Chapter 41

Chapter 41
## Chapter 41: Cracking Heads for Cooperation

—

It wasn’t as though I’d been playing the role of a silent observer for very long, but the core of our current dilemma could really be distilled into a single point.

“From what I’ve gathered, there isn’t a single hunter among the active ranks even attempting to neutralize that Rank-1 Erosion Zone—or even making the necessary arrangements to try.”

“That’s the reality of it. The problem isn’t just about the challenge; simply keeping the Erosion Zone contained is the absolute limit of their capabilities.”

Merely containing it was their peak? I couldn’t bring myself to settle for that logic.

“The truth is, they just aren’t interested in making the attempt.”

When I thought about it, the incredibly talented hunter sitting right across from me—Lee Se-eun—held the tenth spot on Hope’s List.

That implied there were nine individuals even more powerful than her ranked above. If that entire group decided to mobilize, would it truly be impossible to dismantle a single Rank-1 Erosion Core each?

Not a chance. In reality, you wouldn’t even need all nine. If just five of them banded together like a sentry squad, it would likely be more than sufficient.

“Every player has their own specific interests to protect.”

“I’m aware. I wasn’t exactly counting on them to play nice and cooperate anyway.”

Ordinary citizens might see things differently, but for the elite tier of hunters, Earth is a pretty comfortable place to inhabit. Once a person attains a certain status and power, they generally lose their appetite for high-stakes gambles.

“I’ll be the one to do it.”

A person with raw potential can truly flourish if you provide the right trajectory to manifest it.

“I’m going to make a career out of dismantling Rank-1 Erosion Zones.”

Naturally, I’d accumulate a massive fortune along the way. Once the mission was complete, I’d just put up a few high-end buildings and enjoy a quiet life.

With the rewards from Rank-1 Erosion Cores, money wouldn’t even be an afterthought.

“You certainly have nerve. Plenty of people might applaud your ambition from the sidelines, but how many do you actually think would put their lives on the line with you?”

I met Lee Se-eun’s skepticism with a blunt reply.

“You were the one who pointed out that gaining fame would solve that problem, Hunter Lee Se-eun.”

Lee Se-eun shifted back in her seat, processing my words.

“Fair point. If you become a household name, people who align with your vision will gravitate toward you, and you might even attract some heavy hitters for a team. However.”

She struck the surface of the table to emphasize her next point.

“You would need to become a legend. Your current reputation isn’t going to move the needle.”

“I’m fully aware of that.”

This wasn’t about finding some friends to kill time with. This was about recruiting warriors prepared to face Rank-1 Erosion Cores—and even go head-to-head with the Great Eight. I had to become an absolute icon.

Lee Se-eun drained the remainder of the oversweetened milk tea from her glass, wiped her lips, and continued.

“Nobody listens to a kid who goes around saying their life goal is to be a YouTuber with ten million followers.”

I gave her a sharp, confident response.

“Once you believe I’ve attained the level of power and status that meets your criteria, Hunter Lee Se-eun, then you should join my side.”

“I can give you my word on that. I’m in full agreement with your plan to wipe them out entirely.”

Han Sang-ah, who had been quietly taking everything in, finally spoke.

“I’m ready to join you right now.”

Her personal objective was to demolish Club Sandai, one of the Great Eight based in Israel. Since our paths crossed there, a partnership made perfect sense.

Furthermore, she was a member of the Geumyang Group’s founding family. She could easily provide the necessary capital for our operations.

“What should our name be? Team Rocket?”

If I could just train a cat to speak, the image would be complete. Han Sang-ah shot me a look of pure confusion.

“What on earth does a rocket have to do with what we’re doing?”

Absolutely nothing. The branding was irrelevant. Running a formal corporation would just be one massive migraine.

My focus was strictly on clearing out Erosion Zones. While having someone to manage the paperwork and supplies would be nice, searching for that before we even had a name was putting the cart before the horse.

