Chapter 586: 586

V54C3P3 – All That Labor Work

“A dragon hunt . Isn’t that a bit reckless?”

“It seems that way . It is too dangerous, having seen the battle between the Hermes Guild and the dragon . ”

The meeting began with a skeptical atmosphere .

The lords scanned one another and withheld their true feelings .

‘This scene is being broadcasted live . Maintaining a solemn tone and somber facial expression is the key here . I will stall for a while then engage quickly at the right time . ’

‘This is a dragon hunt led by Weed himself . It isn’t important that we are successful in this mission; what is important is participating in his plan . ’

‘Exercising domination over the continent? First, I have to establish a foundation as lord . That means I cannot afford to fall out from events like this . ’

‘These guys are all going to join anyway . CTS Media proposed this conference and not a single one turned it down . ’  

The lords exchanged eye contact and hid their thoughts .

‘Weed… Who knows what kind of grudge he is going to hold if we were to reject his offer . ’

‘We will double-cross him when the time is right but until then, we shall serve as loyal henchman . We will shadow him well, so that he will have complete trust in us . We will build trust and make sure that he will never suspect us . Our factions will grow and at the moment of truth, we will smack him on the back of his head!’

This conference took place alongside a number of underlying grand schemes from the individual lords . No one announced non-participation and the day dragged on, finally coming to a conclusion in the evening .

“The users wish for the peace of this continent . The Black Lion Guild will put an end to Kaybern no matter the sacrifice . ”

“The Black Sword Mercenaries will also do the same . We shall lead the front lines . ”

“The Lion Star is comprised of brave warriors . We will gladly join the hunt . Without us, the dragon hunt will be a difficult mission . ”

“We are the Candera Guild, a union reborn from 7 different guilds . We will show what we are capable of, in the name of light and peace in the continent and the Arpen Empire . ”

The Arpen Empire’s lords of several cities and vast lands were all burning with ambition .

Thus, they all confirmed participation in Weed’s dragon hunt without considering the risks .

Weed assessed objectively that the hunt for the Dark Dragon Kaybern was improbable . There were steps to take no matter how badly he wanted to slay the Black Dragon .

“I have to force our probability to be higher . ”

There was no requirement for the hunt other than a minimum level of 400 and therefore, over 500,000 users signed up with more continuing to do so, which was a great asset .

High-level users in both the North and Central Continent all competed to sign up . Though it was uncertain how many would actually prove their worth on the battlefield .

“What are your plans for all these users?”

Pale asked with a spark of curiosity .

To think that he would proceed with the quest storming around with such a huge crowd of users .

He anticipated backlash if they were to be divided and only some of them accepted . Even the users that had no real intention of fighting would feel irritated when they were to be turned down .

“They have to be exploited . ”

“Pardon?”

“What do you think is the advantage of intensive labor?”

“Mmm . Accomplishment after diligent work?”

“It’s different . That is the perspective of the laborers, and to speak from the point of an exploitative owner… Eh-Hem . More heads mean securing more labor force . Expansion of the labor force . This is crucial . Put them on any kind of task, exploit them, and it solves everything . ”

“…?”

Pale could not get his head around it . He was a person with a kind nature who always thought logically and empathetically .

However, Weed’s theory was plain simple .

There is a mountain .

It needs to be moved .

What I have is a huge labor force .

When it came to problem solving, the smart ones will concern themselves about the most efficient method . There were possibilities of achieving the goal using the least amount of effort through creative and innovative methods . Weed was different .

‘Why do you have to think about it? Just make them move it . ’

He had the real mind of an exploitative, abusive owner!

True intensive labor was to get them working as much as possible .

The fault in his system however, was that the users that have gathered before him could not be considered great laborers yet .

They were beings that could think for themselves and see through him .

As civilization became more developed and advanced, people received better education which  resulted in overly smart individuals .

Weed decided to use Geomchi and the apprentices for this matter .

“Master . Please take on a hundred of these people . ”

“Easy . Can I do as I please?”

“Of course . They signed the registration forms, so we’re in the clear . ”

“Kids nowadays are not so keen on listening…”

“I will take care of that . You can take them around in your own fashion . Brothers too, please take on some people . ”

Weed took the users that were exceptionally skilled out of the warrior classes that wielded weapons and left them all up to Geomchi, Geomchi2, the instructors and apprentices .

“It will be alright to put them through danger . I got them to sign the contract, so it is their own fault if they die . Train them strictly and turn them into useful warriors for me . ”

“You got it . ”

He carefully selected the most skilled individuals out of the users that gathered to the proclamation of slaying the dragon .

He planned to take them to the southern desert and fight alongside with Geomchi and the apprentices .

“The higher their levels, the greater their combat strength will become with adjustments to their inefficiency in fighting styles . Moreover, they need to learn themselves of what they need to do when they confront the dragon . ”

Weed believed that it was necessary to transform the combat styles of the users .

