Chapter 242 - I Told You, I’m Only a C-Rank

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About 2 kilometers north of The Grove shopping mall was the Santa Monica Boulevard. After the skirmish, a new red-light district was established in the ruined northern commercial zone of the boulevard. In LA, this red-light district was called ‘Avalon Street’ because it was like an isolated island in the city.

The businesses on Avalon Street targeted hunters as their main customers. It was not that ordinary people could not use it, but only hunters could experience the real Avalon. No matter how much money they had, ordinary people could never see its true nature of their business—that was how this place operated. Thanks to that, Avalon Street became a year-round hotspot for hunters looking to unwind after a hunt.

“During the last three months of the year, most guilds are too busy wrapping things up. Even top-tier guild hunters rarely make it to Avalon before the Christmas season. During that time, freelance hunters fill this place.”

Thomas had never taken part in a proper hunter-style afterparty, so he hadn’t personally experienced Avalon’s services, but he’d heard plenty through the grapevine. Even though he had never experienced Avalon, he had a clear idea of

how things worked around here.

“It’s still better than chasing after an O.C. branch we have no idea how to find. Let’s head there once we finish clearing out the mall.”

Once Go Eul-ji returned from assisting at the mall, the group began heading north toward Avalon Street. As expected, the path was rough from the heart of the swarm. Fortunately, with the wide-area attacks and defenses provided by Go Eul-ji, along with Thomas's magic (his rank was temporarily boosted by the meds), they were able to easily make their way through. During this process, Kang Moo-hyuk was deeply impressed by Thomas’s magic.

‘He's different from other mages.’

Although he couldn’t quite put it into words, there was something unique about his use of magic. Even when casting the same fire magic, his application was different. For instance, a single Fire Arrow would split into dozens as it flew, automatically tracking its target—an impressive sight. It felt so natural, as if the skill had always originally existed. The downside was that, despite the temporary boost from the meds, he couldn't use magic consecutively. The number of spells he could cast was still limited compared to other mages of the same rank.

‘That part should improve with treatment over time. Regardless… the fact that his rank can be adjusted with the right dosage—how can I make use of that?’

Having learned about Thomas’s unexpected trait from Jang Deuk-goo, Kang Moo-hyuk spent the ride planning his next tactical moves.

“Ah? Looks like this is as far as we go.”

Chug. Chug. Chug. Screech.

"What’s going on, Hunter Noh Song-rin? Has the car broken down?"

"It’s out of gas. Damn it. This country is full of people who don't even bother filling up the gas."

"It’s our fault for not checking properly before leaving. It's a shame, but we’ve come this far, so it’s fine. I think we’re here.”

Kang Moo-hyuk pointed outside the car window. Even without a sign, a street with bright neon signs that never turned off seemed to prove that this was Avalon, stretched out in front of them.

Ulbert doubted his ears at the report from his subordinate, Billy.

"Who contacted us?"

"So, to be precise, the person contacting us is Michael's uncle, Ben's awakening companion, Joseph's friend, Kane's party member, Micky's drinking buddy, Victoria's boyfriend, Smith's colleague, Pep's..."

"Enough. How far are you going with this?"

"Just a little more. Where did I leave off? Oh, right, Pep. Pep's neighbor, Drexler's...”

"Forget it! So, is it Kang Moo-hyuk or not?"

"Yes. It is indeed Captain Kang Moo-hyuk. There are some unknown individuals involved, but the appearance of his companions matches those who were with him when he entered the city."

Ulbert furrowed his brow. The person he had longed to meet, the one he had always missed while tailing, had suddenly contacted him out of the blue.

‘How coincidental, and the timing is oddly off.’

LA had become a gruesome battlefield. Ulbert, as the branch manager of Ort Cloud, had to respond to the current situation. His instincts, honed from years of surviving as a North American freelancer hunter, screamed that he needed to get out of LA, but he couldn’t abandon the city or his members. That was why he had stayed in the heart of LA, encouraging the evacuation plan.

"But now, the one we’ve been trying to meet all this time, who we could never catch, suddenly wants to meet us. It’s too suspicious."

“His messaging style is so indirect and complicated that it makes normal conversation difficult. He said he’ll explain everything in person. What should we do?"

