Chapter 189: Was This All Planned? (1)

"Things would have been very different if the mechanical monster of the Patera Dimension only existed on the ground, and if it had a weakness to water like a typical machine," Kim Ki-Rok said.

Given that this Gate had appeared in Japan, an island nation surrounded by sea, the world might have stayed silent even if the S-Class Gate had gone berserk. However, the machines were excellently waterproofed, and countless numbers could soar through the air.

"But there exist Flying Mechanical Monsters, and because water isn't their weakness, they would just sink in water without any damage," Kim Ki-Rok continued.

The South Korean clear team turned their gaze toward the Gate. Hunters and soldiers in military uniforms were also emerging from the entrance.

"That's why not only Japan, but all countries aware of the danger of the S-Class Gate accepted the advertisement proposal," Kim Ki-Rok explained. "It's clear that the mechanical monsters would wreak havoc on Earth if they invaded us through the Breaks, especially when we can't arm all Hunters and soldiers with Patera weapons."

Japan would be devastated, and sooner or later, the monsters would cross the sea and invade the mainland.

Once they crossed the Yellow Sea, they would reach South Korea, and from there, move on to China. After that, the Silk Road would take them to the Middle East and Africa, and eventually, they would reach Europe.

"Okay. I understand. The Association and the countries accepted the advertisement proposal because the world would be in ruins if the S-Class Gate goes berserk." Yoo Seh-Eun, the second of the Mapogu team, nodded and looked back at Kim Ki-Rok. "There's quite a number of people who signed up to participate in the clear. Did you expect this?"

Kim Ki-Rok nodded. "Of course."

"Even the Hunters?"

"Yes."

Hearing his confident response, Yoo Seh-Eun looked back at the entrance. Only a handful of regular soldiers were guarding the Gate, understandable since this was an offensive rather than defensive operation. Participation was entirely voluntary.

Yoo Seh-Eun suspected that those participating in the Gate clear were likely victims of past Gate-related incidents. The ordinary soldiers who had joined were probably people who had lost family, friends, or loved ones during previous Breaks.

She turned to the Hunters who were gathered in small groups, looking at the chests with serious expressions.

"Even so, there are so many of them..." she murmured.

This was an S-Class Gate. Even if most of the Hunters were only providing rear support with long-range or heavy weapons, their numbers were still unusually high.

"Ms. Seh-Eun," Kim Ki-Rok called.

She turned around. "Yes?"

"This is an S-Class Gate."

"I know."

"No, that's not what I mean..."

As Kim Ki-Rok looked like he was about to continue, Yoo Seh-Eun and the nearby Hunters turned their attention to him.

"Even if they're only shooting arrows, firing cannons, or operating siege weapons from the rear, it would still count as participation." Kim Ki-Rok explained. "Hunters who take part in a clear will receive a reward. Of course, their reward grade will be low, since their efforts can't compare to those at the front."

"Ah!" Yoo Seh-Eun said in realization.

Even if they only supported from behind, the new Hunters would still contribute to the clear. And since this was an S-Class Gate, they could expect a considerable reward just for participating.

"So, you're saying not all the participating C-Class and B-Class Hunters are victims of monster accidents," Lee Ji-Yeon murmured.

Kim Ki-Rok nodded. "That's right. We're not the ones responsible for rewarding them anyway, so it's not a problem for us if there are more participants. It's not our place to say whether they should or shouldn't add a line to their resumes."

Some Hunters had come seeking revenge, others for the reward, and some to further their careers.

"Ah, one more thing." Kim Ki-Rok spotted the DG Guild members emerging from the Gate entrance and raised a hand in greeting. "Hunter Kang Seung-Hoon."

The temporary guild member who had been waved at could be seen following the guild members through the Gate.

"He's the reason more Hunters decided to join this clear," Kim Ki-Rok said as he observed from afar.

"But all he did was ask for help from the DG guild," Yoo Seh-Eun reasoned.

"But he asked for help out in the open, with dozens of reporters watching. Thanks to him, word spread quickly, motivating Hunters who couldn't participate due to their low rank."

It didn't take a day or two for things to start moving. Within just three hours of Kang Seung-Hoon's visit to the DG Guild, numerous D-Class and lower Hunters had begun taking action. Some sought assistance from large guilds, others turned to mid-sized ones, and some asked for help directly in the Association's lobby.

The guilds that were already struggling with manpower shortages seized the opportunity, offering membership to many of the Hunters who came asking. In the end, the clear force included five S-Class Hunters, 153 A-Class, 469 B-Class, and 1,035 new C-Class Hunters.

"So that's why there are so many C-Class Hunters with guild marks."

Kim Ki-Rok nodded again. "That's right. There are a total of 1,662 additional troops. Out of them, 382 Hunters are unaffiliated."

"Wow!"

"I can understand why. Guilds have been struggling with manpower shortages, so they must have seen this as an opportunity, and the Hunters needed to move up to C-Class as quickly as possible." Kim Ki-Rok stepped forward to greet the DG Guild members. "You've worked hard."

"You, Guildmaster, have worked harder."

"That's true."

The DG Guild members burst into laughter at Kim Ki-Rok's sincere response.

After giving a warm smile to the guild members, Kim Ki-Rok looked at Kang Seung-Hoon standing at attention.

After a long silence, Kim Ki-Rok smiled warmly. "Hunter Kang Seung-Hoon."

Kang Seung-Hoon tensed up and stood straighter. "Yes, sir!"

"You've worked hard."

