Chapter 200: Breaker Guild (4)
“You once mentioned that both Breaker and MKC were essentially puppet guilds, didn’t you?”
“I did. That’s why MKC crumbled so easily when their guild leader went missing. At least Sudam managed to hold on with their deputy guild leader pulling the strings. But MKC is practically on the verge of disbanding. With the guild leader gone, how could the younger high-rank hunters tolerate a bunch of non-Awakened old men bossing them around?”
There’s no way they’d tolerate it. Especially when losing an S-Rank hunter already meant the guild was plummeting in rank. If those who’d never even stepped foot in a dungeon started meddling, how many hunters would actually stick around?
“Even with the penalties for breaking their contracts, it’d be better to leave. Especially now that Haeyeon is forming two new S-Rank teams, and Sesung is recruiting for their newly established S-Rank team. Any capable A-Rank hunter could even create their own guild. Who would want to stay in MKC under these conditions?”
Most hunter contracts are directly tied to the guild leader, making it easier to terminate them if the guild leader goes missing. Moon Hyunah chuckled, saying that MKC’s investors had even approached Yerim, Noah, and Liette out of desperation.
“If Liette had taken over as guild leader, it would’ve been quite the spectacle. Apologies to Chief Song, of course.”
“That would’ve been a complete disaster.”
Given the location, it might’ve taken the National Assembly building down with it. A massive black dragon appearing in Yeouido, Chief Song pulling endless all-nighters… yeah, Liette definitely wouldn’t last a day in that role with her temper.
“What about you, Hyunah? What do you think about the current state of Breaker?”
At my question, Moon Hyunah perched herself on the edge of the table and gestured for me to sit down as well. Instead of the table, I chose a chair.
“What do I think? I’m just waiting for the contract to end. It’s a five-year deal.”
It made sense. There’s no way she would’ve agreed to be tied down for life. Moon Hyunah lightly swung one foot as she continued.
“There’s less than half the term left, and the terms aren’t terrible. Back then, we didn’t know much about items. The fact that mana stones could be used as an energy source was discovered unusually quickly. So, the contract stipulated a 50-50 split of mana stones, while all items were entirely owned by the raid teams.”
Now that she mentioned it, the value of mana stones became widely known shortly after the appearance of dungeons. There was no information about who made the discovery. Was it those damned higher-ups? Without a tempting reward system, there’s no way the hunter structure and guilds would’ve been established this quickly.
“Of course, once the value of items increased, they threw a tantrum. But what could they do? If they didn’t like it, they could’ve cleared the dungeons themselves.”
“Just getting to sit comfortably and profit from mana stones is already more than enough. There must’ve been safety clauses, too.”
“Of course! If a dungeon broke, high-rank guild members were required to respond first. The guild buildings could also be used for evacuation. They even tried to get hunters to act as their bodyguards for overseas vacations, but we kicked that idea to the curb since the contracts were limited to domestic operations.”
She explained that any dungeon byproducts requiring processing were split under the condition that the guild handled their management and disposal.
Perhaps because the contracts were drawn up before much was known about dungeons, the terms seemed fairly reasonable. While there were minor interferences, such as requests for guild cooperation or image-building, the management of affiliated hunters was left entirely to the guild leader and the founding members.
“With terms like those, it doesn’t seem bad enough to call you a puppet leader.”
“Well, I don’t own much of the guild’s shares. My authority is strictly limited to dungeon raids. While dungeon raids are the core of a hunter guild, if I packed my bags and left, I couldn’t even use the name Breaker.”
The contract had about two years and a bit left. But in my past life, Breaker had never become independent. I didn’t know the full details, but it seemed they couldn’t end the contract on good terms. Considering how the guild collapsed shortly after, the contract terms must’ve worsened.
“Do you think they’ll let the contract end easily? They might even try to renegotiate, including a cut of the item rights.”
“It won’t be easy. But if worst comes to worst, I’ll just change the guild’s name. We’re established enough now to start fresh if needed.”
Moon Hyunah spoke lightly. She could probably break away and climb back up quickly this time. But in the past…
‘…Was it because of the Awakening Center controversy?’
There had been a period when many low-rank hunters who’d gone through rushed awakenings died, leading to public backlash against high-rank hunters, especially guild leaders. Haeyeon had suffered greatly during that time, and I had been caught up in it as well.
For guilds tied to corporations, like Breaker or MKC, the influence of guild leaders would’ve inevitably weakened after that. The renegotiation of Breaker’s contract might’ve had other factors involved, but the Awakening Center scandal must’ve played a significant role.
‘That won’t happen this time, though.’
The Awakening Center was currently being rebuilt with plans to operate under a revised system. The new leadership had decided not to force awakenings anymore. If all went well, Breaker might be able to end their contract peacefully and stand independently.
“Still, you never know how they might try to hold you back, so it’s better to prepare in advance. Ideally, Breaker could take over the current position entirely and reverse the situation.”
