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Yep, this is going in the fic.

KRS's Bounty Headcanon

I recently read chapter 14 of "In an Instant" TCF fanfic by Messy-Haired-Bum, and this moment gave me a pause:

“There’s a bit of an adjustment period,” [Kim Rok Soo] decides to be somewhat truthful, “The bounty’s a bit of a surprise, there.” “Bounty?!!??” Deruth’s voice goes up two whole octaves. ““Surgeon,” “Team Leader,” “Advisor,” etcetera. Kim Rok Soo has many titles.” The current Kim Rok Soo grins a bit wryly, “In the underground, the price for the “Oracle”’s head is 100 million won.” […] “And you- you aren’t afraid? At all?” Cale* is frustrated. Why is this grown-ass man having so little sense of self-preservation? […] “Who do you think put that bounty there?” Kim Rok Soo laughs. “The reason why the “Surgeon” was so effective is because nobody knew about him before it was too late. Once the element of surprise wore off and they went to ground, though, Kim Rok Soo figured that to root out the rot, he might as well use the embarrassing title for something. […] When I take the reign, they already have this whole system set up for the inevitable assassins and their equally inevitably exposed employers! I just see no need to fix what’s not broken, that’s all!”

Me, reading this, immediately having flashback to THIS scene in chapter 533 of TCF when Cale was posing as Naru von Ejellan:

Choi Han felt the back of his neck getting cold for some reason. He subconsciously gulped and asked. “…What are you planning on doing?” Pat, pat. Cale brushed the cookie crumbs off his fingers before nonchalantly responding. “I am going to suggest at the grand assembly that we immediately attack and get rid of Cale Henituse.” ‘Hmm? What?’ The Dragon and the swordsman’s eyes opened wide.

You know.... it does sound like it isn't the first time Cale pulled this sort of thing off 😂 I mean, what better way to get rid of all potential assassins targeting you than hire them yourself and set them up to fail??🤣

Thanks a lot for the headcanon, @messy-haired-bum! I absolutely 100% believe this was the case: KRS set up his own bounty in Korea and got rid of all the assassins stupid enough to sign up for it 👏