Chapter 40

Chapter 40: Resource War

I currently had my rank tag turned on.

Why?

So everyone can be jealous.

Everyone hunting on Floor 70 already knew me anyway.

[Third-Class Officer]

[Third-Class Officer]

[Third-Class Officer]

Sure enough.

The rankers hunting nearby kept glancing above my head.

Then one of them suddenly approached me.

"Hey, One-Star General."

"Why are you calling me, Third. Class. Officer?"

He stopped walking and looked at me as if to say, Oh, that's how you're going to play this?

Then he chuckled.

"You're funny. Are you participating in the Resource War? Surely someone important enough to be a One-Star General isn't planning to sit it out."

"Of course I'm going. It's a perfect chance to rake in Contribution Points."

Honestly, I felt a little relieved.

Having even one more S-rank Hunter on our side helps.

The man standing in front of me was Light.

It was the first time I'd seen his face this closely, but he was an archer who hunted on Floor 70.

It had to be him.

Light looked me up and down.

"You know, our One-Star General looks surprisingly normal."

"Normal?"

Not ordinary.

Normal?

Light laughed.

"There were rumors about your appearance. Some said you were over three meters tall. Others said you were built like a mountain of muscle. Some even said your skin was dark green."

"That's an ogre."

"I didn't believe any of it, but I did think you'd look somewhat unusual."

Light shrugged.

"Anyway, your persistence is impressive. Guess that's what it takes to become a One-Star General."

He slowly lowered his sunglasses.

"Speaking of which, can't you turn PvP back on?"

"Why?"

"Killing monsters is boring."

"The people below us need Contribution Points too if we're going to prepare for war."

"Tch."

Apparently he couldn't argue with that.

Then...

"He's right."

Another voice joined us.

Fist.

"We cannot allow our country's precious oil resources to be taken by a foreign power. Japan or otherwise."

Fist looked toward me.

"Do you have a strategy?"

The question almost sounded like he acknowledged me as the commander.

A strategy?

Me?

A commander?

No thanks.

Sounds like work.

"I don't know. I don't have any information either."

"True. The Tower hasn't told us anything."

Fist nodded naturally.

He had no choice.

Nobody knew how many people would participate in the Resource War.

Nobody knew what the rules would be.

The only thing revealed so far was that the battlefield would be the East Sea oil facility.

The next day.

Preparations for the Resource War between Korea and Japan moved forward at incredible speed.

There wasn't much preparation time, so everything was somewhat rushed.

But diplomatic communication between Korea and Japan continued constantly.

Even if the Resource War was arranged by the Tower, neither country wanted it to escalate into a diplomatic crisis.

Eventually, they reached an agreement.

Officially, it would be a friendly exchange between Hunters.

At least on the surface.

They agreed that only civilian personnel would approach the East Sea drilling facility.

The Association even prepared ships.

But one problem remained.

-Hyunwoo, you still haven't registered with the Association as a Hunter, right?

CEO Park suddenly asked me over the phone.

"No. Why?"

-Only Hunters officially registered with the Association are allowed to participate in the Resource War.

"What?"

Now that I thought about it...

That was actually natural.

-The Association also intends to use this opportunity to identify hidden unregistered Hunters. They're calling it a voluntary registration period. If you register and participate in the Resource War, they'll overlook the fact that you were previously unregistered.

"But if I say I only awakened this morning, what can they do?"

-True. There's no evidence.

In the end, evidence mattered most under the law.

It was also one major reason the Hunter Association couldn't easily go after unregistered Hunters.

But I have evidence.

I could see people's Tower Contribution ranks.

A High-Rank Soldier might somehow make excuses.

But an NCO claiming, "I awakened today," wouldn't work.

There were probably plenty of unregistered NCOs.

Even when I walk outside now, I see unregistered Low-Rank Soldiers everywhere. Why wouldn't there be NCOs?

Of course, I hadn't exactly gone around asking every person with a tag whether they were registered.

CEO Park's tone suddenly became serious.

-There's something more important.

"What?"

-We're outnumbered.

"By how much?"

-More than twice. At minimum.

When CEO Park said "minimum," that meant the true minimum was genuinely double.

"Well... Japan's population is larger than ours."

-Right. More than twice as large.

Naturally, their Hunter population would also be more than twice ours.

Nothing strange about that.

"So because of that, the Association is willing to accept even unregistered Hunters and encourage them to participate?"

-Exactly. This hasn't been publicly disclosed. The number of Japanese Hunters was obtained through emergency intelligence.

I searched the internet.

There still weren't any proper articles discussing the numerical disadvantage.

There were rumors and posts creating fear and anxiety.

But those weren't based on reliable data.

The problem is that the rumors are apparently close to the truth.

Still, nothing changed.

"Whether we're advantaged or disadvantaged, we have to try. Even if we lose, I'll at least earn as many Contribution Points as possible."

-Right. Exactly.

"Excuse me?"

"True power players know how to find opportunities even in a crisis and protect their existing interests."

"Didn't you invest your entire fortune in this? You even borrowed money."

