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

"We don't need to follow his orders. Go ahead with it as I told you."

"Yes, Chairman."

Director Oh Jungsu barely left the chairman's office before contacting the vault keeper in Myeongdong. This individual oversaw the group's slush funds, making him valuable for acquiring stocks under borrowed names, as required in the current scenario.

"This is Oh Jungsu. Prepare to dispose of Taesung Machinery stocks. When I give the signal, you have to handle it quickly."

After ending the call, Oh Jungsu felt the urge to smoke again. He tried to quell it with gum, but it didn't help.

"This is why I can't quit smoking."

Finally, he had his secretary buy him some cigarettes and went up to the rooftop. Employees who came to enjoy a post-lunch break quickly bowed and fled upon seeing the chairman's son.

"Jeez, I thought this place would be empty at this hour."

Standing in the deserted rooftop garden with a cigarette between his lips, he coughed as the nicotine and tar hit his lungs after a long time. After a few puffs, the familiar feeling returned, and his muddled head started to clear.

"This is the stuff. Whew~ Trying to quit this would make anyone sick."

Oh Jungsu took out his smartphone and looked at Kang Mu-hyuk's number in his contacts. His finger hovered over the call button several times before he slipped the phone back into his pocket.

"I'm sorry to you, but this is business. No hard feelings, Mr. Kang Mu-hyuk."

Kang Mu-hyuk had been tense, staring at his computer since early morning.

'I heard Chairman Oh of Hanju is as impatient as Chairman Tae Jinsung. He'll probably be busy from the crack of dawn. I wonder what move he'll make?"

He monitored portal site news while also requesting Hanju-related information from his team working with Mr. Cho.

By 9 a.m., he saw it.

"As I thought."

As soon as the stock market opened, the news popped up.

<Taesung Machinery. Merger with Iron Will Guild in Progress.>

<Iron Will Guild Aiming for Backdoor Listing?>

Taesung Machinery's stock began to fluctuate.

Man Suro, who had briefed him at the hospital on Mr. Cho's behalf, contacted him.

"A few minutes ago, the tabloids came up. The small investors are flocking. The stock will hit the upper limit soon. If we leave it, Hanju will bail, and the small investors will be ruined."

"Let's respond immediately. Leak rumors that there's no merger plan through your channels. We'll handle the rest from here."

Kang Mu-hyuk called journalist Kim Dalpil, who had connections with Ju Se-ah.

"Reporter, can you publish the article we discussed yesterday now?"

"Things are already heating up. Are you sure I can post this?"

"It's true. There is no merger. You can use both my name and the Guild Master's. If necessary, mention the chairman in follow-up articles."

"But Hanju Group will be angry, and Taesung Group won't stay quiet if the guild intervenes. They'll contend that a subsidiary interfered with the holding company. Is that okay with you?"

"I warned Hanju to back off quietly, but they didn't listen and went after quick cash. If we don't intervene, small investors will suffer. By the time the group figures out what's happening and reacts, it will be too late. Chairman Tae Jinsung's opinion matters most, right? We just need to stop him."

"Alright. Sending the article now. Done. Other newspapers will probably pick it up right away."

"Thank you."

"Don't forget about the Sinuiju matter. We'll set an interview date soon."

"For now, we request an embargo on the Sinuiju matter. It's sensitive."

"I understand. I don't want to ruin my chances of an interview by spilling it."

Having executed the plan, Kang Mu-hyuk could only wait. Soon, the red upward-trending graph began to descend. The sudden flurry of merger news and corrections seemed to be regarded as a temporary market hiccup.

"Not long till it's time."

Ring! Ring!

"Talk of the devil. Hello, this is Kang Mu-hyuk."

"It's Oh Jungsu."

"Go ahead."

"Did you know?"

"You chose the cheapest option. Pushing up the stock to grab more slush funds isn't going to get you much."

"You hit a sore spot. But a few words turning that small amount into hundreds of millions is a good deal."

"You didn't call just to chat. What is it?"

"Our chairman is really pissed. He's going to hit you with some dirty tricks. It's going to be a hassle, but you'd better handle it smoothly."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Old times' sake, I guess. Despite everything, I've always rooted for Iron Will and you. Like I said before, I'm a fan."

"Thanks for the heads-up. Are you planning to target the Hanju Resort in Sanjeong Lake? The one we're using as our headquarters?"

"Haha... You guessed it. I was embarrassed to bring it up."

"The Hanju Resort hasn't been legally Hanju's property since it became a special operations zone."

"Legalities don't matter. It's the chairman's intentions that count. He thinks he can at least make it difficult for you, even if he can't win. He's pretty persistent."

"No offense, but your chairman has... Quite the personality."

"I can't argue with that."

"I guess our friendly relationship ends here."

"You said it yourself: no permanent friends or enemies. Maybe we'll have a better time next go-round. Hopefully, we'll meet with a smile then."

"Thanks for all your help. Take care."

Kang Mu-hyuk quietly put down the phone. A legal battle with Hanju Group was on the horizon, but at least a major issue was addressed. His work, however, was far from over.

"I wish Hanju had stayed quiet, but they had to poke the bear and draw blood. Now the piranhas smell it."

One of those piranhas wasted no time contacting him.

"I never thought I'd see you make a mistake like this."

"It wasn't a mistake. It was within expectations, Chairman."

"Whether it was a mistake or not, you've cut off your own support. We need to recalculate our approach. Come see me, and let's have lunch together."

"Hospital food isn't great. I'll see you at 1 PM, after lunch."

After hanging up, Kang Mu-hyuk had to pull up a plan he'd been postponing.

