IH Ch 127

Chapter 127

The issue of relocating a guild base was not something to be executed in this manner.

It would undoubtedly become a problem, and the matter he had detonated himself would also generate considerable noise—but he did not care.

If he had done something wrong, then he could accept the punishment.

However, he was an S-rank hunter. If anyone attempted to suspend his qualifications or bind his limbs, who would suffer more loss?

It was a cunning line of thought, but he had already resolved to use every advantage available to him.

The plan they had reached after urgently gathering people the night before was extreme—exceedingly so—but he had no regrets.

Let’s see if you can still cling to Hwang Hajin even after we go all the way, Jae-i thought, raising his hand.

Ahn Yuna laughed as she saw his fingertip press the block button.

“Looks like the shrimp caught between whales is the one who’s going to suffer.”

She sighed, but her eyes sparkled.

Now that the guild had formally set itself at odds with the Association, things would become brutally difficult—but Ahn Yuna had never once avoided a fight that came her way.

If anything, she felt her blood stir with battle lust as she moved to attend to the next task.

They had declared war; the next steps were critical.

Relocating a guild base was not something done lightly.

As the people around him rushed about, Jae-i’s gaze lifted.

Dohwa, sitting quietly in the corner, flinched as his shoulders rose and fell.

The eyes watching him brimmed with worry.

It would be hard, wouldn’t it?

Jae-i felt as though he could hear exactly what Dohwa wished to say. He tightened his fist.

“…….”

He had done something tremendous, but that did not mean there was anyone who would truly worry for him.

Whatever others said, Hwang Jae-i was S-rank.

He was the kind of person who did not even blink at most things.

But Dohwa had always worried for him—

whether he was all right,

whether anything hurt or exhausted him.

When Jae-i looked into those sincere, caring eyes, he felt as though he finally understood all the things he had never known.

Perhaps that was why he kept committing these reckless, impossible acts.

On the surface, it looked like he was doing it for himself—but if he dug deeper, it all came back to Dohwa.

If he fell apart, then he would no longer be able to stay with Dohwa.

And so, to remain by his side, he could not look back.

He could only continue pushing forward—relentlessly.

Resolute, Jae-i looked at Dohwa for a long, long time.

At 2:30 p.m., a black barrier was set up around the Jae-i Guild building.

Because of the weekend’s upheaval, staff had been instructed to take the day off.

That made it convenient to wrap the entire building in black cloth and prepare it for transport.

Though the crowd swarming in made the area chaotic.

Broadcast stations, cable channels, and even individual streamers rushed in—every single one of them—desperate to capture footage of the massive skyscraper being moved in its entirety.

Many held up placards, fervently protesting the relocation of the Jae-i Guild headquarters.

“HOW CAN THE LARGEST GUILD IN KOREA ABANDON SEOUL?! THIS IS NO DIFFERENT FROM ABANDONING NATIONAL SECURITY! HOW CAN A GUILDMASTER RESPONSIBLE FOR PROTECTING THIS COUNTRY MAKE SUCH A SELFISH DECISION?! WE! CONDEMN! HWANG JAE-I!”

“POHANG?! DO YOU KNOW HOW FAR THAT IS?! HOW CAN HE ABANDON SEOUL CITIZENS TO GO WHERE HARDLY ANYONE LIVES?! IF THE JAE-I GUILD LEAVES, WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO PROPERTY VALUES?!”

“OPPOSE THE RELOCATION OF JAE-I GUILD! A TOP-FIVE GUILD MUST STAY IN SEOUL! IF A GATE OPENS HERE, WHO WILL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY?!”

Between the shouts of blatant self-interest were also people who cried out purely for Jae-i—not wanting him to leave.

The front of the building was a madhouse, and even the surrounding areas filled with crowds wearing troubled expressions.

Hwang Jae-i’s decision was abrupt, but many, deep down, found themselves thinking, If I were him…

For years, he had been hounded mercilessly.

