Mr. Kim Strikes It Rich with Auto-Hunting [Novel] Chapter 70

Chapter 70

A post on Awakened Net announcing that crafting requests are being accepted.

The author?

The hottest topic these days, the Manpower Management Bureau Director.

Naturally, the entire world reacted immediately.

[The Russian government applauds the Manpower Management Bureau Director’s move… “We respect the decision made for the safety of the entire world.”]

[The US government decides to submit a weapon request for Rank 2 James Moore. What will the payment be?]

……

…

Major power? Minor power?

What does that matter?

The Manpower Management Bureau Director’s weapons are on the line.

Even the US, which already has one, joined the fray.

And because of that, some people were busier than ever—.

Ring-ring-ring-!

“Yes, this is the Awakened Management Bureau. Ah, yes, yes. We are currently not accepting individual requests and are only processing state-level requests, so please understand.”

It was none other than South Korea’s Awakened Management Bureau.

A ring from here.

A ring from there.

The phones kept ringing non-stop.

Notifications of arriving official documents chimed from every direction.

Taking a look at them—.

[Weapon Crafting Request – France]

[Weapon Crafting Request – Russia]

[Weapon Crafting Request – Turkey]

……

…

All of them were weapon crafting requests.

“Wow… I’ve never seen this many calls come in before.”

“The internet is a total mess right now too. 1-on-1 inquiries, emails… Sheesh.”

The situation was grueling enough to verge on operational paralysis.

Even so, the faces of the Bureau employees were bright.

Why?

“Let’s just endure a little longer, everyone. Once we wrap this up, there’ll be hefty bonuses and vacations coming.”

“Oh! Section Chief, really?”

“Of course. With a project this big, the bonus is bound to be huge, so look forward to it.”

“Whoa…….”

“For now, I have a meeting with the Director, so I’ll step out for a bit. Let’s keep our spirits up a little longer.”

“Understood!”

Yeah.

If you work like this, they ought to give a bonus.

Besides?

Just hearing the rumors floating around….

“Did everyone hear that? The amount isn’t finalized yet, but they say if this ends well, the scale of the bonus will be off the charts.”

“They better give a lot. Do you know how much money is moving around right now…?”

“Money is money, but there are magic stones, materials, and even resource priority rights.”

“That’s not all. These guys said they’d even give tariff benefits.”

Conditions never seen or heard of before.

And the target is the entire world.

How much money must be changing hands?

It’s beyond imagination.

Naturally, the bonus will be massive too.

To think this is the influence of a single person….

“The Manpower Management Bureau Director really is incredible.”

“Is it any surprise when the whole world is looking for him? The fact that he’s connected to our Bureau is what’s truly amazing.”

“True…, that’s right.”

Ring-ring-ring-!

“Rush hour again.”

“Let’s do this, everyone.”

“Okay.”

Yeah.

Gotta work.

For the vacation and the bonus.

* * *

The hunter sought by the entire world, the Manpower Management Bureau Director.

Thanks to that.

Awakened Management Bureau Director and Section Chief Yoon Ji-hyuk were suffering far more than the average employee.

“Yes, yes, yes…. Yes. I apologize. I’ll try to give it a shot first. Yes, yes.”

The annoyed look on the Director’s face as he talked on the phone.

You could tell right away.

It’s another bastard asking who the Manpower Management Bureau Director is.

Click.

“Ha, fuck….”

“What is it? Who was that?”

“Seo Moo-jin.”

“Ah, that National Assembly member?”

“Yeah. Asking for the Manpower Management Bureau Director’s contact info and spouting all kinds of nonsense, those country-ruining bastards.”

As expected.

I knew it was about the Manpower Management Bureau Director.

Why?

Because Yoon Ji-hyuk was receiving them around the clock as well.

Still, even so.

“Director, you know, right? We can’t say a word no matter what happens.”

“Do you even need to ask? Don’t worry.”

Absolute confidentiality.

If we can’t keep it?

Our relationship with the Manpower Management Bureau Director is over.

That was the condition from the start.

“I wouldn’t talk even with a knife to my throat, so Section Chief Yoon, you be careful too. Threats will probably start coming from various directions soon.”

“They probably will…?”

“Of course. There are so many bastards in this world who’ll do anything to get what they want, so is it any wonder?”

