Chapter 10
A few days later, at the Nebula Guild.
The door to Guild Leader Yoo Se-ah's office flew open.
"Se-ah! I mean, Guild Leader! Have you seen this?"
A figure so huge he nearly filled the entire doorway.
A bear of a man strode into the room.
Shin Eun-woo, vice guild leader of the Nebula Guild and the tank at the front of its main party.
He and Yoo Se-ah had been childhood friends.
"What's all this about?"
Yoo Se-ah answered listlessly without looking up from her documents.
Shin Eun-woo approached excitedly and thrust a tablet onto Yoo Se-ah's desk.
On the screen, a streamer was enthusiastically explaining something.
"You know that first-floor NPC the guild members were talking about? This is a video of someone receiving a gift from them."
The streamer was showing off something small and pill-shaped, like a traditional herbal medicine.
<After eating this, my stomach's completely full and my energy's totally restored! I even feel so strong I could stay up all night!>
Yoo Se-ah's eyes widened as she watched the video.
She slowly lowered the documents in her hand onto the desk.
As if in agreement, the vice guild leader spoke up.
"The biggest headache we're dealing with right now is the food problem."
He was right.
Nebula Guild's main party was currently attempting to clear floor 50.
It was a floor themed around wyverns.
Wyverns flew through the sky without a care in the world.
Their aerial attacks were a nuisance, but not impossible to defend against.
The problem was the Curse of Famine.
The moment they stepped onto that floor, they became ravenously hungry.
They could last at least an hour, but if they didn't eat within two hours, they'd collapse as if suffering from malnutrition.
The problem was that they could only carry so much.
They'd managed to get one spatial-expansion bag, but even that wasn't enough.
Trying to get another was a problem—not only were they expensive, there weren't any available.
Every one that appeared on the market was snapped up immediately.
No matter how successful a Korean guild was, it was hard to compete with Middle Eastern oil money and the spending power of countries with reserve currencies.
For now, Korean hunters were pushing through by stuffing themselves with glucose candies and butter.
That didn't mean they hadn't looked for other options.
Some hunters had superhuman strength.
They'd tried loading all their supplies onto those hunters, but every time, the wyverns made them their target.
The wyverns seemed to know their weakness, relentlessly attacking anyone carrying a heavy load.
In the end, Korea hadn't even managed to open the route to the boss room, let alone reach it.
Of course, a few countries had cleared floor 50, but they had their own tricks, so to speak.
The US supplied hunters with miniature combat rations developed by NASA.
Apparently, they'd reduced the size and increased the calories.
They said every hunter had filled a spatial-expansion bag with them and cleared floor 50.
The trouble was that those miniature combat rations were classified as strategic materials, so exporting them was strictly prohibited.
The government was trying to negotiate, but progress was slow because the US was demanding so much in return.
Meanwhile, China hadn't been able to copy them perfectly, and its hunters got diarrhea before being wiped out by the wyverns...
In typical Chinese fashion, they'd pushed ahead with sheer numbers, feeding the hunters glucose candies and butter.
Afterward, the Chinese government announced there had been no casualties and celebrated its clear of floor 50.
Of course, rumors about dozens of dead hunters were spreading online.
Anyway, Korean guilds were in the same boat. With no good solution, their progress was sluggish.
And now, there was an item that could replace food?
And a low-level hunter had one?
"With that, we wouldn't have to waste time taking a shit."
"...."
Yoo Se-ah's brow furrowed sharply.
"As vice guild leader, try to show a little more dignity."
"Ah, what's the big deal? It's just us."
Shin Eun-woo scratched the back of his head sheepishly.
Yoo Se-ah turned her attention back to the tablet screen.
"Let's buy that item up before other guilds or companies get their hands on it."
"Can we just throw money at it?"
"Offer them whatever we can, if necessary. If that doesn't work, offer them guild membership."
"We only recruit hunters who've cleared floor 40 or higher."
"Then let's take this chance to put together a low-level party."
"Got it. I'll meet with that streamer and talk to them."
1.
A few days later, on the Hunter Gallery.
A notice went up.
[Notice: Temporary Gallery Boss Declared]
Author: (Head Mod) Oil Baron Hunter
Content:
Henceforth, the first-floor NPC shall be named Goat-chan.
We've created a Temporary Gallery Boss Reports category. Post your reports there.
Title format: Floor / Location / Gift, Quantity / Item Received, Quantity
Incorrect format will result in a seven-day ban.
