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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Hestia]
[Proofreader - Kaya]
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Chapter 108: A Changing Future
The [Saint's Tears] Demonstration.
It was a promotional event for a groundbreaking item that would change the course of the hunter industry, but the Arhan Guild did not participate.
‘I knew they were planning something, but I never imagined they'd pull off something so devastating’
Baek Seonghyeon closed his eyes tightly and fell into thoughts.
His cell phone had been turned off for a long time.
The office phone line was also disconnected.
If even one of them was turned on, the silence he had painstakingly created would surely be broken.
‘It was a truly brilliant declaration of war.’
It was a trump card that he would have applauded if he hadn't been on the receiving end.
By using Kim Mijeong to expose the secret relationship between the Rakshasa Guild and Arhan, all the options Baek Seonghyeon could have used immediately were blocked.
‘I don't even understand how they managed to coax the Mad Dog.’
Kim Mijeong, an executive hired on a contract basis by the Rakshasa Guild.
She was a troublesome existence who wouldn't act unless she was interested.
She was used because of her abilities.
It was unbelievable that a peak 6 Star Hunter was captured by Yoojin as a prisoner.
The fact that she violated the contract while even thinking of turning Rakshasa and Arhan into enemies was even more incomprehensible.
‘How did it come to this?’
Rakshasa - Arhan Conspiracies Allegations.
This was the name given to the articles that poured out immediately after the press conference.
Under normal circumstances, the full force of the Arhan Guild would have been mobilized to crush it, but with the attention of the media and the hunter industry focused on the [Saint's Tears] demonstration, it was not easy to bury.
The infamous reputation of the Mad Dog Kim Mijeong also further increased the credibility of the rumors.
‘Since there is no evidence, it is an allegation that will subside over time…’
Just as a mountain does not shake even if the wind blows strongly.
Even if small and large disturbances occur, the great mountain called Arhan will never collapse.
The No. 1 Hunter Guild in Korea.
Its name value was by no means light.
"It's a shame that I can't repay Cheon Yoojin right away."
The Arhan Guild had to work hard to clear the allegations, so they could not act for the time being.
The Rakshasa Guild also suffered considerable damage.
The betrayal of the Mad Dog.
And since most of the 150 combatants perished in the border area.
For the time being, even managing the Busan area will be overwhelming, so how can they touch Yoojin?
Knock— Knock—
"What's going on?"
"It's the Master's call."
"I'll be right there."
Baek Seonghyeon tidied up his disheveled clothes and headed to the top floor of the building.
"You've here?"
"Yes, Master."
"Sit there. Let's talk."
His suit was stretched taut as if it would tear at any moment.
With large, beast-like eyes and long sideburns that extended to his jawline.
A man who was truly like a wild animal, Lee Shinwoo, the Guildmaster of Arhan, invited him to a seat in a relaxed tone.
"Friend. It's been a while since we've seen each other like this, just the two of us, hasn't it?"
"Indeed, Master."
"Come on. Why so formal? I told you to speak comfortably when we're alone."
Lee Shinwoo and Baek Seonghyeon.
The two were business partners and friends who had built the impregnable fortress of the No. 1 Hunter Guild in Korea.
"I cannot do that."
"Is it because the damage the Vice Guildmaster has caused to the guild is so enormous?"
"Yes."
"To be frank, the report made me so furious I wanted to drop everything and rip you to shreds."
The Call of the Wild
A gate with access for 6 Stars and above, in Namhae, Gyeongnam.
Lee Shinwoo monopolized the gate in the name of the guild, deliberately postponing the attack and was using it as a training ground.
Given that a peak 7 Star hunter could unleash their full power to cleave rivers and shatter mountains, there was no need to hold back inside the gate.
The monsters that appeared from time to time also helped with real combat experience.
"I'm sorry, Master."
"It's fine. Thanks to that, I have an opportunity to break through my limits."
"D-Did you finally find the path to enlightenment?"
"Ironically, I found it in the midst of overwhelming rage."
[Fury]
This is Lee Shinwoo's signature martial art.
A powerful martial art that uses anger as the source of power.
Instead, it has a penalty of degenerating the user's ability to control emotions, and sometimes they lose their reason while fighting.
