Lee Changgeon was happier than ever before.
“President. The number of returning Hunters is increasing at a quite meaningful rate.”
“The number of applicants for Imemaengnyang has surpassed five thousand.”
“President, there are people from other countries trying to naturalize in Korea.”
The once quiet Korean Hunter community began to buzz with activity.
Especially those who had awakened but never descended into the dungeon.
In Korea, a high proportion of awakened individuals were not active as Hunters.
You could say there were many idle Awakened.
There were quite a few who, not exceptional enough to go abroad, saw no future in staying in Korea to be active.
Those people began to descend into the dungeon.
Once they started descending, they researched the Hunter Academy, geared up, and began buying various items.
The economy related to that revived.
“The middle class is coming back to life.”
Those who had given up on raids returned like a rising tide, and even those who had quit the Hunter life for their own reasons came back.
The thin middle class of the Korean Hunter world started to thicken.
All these became meaningful indicators that caught Lee Changgeon’s eye.
“…Hmm.”
However, with such change, the vigilance of other nations also noticeably intensified.
“President, the quality of the imported items this time is generally poor. Especially the quality of the potions is very low.”
Korea was a country unable to produce these items domestically.
The number of dungeons was simply too few to secure the materials needed for production.
To make products, materials had to be imported, which drove up the price of finished goods.
That made competition with other countries impossible.
If the products were outstanding, it wouldn’t matter, but with the brain drain, Korea was increasingly losing out.
Since then, most manufactured goods had been imported.
“Anyway. These guys are nothing but scoundrels.”
“What should we do?”
Potions were the item most closely related to survival rates.
“Send an official letter to the companies about the quality issues, and look into other companies overseas. Also, if there are any potion manufacturers still left in Korea, contact them too.”
“Understood.”
The secretary quickly took notes and moved on.
“This is the list of items handed over by the Hidden Piece discoverer.”
“…They handed over all of this?”
Lee Changgeon couldn’t close his mouth as he looked at the visible items.
He knew that when you lost a stairway war, you obtained the skills or items owned by the stairway’s master.
But he never imagined they would hand over all of this.
‘How many B-grade Skillbooks are there?’
Moreover, there were thousands of set items the stairway master used and mass-produced equipment items mainly used by the hunters of Jeonghwamun.
The value in money alone was in the hundreds of billions.
These items were especially necessary at the point when new Hunters were seriously climbing the dungeon.
Of course, it was a transaction involving money, but it was impossible for other countries to supply this quantity at this price with this quality.
That made it feel even more valuable.
“Let’s distribute the mass-produced equipment items except those allocated to Imemaengnyang, and use the set items and Skillbooks for participants in the Hall of Glory.”
“Understood. And there’s more.”
“What else?”
The secretary flipped to the next page.
There were hundreds of F-rank and E-rank Magic Stones and all kinds of attribute materials listed in a row.
It was on the level of clearing hundreds of dungeons to obtain these.
It was equivalent to a week’s worth of dungeon loot in Korea.
But that wasn’t all.
[You have discovered a Hidden Piece.]
[You have been awarded the Hidden Piece Discovery Achievement.]
[Rewards for dungeon raids of the discoverer’s nation are increased.]
[Rewards for trials of the discoverer’s nation are increased.]
[Eighteen Hidden Piece Achievements have accumulated.]
Lee Changgeon let out a bitter laugh and shook his head.
“All of it.”
“Release these to domestic manufacturers at the lowest prices. Let’s revive the economy first.”
“Yes. And the last report— the third Red Dungeon has appeared. Its rank is C.”
“…Perfect for rehabilitation training.”
Rankers who had trauma from the failure of the first Red Dungeon raid had started rehab training.
Just like the rising heat from below, support poured in for them.
Especially since they were top-tier talents who had repeatedly cleared dungeons.
People who had overcome crises.
They would surely overcome this and rise again.
“Ah. Did you get what the Hidden Piece discoverer wanted?”
“Yes. I secured three Magic Stone Giant cores and ten types of F-rank Skillbooks and handed them to Lieutenant Jin.”
“Good work. Once this is mostly settled, take some leave. Your face is completely drained.”
Lee Changgeon sent the secretary off and prepared for the upcoming meeting.
The agenda today was the 21st floor of the dungeon.
After the death of Antonio, an S-rank Hunter from Italy, the 21st floor of the dungeon he owned was taken over by another Italian Hunter.
But at dawn today, a message appeared stating the dungeon’s master had changed.
The country that took over the 21st floor was presumed to be the one with Messiah.
A nation not easily found even on maps.
Usually, criminal organizations used dungeon entrances in such small nations to descend.
‘…This is an opportunity.’
The rule was that the nation retaking a dungeon lost to criminal organizations would own it.
Of course, there would be considerable damage in the process.
Since the 21st floor was one of the dungeon’s largest production centers, many nations would be willing to suffer the losses to take it back.
‘If we can get it back, we can quickly raise our Hunters.’
Other nations would contest, but that was the role of the president.
“Hoo.”
Lee Changgeon steeled his resolve and joined the video conference.
Many changes had occurred over three days.
Redoc’s witch, the Fairy of Sunlight, and part of the Dwarf of Steel tribe had been rescued and accepted into the Dragon Lair.
It wasn’t a simple acceptance.
A deal had been made.
In exchange for helping rescue those still held by Redoc, Lee Changgeon promised to provide what Redoc needed.
All of it.
‘Fryra’s help was huge.’
Because of her strong grudge against Redoc, her vigilance was high, but since she was the Dryad Queen’s daughter, the other races trusted her words more easily than expected.
Thanks to that, the negotiations went smoothly.
