Chapter 230: The Third Hypothesis (2)

The War Restoration Project, aimed at the entire Yuashiel Dimension, was about to begin.

Reporter Baek Tae-Soo stood at the Gate's entrance, snapping photos of company representatives arriving in the Yuashiel Dimension.

"Wow, they're all CEOs," Baek Tae-Soo muttered, clicking his tongue in disbelief.

A steady stream of visitors passed through the Permanent Gate into Yuashiel. What made today unusual was that every auction participant was the actual CEO of their company.

"It's a rare chance to visit another dimension, especially with safety guaranteed," Kang Seok-Hyun said to Baek Tae-Soo.

"Oh, right. When the Permanent Gate first appeared, the CEOs sent other people in their place, didn't they?"

The Permanent Gate sat on the war's front line under military guard. CEOs rarely visited Yuashiel, especially back when the fortress housing the Gate could only hold the line and never push the enemy back.

Reporter Lee Chae-Eun snapped photos beside Baek Tae-Soo, then turned to her senior, Lee Bo-Ram. "Do you think this is Guildmaster Kim Ki-Rok's doing?"

"Yes. He told me himself that it was intentional when I asked him."

"To block the corporations?"

"Well, partly. But Guildmaster Kim Ki-Rok said it was for the Hunters."

"For their growth, then," Lee Chae-Eun realized aloud.

"Exactly. As soon as a border city becomes a regular city, Hunters using the Permanent Gate to enter Yuashiel would have to travel before engaging in Gate activities, instead of starting right away. He asked the Continental Alliance to slow things down so the Hunters would have more opportunities to grow."

It was a move to foster Hunter growth, but also to keep corporations from driving a wedge between Earth and Yuashiel. This didn't harm Yuashiel either, as the surplus from the steady influx of Earth's Hunters was redirected to other fortresses.

"He emphasized the growth of individual Hunters, not just guilds. Doesn't that mean..." Baek Tae-Soo trailed off.

"Yeah," Kang Seok-Hyun agreed. "It's probably all because of his third hypothesis. He made the World Tree public so everyone could benefit from its blessing, and he set a level restriction on the Permanent Gate for the same reason."

"Hell, huh..."

A world plagued not by demons, but devils. A place where a single monster matched the danger of an A-Class Gate.

Still pondering, Baek Tae-Soo said, "Senior."

"What is it?" Kang Seok-Hyun asked, busy photographing the parade of VIPs.

"Don't you think Guildmaster Kim Ki-Rok is convinced his theory will come true?"

At that, Kang Seok-Hyun stiffened. He gazed up at the sky for a long moment, searching for the right words, then shook his head and resumed filming.

"I don't know. But given his personality, that seems most likely."

"His personality?" Baek Tae-Soo echoed.

"He always prepares for the worst-case scenario. The worst of the worst."

"Huh? Guildmaster Kim Ki-Rok?"

"If he didn't have that kind of mindset, the DG Guild would have suffered casualties just like everyone else," Kang Seok-Hyun elaborated.

"Ah!"

Since the guild's founding, not a single DG Guild Hunter had died. Some had retired due to severe injuries, but there had been no deaths. It was a feat only possible for someone obsessively thorough and cautious.

"Then are you saying the Kim Ki-Rok we know is just a facade?" Baek Tae-Soo asked.

𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

He did, in fact, seem cheerful and easygoing—someone who enjoyed life more than anyone.

This time, Lee Bo-Ram shook her head. "No, it's not like that. He thinks things through and prepares for the absolute worst, but he's also genuinely cheerful. Otherwise, could anyone act as he did during Gate activities or against criminals?"

"So the Kim Ki-Rok I thought I knew and the one I'm coming to know are both real?" Baek Tae-Soo asked.

"That's right. That's why people call him both 'Crazy Bastard' and 'Maniac.' Oh, look! The national representatives are arriving."

After the main auction participants entered, the spokespersons representing various nations slipped quietly into Yuashiel, each accompanied by only a handful of guards. They kept a low profile and might have gone unnoticed if not for the small national flag badges pinned to their chests.

Then, the Hunters Association and the Hunter Guild emerged from the Gate. While the city's residents and Gate workers had greeted earlier arrivals with polite applause, they now erupted into loud cheers for the Hunters and the Association.

Though briefly stunned, the Hunters broke into smiles and waved at the crowd. Meanwhile, the Association members bowed deeply in gratitude.

***

"Ah, ah. Check, check. Mic test. Because I am Korean... One two one two... After the war is over, bam bam bam."

After finishing his odd mic test, Kim Ki-Rok addressed the gathered representatives of corporations, nations, guilds, and the Association from the podium.

