Ch. 227 - This Rascal!

Billy, the Head of the OC branch, rushed to find Director Woolbert.

"What's going on? Did you find the guys who were tailing Kang Mu-hyuk?"

"We found them way before lying on a rooftop earlier. I'm here for something else."

"Is it about that drug Butter, margarine, or whatever the hell it is?"

"Yes."

Billy placed an A4 sheet of paper on the desk.

"What's this?"

"I was looking into the LA freelancers and came across something odd."

Woolbert picked up the sheet and examined it. The document listed names, alphabets, dates, and locations near LA.

"Judging by the ranks, it looks like a list of hunters. The locations match hunting grounds."

"And the dates?"

"The day they went missing."

"Explain."

"I've been gathering rumours and reports from OC members about the hunting grounds. It seems several hunters have gone missing recently."

"Could it have been a monster attack?"

"That's the issue. Look at the ranks and locations. Don't you think something seems off?"

"Let me see... Ranks are between C and B. And the locations..."

Billy noticed an unusual pattern in the list.

"Except for the gate, the other hunting grounds are fairly low-level."

"Yeah. These are places where even solo hunters could manage. Typically, freelance hunters use these areas to return to form after a long break."

"So there shouldn't be any monsters here, huh?"

"Precisely. Monsters are unpredictable, but these grounds shouldn't have anything that dangerous. At least not something strong enough to make a B-rank hunter disappear without a trace."

Woolbert considered another possibility.

"Could it be mutants or evolved species?"

"If it were confined to one hunting ground, there is a chance. But the disappearances are spread over a wide area. If monsters were moving across such a large region, they'd have been detected by now."

"So what's your conclusion?"

"One of the side effects of butter is paralysis during battle. In some cases, it can cause fainting or hallucinations."

"You're suggesting that the addicts might think they were killed by monsters while hunting because of the butter's side effects?"

"Yes. We'll need to investigate further, but it's currently the most plausible explanation. What's our next move?"

Woolbert understood Billy's question. He inquired if he was free to start an investigation into Billy's question based on his deductions. Although he would typically act independently and report back later, the potential scale of the problem could have been larger than expected and required Woolbert's consent as the branch director.

Woolbert hesitated. This could derail the entire city. He needed to account for unintended collisions, especially since they didn't know the source of the butter or the extent to which it had spread. After careful contemplation, he spoke.

"Can you collect information on all the hunters and track the missing hunters?"

"Yes. I'll examine their residences, workplaces, people they met nearby, the shops they frequented, everything. If I'm lucky, I might even find the butter supplier."

"Do it. Send a message to our members and ask for their cooperation. Tell them to report anything suspicious. Have the elite squad on standby."

"Understood."

With Woolbert's decision, the OC set in motion the operation of an organisation that could be considered the largest based on scale alone.

***

The Ithaca Guild's Vice Guild Master Powell followed a mysterious trail into the sewers behind the illegal brewery on Skid Row.

"It stinks so bad.''

"Stay up here, boss. I'll go check and report back," said Grant, his right-hand man, attempting to dissuade him several times.

Powell shook his head. "This is a job the Guild Master gave me. He sent me to ensure there's no trouble if variables arise. He's meticulous, so you'll be in a pinch if he throws unexpected questions at you. It'll be easier if I report back what I've seen myself."

"Makes sense. The Guild Master is thorough even in the smallest of matters.''

"Let's finish this quickly and grab a drink later. Drinks are on me."

The hunters following Powell perked up at the mention of drinks. They were already annoyed about trudging through the filthy sewers but couldn't show it in front of the Vice Guildmaster. Powell, knowing this, dangled the offer like a carrot. But, as time dragged on, Powell's promise seemed harder to keep.

"What is this?"

After following the trail deeper into the sewers, they came across a collapsed section of a concrete wall. A tunnel had been dug through the wall, sloping diagonally, extending deep into the ground.

"This doesn't look like construction work. The passage is too narrow."

"Still, it's wide enough for a person to squeeze through."

"A monster that digs tunnels... could it be some kind of ant?"

"I've never heard of ant monsters that use poison.''

"Maybe it's a new species."

"If it were an anthill, there's no way no one would've noticed until it spread into the city. They eat so much food---they would've attacked people by now."

"True. Ant-type monsters usually rely on human wave tactics. They are obsessed with food supplies."

Powell agreed with Grant. He realized the need to adjust their plan. Sensing Powell's thoughts, Grant made a suggestion.

"What's the plan? Should we retreat, prepare properly, and come back later? Or just bury the entrance?"

"It's a hassle to come back. And I don't feel good about burying the entrance."

"Then should we just push ahead?"

"Among our guild members, do you think there is anyone who's not confident in their skills? Oh--- except Thomas, of course.''

The hunters chuckled lightly at the joke.

"Let's go check it out. Even if it's dangerous, we have the option to retreat. We're not dealing with any particularly strong monsters here, right? After all, who are we?!"

"Ithaca!"

"And who is Ithaca?!"

"The strongest guild in the West!"

As Powell gave the familiar command, the hunters shouted the guild chant in unison. While it might seem childish, it was a good way of fostering solidarity.

For a guild like Ithaca, which operated in the grey areas of the law, a strong sense of belonging was crucial, though only to prevent betrayal or burying one's conscience.

