Date: 19/05/2021, Wednesday
Location: GDA Central Command, Geneva, Switzerland / The Grand Summit Hall
The silence that blanketed the hall, coupled with the naked greed reflecting in the eyes of the S-Rankers, was exactly as Richard had calculated. Without shifting from his position, he continued in an absolute, chillingly calm voice.
"Extracting a dungeon requires a strict, uncompromising process," Richard addressed the entire hall. "This is no longer the old era where you simply killed the Boss and the gate closed. If this new extraction protocol is not followed with absolute precision, not only will the extraction fail, but every mutant inside will face certain death."
His words delivered a harsh reality check, slicing right through the greed in the room. Richard began laying out the new laws of the world.
"First, the rule of Mana Pressure. In E, D, C, and certain lower-tier B-Rank Hell Gates, the atmospheric mana pressure is tolerable. Therefore, we can send normal humans inside for the extraction process. However, in higher-density B-Rank gates and above, the mana flow is so heavy and lethal that an ordinary human wouldn't even be able to breathe. To enter a high-tier gate, an individual must possess a minimum of 1 MP (Mana Point). Only Dungers can survive there."
The S-Rankers listened with rapt attention. This was a flawless blueprint built on pure logic and survival.
"Starting today," Richard announced, "a complete raid will strictly consist of three specialized units operating in tandem. First—the 'Strike Team' or 'Battle Team,' tasked with clearing the path and imprisoning the Boss. Second—the 'Mining Team,' responsible for extracting resources from the environment. And third—the 'Collection Team,' assigned to secure the monster corpses and remaining materials. Specialized suits have already been designed for the Collection Teams to ensure they suffer no toxicity or radiation complications from handling monster anatomy."
Richard paused for a fraction of a second before introducing a term that would change the global hierarchy forever.
"Anyone who operates within the Mining and Collection teams will henceforth be classified as a 'Dungeon Worker.' It does not matter if they are a normal human with zero MP or a high-ranking mutant. Once inside the gate, their status is nothing more than a worker."
Richard then gestured to Aris, who stood by the side of the stage.
Aris immediately entered a command into the main console. A high-definition, 3D-generated video began playing on the massive holographic screen. It wasn't a real recording—no network, camera, or connection in the world could function inside a Hell Gate due to the heavy mana interference. Instead, it was a flawless 3D simulation constructed by the GDA, based on real data from their recent C-Rank and B-Rank black ops.
The simulation displayed the entire process with crystal clarity:
First, the Battle Team entered the Hell Gate. Advancing swiftly, they smoothly butchered the C and B-Rank monsters. Once the path was cleared, GDA operatives set up the Magitech Barrier Machines just outside the Boss Room. The moment the machines were turned 'ON', a transparent, invisible barrier materialized in the air. In the very next frame, a colossal Boss roared and charged down the corridor, only to slam violently into the invisible wall, securely trapped. No matter how it thrashed, it couldn't breach the lock.
Following this, the Dungeon Workers commenced their operation. The video accelerated, showing the workers utilizing Magitech tools to systematically strip-mine the entire dungeon. They extracted glowing crystals and mana stones—now classified as magic stones—from the walls. They harvested cores, essence stones, and ultimately, the corpses of the monsters and the Boss itself. In the end, the once-glowing dungeon was reduced to a completely barren, dead cave.
The video concluded, and the GDA logo flashed across the screen.
"That, gentlemen, is what we call a successful raid," Richard stated coldly, gesturing toward the massive screen.
A distinct, hungry gleam shone in the eyes of the S-Rankers and N.D.A. heads as they watched the simulation. They had never witnessed such an absolute, efficient harvesting of resources in their lives. This wasn't merely survival; it was a pure, unadulterated display of business and power.
But Richard's next sentence was about to blow a fuse in every single mind in the room.
"The structure of the world has changed," Richard declared, his eyes narrowing. "Therefore, from this moment on, Hell Gates will no longer remain under the exclusive authority of the GDA or the National Dungers Associations. Starting today... anyone can become an Owner of a Hell Gate."
For a split second, a silence so profound fell over the hall it felt as though time itself had stopped. Absolute confusion washed over the faces of the N.D.A. heads and the S-Rankers. From America's David Wilson to the representatives from Russia, a single, burning question echoed in their minds: What exactly is Richard planning? Why would he surrender his power and authority to civilians or private entities?
Observing their utter bewilderment, a very subtle, icy smile graced Richard's emotionless face.
"I have conceptualized a new framework," Richard announced slowly and sharply. "For now... we shall call it the 'Bidding System'."
The moment those words left his mouth, heavy whispering erupted throughout the Grand Summit Hall. S-Rankers began muttering to the people beside them; cold sweat broke out on the foreheads of the N.D.A. heads. A terrifying realization was dawning upon them: Richard Vance had just executed a power play so massive they could neither reject it nor fully comprehend its magnitude.