The Time-Limited Leader Makes the Raid a Success - Chapter 59



Only Noblemtl

Episode 60

60. There’s no place to go back to?

Joo Seah’s eyebrows twitched. It was an expression of dissatisfaction.

“The expression ‘let’s do it’ is a bit odd.”

“Of course, this is an informal comment. When you work for a long time with the strategy team leader, quantifying and classifying the hunter’s abilities, the hunters start to look like commodities. It’s an expression they often use in their own community. The guild leader also needs to be aware of this.”

Joo Se Ah almost asked reflexively. Did you do that too? It was a rude question, but fortunately she didn’t say it out loud. Of course, Kang Moo Hyuk didn’t seem to be hurt or angry by such a question.

She asked, her thoughts briefly wandering off.

“So what’s the problem… no, what’s the problem?”

“They’re all different. Hunters who struggle because their hunting style doesn’t match, perennial prospects who never really catch on, troublemakers who don’t have a smooth relationship with their members, troublemakers who are extremely greedy for money or are into gambling and have complicated debt relationships, like fighting cocks who often get into fights with other guilds, and those who are addicted to drugs, etc. Most of them are difficult resources for each guild to deal with. Thanks to this, if you meet some of the conditions, it’s easy to bring them in.”

“Wait a minute. Did I hear something wrong? Drug addiction? That wasn’t written in the data.”

“It’s nothing special. It’s not a drug. It’s a bit vague to explain. To put it simply, it’s a potion addiction.”

“I don’t think that’s a problem that can be dismissed as trivial. It’s just that the fighting power doesn’t match the stats.”

When Joo Se-ah pressed him, Kang Mu-hyeok changed the subject without explaining.

“There are a few other cases… I guess I’ll have to tell you about them later.”

“Wait a minute. That’s even weirder. Why can’t you speak? Why do you keep doing this?”

“That’s why I didn’t mention it in the material. Personal information only gives rise to unnecessary prejudices.”

Joo Se Ah put both arms on her waist and laughed in vain as she ran away.

Even though I gave them full authority, sweat started running down my forehead from the start. I was scared of what was waiting behind me.

“Huh? It was really good that I didn’t listen. I almost doubted you, rather than having any preconceptions.”

“Doubt?”

“Are you a spy trying to ruin the guild?”

“As I said before, I pretended to be attached to the Chairman and my brothers in order to deceive them… … .”

“I know, I know. I wasn’t saying that, I was just joking… Haa~ Okay. What kind of joke can’t I make?”

After developing mana addiction, Kang Moo-hyuk became insensitive to personal emotions and interactions with people. In return, he became adept at reading the other person’s intentions from their actions and facial expressions.

Kang Moo-hyuk immediately realized what Joo Se-ah was worried about.

“I can’t say there are no problems, but you don’t have to worry. These are resources that can create significant synergy if used appropriately.”

“That’s only natural. These are hunters that Captain Kang brought. But as a guild leader, I can’t help but be concerned. There’s no such thing as 100 percent. Even if their potential is secondary, if they’re hunters who have both hands and feet in each guild, there must be a reason for it. This is a recruitment policy with a high probability of failure.”

“It’s a good attitude. Even though I have full authority over the guild, the guild leader should always be suspicious and prepared. However, I am quite excited. I think I can create the guild I had envisioned before.”

“What guild is it?”

“It’s a bit early to say, as we’ve only just begun.”

“Then, give me a hint.”

Kang Mu-hyeok thought for a moment and then opened his mouth.

“The hunters gathered there may all seem like they’re all their own kind of people, but they have one thing in common.”

“What do they have in common?”

“Yes. That’s right, motivation is clear.”

“What is your motivation?”

“that…….”

As Kang Mu-hyeok was about to answer, the sound of metal hitting the floor was heard. The sound, which came in time with the thumping footsteps, had a brisk rhythm.

I turned my head in the direction of the sound and saw a face that had been waiting.

Joo Sea said, welcoming her opponent.

“Welcome, Hunter Lee Jin-joo. Wasn’t it easy to get here?”

“It wasn’t a bad experience to see a mob running around in the meadow on the way to work.”

Kang Moo-hyuk’s eyes were drawn to her hairstyle.

From long black hair to dark blue short hair.

It was a marked change from our previous meeting.

Feeling his gaze, Lee Jin-joo smiled awkwardly and said.

“Oh? This? I think I need to start paying attention to my image making now. I need to start branding now so I don’t get ignored later.”

