Chapter 55: Plundering Japan's Resources
Tower of Fate – Japan, Floor 55.
Near Vein B of the Goblin Mana Stone Mine.
CLANG! CRUNCH! SLASH!
"We've finished clearing this area, Guild Master!"
One of Inferno's guild members reported after eliminating the last remaining Korean Hunter.
Unlike Vein A, which was packed with people, the outskirts of Vein B were relatively deserted.
Inferno liked the quiet atmosphere.
I can't stand noisy places.
His guild members brought over the Mana Stones they'd mined from various locations and piled them up in front of him.
From low-grade stones to the occasional top-grade find, Mana Stones of every rank quickly accumulated into a small mountain.
Inferno watched the sight with satisfaction.
As expected, it's much easier to mine when there aren't so many people around.
That was precisely why there was no reason to follow everyone else to Vein A.
Mining here was far more efficient than getting caught up in the vicious fighting over there.
He glanced at the pouch of Mana Stones in his hand.
It was quite heavy.
Under ordinary circumstances, gathering this many Mana Stones would have been extremely difficult.
But with everyone rushing to Vein A, Inferno Guild had found it ridiculously easy to employ guerrilla tactics and monopolize the mining operations here.
"Guild Master, should we take these to the spawn point? Korea's pulled quite far ahead, but I think we could close the gap considerably with this haul."
The guild member asked with a triumphant expression.
Inferno answered indifferently.
"There's no need to take them back."
"Pardon?"
"Whether Japan wins or loses has nothing to do with me."
The guild member looked utterly bewildered.
Inferno chuckled and offered an explanation.
"In fact, it would be better for me if Japan lost."
"Pardon? Why would that be?"
"Think about it. If Korea takes this Mana Stone Mine away from Japan, what do you suppose will happen to the price of Mana Stones within Japan?"
"...The prices will skyrocket, won't they? Probably."
Inferno nodded gravely.
"Exactly. And these Mana Stones we're collecting right now..."
He tapped his Inventory.
"They're essentially lumps of gold that are about to become much more valuable."
The guild member's eyes widened.
"Ah..."
"And that value will translate directly into power for me."
"Power...? Don't you mean money?"
Inferno smiled at the question.
"Money is a means of dominating and controlling other people. You could think of it as power divided into measurable numerical units. Currency was originally created for precisely that purpose."
"Pardon? I thought monetary systems were created simply to make trade and markets more convenient."
Inferno grinned.
"That's how the ruling class wants the people being ruled to understand it. Currency is a tool designed to make domination more convenient. With just five hundred yen, I can decide which house a delivery driver will visit tomorrow morning. Do you understand what I mean?"
A look of realization appeared on the guild member's face.
Inferno smiled gently.
"Put every Mana Stone into the guild's warehouse. I won't tolerate even a single lowest-grade Mana Stone going missing."
"Yes, Guild Master!"
The guild members immediately began carrying out his orders with perfect efficiency.
This will strengthen my position within the family as well.
Inferno's family was one of Japan's most prominent wealthy families.
On the surface, they were primarily known for their real estate and financial businesses.
In reality, however, their interests extended into practically every industry.
Coincidentally, most of the companies involved in Japan's Mana Stone industry were longtime rivals of his family.
Mana Stone batteries.
Power plants.
Manufacturers of various magical devices.
Although they maintained the appearance of cooperative business relationships, they were constantly waiting for opportunities to tear one another apart.
Inferno recalled an incident from several years earlier when his family had clashed directly with one of those rival companies over the approval of a new Mana Stone power plant.
I haven't forgotten the humiliation I suffered that day.
Inferno had never forgotten the disgrace of being forced to bow his head and apologize.
Not even for a moment.
If Korea takes this mine and I use the resulting surge in Mana Stone prices to my advantage...
His competitors' financial situations would deteriorate almost immediately.
Companies that lacked the resources to endure the sudden rise in raw material prices would be especially vulnerable.
Most would be unable to cover even the following month's interest payments on their bank loans and would eventually go bankrupt.
This time, I'll finally finish them off.
Afterward, all he'd have to do was acquire their companies at bargain prices and swallow them whole.
A grin spread across Inferno's face.
"And one more thing."
"Yes. Just say the word."
[The Resource War has ended.]
[Korea has won.]
[Until the next Resource War, only Korean Hunters may enter the "Goblin Mana Stone Mine."]
The system message appeared.
Inferno smiled calmly, as though he'd expected this outcome all along.
"The East Sea oil field was one thing, but this time, we've lost a Mana Stone Mine that originally belonged to us. The public backlash will be tremendous."
"That's true. Especially since the government invested several trillion yen into this battle."
"Prepare a public opinion campaign. The central message should be that this disaster occurred because the Japanese cabinet is dominated by outdated old men who are only capable of making decisions from behind their desks."
"Understood."
In truth, Japan was a country where it was extremely difficult for businesspeople to enter the center of political power.
That was because its political system had long been dominated by traditional political families that had produced politicians for generations.
The country's political structure had become firmly established around those families.
Perhaps this incident would provide an opportunity to shake that structure to its very foundations.
The possibility made Inferno's eyes flash.
"I called it an opinion-manipulation campaign, but we don't actually need to tell any lies."
"What do you mean, specifically?"
"The fact that they spent several trillion yen and still failed."
"Hmm...!"
"All we need to do is arrange the facts in a slightly more appealing—or rather, unappealing—way."
As the guild member continued listening to Inferno's plan, cold sweat began running down his back.
Our Guild Master really is a terrifying man...!
Inferno merely smiled at him.
Whether Japan prospers or declines isn't particularly important to me.
The only thing that mattered was his own position.
His country, public opinion, and even the outcome of the war...
