MRUCM 09

Chapter 09

The top floor of the Ether Tower.

The Association President’s office was silent.

*—China’s Hwaryong Guild, continued illegal occupation and armed protest in West Sea Sector 15*

*—Ministry of Foreign Affairs protest letter, rejected by Chinese side*

Go Jinhyeok let out a sigh.

The more he read the reports, the more his anger built.

China had trampled on Korea’s pride.

It was a humiliating incident, but the reality was that there was no proper countermeasure.

“Hoo…”

That was when.

*Creak.*

The heavy door opened.

And a casually dressed man walked in.

Baek Kangjin.

In one hand, he held a convenience store bag.

“You’ve arrived?”

Go Jinhyeok shot up and bowed his head.

A peculiar sight—Korea’s number one ranking figure bowing to someone.

But Baek Kangjin plopped down on the sofa as if it were only natural.

“Why the long face? You look like an independence fighter who lost his country.”

“…This isn’t really a time for jokes.”

“You look serious. Here, have this.”

Baek Kangjin pulled an ice cream from the bag and tossed it.

Go Jinhyeok caught it reflexively. The cold chill transferred to his palm.

“This right now…”

“Nothing beats that for cooling your head.”

Baek Kangjin bit into his own ice cream.

It should have been offensive, but strangely, Go Jinhyeok felt some of his anxiety fade.

“Baek Kangjin-nim.”

“Speak.”

“I’ll be honest with you. To tell you the truth, I’m afraid.”

Go Jinhyeok set down the ice cream and conveyed his thoughts.

“China is a superpower. They have five officially registered SSS-rank Hunters. If you include unofficial forces, it could be even more.”

“So?”

“On the other hand, South Korea only has you, Baek Kangjin-nim. Just one person.”

This was the problem.

Numerical inferiority.

No matter how strong Baek Kangjin was, a 5-on-1 fight was unreasonable. What if China decided to deploy all its SSS-rank Hunters at once?

The sole hope—Baek Kangjin—could be broken.

“If something happens to you, Baek Kangjin-nim… this country is truly finished. That’s why I can’t rashly resort to military action.”

Go Jinhyeok’s voice carried genuine concern.

Baek Kangjin removed the ice cream from his mouth.

A scoff escaped him.

“You’re mistaken.”

“Pardon?”

“Does numbers matter?”

Baek Kangjin’s eyes were languid.

Like an adult watching a kindergartener’s antics.

*To the Association President, they must seem impressive.*

On Earth’s system, SSS-rank were absolute beings. Treated like walking strategic nuclear weapons.

But Baek Kangjin saw them differently.

*Just lumps who recklessly grew their magical power.*

That was Baek Kangjin’s definition of SSS-rank.

Their combat data was actually easy to find.

It was all over the internet—they proudly posted videos of themselves hunting monsters.

Thanks to that, Baek Kangjin could gauge their level.

*So crude.*

No efficient mana manipulation, no sophisticated spellcraft. Just brute stats pushing through—unfinished weapons.

Moreover, they had a fatal flaw.

They were still living beings.

They breathed, their blood flowed, their cells divided.

That meant they were already in the palm of Baek Kangjin’s hand.

*If I so choose.*

Baek Kangjin imagined it.

There was no need to even fight by firing off spells.

Release a fine virus into the atmosphere worldwide.

Unlimited incubation period.

Transmission route: respiratory.

It would take just one week to infect all of humanity.

And then, a single flick of his finger.

*With a 100% fatality rate.*

Then humanity would go extinct.

Whether they were Cheonma or Geomsin, they couldn’t stop their lungs from melting and their brains from bursting.

Immune system?

Meaningless against the viruses Baek Kangjin designed.

*Even human extinction is easy… and I’m worried about five people?*

They were easy opponents.

Of course, he didn’t say this aloud. They wouldn’t understand anyway, and more importantly, they’d see him as a mad killer. There was no need to create unnecessary fear.

“Don’t worry. There’s no way I’ll die from being ganged up on.”

“But…”

“I’ll handle it. More importantly, there’s something I want to confirm.”

Baek Kangjin changed the subject.

“My identity. How much do the public know?”

“…It’s top secret.”

Go Jinhyeok lowered his voice.