"Guild Master, it's me. Yes. Please call Hunter Yeon Jung-moon. Along with his sworn brothers too."

The next day, Tae Jinsung looked much brighter than before.

Kang Mu-hyuk realized again how mischievous this old man could be.

'Now that he's in a favorable position, he looks ten years younger. Or maybe he thinks annoying me is the secret to a long life.'

Tae Jinsung greeted him warmly.

"Come on in. Seeing you so often, I might get attached. Though I hate to admit it."

His smile was gentle, but the stubbornness and greed were written all over his face. Just thinking about dealing with the two old foxes of Taesung and Hanju gave Kang Mu-hyuk a headache. He wasn't scared, but their constant meddling with guild matters was frustrating.

'Once the guild is independent, all this will be in the past. I just need to hold out a bit longer.'

He entered the room, smiling at Tae Jinsung.

"Some say there are people you just can't get close to. I don't know about other stuff, but I agree with that point."

"Better watch yourself when I'm smiling."

"I've always brought meals that suit your taste, haven't I? I'd say I'm pretty good at keeping you happy."

"What's the point if the food is poisoned? The chef profits, but I suffer."

"Then today, I'll have to taste the meal you've prepared."

"Meal? Oh, please. I said let's renegotiate. Pay me back for yesterday's meal."

"Why should I?"

Tae Jinsung looked incredulous at Kang Mu-hyuk's shamelessness.

"Are you seriously asking because you don't know? You personally covered up the backdoor listing issue. It looks like a scheme to make the guild independent. Now that I've caught on, if the method we agreed on yesterday fails, you won't have any options left. If you wanted to stay ahead of me, you should have kept a hold on that backdoor listing lifeline. That way, I'd know that even if I try something else, you have other ways to counter."

"That's why I told Hanju to back off quietly. Too many people would've been hurt if I ignored it."

"That was a nasty move. I didn't expect you to team up with Hanju. But you didn't choose your ally well. Hanju's old man is extremely greedy."

"Not as greedy as you."

"You're getting bold. Do you still think you hold the upper hand? We're both holding each other's lifelines."

Kang Mu-hyuk approached the chairman's bed. He saw the cane he'd given as a gift and picked it up.

"Using it, huh? It's pretty good, right?"

"It's expensive, fits well in the hand."

"I got it from Sinuiju. Made by a Hunter. They're descendants of old North Korean Hunters, living in what's called the Prison Village. They're skilled not just with their hands but also in hunting. They know a lot about the terrain and monsters in that area."

"I still don't get your way of speaking. What are you getting at?"

Kang Mu-hyuk stroked the cane and continued.

"I registered a guild with just those people. Their IDs were just issued. They got Hunter licenses too, recognized as Korean Hunters."

"And what does that have to do with this?"

"I'm experimenting with a new guild structure. Three strong Hunters as chairs, with the Guild Master position vacant. They can appoint a new master by consensus."

"!!"

"You've probably figured it out by now. My lifeline isn't just Iron Will. I can quit being the Iron Will Guild Leader anytime. If you keep pushing, Guild Master Ju Se-ah will move to Sinuiju. We'll hunt monsters with a new guild."

"Ha? You'd abandon the Hunter Village and Rider Wolves too? Interesting idea. Have you forgotten why Se-ah accepted my offer to lead Taesung Guild? No matter how great a Hunter she is, creating a guild is a different matter. She's here because of Taesung's support."

Kang Mu-hyuk laughed sharply.

Tae Jinsung frowned, not because of the laugh but because of a bad feeling. Bad feelings involving Kang Mu-hyuk usually came true.

"This is top secret, but since you're her biological father... Should I say it? It feels wrong to hold back, but also wrong to share..."

"Stop testing my patience. Just say it."

"Guild Master Ju Se-ah is now an S-rank Hunter."

"!!"

"If we announce this, quite a few Hunters will follow us from Iron Will. I'm not boasting. It's just the reality. With Sinuiju and Iron Will Hunters plus an S-rank Hunter, we have a solid foundation."

"Hmm..."

"As for the Rider Wolves, our contracts with Tier guilds under Iron Will come with hefty penalties. I doubt you'll be able to supply the wolves on time without my help. Monster ranching is no easy task. Without the groundwork I've laid, it will be tough... Unless Taesung's funds can handle it. Even so, it won't be inexpensive, as I made sure the penalties are substantial."

Kang Mu-hyuk had increased the penalties to create future negotiating leverage rather than focusing on immediate supply, but he kept that part to himself. Despite the teasing tone, Kang Mu-hyuk spoke like he was reading from a textbook, making Tae Jinsung grit his teeth. He knew it already, but this confirmed how formidable an opponent Kang Mu-hyuk was.

"You're not that irresponsible about monsters. If you take everything away, what happens to North pocheon? The citizens will suffer from monsters again, and the people in Hunter Village will lose their jobs. Investments will stop or be withdrawn. Would Hunters go to a ruined place?"

Kang Mu-hyuk countered with a smile.

"As I said, no permanent friends or enemies."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"There's a clause in the Guild Act about compulsory enforcement related to territory. It's long, but in short, if a guild can't fulfill its role in its territory, the government can forcibly transfer the rights to another guild."

"..."

"Chairman Oh of Hanju Group would love that. He's been eager to take over North pocheon."

"Huh, you've got no pride or dignity in business, do you?"

Tae Jinsung laughed bitterly.

Kang Mu-hyuk handed him the cane, his face serious.

"Chairman, I'm not doing business right now."

"..."

"I'm fighting to the death. Whether it's against monsters or people. What do you expect from someone who's truly fighting for their life?"

Tae Jinsung was utterly defeated.