The S-Classes That I Raised

Chapter 652: Villain (3)

The five guests stood there awkwardly, sneaking glances at one another. Then bang, the open door slammed shut. The spacious conference room was a little dim. Only some of the ceiling lights were on, scattering thick shadows here and there.

“Have you all been enjoying yourselves?”

Moon Hyunah’s voice dropped heavier, cutting through the weighty silence.

“Belly full, patting yourselves on the back, dreaming about an easy feast.”

Wine strong enough to get even high rank Hunters tipsy. That alone made it more than valuable, and on top of that, S–rank Hunter Moon Hyunah herself had showcased it at the Chatterbox party in the U.S. after Japan. If Japan had been promotion to spread a new brand among high rank Hunters, then the Chatterbox party put a clear stamp on it in front of unawakened people all over the world.

Wine imbued with mana, newly appearing in a newly changing world.

Even if you weren’t high rank, it was the kind of product you’d at least want to buy once out of curiosity. And plenty of people idolized S–rank Hunters. The only alcohol those celebrities enjoyed.

It was only natural that Moon Hyunah’s wine brand, Modol, shot to fame overnight.

“You took the bait way too easily.”

Moon Hyunah slowly straightened her back. All she did was unfold her once–bent spine. Even so, combined with the wavering shadows, it felt like a giant filling the whole conference room was standing up, pressing down on them.

Thud. She tossed a stack of papers that had been on one side of the wide desk toward them. A laptop screen lit up, and a voice began to play.

[Moon Hyunah doesn’t know how the actual work runs anyway.]

It was the voice of one of the five guests standing here.

[What would she know about how a business operates.]

“Th–that’s…”

The owner of the voice stammered in panic. Moon Hyunah looked at him blankly.

“I didn’t, so I went and studied.”

She really hadn’t known much about companies or business. She’d lived a life unrelated to that sort of thing and got dragged into it before she could learn. And her sponsors had thought a young, no, flat–out young female S–rank Hunter would never figure it out. Because that’s how their world worked.

“Mr. Kim Seokju.”

“Yes, Guild Leader.”

A side door to the conference room cracked open and a young man poked his head in. Then he stepped fully inside and gave a little wave to the middle–aged man who had previously barged in looking for him.

“Hello, Director Choi. I’ll have to politely decline your offer to make me a nice position.”

“You–!”

“Thank you very much for all the information you gave me. I passed it all on to our Guild Leader.”

With that, he said, take care, and the door clicked shut. The other four guests didn’t look any better after that exchange. They had all been in contact with various employees under Moon Hyunah as well. One of them cautiously opened his mouth.

“Don’t tell me all your employees over there…”

“Every last one. All five of them pretended to be taken in on purpose.”

Hyunah swung one foot idly as she went on.

“The successful owner of a hot new business looks easy to push around, and she’s the Guild Leader of a Hunter guild owned by their company. It would almost be weird if you didn’t try to touch that. The CEO only focuses on promotion, some of the core staff are unawakened, and they even have employees dispatched from the sponsor companies.”

Plenty tempting to try and reel them in. Outwardly, they pressured her as a sponsor company, saying she should hand over the wine business. Inwardly, they bought off people on the inside. On top of that, Modol was an unlisted company where the owner didn’t hold an overwhelming share. The working team held shares fairly broadly, so if you quietly bought them up one by one, it looked like an easy piece of prey to swallow.

And while those under–the–table dealings were going on, the Chatterbox party blew up huge. Collaborations flooded in from the global alcohol industry, and rumors spread that Modol was about to go public. The five people gathered here got desperate.

“You all handed out all kinds of things real easy.”

Even if they had to pay a pretty big price, it still wouldn’t be a loss. Thanks to that, the five of them had opened both their mouths and their wallets wide.

“W–what do you want! Calling us all in here like this!”

“Didn’t I say it already? Welcome to someone else’s guild.”

With the corners of her mouth lifted, Hyunah looked over the guests one by one.

“I want you all to become complete outsiders, just guests.”

“…And you think the chairman will accept that!”

“Our side feels the same. You think we’re going to let go just because you’ve grabbed a few weaknesses!”

“That’s why I’m saying you’re going to have to cooperate from here on out.”

There were three companies behind the Breaker guild. Two big ones, and one relatively small. No matter how big the wine business got, it would be hard for it to grow enough in one go to step on those three at once. If her personal business got bigger and bigger, they would more likely refuse to let go of the Breaker guild.

Growing the business and abandoning Breaker to start fresh somewhere else was an option. But she didn’t want that. Even if there was no path at all, rather than obediently letting go she’d rather slam into them at least once. Even if that meant she’d end up rolling on the ground and getting hurt.

