News that the 10th Floor Base had finally stabilized broke, and the changes on the 11th Floor began.
It was not just applied to those who had newly entered the 11th Floor.
*Rumble!*
Those already on the 11th Floor suddenly felt the ground shake.
Along with the real-time expansion of the Pillars of Light, the fog cleared to reveal new lands.
Before they knew it, the map changes were complete.
Hunters who had safely finished their business on the 11th Floor immediately logged into Hunter Net to post about the unbelievable events they had witnessed.
— The 11th Floor changed in real-time! I really wish I had recorded a video! —
ã„´ The Safe Zone got way bigger.
ã„´ It looks like areas that were hidden by the poison mist have newly appeared.
ã„´ Parts of the area covered by the veil of light seem to have opened up too. It looks worth exploring.
While those coming off the 11th Floor spoke about the real-time changes, most Hunters were actually more interested in something else.
**[The domain of the 10th Floor is expanding.]**
**[The 10th Floor flag is being planted in parts of the 9th Floor. Processing plants, farms, and ranches can be built within the territory where the flags are planted.]**
**[A quest related to the 9th Floor Boundary Tower is being created. Additional areas on the 9th Floor will open depending on the quest results.]**
**[A new quest related to the construction of bases and roads leading to the 1st through 8th Floors has been established. Upon completion, you will no longer have to sell items to the Peddler and can come directly to the 10th Floor.]**
**[Quests regarding temporary bases on each floor will be generated after construction on the 1st through 8th Floors is completed.]**
**[Mineral-related facilities are scheduled to be established on the 11th to 15th Floors. Please complete base stabilization and road expansion first!]**
**[The Shop building and the Soldier Training Center can be expanded and relocated.]**
Centered around the 10th Floor, the entirety of the 1st to 9th Floors and the 11th to 15th Floors began to transform.
It gave the illusion that various industrial complexes were being established around a city.
Perhaps that was why the Hunters staying on the lower floors were in an absolute frenzy.
— Can you see the changes on the 10th Floor right now? The entire map has expanded massively. —
ã„´ Once the outer walls being built in front of the bridge and the 9th Floor boundary are finished, the existing 10th Floor fortress will become an inner castle.
ã„´ The conquest routes for the 11th Floor have also increased. It looks like several places where you can enter via new routes across the bridge have appeared.
ㄴ That’s not what’s important right now!
ã„´ ???
ã„´ You can purchase some of the land near the outer wall and build buildings.
ㄴ Hey! I heard you can even create guilds! If you’re tied to a guild, it seems you can receive special quests on the lower floors together!
People began to go wild over the tremendous changes caused by the stabilization of the 10th Floor.
Naturally, the guilds were also in an uproar.
No one was unaware of the fact that Min-hyeok had created the possibility of actively utilizing the Tower’s ecosystem on the lower floors.
The creation of guilds within the 10th Floor was the means to turn that possibility into reality.
“That was fast.”
Min-hyeok, who had stepped out of the Tower for a moment upon hearing the news that the 10th Floor had stabilized, chuckled as he looked at his phone.
[Cheonsan Guild! Form a dedicated team to secure resources on the lower floors!]
[Hongmae, Taewoong, and Hyehwa Guilds have all formed teams to establish lower-floor guilds!]
[Kingdom of Korea Hunter Association: Starting today, we will hold in-depth discussions with Mr. Choi Min-hyuk…]
Perhaps because they all had people planted on the 10th Floor, every change felt like it was being announced through the Korean media the moment it happened.
However, this was not just a festival for Korea.
Although there were only five countries, the chosen nations could enjoy the benefits for a while.
Furthermore, looking at the trend where the scope expanded every time Min-hyeok achieved a Flawless Clear, the entire world might see those benefits one day.
Maybe that was why, in an unprecedented move, all the Hunter Management Bureaus in the world unanimously voted to support Min-hyeok on a massive scale.
[World Hunter Association: We plan to prepare a new plan to support Hunter Choi Min-hyuk and lower-floor Hunters to activate the Tower’s resources!]
[All Hunter Management Bureaus unanimously named Hunter Choi Min-hyuk as the most important person in the world! As such, he will be a subject of special management, and additional support measures will be discussed…]
[All of the world’s top 100 guilds are sending love calls to Hunter Choi Min-hyuk!]
All sorts of articles began to pour out, making him realize just how great it was to have authority that was unique in the entire world.
“There are so many.”
Min-hyeok sighed softly as he looked through the messages piled up on Hunter Net.
Just seeing the “999+” notification made him realize instantly that it was an amount he could not possibly look through all at once.
What was interesting was that a sponsorship function had been integrated into this message feature, allowing those who donated more to be placed at the very front of the queue.
Is that why?
Major guilds were donating massive amounts of money just so Min-hyeok would see their messages.
“What kind of sponsorship is this…?”
The contents of the messages that came through hundred-million-unit donations were all about wanting to cooperate closely in the future.
It was absurd to burn hundreds of millions on just that, but from the perspective of the top guilds, they seemed to think it was worth the money just for the possibility that Min-hyeok might read the message and consider them as a partner.
Of course, not every guild only wrote about cooperation.
“Is this basically real estate too?”
Min-hyeok wore an absurd expression after reading one message.
‘Why not use us to establish new laws regarding the land and buildings of the 10th Floor Base? We promise to resolve your headaches for a minimum commission…’
Min-hyeok stared at the long message for a while, which had been sent along with a donation.
