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After hearing the full explanation, Lee Jun-cheol’s emotions were truly beyond words.

“Yes. Once a clear target is established, it’s obvious that the Tyrant will approach with a ferocity to match his intent.”

“Good grief.”

Lee Jun-cheol looked back at Seo Sang-ho.

Until now, he had considered him merely a somewhat communicative figure compared to other large guild leaders. But upon hearing the detailed context, his perspective shifted.

“I never imagined the guild master of Titan would be such a foolish person.”

“…What did you say?”

Lee Hye-na reacted sharply, glaring at Lee Jun-cheol with fierce eyes.

But Lee Jun-cheol did not take back his words.

“Pursuing ideals is commendable. However, at least a guild leader should refrain from such behavior.”

It was not a problem for an individual to act thusly. In fact, Lee Jun-cheol felt inclined to support such personal pursuits.

Yet, as he pointed out, it was an attitude unbecoming of someone in the position of a guild master.

“Do you really think the people under you joined the guild to do community service? Don’t you understand they’re merely grouped together to earn money more easily?”

Even someone outside the hunter profession would know that the guild master and his secretary were surely aware of this fact.

“This situation is practically self-inflicted.”

Lee Jun-cheol stated firmly.

From an objective viewpoint without any personal bias, Han Young-seok’s coup was entirely justifiable.

Even if it was an indefensible act from a humanitarian perspective, his motives alone were sufficient.

“Indeed, if you were to create a new guild, it would be better suited for Kang Jin-hyuk than for Seo Sang-ho.”

“I wouldn’t be so different, to be honest.”

“No, just the way you treat Mr. Park shows a stark difference from Seo Sang-ho.”

Through his dealings with Kang Jin-hyuk, Lee Jun-cheol had become convinced.

Kang Jin-hyuk was the type to decisively pinpoint what wasn’t acceptable.

Yet, he wasn’t overly strict and allowed a certain leeway when the situation called for it.

These qualities made him far more suitable for the role of a guild master than Seo Sang-ho.

Could a guild master who was oblivious to massive benefits, continued to advocate for ideals, and neglected the concerns of his members ever portray such attitudes?

“Well… Seeing Seo Sang-ho tangled in the trouble of being chased, it might be a case of the kettle calling the pot black.”

Lee Jun-cheol nonetheless saw greater potential in Kang Jin-hyuk.

At least he had never positioned himself as a loss leader during negotiations.

“I came here hoping to snag some falling crumbs. If Seo Sang-ho holds the helm, that situation could be perilous.”

If Seo Sang-ho continued to cling onto the position of guild master, it could end up leading to a lackadaisical conclusion.

In the worst-case scenario, he might even show mercy to the rebels in Titan.

That absolutely could not happen.

Lee Jun-cheol was not a philanthropist in this place.

He came with the resolve to extract as much benefit as he could from the environment, thus paving the groundwork was only natural.

“I’ll say this clearly.”

Seeing Ji Hye-na trembling in fear made Lee Jun-cheol feel a twinge of pity, yet he persisted in voicing his thoughts.

“The guild master will be Kang Jin-hyuk. That is our condition for providing assistance.”

Kang Jin-hyuk did not respond immediately but instead assessed Lee Hye-na’s reaction.

In truth, she had no room to voice any objections from her standpoint.

The fact they could ascertain the crimes of the Tyrant was thanks to none other than Kang Jin-hyuk.

Moreover, the reason Seo Sang-ho was alive now was all because Lee Jun-cheol and his kind had decided to help, stemming from Kang Jin-hyuk.

Though he was aware of all this logically, accepting it emotionally was still a challenge.

After a brief silence, Lee Hye-na managed a strenuous nod.

“I understand. I’ll persuade Sang-ho when he wakes up.”

“Since mere words wouldn’t be enough, would it be possible to draft a written agreement?”

True to his roots in the black market where he had polished his craft, Lee Jun-cheol showed no mercy.

With the contract he had prepared in advance, he aimed to secure guaranteed conditions from the rest.

‘In business, there’s no room to appease the emotions of others.’

Jo Hyung-il thought, “Absolutely, boss.”

“Is my will not taken into account?”

As Lee Hye-na picked up a pen to sign, Kang Jin-hyuk interrupted with his objection.

“When did I ever say that I’d accept this position as guild master without a fight? The conversation has been too abrupt.”

“Does that mean you are unwilling to take it on?”

Lee Jun-cheol believed that Kang Jin-hyuk would struggle to answer this question spontaneously.

When the situation aligned, he could create a large-scale guild capable of swallowing the territory of Titan as well.

Who would reject the offer of leading such a guild?

“No, I’m not.”

But Kang Jin-hyuk was an exceptional case.

“…Are you serious?”

“Why do you seem so surprised by something so obvious?”

Lee Jun-cheol felt a surge of frustration upon hearing Kang Jin-hyuk’s answer.

“What do you mean, obvious?! Refusing this is utterly foolish!”

“Yeah, right…”

Rolling his eyes in disbelief, Kang Jin-hyuk seized the pen from Lee Hye-na’s hand.

He aimed it towards Lee Jun-cheol, pointing it accusatorily.

“That guild you’re proposing? You mean your people and you would be part of it, right?”

“Of course. That’s the very least expected return for such an investment.”

“Yeah, the mind of a money-hungry businessman.”

Kang Jin-hyuk’s reason for rejecting the position of guild master was simple.

“Why would I want to run a territory with nothing but a bunch of burglars who only care about profit?”

Were they trying to create a cartel in Korea?

The contract he had proffered tied them with a vow to never fire or ignore him or his subordinates.

