Date: August 28, 2018 (Tuesday)
Location: GDA Central Command, Geneva, Switzerland
Time: 10:00 AM
The main conference room of GDA Central Command was swallowed by a heavy silence. In the center of the room, a massive holographic globe rotated slowly, illuminated by blinking red dots representing Hell Gates and blue dots marking GDA bases.
Richard Vance sat in the primary chair, his S-Rank presence filling the space with a cold, sharp authority. On the massive screens before him, the leaders of the top twenty nations and newly appointed National Directors were connected via a live digital feed.
"Over the past forty-two days, we have successfully established our foundation," Richard's voice resonated through the digital feed, reaching every corner of the globe. His tone held no room for negotiation; it was the voice of absolute command.
"We now have one hundred and eighty million verified Dungers, and the new MP Measuring Machines have reached every major base. However, micromanaging these millions of individuals from Geneva is logically inefficient and unsustainable."
Richard swiped his hand across the holographic globe, highlighting the distinct borders of various nations. The world leaders watched in silence as the map shifted.
"As of today, a new decree is in effect," Richard announced coldly. "Every nation will form its own National Dungers Association, or NDA. America will manage its own association, as will India, Japan, and every other sovereign territory."
He explained that these national branches would be responsible for clearing the E and D-Rank gates within their borders, managing daily deployments, and covering internal operational expenses.
While some leaders felt a brief sense of relief at regaining a fragment of power, Richard's next words cut through the air like a frozen blade.
"However," Richard's eyes narrowed, "these National Associations will operate strictly under the absolute control of the Global Dungers Association. Geneva remains the supreme command. I set the rules, and you will follow them blindly."
He warned them that any attempt to hide data or establish a black market for Magitech weapons would result in immediate consequences. He would personally dissolve that nation's association and seize total control of their territory.
A pin-drop silence followed his ultimatum. Despite their status, none of the world leaders possessed the courage to argue with the fifty-four-year-old veteran.
Richard then projected Three Fundamental Laws onto the screens:
Law 1: Absolute Registration. It is compulsory for every Dunger to be scanned by an MP Machine, with their numerical data sent directly to the central servers in Geneva.
Law 2: Magitech Control. Authentic True Magitech weapons are reserved strictly for C-Rank leaders and above. The remaining infantry will utilize equipment forged from E and D-Rank materials, with all blacksmiths working under GDA supervision.
Law 3: The Gate Protocol. National forces will handle only E and D-Rank gates. If a B, A, or S-Rank anomaly is detected, local forces must retreat immediately so that Geneva's Elite Strike Squads can take command.
"Meeting dismissed," Richard stated flatly, cutting the transmission without a single parting gesture.
He stood up as the screens went dark, leaving only Aris in the room with him.
"Sir, all nations have accepted the terms," Aris reported, handing over an encrypted file. "The national branches will be officially operational by tomorrow morning. D-Rank gate appearances have stabilized between ten and fifteen daily."
Richard walked to the thick glass window of the bunker. "The stabilization of D-Rank gates is not a victory, Aris," he said in a quiet, analytical voice. "It is a mathematical escalation."
He noted that if the first glitch brought E-Ranks and the second brought D-Ranks, it was logical to conclude that mana density was still rising.
"Our next step is research," Richard pointed out strictly. "We must secure every Essence Stone and Mana Core. We need to understand the limits of this energy before the system evolves again, bringing C-Rank gates—or worse."
Richard donned his coat and walked toward the corridor. The foundation was complete, and humanity finally had a system to fight back. But the threat level was rising faster than the world realized.