Ch. 223 - There's A Chance You May Not Be a C Rank Hunter.
Against the Clock: The Team Leader’s Pursuit of GloryThis chapter is broken. Please report this on discord.
This chapter is broken. Please report this on discord.
Thomas spent his day off guarding Dr. Marie's granddaughter before returning to work at the Ithaca Guild the next day.
The Ithaca Guild, situated on Wilshire Boulevard near Koreatown, occupied a towering 70-story skyscraper. It was one of the tallest buildings in LA, rivalled only by the headquarters of other major guilds like Gunpowder and Call My Name.
After passing through the usual security checks at the building's entrance, Thomas entered the lobby. To access the elevators, he had to endure the tedious process of facial, fingerprint, and voice recognition yet again. Not everyone, however, followed these procedures.
"Oh, Thomas. Long time no see."
"Hello, Vice Guildmaster Powell."
"I heard about your performance from the raid's leader. You pulled off something big this time too. As always, you're impressive. Hahaha."
"That's not a compliment I want from you. I almost died again. You know how I'm used in raids, don't you?"
Thomas wasn't exaggerating. The way he was deployed during missions---recklessly, almost as if his life were disposable---was largely Powell's doing.
'The Vice Guildmaster is a mage like me, but he shows no regard for my circumstances, pushing me into impossible situations. It's hard to understand his actions without assuming personal animosity since he's not an incompetent person.'
Mages know best what mage matters are about. They were known for their exclusivity, interacting rarely with each other. Yet, there was an unspoken professional camaraderie in sharing knowledge about magic and its applications.
That's just how significant their bond was based on their shared profession. However, it was difficult to understand why he treated another mage with such dangerous tactics as if rejecting him. Powell fell silent at Thomas's pointed, painful remark, but others nearby didn't hide their displeasure.
Grant, Powell's right-hand man, spoke coldly: "You better bow that stiff neck before I break it. Just because you've burned through a billion dollars' worth of magic, don't think you can act cocky. You'll be dead in no time."
"There's still a lot of time to be spent before your investment returns the principal. Get Guild Master's permission, and then you can either snap my neck or cut it off."
As Thomas held his ground, Grant clenched his fists, stepping closer. Powell intervened, gently holding Grant back.
"You seem to think I'm bullying you. Thomas. Let me be clear--- neither you nor me are in a position for petty emotional conflicts."
"... ..."
"Your ability to project strategic magic regardless of rank is noteworthy, but as a mage, you're half-assed. The way you're used is simply because you don't have a choice. Blaming others may make you feel better, but it won't help your team work with fellow members."
"When was I ever a part of this guild?"
"Think of them as team members, and they are. Think of them as slaves, as they are. It's all about mindset. Just some advice."
"Thank you. I'll take that to heart, Mr. Powell." Thomas replied, turning to leave.
Grant's fury grew at his rude attitude, and he clenched his fists again. Once again, Powell stopped him.
"Let him be. Thomas can't do anything but spout sarcasm."
"Still it's disgraceful for him to insult you, Vice Guildmaster."
"He's merely a C-rank. If you hit him, he'll die. And as he said, we've invested too much in him to lose him now. Treat him carefully so he lasts till old age. Tell the second raid team's leader to keep him alive, no matter what."
"Yes, Vice Guildmaster. Understood."
"Now, let's move on. We have a lot to handle today."
"Where to first?"
"Skid Row."
"Skid Row... the brewery?"
"Yes. I heard there was some trouble there."
"Do you need to go personally? I can handle it."
"No. The Guild Master insisted I go. The issue isn't the alcohol. We may need to rearrange some things."
Grant understood what he meant. The brewery, catering to hunters, wasn't particularly lucrative. By the standards of major guilds, it wasn't even a small amount of money for them.
However, the services provided alongside the drinks were a different story. The workers at the brewery, under the influence of mental type magic, believed they owned the place. In reality, it was entirely controlled by the Ithaca Guild.
This arrangement allowed the guild to sever ties swiftly if the Federal Government came sniffing around. But when internal problems arose without the outside finding out, they had to set things up again.
In this case, the setup meant eliminating everyone involved, recruiting new homeless people from the streets, and implanting fresh allusions on them. The guild would avoid using its own members for these tasks unless absolutely necessary so that they could eliminate them when needed, since disappearances could range from a handful of individuals to dozens.
"Besides, I have to check on the factory. It's been a while since I last checked. I want to see how the illusionary moth cocoons are developing and confirm the schedule for the release of the new highly concentrated powder."
"You're heading to the factory as well? I'll take you there."
* * *
"This is the product circulating in the market these days."
Billy Johnberg, the LA branch manager of OC, handed a long, translucent plastic ampoule to his superior. The ampoule fit neatly in one hand and contained about two-thirds of a liquid substance.
"Have you analyzed the ingredients?"
"There are a few unknown components mixed in, but I've identified the main one. It's derived from illusionary moth powder."
"Illusionary moth powder? In liquid form?"
"Yes, it's made from a concentrate."
"Why bother turning powder into liquid? It's a hallucinogen, anyway."
"Typically, the illusionary moth powder, known as a hallucinogenic, is used as a drug substitute. But this one is different."
"In what way?"
"It has drug-like effects on hunters and damages their bodies."
This was hard to believe. A drug that could affect hunters? A hunter's body was highly resistant to the hallucinogenic properties of typical drugs, with no risk of addiction. Drugs were essentially harmless to them, it was like consuming flour. Despite their tolerance, the hunters still sought out drugs. Why?
The answer lay in their profession-- because they risked their lives entering the gate.