"Until now, I've only tried to control that anger."
"That's how it was."
"When I received the report during training, the anger that I had been suppressing well exploded in an instant."
Crack—
A terrifying sound echoed as the muscles interlocked.
The red aura revolved violently around Lee Shinwoo's fist, making a mess of the office.
"Ironically, you know. The moment the anger exceeded its limit, enlightenment came."
Like a surfer who does not resist the power of the waves but adapts to it.
Rather than putting a leash on the boiling anger like a volcano, it is about determining the direction to spread out.
It was an enlightenment gained at the moment when anger dominated his mind.
"It's thanks to you."
"I'm glad I could help."
Before the regression.
Lee Shinwoo had been in closed-door training at the gate for more than a year, but he came out without grasping the clue to enlightenment.
The true power of [Fury] would not be awakened until years later.
A butterfly effect created by the miracle of regression.
In a place Yoojin could not even fathom, the storm was raging.
"Seonghyeon, what countermeasures have you put in place?"
"We've made a deal with the Democratic Party to clean up the waters around Ulleungdo."
"Those ruling party leeches! They've already been paid handsomely, and they're still begging for more."
"We've also taken care of Korea Daily and Seoul West Daily, so we should see some positive coverage soon."
Before all contact with the outside world was cut off.
Baek Seonghyeon had already given all the necessary instructions to the secretariat.
Having already prepared contingency plans upon hearing about the [Saint's Tears] demonstration, Baek Seonghyeon's absence caused no operational issues.
However, Yoojin's bombshell proved far more impactful than anticipated.
"Did you mention the relationship with Park [Name withheld for privacy]?"
"No, I did not."
"I suppose they wouldn't know. He and I are half-brothers."
Lee Shinwoo and Park [Name withheld for privacy], the Master of the Rakshasa Guild, were brothers with the same mother.
"Is there anything else I can do to help?"
"Please focus solely on your training."
"Heh heh. I'll be an 8 Star when you see me next."
"In the meantime, I will clear away the obstacles blocking Arhan's path."
Lee Shinwoo lightly patted Baek Seonghyeon's shoulder.
"By the way. Have you heard anything from the Romanov clan?"
"I apologize. There has been no progress in the exchange since the connection was broken..."
"Don't worry. Things will change when I reach 8 Star."
Lee Shinwoo's patron saint is Odin.
The guardian deity of the Romanov clan, one of the seven great clans, and also Dmitri's patron saint.
Also the god of magic and knowledge.
And at the same time, Odin, the warrior god who presides over 'madness'.
Behind the connection with the Romanov clan was the patron saint.
"Understood, Master."
"I'll leave the guild operations as they were."
"Yes."
Lee Shinwoo tossed a square ice cube into his mouth and crunched down on it forcefully.
＊ ＊ ＊
Black Company revealed itself to the world at the press conference.
"A business alliance?"
"That Cheon Yoojin. Turns out he's all talk."
"How is he going to push that 'individuality' nonsense?"
"What about the monsters that keep appearing in the border region?"
Some dismissed his declaration as nonsense.
"Is investment possible?"
"Arrange a meeting with CEO Cheon."
"There's no way to contact him."
"There must be some way! Family, acquaintances, anything!"
"We've investigated, but he's an orphan..."
Those who recognized the potential of Black Company tried to contact Yoojin with a burning passion in their eyes.
"Master! It's been a while!"
【Oh. Your posture has improved.】
A long-haired woman approached, waving her hand.
Jang Miseon was one of them.
"I'm busy."
"Oh, come on. Mr. Cheon. We've met before, don't be so cold."
"I'm not going to Phoenix. I don't accept investments either."
"It's not a solicitation. Our guild leader wants to propose an alliance."
‘An alliance!? That's unexpected.’
A groundbreaking proposal to maintain an equal relationship, not to keep Black Company as a subsidiary or tie it up with money.
He didn't expect the guild next in line after Arhan to reach out first.
〔Hahaha. That little human has a good eye for talent.〕
'Well, that guy was known for his good instincts.'
Kim Youngsoo, the leader of the Phoenix Guild, was someone he had worked with in his previous life.