Kang Moo-hyuk nodded to Lee Jin-joo’s words.

Lee Jin-joo’s change of style was not simply due to a change in image.

The branding she was talking about was something that other people call ‘tinnitus’.

Taking Joo Sea as an example, nicknames like ‘Indomitable Witch’ and ‘Wizard Killer’ were mentioned.

A hunter’s nickname is influenced by his skills and fighting style, but his appearance also plays a role.

If only the appearance is good, it will be a laughing stock, but if the skills back it up, it will have a powerful promotional effect.

“That’s a good idea. If you’re going to be the leader of an expedition for a guild, you’ll need a nickname that’s easy to remember. Is that hair color due to the skill of the Jinju Hunter? That ‘Blue Flame’?”

“Don’t you remember? This branding style. It’s a plan that Director Kang made for me a long time ago.”

“Me?”

Kang Moo-hyuk searched his memories.

If there was a time when he gave advice to Lee Jin-joo, it was when he was a hunting coordinator.

A position that helps train and create the optimal style for the hunter based on data such as hunting type, skills, and stats.

‘If you had made a plan, it would have been then. Why don’t you remember?’

Jinju Lee answered while wondering why it didn’t remain even with her extraordinary memory.

“Of course, I just said it as a joke.”

Lee Jin-joo pushed aside Kang Mu-hyeok, who still had an expression of ignorance, and spoke to Joo Se-ah.

“Gilma, can I take your place and introduce the new hunters?”

“Since I’ll have to form the next expedition team from among them anyway, do as you please. Judging from the fact that you came armed properly, it seems like you’re determined to capture them at the first opportunity.”

Lee Jin-joo smiled bashfully, as if embarrassed. Just as Joo Se-ah had said, she had come equipped for raiding.

From boots with metal on the front and back heels, to armor made from tanned monster hide, to cloaks engraved with elemental resistance magic circles.

In particular, the long sword on his waist, studded with many jewels, really caught the eye.

‘As expected, those from the expedition team are equipped with high-grade personal equipment. I’m going to have to bend my back to properly put this together.’

It was when Kang Mu-hyeok was worried about the guild’s finances that would be needed to create an expedition team.

Suddenly, the noisy hall became even louder.

Lee Jin-joo said, looking down over the railing.

“If you gather hunters from different affiliations like that, it won’t be quiet. This is a good thing. I don’t think there’s any need to intentionally create a situation.”

Suddenly, Lee Jin-ju’s eyes sparkled blue.

Kang Moo-hyuk glanced at the scene of the commotion and gave her a warning.

“Please be gentle. Don’t treat me like Matthew did before.”

* * *

“Ah, maybe it was better when I was on the management team… … .”

Oh Jeong-yeon looked around at the hunters who were fighting here and there, her face pale.

Although it hadn’t reached the level of a fistfight yet, the atmosphere was becoming tense with the fighting.

When the department nameplate was changed from the past Management Team to the Communication Team, I thought that a different future awaited me than the one where Hunters would wander around the Shidabari.

Of course, there was no absurdity like before. However, the fact that they were doing the dirty work didn’t change. It was fortunate that the team leader was Pyo Beom-hee, but if it had been a non-hunter team leader like usual, the hunters would have acted however they wanted.

The problem is that all the hunters currently renting this hall are newbies.

Even the power of the leopard print didn’t work. If you know who they are, you have to threaten them and listen to them.

‘I forgot for a moment. These were hunters, right? Hehe, I wish I could tell the team leader and make everyone quiet down.’

That is only a last resort.

At least I wanted to be responsible for my work.

“But that… shouldn’t someone stop it?”

The problem is that the situation in the hall is gradually moving away from Oh Jeong-yeon’s work.

She looked to the right.

“You, you punk. You’re from that Daejeon guild, right? You really chopped up our guild kids last time, right? You’re not a slacker, you’re just messing with the lower-ranked kids. If I caught you, you’d be screwed!”

“What, Inma?! Didn’t you guys steal our kids’ mobs and take care of them? You’re weak and give in after stealing them. What on earth did they believe in to steal the mobs? You wouldn’t have trusted a punk like you, would you?”

“Where can I find out if I am a good person or not?”

“Everyone always has a plan, until they get hit.”

This time I looked to the left.

“Hey, you just glared at me. Is there something you don’t like?”

“It’s just because your eyes are like X. You were the one who glared at me first.”