Moon Hyunah nodded, her expression showing she was already thinking along the same lines.
“That’s true. If possible, we’ll aim to take it all. There’s no point in half measures.”
“It would be a shame to throw away an already established building, facilities, and other connections.”
At my words, Moon Hyunah leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. Even while hunched over, she felt tall—probably because she was looking up at me from that position.
“The guild buildings and facilities aren’t actually owned by the guild. They were provided by the investors. Of course, I have the funds to buy them all out, but the issue is that they’d never sell willingly.”
“What about the regular staff?”
“I only manage the hunters, like I said.”
That was another problem. Was there really no way to fully break away? I didn’t know much about this kind of thing, and my limited knowledge made it unlikely I’d come up with a brilliant plan.
Still, I thought about it.
“Couldn’t you just quietly remove them all or blackmail them?”
“You’re surprisingly aggressive, Director Han.”
“Breaker is tied to three major corporations on the surface, right?”
“There are a few politicians involved too. And some high-ranking officials. I hear they’re planning to join as board members after retirement.”
Those damn board members. Is there even a way to oust them legally? Probably not. A little illegality would likely be required. While I mulled over this, Moon Hyunah looked down at me and smiled.
“You’re really putting a lot of thought into this. It’s not even your problem.”
“Well, it’s not completely unrelated to me, is it?”
“But aren’t you already busy enough just reorganizing your Breeding Facility?”
“True, I have my own hands full.”
But the Breeding Facility wasn’t in danger of collapsing or facing threats. Even if there were some hiccups with independent operation, the facilities were under my name, and interference from other guilds was short-term, making it relatively easy to establish autonomy. It’s easier to uproot something shallow than deeply rooted.
“I just hope Breaker Guild, and you, Guild Leader Moon, can hold steady and stand strong for a long time.”
“Is that personal sentiment? Or is there another reason?”
“Both.”
At first, I had thought Haeyeon could simply take over everything like in the past. With an S-Rank hunter like Moon Hyunah, I figured it would be enough to pull her away. But that was a short-sighted view that only focused on individual hunters.
Sure, S-Rank hunters were still critically important, and that would never change. But the three years Moon Hyunah had spent building her guild and the surrounding connections had immense value as well. No matter how exceptional someone is, they can’t do everything on their own.
‘As a guild leader, honestly, Moon Hyunah is quite remarkable.’
My little brother was outstanding, sure, but he was still young. He wasn’t the best at looking after others yet. …Seok Gimyeong had been a big help to him. As a hunter, Yuhyun was incredibly capable, but as a leader…
Moon Hyunah, on the other hand, seemed to have a knack for nurturing and managing relationships. The fact that Woods Guild’s guild leader came to see her in person was proof of that. I’d need to check the atmosphere of the guild more closely, but objectively speaking, Moon Hyunah seemed better suited as a guild leader.
…Well, my kid is still young. Even Seong Hyunjae once said that running a guild wasn’t something suited to Yuhyun’s personality. There’s always a matter of aptitude. People can’t excel at everything. Having a few shortcomings makes someone more human, relatable… Anyway, you get the point.
“This place isn’t bugged, is it?”
“Of course not. This room is where we meet important guests.”
“If we fail to stop dungeon breaks, the world will end.”
I explained, adding some context from what the higher-ups had revealed. If Moon Hyunah was going to stay as a guild leader, she needed to know these things.
“Obviously, the world ending if dungeons all break isn’t a shocking revelation.”
Moon Hyunah tilted her head slightly, not looking particularly surprised.
“So what you’re saying is that you want me to preserve as much of Breaker’s power as possible?”
“Yes. That would be far more advantageous. Of course, this is assuming you’re willing to cooperate.”
“Why wouldn’t I? There are plenty of people I want to protect too. Most people feel that way. Though I’m not sure about that bastard Seong Hyunjae.”
Yeah, me neither. He might’ve built his guild for his own convenience—it’d certainly be easier for him that way. But would he really want to protect the world? …Then again, he did break ties with the Filial Duty Addicts, so maybe.
“So, is your ultimate goal to save the world, Director Han?”
“The way you say it makes it sound so grand. I’m just here to help, really. My short-term goal is domestic stabilization.”
Within a year, the major guilds in Korea should all have mounts. Blue and Comet would finish growing soon, giving us three S-Rank mounts, plus the unicorns. With stamina potions in production, things could progress even faster.
By that point, Myungwoo would also be producing S-Rank and higher equipment consistently. The Awakening Center would operate differently than it did before. If I pushed myself hard enough, the number of individuals with unique skills would increase as well. And with Yuhyun, Yerim, Kim Seonghan, and Moon Hyunah benefiting from my skills, their growth would accelerate. Yun Yun, of course, would also be a major help—wherever they were right now.
In any case, we’d be able to surpass the level we were at pre-regression far sooner.
“And then…”
Trailing off, I subconsciously placed a hand over my chest.
