Chapter 19: Kang Woo-Hyuk (1)
"That B-Class workshop, Hwarang workshop, those fuc—" Kim Ki-Rok coughed and amended his statement. "I mean... those unbearable..."
"Unbearable?" Kim Ji-Hee asked as she sniffed at the BBQ restaurant nearby.
Kim Ki-Rok's eyes slightly narrowed at her question. How should I phrase it? Ah, I know.
"Hmm. Scratch that. Let's just say that bad people run the B-Class Hwarang Workshop. They take advantage of three-year contracts and exclusive contracts with B-Class guilds to operate under the guild's name. The problem is that they work people like dogs for three years..."
"Doggies?" Kim Ji-Hee asked.
"Even if you work hard, they don't teach you any proper techniques. If you want to be taught, you must sign a new exclusive five-year contract when you have half a year of your contract left. What happens if you don't renew the contract? They don't teach you."
"Bad people."
"That's right. They are very bad people. Those people need to be punished, right?"
"Yes. But mister..."
"Yes?"
"When are we eating meat?"
"After work."
"When does work end?"
"In ten minutes?" Kim Ki-Rok estimated.
Holding the stuffed rabbit tightly, Kim Ji-Hee looked at Kim Ki-Rok quietly. "Ten minutes..."
"Five minutes?" he negotiated.
"Hehe."
Kim Ki-Rok rubbed his cheeks on Kim Ji-Hee's cheek, making her smile. His face now shining from that interaction, Kim Ki-Rok spoke to Kang Woo-Hyuk.
"Hwarang Workshop uses the reputation of Workshop Street and the exclusive contract with a B-Class guild to exploit inexperienced craftsmen. And even after exploiting them, they don't teach them properly in fear that the craftsmen would become future competitors. But you knew this already."
Kang Woo-Hyuk smiled bitterly. "Yes. I spent two years working for them, after all."
Kim Ki-Rok nodded and took a step. "But the Hwarang workshop also has a weak point."
"A weak point?"
"Yes."
"Wouldn't the guild start moving if we attack their weak point?"
Kim Ki-Rok stopped moving forward and looked at Kang Woo-Hyuk with a playful smile. "They won't."
"Hwa...rang." Kim Ji-Hee carefully repeated the name.
"Yup. Hwarang Workshop."
"Bad people?"
Kim Ki-Rok nodded and looked at the workshop's sign behind them. "That's right. It's a place with bad people."
Following his gaze, Kang Woo-Hyuk also looked up at the sign.
Kang Woo-Hyuk had been cautious about meeting someone who had come to recruit him, but he relaxed once Kim Ki-Rok showed him a video on his smartphone. It was playing a video from a very famous criminal eradication livestream.
The DG Guild had formed a great relationship with the Shine Guild and Golden Lion Guild. Even though it was a new guild, Kang Woo-Hyuk could trust someone who had worked with those two famous guilds. He originally had no choice but to refuse the recruitment offer because of his contract. However, since Kim Ki-Rok mentioned the weakness of Hwarang Workshop and that there was a way the contract could be nullified, Kang Woo-Hyuk became interested.
"Guildmaster Kim Ki-Rok."
"Yes. Mr. Woo-Hyuk."
"Can we really nullify the contract if we exploit their weakness?"
"Yes."
"And your condition for nullifying my contract is that I must join your guild, right?"
"That's correct."
"But I'm just a craftsman who's awakened an E-Class skill."
"If you go to the Hunters Association's official website, you will see that my ability is Discernment. It's the ability to discern artifacts, Gates, and even Awakened. If used on a Gate, I'll be able to check for hidden rewards, and if used on an Awakened, I can immediately recognize their talents."
"Are you saying I have talent?"
"Yes. So, I'll ask you again. Will you join DG Guild if I nullify your contract?"
The hesitation was short. Although Kang Woo-Hyuk only had to endure for another year, he still needed to form additional contracts to learn new techniques.
"Yes. I will join the DG Guild."
Kim Ki-Rok nodded. "Understood. Let's start right away," he said, lifting his phone.
Ring, ring.
Click.
Kim Ki-Rok pressed the speaker button.
—Hello. This is the Hunters Association Report Center.
"Oh. Thank you for your service. I am Kim Ki-Rok, the Guildmaster of the newly formed DG Guild."
—Ah, yes, a new gu... Oh? Would you be the DG Guild that carried out the operation with Shine Guild and Golden Lion Guild?
At this point, word had traveled far within the Hunters Association about how DG Guild had carried out an operation with two famous guilds in order to suppress a criminal organization, all while livestreaming their battles like maniacs.
"Ah, yes. That's us all right. I called to report something."
—Ah, right. Did you find a Gate?