"What else? We’ll meet him. It's unsettling, but we have to get things done."

"I’ve already sent the message to meet. Where should we meet?”

“Where did you say he was right now?”

"He’s at Avalon Street."

"You said Kang Moo-hyuk isn’t a hunter, right? It's hard for an ordinary person to come all the way here. We should go instead. We have a place nearby, right?"

"Yes, we have the Blue Jam Club."

"Send them the address. Tell them to go there right away."

"Guild Master, I request the full retreat of the guild headquarters."

Powell, the Vice-Guild Master of the Ithaca Guild, asserted his request after giving a rough report on the situation. Guild Master Dolores Scott, who had been silently listening to him, stared at Powell without responding. Feeling the weight of her gaze as he awaited her command, Powell spoke first.

"Is there something you don't like about it...?"

"No, it's not about liking or not. Our members messed up like idiots, poking a hornet's nest and destroying the city. Moreover, the Guild Master couldn't admit that it was the Vice-Guild Master's fault. It’s really troublesome. It hasn't been long since the Vice-Guild Master was replaced, and I can't just fire everyone over this."

Though Dolores, the Guild Master, spoke in a gentle tone, which was rare for a female Guild Master in North America, Powell was sweating heavily. This was because it was Dolores who had dismissed his predecessor.

‘If it's the Guild Master, she'd have no problem getting rid of them.’

Dolores was the type of woman who would be called a beauty anywhere she went, but in truth, she was the infamous leader of the Ithaca Guild, known as the ‘human butcher.’ What made it even more chilling was that her victims were mostly hunters. Powell did his best to remain calm as he spoke.

"I admit my mistake. However, the entrance to that hornet's nest was connected to our distillery. As you know, that distillery serves as a route for distributing both alcohol and drugs. There was a risk that information about 'Butter' could leak, so I had to verify the truth of the incident."

"So you're saying it was my mistake for ordering the Vice-Guild Master to handle the situation directly?"

"That's not what I meant!"

"Hey, why are you raising your voice?"

"I-I'm sorry."

For the first time, a murderous aura flickered in Dolores' eyes, which had previously been indifferent. Powell, startled, immediately lowered his head. Dolores turned her chair and sat down. From the 51st-floor Guild Master's office, she could see the city stretched out below. Explosions erupted across the skyline, visible through the large glass windows. Gas stations, power poles, and utility stations were erupting in blazing bursts of flames. In contrast, the area around the guild remained calm.

Whenever a few hornets dared approach the building, Ithaca Guild's hunters would swiftly appear and take care of them in an instant. Just moments earlier, a hornet that had spotted her through the glass window was taken down by the rooftop snipers.

Dolores, true to her nickname, was a goddess of destruction who remained composed even in the middle of the battlefield. She gazed down at the ruined city as if she were admiring a painting in an art gallery.

“It might be better to retreat now, but... we can’t ignore what the other guilds are up to.”

“Is there a problem?”

"Gunpowder and Call My Name. I don't know if they've both gone crazy, but suddenly they're setting up a defense? I know those two Guild Masters, and they're not the kind of people to just play nice."

“A defense, huh? Those guys who are famous for their quick wits?”

“They’re not clueless about the carnivorous hornets. What’s going on here?”

Dolores had already planned to leave LA from the start, even without Powell’s suggestion. She was simply using the opportunity to tighten the discipline of the Vice-Guild Master as she left. However, the decision was postponed when two of LA's major rival guilds suddenly started doing things they wouldn't normally do. She had sensed something unusual was happening.

"Normally, we'd take the lead and retreat, and the others would follow quietly. Then we’d just go along with it and avoid responsibility. That’s always been the way, right? But now, with them acting out like this, it’s hard to back out. It’s so troublesome."

"Should we look into their situation?"

"In the middle of this chaos?"

"I’ve managed to get a few hunters, who are related by blood within the two guilds, to cooperate. Even if we don’t get direct intel, they should help us get a sense of what's going on."

"Good. Look into it. Keep an eye on the movements of the other factions too. No more mistakes. I won’t tolerate anything beyond this."

"Understood. I’ll do my best."

