has broken down."

As Sung Seon-je stood up and brushed off his hands, Kang Mu-hyuk added.

"I don't mind. It's already out of my hands."

"Out of your hands?"

"I proposed the Rider Wolf Breeding Program through the Guild Cooperation Division. It's nice to pull in some government subsidies, but the best part is what you'll see on the news at nine o'clock tonight. The higher-ups are quite pleased. It'll be a significant achievement. The news headline is going to be 'South Korea is now a proud supplier of Gate Mount.' The approval rating will rise. And after this, I will make similar proposals to other Tier-ed guilds, excluding the Slayer Guild. Ah, but since the Titan is my home guild, it would be nice to pass a few over."

The mention of Titan was intentional. The Slayer, a Tier-ed among Tier-eds couldn't have a wolf that even an A-rank could? The need for a wolf was secondary, it was a matter of saving face.

For a while, the two glared at each other. It was a fierce battle of eyes as if they could kill each other hundreds of times with just their gazes. They did not harbor ill intentions, but their tongues were always prepared to strike at each other.

How much time had passed?

After a while, Sung Seon-je broke into a subtle smile.

"So, how's your bank account looking?"

"You should sign the contract first."

Kang Mu-hyuk also smiled back and offered the contract he had prepared in advance.

After Kang Mu-hyuk left with the contract stamped with the Slayer Guild's seal, a man entered Sung Seon-je's office.

To be precise, he came out of the office. The place he exited from was a secret door hidden in the wall. The door was so well hidden that it was impossible to find with the naked eye.

"Borrowing someone else's office for a show is quite useless, I see."

"Rather than a show, I arranged the place so the Guild Master could see it himself."

The man Sung Seon-je referred to as Guild Master was Sa Mun-Hyuk, the Guild Master of the Slayer Guild. In other words, this was not Sung Seon-je's office, but Sa Mun-Hyuk's.

It was no wonder Kang Mu-hyuk felt uncomfortable in the office.

"He's certainly a worthy successor that the Strategy and Tactics Team Leader had earmarked. He's just like you. No, in some ways, he's even more cunning."

"Do you want him? Shall I pull him out?"

"No, I don't want to see his face again."

"Ha, it seems the Guild Master is helpless against Hunter Ju Se-ah."

"If we fight, it's war. I can't just let it slide as cute anymore."

Compared to Sung Seon-je who was speaking with a smile, Sa Mun-Hyuk spoke seriously. He then spoke his true thoughts as a Guild Master.

"Rider Wolf, though? He brought a very appetizing item."

"He packaged it beautifully too. He directly manipulated the media using the government, didn't he? If we get greedy, it won't just end with a tarnished reputation, regardless of Tiers. He threatens that it will increase our enemies among other Tier-eds, so we can't easily interfere."

"You must be wanting a higher approval rating for next year's elections. The timing is perfect. Should I say you're lucky?"

"Luck won't do much without ability. He's good at taking advantage of the situation. The opponent, I mean."

Sung Seon-je acknowledged Kang Mu-hyuk with a nod, causing Sa Mun-Hyuk to appear puzzled.

"Quite unusual for you not to feel aggrieved after taking a hit."

"Why should I feel aggrieved? Twenty Rider Wolves. That would immediately free up the supply for our Second Division. Reconnaissance will become easier as well. The area of the current Gate is reported to be quite vast. Furthermore, obtaining a Gate creature without going through the hassle of importing them can be considered an attractive deal."

"But you didn't get them all."

"I never intended to acquire them all from the start. It was merely like haggling with a merchant to knock down the price. I was also curious about his response. The negotiation turned out to be more entertaining than expected, hence a satisfying deal."

As Sung Seon-je was babbling, Sa Mun-Hyuk shook his head and made a displeased face.

"I've given you full authority on such matters, so I won't interfere... But seeing that arrogant punk thriving twists my stomach. It's like the saying 'Seeing a cousin buy land hurts the stomach.' A guild supplying Rider Wolves? Iron Will's reputation will soar overnight."

"Still, if we can receive a steady supply of wolves, forgetting a grudge or two is a profitable venture."

"Let others say what they want. There are countless Gates to clear. I don't have time to squabble with that thunderbolt. You handle the Rider Wolf case. Thanks to him, I'm content that we can advance your plan."

[TL: "Thunderbolt" is more colloquially used in a figurative way to mean someone who is loud or aggressive. In this case, it refers to Guild Master Ju Se-ah.]

The reason Sung Seon-je could laugh despite being outmaneuvered by Kang Mu-hyuk?

It was due to a long-harbored plan of his.

"I had intended to secure the ultimate 'Dragon Horse,' but instead, we've acquired the superior Rider Wolves. It must be divine guidance to complete my plan."

"Call back our people who went on a business trip to the American Monster Ranch. They'll only be wasting their time there. Prepare to move to the next stage once we've filled our quota of wolves."

Sung Seon-je's passion was ignited after a long time. A ray of hope had shone on the project that he had half-given up on.

'A hundred Rider Wolves. With that many, we'll dominate Asia's Gate hunting!'