Two weeks after
"President, let's start screening for the elite team we were talking about," Jinchul stated, his voice devoid of any hesitation. The words cut through the comfortable silence of Go Gunhee's office, carrying a palpable sense of urgency that even the stoic President couldn't ignore. Min Byung-Gyu, present for a follow-up discussion on Go Gunhee's health, sat quietly, observing the exchange.
"Ok. Tell me what you have in mind," Go Gunhee replied, leaning back in his chair, his eyes fixed on Jinchul. He had seen this look before in Jinchul's eyes—the unwavering resolve of a man committed to a cause, a trait he respected deeply.
"I am planning an alliance, President, initially with the Knight's Guild (KG) and, eventually, the White Tiger Guild (WTG)," Jinchul explained, his gaze sweeping between Go Gunhee and Byung-Gyu.
"We have a strong existing partnership with the Knight's Guild. They possess a significant number of experienced hunters, including several capable A-Ranks, and their leadership structure is disciplined. We collaborate frequently on larger Gate clearances and crisis management. This existing rapport makes them the most feasible and logical choice for an immediate alliance. We should discuss this in depth with their leader, Park Jongsu. I believe we need like-minded hunters who will stand with us in this, not just for monetary gain, but for the greater good."
He paused, letting his words sink in before continuing. "With the White Tiger Guild, we will not approach them from the start. They are a formidable guild with a powerful S-Rank leader in Baek Yoonho, and their independence is well-known. A direct, immediate alliance might be met with suspicion or even outright rejection. But we will eventually need to include them. Their strength is undeniable, and their sense of justice, though fiercely independent, is strong."
Go Gunhee nodded slowly, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Convincing Park Jongsu won't be easy, even with our existing relationship. Guilds are fiercely protective of their autonomy and their hunters. We need to plan well enough to present a compelling case, and we need to take it slowly, carefully. A misstep could alienate them, or worse, cause friction with other guilds."
"I can talk to Baek Yoonho regarding the alliance when the time comes," Min Byung-Gyu interjected softly, a hint of his friendship with Baek.
He had spent years in the high-stakes world of hunters and knew that, while an S-Rank, Baek Yoonho valued trust and personal relationships above all else. His quiet offer was not a boast, but a sign of his deep-seated loyalty to both the President and the broader Hunter community.
Jinchul turned to Byung-Gyu, a faint, appreciative nod in his eyes. "We will leave that to you when that time comes, Gyu, but not now. White Tiger is a top guild, and we need to move discreetly enough not to alert everyone. Any premature move could backfire severely. For now, our focus needs to be on the Knight's Guild, and then, on solidifying the President's health."
With Min Byung-Gyu now onboard to regularly monitor President Go Gunhee's health, Jinchul felt a fraction of the immense burden lifted from his shoulders. But only a fraction.
The "Earthling's" memories were a constant hum beneath his conscious thoughts, a grim reminder that saving the President was merely one piece of a much larger, darker puzzle. The true threat, the cosmic war between Monarchs and Rulers, still loomed large, and humanity was terrifyingly unprepared.
His mind raced, sifting through the strategies he had formulated in the quiet solitude of his office. The Association's current structure, reliant on independent guilds and individual hunters, was fundamentally flawed for the impending global conflict.
They needed integrated, disciplined units—teams that acted as a single, cohesive force rather than a collection of powerful individuals. The "Earthling's" memories had shown him the brutal efficiency of the enemy's forces, their perfect coordination. Humanity needed to match that, or they would be annihilated.
He mentally outlined the ideal qualities for hunters in this new elite team. Raw power was essential, but it wasn't enough. He needed absolute loyalty to the Association and its mission, not to personal glory or guild profit.
Adaptability was crucial—the ability to assess rapidly changing situations and execute complex orders without hesitation. And above all, a willingness to follow orders, even if those orders seemed unorthodox or dangerous.
The team itself needed to be "systemized," a concept that went beyond just a balanced composition of tanks, damage dealers, and healers. It meant specialized training, seamless communication, and a shared understanding of their objective. Every member would need to function as an extension of the whole, a finely tuned instrument.
The Knight's Guild, Jinchul mused, was the logical first choice. He recalled files, mission reports, and personal observations of their leader, Park Jongsu. Park was a man of strict principles, valuing honor, discipline, and the safety of his guild members above all else.
His guild's operations were always meticulous, their formations tight, their commands clear. Their existing partnership with the Association, forged through countless joint dungeon clearances and monster subjugations, meant there was a foundation of trust.
If anyone could be convinced of the dire necessity of sacrificing some guild autonomy for the greater good, it would be Park Jongsu, especially if the threat could be subtly alluded to without causing panic.
The White Tiger Guild presented a more complex challenge. Baek Yoonho, an S-Rank with a fearsome reputation and an animalistic ferocity in battle, was fiercely protective of his guild's independence. He was loyal to his own, and his trust was not easily given.
Jinchul knew that simply presenting a logical argument, as he would to Park Jongsu, wouldn't be enough. Baek Yoonho would need to feel the urgency, see the scale of the threat, or at least witness undeniable evidence of the Association's growing strategic prowess.
This was where Min Byung-Gyu's personal connection might eventually prove invaluable, but it was far too soon. A premature approach would only harden Baek Yoonho's resolve against any integration.
His conversation with Go Gunhee had been the first step. The President was a pragmatic man, a national hero who understood the delicate balance of power in the hunter world.
He would be Jinchul's primary ally, the only man he could fully trust in the upper echelons of power.
Jinchul stood, excusing himself from the President's office. He walked down the silent halls of the Association headquarters, his mind still working in overdrive.
He stepped outside into the cool evening air, the bustling city of Seoul a vibrant tapestry of human and mana signatures. The lights of the skyscrapers shimmered in the twilight, each one a silent testament to the lives he was sworn to protect.
He took a deep, centering breath, filtering out the sensory noise and focusing his mana-sight. He wasn't just seeing the ebb and flow of mana; he was sensing the invisible threads connecting to this world.
His new abilities were not just for combat; they were a new sense, a sixth sense that allowed him to perceive the world's true state. The gates were not random. He could see a subtle, almost imperceptible pulsation in the manner from each one, a rhythm that was slowly, inexorably speeding up.