It was ridiculous at first, but on second thought, it wasn’t a preposterous suggestion.
Although the System provided some assistance, the detailed aspects were currently completely blank.
In a situation where no one knew what problems might arise in the future, operating haphazardly like this would inevitably lead to people exploiting the system.
‘I’ll have to discuss this.’
The 10th Floor Base would only grow larger in the future.
Moreover, another base like this might appear once he reached the 20th Floor.
“Chief. Do you have time right now?”
— Yes! I was actually waiting for your call. —
In an unrealistic situation where a Hunter ranked 3 in Korea was desperately waiting for his call, Min-hyeok hurriedly walked out of his house.
Agents were already on standby, lining up on both sides.
“You don’t have to go this far…”
As Min-hyeok wore a burdened expression, an agent who looked like a foreigner approached him.
“It may be uncomfortable, but you will need our protection for the time being.”
As he said that, he handed over a business card along with a document from his pocket.
Reading the business card, which stated the agent was part of the World Association’s Secret Security Unit, Min-hyeok looked at the report detailing current Villain movements.
[Triad — Presumed to have sent multiple Villains to Korea.
Mafia — Highly likely to approach Mr. Min-hyeok in partnership with small to medium-sized Korean guilds.
Yakuza — Expected to approach Mr. Min-hyeok through ordinary tourists.
South American Cartels — Appear to have recruited many civilians and Hunters within Korea.]
The report showed that major Villain Unions were already moving within Korea.
Furthermore, this report was not made with the World Association’s information alone.
It was a compilation of information involving multiple national entities, such as the US Intelligence Department, the EU Special Intelligence Union, the Commonwealth Special Intelligence Service, and the Chinese Hunter Intelligence Bureau.
“Are they targeting me?”
“It doesn’t seem like they intend to harm you. They also know very well that if they damage your mental state, the loss would be greater than the gain.”
If his mind was broken and a Flawless Clear after the 15th Floor became difficult, they would lose out on massive profits.
It seemed the Villain Unions had also decided to wait and see for now.
However, they were moving to at least create room for negotiation.
“They’re doing all this just to talk?”
“Because the current Mr. Min-hyeok is worth that much.”
The world’s leading guilds were also secretly making deals with the Villain Unions.
There was no reason Min-hyeok couldn’t do the same.
The world’s leading Villain Unions were moving to grasp even a sliver of possibility.
It would be difficult to block them completely.
Perhaps that was why the World Association had also made an unprecedented decision.
“If you wish, the World Association can personally arrange a meeting for you.”
The agent said there was a way to contact the Villain Unions through them.
They were asking that if he ever used the underworld while doing business, they wouldn’t stop him, but at least do it through them.
“For now… I want to move through the Hunter Management Bureau.”
“Yes. Still, it might be more comfortable for you to at least try having a conversation.”
The World Association agent advised that ignoring the Villain Unions outright might lead them to cause trouble, so it wouldn’t be bad to at least talk to them.
Just as Min-hyeok maintained a smooth relationship with other countries by still leaving the possibility of seeking asylum open, it wasn’t a bad idea to maintain a smooth relationship with the Villain Unions as well.
“For your information, some Villain Unions are moving to kill you. That is also why we have stepped forward so actively.”
“…Is there a reason?”
“I don’t know the details. Since that information is known only to SS-class or higher and a few special personnel, an official will likely come to explain it in person soon.”
Min-hyeok nodded with a heavy expression.
Then, a thought crossed his mind.
“Is the suggestion to talk to the Villain Unions also because…?”
“Yes. Within the Villain side, those who want to use you and those who want to eliminate you are in conflict.”
Along with his answer, he pulled out another report from his pocket and showed it.
“As you can see, the main route for recruiting new Villains is through rookie Hunters. However, with your appearance, this route has been blocked in Korea.”
“Ah…”
The biggest reason Villains were being cultivated was that there wasn’t much for rookie Hunters to live on.
To receive proper treatment, one had to at least go to a mid-sized guild, but not everyone could do that, and most rookie Hunters had to join small guilds.
Many of those were malicious guilds that only exploited Hunters.
Even if they wanted to return to being civilians, it wasn’t easy because there were many restrictions once one became a Hunter.
In a situation where they couldn’t do this or that, Villains would sneakily approach them and tempt them with sweet words.
Are Villains dangerous?
Everyone in the world knows that.
But what about those who urgently need living expenses, have to pay a family member’s hospital bills, or are in debt?
They need money.
By approaching such people and entrusting them with work through seemingly legal routes, the Villains slowly pulled them into their domain.
“They now have a means to earn money on their own, and since the support measures for lower-floor Hunters from giant guilds have been strengthened, employment opportunities are broadly guaranteed. This trend will only get stronger in the future.”
The stabilization of the 10th Floor Base had already ruined the Villain forces within Korea; now, it had put them in a coffin.
The Villains who were furious about this had no choice but to hate Min-hyeok.
And other Villain Unions, seeing the situation in Korea, could not help but express concern.
If the entire world, not just Korea, changed in the future, they would end up experiencing the same thing.
“Whew… it’s complicated.”
The 10th Floor Base issue was complicated enough, but there were too many things to think about, such as the world’s leading guilds and the base issues.
“Let’s go to the Hunter Management Bureau first.”
“Yes.”
The moment Min-hyeok spoke, the agents began to gather all at once.
Surrounded by dozens of agents, Min-hyeok headed to the Hunter Management Bureau under the protection of numerous guards, as if he were a president being escorted.