The higher the level, the less they engage in dangerous situations . The losses of dying were too immense so there were many that huddle safely and hunt monsters of moderate level at a stable pace . It is as if they are the type of people who became stronger at a consistent pace much like studious high-schoolers that study extensively at their desks .

Even in modern sports such as baseball and soccer, the approach is scientific unlike it was in the past .

Overworking the body wears it out, reduces motor abilities and leads to injuries .

‘But, this is Royal Road . One cannot exercise 100% of his ability if he’s too worried about death . ’

A lot of the users that played rough in the hunting grounds were part of the Hermes Guild .

“It would be helpful if I experience tough battles as much as I can . If I don’t, I will only be a bystander when the battle with the dragon begins . ”

Weed sent all the so-called elites to the southern desert and spoke to the remaining users .

“You will all be going around hunting .   There are commanding officers that did a good deal back in Garnav Plains, and people like Roam-nim and Carlise-nim will be there to lead you all . I will arrange the best hunting grounds and environment for a crash leveling program . ”

The situation was grave with all monsters on the move at once .

He used the justification of the need for growth in order to slay the dragon, meaning that he was planning to mobilize all users in the monster eradication .

“Please do your best . I will only take reports of results . ”

“Understood . Weed-nim . ”

“Roam-nim . I expect a lot from you . Can I trust that you will do much more than the other battalions?”

“I will certainly live up to your expectations . ”

Weed divided 400,000 users into 1,000 battalions and spread them across the entire continent .

This process only took one day!

Those that joined for the dragon hunt did not expect it to be handled with such speed .

Some of them headed to the southern desert and the rest scattered to all parts of the continent .

There was no specific plan set, but the exploitation of user labor and the competition between commanding officers would set everything in motion .

It was obvious that the security of the continent had increased by at least 2 levels with just this plan .

Many villages and cities that were vulnerable to destruction would be saved .

Mapan jiggled his thick cheeks as he watched the turn of events .

“You are amazing, Weed-nim! I thought I caught up to you to a considerable extent, but you overcame another level when you became Emperor . ”

“… . .

Zephyr who was standing beside him thought in simple terms .

‘I guess he’s talking about how fast the matters are being dealt with? How incredible his initiative is . ’

He thought lightly, but the following comment by Mapan was not what he expected .

“K-hu-hu . You really saw their weakness . If the goal was to eradicate the monsters, it would have been difficult to gather over 400,000 high-level users . Furthermore, it would have been impossible to be on the move and fight for days . ”

Indeed, it would have been tough even if a tremendous fortune was spent for it .

It could never have been achieved even with the wealth of the Mapan Association that has climbed to commercial supremacy in the Northern Continent and expanded to the Central regions .

“However, with a few words he changed the ultimate goal into Kaybern and listed this process as a milestone… I bet that they will suffer, but many will believe that it cannot be helped . They will struggle to become stronger . ”

“… . . ”

Zephyr could now see reality more clearly .

All Weed had done was set out a proclamation and spoke a few comments .

With just that, he rounded up 400,000 high-level users that usually cannot even be present in one location, and sent out for hunting like slaves .

‘WIth no rewards involved . With just the meaning of companionship for the greater goal…’

The situation hasn’t changed, but the mentality of the users transformed .

From this point on, the users mobilized in a hard journey of monster hunting will not blame Weed .

That is because the hastily formed battalions will compete for performance, and all of that had become a stepping stone in the grand scheme of defeating Kaybern .

‘With such ease… He drafted an army and threw them into eradicating monsters . ’ 

Zephyr had first met Weed long ago as a comrade and thought plainly about him .

It was surprising to see Weed accomplish incredible quests and become famous, but he thought it could happen to anyone .

Weed always had luck and suffering wherever he went .

‘It was just that he excelled in judgment . Everyone goes through difficult matters in life, but Weed-nim resolved all of it in some way . ’

Weed was a tough cookie, a genius of war, and he possessed a gifted survival instinct .

He was an instigator that knew how to use other users, was capable of planning great strategies and had the initiative to accomplish them in any way he could .

‘I used to think lightly of him because he was always complaining about buying salt for 200 won more . Now that I think about it, he isn’t an ordinary man . ’

Zephyr felt as if Weed, who he met by coincidence, becoming the emperor of Arpen Empire was set in the stars .

“Your commanding officer is me . You will all stick with me . ”

Weed sent the elite forces, warriors and knights to the southern desert . However, he organized the rest of the job classes into battalions under his direct command .

*Rumble-rumble . *

There was a commotion amongst the users .

“Are we really travelling with Weed-nim?”

“I think he’s planning to level us up . ”

“This won’t be an easy job . My level is almost 500 . ”

“That’s amazing . I didn’t think I would get to go hunting . I expected solely quests . ”

“We get to go on air too . ”

The users were purely in excitement .

They felt light-hearted and intrigued going on a hunt with Weed as if they were out for a picnic .

Though, the faces of Pale and Romuna had long turned pale .

“Leveling them up?”

“A crash course at that…”

(To be continued…)