Joining Union

"It was easier than I expected..." Damon muttered to himself, placing the freshly unpacked badge on the table. The screen of his laptop glowed in the dim room as he continued to read.

"Novice tier hunter... the lowest rank in the Hunter's Union, restricted to the simplest of quests," Damon read aloud, a slight frown on his face. Despite his apparent dissatisfaction, he couldn't deny the reality of his situation.

In this world, being a hunter was one of the most esteemed professions for mages. Anyone registered with the Hunter's Union—one of the eight major international organizations—was recognized as a hunter. The concept of hunters and the Hunter's Union was reminiscent of adventurers and guilds from video games, taking on quests to hunt beasts or complete various tasks in exchange for money.

"Hunting one-eyed wolves, exploring marsh crocodile nests, transporting supplies to hunter camps... all these quests are more than I can handle," Damon sighed as he scrolled through the list of available tasks for his rank in Bo City.

Despite being classified as novice-level quests, Damon knew they were too dangerous for him. With zero experience and minimal combat prowess, these tasks were practically suicidal. He had overpowered cheats, but he was still just a weak and inexperienced primary mage. He understood well the precarious position of human mages in this world and was careful not to overestimate his abilities by taking on combat-heavy missions.

"Hunting is out of the question, but that doesn't mean I can't make money..." Damon mused. Monster hunting and exploration weren't the only career paths for hunters. Fields like information brokering, herbalism, and smithing were also lucrative and didn't necessarily involve risking one's life.

He opened another registration window and signed up as an information broker, a job that perfectly suited his unique abilities. Information brokers were hunters or researchers who discovered valuable information and sold it for a profit. It was a high-risk, high-reward occupation, as the value of the information depended heavily on luck and timing. Because of this, brokers often charged exorbitant fees for even minor details, trying to maximize their earnings.

"With my map ability, I can locate almost anything in the world... Why not sell the locations of a few treasures and make some money?" Damon's map was an incredibly useful cheat, allowing him to pinpoint the location of anything he sought. He planned to leverage this ability by selling the locations of valuable resources, items that were of little use to him but highly sought after by others.

This strategy would not only earn him substantial amounts of money but also help him raise his hunter rank while maintaining his anonymity. The Hunter's Union took privacy very seriously, making it a trusted platform for buying and selling information. This stringent security was why even Damon, who was usually cautious, felt comfortable choosing this path to earn a living. The Union also enforced strict penalties for false information, ensuring that all transactions were based on reliable data.

As Damon looked at the live feed of information being sold, his eyes widened in astonishment. "The location of a low-ranking shadow soul seed being sold for fifty million RMB... whereabouts of a wanted criminal bought for forty million... Damn!"

The sheer value of these pieces of information nearly made Damon dizzy. "If these types of details can sell for hundreds of millions... what about mine?" His eyes gleamed with greed as he started brainstorming ideas, but he quickly reined himself in.

'No, I can't let greed blind me... I need to be cautious and maintain a steady demand in the market.' He realized that releasing too much information at once could saturate the market and diminish his long-term profits. Moreover, despite the anonymity guaranteed by the Union, releasing too much sensitive information could still attract unwanted attention. To ensure his safety and maximize his earnings, he decided to release information in a controlled manner, only a few pieces annually, and only those that would fetch a high price or should he say the highest price.

"So, what information should I upload?" Damon pondered, searching the internet for resources in high demand and the price they can be sold for. After thorough consideration, he decided on a piece of information that was rare and had the highest value in Damon's opinion.

Later that day, a new entry appeared in the Hunter's Union database:

[Location of Soul Grade Healing Elemental Seed: 300 Million USD]

The announcement was like a stone thrown into a calm pond, sending ripples throughout the world of mages. The Asian Magic Association, Pearl Tower Magic Association, Holy Court, Parthenon, royal families, and powerful clans—all the major powers—quickly took notice. Within hours, the news had spread like wildfire, causing a massive uproar.

Being a piece of information available at hunter union, given the union's reputation and penalties for spreading false news no one in the world dare to treat the information as false.

The internet buzzed with speculation and excitement, while the person responsible for the chaos, Damon, slept peacefully, oblivious to the storm he had unleashed.

***

Sorry for short chapter and delayed upload. Next chapter I would try to write it longer.