Chapter 305

Chapter 305. Spotlight (7)

The headquarters of the Palao Guild was located in Gangnam.

During the week of nightmares, there were buildings that didn’t sustain any damage, and I set up the guild office in one of those buildings.

I was able to secure a spot right in the heart of Gangnam, where the land prices were exorbitant, thanks to my reputation.

As soon as I contacted real estate agents to find a suitable location for the guild office, I received offers from all over.

“They must have thought having the Palao Guild’s headquarters in the building would be beneficial.”

Just like that, without paying a penny for rent, it had been slightly less than two months since I established the guild office in the heart of Gangnam.

And today, the area in front of the building where the office was located was crowded with reporters.

“Tsk.”

I had received reports of their arrival, but seeing them in person was unavoidably irksome.

“Someone from the camp must have reported seeing me…”

If it was known that I personally brought the Biharin, they would be desperate to find out who they were.

“Annoying.”

Fortunately, due to the dark tinting, the interior of the vehicle was not visible from the outside.

I just needed to avoid the crowd and enter the building to escape the unwanted attention.

At that moment, security guards who had identified my vehicle began pushing the reporters aside to clear a path.

“Mr. Kang Hyunwoo! We’ve heard that you visited the camp directly!”

“Who are the people who moved with you?!”

“Who did you recruit into the Palao Guild?!”

“When do you plan to disclose their information?!”

“Please roll down the window just once!”

Ignoring all the noise coming from outside, I turned the steering wheel.

The vehicle smoothly rounded the curve and entered the underground parking lot.

Ahel, who was fixated on the rear, asked immediately afterward.

“Are those the ‘reporters’?”

“Yes, they’re quite troublesome.”

“Hmmm…”

“Just to prevent any misunderstandings, not all reporters or press members come unannounced like that.”

Some respectable media outlets formally request interviews and coordinate schedules.

Even at the scene where Holes appear, they wait outside the controlled area for players to exit.

They prioritize writing articles based on official announcements from the guild rather than speculative reports.

But as is the case everywhere, there is no perfect group.

Small media outlets or outlets that produce tabloid content frequently resort to intrusive tactics.

The reporters who caused a commotion at the gate entrance last time were precisely from such places.

Looking at recent articles or videos, there’s little difference near Holes either.

Seeing secretly filmed videos and photos circulating from prohibited areas, it’s evident.

“It’s not like we can’t prevent them from shadowing us in daily spaces.”

In dangerous areas where battles might occur, allowing such behavior to continue is out of the question.

“For those who don’t listen, there’s no choice but to deal with them through other means.”

Just in time, Squad Leader Yang Jochul had given me some good news.

So, this issue would likely be resolved soon.

I parked the car while anticipating the day, which was not far away.

“Let’s get out.”

“Is this K’s mansion?”

Ahel, who unbuckled his seatbelt first and followed me out, asked another question.

“First of all, I don’t have a mansion, and this place isn’t my home; it’s my workplace. Players are considered special conscripts for military service globally.”

“Should I interpret that as military?”

“It’s more accurate to view it as a private military company rather than a state-sponsored military. If I was to compare, it functions similarly to a mercenary group.”

If there was a government that tried to enforce military obedience on players just because they became players, even without questioning.

‘Just the thought is terrifying.’

They would have to risk a coup by players.

Naturally, the winner of that coup would be the players.

“Is it because of the ideology of freedom?”

“Well learned.”

“Thank you for the compliment. But there are parts I don’t understand. If the guild is a militant group like a mercenary group, how is it operated?”

A mercenary group essentially provides force to other groups in exchange for money.

“And that money is used to pay the members.”

Ahel’s question isn’t a simplistic inquiry into how guilds, clans, or associations pay their members.

“Where does the guild get its money? Does it come from the royal family, or rather, the government? As a payment for supplying force? How long do you think the government can afford that money? The tax system of Earth’s nations is limited too, right?”

He’s asking how a guild, as an entity, sustains itself.

If it relied on the government, it would become unstable the moment the support falters.

Believing that closing Holes or slaying monsters can’t be profitable is what prompts such a question.

I decided to inform him that the premise of his question was incorrect.

“Players and related groups fundamentally have three ways to secure funding.”

The first is through the loot collected from Bihar.

Apart from simple treasures, relics, magic tools, and spirit stones found in the field can be converted into cash through the Guardian’s auction marketplace.

The Player Association manages this industry, and since the opening of the auction, the scale of transactions has been increasing two to three times monthly.

“The second is the payment received from the state every time a Hole is closed.”

Of course, it would be petty cash to consider as the main source of income. Some countries don’t provide it due to budget issues.

“Korea provides it.”

The implications were varied, but only one was noteworthy.

“Government budgets, made up of citizens’ taxes, are used for the survival of the state.”

So receiving money for closing Holes acknowledges that the act of risking one’s life to close Holes is essential for the state’s survival.