[Master]
Fryra approached as Lee Changgeon glanced sideways and handed him a small box.
[The witches said it’s finished.]
“Oh?”
The witches were secretive, so except for Fryra, they wouldn’t speak up.
Their workspace was even located in a gloomy area a little away from the Dragon Lair.
Well.
As long as they worked well, he didn’t care much.
“Thanks.”
[You worked hard, but no gifts?!]
“Here.”
He handed over a box of candy he had bought in advance.
Last time, after raiding a convenience store for food and showing them the taste of the present world, Fryra became completely hooked on candy.
Since then, whenever she did this or that task, she got candy as a reward.
[Thank you!]
Fryra grabbed the candy box and ran toward the other Dryads and the Fairy of Sunlight.
He watched happily as she shared the candy one by one with her friends who worked in the elixir fields.
Then he lifted the box in his hand and checked its contents.
[Earth Attribute Pill (B)]
- Used as a promotion material.
- Increases Earth attribute understanding.
- Raises Earth attribute resistance.
All the conditions for the Orc’s promotion were met.
‘It’s about time.’
He entered the Dragon Lair and stood before the Rift of the Crack.
[Hunting the Lesser Apostle]
- Move to the location of the Lesser Apostle.
- Defeat the Lesser Apostle to unlock the Intermediate Apostle quest.
- Only Guardians can be sent.
Reward: 5 Shards of God
- Orc and Lophenheim are currently raiding.
The overall ability of the Lesser Apostle was A-rank.
Judging by Orc and Lophenheim, it was enough to hunt it, so he bestowed the Dragon’s Blessing and sent only the two.
‘Still too soon for auto-hunting, huh?’
Not long after, a new message appeared.
[You have successfully hunted the Lesser Apostle.]
[You have obtained 5 Shards of God as a reward.]
Light poured out from the Rift of the Crack as Orc and Lophenheim walked out.
“That was a pretty good hit.”
[Thank you. I’ll work even harder!]
Orc bowed his upper body and shouted energetically at Ropenheim’s praise.
He was pumped full of spirit.
“How was it?”
“If it weren’t for the blessing you put on me, it would have been a bit difficult. The Lesser Apostle? That guy’s mana control skills were intermediate level.”
Still, he was no match for Ropenheim, who was SS-rank.
Though Ropenheim’s mana hole was broken, if he had the Dragon’s Blessing, he could use mana temporarily.
So despite his words, clearing the Lesser Apostle wasn’t that hard.
Picking up the Shards of God Ropenheim handed over, he gave Orc the attribute pill.
“Here. Time to get stronger again.”
Orc put the attribute pill in his mouth.
[Orc is consuming the attribute pill.]
[Awakening Quest completed.]
[All conditions met. The Desert Crocodile Tribe Orc awakens to B-rank.]
[The Desert Crocodile Tribe Orc now possesses experience and insight beyond his talents.]
[The Desert Crocodile Tribe Orc’s rank rises one more step.]
[Desert Crocodile Tribe Orc (A)]
- A member of the Orc tribe worshipping the Desert Crocodile, qualified to become chieftain.
- Overall ability: A
- Potential: A
- Items owned: Burukan’s Axe (A), Iron Axe (C)
- Skills owned: Hard Leather (B), Axe Mastery (B), Reflexes (A), Combat Genius (B), Ropenheim’s Enlightenment (C)
Is this the power of Ropenheim’s advice?
Normally, his rank should have risen one step, but it jumped two steps.
“Ho. Your momentum is completely different.”
[Is this strength? Now I can somewhat understand what Master said.]
“Congratulations.”
[Thank you. It’s all thanks to Master and Master (you).]
How much did this save in costs?
At this rate, he could even awaken the Goblin.
[Main Quest 15 completed.] [Guardian Subjugation unlocked.] [New Main Quest received.]
[Main Quest 16]
- Subjugate the Fallen Guardian.
- Reward: Magic Tower unlocked.
Approaching the Rift of the Crack and raising his hand, the details about Guardian Subjugation appeared before his eyes.
[Subjugate the Fallen Guardian]
- Subjugate a Level 1 Guardian to unlock Level 2 Guardian subjugation.
Reward: Guardian Soul, special equipment materials.
- Only Guardians can be sent.
A place to obtain Guardian Souls needed to raise A-rank Guardians’ stats and materials to craft special equipment.
“Orc, go.”
For Level 1, there was no need for him to go.
An A-rank Orc was enough.
[Orc enters Guardian Subjugation.]
Shortly after, Orc walked out of the Rift of the Crack.
[Orc has subjugated the Guardian.]
[Obtained Guardian Soul (A).]
[Obtained Skasa’s Venom Fang (A).]
“Good work.”
[Not at all. If you need anything, just tell me.]
“Rest well today.”
[Master. May I receive some guidance then?]
“You’re passionate. Good. Let’s go spar lightly.”
As Lophenheim and Orc left the Dragon Lair, a new message appeared.
[Main Quest 16 completed.]
[Magic Tower unlocked.]
[New Main Quest received.]
[Main Quest 17]
- Build the Magic Tower and level it up to 5.
- Reward: Increase in Blessing of Magic rank, Dragon Lair rank increase.
Magic Tower.
A place to nurture mages.
Every talented mage nurtured increased experience, and every time the level rose, Magic Tower Points accumulated.
Those points could be used to raise various buffs related to the Dragon Lair.
Increasing movement speed.
Increasing attack speed.
Increasing idle rewards.
Increasing magical power.
He wondered how this would be realized in reality.
“Build the Magic Tower.”
[Building a Golden Magic Tower in Korea.]
Huh?