"No." Kim Ki-Rok shook his head, looking up at the sign with a bright smile. "I found a craftsman selling equipment to Awakened criminals, including Ma Ak-Soo."
—Excuse me?
"Oh, by the way, I have secured evidence."
—Just a moment, please. Oh, wait. Can you provide the location?
"It's on Workshop Street in Seocho District, Seoul. The place is called Hwarang Workshop."
—We will send a Hunter team right away. Have you reported this to the police?
"I plan to do so now."
—I will contact the police on behalf of the Hunters Association. Can you monitor the Hwarang Guild until the Hunter team arrives?
"Yes. It's not a difficult task. I'll be waiting then."
Doo doo.
The reporting center staff hung up.
"Maaa Aaak-Sooooo?"
"Ji-Hee." Kim Ki-Rok said.
"Yes?"
"Dirty. Ma Ak-Soo is dirty."
"Bad?"
"Not bad, dirty."
Kim Ki-Rok looked back at Kang Woo-Hyuk after educating Kim Ji-Hee. "Your contract will be nullified now, yes?"
Kang Woo-Hyuk seemed like his soul had been sucked out of his body. "Ah... Right, yes."
The nullification would happen, not because the contract would be broken, but because the Hwarang Workshop would disappear.
***
Beep! Beep!
Dozens of police cars were seen outside the Hwarang Workshop. Kang Woo-Hyuk was grilling meat at the opposing restaurant, watching as the workshop owner and seniors were arrested and dragged out by Hunters and police. The Hunter team had arrived less than five minutes after the call and surrounded the workshop upon confirming the evidence provided by Kim Ki-Rok.
Soon after the police cars and some buses had arrived, the police supervisor immediately entered the workshop with the Hunters.
As Kim Ki-Rok said, the contract would no longer be effective. Was this a matter that could be resolved so quickly?
Kang Woo-Hyuk turned his head to look back.
"Ahh." Kim Ji-Hee opened her mouth like a baby bird to eat the sliced-up piece of meat Kim Ki-Rok offered.
"Guildmaster."
"Yes, Mr. Woo-Hyuk."
"I... I am also a craftsman who is officially a part of the Hwarang Workshop. Am I going to be okay?"
"There's no problem. You're just a part-timer. Well, you may have to visit the Hunters Association and the police station for a few days, but there shouldn't be a problem. You were a victim of unfair labor exploitation through an unreasonable contract."
"Oh... That's a relief."
Kim Ki-Rok continued to grill the meat nonstop, even while responding. "Indeed."
"Ji-Hee. Ahh."
He grabbed the meat with tongs, blew on it lightly, then offered it to Kim Ji-Hee who ate it with relish.
Satisfied, Kim Ki-Rok waved his hand toward the entrance when he heard the bell ring from the door, indicating someone had entered the store. "Come in, Ms.Ji-Yeon."
Ji-Yeon? Kang Woo-Hyuk tilted his head to follow Kim Ki-Rok's gaze toward the entrance.
"Woah!" Kang Woo-Hyuk exclaimed.
Others in the vicinity reacted with similar stupefaction.
"Wow. Holy."
"I-is she a celebrity?"
Lee Ji-Yeon appeared with her once black but now fully scarlet hair, emanating a red aura. Lee Ji-Yeon immediately came over and sat at the table.
"Ji-Hee." Lee Ji-Yeon said.
"Omnomnom. Umnie?"
"Not umnie, unnie. How's the meat?"
"It's yummy."
Although Kim Ji-Hee's mouth was full of meat and she was barely capable of getting a word out, it made her even cuter.
Lee Ji-Yeon had been watching her chew on the meat for a while, and only just noticed a new face in the group.
"Oh... Hello."
"Oh, yes! Nice to meet you! I'm the recruit, Kang Woo-Hyuk."
"I'm Lee Ji-Yeon." Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she turned to Kim Ki-Rok. "Guildmaster. Is this the person?"
"Yes. This is the new recruit that I mentioned would work in the production-class."
"I knew it."
Kim Ki-Rok had explained that he would bring five combat Hunters and one technical Hunter.
"Are you ready to move?" Kim Ki-Rok asked.
"Almost. I called the moving truck for tomorrow, so we should be able to move immediately." Lee Ji-Yeon replied.
"Hmm! Then you must be looking for a place to sleep tonight."
"Huh?"
"Haven't you packed all your belongings?"
"Oh, right."
"Then stay at the guild tonight. The seventh floor is a dormitory."
"Wow!"
Calling it a dormitory was an understatement. The quality of the facility was quite good. Kim Ki-Rok looked at Kang Woo-Hyuk after taking care of Lee Ji-Yeon's situation.
"Mr. Woo-Hyuk."