Items given out by Goat-chan shall henceforth be called "bait."
Pattern Summary
Meet Goat-chan at least three to five times to build up affinity.
After that, when you give a gift, Goat-chan may randomly give you bait.
If you meet Goat-chan again too soon, Goat-chan will ask why you're back already. (Doesn't count.)
Goat-chan dislikes items from the Tower and likes things from the real world, especially food.
Posts were appearing at a rapid pace in the Temporary Gallery Boss Reports category.
[106 Gallery Boss Report Floor 5 / Safety Zone / Caviar / Bait 1]
[105 Gallery Boss Report Floor 5 / Safety Zone / Premium Ice Cream / Bait 2]
[104 Gallery Boss Report Floor 4 / In Front of Boss Room / Homemade Spicy Pork Lunchbox / Bait 1]
[103 Gallery Boss Report Floor 4 / In Front of Boss Room / Cheonggukjang / Bait 0]
[102 Gallery Boss Report Floor 4 / Tiddy Hill / 1 kg Beef / Bait 2]
[101 Gallery Boss Report Floor 4 / Safety Zone / 1 kg Salmon / Bait 1]
[100 Gallery Boss Report Floor 4 / Safety Zone / 30 Homemade Chocolates / Bait 1]
Meanwhile, another hot topic was making the rounds on the Hunter Gallery.
[Title: What Do You Mean, Temporary Gallery Boss? Make Her the Boss for Real!]
Author: Love Gold Farming
Content:
Any attack on our Gallery Boss, Goat-chan, is an attack on me.
Starting today, anyone who unfairly trashes Goat-chan is my enemy.
Look up at that Tower.
While low-level hunters are staring at the dungeon floor and picking weeds,
who's the one offering us bread?
What have those female hunters, flashing their huge breasts on cam and seducing viewers, ever given us?
Sure, they're nice to look at, but they don't fill you up, do they?
Meanwhile, Goat-chan blessed us with bait, and we got to eat rice and meat soup.
Don't forget.
A nation that forgets its history has no future.
Those who forget the kindness Goat-chan has shown us and stab Goat-chan in the back
are all traitors from this day forward.
Comments
ㄴYeah: This kind of roleplay gets you banned.
ㄴYeah: Gold farmers are going wild.
ㄴYeah: Can't argue with that. Thanks to the bait, I made 2 million won today lol
ㄴNewbie Crusher: I heard the first hunter to find Goat-chan sold them to a guild for 10 million won each?
ㄴYeah: Any lunch recommendations?
ㄴSS Above S-Rank: The low-level floors are brutal right now. They're crawling with top-ranked hunters.
ㄴTower Climber: I heard bait runs are a must if you want to clear floor 50. Looks like everyone's getting ready for it in advance.
ㄴYeah: Ah, shit! Damn mandatory mobilization training!
ㄴSoup-Rice Addict: I heard hunters from overseas are coming to Korea now, too.
ㄴQueen's Devotee: It's true. Our guild's been getting tons of calls, too.
Another post.
[Title: Pattern Change Info (Important)]
Author: First-Floor Veteran
Content:
The pattern's changed.
Until now, beef was the best bang for your buck, but Goat-chan doesn't like it anymore.
Before, you could tell from Goat-chan's expression that Goat-chan liked it. Now Goat-chan seems to frown at it.
Ice cream is the big thing right now.
Keep bringing different kinds and flavors, and Goat-chan will like them.
Goat-chan especially liked expensive, handmade ice cream.
Ah! And don't mess with Goat-chan.
Goat-chan's damn strong.
A dumbass B-rank hunter tried to sneak-attack Goat-chan and got countered.
The hunter attacked from behind, but Goat-chan threw a dagger without even looking.
If it had gone five centimeters farther, the hunter would've been a Darwin Award nominee this year.
Even worse, Goat-chan got that hunter banned from the Gallery.
The hunter got kicked out without receiving any bait.
Comments
ㄴYeah: What a crazy bastard lol
ㄴYeah: That guy's a troll who does this for money. He was messing with Goat-chan on purpose.
ㄴJustice Served: Go here and report-bomb him.
ㄴYeah: Goat-chan doesn't like fish. I gave Goat-chan salmon and Goat-chan didn't like it.
ㄴYeah: Goat-chan liked fried eggs and hard-boiled eggs, too.
ㄴYeah: I don't think anyone's given Goat-chan a hamburger yet. Pretty good bang for your buck.