“Even if we do cooperate–!”

“As far as I know, all five of you are people who have carved out solid positions and built up influence of your own. And in order to climb even higher, you tried to take what’s mine.”

The audio file on the laptop kept playing. They shouted and cursed in some clips, and spoke in smooth, coaxing tones in others.

[What is this, the Joseon era? Are we supposed to hand everything down to our kids?]

[Every last distant in–law’s relative has a seat, right. It’s a modern–day dynasty, a dynasty.]

There were parts where they complained about inheritance in their companies.

“Everyone says stuff like that in private.”

“These are your contracts.”

Moon Hyunah pulled five contracts from her inventory and tossed them into the air. Carried by wind stirred up by mana, the papers glided smoothly, each one landing right in front of one guest. The little feat, impossible for ordinary humans, made their shoulders hunch as they took the contracts.

They stated that they would cooperate with Moon Hyunah to push for the Breaker guild’s independence.

“This is blackmail!”

“A contract isn’t possible unless both parties want it. We’re the ones holding the leverage, but think it over carefully.”

Her voice sank low.

“Which rope is stronger. To pull the Breaker guild out safely, your own power will have to grow too. So naturally, I’ll help you become people capable of that.”

“…So you’re doing well selling booze and now you’re full of yourself–!”

“If you have ears, you’ve heard the rumors. For at least the next four years, dungeons are going to stay.”

The fact that Han Yujin had regressed remained in the memories of high rank Hunters, and the information had already begun to spread fast.

“For four years, magic stones, an eco–friendly and highly efficient energy source, will be stably supplied. Four years is just what’s guaranteed; it could go longer.”

“That’s…”

“Even if it ends after four years, the world has already entered a stable phase. You know that this information is making countries like the U.S. and those in Europe, who were clinging to old energy sources, shift their stance.”

A few people nodded without realizing it. A faint smile touched Hyunah’s lips.

“From here on, it’s a war. For the four guaranteed years, the entire world is going to stockpile as many magic stones as possible and aggressively develop new dungeon–related materials. And inevitably, Hunters will stand at the center of that.”

The time for cautiously gauging each other was over. Now it was a race.

Hyunah took a business card out of the pocket on her chest. Seok Hayan.

“Team White, which researches dungeon–related tech in collaboration with the Dodam Breeding Facility. I, the Breaker Guild Leader, am one of their sponsors. You think all I’ve got is wine?”

With a spin, the card left her fingers, riding the air and sticking into the floor at the exact center of the space in front of the five of them.

“You’ve heard of stamina potions, right. Limited release soon. Modol is involved in that production line as well.”

Both wine and potions were mana–related products. Because of that, they’d built the production plant together with D&L Bio. Dodam might sponsor D&L Bio, but that particular collaboration was a contract between two companies unrelated to Dodam itself.

“There are other things being prepared as well. So I’ll ask again. Which rope looks stronger to you.”

Silence fell. Someone swallowed; the dry click sounded loud. You could almost hear the calculations spinning in their heads.

“…If you’re at that level, you don’t exactly need to bother pulling Breaker out.”

“Well, that’s true, but still.”

Hyunah shut her mouth mid–sentence. Her dark brown eyes gleamed, smooth and dangerous. Her lips parted again.

“This is my guild.”

“Eek!”

At the black, burrowing growl, the guests jumped and scrambled backward. Right in front of them, the businesswoman turned back into an S–rank Hunter. Every hair on their bodies stood on end, their legs trembling with a primal fear. Their backs thumped into the walls and closed door behind them.

“And it’s our guild.”

The guild of the people who had chosen to stand with her.

“It’s not that I’m holding back because I can’t rampage. I’m holding back because I want to stay with the eyes that look at me with expectation.”

S–rank Hunters could abandon corporations, laws, contracts, all of it whenever they wanted. If they were prepared to end up alone, they could snap all the chains around their ankles in an instant. But Moon Hyunah loved her life. She had no intention of throwing away the path she’d walked before Awakening, or the path she’d walked after.

“So I’m choosing to respond through society.”

The blade–sharp air dispersed all at once. There was a chorus of choked exhales as everyone let out the breath they’d been holding.

“…Through society, right…”

“You have your leverage, I have mine. I don’t plan on tormenting you with blackmail, but if you pull any crap, I can get dirty too. I can’t exactly bury an entire company in a dungeon, but one person won’t even leave a trace. If you really hate this option that much.”

Creeeak, one panel of the closed door opened. Every gaze shot to the gap. A new set of contracts was in Moon Hyunah’s hand.