“Myself, my chief of staff, and Hunter Min Seolhui who was on site. Just the three of us.”

“Is security thorough?”

“Of course. If information about Baek Kangjin-nim leaked, China or the US wouldn’t sit still. They’d try to woo you by any means. For the sake of national interest, we’re strictly controlling it.”

A wise decision.

There might come a time when he’d need to reveal his identity.

But now wasn’t that time.

Baek Kangjin nodded in satisfaction.

“Good. Then it’ll be easier to devise a strategy.”

“A strategy, you say?”

“Simple. Making sure they don’t know I’m involved.”

Baek Kangjin tossed his half-eaten ice cream wrapper into the trash.

A perfect shot.

“Those guys holed up in the West Sea. The Hwaryong Guild, was it?”

“Yes. An elite unit led by a man named Li Wei.”

“Cheonma didn’t come personally?”

“Cheonma hasn’t moved. If he moves, that wouldn’t be a local skirmish—it would be an all-out war.”

A bit disappointing.

He’d wanted to gather more information on SSS-rank hunters this time.

“President Go. Which Korean guild was attacked by the Hwaryong Guild?”

“Garam Guild.”

“Connect me with their person in charge.”

“May I ask why?”

Baek Kangjin nodded.

“Of course. The ones who got beaten are Garam Guild, right?”

“Yes.”

“If the Association steps in, things get complicated. But what if Garam Guild goes back and fights Hwaryong Guild head-on?”

“Then it would be downgraded from a national dispute to a guild pride battle.”

“Exactly. Garam Guild reclaims the gate through skill. From what I know, Hwaryong Guild has more skilled members.”

“Yes. That’s correct.”

“Imagine this. How humiliating would it be for an A-rank to get beaten by someone of a lower rank?”

Go Jinhyeok looked at him with disbelief and spoke.

“Surely, Baek Kangjin-nim, you’re not planning to infiltrate as a Garam Guild member and personally take on the Hwaryong Guild?”

“No. There’s an even better way.”

“…?”

“Just leave it to me. Just watch. I’ll show you something interesting.”

Baek Kangjin said confidently.

He didn’t know the detailed plan, but with Kangjin showing such confidence, all he could do was trust and leave it to him.

Go Jinhyeok bowed his head and spoke.

“Understood. I’ll trust you and leave it in your hands.”

Baek Kangjin waved his hand.

“Enough with the formalities.”

“……?”

“Let’s settle the accounts properly.”

Baek Kangjin’s eyes narrowed.

A merchant’s gaze.

“They say there’s no such thing as a free lunch. For this matter, I’ll need a commission.”

“Of course! Just name whatever amount you desire.”

“Not money.”

Baek Kangjin cut him off.

He already had 50 billion won. What he needed right now wasn’t cash.

“Then what…”

“A gate.”

“Pardon?”

“Give me exclusive gate rights.”

Go Jinhyeok doubted his ears.

Gate exclusive rights.

That was a prime right even major guilds coveted.

But there was no precedent for granting it to an individual.

“Which… gate are you referring to?”

“Any dungeon that appears in the West Sea. But there’s a condition.”

Baek Kangjin held up one finger.

“It’s not a one-time conquest right. Permanent ownership. All byproducts, magic stones, and even monster corpses—everything that comes out of it will be recognized as my property.”

Go Jinhyeok racked his brain.

Gates appearing in the West Sea were numerous.

But permanent ownership?

That was legally complicated.

“May I ask… the reason? If it’s simply for profit generation, it might be better to give you shares…”

“It’s not just about making money.”

Baek Kangjin’s gaze turned toward the window.

“I need it for research.”

“Research?”

“Otherworldly creatures are excellent experimental materials. I need some of those.”

Baek Kangjin’s mind already held a grand blueprint.

Simply hunting monsters and selling magic stones was a one-dimensional profit model. That was the kind of thing low-rank Hunters did.

On the other hand, he was a microbiologist.

Analyzing monster genes, culturing viruses, synthesizing new substances.

The fusion of magic and modern science.

The added value from that would be astronomical.

*Incurable disease treatments, lifespan-extending reagents, physical enhancement ampoules.*

Items that would command whatever price he named.

This was a project to create a permanent cash cow for Hayun.

