Evolution Theory of the Hunter Chapter 56

Evolution Theory of the Hunter (ETH)
Volume 1 Chapter 56
 

Han Joonseok said,

“They do make exceptions. Some pre existing parties are allowed to move independently. But they are required to register. So it might be a good idea to apply…”

“Wow. Then does that mean we get to create a name for our party?”

Jung Sooah asked excitedly.

“I thought we would just call it Team Jeon Sangmin.”

Everyone gave me a funny look.

“Doesn’t this make it easy?”

“But the name is like branding. Using just your name is kind of…”

“Then do you have a better name in mind?”

“Team. Sooah Love. How’s that?”

“You want to die? Do you want us to die from embarra.s.sment before even going up against any monsters?”

“I don’t think the team name really makes too much of a difference but. Wouldn’t it be better if we went for a name that had more impact? Like…Team Joonseok’s the best….”

“…You were that kind of person?”

“I was kidding. I guess this is harder than it seems huh?”

“How’s team Zero? Party head and unnie both have level 0 skills. Plus it’s easy to remember.”

“Hm. Something about that name sounds too common.”

Manager Kim slowly shook his head.

Even after bouncing one name after another off each other for the longest time, we couldn’t find one we agreed on.

Right when I was about to just decide on using Team Jeon Sangmin, a word whispered in my mind.

“Delta.”

“What? What’s that?”

“I think that’s the name of the new system. Though I’m not sure.”

That was what the manual had said. Delta v.01.

“Hm. It’s not bad.”

“I agree!”

Sooah raised her hand.

And so we had decided to name our party, Team Delta.

If you take route 32, you now come across a beach that used to be the Manripo Beach.

Once a desolate place, it was now packed with thousands of people. There were temporary residences stationed in addition to a busy center.

It was where our country and the West Sea was now connected.

“Wow, this isn’t a joke.”

Sooah said with her head out the car window.

Where there should have been the sea was an endless horizon of new land.

The land was nearly completely flat with some small hills and boulders sprinkled here and there.

“Aren’t there any mountains? I think this is the first time I’ve seen such flat lands in our country like this…”

“From what we know, the highest point is about 500 meters.”

I answered.

The Yellow Sea topography was well known – satellites are amazing.

It seemed that the high level hunters have been getting dropped into the new land by helicopter already.

“But do you think that’s true? That the parties able to clear an area of the new land will be given partial owners.h.i.+p of it.”

Cho Youngoo, driving the vehicle, asked.

“Since it’s coming from the government, I’m sure it’s not entirely false. But the “partial” aspect of it is a bit iffy. It might just be some sweet talk to seduce a bunch of hunters here.”

“So what are they going to do when the hunters all come together and ask them for payment by land.”

“If the government was smart enough to think that ahead, they wouldn’t have operated the dungeons in that half-a.s.sed manner.”

Homeland Busan Dungeon Management Team.

These were the guys who had charged exorbitant admission fees while paying pennies on the dollar for ores found in the dungeons.

On top of that, since they charged taxes on everything as well – you could say they were making income three ways.

The problem I had with them was that they had zero intention of cultivating general parties.

If they had just made the admission fees even a bit more affordable or paid a bit more for the ores, general parties probably would have flourished.

And if that had happened, they would have been able to level up faster and we would have had that much more hunters in our country.

But rather than reduce the fees, they hiked the admissions every year.

It was probably the government’s main source of income at the end of the day.

The hunters were probably akin to a goose that lays golden eggs to them.

But China was worse – from what I heard. They paid their hunters a very low salary and worked them like slaves. Talk about a disincentivizer. If it wasn’t true, China would have easily overthrown us with the sheer volume.

Sooah and gla.s.ses girl disappeared somewhere saying they wanted to look around while Manager Kim stayed in the ccar.

It took 30 minutes for us to complete the procedure of registering our party.

“It was faster than I thought it would be. I thought there would be way more people than this too.”

Han Joonseok said.

“There are probably a lot of people standing by for now. No matter how sweet the payout is, it’s never more precious than a life. And one team can keep only so much land clear of monsters. And who said there are only level 1 and level 2 monsters. This is all so new.”

“And the goal should be the reward from ores and drops from monsters…not the land. Keeping the land clear of monsters that constantly reappear…it’s the government’s way of pus.h.i.+ng off that annoying job to hunters with the golden carrot of land.”

Han Joonseok said in return. I agreed.

“In any case, those two are a bit late in getting back.”

Cho Youngoo murmured. It had been over 10 minutes since Jung Soah and gla.s.ses girl headed over to the stalls.

“They probably got lost track of time doing a bit of .”

“The only thing they sell here are basic food supplies and hunting equipment. There probably isn’t anything they’d be interested in…”

That was when it happened.

POW!

A red light burst into the sky from behind a container.

“That’s…?”

It was far, but I recognized what it was. A flame enchanted arrow.

“Could it be Ms. Bae Yeonkyoung…?”

“Let’s go see first.”

Tap!

I kicked at the ground. I ran almost fast enough to leave an afterimage.

What could it be?

Seeing me running at such a fast speed, the surprised onlookers hurriedly moved out of the way. I left a trail of dirt clouds in my wake.

I was able to find them after running several hundred meters in less than 30 seconds.

This was because there was a crowd of hunters that seemed to be threatening some other person…or two.

“We said we already have a party!”

Sooah yelled out.

“All you have to say is you don’t like us if you don’t like us. You don’t have to lie like that. Hurting our pride.”

Whew.

I lightly sighed as I pushed aside the group of hunters surrounding Sooah and gla.s.ses girl.

“Ah ah….?”

All I did was push them lightly with one hand but a bunch of them toppled over like dominoes.

“Sunbeh Oppa!”

“Party head!”

A look of relief came over both their expressions as they caught sight of me.

A thick hand clamped over my shoulder.

“Who the h.e.l.l are you? These betches said they had a party already…is that you? And you look weak as h.e.l.l too…”

Crack.

“Aaaahk!”

I probably broke that hand.

“We were wondering where you guys were. And you guys end up being here getting pushed around like this?”

“We were just minding our own business when those guys came and threatened us to join them on a raid.”

“Is that true?”

Nod.

Gla.s.ses girl nodded her head.

I heard a rough yell from behind me.

“This b.a.s.t.a.r.d, do you know what the h.e.l.l you just did?”

“Do I have to know?”

I turned around. There were 12 of them. And all of them looked like they had bad att.i.tudes.

I knew exactly what to expect from guys who would threaten girls at a place like this. Trash.

“I guess we need to teach you a lesson. Since you were the one who made the first move, I’m sure you won’t have any problems with us showing you a thing or two.”

“I know that you want to justify starting a fight but do you think that kind of reasoning will go over with the officials?”

“As if they’ll really care.”

“I guess.”

All of this was something that happened suddenly. There wasn’t really anyone on standby regulating it.

Other hunters, seeing the mood, started backing away.

“Sunbeh Oppa…”

Squeeze.

Sooah grabbed the bottom of my s.h.i.+rt in a squeeze.

“Stop trying to get close.”

“…But I was so scared. Really.”

“Well..ok then.”

I put on my gla.s.ses.

Manual on.

Items: Level 2 armor and b.l.o.o.d.y sword.

“What..what…?”

All 12 of them went from surprise to panic instantly.

“What? Did you think I’d fight all of you guys with my bare hands?”

“s.h.i.+t. Everyone hold your weapons!”

In a matter of seconds, things got even more heated. Here we go.