ㄴPizza Lover: Is Hawaiian pizza crossing the line?
ㄴYeah: This guy needs a ban, too.
ㄴTower Climber: I think anyone pulling stunts like that should be publicly called out.
ㄴYeah: Now I suddenly want pizza.
ㄴSS Above S-Rank: Even the big guilds have sent all their members out. Give us a break.
ㄴLove Gold Farming: Shit, it was 5 million won at first, but now it's dropped to 2 million.
ㄴYeah: 2 million seems like the lowest it'll go. If you hold out a bit, they'll buy at 2.5 million.
ㄴYeah: Honestly, it's basically just a few clicks. Isn't this easy money?
ㄴSoup-Rice Addict: Honestly, I think Goat-chan deserves to be Gallery Boss.
2.
Meanwhile, in New York, USA, at Apex Food, a massive multinational corporation headquartered there.
The company controlled 70% of the hunter combat-ration market worldwide.
It also monopolized various functional foods and potion bases made specifically for hunters, raking in astronomical sums.
A man entered the office of Richard, head of Apex Food's Asia division.
The man was an employee in charge of Korea, and his grave expression made it clear something had happened.
"Director, a new item has appeared in Korea."
"An item? New items dropping from the Tower are nothing new, are they?"
Richard replied indifferently without looking away from his documents.
Byproducts poured out of Towers around the world every single day.
Was the man acting this way because he was inexperienced? Richard would have to mention it in the employee's next performance review...
"Well... it's food."
Richard's hand paused.
"What do you mean? Food is coming out of the Tower?"
"Yes. To be precise, it's in pill form, but just one pill is said to keep you full all day."
"...."
"It's also been confirmed to rapidly boost stamina and energy. And since low-level hunters can obtain it, it's easily accessible."
Richard's brow furrowed.
"You're not talking about the new combat rations NASA developed, are you? If some of those have leaked onto the black market..."
"No. It's a completely different item. And it's far superior. Besides, no side effects have been observed so far."
Richard tapped the desk silently.
ㅡ Tap, tap, tap.
The only sound echoing through the quiet office was his fingers tapping.
Apex Food held a near-monopoly on the hunter combat-ration market.
Naturally, the company wasn't pleased to see an item that could replace its products appear.
Of course, the supply must be tiny for now, or this would be more than just a rumor. But the real concern was its effect.
If it turned out to be a superior version of the company's product, Richard would be in a difficult position.
It could damage the company's image, given how much the company charged for its products.
"How much of this item is available worldwide?"
"So far, it's only dropping in Korea."
"Only in Korea?"
Having made up his mind, Richard took out a smartphone and jotted something down.
A logo that read TC was emblazoned on the back of the phone.
The employee who'd been giving his report asked with a puzzled expression,
"TC? I've never heard of that brand... Is it a new model?"
Richard stroked the phone and gave a faint smile.
"Oh, this? I got it as a gift after making a donation. It's from a charity called the Trust & Connection Foundation."
"Oh, I see. That's very generous of you, donating and everything."
"Haha, it's mainly for managing my image. Anyway, that's not important right now."
Richard gave a firm order.
"Get that item, no matter what it takes. Then keep supplying it so our researchers can analyze it thoroughly."
"Understood. I'll make as much funding available as necessary."
"Good. That's all."
Once the subordinate left, Richard's expression turned cold.
He slowly got up and checked the office.
A perfectly sealed room where no one could spy on him.
Only then did Richard pick up the smartphone he'd left on his desk.
He turned on the screen, opened an app, and looked around once more.
The icon bore the same TC (Trust & Connection) logo as the back of the phone.
When he opened the app, a large message appeared in the center of the screen.
<Your actions can bring joy to someone.>
It was an utterly predictable app with a completely standard layout.
He tapped the blank screen inside the app.
ㅡ Beep.
ㅡ Beep-beep.
Once the fingerprint and iris scans were complete, the main screen appeared.
Richard tapped a corner with no menu, following a peculiar rhythm,
ㅡ Tap, tap-tap, tap, tap
This time, the camera turned on and checked Richard's face.
After authentication, the screen changed to a different, stark page.
[Three Corpses Alliance]
He began writing a report quickly.
[Korean irregular identified; investigate / Threat level: Low]
He hit the send button and closed the app.
Then, as if nothing had happened, he resumed reviewing his documents with a calm expression.