abcnovels
Chapter 371
Chapter 371
Chapter 371
Money doesnt lose value over time, Choi Yeonseung replied as though he found it absurd.
It was true that he was significantly wealthier compared to when he was a C-grade hunter a long time ago. He figured that if he just took into account the number of monsters he had killed since he had returned to Earth, he would still end up with more money than medium-sized clans and companies.
Even if he just estimated the monsters he killed since coming back to Earth, it could easily exceed the sales of the small and medium-sized clans and companies.
Regardless, Choi Yeonseung was also spending a lot of money. His goal wasnt for him to live comfortably in the first place. At the moment, there were several companies under Dragon Industry that were in the red.
From new companies researching magic and technology to training hunters, Dragon Industry was pouring money into everything.
Of course, the company gained the profits from all the monsters Choi Yeonseung killed...
Huh?! If money doesnt lose its value, why bother with the shield?
Be quiet, your bastard! Im sure Hunter Choi Yeonseung has his reasons.
Does he owe anyone?
Did the Korean government seize his property?
The Korean government cant do something like that unless they are crazy.
But the Chinese government has done it a few times.
I-is that so? But thats a different matter...
Choi Yeonseung sighed at the ridiculous chatter of the Mount Hua Sect hunters. He said, Itll cost a lot of money, but it cant be helped. So lets put up the shield already.
After the Abyssal gate opened on Earth and dungeons and monsters suddenly emerged in city centers, people started worrying about something.
Can we keep cities safe from monsters?
They had come up with all sorts of creative ideas, and some of them had even been tested. In the end, shields had turned out to be the most effective defensive measure out of all the ideas. After all, there were more than a hundred types of spells to cast shields.
People could erect a magic barrier by placing magic artifacts around the city and then activate them with the cores taken from monsters!
Monsters had a really hard time breaking through such barriers, and even if they did, everyone would be alerted immediately. It was truly a great defensive system.
...Except for the cost of setting it up.
-So we have to put artifacts all over the place and constantly use monster cores to keep them active?
-Do you know how much power you can supply to a city with cores of that value?Keeping the barrier active for just one month is enough to bankrupt the entire city!
The cores, which contained the concentrated magic power of monsters, were being used in too many places.
They were being used the most in power plants! The magic power of these cores allowed for eco-friendly energy production, consequently replacing nuclear energy. Therefore, people were reluctant to use such a valuable material in order to erect a shield that may or may not be necessary.
It was only natural that some people opposed it.
Arent shields being used for places like the US Capitol?
Ive heard that people who are really rich use these kinds of shields to protect their mansions.
Last time I went to such a mansion I was told that there was a shield. But most of them usually have it turned off.
The Mount Hua Sect hunters looked at Choi Yeonseung with worried expressions as they whispered among themselves. They were worried that their boss might go bankrupt for doing something righteous.
H-Hunter Choi Yeonseung. We can just work twice as hard. The shield is a bit...
Isnt it cheaper to use people?
People might die, but if we ignore the financial implications of the shield...
Shut up already! Go and stand guard! Choi Yeonseung chased away the Mount Hua Sect hunters.
...Still, he couldnt help feeling a bit uneasy.
Am I overreacting?
Choi Yeonseung asked Kwon Yeongseung and Han Seha, who were next to him, about this.
Its a bit expensive...
No? I guess you dont mind other selfish bastards doing bad things for money?
...It might seem expensive, at least in my eyes, but I nevertheless consider human life infinitely more important than money!
Kwon Yeongseung quickly changed his words. He realized that if he said the wrong thing here, Han Seha would treat him like a psychopath. In addition, she wouldnt just swear at him here. She would also say things like Kwon Yeongseung is a psychopathic bastard! in interviews.
Umm.
Choi Yeonseung frowned. He wasnt planning on shielding the city only because it was the right thing to do.
He concentrated on the matter of the shield, searching for different outcomes with Future Sight. Indeed, not installing the shield would result in too much damage. All sorts of facilities were in ruins, hunters passed out from exhaustion, and numerous civilian casualties
[The Goddess of Balance Who Walks Ahead tells you that your idea of putting up the shield isnt wrong.]
-Thank you.
Choi Yeonseung was a bit moved. He felt reassured that the goddess supported him and considered his idea to be correct.
[The Cat of Lava and Magma is tilting its head and wondering if this is really the case. Isnt it better to risk a few humans dying...?]
[The Manipulator of Dreams and Desires is also worried that the financial damage would be too much.]
-...Can you really speak like that when its not even your race that is in danger?
Choi Yeonseung was dumbfounded. It wasnt their race that was at risk of being attacked!
***
[In regards to the reparations in New Oregon, Peleza reveals that it will build walls that no monsters will be able to get past...]
[Rumors of discord between Peleza, Raiden Holdings, and Klein? An anonymous source has testified that heated arguments have been taking place!]
[Are the so-called revolutionary cities in the Abyss truly safe?]
Hundreds of articles were being published every day, but the parties involved were too busy to care about them.
It wasnt just Choi Yeonseung who was worried about the safety measures in the city made by Dragon Industry. All the companies who stepped into the Abyss were like this.
They knew that they could be buried if they didnt handle things like this properly.
-Look.Youve seen it on the news, right?If there are casualties due to poor management, you will never receive any support from anyone.I will go to Congress myself and denounce you if something happens.
-I-I understand, Congressman.
Given the recent fiasco, everyone from around the world was holding these revolutionary cities under the microscope. Everyone was anxious regarding them, and understandably so, as this was the first accident that occurred in a newly built city in the Abyss.
