Against the Clock: The Team Leader’s Pursuit of Glory

"Move quickly!"

"Grab only the essential documents, discard or leave the rest! Have you ever seen an orc read?"

"Leave personal belongings, just get yourselves out!"

"Immediately release only the battle-essential gear from the equipment room; the rest of the C-Project items, seal them! Hurry up!"

Kang Mu-hyuk issued an evacuation order for the entire guild. Since the guild headquarters was located in a Special Activities Zone vulnerable to monster attacks, there was a pre-established evacuation manual.

The guild members dived into their designated tasks according to the information they had been trained on. Although they had practiced sufficiently, there were still kinks to work out, evident from the sporadic noises arriving from various quarters.

Kang Mu-hyuk realized that time was of the essence in coordinating all these activities and he set his priorities. Moving the most valuable guild assets first was the decision.

The C-Warehouse, given the bulk and weight of the equipment it contained, couldn't be handled in a short amount of time.

So, they opted to use a coagulant made from the digestive juices of the earthworm-like monster 'Stone Bug,' mixed into concrete, to pour into the warehouse.

Once used, the substance would solidify completely within hours, making it hard to break into unless a special solvent was applied. Other guilds also kept this material on hand for emergencies.

Kang Mu-hyuk first went to the support team. It was because of the Rider Wolves. With no specific department for animal care, the support team had been looking after them as a stopgap.

"Following the headquarters evacuation manual, we'll proceed to evacuate strategic assets first. Rider Wolves are the top priority. We'll assign a trailer first. Team Leader Yeom should take the females and the pups to South Pocheon. Look after them in the secured barn there. The males---excluding the young ones we'd label as 'Seed Wolves'---will be deployed in combat."

"A barn? Where is it?"

"It's the barn of someone who was sacrificed by the orcs recently. It's currently empty and has already been cleaned up. There might still be the smell of blood, but that's familiar to the Rider Wolves, so it shouldn't be a problem. We've made arrangements with Pocheon City, so use it as a temporary shelter until everything is settled."

"Good thinking, for coming up with that location so quickly."

After dealing with the C-Warehouse and the Rider Wolves, there wasn't much else to take care of at the guild headquarters.

All that remained was sending non-combatants to South Pocheon.

"We hardly own anything, so packing up is easy. We came with a truckload when we first arrived, after all," Pyo Beom-hee said with a hint of irony. Because Kang Mu-hyuk had taken only what was absolutely required, leaving the rest.

"Have all the employees been sent out?"

"Except for the team leader in charge of the equipment and Gong Du-ri, who'll handle the operations."

"Why am I the only one left? I'm just a civilian!" Gong Du-ri retorted while pulling his hair.

"Come on. We need someone to hit the keyboard."

"But Team Leader Pyo can do that too!"

"I have to swing a sword. You want to swing it instead?"

"No, I'll just stick to the keyboard."

Gong Du-ri knew that Pyo Beom-hee could indeed be dangerous, so he immediately dropped the subject. He had been severely burned in the past for dismissing her as a joke.

"I apologize Team Leader Gong, but I'll need someone to handle the operations while I look over the orders. There's no such thing as a safe place on site, but I'll keep the command vehicle as far back as possible. I'll also leave behind minimal personnel as escort, so don't worry too much."

"Heh, the way you're giving orders informally, it's like we're already in the heat of battle. What can I do? We're stuck in this situation. I'll just take it as fate and tap away on the keyboard."

"Ah, and also--"

Kang Mu-hyuk whispered something into Gong Du-ri's ear. He didn't intend for it to be a secret, so Pyo Beom-hee also heard. Her eyes widened in surprise, and so did Gong Du-ri's.

"Really? You're serious?"

"I said it's real, so take care of it right away."

"Ah, what a waste."

Gong Du-ri sighed repeatedly and stepped outside to carry out Kang Mu-hyuk's command.

Pyo Beom-hee, seemingly feeling regretful on Gong Du-ri's behalf, asked once more for confirmation.

"That instruction just now, I get that it's a necessary evil in the current situation. But when this crisis is over, it'll be a loss, won't it? Are you okay with that?"

"What's there to regret about something beyond my control? Right now, the priority is to win."

"I suppose that's what it takes to get everyone moving, huh?"

Convinced, Pyo Beom-hee nodded, and Kang Mu-hyuk issued a new command.

"Team Leader Pyo, gather your team members. I'll explain the strategy for dealing with the orcs."

"You already have a plan?"

"Well, I had something from before. Refined it a bit in South Pocheon."

"A pre-planned strategy? Assuming we had to abandon headquarters like now? I hate to say this, having experienced your leadership, but this won't be an easy plan, will it?"