“You can just promise to keep your mouths shut and walk out.”

Five pairs of eyes darted between each other. A brief stretch of time passed, but no one moved toward the door. Greed. They were people who hadn’t been satisfied with what they had now, and that greed was what had brought them this far. And so—

“I’ll trust you.”

“The world’s changed. We can’t keep clinging to old fossilized ideas.”

“I’ve actually been a fan of the Breaker Guild Leader since before I awakened!”

All five signed the contracts. They were one–sided, sure, but if the corporations were going to pull back from interfering in Breaker without a huge scandal, those five needed to grow stronger inside their companies. It was essential.

With a round of “I’ll be counting on you from now on,” the guests left. Alone again, Moon Hyunah let out a huge sigh and raked a hand through her hair.

“This is so–o not my thing.”

“You did great, though.”

A few people came out from the side room. One of them, Seong Minha, started gathering up the scattered documents.

“They came around pretty smoothly too.”

“Seriously, people flip their palms over that easily, huh.”

“That’s exactly the kind of person who ends up in that position.”

“Yup. That’s how society works.”

Kim Seokju backed up Seong Minha’s words.

“As long as you keep a firm grip on the leash, they’ll work just fine for you.”

“Man– I just want to stick a knife to the chairman’s neck and call it a day.”

“I think our Guild Leader’s been slightly corrupted by Hunter Liette.”

“Hiring Hunter Liette is honestly a decent option. For real. Just flip the whole thing, then slip in during the chaos like sha–”

“You’re spouting nonsense again!”

Choi Gaeun smacked Kim Seokju on the back. An A–rank Hunter bullying an unawakened civilian~ Kim Seokju yelped dramatically.

“We’re basically shoving our own spies in now too. All high–up people, at that. We finally got things even.”

“Up to now it’s just been them meddling one–sided. Maybe things will get a little easier.”

Hyunah stretched with a big yawn. Slowly, one by one, she would cut the strings wrapped around the Breaker guild, and when the time came, she’d tear them all off at once. This was the foundation stone for that.

“All right, Guild Leader. About those collaboration offers from overseas…”

“Ughhh, I just want to be a Hunter guild leader and nothing else!”

Just then, a text came in on her phone. She checked the message and burst out laughing.

[Heading out to crash the Guild Leader of Sesung’s wedding.]

“I wanna go too!”

“Wherever it is, finish your work first.”

“I hope Seong Hyunjae’s the one in the wedding dress. Something insanely flashy. Or super minimal.”

Lying back on the desk, Hyunah muttered. That would be fun. So jealous.

A little while later, Your S–Rank–We’re Getting Married! dropped its teaser trailer. Hyunah practically beat the floor in regret. I should’ve seen that train wreck in person!

[I’m so–o jealous of Mari, but also so–o not jealous.]

Kang Soyeong’s voice came through the phone.

[It’d be perfect if we could just take the Guild Leader out of the list of options!]

“Why, Seong Hyunjae’s really popular.”

[Once it actually airs, you’ll see. He’s definitely going to ignore the other participants and openly hit on Chief Song or Director Han. I’d bet on it.]

“That sounds entertaining.”

[Along with the Breaker Guild Leader! You’ll be right there with him! You’re a problem too, you know.]

“What did I do? I’d treat everyone equally well.”

[That’s exactly the problem. Ah, I wanna see Noah in person too! Didn’t he literally glow? It looked like they added special effects. The definition of self–illumination!]

“Noah does sparkle.”

Hyunah sounded bored. One day it was Liette, another day Kang Soyeong. They took turns gushing every single day about how Noah sparkled.

“They really should air that show for real. For the opening shot, put all the male participants in dresses. That rock bastard looked good in one at Seong Hyunjae’s birthday.”

[I think Noah would be a white dress guy, but black would look great on him too. Open up the back so his wings are out! Aaaagh! That would be absolutely unreal!]

“Yerim’s suit was cool and cute as hell. Yerim’s made for suits, and if Liette shows up, she has to be in a dress. Dresses look way better on Liette.”

[Really? I mean, Liette would look good in literally anything, but still!]

“She’s got this vibe like she might tear the whole dress apart. In a hot way.”

[Oh, I totally get that!]

Kang Soyeong and Hyunah laughed at the same time. Just then, someone knocked on the door. Hyunah told them to come in.

“Guild Leader, you have a visitor.”

“A visitor? Who is it?”

“Hunter Marisa Moore from the UK Hunter Association.”

Marisa Moore. Hyunah blinked. She ended the call with Soyeong and nodded.

“What’s going on from the UK. Show her in.”

A moment later, the door opened again and Marisa Moore stepped inside.