Chương 145: Chapter 144: The Pilot Protest, and a Merchant's Benefits Package

Over the next two weeks, a modest group of E- and D-Rank Hunters gathered outside the National Hunter Association headquarters to ask about the new pilot contracts. A few dozen worn-out Hunters, carrying ordinary protective gear, held handwritten signs about insurance and transparent revenue shares.

'END THE 80% EXPLOITATION CUT!'

'WE SUPPORT VANCE EARTH HOLDINGS' INSURANCE POLICY!' On the Association building's massive LED screen, the president's flushed, furious face appeared, shouting through the broadcast system.

"Warning to all members! The National Hunter Association will review whether anyone who applies to Vance Earth Holdings continues to meet the applicable licensing rules." Ten seconds later. Across social media, the Association's official channel, and Vance Earth Holdings' page, a small live press conference hosted by Lucian began broadcasting. Lucian, in his black overcoat, leaned back in his chairman's chair on the 120th floor of Lotte World Tower, calmly stirring a cup of hot tea.

"The Association's threatening to revoke your Hunter licenses?" He looked straight into the camera, the corner of his mouth curving up.

"No problem. Vance Earth Holdings is issuing pilot job offers that keep licensed Hunters and safety personnel in the roles the law requires." Lucian held up a red-stamped contract addendum to the camera.

"Benefits package: Market-rate base salary, not tied solely to monster count. A hazardous-environment stipend for certified work. A properly scheduled grilled-meat lunch in the company cafeteria. Employer-paid accident, health, and disability coverage. He tapped a finger on the desk. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

"Licensed Hunter teams and safety officers handle the active hazards. Trained extraction workers sort already-secured material, record chain of custody, and go home on time." Down in the Association plaza, the applicants stood frozen for five full seconds. Then cheering broke out. Several battle-worn Hunters laughed or wiped at their eyes.

"Ten years as a Hunter, and all I got was monster bites and mountains of debt..."

"A real shift schedule and insurance? I want an interview." [UNIFIED SYSTEM V2. 0: PILOT INTAKE NOTE] [EARTH EMPLOYMENT STATUS: APPLICATIONS REQUIRE ORDINARY SCREENING] Early interest is high; no labor force has been acquired. All work remains subject to Hunter, safety, insurance, and employment law. The company has one supervised concession candidate and a small hiring pilot. Standing beside the livestream monitor, Eleanor watched local Guild managers scramble to answer questions about their own conditions.

She tilted her head toward Lucian and spoke quietly.

"This move of yours... it's exactly like how you signed employment contracts with Sylvia and Astra, all those years ago." Lucian took a sip of tea, answering evenly.

"A good business model that respects workers' rights will crush feudal exploitation in any world." Over the following weeks, Vance Earth Holdings placed options on several distressed concessions and kept its first Rank D pilot under supervised review. In Gyeonggi, Incheon, and Gangwon, a handful of bank-held Dungeon Gates entered due diligence one at a time.

Evelyn tested bounded suppression sensors while licensed Hunters secured hazards; a small pilot crew sorted documented mana-stone batches into sealed bins for lawful buyers. No screaming. No bloodshed. No casualties. Early reports suggested that safer shifts and lower turnover could improve the pilot's margin without pretending the work was risk-free. Local business outlets began running cautious stories about the experiment.

'THE VANCE PILOT: Can Transparent Benefits Make Low-Tier Dungeon Work Safer?' Ten p. m. The city lights of Seoul, seen from the 120th floor of Lotte World Tower, shimmered like a man-made galaxy. Lucian stood alone in front of the floor-to-ceiling glass, warm coffee in hand, watching the endless flow of traffic below. Click. On the five-centimeter-thick reinforced glass, right in front of his chest — a dark red laser dot suddenly appeared, locking onto the exact position of his heart.

The laser came from the scope of a heavy anti-magic sniper rifle, mounted on the roof of a financial tower exactly three kilometers away. A mechanical voice crackled through the earpiece of an international S-Rank assassin.

"Target Lucian Vance locked. Preparing a high-end anti-magic penetrator."