"It's not an easy situation, is it?"

Kang Mu-hyuk conveyed what he had to say, ignoring her unease.

"Also, please tell Team Leader Lee Jin-joo to come to my office separately."

...

Knock! Knock!

"You called for me, Guild Leader?"

"Come in. Close the door behind you."

Lee Jin-joo felt tense. Closing the door meant that what was to be discussed shouldn't leak outside---a phrase uniquely used by Kang Mu-hyuk.

She sat down where Kang Mu-hyuk indicated. He sat opposite her and cautiously began speaking.

"I have a special mission for Team Leader Lee Jin-joo."

"For me?"

"Yes. Among the new recruits, assemble two parties from Team A and head to Cheolwon. The Guild Master will be waiting for you."

"You're pulling out our top forces? Is this for some sort of delaying action or a surprise attack?"

"The expedition has its own role to play."

"Expedition? You're not suggesting... we're going for the Gate now, are you?"

Kang Mu-hyuk clamped his mouth shut and looked at Lee Jin-joo.

Silent affirmation.

'Two parties plus me and the Guild Master. Just 12 people for the Gate? This doesn't seem right.'

Lee Jin-joo was baffled but didn't immediately refuse. Instead, she pointed out a practical issue.

"Even if we were to attack the Gate, our numbers are too few. We need to consider the possibility of getting overwhelmed. Sure, I could escape, and so could Guild Master, but what about the rest of the members? It's as good as sending them to their deaths. Ultimately, we have to take down the boss before this place falls apart. It's likely to go awry."

"You're right. With limited numbers, lower ranks, and inadequate support, someone will die if we enter the Gate under such pressing time constraints."

The situation would be the same even if Ju Se-ah were present. She couldn't protect everyone and lead the attack at the same time. Clearing a Gate required everyone to perform their roles to the best of their abilities; otherwise, it amounted to mere babysitting.

"And you want us to attack a Gate while we are already engaged in battle here?"

"We have no choice but to consider the worst-case scenario."

"Worst-case scenario?"

"Do you recall the Orc Disturbance in China five years ago?"

"Huh?"

Lee Jin-joo understood what Kang Mu-hyuk was getting at.

The Orc Disturbance.

It was a War-level mission that took place in China.

After the leader of the vanquished orc tribe escaped to Inner Mongolia, he gathered the orc forces there and increased his strength, eventually causing a catastrophic event.

At that time, tens of thousands were killed in China due to a surprise attack by the orcs.

Despite having numerous Hunters because of its large population, China's vast land also meant there were many places to defend. That was why they couldn't station enough forces even in small cities near Inner Mongolia to fend off the large-scale orc attacks.

Kang Mu-hyuk was looking beyond the immediate battlefield. Under no circumstances did he intend to allow this situation to spread beyond Cheolwon and Paju.

"Orcs at the level of tribe chiefs are not only strong but also specialize in reproduction and evolution. They're quite vengeful too. If their forces here are wiped out, they'll quickly notice and flee. If they happen to move to the Gema Plateau or Manchuria and absorb the scattered orc tribes there, we're looking at long-term ramifications. We may be tied down on the Yalu and Tumen River fronts not just in winter, but year-round."

"That's definitely a situation we'd like to avoid."

Lee Jin-joo was convinced of the reason Kang Mu-hyuk insisted on attacking the Gate simultaneously.

Having Hunters tied down year-round on the northern defense line, where monsters usually only swarm in early winter?

It was hardly a situation that large guilds, let alone freelance Hunters, would welcome.

The absence of Hunters would lead to social chaos, a result that had to be avoided at the national level.

"Great. For my first mission as the Expedition leader, there are way too many lives at stake. Feeling a bit weighed down here."

"The real challenge starts now. I'll help lighten that burden."

"Excuse me?"

Ding!

Just then, a cheerful alert broke the heavy atmosphere, it was from the computer on the desk.

Kang Mu-hyuk rose from his seat and checked the monitor.

"The notification I've been waiting for has arrived."

"Notification?"

"Check the guild app... Ah? Smartphones don't really work well here, do they?"

At Kang Mu-hyuk's sudden mention of the guild app, Lee Jin-joo cocked her head as if confused.

Still staring at the monitor, Kang Mu-hyuk spoke to her.

"I had Team Leader Gong Du-ri post an announcement on the guild app a while ago. Would you like to take a look?"

Lee Jin-joo moved next to Kang Mu-hyuk.

▶ Outbreak Alert

Cheolwon Gate (Tentative) now open.

Approximately 1,000 fully-armed evolved orcs advancing south toward Pocheon.

