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Chapter 17
Finally, the day had come.
Vehicles rolled in under dazzling lights.
Luxurious cars that looked like they belonged in a motor show—but value is always relative—became mere background the moment the hunters appeared as the doors opened.
The shutters of countless press cameras clicked incessantly, and the fans’ cheers poured down like the sky was breaking.
The greatest show on Earth.
A festival of stars.
This was the opening ceremony of Guild War KOREA.
“Hello. I am Yoo Young-seok, the host for the opening ceremony of Guild War KOREA. I am truly honored to be invited to such a glorious occasion.”
As a league where astronomical amounts of capital move, the scale of the opening ceremony exceeded any imagination.
The singer for the opening stage was a top idol currently dominating the Billboard charts, and the host was Korea’s top MC who ruled the channels. Even the attendees were carefully selected.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that all eyes in Korea were on this place.
Being a part of this glorious occasion meant being at the very top in Korea at this moment, and that was why everyone wanted to step onto this dream stage.
And among the intensely watched attendees, some shone the brightest.
“The first order of the day is a greeting from the guild that won last year’s ‘Guild War KOREA’ league.”
38 wins, 1 loss.
Fastest completion.
Most championships.
Most MVPs.
Undoubtedly Korea’s number one guild.
“Please welcome Han Jeong-do, the Ten Thousand King of the Kirin Guild. Let’s give a big round of applause.”
Clap clap clap—!!
Han Jeong-do appeared from behind the stage amidst a thunderous applause.
A perfectly fitted suit draped over his well-built frame.
His hair, slicked back with pomade, added a mature charm, and the kindness in his eyes behind horn-rimmed glasses.
Like a first-love professor who seems everywhere yet nowhere, Han Jeong-do flaunted a striking appearance that belied his age.
“Nice to meet you. I am Han Jeong-do, the Ten Thousand King of the Kirin Guild. Yes, it’s me again this year. It just so happened. Hahaha.”
Though the Ten Thousand King joked, no one took it lightly.
The fact that he had hosted the opening ceremony for several years meant that Kirin’s dominance had continued for years.
“Everyone, ahead of us awaits the long race called the ‘League.’”
A grueling nine-month stretch would follow.
“We will become workers responsible for humanity’s prosperity. We will become pioneers exploring the mysteries of the world. We will become seekers closest to the truth of magic.”
Times change, and so do values.
If hunters of the past risked their lives for survival, hunters now compete (Race) and conquer (Raid) for prosperity.
On the stage of the league, they would instill pride in humanity and sing of glory.
This was their given role.
“Rest is over. From this moment, we will be better known by our titles than by our names.”
People called them this way.
“We become hunters.”
Hunter.
A predator.
Waaah—!!
Cheers erupted spontaneously.
Indeed, it was the Ten Thousand King. With a single charismatic speech, he had captured the audience.
After the powerful speech, the host returned to the stage to announce the league’s operations and direction.
“From this year, the number of Guild War League matches will increase worldwide. …… Three league matches, three raid matches, for a total of six matches……”
The Guild War office’s intent was always consistent.
By ensuring popularity and excitement through ‘league matches,’ they would gain recognition and mass appeal, and through ‘raid matches,’ they would maintain hunters’ fundamental value and the backbone of the magic industry.
Additionally, simple game rules and warnings were announced, including strict penalties for acts like tampering (pre-contact), which had always caused controversy since the league’s inception.
Thus, the discussions on League 1, League 2, and League 3 concluded.
Normally, the opening ceremony would end at this point. It would be usual for attendees to relax and think of the evening’s after-party.
But something was off. The host did not step down.
And everyone was shocked by what he said next.
“Finally, we have an announcement regarding League 4.”
“??!!”
A brief silence was followed by astonishment.
The opening ceremony buzzed.
Are they crazy? Why suddenly League 4? Has this ever happened?
Even without words, the implicit guild standard recognized by the office only extended to League 3.
This was evident from the 5:5 league matches organized by the office that started from League 3.
Anything below that, though professional, was somewhat excluded in terms of entertainment, essentially a league to maintain records and uphold the league spirit.
So why bring up League 4 out of nowhere?
While attendees were confused by this unexpected situation, a few sharp-witted ones figured it out.
“Because of the Mir Guild?”
“Senior Sanwang is big, indeed.”
“They’d still have to be considered, right? No matter what, they’re the league’s biggest sponsor.”
“Oh, I think it’s because of Lee Shin. Look at what that kid’s doing—it’s fun. Where else is there a guild as entertaining as the Mir Guild these days~”
League 4’s attention-grabbing nature was unusually high, enough to overturn even the office’s implicit rules.
