Recruiting Hunters
Dark space. Hunter recruitment. Only a small candle flame illuminated the silhouettes of the people. They sat around a round table made of deep gray stone. It was a chaotic time with the country in turmoil from the disaster's emergence. Naturally, they hadn't gathered to swap scary stories.
"Heard about those 'holes' causing all the fuss lately. What's the word?"
"Don't get me started. Half the village in my sector got wiped out."
"Guess the higher-ups are just a bunch of idiots."
"They sat on their asses doing nothing, that's why it all went to hell."
The leader who asked nodded. "Perfect."
"Yeah, good news for us."
Even hearing about countless deaths, they remained unfazed. Chaos always brought new opportunities and money. Especially for these folks, who made it their livelihood.
"Use this chance to cozy up to the lord. Who knows, we might snag a sweet spot."
"Already planning on it."
The assassination group Crow's Banquet. Sure, it started as an assassin outfit. But now, it was a shadowy network extending tentacles to criminals everywhere like a spiderweb.
"Any other business?"
"Word is Harlan's dead."
"That guy?" The leader's voice held surprise.
"Wasn't he some mercenary with a name for himself?"
"Even if he was, he was just a dumb musclehead. Never liked him from the start."
"Don't underestimate mercenaries. Harlan knew how to look out for number one like nobody's business. Not the type to screw up in some backwater territory."
The reporter nodded. "The place was Armeyna Territory. Nothing special, just a rural backwater."
"Got careless and caught, then?"
"Not sure. But all the officials, nobles, and staff we bribed and set up? Rounded up and executed."
"...That's not something we can ignore."
The meeting, once a casual report, grew serious.
"We had plans to slowly swallow that territory whole. And now it's all gone?"
"They say the lord himself led the charge and nabbed them all in one night."
"...Is the Armeyna lord that capable?"
"The old lord died in a gate incident, so his son inherited. But..."
The reporter shrugged. "He was a notorious wastrel. Hard to believe he pulled it off."
"So Harlan got taken out by that moron?"
"There's a woman who's been the lord's secretary for years. Apparently, she's now his right-hand advisor."
"...So she's the real power."
Even with a lousy lord, a mere secretary grabbing real authority? She must be sharp.
"She saw the old lord's death as her shot, propped up the current one as a puppet, and pulls the strings from behind."
"Handling the day-to-day, she'd know who was dirty."
"Heard she's even got control over hiring for the empty spots."
"What? That means the territory's basically hers already."
Armeyna Territory would soon be filled with her cronies. Too late for the lord to do anything once he realized.
"...Recruit her?"
"Won't be easy. She executed the corrupt on the spot. Not into power or dictatorship."
She hanged everyone we could've flipped, just for taking bribes. No room for compromise.
"Ha! Grabs a whole territory and plays the righteous crusader. What an idiot."
"Still, she seized power from secretary status. That's fact."
The type who stakes her life on clean hands despite power. Pathetic, but always a headache.
"Can't leave a dangerous woman like that alone."
"Harlan's death? Whatever. But Armeyna was a potential base. Can't lose it like this."
Armeyna Territory had decent geography. With aggressive investment, it could've grown into a real city.
"Better no competent leader if we're reworking infiltration routes."
"Keep eyes on Armeyna Territory. Report back, and dispatch agents if needed."
The dark figures nodded. These villains from part 2's main arc were moving faster than in the original.
We decided to recruit more people. I'd legally turned several officials and staff into non-people. And we needed more official hunters too.
The Hunter Association's up and running, but with just three adventurers? Might as well be knights hiring outsiders.
Recruiting regular staff was easy. Tavi handled it flawlessly—just leave it to her.
The issue was my specialty: hunters.
"All F-rank."
That was my verdict after scanning the adventurer list Tavi proudly handed over. Her face twisted in a way hard to describe.
Worried she'd misunderstand, I quickly added, "Not a problem with their skills. All hunters start at F-rank."
"Phew! Thought you were kicking them out for being weak."
She sighed in relief.
"I don't know their exact levels yet. Start 'em at F, raise based on growth and results."
"Ah, that'll motivate them to grind for upgrades."
"Yeah. People need goals anyway."
Hunters grew fast regardless. Gates supplied gear and stats. I'd seen D-ranks jump to A in one clear.
But even factoring that... their levels are meh.
Better than regular soldiers, worse than knights. Though Iana's party—vice-captain level—was the exception. For a rural territory, this was decent.
Still, we need the numbers. Lower hunters to back up the elites, and it's the system's foundation.