"Alright, let's move!" Powell said, taking the lead and jumping into the hole. Grant followed close behind, and the rest of the hunters descended into the tunnel that extended deep into the ground one by one.

***

"I was the one who spoke to you earlier--- Martin McGitch, an  agent of the Hunter Crime Force."

"I'm Kang Mu-hyuk.''

"Follow me."

Kang Mu-hyuk arrived at the HCF (Hunter Crime Force) branch in LA, alone. His teammate, Jang Deuk-goo, stayed behind at the hotel to look after Thomas, who was still unconscious.

Despite Jang Deuk-goo's insistence on coming along, Kang Mu-hyuk couldn't leave Thomas unattended. If something happened, only Jang Deuk-goo could control him.

"The meeting is inside the Hunter Crime Force. With the Federation's backing, they won't harm me. If this conversation goes well, Hunter No Songrin will join us on the way back, so we won't have to worry about my security."

With this in mind, Kang Mu-hyuk had persuaded Jang Deuk-goo to stay behind.

As he followed Martin, Kang Mu-hyuk rehearsed different scenarios in his head.

Martin led him to a conference room with glass walls on all sides. Inside, as expected, someone was waiting--- but it turned out to be a bigger deal than Kang Mu-hyuk had anticipated.

"This is Alexander Hamilton, Head of the Hunter Policy Bureau."

"I'm Kang Mu-hyuk, Guild Leader of the Korean Iron Will Guild.''

Kang Mu-hyuk shook the hand extended to him and let out a quiet sigh of relief.

'He's a big shot.'

The Hunter Policy Bureau, connected to the White House, had enough clout to destroy people with a single statement. Kang Mu-hyuk couldn't help but be wary of this guy.

Alexander Hamilton was a key figure who could shape policies in the North American hunter market--- the largest in the world.

"Please, have a seat," Hamilton said, gesturing to a chair.

Kang Mu-hyuk sat down, maintaining a neutral expression, waiting for him to speak. Hamilton sat across from him but remained silent. The conference room was silent, as even Martin, who had prepared the meeting, had left.

In the stillness, only the ticking of the clock broke the quiet. After Hamilton and Kang Mu-hyuk sat across from each other, neither speaking. They kept staring at each other until Hamilton shook his head and surrendered.

"You're quite reserved.''

"I'm not particularly quiet. This meeting was arranged by you, Mr. Hamilton. Isn't it natural for the person who called it to speak first? That way, I can respond appropriately."

"Aren't you careful? Usually, when I walk into a meeting like this, people immediately ask why they've been summoned. After all, my line of work isn't exactly ordinary. But you treat this like it's not a big deal."

"Well. maybe it's because I have nothing to be embarrassed about?"

Kang Mu-hyuk answered calmly, but it was an answer that Hamilton could not listen to comfortably.

"You must have some idea of why I called you here.''

"I can only guess. After all, if a high-ranking White House official flies to LA this quickly, it must involve some very influential people. As for me, I'm only involved in one thing here in the U.S."

Though indirect, his words made it clear that he understood Hamilton's intentions. After all, the meeting had to be about the Rider Wolf deal. Only the Dragon Horse Ranch and its two associated guilds in the East were related to this. He just said in a roundabout manner that only they held enough sway to prompt such a move from the White House.

"You're sharp, which makes this easier. Let me convey the White House's position: the U.S. Customs Service will sanction the import of unverified monsters."

"Unverified? What's the legal basis for that?"

"Before we get into legalities, let's address the fact that this is a new mount--- one we can't guarantee is properly tamed. Isn't it problematic to bring a monster into the U.S. that has no prior export record? It hasn't even been used domestically in Korea, and was handled by goblins at that."

"So, does that mean if it's shipped domestically and exported to other countries, the U.S. market could open at any time?"

"As long as the proper procedures are followed, I see no reason to block it.''

Kang Mu-hyuk's thoughts were clear: 'How crafty.'

He knew how complicated those "proper procedures" could be. The timeline for approval was like a rubber band---stretchable at will depending on political motives. It could take a week, a year, or, in extreme cases, be delayed indefinitely for several years.

'We're in no rush to export anyway. But the way he's being so blatantly obstructive is irritating.'

Kang Mu-hyuk felt annoyed for some reason as Hamilton feigned the smile of a victor.

"Mr. Hamilton. I'm sorry, but we are not obligated to comply with U.S. import and export procedures."

"Hah. Are you suggesting smuggling?"

"Of course not. I believe that even an unnecessary law is still a law. Laws must be followed. It's a little embarrassing, but back in Korea, I  gained a reputation as someone who can operate outside the law."

The remark echoed something Ju Se-ah had once joked about--- how Kang Mu-hyuk would blatantly disregard the law while pretending otherwise.

"So, what exactly are you suggesting, Guild Leader Kang?"

"Iron Will plans to collaborate with the World Hunters Federation on the Rider Wolf."

"!!"

"As you know, the Federation is officially a U.S.-based special-purpose organization. Business conducted between overseas guilds and domestic institutions operate outside standard import and export procedures, as far as I understand. Oh! It might not be a bad idea to establish a wolf ranch right here in LA. With an overseas guild investing, it would create a positive impression. And since this is a mount, it'd bring fresh momentum to the West."

The problem was that this "fresh momentum" had the potential to become a tornado.

'This rascal!'

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