“Everything sounds promising, but for now, please focus on the current assignment we have in front of us.”

“You don’t need to stress over that.”

As I finished up with Lee Se-eun, I stole a quick glance at Han Sang-ah.

My original intent was to return the favor for the help she’d given me in equal measure…

She was supplying me with high-grade elixirs, expecting the same level of support in return. But the situation had evolved.

This girl possessed genuine genius. If she stayed on the right track, she would undoubtedly become a top-tier asset in a fight.

I didn’t necessarily expect her to stay by my side forever, but at the very least, we could move together until Club Sandai was reduced to rubble. Our interests remained aligned until that point.

Lee Se-eun spoke up, her brow furrowed with concern.

“Once we move past Poland and head into Germany, we’re going to run into the Kaiser warlord faction.”

“The Emperor, is it?”

They were still being stubborn about granting us passage.

“What if I just settle things using my own methods?”

Lee Se-eun fixed her gaze on me.

“Your ‘methods’ usually make me feel very anxious.”

It wasn’t complicated. I ran a hand along the shaft of my spear and remarked.

“Once you crack a few of their skulls, people tend to become remarkably well-mannered.”

Lee Se-eun couldn’t afford to take that route. Her reputation as a hunter was already established—she was seen as a purely heroic figure.

But I was a different story. I had a bit of a profile from media appearances and interviews, but…

“My public persona hasn’t been set in stone yet.”

Lee Se-eun had far too much reputation to gamble by acting like an aggressor. I had nothing to lose.

“We’re going to be in Poland for a while anyway to handle the aid distribution, right? I’ll go clear the path while that’s happening.”

“Are you certain about this?”

I gave Lee Se-eun a firm nod.

“I’ll have some positive updates for you before the relief work here in Poland is finished.”

It was high time I introduced the Kaiser boys to some ‘otherworld diplomacy.’ Kaiser? Emperor? What a pathetic joke. They were just a pack of bottom-feeders living off the labor of others.

“The specific hunter firms that have signed on with the Kaiser warlords are Robco and Veramin.”

“Do you think they’ll actually interfere if I start making some noise?”

Lee Se-eun gave a sharp, affirmative reply.

“Without a doubt.”

Han Sang-ah let out a soft, worried sound and looked over at me.

“Isn’t that incredibly risky?”

“No, it’s not dangerous at all.”

I wasn’t looking to commit genocide against the entire Kaiser organization.

“Just focus on the tasks I gave you. If I don’t see any improvement by the time I return, I’m going to give you a piece of my mind.”

With those parting words, I stood up to leave.

“Tell Mazurka to cooperate, and send a formal notice to Kaiser that I’m coming. I’m heading for Germany right now.”

“The headquarters for the Kaiser faction is the city hall in Hamburg.”

The southern regions of Germany were far too precarious due to the presence of Ristorante, one of the Great Eight from Italy. Consequently, they had turned the northern hub of Hamburg into their personal fortress.

“The liberty won by our fathers, may our children protect.”

I vaguely remembered that being the Latin motto inscribed on city halls. The irony of warlord trash occupying such a place and acting like royalty would surely make their ancestors turn in their graves.

“In that case, I’ll see you in Hamburg.”

After saying my goodbyes, I walked out of Lee Se-eun’s quarters. The distance from Warsaw to Hamburg was nearly 850 kilometers. Driving was out of the question; I required a helicopter.

Yuzef came sprinting toward me, looking completely frazzled. He had obviously received the news.

“Hold on, you can’t just up and leave like this without warning!”

“I assume you have at least one helicopter at your disposal?”

Even for a local warlord group, that should be standard. Yuzef raised his voice.

“I was informed you sent a notice to the Kaiser faction. If we fly a helicopter into their territory, they’ll shoot it down on sight!”

“Let them try. It might actually be entertaining.”

I smirked and gave Yuzef a slow, calculating look.

“I’m fairly certain Mazurka will decide to be helpful here, Warrant Officer Yuzef.”

