Chapter 60

“From now on, the decision rests on your answer.”

Kang Yuseong nodded.

“My answer, you say. Very well, I’m listening.”

Song Sang-woo stared at him.

“You seem to have experience in these matters, don’t you? Such confidence, even coming alone.”

“Because I don’t believe the Master intends to harm me.”

Song Sang-woo let out a small laugh.

“Alright, I should state my business first. Mr. Kang Yuseong, I understand you’ve provided significant help to my guild members. Well, I must express my gratitude for that. Team Leader Moon.”

Moon Baek-woo bowed beside him.

“Yes, Master.”

“Bring what you’ve prepared.”

“Yes.”

Moon Baek-woo disappeared somewhere, then reappeared carrying something.

It was a long, rather luxurious box.

“I hear you use a sword, don’t you? I hope this proves useful.”

At Song Sang-woo’s gesture, Moon Baek-woo offered the box to Kang Yuseong.

“Please accept it.”

Kang Yuseong took it.

“Open it.”

Following Song Sang-woo’s words, Kang Yuseong silently untied the ribbon binding the box.

When he opened the box, a luxurious sword lay inside.

“It’s a sword crafted by Park Seung-eon, the best blacksmith in the country. I believe that should be sufficient to repay the debt for our people’s lives.”

‘Park Seung-eon…’

Kang Yuseong nodded inwardly.

That’s right.

He was currently the best blacksmith in the country, and would remain so for several years to come.

Until Kang Mu-hyeok, a blacksmith of unprecedented skill, emerged.

In any case, Park Seung-eon was also a man obsessed with swords, and this sword must have gone through countless processes before being forged.

Moreover, the swords he created were renowned for their exceptional durability and sharpness.

This item alone would easily fetch tens of millions of won, if not more.

The Phoenix Guild had shown considerable courtesy.

Kang Yuseong picked up the sword and slowly spoke.

“What is the price of this sword?”

Kang Yuseong looked back at Song Sang-woo.

Song Sang-woo’s brow furrowed slightly.

“It seems you didn’t call me here just to give me this sword… I assume you have something more to say.”

Song Sang-woo gave a wry smile.

“Indeed, you’re impossible to deal with. Well, since you’ve already guessed as much, I’ll speak plainly. Do you have any interest in joining our guild?”

Kang Yuseong smiled.

“Not at the moment.”

Seeing Kang Yuseong flatly reject his offer, Song Sang-woo nodded as if he had expected as much. His lack of surprise suggested he had already looked into Kang Yuseong.

“Of course, you, who refused the Immortal Guild’s offer, wouldn’t accept ours. It’s a pity.”

“I appreciate the offer, but I have no intention of joining a guild.”

“Well, that’s your choice. You may go then.”

“However.”

Song Sang-woo didn’t press the issue further.

But then, Kang Yuseong suddenly spoke, looking at him.

“What about an alliance?”

“An… alliance?”

Song Sang-woo furrowed his brow deeply, seemingly not having anticipated that.

An alliance meant two powerful entities combining their strength to achieve a common goal.

“My strength, and the Phoenix Guild’s strength. With that, I believe a certain picture could emerge.”

Song Sang-woo stared intently at Kang Yuseong’s face, then spoke.

“A picture, you say? What do you mean by that?”

Kang Yuseong smiled.

“I’m referring to the unification of the top ten guilds. More importantly, the picture that the Master desires.”

“What…?”

“There must be a reason for the Master to bestow such a sword upon me. Securing a talent pool, expanding guild influence. Whatever the phrasing, the ultimate goal is one: dominance, isn’t it?”

Song Sang-woo’s expression froze over.

“You’re speaking nonsense.”

“Don’t you want to take down Taebaek?”

At those words, the air in the room shifted.

The Taebaek Guild.

They had been perennial rivals with the Phoenix Guild.

And that uncomfortable relationship would continue for a very long time.

Later, it would escalate to the point where it was uncontrollable, with friction even among members from the two factions even after Kang Yuseong became a Monarch.

And even now, he knew their relationship was very bad.

Taebaek was ranked 9th, and Phoenix was 10th.

That alone showed how desperate the Phoenix Guild was to surpass Taebaek.

Just recently, clashes between Taebaek and Phoenix Guild members had become frequent in various places, and when the Phoenix Guild heard the name of the Taebaek Guild, the atmosphere had turned hostile.

Song Sang-woo stared at Kang Yuseong for a moment, then gestured to the men behind him.

“Step out for a moment. Team Leader Moon, you too.”

“Understood, Master.”

Once they had all left, Song Sang-woo’s eyes glinted coldly as he spoke.

“You’re far too arrogant. To dare utter the Taebaek Guild’s name in this place. I’ll pretend I didn’t hear it, so you may leave.”

“If you cannot take them down, the Phoenix Guild will no longer be able to advance. If you’re fine with that, then I’ll be on my way.”

Song Sang-woo frowned intensely, glaring fiercely at Kang Yuseong.

But Kang Yuseong did not flinch from his gaze.

It wasn’t empty words or a provocation.

It was history he had already experienced.

Constantly hampered by Taebaek’s interference, the Phoenix Guild remained a perennial 10th-ranked guild before ultimately being absorbed by the Immortal Guild.

Taebaek’s machinations and provocations had powerfully suppressed the Phoenix Guild.

