86 - Murim Login

Episode 86 "Oh dear, you must have had a rough time." The official in charge hurriedly rushed out to greet us. Well, to be exact, it was more to greet Im Chang-soo. After thoroughly checking the various by-products and magic stones we brought, he couldn't help but be amazed. "Wow, that's quite a haul. With this much, the Minotaurs in the maze must be extinct." Im Chang-soo nodded silently with a pale complexion, and the official gauged the atmosphere. "Sir, are you feeling unwell?'' When did government officials start caring about a hunter's health? Before any unnecessary words could slip out, I gave Im Chang-soo a nudge in the side. "You should respond, Mr. Chang-soo." "...I'm fine." "Oh, that's a relief." Perhaps he sensed something was off? The official glanced at me with a suspicious look but didn't press further. "How would you like to handle the by-products? As you know, there are two methods." As the official mentioned, there are two ways to sell by-products. Direct sale and consignment sale. The former is when the owner of the item, in this case, the individual, handles the transaction themselves. The latter involves entrusting the sale to the management office, a government agency. 'Each has its pros and cons.' Rare items fetch a better price through direct sale, while less so items are more conveniently sold to government agencies. It's like the difference between an upscale auction and a general market one. "What should we do?" Kim Butler stepped in at Im Chang-soo's question. He didn't step in during the gate raid, but he's a veteran hunter. He likely knows more about this than anyone else here. "We'll sell to the management office." Nothing goes to waste, like they say about cows, and the same goes for Minotaurs. Their hide is used for equipment crafting, bones for nourishing broths, and horns are popular among collectors. "You've made a wise decision." The official began processing the by-products with a very pleased expression. It's obvious why he's pleased, despite the management office being the buyer. 'Looks like he's getting some extra benefits.' Well, it's none of my business how much the official skims off the top. The extra I secured today is much bigger anyway. Tap Tap "The agreed amount?" Im Chang-soo responded stiffly. "I-I'll give it." "By when?" "I'll send it by tomorrow." Forty billion by tomorrow? Being the son of a wealthy family certainly has its perks. I handed over a piece of paper with a wide smile. "Ah, then that's great for me. Here's my account number. Keep it safe like a family heirloom and make sure to send it tomorrow. It wouldn't be fun if you claimed to have lost it later. Got it?" "...Yes." That should do it, right? I bid farewell by giving Im Chang-soo a light pat on the back. As I was watching Im Chang-soo's staggering figure with satisfaction, Im Kkeok-jung asked me. "Do you think he'll pay up?" "What if he doesn't?" "Well, that'd be a bit troublesome. Sangdong Guild is a moderately powerful guild in this area, after all. If he decides to play hardball..." "Come on, we have video evidence. He wouldn't dare." "They can always get rid of evidence. Besides, there's something I've heard." "What is it?" Since he mentioned it, I started to get a little concerned. Im Kkeok-jung glanced around cautiously before whispering softly. "The head of Sangdong Guild. You know who he is, right?" "I’m hearing the name for the first time today, actually." Im Choon-soo. The name conjures up an image of a middle-aged man with a bit of a beer belly, but reality often contradicts expectations. "He was an A-rank hunter who made significant contributions during the Cataclysm. What did people call him again? Fr-Fro... I can't remember." "Frozen." "Ah, right. Frozen. The ice-wizard specialist." Famous hunters often receive monikers, and it was no different for Im Choon-soo. As an A-rank hunter, he distinguished himself during the Cataclysm with his mastery of ice magic, earning him the moniker 'Frozen.' "He ranks among the top five in the country for ice magic. He used his reputation to grow the Sangdong Guild." After the harrowing Cataclysm concluded, the first-generation hunters faced a choice: retire or remain active. Im Choon-soo chose the latter and established the Sangdong Guild. "He's impressive. His son doesn't seem to have inherited much, though." Even for A-rank hunters, surviving the Cataclysm with just one's fists to gain both wealth and fame is rare. Im Choon-soo's current status is what many hunters aspire to achieve. "Impressive? Absolutely. It's a matter of lineage." Im Kkeok-jung gestured to the retreating figure of Im Chang-soo. "Don't forget whose blood flows in that boy's veins." "What do you mean by that...?" "I'm not bragging, but I've been in this business for over 20 years. The Sangdong Guild was established when I was still a total novice." "And?" "Back then, as now, Bucheon was highly competitive with guilds vying against each other. There was no room for a new guild to slip in." "And Im Choon-soo managed to break through?" "Exactly. That's why he's a formidable man." "Uh..." Does it connect like that? The competitive nature among guilds has always been intense, and in a meritocratic society, the capable naturally survive. "For someone of his caliber, Im Choon-soo would have had exceptional skills as a hunter and a strong reputation. He must have had solid connections." "Don't other guild leaders have those?" "What?" "All the rival leaders were war heroes with markets carved out years before and had significant control over many gates." Im Kkeok-jung continued in a low voice. "It was a time when the system wasn't perfect, and illegal activities were rampant. The only reason Sangdong Guild exists today is because Im Choon-soo obliterated his competition. He’s not someone to be taken lightly." A sudden thought crossed my mind. What if Im Choon-soo found out about today's events? What would his reaction be upon hearing his only son was humiliated? 