Chapter 226
The White Tiger Guild and the Black Tortoise Guild were well-known rivals in the eyes of the public. Their brand values and sizes were similar, and their names both drew inspiration from the Four Symbols, gods of the cardinal directions—a white tiger, a black tortoise, a blue dragon, and a red pheasant.
As a result, the two guilds were often mentioned in the same breath. And this constant association deeply irked the Black Tortoise Guild’s guild master.
We were around a full year before they were!
Besides, the name of the guild was not actually meant to refer to the Four Symbols.
I know the black tortoise symbol is called a “hyunmu,” but the guild is based on my name! Hyun Mukang! I named it after myself!
The truth behind the name was simple.
Then a year later, Baek Yoonho left the Fiend Guild to establish the White Tiger Guild. He also used characters from his name, “Baek” and “Ho,” which meant “white tiger” when they were combined.
Ever since, the public couldn’t seem to separate the two guilds, much to Mukang’s growing frustration.
Of course, a friendly rivalry between their guilds could have been manageable—if not for Baek Yoonho himself.
What?! Yoonho, that hypocrite! He gave another donation?
Mukang had nearly been driven mad.
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Despite being a newcomer guild, the White Tiger Guild prioritized charity over profit, quickly gaining a reputation for their good deeds.
They would clear fields that were clearly not worth any money, rescue low-rank hunters, provide welfare benefits to miners, and so on. This altruism caused the White Tiger Guild to grow at an alarming pace, earning widespread admiration for their leader, Baek Yoonho.
Unfortunately for the Black Tortoise Guild, their similarly styled names invited constant comparisons, and rarely favorable ones.
In terms of pure revenue, the White Tiger Guild was far outmatched by the Black Tortoise Guild. On the other hand, Yoonho’s goodwill campaigns propelled their brand value far ahead, attracting waves of eager applicants, especially among mid- to low-ranked hunters.
As a result, the White Tiger Guild always had plenty of applicants. Meanwhile, the Black Tortoise Guild, which was subject to nothing but criticism, received fewer and fewer.
Then the White Tiger Guild declared that it would only hire hunters with the Beast Transformation skill. Though this decision sent some applicants back to the Black Tortoise Guild, it was not a pleasant change for Mukang either.
At the time, hunters with that skill were considered part beast in the eyes of the fearful public. Since he was like these hunters, Yoonho had boldly decided to accept them into his fold, which had boosted his reputation once again. Naturally, the Black Tortoise Guild was placed on the chopping block once more.
For these reasons, the two guilds were at odds—or more precisely, there was one guild that absolutely hated the other.
Mukang glared at Miho with displeasure as she stood in his way. “Baek Miho... What do you think you’re doing?”
“I should ask you the same question,” Miho responded.
“I was merely making a recruitment offer to a new S-class hunter. And quite a generous one at that.”
“Generous?” Yoonho interjected, stepping up beside his daughter. “You mean indentured servitude at bargain rates?”
Mukang’s frown deepened. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You know exactly what I mean. Everyone’s heard the rumors about the exploitative contracts your guild offers.”
Mukang scoffed. “Ha! That’s just fake news—”
Miho cut him off. “Fake news? Contracts that are ten years long, with massive penalties for leaving? Is that really fake?”
Mukang flinched but quickly masked his discomfort with defiance. “Those contracts are private. It seems someone has breached their nondisclosure clause,” he said coolly. “Yes, we have such contracts. So what?”
“What?”
“The hunters voluntarily agreed to sign those contracts. So what if there’s a fine for leaving? It’s a natural penalty, given how much we pay them to sign on.”
“Natural?” Yoonho’s eyes narrowed. “It’s only been two years since the Great Cataclysm. What is a ten-year contract but an excuse to work them like slaves?”
As the argument escalated, Suho—the subject of their dispute—shifted awkwardly.
I can’t even get a word in.
He had no intention of signing a contract with anyone, be it the Black Tortoise Guild or otherwise. His focus lay on the S-rank hunters gathered for today’s meeting.
Only five of them showed up? Really?
To gain approval for his North Korea mission, Suho needed the consent of five S-rank hunters, which meant the unanimous agreement of all five present.
Sehwan, the meeting’s coordinator, confirmed Suho’s suspicion with a nod. “Yes, only five made it. The other S-class hunters are either busy clearing dungeons or declined due to scheduling conflicts.”
It was rare that so many S-class hunters gathered in one place. Unless it was for something critical, like today’s meeting, it was nearly impossible to align their schedules. And if a dungeon break occurred in the meantime, who would bear the cost of the countless civilian lives lost?
Thus, only five hunters had responded to the association’s summons.
“Still, we should be grateful that at least five came,” Sehwan added. “The challenge now is convincing all of them to approve your mission to North Korea.”
Suho scanned the room, taking in the hunters present.
First, there was Lim Taegyu from the Fiend Guild. Standing nearby, he struck up a conversation.
“Suho, I haven’t seen Dogyoon around lately. What has he been up to? You didn’t take him to India, did you?”
“He’s... been busy working out at the gym,” Suho replied.
“Oh, really? Good for him. Some moderate exercise is great for one’s health.”
“Yeah, definitely.”
It’s not exactly moderate, Suho thought, but said nothing.