"Ye-yes?" Kang Woo-Hyuk responded, startled by Kim Ki-Rok's call while he had absentmindedly been looking at Lee Ji-Yeon.
"Mr. Woo-Hyuk, you should also stay at the guild dormitory tonight."
"Is that okay? Unlike Hunter Ji-Yeon, I haven't yet completed a guild application..."
"That shouldn't be a problem."
Kim Ji-Hee accepted the lettuce wrap made with a little bit of green onion and a piece of meat on top with a smile [1].
Omnomnom.
Seeing Kim Ji-Hee happily eating wraps and laughing, Kang Woo-Hyuk couldn't help but think, Oh, well.
As the four of them grilled meat, they also ordered soybean paste stew, steamed egg, and cold noodles.
With everyone's stomachs filled up, Kim Ki-Rok spoke up. "Oh, I have something to tell you all."
Lee Ji-Yeon, caring for Kim Ji-Hee, and Kang Woo-Hyuk, slurping noodles, raised their heads.
"First, Miss Ji-Yeon."
"Yes, Guildmaster."
"What are your thoughts on university?"
"Ah... I guess I should take a leave of absence, right?"
"No. Just submit an application for Gate activities like what you've done today, so you can participate in such activities. No need to submit a leave of absence."
Lee Ji-Yeon, who had been studying a normal major, had consulted with her professors after Awakening and transferred to a Hunter-related major. By submitting a Gate activity application, she had a legitimate excuse to skip classes.
"So, just resume your studies." Kim Ki-Rok said.
"Thank you." Lee Ji-Yeon replied.
"No need to thank me. Now, Kang Woo-Hyuk."
"Oh, yes."
"I'll give you a week."
"Sorry?"
"You might know this already after poking around on your phone about DG Guild, but..."
Kang Woo-Hyuk was greatly surprised, but Kim Ki-Rok didn't say that to criticize his sneakiness. Instead, it worked out for Kim Ki-Rok because he would not have to fill him up on prior information.
"Our DG Guild has connections with the Shine Guild and Golden Lion Guild. Both guilds owe us." Kim Ki-Rok continued to explain.
Thanks to the DG Guild, Lee Yeon-Hwa of Shine Guild found her lost son. Baek Su-Wang, or Baek Min-Hyuk of the Golden Lion Guild, enhanced his ability thanks to the DG Guild.
"But the Golden Lion Guild operates in Daegu. It's quite a far way from here. So I asked Shine Guild to provide an opportunity to learn techniques from a craftsman affiliated with Shine Guild."
Shine Guild was one of the top A-Class guilds representing South Korea. Naturally, the craftsmen there were all top-notch.
"R-really?"
"Yes. But due to our schedule, I can only spare you a week. Mr. Woo-Hyuk, you must thoroughly learn the skills during that period."
"Yes, I will work hard."
"Yes. Please do. Now, back to the point. Once Mr. Woo-Hyuk receives training from Shine Guild, he will immediately participate in Gate activities."
"What Gate will it be?" Lee Ji-Yeon asked.
"It's a C-Class Gate in Incheon, and the entire guild will be mobilized." Kim Ki-Rok responded.
Lee Ji-Yeon lowered her head as she gathered information about the Gate using her smartphone. In contrast, Kang Woo-Hyuk, who was raising his chopsticks to eat his meal, turned his head.
Kim Ji-Hee ate cold noodles with a fork and did the same. "Nom nom?"
"By the whole guild, you mean..." mumbled Kang Woo-Hyuk.
"Yes. You will also be participating, Mr. Woo-Hyuk."
"B-but I'm a production-class Awakened?"
"I am aware."
"You're not taking him for combat purposes." Lee Ji-Yeon inferred.
"Yes. He'll support Miss Ji-Yeon and the other five Hunters from the rear. We will all enter the Gate together. It's not going to be dangerous. I will wait with Woo-Hyuk from the rear."
Kang Woo-Hyuk nodded in understanding.
This time, Lee Ji-Yeon cautiously raised her hand. "But, Guildmaster."
"Yes, Miss Ji-Yeon."
"If both Guildmaster and Hunter Woo-Hyuk enter the Gate..."
"Yes."
"What about Ji-Hee?"
"Our Ji-Hee will also enter with us."
Lee Ji-Yeon and Kang Woo-Hyuk stared at him with wide eyes as he casually patted Kim Ji-Hee's head and explained, "Our Ji-Hee is also an Awakened."
"She is?"
"Yes."
"She wasn't an Awakened before."
"Oh! Sorry for telling you so late. She awakened on the way to the office."
1. The Korean word for this is "ssam," used to describe a lettuce wrap usually eaten at K-BBQs. Typical ingredients include lettuce, rice, meat, and garlic. ☜
Openbookworm & wonsuk's ThoughtsNori: UMNIE
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