Chapter 54 - Dungeon Under Closing Phase [1]

"Ian, why are you relaxing? Why aren't you irritated by it? Ahh... you aren't worried about it because it was all from your responsible side. At least you should've asked for newly dispatched investigators that aren't under the government." Mayquelle scolded.

There is a reason why Mayquelle was complaining like this. If Ian requested another investigator from a private sector, they could just sell the information to them and get away from the responsibilities.

After all, if a private sector measures a dungeon, whether it is under or above C Rank, they will still get a higher percentage of the treasures and just pay a tax to the government. 

The responsibilities are also limited so that papers will just be completed in a short amount of time. However, when it is for investigators under the government, the process is long and the ending will still be the same—they will only get a small portion of the treasures.

But, what are these responsibilities that Mayquelle hates? It is talking to the public since they will report everything to the hunters that will be joining in the dungeon diving. And it never ends there. They still need to prove it with some of the superiors.

They are from the Society department, but they don't need to talk to anyone. They only have to report to one superior.

It could be so simple, but Mayquelle and Baron loathed it to the core. It wasn't that a burdensome task, but apparently, people hate certain things so much that they would react aggressively as if it would kill them.

"You would react to it as if it were going to kill you. You are just being lazy, Mayquelle." Ian responded.

"At least, they could give us motivators like half of the treasures. Isn't that simple?" 

"Treasures. You are joking again. Isn't it common? Even in private sectors, if the employees discover a treasure, it is not theirs, but the sector. Just act as if it is normal. We won't even have this dungeon's treasures."

"But still, how come C-ranked dungeons and below could be given to the person who discovered them? But if it's higher, the government owns it immediately." Mayquelle added.

"That's natural. C-ranked dungeons don't have many magic crystals. Even if it has, they are only for industrial use. They aren't that valuable to them since the supply is high."

After hearing that, Mayquelle just remained silent and went to one side and embraced her knees.

"I hate you, Ian!"

***

After the report, the three spent another few hours traveling to the rift. And when they went back to the outside world, what they could only see was a flock of hunters ranging from rank D to rank B.

The reason why Ian immediately reported it was that it would take time before they could enter. There will still be a process for the numbers to enter, but what if they waste their time? It won't be because hunters like opportunities like this.

Ian went to the station at the rift as the representative of his trio. And for this process, it is only verification and discussion with some experts on the report Ian had made.

"I will be on my way now. Be sure to keep your body stable. There might be an order that we enter the rift with them." Ian said to the two.

"Yes..." the both of them answered in a tired tone.

Meanwhile, Ian could only shake his head at how both of them acted on this matter. They only just hate it that much. Maybe it is because hunters are such a pain in the head. That is why they left that industry. Nonetheless, they rely on the contacts they made as investigators.

Ian then continued moving to the station. When he finally arrived, he was blocked by a security guard in a complete suit, asking about his identification. Ian then showed his I.D. and was finally allowed to enter the station.

The cold breeze of the aircon touched his skin. His eyes started getting used to the light of the room, and he also tried to find the people inside. When he saw what kind of people were inside, he just realized how trusting his assessment was.

On a long rectangular table, six important people were sitting, looking in his direction with some anticipation. They were the head dungeon investigators of the nearest base surrounding the headquarters. And the reason they were there was for them to identify and verify Ian's report.

"Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I am Ian Callanes, the captain of the assigned group in the investigation." Ian bowed in front of them and went straight to the presentation, which was at the end of the long rectangular table.

When Ian had himself in front of them, questions started reaching him with no time being wasted.

"So, Mr. Callanes, you were saying that the source has three different properties. How will you prove it to us?" A lady asked.

Ian nodded then, on a laptop that conveyed holographic images, he swiped a few slides then connected them to the holographic presentation board that was on the wall. 

It was rectangular, occupying the whole wall, and it displayed a few images of the 3D report and history Ian had.

"In the past five years of working as a hunter, I have been known as the most sensitive person to magical power. I would eventually learn what rank a person is if they started revealing their magical energy, and it doesn't end there. I can identify what category they are in."

Just when Ian said it, the "board members" went into deep thoughts. They remained silent for a moment to assess Ian's history and his achievements. They browsed on a tablet that displayed holographic images with similar content to what was on the presentation board.

Adjoining everything from his previous track and also his achievements as a Society Investigator, they were stunned to realize what kind of person Ian was. He was talented, and just like that, it was impossible for their expected result to plummet.

They inevitably compose tracks for their assessments, and as leaders of bases, they must comply with the obvious reports. Yet, they have been still suspicious of the assessment Ian had made.

"Can I ask more? What rank are you?"

"You mean as an investigator or a hunter?"

"A hunter."

"I am B-ranked, not just by experience but also by my MP."

"Oh..."

The person who asked went back and read the reports that were on his tablet. And after a few minutes, the presentation changes.

"May I continue?" Ian asked.

All of the members approved, so Ian moved his attention back to the presentation board. And as he swiped through the laptop he had, the presentation moved and another bit of information was presented.

"I am not bragging about my tracks, but I am 87% sure that the unique magical power is composed of those three categories of properties. Thus, the other reason why the dungeon investigators weren't able to control the mana in the surroundings is that their abilities didn't comply with it."

"Going back, we all know that a source can create a monster, and also, a boss of a dungeon has the intelligence to control the next few produced monsters. However, with these types of properties in the magical power, it is impossible that the product was only low-ranked monsters."

"Logically and systematically speaking, this source has the ability to create monsters of various ranks. How? It is because a boss's intelligence comes from the ability of the source to create a monster. Thus, if the boss was able to hide the fact by making generic rock monsters in the average areas, then the boss could be ranked as an A, or less possible, an S."

The members nodded, then reviewed Ian's report for a few seconds, before going back to him.

"I don't have any questions. Well done, your report was easy to understand."

"Are you sure that you aren't a dungeon investigator? Your assumptions were backed by technical deductions of what dungeon investigators do."

Ian humbly lowered his head and said, "I am not a dungeon investigator. But working as a hunter, it is only natural for me to assess information in this way."

"Hmm... It could be, but the talent you demonstrate isn't ordinary if I were, to be honest."

"You are right. His report was simple and easy to understand."

"Thank you for the compliment," Ian said, then again, lowering his head.

The meeting ended surprisingly quickly. However, just after Ian left the station and faced the harsh environment again for another time, he was called by his superior.

"Sir Rodrigo? Why are you here?" Ian asked, but then, his eyes went to Rodrigo's back, seeing Mayquelle and Baron standing with hopeful expressions.

Ian was perplexed by it, making him ask.

"Why are they looking like that?"

"Callanes, I have a proposal to make. And also, I will inform you that the other two have already agreed to it."

Ian was speechless for a moment and glared at the other two, who were giggling in excitement. And as his confusion reached the roof, his eyes went back to Rodrigo to inquire about the proposal.

"What is it, Sir?"

"I want you three to go to the District Wish and recruit 30 newly registered Awakens.. The location is Line City."