Invest and nurture for now. Filter out the real problems, sure.
"Might need tighter conditions and perks to attract strong adventurers."
Mutual benefit was key for long-term. Like my old world.
"Our territory's hunters must sell mana stones here."
"Stable supply? Good, but will adventurers bother?"
"Track 'mana stone contribution.' Not just kills—stones turned in factor into rank."
"Ah, so they'll bring everything instead of skimming loot."
Duty meant rewards.
"Higher ranks get perks. Tax breaks or more funding from certain grades up."
"Won't low-ranks rebel?"
"That's the point of ranks. Don't like it? Opt out. But limits on activities."
No adventurer would bail. Higher rank meant massive perks.
Even in my resource-rich era, S-rank was every hunter's dream.
What about adventurers risking death daily? Official territory employment alone would thrill them.
"'Hunter ID cards' for management would be ideal. Feasible?"
"Like mercenary badges?"
"Similar. Mana-engraved to prove rank and ID."
"Hmm, need to check. Mages are rare; it'll take time."
"Right."
We had a genius mage from the magic tower recently. She'd been hustling—maybe delegate.
"Anyway, that's after we recruit and build the framework."
Just three registered hunters, one team. Even experimental, needed more.
"Wanna sit in on adventurer interviews? Can you call them?"
"Contacting now. Oh, one adventurer's a close friend; I can fetch her right away."
Tavi's acquaintance. Soon, a pink-haired woman arrived.
"Hi, Lord! I'm Lur the adventurer~"
Bright smile, casual greeting. Total opposite of prim Tavi.
Her outfit screamed it. Tavi hid curves; Lur flaunted...
"Wow~ Lord, you're hot. No wonder Tavi raves."
"Ahem! Lur, mind your manners before the lord."
"Aw~ This much?"
Opposites attract? Lighthearted, yet close to Tavi. Odd.
"Hiring hunters for the territory...? Count me in, whatever it is!"
"Without knowing details?"
"You pay fat stacks! For adventurers like me, territory affiliation's a dream."
Classic eager adventurer. Expected.
This woman's...
I pondered, then nodded. "Tavi picked you, so skipping the interview."
"Yay! Knew my friend's the best!"
"Tavi's my most trusted employee. Her rec's gold."
"Aw, Tavi's blushing! So cute! Kyahaha!"
"...Hmph."
Lur poked Tavi's flushed cheeks.
"Let's negotiate terms and pay. Here's my base salary idea."
"Ooh, better than expected."
"Plenty of seized funds. Territory's got breathing room."
"Hee~ Nice. Oh, speak casually! You're the lord, and casual from a hot guy is a bonus~"
"Nah, formal's fine for me."
"So polite~ Noble thing?"
Tavi eyed me curiously. Then Lur pouted at the docs.
"Starting at F-rank?"
"All hunters do. Skill gets you promoted."
"But adventurers vary. Same terms disadvantages the strong."
"Watch."
I led Lur to the window. Below, Iana sparred in the training yard—against the vice-captain. Her growth had her dominating. Overwhelming, even to outsiders.
"Match that? B-rank on the spot."
"Hmm."
No arguing that prowess. Adventurers would know.
"She's a territory adventurer too?"
"First scout. Doubles as my guard sometimes."
"Hmmm~"
We chatted work details. Positive vibes. Other adventurers were ecstatic.
"Giving us this shot! Thank you!"
"We'll protect the territory with all we got!"
"C-rank perks already? Amazing."
They were desperate to join. No wonder Iana's team jumped at it—though theirs was sweeter due to skill.
"Decent batch to raise."
Building from scratch without a system was brutal. Lucky with the "missing owner's" funds.
With this setup, Tavi, vice-captain, and Iana can run it. I'll stash slush funds and bail.
Ditched dreams of city or academy honey pots. Gates wrecked everywhere. Settling for rural farm life.
The hidden master slaying night beasts in a peaceful village—every guy's fantasy.
...Why won't this business kick off?
Needed to sell gate mana stones, byproducts, loot. No merchant caravan in sight.
"Lord, big trouble!"
Tavi's urgent report explained.
"The major caravan headed here got caught in a gate."
"What? Our sales..."
"They're halted. Last contact; no updates, can't come."
...Gates never helped. Why block every plan?
"...Let's go."
"Pardon?"
"Check the issue ourselves, negotiate with the caravan."
Waiting wouldn't fix gate problems. Had to drag our precious cash lifeline personally.