Presence of an Orc Lord-grade boss within the Gate (assumed).

Presence of mana-iron mine and other various mineral resources (assumed).

"What is this..."

"You do know that anyone can enter an open Gate regardless of their rank, right?"

"Did you use the mine as bait?"

"The guild that takes down the boss first will gain rights to the mine. That's the rule."

Lee Jin-joo was stunned. The bait Kang Mu-hyuk had thrown was too tempting for any guild to easily ignore. She felt a pang of regret for even contemplating that another guild could stake a claim on it.

"So, what you mentioned earlier is..."

"If we do this, even if no guilds show up to stop the orc army, there will be plenty who aim for the Gate. I can't say for sure how strong the other guilds will be, but even the Orc Lord will have a hard time holding on. Prioritize blocking escape routes over boss raids for the expedition."

Lee Jin-joo pursed her lips, offering no response.

Kang Mu-hyuk asked in a calm tone, "Do you feel a bit lighter now?"

...

Slayer Guild Strategy and Tactics Team Leader's Office.

Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap!

After checking the guild app notification on his smartphone, Sung Seon-je clapped his hands for a moment before speaking.

"Incredible. A Gate with a mine? So, Cheolwon is not a minefield but a gold mine. If we go in, we'll strike it rich."

At this point, any competent Strategy and Tactics team leader would start to have doubts.

Was this information real? Could it be a lie to deter the orc army? Or maybe a ploy to use other guilds' power for free?

'I may not know much, but Kang Mu-hyuk has credibility. Even if he has ulterior motives, if there's a mine, we can't overlook it.'

But the real issue was something else.

'If he posts it like this, everyone will try to avoid the orc army and aim only for the Gate. Kang Mu-hyuk would know that. Does this mean he can handle a thousand evolved orcs with Iron Will's power alone?'

He was not someone to boast without reason. Nor was he someone whose bluffs should be easily dismissed.

Sung Seon-je tapped his fingers on the desk.

Tap! Tap! Tap!

The tapping sped up before coming to an abrupt stop.

"As much as I'd like to go to Pocheon to watch, I don't want to be a sucker who can't even eat what's given."

Sung Seon-je promptly picked up the phone and connected to the situation room.

"It's me. You saw Cheolwon Gate, right? Call in the entire First Team."

...

"Long live the Guild! Long live the Guild!"

Beneath a guild emblem emblazoned with a Taegeuk mark, Cho Ikjoon raised both his hands and cheered.

He took a few hops and immediately called the situation room.

"Head to the Cheolwon Gate! Mobilize all the helicopters! Make sure to book all the available civilian helicopters before other guilds get to them! Render them immobile! What? Of course, the remaining helicopters are for our members and their equipment. How many years have you been doing this? You should know that. Oh, also call all the slackers who messed up the last raid! What? A vacation? What vacation when we've got work to do? This is our chance to make up for this year's shortcomings! If you mess up again, I'll personally rip you apart and feed you to the orcs!"

Cho Ikjoon equipped himself, intending to personally oversee the situation. He put on an armor coat with a large Taegeuk mark on the back before leaving his room.

As he took the elevator to the situation room, he thought of a man who had been a neighbor until just recently.

'I'm physically farther away now, but somehow I hear more about you. Guild Leader Kang Mu-hyuk. You really stand out wherever you go.'

He didn't believe Kang Mu-hyuk had provided false information. He wasn't the type to get blinded by immediate gain. When it came to work, even rivals could trust him not to post unreliable information.

"Wait, how do we plan to handle the orc horde?"

As the head of the Strategy and Tactics team, his mind was on the Cheolwon Gate, but another part of him was concerned about Pocheon.

For some reason, Cho Ikjoon was more drawn to Pocheon than to Cheolwon.

"Argh! Darn it, if it weren't for the profits, I'd go there. Ah! I'm curious, so curious!"

While Cho Ikjoon was fidgeting with curiosity, other guilds began to make their moves.

The Titan Guild was the quickest to act.

Vice Guild Master Ma Taesu, who happened to be at headquarters, took charge personally.

"Regardless of whether I like Kang Mu-hyuk or not, he's not the type to talk nonsense. Owning the mine will boost our performance. It's good for appealing to the shareholders. Gather all the Hunters under me."

While some guilds raced to act quickly, others moved cautiously, gauging the situation.

Most were guilds that had no connection to Kang Mu-hyuk. They had heard rumors of his efficiency but had never experienced it themselves, so they were skeptical.

Some mid-tier guilds moved on a break-even basis, and some smaller guilds joined in, hoping for even a small slice of the pie.

That moment of hesitation determined the outcome of the stake race for the Cheolwon Gate.

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