"You don’t have to try too hard. Just bring me the results."

"Yes, Guild Master.”

“O.C. LA branch manager, James Ulbert.”

“Ironwill Guild leader, Kang Moo-hyuk.”

"Please, have a seat."

After shaking hands, Kang Moo-hyuk and Ulbert sat down in the seats that Billy had assigned them. The Blue Jam Club was an underground club known for its techno and deep house music. On Fridays, it was so popular that people would line up to get in. However, due to the chaos in LA, the club was practically abandoned now.

"Let's not drag this out—we're all busy. What did you want to see me about?"

"As you probably know, Gunpowder and Call My Name are putting up a defense at the front. Several mid-sized guilds have joined in as well. It'll take time, but we should be able to hold the west side and the city center."

“If I’m not mistaken, it sounds like you're implying that you're somehow involved in the movements of these two guilds?"

"That's correct. I made the suggestion. If I hadn't intervened, they would’ve abandoned LA like everyone else. So, if O.C. is considering a retreat, please put that plan on hold.”

"If you're asking me to reconsider our plan, you'll need to show me the same cards you showed the other two guilds."

"Of course. Here's my proposal."

Kang Moo-hyuk went on to explain what he'd offered to the representatives of the Gunpowder and Call My Name guilds. After listening to everything, Ulbert tapped the table with his index finger, deep in thought. Billy, standing beside him, whispered some advice, and Ulbert nodded before replying.

"The idea of keeping the East Coast in check while allowing the West Coast to operate freely sounds good, but that proposal doesn’t appeal to our O.C... As you know, we’re more of a nationwide organization, so we don’t have strong regional ties."

"You say you're active across all of North America, but don’t you get treated like an outsider who doesn’t fit in anywhere?"

“You’re touching on a sore spot.”

“If it hurts, let me offer some comfort. How about the position of O.C. chairman? Are you interested?"

“!!”

"You have the skills and the reputation, so all that’s left is the results."

“Do you realize that your statement is a bit too reckless? You’re bringing up a very dangerous topic.”

"I’m not telling you to go straight for the chairman position. You need to first take care of overseeing the West Coast."

Ulbert looked at Kang Moo-hyuk with a suspicious gaze.

‘Does this guy know that the headquarters will soon be holding a vote for who will oversee the West Coast? He might’ve heard the rumors, but for someone who’s only just arrived, he knows too much. Could he have had an interest in this even before?’

It wasn’t just Ulbert—anyone would think that Kang Moo-hyuk had a strong interest in O.C. The fact that a foreign guild captain was so well-informed about the North American situation only added to his confusion.

‘I'm glad Thomas is knowledgeable in this area. He was able to quickly grasp the lack of information and the local atmosphere. Plus, some of his advice resonated with me.’

Kang Moo-hyuk exchanged a glance with Thomas. After receiving the signal, Thomas spoke up.

"If you're being cautious, it’s not Kang Moo-hyuk you should watch out for, but the Ithaca Guild."

"What kind of nonsense is that?"

“Because I’m a member of the Ithaca Guild.”

"What?!"

When Thomas suddenly revealed his affiliation, the O.C. members who had been guarding the branch manager, including his deputy manager, Billy—tensed up. Instinctively, they all reached for their weapons, though none went so far as to draw them. Among them, only Ulbert showed no reaction. Thomas continued.

"I'm a C-rank Hunter from the Ithaca Guild. It’s easy to verify my identity, so I had no reason to lie."

“It’s a bit surprising to see someone from Ithaca with Captain Kang Moo-hyuk. Maybe it's because you're both Asian?”

“Technically, I’m Korean.”

"Who cares about nationality these days? It was surprising to see someone from Ithaca in front of me, but it's not entirely impossible. You know what happened to those bastards, right? Their skulls were crushed. So, you’d better watch your words. What’s your reason for revealing your affiliation?”

“I told you, I’m only a C-rank. It was I who informed Captain Kang Moo-hyuk about O.C.'s internal affairs. I've also located several O.C. bases. How could I, a low-ranking hunter, know about that? And why would you need to know?"

When Thomas asked this, Billy's face turned pale.

"Branch manager! These bastards were planning to stab us in the back!”