True.

Journalists are at least cute in comparison.

At least they don’t make real physical threats.

Blackmail is another story, though.

The problem is other groups.

For instance.

Foreign bastards….

Or politicians who took bribes from them.

“That’s why I’m planning to stay in the office without going home for the time being….”

“Yeah, that’s a good idea.”

“So, would you like to join me, Director?”

“Hey, punk. I already prepared a cot.”

“Whoa….”

Uncomfortable as it may be, what choice is there?

We made a promise, so we must keep it.

If we get threatened and spill the beans, would the Manpower Management Bureau Director just sit by?

Not a chance.

He’d cut ties immediately.

After all, that side has nothing to lose.

“But why did he contact us?”

“The Manpower Management Bureau Director?”

“Yes, it’s not like there’s anything for him to gain from us….”

Money?

He could sweep it all up whenever he wants.

Fame?

The Manpower Management Bureau Director?

No matter how much I thought about it, it seemed there was no upside, but—.

“Why wouldn’t there be?”

“Huh? What is there?”

“World peace.”

“Pardon?”

What kind of.

Fairytale nonsense Is this….

“If he stood by, the other countries wouldn’t be able to clear it within three months, so he stepped up. That’s how he’s always been so far.”

Is that so?

Hearing that, it kind of makes sense….

“True, just like with India or Egypt. And North Korea this time too…. Certainly….”

“Right. Why else would someone who kept himself hidden all this time deliberately approach us?”

“Hmm….”

“He approached us with good intentions, so we can’t betray that trust, can we?”

Though it feels like the Manpower Management Bureau Director approached us before that….

Looking at his eyes, he’s already fully convinced.

Well, then.

Might as well play along.

I intended to keep the secret strictly anyway.

If I don’t?

Sheesh.

Who knows.

I might run into that person who claimed to be the Manpower Management Bureau Director’s subordinate in the middle of the night again.

“Besides, the principle of protecting the information of hunters who want secrecy means not even the President can access it.”

“That’s right.”

Yeah.

Strict confidentiality is a natural right to begin with.

Especially for hunters climbing high floors.

The Manpower Management Bureau Director too?

Naturally falls into that category.

No.

Going beyond that, it would be more accurate to call him the top priority protection target among all hunters.

“Section Chief Yoon, keep this in mind. For our Awakened Management Bureau, protecting the Manpower Management Bureau Director takes priority even over the President.”

“I know.”

The President?

Important, of course.

However….

Presidents change with every election.

On the other hand, the Manpower Management Bureau Director?

Irreplaceable.

If we lose a hunter of that caliber to another country, the nation will fall in an instant.

So we must protect the secret at all costs.

“Still, aren’t there a bit too many requests?”

“It’s a heavily filtered list, but….”

The Manpower Management Bureau Director’s subcontractor.

The request forms to be sent to the Eyes of Truth.

Even though we screened them rigorously, there are quite a lot.

At a glance, over 70?

“Can he even craft these?”

“Right. For ordinary crafters, it’d be impossible, but since it’s the Manpower Management Bureau Director, wouldn’t it be possible?”

The all-purpose keyword, Manpower Management Bureau Director.

This time was no different.

If it were normal crafters?

They probably wouldn’t even dream of it.

Those people.

Even making an item with 30th Floor materials takes over two weeks.

40th to 50th Floors?

Sheesh.

At least half a year to a year.

Above the 60th Floor, there isn’t even anyone who can handle them.

Then what about the Manpower Management Bureau Director?

At most, around 3 days.

The problem is.

“70 isn’t the end of it.”

“Well, since they’re pouring in from all over the world, isn’t it inevitable? The Manpower Management Bureau Director will understand too.”

“Is that so?”

“Yup, and thanks to this, the nation will gain a lot of benefits.”

This is truly huge.

Money, jewels, magic stones?

Those are important too.

However, what’s more important is.

“Tariff benefits, priority resource trade…. Once articles about this come out, the country will be turned upside down once again.”

In a good way, of course.

Meanwhile, in the middle of all this.

“What kind of nerve do these North Korean bastards have?”

“What’s the matter?”

“Look at this.”

What is it this time?

Taking a quick look.

[Weapon Crafting Request – North Korea]

It’s a request form.

No.