“We…!”

I didn’t let him finish before I tightened my grip on my spear.

“We what?”

The Mazurka soldiers standing guard around us snapped their rifles up, taking aim at me. However, before they could even find their targets, their weapons were systematically shattered into pieces.

“You’re picking a fight you aren’t equipped to handle.”

Instead of responding to the room, I pointed the tip of my spear directly at Yuzef. In the blink of an eye, the blade extended, just barely grazing the skin of his neck.

“It looks to me like you’re the one starting something you can’t handle, Warrant Officer Yuzef.”

“You honestly think Mazurka is just going to let this slide?”

I shook my head slowly, adopting a look of mock pity.

“It’s a real shame that you won’t be around to witness whatever Mazurka tries to do to me in retaliation.”

You’re going to die right here. Yuzef’s expression went pale as the reality of his situation set in. I pulled my lips back in a cold grin.

“Are you really worried about my future or Mazurka’s pride right now? In this specific moment?”

I used the flat of the spear to give his cheek a dismissive tap.

“Hand over the helicopter, or die in this spot.”

It wasn’t a complex riddle. Just a simple choice.

“You’re out of your mind. Do you have any idea what the consequences will be if I die?”

“That isn’t an answer to my request. And why should I care? Whatever happens to me after you’re gone is something you won’t be around to see, Warrant Officer Yuzef.”

He wasn’t ready to die. People only choose death when their lives are at the absolute bottom, and a warrant officer for a warlord had far too many luxuries to give up.

“Fine. Just put the spear down.”

I lowered the weapon obligingly, walked up to him with a friendly smile, and held out my hand.

“I appreciate the cooperation. I have a tendency to get a bit aggressive when things get in the way of my work. I hope you understand.”

It wasn’t like he could claim the moral high ground. Using brute force to silence opposition was their standard operating procedure as well.

Yuzef remained silent. There was no way he was pleased about being blackmailed into providing transport.

“Great, I’ll put it to good use.”

Shortly after, I climbed into the provided helicopter and set off toward Hamburg. Before long, the aircraft I was in crossed over the old German border.

“H-Hunter Yoo Chan-seok? We’re getting a radio transmission. They’re telling us to turn back immediately or they’ll open fire.”

I grabbed the headset and spoke into the mic without hesitation.

“Yeah, go ahead and fire, you miserable cowards. The second a single round comes my way, I’ll make it my life’s mission to drag at least three thousand of you down to hell with me. This bird is going to Hamburg, and you’ve already been notified.”

The radio went dead for a moment, stunned by my sudden explosion of insults. Weren’t you supposed to use proper radio etiquette? Not my concern.

— …Kaiser is under no obligation to acknowledge or respect that notification.

I cut them off mid-sentence.

“And I’m under no obligation to listen to your warnings either. You’ve been squatting in the Hamburg city hall for years—do you actually think that makes you the German government?”

They were playing at being kings in a lawless zone, convinced they were special.

“I am a hunter officially registered with the Republic of Korea Hunter Association, recognized by the Korean state. You people are just a criminal gang occupying a public building and stealing German military hardware without authorization.”

Who gave me permission to cross the border? What a joke. As if these small-time thugs had any legal standing. At their best, they were just gangsters with a few missiles.

— Repeating the warning. Turn around now or we will fire.

“Try it! Let’s see how it goes! Fire, you bastards, fire! I’ve reinforced this entire helicopter with my own mana. You’re going to need a lot more than bullets to bring me down.”

Despite my provocation, no missiles were launched. Part of it was likely because I’d been so unhinged on the radio, but money was surely a factor too.

You don’t waste expensive missiles on a civilian helicopter without a very good reason. Anti-aircraft batteries would have been more cost-effective, but my bluff about the mana reinforcement made them think twice.

It was a complete lie, of course. There was no way a thin-skinned aluminum helicopter could survive an AA gun, regardless of how much mana I pumped into it.