Chapter 22: An unstoppable flow

The government had merely tried to horn in on the success, but they ended up fueling the fire instead.

They belatedly made excuses, claiming they hadn’t intended to encroach upon the achievements of Min-hyuk and the other hunters, but the flames were already raging.

It wasn’t just because the government tried to take a piece of the pie.

This incident was merely a small spark that could have ended as a minor mishap.

However, the layers of gunpowder that had been piling up over time became a bomb, and it finally exploded in response to that small spark.

– Hunters are protesting as a group.

Accusations against the sluggish Hunter Management Bureau are continuing.

There is no telling how far this public opinion will spread….

A middle-aged man, listening to the voice flowing from the TV, looked out the window with a sneer.

Recently, the entrance of the building was always crowded.

But today, at least twice as many reporters as usual had gathered.

“…Stupid bastards.”

If they had stayed still, it might have ended with just a few higher-ups who took heavy bribes from the Monster Management Office being implicated.

But not anymore.

Because they tried to piggyback on the hunters’ hard-earned achievements for no reason and caused a bigger explosion, the Hunter Management Bureau now had a clear justification.

They had been preparing for reform for so long—would they miss such a perfect opportunity?

It was unthinkable.

“Director!”

“Are the preparations done?”

“They’re finished.”

Director Park Young-hwan nodded at the sight of all the department heads gathered together and looked out the window for a moment.

To the reporters who had flocked to ask about the Hunter Management Bureau’s stance on the post uploaded by Muyeong, the Bureau intended to throw an even bigger issue.

“Let’s go.”

At the Director’s command, all the core personnel of the Hunter Management Bureau gathered.

AA-class department heads, a rank given to A-class skill awakeners who had reached the 50th floor.

A-class team leaders who had climbed to the late 40th floors.

Finally, even the special team made up of those who had once given up on climbing, led by the ill-fated genius and former head of the Monster Management Office.

All of them gathered together for today’s operation and left the Hunter Management Bureau.

Gulp!

The reporters gathered so thickly that they swarmed the door merely swallowed hard when Park Young-hwan stepped outside, unable to easily open their mouths as silence fell.

It was because an atmosphere radiated from him that suggested things would get ugly if they said the wrong thing.

“I know you all came here to ask about the current situation. I sincerely apologize for the past days when the Hunter Management Bureau knew about the problems but stood by and watched.”

Following Park Young-hwan, who bowed his head to ask for forgiveness, all his subordinates bowed as well.

“Additionally, we will repay the fact that Korea received great rewards from the system thanks to the hunter Muyeong and the rookie hunters in any way possible.”

“Isn’t there no way for those not registered with the Hunter Management Bureau?”

Park Young-hwan nodded slightly at a reporter’s question.

The question was likely aimed at Muyeong, but it was true that many of Korea’s rookie hunters were not registered with the Hunter Management Bureau.

This was because posts often went up saying that people’s lives were ruined after registering as rookies, so many chose to register only after they had grown to a certain extent.

“Right now, there is no way to reward them. So please watch us. When the Hunter Management Bureau has earned your trust, please come to us and we will surely repay you.”

“The Hunter Management Bureau has had as much corruption as the Monster Management Office. Do you believe you can find that trust?”

Another biting question came out.

And for good reason, as the Hunter Management Bureau before Park Young-hwan became director was evaluated to be even more rotten than the Monster Management Office.

Questions like ‘Can we really trust them?’ were bound to arise.

“I won’t ask you to trust us immediately. Please judge us by our actions from now on.”

Saying that, he took a piece of paper from his coat.

“These are the results of an additional audit conducted through an internal investigation of the Monster Management Office. Circumstances have been discovered where they weren’t just trading with the Villain Alliance, but were working hand-in-hand to sell core stones on the black market.”

“What…?”

“The Hunter Management Bureau intends to wage war against the villains today. We have also received a warrant from the judiciary invoking the right of summary punishment if they refuse arrest.”

The right of summary punishment was a powerful law that allowed for the killing of registered villains if they resisted.

In other words, it was Park Young-hwan’s public declaration to surrender quietly if they didn’t want to die.

However, there were concerns.

“Will it be possible?”

Compared to the Villain Alliances of China and Japan led by S-class hunters, Korea’s Villain Alliance was on the weaker side.

Nevertheless, it included many who had surpassed the 40th floor, and since they were hidden in cells everywhere, touching them incorrectly would only increase the chaos.

Furthermore, unlike what appeared on the surface, rumors were rife that even among the giant guilds, some were entangled with the villains.

If they also stepped in, the damage could escalate.

“The Cheonsan Guild and the Hongmae Guild have agreed to help. They are probably… moving by now.”

“Gasp!”

The top two guilds in Korea were already moving.

On top of that, all the core hunters of the Hunter Management Bureau were being deployed.

Resisting would mean total annihilation.

Feeling that this time was different, the reporters swallowed hard and watched the backs of the agents moving toward the operation area.

They felt like something massive was about to break.

“Somehow, it feels different this time.”

“I don’t think it’s going to end quietly….”

“Are they really going to sweep them all away?”

The reporters looked anxious as they watched the hunters who had already disappeared from view.

However, the most anxious person was the leader of a giant guild watching this situation on TV.

Min Cheol-ung, ranked 4th among Korean hunters and in a neutral position belonging to neither side.