“When results come out, I’ll open them up to you too. It’ll definitely be of great help to Awakened as well.”

Baek Kangjin looked Go Jinhyeok straight in the eye.

“How about it? One gate in the West Sea in exchange for chasing out those Chinese bastards. Isn’t that a good deal?”

Go Jinhyeok swallowed dryly.

There was no reason to refuse.

Moreover, if Kangjin produced results through research, it would be a huge benefit even at the national level.

“I understand.”

Go Jinhyeok made his decision.

“We’ll handle all the necessary administrative procedures. Baek Kangjin-nim… just clear out the West Sea.”

“Deal.”

Baek Kangjin rose from his seat.

His steps were light.

“Then I’ll be off. Contact me when the paperwork’s done.”

He left the office.

Behind him, Go Jinhyeok bowed at a perfect 90-degree angle.

—

Baek Kangjin headed straight for Incheon.

His destination: the coastal wharf.

He’d received information that the remnants were gathered there.

*Creak.*

The taxi stopped.

Baek Kangjin got out and breathed in the sea breeze.

The salty, fishy smell mixed with oil.

In a corner of the harbor, a single ship undergoing repairs came into view.

Garam Guild’s ship.

*Looks like a funeral home atmosphere.*

Baek Kangjin clicked his tongue.

The Guild members gathered around the ship had dark expressions.

The area was thick with cigarette smoke.

At their center sat a man wrapped in bandages.

That was Team Leader Kim Seonghun.

*Thud. Thud.*

Baek Kangjin approached.

Sensing someone’s presence, Kim Seonghun looked up.

“Who are you?”

Kim Seonghun asked warily.

This was a restricted area where civilians weren’t allowed.

Baek Kangjin handed over a small business card and a document envelope.

It was Association President Go Jinhyeok’s business card.

“I’m from the Association. You’ve probably heard already.”

Kim Seonghun checked inside the envelope.

The contents were concise.

Inside was an order with the Association President’s handwritten signature and the Guild Master’s official seal.

*—As of this moment, Garam Guild’s assault team will follow the command of the above individual.*

Now the Association was stepping in?

Honestly, Kim Seonghun wasn’t happy with the Association’s behavior.

*The Association probably doesn’t have any real solution either.*

Kim Seonghun looked Baek Kangjin up and down.

Ordinary.

He seemed like a civilian—he couldn’t even feel the characteristic energy of an Awakened.

“You’re the one who’s supposed to command us?”

“Got a problem?”

“To be honest, yes.”

Kim Seonghun clicked his tongue.

“We got completely destroyed by an A-rank Hunter. And the reinforcements the Association sends is… just an ordinary civilian with no mana. You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“You talk too much.”

Baek Kangjin said in a low voice.

“Enough of the weak talk. Hurry up and prepare to set sail.”

“Excuse me?”

“We need to go get revenge. You’re not planning to tuck your tail between your legs like a beaten dog, are you?”

Kim Seonghun was dumbfounded.

The Hwaryong Guild was among the largest in China.

Garam Guild, just a small-to-medium enterprise, was no match for them.

“Revenge? Don’t say such nonsense. If we go now, we’ll just be humiliated again.”

“Scared?”

“Excuse me?”

“Loser mentality is soaked into your bones. That’s why you keep getting wiped out by the Chinese.”

His blood boiled.

He wanted to grab the man by the collar and shake him.

“Then what do you expect us to do? Do you have a solution?”

“Of course I do.”

Now was the time to demonstrate his power.

Baek Kangjin slightly released his restrained mana.

*Grooooan…*

An overwhelming pressure spread outward.

“Ghk…!”

It was only the faintest leak through a tiny gap.

But even that brief sliver was enough to paralyze Kim Seonghun’s entire body.

Like a mouse facing an apex predator.

His legs finally gave out.

*Thump.*

His knees hit the ground.

Cold sweat poured like rain down his spine.

Watching him unable even to breathe properly, Baek Kangjin spoke.

“From now on, you’re a puppet. I’ll pull the strings—you just dance on stage.”

Baek Kangjin wore a wicked smile.

“But when the curtain falls, I’ll let you take the applause. Ah… save your thanks. I’m a pretty generous person.”