"Ah..." He expected to be scolded or ignored, but suddenly relaxed after Kim Ki-Rok patted his shoulder.

"Well, I received countless protest calls until numerous Hunters started knocking on the doors of different guilds," Kim Ki-Rok said.

Kang Seung-Hoon tensed up again.

"But since the situation has been resolved, I won't hold it against you," Kim Ki-Rok finished.

"Thank you!"

***

Hunter Kang Seung-Hoon...

Kim Ki-Rok arrived at the container barracks thirty minutes before the meeting, deep in thought about Kang Seung-Hoon, the D-Class... no, C-Class Hunter he had just met.

I've never seen him before. His abilities are average

as well.

Both his skill obtained through Awakening and the sealed skill unlocked through his own growth were pretty average. He also wasn't a Hunter who had made a name for himself with pure talent in martial arts. Kim Ki-Rok searched through memories of past lives as a saint, a villain, and a silent trainee, but had no recollection of this incredibly ordinary Hunter.

But he is in debt to us.

As a matter of fact, Kang Seung-Hoon owed a

very large

debt to the DG Guild. Without any warning, he had come and asked for help from the DG Guild in front of reporters. Moreover, he leveraged his situation as a victim to craft a narrative that resonated with the public.

On top of that, Mr. Seung-Tae had said he had watched the protest calls come in

.

Boo Seung-Tae, an A-Class Hunter of the DG Guild who was managing things in Kim Ki-Rok's absence, said that he had called Kang Seung-Hoon to the Guildmaster's office and started receiving protest calls from the Association and other guilds in less than ten minutes.

Kim Ki-Rok tilted his head. "Huh?"

The protest calls from the Association, the government, and the large guilds stopped in less than three hours once they realized this was an opportunity to recruit Hunters. In other words, the DG Guild didn't suffer any real damage. If anything, the only harm was the mental distress his employees endured for three hours.

"But it had a great effect..." Kim Ki-Rok thought aloud.

Many D-Class Hunters had wanted to join the clear but hadn't been able to. In a previous Attempt, Kim Ki-Rok had recruited 832 people, believing at the time that it was the absolute limit. But that changed the moment Kang Seung-Hoon visited the guild and asked for help in public.

Standing up from his seat, he looked over at Yoo Seh-Eun, who was conversing with Lee Ji-Yeon. There were still thirty minutes left until the start of the meeting.

"Ms. Seh-Eun."

As she turned from Lee Ji-Yeon to look at him, he asked with a gentle smile, "Could you attend the meeting on my behalf?"

"Huh?"

"The meeting is for final confirmation of all participants and squad formation. You won't have to submit a squad chart right away," Kim Ki-Rok said.

"So..."

"All you need to do is sit and listen. Guildmaster Ji Seok-Hyun, the clear team leader, will handle the final confirmation report."

"You're asking me to sit in for you?"

"That's right," he replied.

"Then why are you beating around the bush?" Yoo Seh-Eun walked over and sat down in Kim Ki-Rok's chair. "What's going on all of a sudden?"

"Well, I have something to ask Hunter Kang Seung-Hoon."

***

In the container barracks of the South Korean Gate clear team, some Hunters shot up at the sight of Kim Ki-Rok.

"Oh!"

"Guildmaster Kim Ki-Rok!"

He greeted them and waved, signaling there was no need to get up. "Ah, it's okay. Please sit down and rest."

Kim Ki-Rok stopped and looked around the container. He saw Kang Seung-Hoon speaking with Seo Lee-Ha, an A-Class Hunter from the DG Guild and the Hunter in charge of Seo White Tiger of the Four Cardinal Guardians.

He returned Seo Lee-Ha's wave and walked over, sitting in a chair next to her. Kang Seung-Hoon glanced up hesitantly, unsure whether to stand or sit.

𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

"Hunter Kang Seung-Hoon."

"Ye-yes. Guildmaster Kim Ki-Rok."

"Shield," Kim Ki-Rok said as he activated an artifact, forming a spherical barrier around the DG Guild members. "Now they won't be able to hear anything from outside."

The blue shield was fully soundproof and visually sealed; nothing inside could be seen or heard from the outside, and vice versa. Not even a high mana output could break through to eavesdrop or read lips.

"Hunter Kang Seung-Hoon," Kim Ki-Rok said, returning to the matter at hand.

Kang Seung-Hoon gulped. "Yes. Guildmaster."

"Was this all planned?"

"Excuse me?"

"This situation. Was this all according to your plan?"

After his public request for help from the DG Guild, the number of reinforcements had clearly doubled. Since this was the last Gate to the Patera Dimension, and he was desperate for revenge, he should have contacted the DG Guild before visiting.

"You're clearly a victim, but—or rather,

because

of that, you should have moved more carefully," Kim Ki-Rok said sternly. "However, you didn't contact us, even though you had enough time to sort out your thoughts. You didn't call when you came up from other provinces to Seoul, nor when you were at a terminal or train station, not even when you arrived in Seoul and took a taxi. Not a single call."

Despite having plenty of time to call the DG Guild and inform them, Kang Seung-Hoon instead came to the DG Guild and asked for help in front of reporters without any prior contact.

"So I ask again. Was it all part of your plan?" Kim Ki-Rok asked again.

Kang Seung-Hoon didn't answer right away. He couldn't. Not just Kim Ki-Rok, but Seo Lee-Ha and the other Hunters were all staring at him, some visibly stunned.

"Y-yeah... That's right," he finally stammered.