Can you even call this a request?

“Desired item: Spear. No materials provided. Nothing offered as compensation. ‘We request your cooperation for the peace of the Korean Peninsula’…. They’re completely insane, aren’t they?”

Wow….

There’s crazy, and then there’s this.

What, did the other countries.

Bow down because they lacked pride?

Look at that.

France, huh?

They even offered the partial return of cultural assets as a condition.

Yet, what?

You won’t even provide the materials?

“Anyone looking at this would think they’re picking up something they left in storage.”

“Reject them immediately.”

“Yup.”

This kind of request?

There’s no need to accept it under normal circumstances either.

Even more so right now.

What would the Manpower Management Bureau Director think if we accepted this?

Must reject unconditionally.

“There are a few other countries just testing the waters too. Not quite to North Korea’s level, though.”

“Reject them all. They’ll probably come to their senses by next month and offer new terms.”

Agreed.

There are still more than 2 months left.

They probably think they can easily clear it in that time.

Though, will that work out?

Well….

If they fail, they’ll come back next month.

The current situation is structured that way.

If you have willpower, you’ll clear it somehow?

What, do you think you’re shonen manga protagonists?

Impossible in reality.

So, let’s see next month.

Of course, the price tag won’t be the same as now.

“We have to squeeze out the best possible conditions and send them to the Manpower Management Bureau Director so he’ll be satisfied too.”

“Of course.”

“Let’s use this opportunity to build a solid relationship.”

Section Chief Yoon Ji-hyuk and the Director.

They knew very well.

Patriotism in this day and age?

What meaning does that have?

In the end, it only has meaning if it brings benefit to oneself.

“Phew, with conditions like these, the Manpower Management Bureau Director should probably be satisfied.”

Even after filtering once more, there were 65.

Still….

We’ll definitely secure proper compensation, so he won’t have complaints.

So.

Please look upon us favorably, Mr. Director.

* * *

The requests received through the Awakened Management Bureau.

It was a masterstroke.

Wow.

They sent 70 just for the first batch?

70.

Quite a lot, but….

Even better.

How could I pass up an opportunity to duplicate points?

“Ta-da! One more finished!”

“Okay.”

Rani was excited, hammering away.

I was excited, humming along.

The regrettable part is….

“It’s a shame Rani doesn’t have an inventory.”

If she even had an inventory, it really would’ve been done in a flash.

Then what about piling them up in the training ground?

Hmm.

That’s physically impossible too.

“Yeo Hae? And you orc rascals! Follow Arthur and count, one, two, three!”

“Understood!”

“Workers understand too! Chwik!”

The training ground is the training ground.

Even now, the other workers are busy working on physical training.

It definitely seemed spacious at first….

Is it because there are more people?

It feels cramped now.

“True…. Just how many people are in this narrow space right now.”

Me, Rani, Arthur, Yeo-hae, and even the orc misters.

That’s 9.

Sheesh.

No wonder it’s cramped.

Originally, there would’ve been three more added to this.

“Robin, Todd, and Lord Wunchang are….”

Ah, there they are.

Stepping outside, I can see them.

First, Robin is in his fixed spot on the balcony.

Leaning against the rocking chair, spacing out while looking out the window.

That guy really hates crowded places.

He did physical training the moment he was summoned, but the instant more people showed up, look at him go out to rest.

The teddy bear, Todd, is….

Clack, clack.

Frantically typing away in front of the computer set up in the living room.

As expected.

Busy today as well.

He’s been busy every single day lately.

He might actually be having a rougher time than Rani.

“Well, that makes sense.”

Liaising with the Awakened Management Bureau.

Managing the subcontractor called Eyes of Truth.

He’s taking charge of all of it.

Though, what is he looking at?

Out of curiosity, I glanced over, then gave up.

Ugh, my head hurts.

Something about international affairs, the internal atmosphere of North Korea….

As expected, I should just watch TV with Lord Wunchang.

“What are you watching?”

“Haha, I was checking on the state of the world.”

Phew.

News here too.

“Would the Director care to watch together?”

“Yup, sure.”

Since there’s nothing else to do right now anyway.

I nodded and looked at the TV—.

[Breaking news. Just moments ago, North Korea launched a ballistic missile into the East Sea—]

Huh?

What is that nonsense now….