At first glance, it appeared to protect against a backstab, but in reality, it didn’t seem like that at all.

Kang Jin-hyuk tapped the relevant section of the contract with a pen.

“Wouldn’t a deal like this effectively allow you to operate your own brand of chaos?”

If they were to wreak havoc within their territory, there wouldn’t be any risk for Kang Jin-hyuk to take the fall.

Others might not catch on, but Lee Jun-cheol and his subordinates were themselves involved in illicit activities.

No way could they be righteous individuals.

They could all bear a lengthy prison sentence if the police suddenly took interest in their shady endeavors.

That such an arrangement could be put forward in the first place was absurd. And to add a provision that forbade dismissing them?

“You’re asking me to become your puppet so that you won’t face consequences for your crimes. That’s what this boils down to.”

“…Then are you saying you have no need for our help?”

“I’m not sure it’s necessary. As long as we well lure the Tyrant in, that should suffice.”

Hearing that, Jo Hyung-il nearly exploded in frustration, abruptly standing up.

“Seriously! Why don’t we just lay everything bare then? Let’s see how well you can work without us!”

“Lay everything bare?”

“Why? Are you scared?”

Convinced that he had secured the upper hand and was smirking with satisfaction, Jo Hyung-il was suddenly made silent by the glint in Kang Jin-hyuk’s eyes.

A lethal aura he had never encountered before coursed into his veins.

Indeed, the dagger-like intent directed at him felt overwhelmingly potent, hence his confidence faltered dramatically.

Jo Hyung-il was nearly convinced it was a figment of his imagination.

Yet, even if he had initially thought so, facing Kang Jin-hyuk’s piercing gaze made him realize the truth.

He never thought he would find himself in this situation.

“Do you think I ever even suggested for you guys to come here?”

Lee Jun-cheol was enveloped in a long sigh as he cupped his forehead in despair.

He knew this was always a possibility.

And now, this meeting had provided him with valuable information that he simply couldn’t disregard.

If they couldn’t align as allies, the chances of freedom remained bleak.

Being unable to leave would spell inevitable doom.

“We can’t confuse who is the superior and who is the subordinate.”

As Kang Jin-hyuk flipped the contract back over and tipped it forward in a horizontal position, offering it to Lee Jun-cheol, he raised an eyebrow.

“The draft of the contract should be written by you, not us.”

Lee Jun-cheol accepted the pen Kang Jin-hyuk offered without protest.

Kang Jin-hyuk had prepared himself for a situation where he would step right into the tiger’s den from the beginning.

The current scenario was anticipated along those lines.

He was even willing to brave some discomfort as long as it meant a successful endeavor in the future.

‘Still, I had hoped to have some room for a little deceit…’

But the atmosphere’s changing tides rendered any such expectations futile.

Kang Jin-hyuk’s piercing gaze revealed he could see through it all, leaving no trace of what he could still pretend.

Lee Jun-cheol knew he could only sit at the table and cooperate without hesitation.

Initially onboard the expedition for an escape from the uncertainty sparked by an impending collapse, and company that could allow for such opportunities seemed scarce.

Despite any potential losses, collaborating to pursue a successful journey together could guarantee profit far overshadowing what the fallout may spell.

Joining forces with Kang Jin-hyuk offered far greater benefits than they might have perceived at present.

Kang Jin-hyuk accepted the pen that Lee Jun-cheol offered.

The signature he began etching onto the new agreement remained in plain sight for both of them as it became official.

After signing the freshly printed contract with Lee Jun-cheol, Kang Jin-hyuk made his way home.

Two of Titan’s hunters remained anchored at his home in a watching pattern.

However, Kang Jin-hyuk paid them no heed and calmly walked right past them toward his house.

The Titan hunters failed to react, not even turning their heads as he blatantly passed by.

Someone quietly waiting behind the stairs greeted him instead: Jeong Dae-yun.

He approached with a smile, donning a gas mask.

“Have you finished everything?”

“Not yet.”

“Then why did you come back here?”

“There was something I needed to retrieve.”

“In this poison gas?”

“The poison has probably dissipated by now.”

The poison gas Kang Jin-hyuk had dispersed in his home would naturally disappear within six hours to eliminate evidence.

He trusted in this information that Lee Hye-na had provided.

“No, that’s not the point! The Titan’s goons could strike at any moment…”

“It’s alright since you are here.”

Thanks to Jeong Dae-yun’s disguise mimicking the Titan’s watchman while keeping vigilance, there hadn’t been any breach of discovery thus far.

But there was no guarantee it could hold indefinitely.

“While I’m honored by your faith in me, I don’t want to waste my time either.”

“Okay, so I appreciate your help regardless.”

Even as they faced disturbances from the Tyrant, Dae-yun had managed to wait here for eight hours for Kang Jin-hyuk.

Though he felt indebted over what was done for him, this level of service was hardly standard among the unanchored.

“Yeah… We have three hours left. It’s not possible to remain here any longer than that.”

“That will suffice.”

Kang Jin-hyuk confidently pushed open the door and entered his house, where the gas had vanished.

Looking at the mess within, he couldn’t help but let out a deep sigh.

“Just how long will all this take to fix…”

Almost all furniture, floors, and wallpaper needed replacing.

Setting resignation aside, he walked up to the attic and opened the door.

As he swung open the half-destroyed door, an ordinary sight of the dungeon greeted him.

Fortunately, the state of the house did not impede access to the dungeon whatsoever.

Before stepping inside, he checked the newly equipped inventory clipped at his waist.

It was the very same item that Lee Jun-cheol had first presented to him.