Yes, some part of it had admittedly been his own fault—but even so, people had bitten at him far too viciously.

Perhaps if he had reacted differently at any point, the intensity might have changed…

But because he had ignored everything completely, their criticism had escalated without restraint.

No—that wasn’t right.

People realized with growing shame that they were once again shifting blame onto him without thinking.

They had grown too accustomed to the pattern of the last few years.

Only now did they understand what he meant when he said he wanted to live somewhere “kind to him.”

The Association dispatched personnel to stop the move.

They argued it was illegal because there had been no prior notice.

People stepped aside, hoping the Association would force Jae-i to reconsider.

But even then, Jae-i did not show himself.

It was Ahn Yuna who appeared instead, calm and unwavering.

The decision was final.

The guild base would be moved.

If punishment was necessary, so be it.

But not now.

She left that statement and went inside.

Government officials arrived next, but no one from the building emerged.

The work continued steadily despite the uproar, and at 5 p.m., the enormous building vanished—leaving only the bare plot behind.

It reappeared near Odo Port, overlooking a cool, sweeping ocean.

Behind the quaint village of fewer than a hundred residents now stood an incongruous, crisp, modern skyscraper.

The guild had left without hearing a single plea to stay.

Journalists who had staked the area for hours were stunned—and then quickly began spreading their usual slander.

The typical lines:

So what if he’s S-rank? He’s just an arrogant kid.

One reporter was in mid-complaint when something struck the back of his head with a dull thud.

Startled, he spun around, clutching his skull—only to meet the fierce glare of several people.

“What’s wrong with them…?”

He muttered without thinking—only for another reporter to yank his sleeve urgently.

“Hey, hey, shut up and move!”

“Let go! Someone hit me?! What even was that—huh? An orange?”

Spotting the orange rolling nearby, his eyes widened.

It was harder than it looked.

He was already furious after hours of wasted waiting—

“Who—?!”

The moment he tried to protest, a placard flew at him.

“What—?!”

He jerked his leg up just in time as the signboard’s corner smashed into the ground beside him.

Then all at once, a barrage of objects flew their way—along with curses.

“You bastards! THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!”

“JAE-I LEFT SEOUL BECAUSE OF YOU MEDIA SCUM! WRITING TWISTED ARTICLES JUST TO GET PEOPLE TO HATE HIM!”

“If you’d just done your jobs properly, NONE OF THIS WOULD’VE HAPPENED! GET LOST! GET OUT!”

The people, moments ago stunned by the disappearance of the building, now surged with fury.

Reporters panicked and fled; a few minor scuffles broke out.

Some groups redirected themselves elsewhere.

They marched to the Association, demanding to know whether they truly had no idea about Jae-i’s decision—and what actions they planned to take.

Others visited police stations, demanding accountability for the deaths of Pungjin’s chairman and his eldest son.

Had the police done their jobs?

How had the deaths occurred without intervention?

Were they planning to pin this all on Guildmaster Hwang Jae-i?

The flustered police could only maintain an awkward silence.

Some reporters even visited guilds known to be close to Hwang Jae-i—including the Imun Guild.

Already distressed by the whole situation, Park Jaehwan had been on his way to drown himself in alcohol when reporters blocked his path.

“Guildmaster Park Jaehwan! What are your thoughts on this situation with Guildmaster Hwang Jae-i?”

“You’re one of the most experienced and respected hunters in Korea—won’t you try to persuade him to reconsider—”

“Haaa—”

His loud sigh, interrupting the reporter mid-question, made them falter.

Park Jaehwan pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes, expression fierce.

Why bother throwing these scavengers fresh bait?

Ignoring them would be best—but gods, his temper…

Grinding his teeth, Park Jaehwan strode forward.

He bent sharply at the waist, bringing his face dangerously close.

The reporter flinched in terror.

Footnote

 

1. Odo Port (오도항) small port village on Korea’s east coast 
2. Ten thousand pyeong (만 평)approximately 33,000 square meters