by Yoo Seong
Thanks to that, the sector became 1 km wider and the Laius company had to build a shield around it. The Vice President’s sentiment of ‘ㅜ_ㅜ’ probably changed to ‘ㅠ_ㅠ’. But the official documents had already been sent so it couldn’t be taken back even if he wanted to.
Ku ku ku kung! Ku ku ku kung! Pepeng!
The next day large scale construction began in the sector. Laius had completed a 10 storey research centre in 10 days. Once the large company started construction, a 2 metre high fence was quickly built around the sector and was equipped with automatic turrets and a high density shield generator. This meant all the security facilities had been completed! Disaster prevention facilities such as earthquake sensors were also installed. It wasn’t necessary to apply for sanitary facilities. As expected, the research centre already had most of the facilities. The time spent on construction was just 3 days!
-The
At the same time the quest was completed. The shops damaged by the airship crash were also repaired! In the meantime Ark also bought the Fairy and exclusive route. Ark was able to save that type of money because of the chaotic users. It was thanks to the chaotic battle. He took the initiative during the battle but Ark was still the sector manager. The rights of the soldiers who fought belonged to Ark. He took advantage of that and was able to obtain exclusive loot from the chaotic users.
Hegel’s skill also couldn’t be ignored. At the time 10,000 people had gathered so it was a confusing battle. Streams of water pouring out also made the items more difficult to find. However Hegel had received special training as a Scavenger from the NPC Heksu of the Silver Hand. Hegel’s distinctive large eyes didn’t miss a single item. Ark managed to collect 400 items! The value was worth 6,000 gold. Ark had already secure 5,000 gold but he used that money to buy the Fairy and exclusive route. But the biggest loot Ark got from this event…..
“Hello Ark-nim!”
Bain bowed so low his nose almost hit the ground.
“I’ve finished resetting all the data of the research centre and now Ark-nim is the top administrator. The research centre truly belongs to Ark-nim now!”
Bain exclaimed as he pointed to the research centre. The signpost in front of the research centre had already been changed to ‘Sector S-20’s Management Office.’
Ark grinned and nodded.
“Good work.”
“I don’t deserve those words! I tried to do such despicable things to Ark-nim yet you forgave me! In the future I will only be loyal to Ark-nim!”
There was a reason for Bain’s attitude. Marquis Martin, Ark, Jyubel and the Laius Vice President. The 4 people had commenced their talk shortly after the ‘chaotic attack.’ He didn’t hand Bain over to the courts. But Bain was scared of something else. Jyubel and the Vice President suffered a big loss and Bain was a weakness to them. Of course he would take the fall. Thus they fired Bain. He quickly grabbed an opportunity!
“I will obey everything you say! Just let me be your subordinate! Please! If Ark-nim doesn’t accept then I won’t live for long! The only person who can help me is Ark-nim! If you tell me to bark then I will bark!”
Bain was quick at judging the situation. His life would continuously by threatened by Jyubel and the Vice President. The only way he could survive was to cling tightly to Ark. Ark had a secret deal with Jyubel and the Vice President. They wouldn’t dare do anything if Bain was Ark’s subordinate. The proposition wasn’t bad for Ark.
‘The research centre is mine but I don’t know the facilities yet.’
The Laius Vice President hadn’t attached any documentation about the research centre. If Bain was there then he could use the centre’s capabilities at 100%. Bain was an incredible lifeline to Ark! He didn’t need to worry about betrayal.
“In addition, he was a direction of Laius. That means he is a NPC with the ability to manage.’
Originally Ark had left sector management to Mellin and Hegel. However he saw the situation after returning from Amara and determined that it was impossible to leave it to them. If it wasn’t for Rapid then the population would’ve plummeted drastically.
‘In that sense Rapid is the right person……’
However Rapid hadn’t come back despite a fortnight passing. Even if Rapid returned, he was still a user. He wouldn’t be able to stay at the sector all the time. But it was impossible for Ark to stay at S-20.
“Okay. I accept.”
“R-really? You really accept?”
“But if you even think of……”
“I will never! My allegiance will always be with you!”
-Bain has joined Dark Eden as an intern.Name: Bain (NPC ☆ ☆) Occupation: Clerk
Level: 110 Related Skills: Paperwork, Information Processing…….
Bain became an employee of Dark Eden. Bain wasn’t the only new increase to his employees.
“You’ve become my subordinate but I can’t guarantee your safety. You understand how powerful the opponents are right? So I am giving you a bodyguard for the moment. Kurakan, you stay here with Bain for a while.”
“I understand Hyung-nim.”
Kurakan tapped Bain’s shoulder with a smile.
“Huhuhu. There is no need to worry. Other than Ark hyung-nim, I have never lost to another pioneer. No one will touch you with me here. Hyung-nim, then I have become Hyung-nim’s subordinate?”
“Well you played your role well.”
He used Kurakan’s body to lure the chaotic hunters. And Ark had been thinking about accepting Kurakan. Kurakan was an idiot but Ark spent quite a bit of time watching him. His skills might be a disadvantage but he never gave up and was extremely loyal to Ark. It wasn’t common for a user to keep his promise of doing 100 hours of community service. Therefore he was a reliable user.