They say the Phoenix Guild, an elite group, rose to second place in Korea because of Kim Youngsoo's keen instincts and foresight.
Even though he never achieved 8 Stars himself and was surpassed by the Dawn Guild, his intuition is exceptional.
"Alright, then. Did you bring the documents?"
"Uh, about that..."
"You didn't bring it?"
"No, I was just told to give you the message."
"I'll go see the guild leader later."
"Yay!"
"But why did you bring your luggage?"
"I'm coming with you. I've already gotten permission from the guild leader."
‘Jang Miseon, the future Sword Saint, is joining us? Not bad. I'll whip her into shape.’
〔This little human isn't one of your Little Runts, you know. Are you sure about this?〕
'The Phoenix Guild can be brought under Black Company as a partner organization later.'
Yoojin casually talked about his ambition to bring the current No. 2 Hunter Guild under his control.
"Um, partner. Do I have to fight the Manhunters too?"
"Bring some popcorn. Alchemists have nothing to do."
"Really?"
"Just focus on factory operation and the production of [Saint's Tears]."
Just because he declared war doesn't mean he intends to start a war right away.
He still lacks manpower.
That's why he set a two-year time limit.
〔Even with the addition of the little human called the Mad Dog?〕
"Even with her, it's not enough."
The three leaders of the Manhunters.
All are peak 6 Star Hunters and have tamed several variant monsters.
A head-on collision has a 99% chance of defeat.
Moreover…
'How can I trust someone I've only half-heartedly leashed?'
Kim Mijeong's remaining with Black Company was only partially her own choice.
Having exposed the secret relationship between Rakshasa and Arhan.
It was clear that whichever guild, even after the situation stabilized somewhat, would target her life.
'They'll either put a bounty on her head or come after her themselves.'
〔Does that alone justify cutting yourself off from the world?〕
'She's also taken an interest in me.'
A person who goes wild when they become obsessed with something.
That's why she's called the Mad Dog.
If Yoojin hadn't recognized that Kim Mijeong's interest was in him.
He wouldn't have even bothered to try to capture her as a prisoner.
"Hyung. Shall we prepare to return immediately?"
"Ah. Minho, your team has a separate task."
"Tell me."
"Go to Seoul and register a mercenary group."
Mercenaries.
Unlike hunters whose main job is monster hunting, they are a group whose main purpose is carrying out requests.
In professional terms, it's called a PMC (Private Military Company).
Before the Great Cataclysm, there were reportedly almost no mercenary groups in Korea.
Since the appearance of hunters, the mercenary industry has become quite active.
"Mercenaries, you say."
"You guys also have to take charge of a part of Black Company."
"So, it's the mercenary division."
"Yeah. Recruit some people under my name."
With Black Company trending at the top of real-time search rankings, it's perfect.
There's no need for separate promotion.
"We will do our best to ensure that we do not tarnish your name, Hyung."
"Don't be too nervous. You'll do well."
"Oppa. What about me?"
"Minho, I'm counting on you."
"Ah! Oppa!!!"
Pretending not to hear Minyeong shouting, he sent off the Little Runts team.
【Is master going back to the border region now?】
"No. I'm going to stop by the Association first."
【Is there something else you need to take care of there?】
"I need to settle some legal issues regarding the land where the Necropolis is located."
The old name for the border region was DMZ.
Strictly speaking, it's an area where people are not allowed to enter.
How many people would claim ownership of that area? Not many.
But just in case, he plans to negotiate with the Hunter Association, a government agency.
'Before the regression, there were problems around the Kaesong Industrial Complex.'
No one dared to directly challenge him.
But it's an easy target for trouble, so it's best to take preventative measures.
【Surely. No one would argue about that, would they?】
‘Fafnir… I've experienced all this before the regression, so please don't be so naive.’
Right before the press conference, Yoojin spoke to Chairman Jin of the Seongcheon Corporation, telling him he would visit the Hunter Association.
【Thorough as ever.】
"We have a lot to do, so let's go."
【Understood.】
Yoojin, accompanied by Fafnir, headed to the Hunter Association.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Hestia
[Proofreader - Kaya]
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