All because of the Mir Guild.
A guild that became the center of attention from the very start, and even in the 4th league, possessed the world-class ‘Sanwang.’
According to insiders, the Mir Guild’s appearance, led by the most shocking, deadly, and enviable yet undesirable representative, caused a massive stir.
The office could no longer overlook it.
“The increase in match numbers also applies to League 4. Due to League 4’s lack of league matches, the number of raid matches will increase—from the existing 28 raids to 32……”
This trend irritated the Kirin Guild. Normally, they would receive the focus, but now it was taken away by a regional 4th league? What a ridiculous situation.
Especially with Han Jeong-do, involved with Sanwang’s departure, his expression stiffened noticeably. Given his uncomfortable history, the buzz surrounding the Mir Guild only made things more awkward.
And so, the bold opening ceremony concluded. The host announced the start with the usual years-long performance.
“We will start the Guild War League~~~!!”
As fists were raised with energy.
BOOM—!!
Like the tangled interests of everyone present, hundreds of fireworks painted the sky in chaos, signaling the beginning of a new league.
________________________________________
Meanwhile, Lee Shin, who was watching the opening ceremony from the guild, was looking at the fireworks bursting splendidly beyond the TV screen when, at a certain moment, he smiled brightly.
For a brief instant, he caught sight of the wrinkled brow of the Ten Thousand King.
Yes, that’s it!
Considering his usually gentle image, that meant he was pretty damn pissed.
Kim Jong-pil, who hadn’t expected League 4 to be mentioned, also had a face full of bewilderment.
“You really did it, you moved the Secretariat…”
“I told you, didn’t I? That I could do it. Hehehe, our guild twisted our whole body to set the table, and I’m not about to watch it go into the Kirin Guild’s mouth.”
The star of the opening ceremony was, in the end, the Kirin Guild, the previous year’s champion.
That was an undeniable fact. It was the champion’s benefit.
Even though the Mir Guild had dominated this off-season, once the opening ceremony passed, they would inevitably become Kirin’s sidekick.
But Lee Shin found that fact utterly galling.
I twisted my whole body to create my stage, and who the hell are you to try and take it away…?
If he had to throw it away, fine, but letting it be taken? That’s not Lee Shin.
You don’t acknowledge League 4? Then I’ll make you acknowledge it! Lee Shin decided to move the Secretariat.
By using another sucker… no, a cash cow!
The female secretary standing behind him bent over and whispered in his ear.
“The Secretariat has firmly stated that mentioning League 4 is only for this year.”
“Don’t worry. Next year, we’ll be in League 3.”
“…They said that if the Mir Guild fails to get promoted, they’ll bill you for all the lobbying expenses, so be prepared.”
“Okay. Tell them I’m grateful.”
He succeeded in holding onto the stage by the ankle.
Now it was their turn. Lee Shin looked at Kim Jong-pil, who was sipping tea.
“Elder, it’s your turn. Make a grand entrance.”
“Alright, I’ll match your beat.”
The Mountain King rose to his feet.
[‘Mountain King’ Throws His Hat into the Ring for the League Opening!]
Having already stolen fans’ hearts by promising promotion, Mountain King Kim Jong-pil once again declared his candidacy, and his declaration was released as a 55-minute video on the Mir Guild’s official NTube channel.
As a side note, the Mir Guild channel had secured 300,000 subscribers in record time…
…In his declaration, Kim Jong-pil said he was well aware of the concerns fans had (an unproven squad, a one-man Mountain King team, and accusations of “farming noobs”), and he made the following pledge:
— “Until our guild reaches League 1, I promise not to take the front stage. This is my trust and belief in my colleagues. So please stop criticizing our young teammates.”
The image of a respectable elder shielding his younger colleagues—
And an even more shocking pledge to top it.
Some in League 4 criticized Mountain King for treating the league lightly, but so far the public seemed to be siding with him…
For the first time, Mountain King also mentioned the <Kirin Guild>, which he had avoided talking about until now. In response to a viewer’s question about what he thought of them, he replied “love-hate,” which fueled the long-rumored feud with the Ten Thousand King…
•••
Chae Dong-ha let out an exclamation as he watched the situation unfold.
“This actually works?”
[Mountain King VS Ten Thousand King]
The photo was perfect.
The way the two of them were facing each other from opposite sides made it obvious to anyone that they were rivals.
The real reason Chae Dong-ha was impressed was this—
When you think about it calmly, this setup was incredibly awkward.