'Things could get a bit tangled.' When thinking of South Korea, connections by alumni, regional ties, and family lineage cannot be ignored. For twenty years, the Sangdong Guild held an unwavering position as a local powerhouse. In contrast, our guild was akin to a newborn. If the Sangdong Guild decided to take us on, our guild would be obliterated even before we had a chance to establish ourselves. "Do you know if the Sangdong Guild leader has a good personality?" "I wouldn't know. I've only heard bits and pieces through rumors." "Tell me whatever you can." After a moment of contemplation, Im Kkeok-jung spoke. "When I saw Im Chang-soo today, an old saying came to mind: 'Tiger father, dog son' (호부견자)." "Even if it's a fine father and a useless son, that still implies something good. Does he listen to reason?" "No, try interpreting it literally." "…A tiger father and a dog son?" "If Im Chang-soo's character is like that of a mutt, then Im Choon-soo is the tiger. His personality is no joke." "Some say his temperament has mellowed with age, but it's hard to believe people change that easily." Damn it. The more I hear, the more I can't shake this ominous feeling that something might just explode. Oh man, maybe I shouldn't have made that bet.' Initially, I was excited at the thought of receiving tens of billions, but now it feels unsettling, like not wiping properly after a big business. Personally, I might be okay, but the thought of other guild members being affected is something I can't accept. "Taekyung, don't worry too much. I only mentioned it just in case." "This isn't going to blow up, right?" "It's okay. Team Leader Choi thought it was amusing and joined the bet too." "Wait, really?" "Yeah, and look at how Im Chang-soo behaves. If I were his father, I'd half kill him out of shame." There's truth in that. What could possibly happen, really? Hearing that made me feel much lighter, even enough to smile. "Thanks, Mr. Kkeok-jung, or should I say, brother." "Then to commemorate becoming rich, let's have some steak. Though, you should have it with Miss Song rather than me." "…Ah." A figurative dagger to the chest. I swallowed tears at Im Kkeok-jung's remarks that seemed to kill me emotionally not once, but twice. "What brings you here?" The voice belonged to a man with a striking appearance. In his early fifties, his skin remained taut and his hair was as black as iron wires, standing upright. His piercing eyes made even the boldest weak-kneed. 'What kind of gaze is this...': Even the branch manager of K Bank felt its effect. Despite having met several times before, he was just an ordinary person, while the other stood as an A-rank hunter, a living witness of the Cataclysm. His tongue felt tied and sweat poured down his forehead naturally. "Well…” "If you're here to waste my time, you can turn back now. If not, speak your business now." Though his tone was sharp, the manner of speaking was rather mild. There were rumors that he was trying to temper his personality with age, and they might not have been entirely in vain. Oh, shit.' The branch manager shut his eyes tightly and blurted out his words. "I’m sorry to disturb you, Guild Leader. I'm here regarding your son." At the mention of 'son,' Sangdong Guild Leader Im Choon-soo's eyebrows twitched. "Chang-soo? What's he done?" "Your son requested that whenever he conducts bank-related transactions, you should be informed…" Im Choon-soo, as if understanding, nodded. "What's the matter this time? Did he steal my seal? Or take out a mortgage?" "He transferred a substantial amount all at once." "It must be about some girl again. Obviously. How much?" "Forty billion won to two different accounts. A total of eighty billion." "How much?" "Eighty billion…won." The branch manager hurriedly swallowed his breath, witnessing the glass behind Im Choon-soo rapidly freezing over. Crack. Though it was late summer outside, the office was dominated by cold and frost. He gestured to the shivering branch manager. "Anything more to say?" "I brought related documents..." With trembling hands, the branch manager placed the stack of papers on the desk. "Good job. You can leave now." "I will see you soon." Once the branch manager practically fled the room, Im Choon-soo picked up the phone. The phone, equipped with a cold resistance function, quickly started signaling without any issue. Beep, beep, click. "Yes, Guild Leader. Team Leader of Team 1 here." "Bring that bastard here immediately." …Are you referring to Team Leader Im Chang-soo? "He's no longer a team leader as of today. Get that bastard here right now!" Bang! The receiver's lifespan ended there, shattering into hundreds of icy shards covering the desk. "These miserable fools, despite all my warnings…" With eyes cold as ice, Im Choon-soo's gaze stopped at one spot: the document bundle left by the branch manager from K Bank. Inside was the account of the eighty billion's whereabouts. 'This foolish boy, which woman has he fallen for this time?' After flipping through one page after another for nearly ten minutes, as he closed the final page, the sound of someone being dragged and the door flung open rang out. "Im Chang-soo, Team Leader. I've brought him here." A middle-aged man of a seasoned demeanor, gripping tightly onto a young man. "F-Father!" "My esteemed son has arrived." With the son's arrival, the father extended his hand. It certainly wasn't a gesture of forgiveness. Crackle. From Im Choon-soo's hand sprang forth cold energy. Transitioning from gas to liquid, then from liquid to solid, it resulted in a club of ice as hard as steel. "I have many questions, but first, let's start with this." "Father!" "Shut it, you brat!" The middle-aged man, the first team leader of Sangdong Guild, quietly closed the door. For the next half-day, this place was to be off-limits.