How companies overcame this situation could very well determine the direction which humanity would take in the future.
...However, the cost of dealing with this situation was something else entirely
Why dont we put up a shield and activate it, at least temporarily?
Are you insane? Will money fall from the sky? How are you going to cover all the costs?
[The Greedy Owner of the Treasure House is pleased.]
Bonnefant was furious at the suggestion made by the general manager in charge of the site.
Arent we currently reinforcing the city walls? Its more than enough! Technically speaking, there shouldnt be any problems!
Of course, Bonnefant didnt just oppose the installation of a shield without taking any countermeasures whatsoever.
Hearing that for the time being there was a risk that the monsters would go on a brutal rampage, Bonnefant had come up with his own countermeasures. One of them was to work on the vulnerabilities of the city, starting with its defense.
The monsters arent very intelligent. Set traps everywhere to lure them and thoroughly reinforce the surroundings. This way, we can keep the city safe for a lower cost.
I... I understand.
Our new material isnt ordinary. The presentation was a disaster just because a very powerful monster had disguised itself as a low-level monster, but it wont happen again.
Bonnefants countermeasures were much cheaper than protecting the city with a shield, and it actually sounded reasonable too.
Their newly developed material did boast an above-average defense. If nothing unexpected happened, no monster should be able to enter the city.
...But there can be other unexpected events...
The general manager thought that this countermeasure wasnt foolproof but decided to keep his mouth shut. He didnt have the confidence to talk back to the overbearing Bonnefant.
It should be fine though
We should use this monster rampage as an opportunity! Make sure they cant break through the walls reinforced with the new material weve developed!
I understand!
***
But isnt this too costly, Master?
I know it is, so save it.
Odaigon had come to help with the shield work. Since he was essentially as strong as an S-grade hunter, Odaigons help was essential in many ways.
[Odaigon casts Glyph of Magic Power Concentration.]
[Odaigon...]
Odaigon wandered around and cast spells to make the magic last longer, which impressed Choi Yeonseung.
Odaigon... You reminded me again how powerful of a subordinate you are.
...Uh... I-Is it just because Im doing this?
Odaigon was astounded. Choi Yeonseung was more impressed by this trivial magic maintenance spell than by the countless wise decisions he had made so far?
This isnt even very difficult magic!
But the humans who use magic arent good with it.
Its because they dont have as much magic power as other Abyssal races, and their technique is subpar too... No...
Odaigon was both happy and uneasy. He was glad that Choi Yeonseung was finally praising him after managing his kingdom for so long, but he wouldve liked Choi Yeonseung to praise him for something more significant.
Was Choi Yeonseung happy with Odaigon because he was saving him money?
Ill write a spell book for them, so call in the human magicians to periodically strengthen the shields. That will reduce the magic power consumption.
Odaigon...!
...Master, its not a big deal!
Odaigon was getting upset. He felt like he was being told, Goblin King, youre breathing so well! This is great!
By the way, Master. Have you finished installing the formation you showed me last time?
Um?
You know, the magic circle that gathers the power of human martial artists.
Odaigon made various gestures as he explained skills such as the Six Channels Sword Display that Choi Yeonseung had shown him before.
It looks like a magic circle, but with your ability, I think you can install it on a large scale around here.
...
Ah! Youve already done it? Im sorry. I said something I shouldnt have...
No. I was actually just about to install it.
The goddess of sloth, who was watching from the side, spoke to Choi Yeonseung as though she found him pitiful.
-No matter how much youve adapted to human society, how can you forget that youre a constellation?
The goddess of sloth was right. Choi Yeonseung didnt have to rely on human means; he also had the abilities of a constellation.
Yeah, Ill reflect on myself.
Choi Yeonseung admitted how short-sighted he was and proceeded with the preparations.
In fact, he didnt really use formations when fighting. If he was weaker than his opponent, he would lure them into a trap or divert their attention. If he was stronger, he would just fight back.
However, a formation was actually pretty effective in this complex situation.
In the end, a formation is a skill that artificially controls the flow of energy to create an effect. Theres no point in overcomplicating it.
[The Five Elements Ecstasy Formation has been completed!]
[Five Elements Ecstasy Formation]
[Rank: C+
In the name of the Undefeated Incarnation of Training, establish a formation to confuse invaders.]
Choi Yeonseung deliberately created a formation that wasnt particularly strong, and the reason for that was simple.
Theres a lot that goes into a strong formation.
Just as a strong magic circle or magic shield required a constant input of materials and spells, a formation with strong effects also required constant maintenance. Therefore, it was better to have a lesser formation that could be active for a long period of time rather than a strong one that wouldnt last long.
-The formation is quite large. Is it okay?
The goddess of sloth was worried. The larger a magic circle was, the more difficult it was to implement it. If the formation encircled an entire city, the difficulty level would be quite high.
Make this design.
Yes!
The technicians from Dragon Industry accepted Choi Yeonseungs blueprints without any complaints. No matter how difficult it would be, they were paid a generous salary, so it was their duty to carry out the orders of the chairman.
Choi Yeonseung was impressed by the sight of technicians quickly running simulations with supercomputers and AI, and drawing 3D designs based on the citys layout.
Oh? Theyve done it faster than expected! Im glad. Now Ill get the Mount Hua Sect to place pillars in various places.
-......
The goddess of sloth was bewildered as she watched the humans work on the formation. This This was very different from the traditional defense preparations she had thought of.
This was cheating!