-Kurokan has joined Dark Eden as an intern.
Name: Kurakan (User) Occupation: Assaulter
Level: 98 Related Skills: Charge, Rampage, Heavy artillery……
Milan and the Royal Guards were 11 NPCs.
He also brought in Jay and Tori so he had 2 NPC engineers. And he left the research centre and sector management to Bain. Kurakan was the first user registered. Dark Eden was now filled with 15 people.
‘I can increase the level of the agent.’
Adventure points were required to raise the level of his agent. Ark had already collected the necessary Adventure points. It was the same for S-20.
“How about it? Do you like it?”
Bain asked nervously as he noticed Ark’s expression. Bain had guided them around and Ark was now standing on a balcony.
‘This is my entire sector?’
The balcony overlooked the entire sector! The sector was twice its previous size and was wrapped in a blue shield. The extension meant Mt. Fargo was no fully owned by Ark with a lot of pioneers hunting there. The shops damaged from the airship crash were repaired and the Fairy and exclusive route attracted more pioneers.
That wasn’t all.
A large artificial lake was next to the research centre. The lake was filled with dozens of fish that the octopuses could catch. They were the workers from Charem’s food factory. Once the situation in S-20 was clean up, Ark had moved the Charenjok and space food manufacturing to S-20. When Ark first came there was only one signpost in the sector. Now it had all the essential facilities, an artificial lake and a research centre.
*Sector Management Information Window*
Sector Code: S-20 Sector Rating: Lv. 2
Sector Range: 2 kilometres around the entrance of Mt. Fargo.
Sector Manager: Ark (Agent: Dark Eden)
Number of Stores: 15 (7 Duty-free shops, 85% tax of the income)
Population: 3,480
Sector Assets: 1,460 gold
Related Facilities: Research Centre, Fairy, Exclusive Route, Relay Antennas (laboratory facility) and food manufacturing factory.
So he levelled up! S-20 was finally able to grow to a small sector with a Lv. 2
rating. New employees meant he had to relocate his other staff. Once Bain took over sector managed, he entrusted the food manufacturing plant to Mellin. Jay and Tori returned to their primary occupations as engineers and oversaw the related tasks of the research centre. The Royal Guards were appointed as formal sector guards.
‘I’d like to watch the situation of the sector a bit more……’
He had to meet Marquis Martin in one week. And it took 3 days to clean-up S-20. There was still 4 days left but Ark had something he needed to do.
‘Four days isn’t an abundant amount of time I can leave the rest of the sector to the staff and go complete my business.”
Ark’s mission. It was an adventure to an unknown world.
———————————————————————————–
“Dammit!”
Rapid sighed with misery. His cold had worsened and he needed to be taken to the hospital. However the thing that made it difficult was Rapid’s father. His father had stopped Rapid’s connection to Galaxian when he became sick. This was the reason why Rapid failed for log in for a fortnight. But Rapid desperately persuaded his father and he could return to Galaxian. And once again to S-20……
“Did something happen in the meantime?”
The sector was completely changed from what he remembered. What happened while he was away? It wasn’t difficult to figure out. He also knew the pioneers in the sector so he could easily here the matter. That’s why Rapid was upset. He wanted to meet Ark. He wanted to check the answer. He wanted to know. Why could he never win over Ark? What was the difference between him and me?
‘I wonder.’
He wanted to meet Ark again. In the past Rapid tried everything he could to defeat Ark but it didn’t work so he wanted to ask in S-20. Naturally he knew what was required to grow a sector. The crisis could only be solved with money. However Ark didn’t spend any money. He had found ways to resolve the funding issue while still obtaining something from poor users. The process was more important than the results. But Rapid had spent that time in a hospital bed. The problem was…….
“He left last night.”
“Left? To where?”
“He didn’t tell me.”
He took several subordinates with him so I don’t know when he will come back. It was great that Rapid managed to return.
‘Now what do I do?’
Rapid was signing with disappointment when a message appeared.
-A new message has arrived.
The Nymphe vibrated and a new message came up. His forehead frowned as he confirmed the message without thinking.
“What the? Why all of a sudden……?”
Space 5
My Land!
“Uhh!”
“Oooh!”
In the secret underground facility of the NIS. Eerie moans kept on being heard from the underground room. However there was no sympathy in the eyes of the man in his 30s. He just clicked his tongue instead.
“Hey, are they really special agents?”
“I’m ashamed.”
A man with swollen eyes said as he scratched his head.
“These days the army is so soft that it no different from a kindergarten. But aren’t they the special forces of the NIS? The NIS agents that can withstand torture can only do this much?”
“Hyung-nim, are we the mafia? This isn’t a military dictatorship. If we do that than the agents will be unhappy. You should know that.”
“I don’t know. All I know is that the supposedly elite agents of the NIS are whining like children. I’ll say this. It doesn’t matter if the meat on their bones is torn off like wolves ate it. They had to do it without complaining or withdrawing.”