With the help of the Mummy’s Bandages and healing potions, Dogyoon’s dying wasn’t a pressing concern. Nevertheless, Suho found himself avoiding Taegyu’s gaze.
There were four more S-rank hunters, including Yoonho and Mukang, who were still bickering in front of him. Behind them stood a man and a woman—Seo Jiwoo from the Blue Dragon Guild and Ma Dongwook from the Fame Guild.
“Doesn’t look too easy, does it?” Taegyu said, as though reading Suho’s thoughts.
“True,” Suho replied.
Taegyu leaned casually against a wall, arms crossed. “I’m not worried about Yoonho or myself, but the other three will take some convincing. We S-rank hunters are competitors thanks to the rivalries between our guilds, but none of us want anybody going to North Korea and not coming back.”
He continued, “It’s not just about national prestige or security. Losing one S-rank hunter means the rest of us have to work even harder. You might not feel the strain with your summons, but we’re literally running ourselves into the ground. Speaking of which... How do you have so many, anyway?”
“It’s a long story,” Suho said with a shrug.
“Don’t dodge the question. That’s what I’m here to find out. Tell me and I’ll side with you, whether it’s about North Korea or anything else you need. On the condition that you don’t take Dogyoon with you, of course.”
Taegyu’s concern for his son was palpable, though he was unaware that Ammut was already driving Dogyoon to his limits. Ignorance, it seemed, was bliss.
“In any case,” he added, “you’ll have to do more than prove your power to get their cooperation. You’ll need to give each of them exactly what they want. Unfortunately for you, there are only the five hunters here, which puts you at a serious disadvantage.”
“Young Monarch, I suggest you ignore these humans’ petty laws,” came the demonic whisper of Beru, who poked his head out above Suho’s shoulder. “For the greater good, let’s sneak into North Korea ourselves.”
Que, a villain-turned-ally, countered with a frighteningly “angelic” suggestion. “Don’t listen to such devilish schemes! If you’re caught, you will be a wanted man and branded an S-rank villain! Better to eliminate everyone here and destroy all evidence. Shall I give them a poisoned sting when they’re not looking?”
[Querehsha’s eyes glint dangerously.]
Without a word, Suho shoved both Beru and Que back into the shadows.
At that moment, Jiwoo and Dongwook approached.
“What were those just now?” Jiwoo asked, her eyes wide. “Wow! I’d heard you were an S-rank summoner, but seeing them in person... Those things looked like the black monsters I saw in the Loktak video. Are they the same?”
Jiwoo, the leader of the Blue Dragon Guild, specialized in close combat. She exuded confidence from every inch of her muscular frame. She seemed to have just finished clearing a dungeon, since her gauntlets and armor were still stained with magic beast blood.
On the other hand, Dongwook of the Fame Guild was dressed casually in loose clothes, as if he’d come out for a stroll. His appearance was friendly, even grandfatherly, but his sheer size was anything but human.
“Ha, so you’re the new S-rank hunter!”
The giant elder approached with an amiable smile, immediately gripping Suho’s shoulders and arms in admiration.
“Ah! Your physique is excellent! If you’re not set on a guild, how about joining mine? We’re mostly magicians and could use someone with your combat skills. Oh, my word! I forgot to introduce myself. I’m Ma Dongwook. I lead the Fame Guild in the southwest.”
He belatedly extended his hand for a handshake, which Suho returned.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Sung— Huh?”
Dongwook’s grip tightened, a startling pressure radiating through Suho’s hand. When he glanced up, the elder’s teasing grin revealed his true intentions.
“I’ve been wondering, you know,” Dongwook said. “Did you really crush that enormous beast with these tiny fists of yours?”
Unlike Jiwoo, Dongwook’s sole interest was strength. While debates raged about whether the black shadows came from a dungeon break, Suho’s punch—broadcast live worldwide—had been undeniable proof of his power.
“Let’s see if you can withstand my strength. That is all I require from you,” the old man said. A wave of energy as vast as a mountain radiated from him, his intent crystal clear.
This power... He’s completely serious. Suho, unfazed, thought back to his first encounter with Thomas. Another old man trying to show off his strength, huh?
Suho grinned and said, “Is that really all you’re asking for?”
Dongwook chuckled. “You’ve got spirit! Of course, I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night if I sent someone who couldn’t even bear my grip to North— Oh, my god!”
Suddenly, his laugh turned into a grimace.
The tension in the room skyrocketed. Miho, Yoonho, and Mukang, still mid-argument, froze in shock as they turned to watch.
Dongwook’s face turned crimson, his teeth clenched. The initially playful man strained to withstand Suho’s strength, even unleashing his mana to keep up. A powerful energy rippled around them both, the air around them growing heavy.
Suho remained completely calm. “Director?”
“Y-yeah?” Sehwan stammered, startled. He’d been rooted to the spot next to Suho.
“Do we have an A-rank healer on standby?”
“Yes, of course. Why do you ask?”
The association, anticipating these moments, always kept a healer ready whenever S-rank hunters gathered. Hunters would often spar with each other in order to prove who was stronger, either for rankings or simply for training. If an A-rank healer was around, even severed limbs could be reattached.
“Good to know,” Suho said, grinning.
A sharp cracking sound followed, and Dongwook opened his lips in a silent scream.