Similarly, if a player dies, a subsidy is provided.

Both the association and the government share the costs and provide it to the bereaved families, as I understand.

“But private military enterprises like guilds and clans have a different way of earning money.”

Thanks to Earth’s capitalism, which also shone through in this absurd alien invasion war.

Dozens of major corporations had established industries to utilize monster carcasses within a few months.

“New Safety Industry.”

It was an industry that created items capable of providing safety using monster hides and bones.

Vehicles, windows, clothes, bags, and various products such as camps and sleeping bags for emergency use were all included.

With the rapid growth of the new industry, monster carcasses were being traded more frequently, and a market for them was forming, with higher prices given for high-tier evolved species carcasses.

As long as this war does not end, businesses using carcasses cannot decline.

The market’s consumers are spread across the entire globe.

When it comes to life-and-death issues, who would hesitate?

As such, leading companies worldwide are pouring investment into the industry.

Thanks to that, aside from the loot recovered from Biharin, there is a definite source of income.

Guilds can be operated more systematically and efficiently like corporations.

“Do you mean using monster carcasses? But to those who cannot handle mana, everything related to black blood would be poisonous.”

As Jordan mentioned, to those who cannot handle mana, black blood or monster carcasses are indeed poisonous.

That’s why Biharin couldn’t utilize monster carcasses.

Only entities like priests or mages could solve such problems.

But, assigning manpower was neither easy due to vested interests nor practically feasible.

Yet, this was Earth, not Biharin.

A world lined with automated factories stemming from the industrial revolution.

“If a way is found to neutralize that poison, that’s the solution.”

Utilizing the medical knowledge and scientific advancements humanity accumulated through countless sacrifices made it possible.

“It’s been more than a year since Earth’s governments recognized the existence of monsters.”

Enough time had passed for results to emerge.

Production from factories just needed to happen once items with toxins neutralized were ready.

“They’d need to replace factory equipment due to the toughness of the materials.”

First and second-generation products were already on the market.

As I explained, the elevator arrived. I shared some general information about the guild while the elevator ascended.

“The Palao Guild occupies the 12th and 13th floors of this building, totaling about 27H. Around 80 people work internally.”

“It’s not as many as I thought…”

“Not many people are needed for electronic processing.”

Currently, over 95% of the guild’s members are players.

They spend more time out in the fields where Holes appear than in the office.

Players visiting the guild headquarters are relatively rare.

Thus, the types of jobs requiring office use were limited and spread around the world.

This is why the headquarters of a large guild with more than 1.7 million members could function with just a two-floor office.

Jordan nodded, appearing to understand as if he was connecting the dots.

“Is the program I am supposed to learn used here?”

“Yes, you’ll soon meet your instructor… or rather, your superior. They’ll teach you.”

Shortly after the conversation wrapped up, the elevator reached its destination.

As I entered the corridor, I instantly declared an area of effect.

A few players had visited, so corrupted mana lingered on the 12th floor.

I purified them and proceeded to my private office.

Afterward, I seated the three on a sofa and prepared a pen for them.

“It seems like I’ve provided all the necessary information on our way here. Please sign here, and provide your fingerprint there.”

As if signaling them to finalize any remaining decisions, Ahel and Jordan immediately picked up their pens.

Soon after, I received the contract bearing both their names and fingerprints.

During that time, Rashar merely stared at the document instead of picking up the pen.

It must have been an unexpected development for Ahel and Jordan who were bewildered, turning their eyes on Rashar.

In that silence, Rashar asked her first question.

“… It states here that as a member of the guild, one is recruited for battles to protect Korea, earth, and humanity.”

“That’s correct.”

“Am I getting paid for that?”

Her tone was inherently negative.

Yet I couldn’t lie, so I nodded honestly.

“You learned the basic social systems of Korea, didn’t you?”

“Democracy, right?”

“And capitalism too.”

“I… learned.”

“Rewards align with one’s capabilities here. Isn’t it the same in Bihar where skilled knights earn higher salaries? No difference here.”

Though the explanation concluded, Rashar gave no rebuttal nor response.

“You… seemed concerned about other refugees. If it’s because of that, signing might be preferable. Your annual salary could help quite a few.”

Adding one more suggestion without waiting patiently for a reply was proof of my anxiety.

Honestly, since reuniting with Rashar, every moment made me anxious.

She hadn’t welcomed me back at all.

‘To rebuild our relationship, we need to see each other often.’

For that, it would be best if she were in the same guild, under my influence.

Yet it seemed the first step of the plan would be disrupted, so my anxiety only deepened.

In the end, I couldn’t wait any longer, and spoke again.

“If you’re worried about the perception of Biharin, by making significant contributions here and protecting Earth, you can improve that view. Everyone will develop a favorable perception because of what you achieve.”

Though it was anxious words, they weren’t merely pleasant-sounding lies.

Damned System