Selling Magic Scrolls Cheaply

@@@Selling Magic Scrolls Cheaply@@@

In the heart of Seoul's Myeongdong stood the most imposing guild building in Korea. One of the nation's four major guilds. The guild that managed most of Seoul's Gates. Taesan Guild.

At the topmost floor of that lofty building, an elderly man wore a greedy smile. His identity: Kang Woo-cheol, master of Taesan Guild. The thought that he would soon dominate Korea made him unable to stop laughing.

In his hand was a report on a certain project. All plans were proceeding smoothly.

Heh heh... With this, South Korea will fall right into my grasp.

Korea was a country desperately short on hunters relative to demand. There were various reasons, but the biggest was the fall of North Korea. Monsters poured endlessly from the north, requiring hunters to man the border at ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠all times. Until now, they'd forcibly conscripted D-rank and C-rank hunters under the guise of national defense duty, but even that had reached its limit.

Hunters' status rose higher with each passing day. No longer could guilds exploit them cheaply under the pretext of national duty.

Well worth propping up those pathetic fools. This will drive hunter values even higher.

To block the northern monsters, hunters were absolutely essential. In the end, the Korean government would have to shell out big money to hire private hunters or negotiate with guilds. Guilds and hunters now sat at the bargaining table from a position of strength. For Taesan Guild, that alone was hugely advantageous.

But it wasn't enough. Kang Woo-cheol wanted to swallow the entire nation of Korea. For that, he'd prepared two things: a hunter strike, and Magic Crystal Orbs to replace the striking hunters.

Magic Crystal Orbs. These were disposable items that stored magic within a crystal sphere, usable even by unawakened civilians. In other words, if hunters went on strike, the nation would have no choice but to use these orbs to defend the border.

I shelled out a fortune in patent fees for this tech... but it's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠fine. I'll make it back and more.

The technology to craft Magic Crystal Orbs was proprietary to an American guild. Using it required paying patent fees. But it was worth it. Thanks to that, Taesan Guild had secured exclusive production rights in Korea. Now, only Taesan could make them here.

Once Magic Crystal Orbs hit full commercialization, the value of C-rank and D-rank hunters would plummet. Meanwhile, B-rank and above would skyrocket—since orbs couldn't replace them.

First, mass-produce for price competitiveness. Once we've shoved out those worthless low-rankers, jack up the prices bit by bit.

By then, the striking hunters would realize they'd been duped. But there'd be nothing they could do. They'd just get swept away by the new Taesan wave.

Heh heh... Even that annoying World Hunter Association charter comes in handy this time.

Taesan might monopolize Magic Crystal Orb production in Korea, but only in Korea. If China or India started mass-producing them, Taesan would lose its edge. But no worries there—items with lethality couldn't be traded internationally. If the Korean government wanted orbs, they'd have to buy Taesan's.

Politicians are already prepping regulations, but that's no threat. I can handle that myself.

If Kang Woo-cheol had lived cleanly, he never would've climbed this high. Regulations? Bribe a few politicians, done.

The riskiest variable was Baek Minwoo... that madman. But for some reason, he hasn't shown his face in months.

Kang Woo-cheol's biggest worry had been none other than Baek Minwoo. No one could predict that guy's moves. To the public, he was just Korea's guardian. But A-rank hunters and above knew better. He wasn't some protector. Baek Minwoo was a battle-crazed lunatic, nothing more.

Baek Minwoo doesn't move for money. He'd go anywhere as long as he could fight.

If the government asked, Baek Minwoo would single-handedly slaughter every monster from the North. Money meant nothing. What mattered was the gore-soaked battlefield, flesh tearing free. He'd do it in a heartbeat.

Fortunately, Baek Minwoo hadn't appeared in months. That let Kang Woo-cheol advance his plans smoothly.

Heh heh. Perfect. Just perfect.

Kang Woo-cheol lounged on his luxury sofa, envisioning a future where he ruled Korea. No matter how many times he pictured it, the delicious scene never got old.

Then someone knocked on the office door. With permission, in came his secretary—a woman pale as a ghost. She began her report with a stricken expression.

"S-Sir... You need to see this..."

The once-in-a-generation prodigy shaking the world was Korean. Realizing that, Kang Woo-cheol wanted to recruit Bri at any cost. He hadn't seen full power yet, but the potential was at least A-rank. Plus, snagging Bri would symbolize Taesan as Korea's top guild. Money was no object—Taesan could recoup it through Bri.

Kang Woo-cheol was about to tell his secretary to recruit Bri fast. But he couldn't.

Because he'd seen the post by Bri's master.

"...Ah."

A true cataclysm had descended upon the hunter world.