-Exactly. That's why I have to protect it with everything I have. Somehow.

His voice became firm.

-I'll prepare my own measures in case the worst happens. You do what you can.

The call ended.

Is there really a way to protect our interests even if we lose?

Maybe he'd negotiate with the US.

Or Japan.

I didn't know.

But CEO Park was far more experienced than me in that kind of thing.

He might have methods I'd never even imagine.

Of course, the best outcome is that we win.

Anyway.

I went to the Hunter Association to register.

Until now, I'd avoided it because I hated the idea of registering.

I didn't want to be monitored.

Controlled.

Dragged into annoying responsibilities.

But...

If I make a big impact in the Resource War, I'll stand out anyway.

There was nothing left to hide.

And if I want authority...

Eventually, I'd have to reveal my power and let the world know who I was.

Maybe things would have been different if none of this happened.

But the Tower had already created this enormous stage.

The Resource War.

If the stage already exists, I might as well dance with a blade on top of it.

Maybe this stage had been prepared for me from the beginning.

CEO Park's words suddenly came back to mind.

He said to find opportunity in a crisis.

If I distinguished myself in the Resource War, then even if Korea lost...

I might reduce my losses.

Maybe I'd even gain something unexpected.

"I'm here to register as a Hunter."

"Oh, Hunter registration?"

"Yes."

In Hunter novels, there was always a scene where an Association employee looked down on the protagonist.

Then they discovered his true strength and became shocked.

But...

"Then please enter your information at the kiosk over there."

Nothing like that happened.

Everything was automated these days.

"Thank you."

I nodded and completed my Hunter registration at the kiosk.

For reference, those convenient crystal balls commonly seen in Hunter novels that instantly went poof! and measured someone's Hunter rank?

They didn't exist.

So there would be no scene where the protagonist's mana overloaded a hundred-billion-won measuring crystal that had maintained 100% accuracy for decades.

No bystanders shouting...

"Impossible!"

"The Hunter-grade crystal that has maintained perfect accuracy for decades actually shattered?!"

"This will be recorded in human history!"

Nor would there be some misunderstanding plot like...

"Hmm. Looks like the crystal finally reached the end of its lifespan. Bring another one."

"Huh? Why is the next one broken too? Did the entire batch malfunction?"

None of that happened.

Reality really is boring.

I suddenly asked the employee.

"Excuse me. Do Association employees ever work as Hunters too?"

"Huh? Ah... Hahaha! Of course the Association has Hunters under its command, but Hunters don't usually work at reception desks."

"Hmm... I suppose that makes sense. Hunters are field personnel."

"Exactly."

The employee smiled pleasantly.

I casually glanced above his head.

[Low-Rank NCO]

Then I looked at the name on his employee badge.

I'll submit a complaint on the Association website when I get home.

How dare an Association employee fail to register as a Hunter and violate the solemn laws of the Republic of Korea?

As a model citizen who faithfully followed the law, there was no way I could overlook something like this.

Hunter Association Administrative Office.

An employee reviewed the Hunter registration that had just been submitted.

"Name: Choi Hyunwoo. Age: twenties. Rank is... Huh?"

The employee stared at the grade entered into the system.

What the hell is EX-rank supposed to mean?

Naturally, the employee assumed it was a typo.

Not everyone even knew what "EX" meant.

And even if they did, they wouldn't believe it.

Pending!

If the application was marked pending, the applicant would eventually receive notice for reassessment.

Time passed.

Finally, the day of the Resource War arrived.

A harbor near the East Sea.

"How exactly does the Resource War work?"

"We don't know either."

A Hunter waiting in line to board a ship asked an Association employee.

The employee shook his head.

"You don't know?"

"The Tower still hasn't revealed anything. Japan is in the same situation."

"If both sides are equally clueless, then I guess it's fine."

People continued murmuring among themselves.

The line shortened quickly.

Soon, it was my turn.

I showed my identification.

The Association employee checked my information, then tilted his head.

"Hmm... Mr. Choi Hyunwoo, I'm afraid it'll be difficult for you to board."

"What? Why?"

"Your Hunter registration review is still listed as pending."

"So I can't participate?"

"Correct. A pending application means you're not officially registered yet."

"Why is it pending?"

"There could be several reasons. We've received a flood of registration applications over the last few days, so there's a significant backlog."

He continued.

"Naturally, Hunters with relatively low ranks may have their reviews delayed."

"Then shouldn't mine have been approved before everyone else's?"

"...Excuse me?"

The Association employee looked at me as though I'd said something ridiculous.

"I'm an EX-rank Hunter."

"...Sir. Hunter grades only range from F to S."

"That's because the Association has it wrong."

The employee stared at me for a moment.

Then...

"Hmm... Would you mind waiting for a while? Your application might still be approved soon. Please sit over there, and we'll notify you if it clears."

"Fine."

I looked at the bench he pointed toward.

Several Hunters were already sitting there.

As I approached, an older Hunter spoke to me.

"Looks like you're not making it into today's Resource War either."