“I was born this way. Are you dissatisfied?”

“It’s not that you have complaints, you also have fists, kid. You look young at first glance, but you keep talking short. Do you want to get hit?”

“What did the old man say? If you’re confident, then go ahead and do it.”

This kind of commotion continued throughout the hall, only the intensity was different.

Oh Jeong-yeon looked up at the ceiling and let out a sigh mixed with resentment toward the captain for the first time.

“How did you manage to gather all these hunters with such strong personalities (dog-like temperaments)… … .”

The Kang Mu-hyeok she knew was not a frivolous person. His expressions were dry, but he seemed sincere when dealing with people.

This can be seen just by looking at the case of Hunter handling a case where a fellow employee was unfairly assaulted. The same goes for the reorganization and improvement of treatment of the management department, which had been ignored and called the Hunter Shidabari.

It occurred to me that he couldn’t have gathered these hunters without any thought.

My faith in the captain was firm─.

Crunch!

“I might have been wrong this time… … .”

Oh Jeong-yeon despaired as she watched the hunters begin to fight in earnest, splitting the table in half.

“This is the first day, so please be lenient!”

“This is the only one who can do it─!”

The two hunters, whose trapezius muscles were caught by someone’s hand just before the punches were delivered, fell to the ground. Their faces, distorted in pain, turned to the intruder who had suddenly appeared.

Although he had a decent amount of muscle, his thin arms weighed him down compared to the other hunters.

““!!””

The hall became quiet in an instant.

A fully armed female hunter, as if going out on a raid, Lee Jin-ju silenced the hunters with just the atmosphere, without even giving them a glance.

The hunters kept their mouths shut and focused on her, as if they had made a promise.

Only the sound of someone swallowing dry saliva represented the hunters’ feelings.

‘Even though he was so armed, I could barely hear or sense anything.’

‘No matter how high your rank is, your physical strength must have its limits. Your strength doesn’t match your size. Is it a trait or skill?’

Although they were problem children, they were all skilled hunters. They immediately realized that the new female hunter was far superior to them.

“It’s great to see everyone so excited. I can expect this kind of spirit from the expedition team.”

The atmosphere changed with just one word, ‘expedition’.

Anticipation rather than nervousness.

Judging by Lee Jin-joo’s impact, it was clear that she had the authority to select the members of the expedition team.

The expedition team is the guild’s most elite.

The treatment was also certain.

The current Iron Will Guild was small in size, but it was a very promising guild, from the boarding monster breeding farm to the existence of Jusea, who was called the future S-rank.

Being selected for the expedition at the start was no different from guaranteeing a future.

“But it’s still the first day of enlistment, and we’re in the same year as enlisted men. How about we be a bit more polite to each other?”

Suddenly, he changed his loose momentum and started to ensnare the hunters.

“I heard that most of you had friction with your previous guild.”

Lee Jin-ju released the two hunters she was holding under her grip. But neither of them stood up.

She slowly raised her head and straightened her posture. She met the eyes of each hunter and smiled.

“Then, there’s no place to return to?”

It was a moment when the anticipation-filled looks turned into screams.

* * *

“Oh my! What kind of movie am I going through all this trouble to enjoy?”

Mr. Park, who works in the livestock industry in Nampocheon, set out at dawn with his body aching.

After Pocheon was split in half, he couldn’t leave even though he wanted to because all his property was tied up in a cattle shed.

If I had stayed in Bukpocheon, which was designated as a special activity area, I would have been able to leave without any regrets, but since the livestock farm was in Nampocheon, I had no choice but to stay and engage in my work.

In the darkness before daybreak, Mr. Park straightened his back as he tended to the barn. He exhaled into the rather cold air.

Khoohoo! Khoohoo!

“Huh? What is this?”

Suddenly, Mr. Park felt hot steam behind his back. He turned around, thinking it was the breath of a cow.

“Kuhu~ Kuhu~ Kuhuu!”

He ended up peeing on the huge thing looking down at him.

Dark skin, a body over two meters tall, a sunken nose, and a gaping mouth with serrated molars.

Mr. Park did not know that this monster was called an orc.

Until the moment of death.

The orc laughed grotesquely, saying it was delightful, as he tore at the corpse of a human who had died without even being able to close his eyes.

Next to him, he was chasing after cows that were running away while crying and chopping them up with a huge axe.

Orcs partying as if they had been starving for a long time.

An unprecedented dark cloud was gathering over Nampocheon.