In fact, if Moon Baek-woo hadn’t sought him out this time, Kang Yuseong wouldn’t have even considered the Phoenix Guild.

But after reconsidering several times, building the foundation around the Phoenix Guild made more sense.

“You’re going too far.”

Song Sang-woo’s expression became quite displeased.

In truth, it was a natural reaction for him.

He, more than anyone, would be sensitive to anything concerning Taebaek.

“Alright, then… do you believe you possess such power?”

Song Sang-woo, who had been silently observing Kang Yuseong, spoke.

“I’m asking if you believe you qualify for this ‘alliance’ you speak of. We are a top-ten guild in this country, and you are merely a single hunter with nothing. Yet you propose an alliance? How far do you intend to insult us?”

“As the Master said, I currently have no power to show you.”

Song Sang-woo’s eyebrows twitched.

Suddenly, Kang Yuseong slowly smiled.

“However, that will change in the future. Well, whatever it is, it’s the Master’s decision. I only make the offer; I don’t persuade.”

What would happen if Song Sang-woo knew about the things he had done?

If he knew that Kang Yuseong was the developer of the Stamina Potion, and the one who stopped China’s landing operation and North Korea’s Cheong Wa Dae occupation operation?

But he had no intention of using those as leverage.

Kang Yuseong was, at this moment, testing Song Sang-woo’s discernment.

And he wanted to see his decisiveness, quick judgment, and drive.

The Song Sang-woo Kang Yuseong remembered was a very ordinary person.

Someone whose rise to the position of Master of the Phoenix Guild, a top-ten guild, was almost inexplicable.

But conversely, it meant he possessed some ability to grasp and lead a massive guild like Phoenix.

That was what Kang Yuseong wanted to confirm now.

“Interesting. Is one sword not enough to satisfy you?”

“Just as the Master gave me a sword and sought to gain me, I am the same.”

At that, Song Sang-woo let out a small laugh.

“Well, I’ve been outmaneuvered. Frankly, we wouldn’t lose anything by forming an alliance with you. But remember one thing: joining hands with us means you must deliver results. I am quite sensitive when it comes to such matters.”

He was surprisingly sharp.

More flexible than expected, but also possessing a surprisingly keen edge.

‘Hmm…’

Kang Yuseong immediately sensed that Song Sang-woo was a very different man from the one he remembered from the past.

‘Not bad.’

He had his own convictions, but also knew how to yield to another’s perspective.

In these turbulent times, such individuals were very advantageous for survival.

If he chose this man, Song Sang-woo would now have to become his spear and shield.

Kang Yuseong nodded.

“Since you intended to recruit me into your guild, it means you’ve looked into me. Yet you still haven’t made a firm decision about me? Then let’s forget about it. Thank you for the sword.”

Kang Yuseong, however, retorted.

Then he rose from his seat and walked out.

In fact, Song Sang-woo couldn’t give an answer right there.

An alliance was not something to be taken lightly.

In such cases, it was better to simply stand up and leave.

And Kang Yuseong sensed that Song Sang-woo was already wavering.

Now, Song Sang-woo was the one who was at a disadvantage.

He just had to wait for the outcome.

By morning, Song Sang-woo had not given an answer.

But instead, he assigned someone to follow Kang Yuseong.

The person was very discreet and agile, clearly a highly trained individual.

However, for Kang Yuseong, shadowing him was impossible.

Yet, Kang Yuseong knew this and allowed it to happen.

If Song Sang-woo wanted to know more about him, he would let him.

But then, an unexpected situation erupted in the evening.

“Did you see that? Apparently, National Security Advisor Jung Chan-wook was assassinated!”

News.

The breaking news reports filling the papers and screens announced the assassination of National Security Advisor Jung Chan-wook.

Jung Chan-wook was a hawk, known for his aggressive stance, particularly in confrontations with North Korea.

And under the National Security Advisor’s command, an anti-terrorism unit had been newly established, with the authority to mobilize hunters from various guilds in emergencies.

In essence, he was a symbolic figure of national security.

Such a man was burned to death in his car with his driver on his way to work.

And it happened right in the middle of the city.

The analysis of the fire’s cause revealed it was not a result of spontaneous combustion.

Chakra Force was detected, and the arsonist was identified as a Magic User of considerable skill.

An individual capable of killing a powerful figure in the heart of the city without being seen by anyone.

But then, another breaking news report flashed.

—Breaking news. Just moments ago, a force presumed to be North Korean special forces infiltrated the 1st Corps Headquarters, assassinating Lieutenant General Nam Jae-sik, the Corps Commander, and his subordinate officers. The 1st Corps Headquarters is currently completely paralyzed…

‘North Korea…!’

Kang Yuseong’s eyes widened.

As expected, they hadn’t stayed quiet.

Unlike before, ceasefire agreements were utterly useless.

The era of new power.

North Korea had begun to brutalize the South Korean leadership with their formidable strength.

‘Just look at these bastards…’

Kang Yuseong frowned intensely.

North Korea’s threats were no longer mere threats.

They had acted immediately upon their provocations, becoming a terrifying presence.

But they had overlooked one thing.

What had happened to their special forces.

Who was behind it all.

And what kind of expression he was making right now.

‘It seems I have a place to clean up first…’

If he left North Korea alone, all his attention would be diverted to them.

They were individuals who had already demonstrated their capabilities.

In that case…

‘I’ll make sure they pay dearly.’

A cold light emanated from Kang Yuseong’s eyes.