Despite their enhanced physical and mental capabilities, hunters were still human and far from perfect.
Many suffered from PTSD after battling monsters. To cope, they turned to substitute drugs. The most common being illusionary moth powder--- harvested from the wings of the Illusionary moth monster.
Even the moth powder caused mild hallucinations and slight paralysis, with no addictive symptoms. The idea that it had evolved into something capable of addicting and harming hunters was no minor issue.
"This drug is spreading mostly among freelance hunters?"
"Yes, it targets those without access to mental health support or other care from guilds."
"How long has it been on the market?"
"It first appeared six months ago but it started to take off well in the past three weeks."
"Six months... and three weeks. Does that mean the distribution network is now fully established?"
"Possibly."
"Have any hunters with addiction symptoms caused trouble yet?"
"Not in the public eye. Even freelancers make good money. As long as they keep buying the drug, there shouldn't be any immediate problems."
Woolbert found Billy's initial response unsettling.
"What do you mean by 'not in the public eye'?"
"There's been an incident at a gate."
"What kind of incident?"
"One hunter, under the influence of this drug, became groggy during a hunt and lost his life."
"Are you sure? If we mistakenly investigate a dead hunter, we might dig in the wrong place just for evidence."
"There's no medical or hunting data left, but based on the testimony of the hunter's party, it seems to have a connection with this."
"Damn it. All the good times are over. I need to know more about Rider Wolf. Where did this drug come from?"
He slammed his fist on the desk. If the incident had involved guild hunters, it would've been easier. That way he could use a large guild's resources and uncover the truth much faster.
But it seemed unlikely that the drug suppliers would risk targeting guild hunters unless there was something wrong with their heads. On the other hand, there were countless freelancers and it was easier to suck them dry for money. Ultimately, the ball was in OC's court, and he had to solve the case.
"Deploy the team."
"There is no team."
"Why?"
"Because of Kang Mu-hyuk."
"Oh, damn it. Just thinking about him gives me a headache. I thought he was in Las Vegas---I didn't realize he was already in LA."
"What's the plan? Should I tell the team watching him to retreat?"
"We don't have much choice. As much as I want Rider Wolf, this matter takes priority. If we make a mistake, half the freelance hunters in LA could end up as drug addicts."
"Understood. We'll leave one team and deploy everyone else to track down 'Butter.'"
"'Butter'? What's that?"
"It's the drug's nickname. It's called Butter"
"That's a cheesy name."
"The original name is 'Butterfly Dust.' They just call it 'Butter' for short."
"Butter or margarine, I don't care. Just catch them and bring them to me."
* * *
Thomas met Kang Mu-hyuk in Koreatown, timing it to avoid the lunch rush. Kang Mu-hyuk was already waiting for him in a quiet café.
"You got in touch pretty fast. That must've been a tough decision."
"You seem confident that my answer is yes."
"Rather than confidence, I'm placing my hopes on your insight. To be honest, I know my trait is not ordinary. However, I can't guarantee how powerful it will be once I'm cured and my rank improves. All I can do is rely on your judgment and hope for your mercy."
Outwardly, Thomas spoke as if he trusted Kang Mu-hyuk completely. In reality, he was trying to lay down the premise that he couldn't take full responsibility for the outcome.
'This statement just now is a huge disadvantage for me. I can't take responsibility for the results, yet I'm asking for a $1 billion investment. It's shameless, reckless even, but I have no other choice... I might be risking not just my life but also threatening Guild Leader Kang Mu-hyuk using his life as the stake.'
A mere C-rank. A billion dollars in debt. Mana poisoning.
Thomas couldn't help but feel like it was the worst-case scenario, let alone money. He felt both desperate and guilty for putting Kang Mu-hyuk in this position.
"Let me state my decision without delay."
Kang Mu-hyuk said abruptly, cutting through the tension.
"Yes."
"Hoo~"
"But there's a condition."
"A condition? Of course, there is. What is it?"
"It's not just a condition---it's a necessity."
"I'm up for anything."
"Leave the Ithaca Guild. I will personally handle the penalty fees and negotiations. However, you must make a clear and official statement of intent."
"That goes without saying... But honestly, I'm not sure Ithaca will let me go that easily."
"I doubt they would place much value on a C-rank hunter."
"There would be a logical reasoning to this, but the Ithaca Guild---especially the Guild Master---is known for his insatiable greed. If there's even a hint of profit, they'll pounce like vultures. It's unlikely they'd stop for $1 billion."
"I've considered that as well. While I don't have a concrete solution yet, I'm not planning to back down. I'll figure something out soon. But before we proceed, there's something I need to confirm."
"What kind of confirmation?"
Kang Mu-hyuk reached under his chair, retrieving a small leather pouch and placing it on the table. Thomas's eyes darted between Kang Mu-hyuk and the pouch, unsure of its purpose.
"This contains a temporary symptom suppressant."
"A suppressant..."
"It's the first step toward a cure."
Thomas's eyes lit up. Kang Mu-hyuk continued.
"It's too toxic for me to use personally, but a hunter's body can handle it. This isn't a complete cure of course; it's a drug that suppresses the symptoms of mana poisoning temporarily. If your condition worsens, you can use it immediately to stabilize yourself. According to its creator, there's an additional effect for hunters."
"What kind of effect?"
"They say that when you suppress the disease restricting a hunter's abilities, it might unlock certain restrictions."
Thomas didn't understand what unlocking "restrictions" meant. He had a vague idea of what it meant, but he had no idea how it would work.
"To put it simply, there's a chance you may not truly be a C-rank hunter."