Chapter 53: Plundering Japan's Resources
Yasha spoke in a serious tone.
"However, by now, the Korean Hunters have probably heard rumors that the next Resource War will take place inside the Japanese Tower."
Shura picked up where he left off.
"Even if they have a map, there's no way they can memorize it all in a single day. And even if they do, knowing the layout in your head and actually navigating it in the field are two completely different things. You've all cleared that floor, so you know what I'm talking about."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
The Tower has practically handed us this opportunity to make up for our previous two mistakes. There's no way we can lose.
That was the conclusion the Japanese Hunters reached.
Yasha spoke again.
"More importantly, we also have the equipment and supplies provided by the government."
He brought up the next set of documents.
It was a list of newly acquired items.
Exclamations of admiration could be heard throughout the video conference.
Mana barriers far stronger than their previous protective equipment.
Potions that increased resistance to status effects, restored mana, and provided various other enhancements.
Detection-type items specialized for underground combat.
And even high-grade equipment distributed according to each Hunter's individual fighting style.
An extraordinary amount of money had been spent.
It was proof of just how much funding the Japanese government had committed to this battle.
Katana whistled.
"If we lose after receiving this much support, we'll practically be branded traitors, won't we?"
And so, the Japanese Hunters completed their preparations for the coming battle.
Meanwhile, in Korea.
"Hmm..."
I was browsing the Hunter Inventory forums.
[Required Reading: Urgent Announcement Concerning Japan's Floor 55]
I'd already heard most of the announcement's contents from the Chairman's secretary, so I skimmed over it.
Instead, I decided to read the comments.
[Comments: 4,181]
- This time we're fighting on Japan's home turf, so things might be different.
- The Mana Stone Mine on Floor 55 is seriously a maze.
- I go to Floor 55 every day. I know it like my own house, so it's fine.
┗ The Korean and Japanese Towers have different layouts.
┗ Gasp.
┗ Seriously??
[Breaking News: Japanese Government to Provide Massive Support to Hunters Participating in the Resource War]
- The Japanese Diet has allocated a budget worth several trillion yen and is distributing all kinds of equipment and items to its Hunters. Shouldn't we be seriously worried about this?
[Comments: 5,454]
- What the hell is our government doing?
┗ If our government gives Hunters financial support, civic organizations and the opposition party will raise hell.
┗ Seriously. There'd be riots.
┗ Yep. The president would probably get impeached for that, lol.
- Where's our country supposed to get the money? We can't even afford to pay all the high-oil-price subsidies, let alone Hunter support.
- To be fair, Hunters do earn a lot of money, so it's hard to complain about that.
┗ All that money disappears into equipment, consumables, and enhancement items.
┗ But you still earn a lot, don't you?
- Honestly, I think Hunters who are B-rank or higher should get two votes in elections. S-rank Hunters should get five.
┗ What kind of bullshit is that? Are non-Awakened people not citizens anymore?
┗ So you're saying it makes sense for a Dragon and a goblin bastard to have the same single vote?
"Are you looking at Hunter Inventory?"
The Chairman's secretary asked when he noticed me staring blankly into space.
[Low-Rank Soldier]
The Chairman's secretary was also a Hunter, although that didn't mean very much.
Apparently, he was F-rank.
"Yes. It's pretty chaotic. Everyone's complaining that our government isn't giving Hunters financial support."
"Ah... There has been growing controversy lately over the conflict between Hunters and ordinary citizens."
"Really?"
"Yes. Well, those disagreements have always existed to some extent, but Japan's recent actions have made them considerably worse."
Japan's strategy was even causing political conflict within Korea.
"Those wicked bastards."
I'd make sure to strip their Mana Stone Mine completely bare.
The following day.
The day of the Resource War.
As the scheduled time approached, a system message appeared before every Hunter who had entered the Tower.
[The Resource War will begin in ten minutes.]
[Gates leading to the Japanese Tower will open at random locations throughout the Korean Tower.]
"A Gate?"
It felt a little strange, considering that my own ability involved opening Gates.
I wonder how this is going to work.
Would a Gate simply appear right in front of us?
Most Hunters were either hunting or waiting inside the Tower until the appointed time.
It was impossible to gather everyone in one place and arrange them into orderly lines.
After all, there were bound to be people like me who preferred acting independently.
Eventually, ten minutes passed.
[Gates leading to Floor 55 of the Japanese Tower of Fate, "Goblin Mana Stone Mine," have opened throughout the Tower.]
WHOOOOM!
A majestic sound rang out, and I felt an invisible wave spread through the air.
FWOOOSH!
I immediately spread my Knight Commander's Wings and flew toward the source of the wave.
Soon, a very familiar-looking Gate came into view.
It really does look similar to my Gates.
In truth, I didn't have anything that could really be called a strategy.
Nobody had explained exactly how the Resource War would work.
Besides, it wasn't as though I had any way to command all the Hunters participating in it.
The one fortunate thing was that I'd received a map of Japan's Floor 55 from the Association in advance.
Anyway, I soon threw myself into the Gate.
Tower of Fate – Japan, Floor 55.
Goblin Mana Stone Mine.
A faint red light rose from beneath the feet of the Korean Hunters who crossed through the Gates.
FLASH! FLASH!
Dozens, then hundreds of people appeared in succession amid the flashes of light.
"Looks like this is our spawn point."
"Let's head deeper into the mine first!"
"Let's goooo!"
The Hunters gripped their weapons and rushed into the dark mine tunnels.
However...
"Wait... Which way are we supposed to go?"
"Isn't it this way? No, maybe it's that way?"
"All the passages look exactly the same!"
"Even if they looked different, we'd still be in the same situation."
The Korean Hunters quickly lost their sense of direction inside the maze of interconnected tunnels.
And the Japanese Hunters wasted no time taking advantage of the confusion.
They emerged from every direction.
"There they are!"