“Hyung-nim really is special.”
“That is my nature.”
The man answered in a curt tone before standing up.
“Seeing these guys moaning in the darkness is distracting. I’m going to smoke a cigarette.”
Hyung-nim, cigarettes are full of nickel, arsenic, benzene, cadmium, carcinogens etc. Please think about your health.”
“Are you a NIS agent or the ambassador for a no-smoking campaign? Is this really the voice of a NIS employee?”
“I might be an NIS employee but I’m still a person. In addition, I’m also the head of my family.”
“Yes, you have to worry about messes on the wall and other crap. I’m a bachelor so I can smoke.”
The man then went outside. He took out a cigarette and started smoking.
“Dammit, what am I doing now?”
The man smoking was Lee Myung-ryong. He had suddenly been contacted by the NIS a week ago. At first Lee Myung-ryong thought the call had something to do with Gwon Hwa-rang. The tycoon and politicians were probably being shielded by the NIS. Then Kang Ho-cheol who guided him around the NIS blatantly provoked him. The NIS was quite a scary place. The provocation had impure motives behind it. The problem was that Lee Myung-ryong was a person born without fear. His DNA was made for battles! The person who called him Hyung-nim in the underground facility was Kang Ho-cheol. His swollen eye was the work of Lee Myung-ryong.
-Today Daddy met a superman.
That was what Kang Ho-cheol told his two daughters after coming home. Well, Lee Myung-ryong turned is face into a swollen rice cake so he needed something to explain to his two daughters. Then Lee Myung-ryong heard an explanation that he never expected.
“This isn’t a SF movie. Lucifer’s recovery……”
He honestly still couldn’t believe it. An artificial intelligence existed in the game. He already died once and now he rose again just to take over the nuclear power plant and threaten the government? How could he believe that? But it was true. And the NIS had already made preparations to deal with it.
‘In my eyes, the headquarters looks more like a game room than an emergency task force room.’
That was the underground facility he had just been in. There were 300 capsules that connected to Galaxian and the 300 personnel were either in the capsules or eating.
“You’ll be joining this team. This is a state of emergency for the country. We’ve contacted the Gangnam police office and will provide you with a room and meals. Needless to say, this is a confidential matter. You can’t reveal anything about this situation to anyone.”
So Lee Myung-ryong joined the Lucifer Hunting team.
‘At this rate I won’t be able to fulfil Hwa-rang hyung-nim’s request.’
The request from Gwon Hwa-rang surfaced in his head. Lee Myung-ryong could determine the severity of the issue. And he was a civil servant. Gwon Hwa-rang’s request couldn’t take precedence over the country’s state of emergency.
‘But what can I do? I have experience but I’m not a person who originally enjoyed playing games. I was just thrown into New World. There are already strong people dealing with the emergency situation than why am I needed? What can I teach them?’
But it was different than he expected. He joined the team and watched for a few days.
“I don’t understand the situation but I clearly know what they are lacking.”
“What’s that?”
“It is will! That is what this team is lacking.”
“That is ridiculous. They are all agents specially trained to hunt Lucifer. They went through a myriad of training without sleep, counterterrorism manoeuvres and constant high intensity training. I can’t accept the fact that they lack willpower.”
“Why is that?”
“T-that is……”
“Frankly there isn’t a large difference in my skills compared to theirs. The difference is in practical experience. The NIS agents have quite a bit of fighting experience. But there is a difference in our fighting experience. I worked in a SWAT team and fought criminals every single day. Our experience is very different.”
“But they are Lucifer hunting agents……”
“Training is training. Do you understand? Actual fighting is different from training.”
“So I will show them actual fighting from now on.”
The members of the Lucifer hunting team weren’t afraid of death. The country was in a crisis! They couldn’t be scared! They had to stop Lucifer even if they needed to step over the corpses of their fellow soldiers. The personnel who committed to this weren’t afraid of death.
…..That was the problem.
“So you’re not afraid of death? Don’t joke around. Isn’t that just fighting bravely? Those guys would just die. And the troops would be -1. That is troublesome. The most important thing in a fight is survival. If you survive then you can fire one more bullet. If you don’t understand that then you will just be playing at fighting.”
“But how can they learn not to fight bravely?”
“They will have to learn with their bodies.”
Once again, the virtual reality capsule moderated pain. The game was a realistic experience but the users would just receive a small shock in place of the pain. But even that small shock could cause irritation.
‘This is the reason why they’re not afraid of death. They aren’t desperate to survive. That’s because it is a game so they don’t need to survive. I need to fix that mindset.’
They had the right person. Lee Myung-ryong became the team leader after joining the team.
“That sounds like fun.”
Lee Myung-ryong’s eyes glittered as he heard a description of the situation.
“It might be difficult to change the game system but this is just converting a hardware. All you need to do is amplify the signal. This really is a brilliant idea. As expected, you understand everything without me having to describe it.
“The pain…..”
“Huhuhu, my body went through it as well.”