Cheon Tae-san, who moved solitary and noble.

Kim Seon-hwa and Park Young-hwan, who were pro-Hunter Management Bureau.

Officially, they were heads of giant guilds, but there were two guild masters deeply involved with the villains.

Min Cheol-ung was the one who had always mediated between them.

However, he felt that he wouldn’t be able to stop it this time.

There was one more neutral member besides himself, but their power was too weak as they were only at the level of challenging the beginning of the 50th floor.

“They’re really trying to start a war?”

What was the reason they had turned a blind eye despite knowing the corruption until now?

It was to fulfill the clear rates required by the Tower, even if it meant borrowing the power of villains.

Furthermore, hadn’t the faction opposing the Hunter Management Bureau also recognized them as official guilds despite knowing they were linked with villains, simply because S-class hunters were so rare?

But a war now?

Just because the government made a blunder?

“…Muyeong. Is it because of that person?”

Cheon Tae-san, who hadn’t moved even when the Hunter Management Bureau was overturned, was moving?

There was only one reason: Muyeong.

“Is he worth that much?”

The monster-like Cheon Tae-san was moving in order to keep Muyeong in Korea at any cost.

This meant he possessed overwhelming talent.

‘A monster-like talent that will surpass the 50th floor and reach the 60th in the near future.’

Having reached this thought, Min Cheol-ung hurriedly called his subordinates.

If he hesitated and got on their bad side, there would be no future.

“From now on, we will also join the villain suppression.”

“What? Us too? But we have many ties with Hyeon-bong and Hyeong-cheon….”

“It doesn’t matter! For now, announce that we also stand with the Hunter Management Bureau!”

“Yes, sir!”

If Min Cheol-ung was going this far, it meant the situation was serious.

The employee immediately contacted a known reporter.

Soon after, when the Taewoong Guild also announced they would help the Hunter Management Bureau, the Hyehwa Guild, which had just entered the ranks of giant guilds, moved hurriedly.

“Making such a hasty decision is….”

“That sly bastard Min Cheol-ung decided to help the Hunter Management Bureau immediately without testing the waters. It means his calculations are already finished.”

The guild members moved immediately at the guild master’s certain words.

Testing the waters was only possible when one had the luxury.

Having just joined the ranks of giant guilds, they had to move even one step faster to maintain the reputation of their name.

As all the major guilds decided to join the Hunter Management Bureau, the fire spread to the political world as well.

“You should resolve this through dialogue! How can you move like this? You must stop immediately!”

“And what if Muyeong goes to another country? Will you take responsibility then?”

“At this rate, the high-ranking hunters could get hurt. Are you not worried about the clear rate!”

“This is no time for such complacent talk. Do you know how many hunters would leave with Muyeong if he sought asylum?”

“We can work it out through dialogue! That’s how it’s always been done!”

“Hah… Do you think things are the same now as they were then?”

The fruitless debate between the ruling and opposition parties continued.

Meanwhile, Cheon Tae-san, who was the first to move, crushed a whole guild alone and entered the guild master’s office.

“You know who’s behind us.”

Sim Jae-bong, the master of a giant guild and one of the few S-class hunters in Korea, spoke while looking at Cheon Tae-san.

“If you touch us, the underworld will move. Korea will be in chaos.”

Cheon Tae-san chuckled at those words.

It was true.

The villain forces were a massive organization several times larger than what was visible on the surface.

Even at the peak of the underworld, there were powerhouses that even Cheon Tae-san could not ignore.

Their financial power was also immense, as they conducted heavy lobbying in the US, China, and Europe, making them powerful enough to make others hesitant to help Korea even if the underworld moved.

Knowing all that, Cheon Tae-san still moved.

“It doesn’t matter anymore.”

Sim Jae-bong’s eyes trembled at the firm answer.

Cheon Tae-san alone could not handle the villain forces hidden in China and Southeast Asia.

If so, it meant he had contacted other SS-class hunters.

The fact that they readily agreed to help could only mean one thing.

“Don’t tell me… Muyeong’s value is that high…?”

“He is. Today’s reward gave me confidence in that judgment.”

That was the end of Cheon Tae-san’s words.

As if he had nothing more to say, he quietly drew his sword.

The conversation was over.

Even for an S-class, there was no answer against an SS-class who had broken through the 60th floor.

With just a few sword strokes, all of Sim Jae-bong’s skills were neutralized, and he finally fell to his knees.

At that time, villains were being defeated one by one in other places as well.

At Korea’s sudden movement, major countries around the world began to cover this news simultaneously.

Checking that various countries were covering Korea all at once, Min-hyuk stood up from his seat with a refreshed expression.

“Let’s get some rest.”

Was it because he had been running without stopping recently?

Feeling a slight sense of burnout, he intended to go to his parents’ house for just a few days.

Actually, resting was one thing, but it was also because he was worried about his parents.

Since the villains caused chaos everywhere whenever someone tried to suppress them, he had stood by with the feeling that he should just create a faction and manage them himself.

So, the villains would likely run wild for a while this time too.

Thinking that he should protect his family if chaos came, he sent a text to his younger sibling saying ‘I’m coming home’ and immediately left the house.

However, contrary to his worries, the war on crime proceeded more smoothly than expected.

Hunters were gathering to definitely crush the villains this time.

The motivation for their support was all the same.

‘I want to help Muyeong in this way at least.’