Chapter 36: Arthur’s Harsh Training Plan

Managing Fixed Teams, Expansion Conditions.

At least two top-tier workers.

All workers must be at least advanced rank.

Arthur reached top-tier, so condition one is fulfilled.

The problem is number two…

“Chiiik?”

Hmm.

They want those guys upgraded to advanced rank…

Suddenly, my head’s pounding.

“Boss, what’s going on?”

“What do you mean ‘advanced’ all of a sudden?”

Right.

This isn’t something I can solve alone by just thinking.

Better to put our heads together.

“A message just popped up. To increase fixed team management slots, all registered workers must be advanced rank.”

I gave them the gist.

Their reaction?

“Weaklings, advanced rank…?”

“Hmm.”

“Orc Uncles have to get stronger?”

“Chiiik?”

Everyone tilted their heads.

Of course.

The Orcs were originally low rank.

They only recently got to mid-tier.

But advanced rank…?

“Even Arthur was advanced until a few hours ago.”

“Boss said so! Wasseo’s gotten tougher today!”

That’s true.

Even before he became top-tier, there was a big gap between him and the Orcs.

“Exactly! Those guys are weak!”

“Chiiik!”

The Orcs nodded in agreement.

That just means there’s a long way to go…

The bigger problem is, no one knows how to get there.

“Tough.”

“Hmm… One option is to remove the Orc Horde from the fixed team and get other workers, Sujangnim.”

Gasp.

‘How can they say that in front of the people involved?’

“Chiiik!”

“Gomdori, bad!”

But they’re not wrong.

“Chiiik?!”

Eh.

We have to admit it when it’s true.

Honestly, that method is the simplest.

But.

“I don’t really like that idea, so I’m vetoing it.”

“Yes.”

“Chiiik…!”

Last time, when we removed the Slimes from the fixed team, I felt it.

Squeak-squeak.

The disappointment writhing inside was real.

[Unilateral contract termination causes disappointment among workers.]

[The Labor Management Office Head’s words spread among waiting workers.]

[Reputation decreases.]

Messages like that.

Removing someone from the fixed team isn’t a clean break.

…That’s the feeling.

So, it’s a bit complicated…

[Yoon Hajun, 23 years old.]

[Occupation: Labor Management Office Head and worker.]

So I know well.

You set up a team to work, then tell them to leave without reason?

I can’t stand that.

“Chiiik! Tch! Chiiiik!”

“Um… We’ll work hard, just give us one more chance. That’s what the Orc Uncles said!”

See?

‘How can I reject them after that?’

If they were useless, sure.

‘But the Orcs?’

They’re pulling their weight more than enough.

Can’t kick them out.

“The question is whether we can even raise them to advanced rank…”

“Hmm… Wasseo, I thought about it… I think we can make them advanced!”

Oh.

They can?

‘How do we raise ranks?’

From experience, the requirements differ by rank.

First, low to mid-tier.

That was easy.

***

“You just trained them until they maxed out experience, then gave them the right weapons.”

“Exactly.”

Next, advanced to top-tier.

That’s similar.

When the experience was maxed out, the rank jumped as soon as they got the proper equipment.

Wasseo thought about it.

Give the advanced weapons to the weaklings first, then train them up, and they’ll rank up.

“So that’s it?”

“…”

In other words, “Normally, you gain experience first, then give the weapon, but now we reverse it?”

“Ha, that’s right, boss!”

“But isn’t that just the same thing with the order swapped?”

“The same? What’s that…? Wasseo doesn’t get complicated words.”

“It means there’s no difference, Arthur worker.”

“Huh? It’s different! Advanced weapons? They have lots of power!”

Sounds like a kind of weighted training.

Well…

Training while carrying sandbags does work better.

‘But isn’t that harsh?’

“Wasseo thinks, to make the weaklings strong? We gotta push them hard! If you want, Wasseo will manage it!”

“Chiiik! Chiiik!”

“Everyone ready?”

“Chiiik!”

No way.

‘When did they even put on red hats again?’

Meanwhile, the Orcs immediately raised their hands to agree.

“Wasseo’s gonna make these guys real fighters!”

“Chiiik! Chiiik!”

“Uh… Arthur…”

‘How many times do I have to say it?’

They’re not humans…

They’re Orcs.

Still, I respect their will.

“Heh~! Orc Uncles like it too! Then Rani can make it, right?! Rani’s good with that!”

Lucky bundle also called out.

“But can we make it now? Rani must have been worn out making Arthur’s shield earlier.”

It’s a bit tough, but I can do it! Rani wants to make it! Should we start right away? It can be done quickly…

“There’s enough!”

‘We can even make it right away?’

Well then, that settles it.

***

Let’s proceed immediately.

“You can take the materials here, Rani worker.”

“Wow! Gomdori, hurray!”

“001-.”

Wow.

Look at the teamwork.

As soon as materials are needed, the bundle’s ready.

Thanks to that, the hammering started immediately.

‘The result?’

Done quickly.

“Ta-da! Poke-poke, pow! The strengthened version!”

“Looks like the same weapon again.”

“Yep! They said this one’s good!”

Gotta respect their tastes, yeah…

But it looks the same on the surface. Is there some difference?

“Chiiik-?”

Bang!

I was curious.

Seeing the Orc collapse the moment they held the new weapon made me understand right away.

Aha.

Definitely different.

“Kooik?”

Holding it demands full strength.

One swing, and—

Whoosh-, whoooosh~!

Whoa.

It spins several times in the air.

They can’t handle it at all.

