Date: 19/05/2021, Wednesday
Location: GDA Central Command, Geneva, Switzerland / The Grand Summit Hall
Richard Vance simply raised his hand, and the heavy whispering in the Grand Summit Hall ceased instantly. With a single gesture, a silence so profound fell over the room that it felt as if the sound had been vacuumed from the air. Every eye was locked onto Richard, a man whose mind processed calculations with the cold efficiency of a supercomputer.
"This Bidding System will operate on a pure economy and power distribution model," Richard began, his tone straight and freezing. "Whenever a new Hell Gate manifests anywhere in the world, GDA radars will immediately verify its rank. Based on that rank and location, a 'Base Price' will be established for the gate, initiating the bidding process. Anyone wishing to acquire that Hell Gate may participate in the auction."
Richard paused, his gaze sweeping over the N.D.A. heads who still wore deep frowns of concern. "Once the bidding is won, that Hell Gate legally becomes the absolute property and jurisdiction of that individual or Private Guild. As for the final auction price, exactly sixty percent will go directly to the respective country's N.D.A., and the remaining forty percent will be allocated to the GDA."
Hearing this, several national heads let out a collective sigh of relief. They had feared the GDA was entirely stripping away their authority, but Richard had just made them stakeholders in a massive profit margin without requiring any effort on their part.
But Richard's masterstroke was yet to be delivered.
"However," Richard's voice grew sharper, "of all the resources, materials, and cores extracted from that Hell Gate, forty percent of the total loot must strictly be sold to the GDA. The GDA will compensate you with a fair market value for these materials. You are free to do whatever you please with the remaining sixty percent—give it to your N.D.A., or sell it on the black market. I do not care."
It was an absolute monopoly veiled as freedom. He was giving them independence, but a massive portion of the world's raw materials would legally flow directly into the GDA's vaults.
"The rules to manage this process are clear," Richard continued. "The bidding process for Hell Gates from Rank E up to Rank C will be strictly handled by the N.D.A.s. But whenever a Rank B or higher gate appears, the GDA will directly oversee and participate in the auction."
The S-Rankers and N.D.A. heads in the hall understood the pure logic of the system. But a practical problem remained: independent Private Guilds were virtually non-existent in the current world.
Richard knew that the system alone wasn't enough to push human nature. He needed to present an offer they could not refuse.
"There are currently very few Private Guilds in the world," Richard said, looking directly at the S-Rankers. "Therefore, the GDA is offering a foundation package. Any new Private Guild formed within the next month will receive an initial supply of Magitech weapons, armors, absolute healing potions, and a Magitech Barrier Machine, entirely free of charge. Furthermore, their first raid will be sponsored; a Hell Gate will be provided at no cost. Naturally, all these guilds will legally operate under the joint jurisdiction of both the GDA and their respective N.D.A."
The intoxication of greed began to cloud the eyes of the S-Rankers. Free Magitech gear and a complimentary C-Rank gate? It was the key to an unimaginable treasury.
"But remember," Richard's voice suddenly dropped to freezing temperatures. "Every action has a consequence. If a guild acquires the rights to a gate and fails to clear the raid... if monsters breach that gate and cause destruction, that guild will be forced to compensate for all city damages from their own funds. And as a penalty, the guild leader and all active members will serve as slave laborers for the GDA for exactly four years."
Silence gripped the hall once more. The penalty of four years of slavery perfectly balanced their greed with absolute terror.
Richard gestured to Aris, who immediately stepped forward holding a digital pad displaying the official contract papers.
"These are the Guild Formation papers," Richard said, pointing at the pad. "By signing this, you directly integrate with the GDA and the new system. However..." Richard offered a slight, mocking smile, "if any of you doubt your own capabilities... if you feel that despite being an S-Ranker, you cannot clear a Hell Gate and are consumed by fear, that is perfectly fine. The GDA and the N.D.A.s will continue to extract these Hell Gates using our own methods. You may continue living on your standard salaries."
It was pure reverse psychology, a direct and calculated strike at their egos.
Suddenly, a man with a massive frame stood up from among the American delegates. It was Mason Steele, widely rumored to be the strongest S-Ranker in the world. His eyes burned with a volatile mix of deep arrogance and blind greed.
"Who are you calling a coward?" Mason Steele's heavy voice boomed as he strode forward. "If I, as an S-Ranker, can't even clear a B-Rank Hell Gate, I'd be a disgrace to myself. Bring the paper. I am forging my guild."
Without a second of hesitation, Mason Steele pressed his thumb against the scanner, logging his fingerprint onto the contract.
Watching the world's most prominent S-Ranker sign away his hesitation, not a single S-Ranker in the hall could hold themselves back. Their fragile egos and blind greed completely overpowered their fear. One after another, S-Rankers rose from their seats and approached the stage. Representatives from Russia, America, Europe, and Japan—the absolute apex predators of the world—lined up to sign the paper.
A short time later, Aris compiled the data and confirmed the results with Richard.
"Today, in this very room, thirty new Elite Guilds have been formed," Richard announced, the successful smile of a dictator resting on his face. "And these numbers will only grow. To all the newly formed guilds: you will receive exactly what I promised. Magitech weapons, armors, and potions for your members will be delivered to your headquarters by tomorrow morning."
Richard Vance adjusted his trench coat and coldly observed the new 'owners' standing before him. In reality, they had just willingly signed up to be the pawns of his system.
"Expand your guilds and survive," Richard delivered his final words. "This Global Summit is concluded."
Without looking back, Richard turned and walked out of the hall.