"Welcome, everyone. I'm Kim Ki-Rok, your auctioneer for today's construction rights auction. I am a member of the Korean Hunter Guild, an A-Class Hunter, and a close friend to major Continental Alliance leaders. I go by many titles, such as Hero, Hunter, Guildmaster, even Crazy Bastard. Pleased to meet you all!"

"He really is a maniac!" someone quipped from the crowd.

While the corporations and nations either chuckled softly or looked on with indifference, the Association and guilds responded with enthusiastic cheers.

"Oh my, I can't imagine why you'd show up at such a boring official event and even pose for photos. In any case, the meeting to establish the Tower of Wizards will be held in a week, with a training session in two days. Afterward, you'll find all relevant information on the DG channel and the Association homepage, so please be sure to check."

Kim Ki-Rok gave a slight bow to the guild and Association members, then turned back to the auction participants.

"Our original plan was to sell construction rights by nation, but the continent is just too vast. Since this auction covers the entire world, we decided to split the rights by city so everyone can get involved," he explained.

At that, a representative from a renowned British company raised a hand. "Are we allowed to participate in multiple cities?" he asked in English.

"Yes, you are," Kim Ki-Rok answered in fluent British English to no one's surprise.

The British representative nodded and lowered his hand. Kim Ki-Rok fielded a series of questions from various company representatives, answering each so promptly it seemed he had anticipated them all.

***

"He's running circles around them," President Kang Man-Ki muttered under his breath, watching Kim Ki-Rok rile up the company reps and push the bid prices higher.

Ji Cheol-Hyun nodded. "He really is."

"Cheol-Hyun."

"Yes, President?"

"I thought this auction would be more straightforward."

"How so?"

"You know, the kind where the minimum price is shown on a big screen and bidders write down their offers on paper to compete."

"Ah!"

That was the classic auction format, just like in dramas and movies. Ji Cheol-Hyun had expected the same when he first heard about the construction rights auction.

"But this is Guildmaster Kim Ki-Rok we're talking about. The man who openly declared he'd play the villain, making Earth take a loss for the sake of a smooth alliance," Ji Cheol-Hyun said.

Kang Man-Ki nodded in agreement.

"Ahh, since we have two more auction items to get through, I'll switch things up for efficiency. We'll proceed with sealed bids from now on," Kim Ki-Rok announced.

"Why the sudden change?" Kang Man-Ki wondered aloud.

"Probably because the early auction settled for average prices," Ji Cheol-Hyun replied.

"Wow. He really is a villain."

The construction company reps, who had been anxiously raising and lowering their paddles, heaved sighs of relief at the familiar sealed-bid format, but that feeling quickly turned to irritation. Realizing their bidding patterns had set an average price for the initial rights, they scowled at Kim Ki-Rok.

As time passed and the construction rights were sold off one by one, Kim Ki-Rok finally addressed the audience, "We'll take a thirty-minute break now."

"Oh!"

"

Phew!

"

A few people voiced their relief.

"But before that, let me introduce the second auction item."

Those who had started to rise from their seats sat back down. Even those who'd been killing time watching variety shows on their phones perked up.

"The second auction item is exclusive trading rights."

Exclusive...?

The audience buzzed.

"It grants the purchase of monster corpses, mana stones, and more. This is a

trading right,

not just a purchasing permit. In this case, however, it will be awarded to nations, not corporations," Kim Ki-Rok clarified.

Corporate representatives shot sharp looks at the national representatives. Some, who had been trying to join the auction by contacting construction companies behind the scenes, jumped to their feet.

Because the auction items hadn't been revealed in advance, most had expected things like Hunter equipment. Instead, they were now looking at the trading rights to buy large quantities of monster corpses and mana stones, plus the right to sell goods from their own countries to others ahead of the competition.

"Oh! I can see your eyes shining. Since it's come to this, shall I announce the third item as well?" Kim Ki-Rok grinned at the crowd.

The room held its breath.

"Priority rights."

First construction rights, now trading rights, and then priority rights?

While many looked confused, Kim Ki-Rok's smile widened as he clarified, "It's the right to receive support troops before anyone else."

That meant whoever won these rights would get priority access to knights and wizards from Yuashiel. Given the limitations of moving through the Permanent Gate and using teleportation magic, nations on Earth would only be able to get help from knights and wizards. But that was still something.

"Oh! For reference, the Temple Alliance won't be selling priority access to their help. Then, we will resume in thirty minutes..."

Trailing off at the end of his sentence, Kim Ki-Rok managed to make the people who had risen from their seats sit back down.

"For a smooth and quick auction, I recommend that you gather by country and prepare," he said, smiling brightly. "Then, I'll see you all after the break."