If the Ten Thousand King, Han Jeong-do, was the leader of the Kirin dynasty that had dominated the league for years, then Mountain King was merely part of a fallen, once-prestigious League 4 guild.
Even on a basic level, League 1 vs. League 4 shouldn’t even be a game.
But they had forced it to happen.
From the moment he threw himself into the scene, provoking fanbases, to the legendary, unexpected signing of Mountain King, and the massive showcase that followed.
On top of that, some schmoozing with the Secretariat to get one segment mentioning League 4…
Add in the Ten Thousand King’ hardened face, Mountain King’s mature image, and the shocking pledge, and the storyline Chae Dong-ha was now watching was complete.
All from that man’s fingertips.
“Journalists really don’t know how to do their jobs. [Han Jeong-do Stained with Greed vs. Kim Jong-pil Returning to His Roots]—what is this, kids’ play? This kind of article needs MSG sprinkled generously! If it were me, I’d go with: the embodiment of corruption and vested interests, bam!”
“But I clearly told them to make sure to include ‘Mir Guild’ and ‘LeeDo,’ so why aren’t they here? Where is this from? The Ocean Daily? Noona, call them.”
Lee Shin was the real mastermind behind this off-season.
“If you take money, you should do the job. These freelance media guys have no professional ethics. None at all.”
“Isn’t mentioning LeeDo going too far? If you mess with the group, the Kirin side won’t just sit back.”
“Don’t worry, hyung. I know because I see chaebols often—they absolutely hate getting involved in dirty business like this. They think it lowers their class.”
“You’re also a chaebol, Representative.”
“Exactly, that’s why it works! A chaebol taking down another chaebol! A mud fight is only fun when everyone rolls in it together.”
“…Are you really going all the way like you said before?”
What’s the fastest way for the rock-bottom last place to gain fame?
That was the question Lee Shin had asked Chae Dong-ha a few days ago.
Chae Dong-ha had given some textbook answers like “build up skills.”
Lee Shin had shaken his head as if to say “you’re way off” and, with his usual mischievous grin, had said this—
The fastest way for the last place to gain fame: Grab first place by the ankle and drag them down.
Exactly.
The final version of Lee Shin’s big picture from the start was that very photo.
In other words, just like the shot of Mountain King and the Ten Thousand King facing off, it was this very situation of the Kirin Guild and Mir Guild squaring off.
“From the moment we signed Mountain King, it was inevitable that our guild and Kirin would clash. If we can’t avoid it, we might as well enjoy it.
It’s a no-loss deal for us. If we win, it’s a jackpot. If we lose, we can still play the ‘we fought well’ card, or even quietly ride the coattails of second place.”
Just challenging first place makes you second place.
It sounds like utter nonsense, but hey—
The world runs on emotion, not logic.
“Meanwhile, for the number one who got into a fight—”
“The losses are enormous.”
“Exactly~!”
From Kirin Guild’s perspective, even winning is just breaking even.
The crazier part is that even that “winning” is hard right now. As the kings of League 1, they have no battlefield to fight a League 4 Kirin Guild on.
But who cares?
“The important thing isn’t the ‘result,’ it’s the ‘setup.’”
This was pure, responsibility-free pleasure, a no-loss trade!
Puhehehehe!!
A truly hellish mouth.
His moves were astonishingly smart, but once they passed through that mouth, they turned into the rabid ranting of a hellhound with rabies… No wonder people call him the nation’s #1 troublemaker, thought Chae Dong-ha as he moved to the next agenda item.
“All the big events are done now. The only thing left is the raid team’s face-to-face meeting the day after tomorrow.”
“Oh, right, the meeting.”
“We’re almost there. Once we get through this, the front office will have almost nothing to do for a while. So— Let’s end on a high note~
…I mean let’s go without causing trouble, normally.”
Please, none of this madness! Do it with dignity! Like a representative!
“It’s great that you’ve sucked up attention like a black hole, but as much as that, people here and there are uncomfortable with our guild. Don’t stir up trouble unnecessarily—let’s just go normally this time.”
“If they’re uncomfortable, they should straighten their backs.”
“Tsk!”
“Alright, alright.”
Lee Shin nodded as if agreeing to Chae Dong-ha’s request.
“Normal. Me, Lee Shin, from today on, I’ll go normally.”
And so, Lee Shin gave the normal answer Chae Dong-ha wanted, and two normal days passed, and he went up to the podium in normal clothes, and said, normally—
“You are all tools.”
Chae Dong-ha thought,
Should I kill him…?