The day is coming soon. The completion of the beast containing the L-Rank mana stone. At least SS-Rank. Possibly SSS-Rank or higher. Most likely a Venom and Curse Dragon species.
If that’s the case, it’s double the power, then double it again.
Seven days with an L-Rank. They said an F-Rank like me wouldn’t survive this world. But for those seven days, during my final moments, I’ll be able to go find it myself.
‘…It’d be nice if it turns out to be a fully grown lizard-type beast.’
That way, I wouldn’t feel so guilty. A dragonkin would be fine too. Surely it wouldn’t emerge in a juvenile state, right? And Seong Hyunjae’s fragment shouldn’t be able to interfere with it.
“For now, I think everything’s going well.”
Even with the suspicious Filial Duty Addicts and that jellyfish among them, they haven’t been able to interfere much. The jellyfish itself couldn’t do anything significant without a medium.
If I can securely protect Korea, should I also… No, do I really have to worry about the overseas situation as well? Surely there are competent, reliable guild leaders abroad who can handle their own problems. Hopefully, just forming cooperative relationships will be enough. Please, let that be enough.
‘Each country should take care of its own problems.’
“If there’s some kind of time limit, would it be better to just cut ties and start over? I should give it some thought.”
Moon Hyunah got down from the table and gave my shoulder a pat.
“Let’s get lunch! Our guild’s sauna seaweed soup is to die for.”
“Didn’t you say men aren’t allowed there?”
“There’s a separate section, so it’s fine. The direct entrance to the sauna is what’s blocked off.”
She pulled me along as she spoke.
“Still, it feels a bit uncomfortable, so I’ll pass. It’s better to avoid anything that might cause misunderstandings.”
And besides, Myungwoo’s cooking is just as amazing. I’m not easily swayed by talk of good food.
“You’re surprisingly strict, Director Han. But I’m really craving seaweed soup right now.”
As we rounded a corner in the hallway, we ran into someone who appeared to be a hunter. The face was familiar.
“This is Choi Gaeun, the leader of Breaker’s A-Rank team. Gaeun, this is Director Han Yujin of the Breeding Facility.”
Moon Hyunah cheerfully introduced me. Choi Gaeun, an A-Rank hunter, was, if my memory was correct, one of the initial Awakeners who awakened alongside Moon Hyunah. She gave me a slight nod, and I returned the gesture.
“Want to join us for lunch? How about some seaweed soup?”
“Even if it’s technically an external facility, are you sure that’s alright?”
Choi Gaeun looked at me as she asked. See? I knew it would be an issue.
“Oh, it’s a secret, but actually, Director Han is a woman.”
“Pardon?”
“Excuse me?”
Both Choi Gaeun and I looked at Moon Hyunah in disbelief. What on earth was she talking about? With a playful expression, Moon Hyunah shamelessly continued.
“That’s why she came all the way to our guild. To consult about related issues.”
“Ah…”
Choi Gaeun looked at me with a confused expression. Wait, is she actually considering this? She’s not seriously confused, is she?
“That makes sense.”
“No, it doesn’t!”
Don’t just accept that! As Moon Hyunah burst into laughter, I hurriedly tried to explain myself. Why did I even feel the need to explain this?
“I’m definitely a man! Just look at me—anyone can tell.”
“Judging by your build and bone structure, I’d say so, but you never know.”
“Pardon?”
“It could be the result of a skill or item. Some skills can alter physical traits slightly, so I considered the possibility.”
Choi Gaeun spoke earnestly. It sounded plausible enough that I found myself nodding along involuntarily.
“It’s true that items or skills like that might exist, but I’ve been male since birth.”
“I see. My apologies.”
“It’s fine. Guild Leader Moon Hyunah was just joking around.”
Can you stop laughing already? Moon Hyunah draped her arm casually over my shoulder.
“So, Director Han, what do you want to eat? I’ll treat you to something delicious!”
“Anything simple is fine. Just no sauna food, please.”
“You’re not upset, are you?”
“I’m not!”
Moon Hyunah, trying to cheer me up, brought me to a nearby restaurant she claimed was the best around, and to her credit, the food was excellent. After lunch, she gave me a proper tour of Breaker Guild.
One of their teams was out raiding a dungeon, and since it was lunchtime, there weren’t many people around, but the guild’s atmosphere was fantastic.
What stood out the most was the clear sense of admiration and trust the guild members had for their leader.
After finishing the Breaker Guild tour, I headed to the Hunter Association to handle matters related to the Japan dungeon. I had planned to return to the Breeding Facility to prepare for the trip with Noah and possibly another A-Rank hunter, but Moon Hyunah volunteered to handle the arrangements instead, so I went straight to the association.
On the first floor near the reception desk, a few hunters were gathered, and I spotted Song Taewon nearby. He looked at me quietly as I approached. Outwardly, he didn’t seem to have any issues.
“Hello, Chief Song.”
I greeted him lightly, and he nodded in return. He looked perfectly fine. Why did Seong Hyunjae make such a fuss about him?
–TL Notes–
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