“So this is how they can reach advanced rank?! Keep it up!”

“Chiiik! Tch!”

Still…

Since they’re trying, we have to support them.

“Everyone, do your best.”

Even if it’s tough, if they reach advanced rank, it’s a big gain, right?

Orc Uncles.

Will they gain special skills once advanced?

Usually, special skills start from advanced rank.

I’m curious.

Let’s see…

***

China, Beijing.

Though now a has-been pushed out of the five major powers,

the Central Awakened Administration Bureau was in chaos.

“Gukjangnim, there’s another message from above…”

“Again?”

“They’re asking why there’s no news about the Labor Management Office Head’s naturalization…”

“Sigh…”

I’m about to lose it.

Already buried in work, and now this nonsense too.

“Naturalization? What nonsense…!

That bastard hasn’t even taken a single order to make a weapon…

No, he’s taken tons of materials, but can’t he at least make a weapon?

No conscience at all.”

“When can Chen Yu be combat-ready?”

“He needs more time. They just reached the 57th floor…”

“Sigh… If only that Labor Management Office Head had made weapons, we’d be at 60th floor by now.”

Still pissed about it.

If he only took the materials and potions, fine.

‘But he took Robin Hood’s Bow Fragment, potential enhancement potions, everything, and shut his mouth?’

Disgusting.

So they started a deeper investigation.

Trying everything to find him.

The problem is…

“We did the usual investigations, but still can’t find a trace.”

“No way… How is that possible? Is the guy a real ghost or something?”

‘Was the Labor Management Office Head the only hunter hiding their identity?’

Of course not.

There were quite a few.

Most got caught anyway.

In modern society, money movement can’t be hidden.

Especially hunters.

The more they earn, the more they spend.

‘Is magic stone exchange anonymous?’

‘What good does that do?’

Spending always leaves a trail.

“Since he’s hiding so well, it won’t be easy, but we thought this time we’d find the Labor Management Office Head…”

But…

‘Nothing came up?’

Geez.

The more we dig, the less sense he makes.

“That Labor Management Office Head—he’s still clearing out S-grade dungeons, right?”

“Yes. Cleared the Indian dungeon and finished Egypt, too.”

“Just enjoys clearing dungeons, huh…?”

S-grade dungeon.

Back when Wei Jin was alive, China cleared one once.

***

At that time…

“There were at least 100 advanced-grade magic stones.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“He just kept all those magic stones? Crazy guy.”

No.

‘Koreans go crazy over houses and cars, right?’

If he’s not even buying those…

‘Is he some kind of hermit?’

“I think…”

Deputy Director was about to say something carefully.

Probably suggesting to give up.

Yeah, I get it.

That Labor Management Office Head guy is strange.

The more I look, the worse it feels.

“Well, Chen Yu will reach 60th floor in time… If a problem arises, we…”

Ask the Labor Management Office Head again.

Not sure if he’d agree to the terms, though…

Just as resolve was breaking,

Ding!

“Gukjangnim, I just received a recent awakened list from Korea in my mail.”

“What? Why is it in the Deputy Director’s mail?”

“I’m not sure…”

“Isn’t that the list we tried to get but failed?”

“That’s right.”

“Who sent it?”

“Anonymous, but I’m tracking it now.”

“Good, try it.”

Though tracking it will probably fail…

Those who sent info we couldn’t get wouldn’t leave a trace.

Anyway…

‘Who are these guys?’

Their info power surpasses China’s.

There are only a few like that worldwide…

Anyway.

“Give it here. Let’s take a look.”

No matter who they are, or why they sent it.

We wanted this data.

Might as well take it blindly.

Hunters who fled India.

Normal people.

All missed their homeland.

“Today the Ganges looks even more beautiful.”

“Right…”

***

A beloved homeland now unreachable.

Dreaming of it daily but can’t go.

Monsters crowd the borders.

“How about gathering all the Indian hunters? Wouldn’t that help?”

“Dream on.”

“That’s right.”

Dream shattered.

Most are in their early to mid-50s floor range, and many countries accepting them refuse naturalization.

So they gave up.

Until unexpected news came.

[Breaking News] Korean Labor Management Office Head successfully cleared India’s broken S-grade dungeon!

“The Labor Management Office Head? He cleared China’s S-grade dungeon? Why him?”

“Right? I heard his price is insanely high…”

Rumors spread.

The Labor Management Office Head.

How much he was paid in China.

The crisis was resolved, but the payment was huge.

Well.

If national disasters can be solved with money, that’s a gain.

The problem is…

“India doesn’t have money to pay, does it?”

Of course not.

The country collapsed. What money is there?

The only money left was all scooped up by those in power.

“Could it be…They hired him?”

“No way. I just heard politicians were busy sending money to the United Kingdom.”

“Then who?”

“Refugees pooled what little they had and entrusted Korea.”

“Huh? Refugees had that much money?”

“Not really. It was just pocket change. That’s why the Labor Management Office Head is amazing. China has money, so they squeeze and milk. Your ruined country just got help. That’s what it means, right?”

“Wow…”

“There’s still a hero left in this world?”

“Not asking for anything?”

“It’s a ruined country. What could we offer… Plus, he helped Egypt for free. If that’s not a hero, then what is?”

“Even Egypt?”

“Yeah. He helped them and flew off right away.”

Amazing…

Right.

“A real hero.”

The hero of India and Egypt, the Labor Management Office Head.

The rumor spread fast.

From the mouths of Indians, Egyptians.

And people worldwide.

Even ordinary folks who knew nothing came to know the name Labor Management Office Head.