Chapter 2: Echoes of the Market
As vijay stepped out of his home, the sprawling expanse of the Hunter Market came into view. Walking alongside his father, Rajesh, who carried their lunch boxes, he was soon enveloped in the hustle and bustle of Delhi's largest hunter hub. The roads, though clean, were crowded to the brim with people, a sea of movement that seemed endless. Street vendors lined the pathways, their stalls brimming with monster materials—bones, hides, fangs, and potions—each with a story of the harrowing battles from which they were harvested. Hunters with weapons slung over their shoulders strode purposefully, their eyes sharp with determination, heading either to a dungeon or towards the central market to sell the loot they had toiled for all night long.
This throng of activity was a normal occurrence in the largest hunter market in India. vijay's house, situated on the outskirts of the market in a residential area, was ideally positioned—close enough to feel the market's pulse, yet far enough to offer a semblance of quiet. Safety was never a concern when you had a Rank 4 hunter in the house and a Rank 6 hunter three doors down.
As they reached the central part of the market, tall buildings began to dominate the landscape, their massive warehouses at the base and deep basements below a testament to the architectural marvels made possible by the materials harvested from monsters. These structures, with their reinforced walls and unique designs, were only possible due to the innovations brought about by dungeon materials.
A hundred years ago, Earth was nothing like this. Back then, it was a planet driven by technology, with advancements in science leading the way. But everything changed when the unexplainable rifts of space—called dungeons—began to open all over the globe. From these dungeons emerged hordes of monsters, ranging from goblins to dragons, wreaking havoc on humanity. People were slaughtered like livestock, civilization teetering on the brink of collapse.
But just when all seemed lost, constellations and the seeds of world saplings began to appear. Constellations were beings from myth, entities born of accumulated faith empowered by mana. These celestial beings chose people around the world as their avatars, bestowing them with powers to fight the monsters and establish safe zones. However, even these zones were not entirely secure; dungeons could form anywhere, and once stabilized, they would unleash their deadly inhabitants to carve out new territories.
Dungeons, however, were only part of the problem. The mana released into the world caused widespread mutations in plants and animals, as well as uncontrolled mutations in the indigenous population. This went on for ten long years, plunging the world into chaos. But hope arrived with the first Rank 6 hunter, who, upon touching a seed of the world sapling, revealed its true purpose: purifying the mana in the atmosphere and stabilizing the space around it, thereby minimizing dungeon formation in the safe zones. The discovery of the world saplings led to a race to cultivate them, though vijay found it intriguing that these trees remained saplings, even with Rank 8 saints attempting to accelerate their growth.
As they approached one of the largest buildings in the vicinity, vijay's gaze was drawn to the words emblazoned at the top: Ram Trading Company. Founded by his grandfather and transformed into a behemoth by his father, the company dealt in the sale and purchase of monster materials, as well as their processing on a large scale. Yet, despite its former glory, the company had been in decline since the Aditya Trading Group entered the market, using their strength to capture market share by any means necessary.
Entering the building, they were greeted by respectful nods and smiles from the employees. Rajesh led the way to the sixth floor—the top floor—where the company's control center was located. He seated himself behind the large desk in his office and gestured for vijay to stand before him.
"Why do you think we've survived in this line of business, vijay?" his father asked, his tone serious. "The competition is fierce, officials are corrupt, and new, powerful forces emerge every day."
vijay thought for a moment before replying, "I think it's because we already have the resources to fend off new competitors. We pay off most of the officials to keep us out of their political games."
Rajesh leaned back in his chair, a slight smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "You may be right on some accounts, but if that were all there is to it, we'd be filthy rich by now. The real reason we survive is because we don't use the deterrence that your brother possesses. This gives us the moral high ground, forcing our opponents to think twice before deploying their own hunters. Moreover, we engage in a lot of charity work and fund small businesses, which garners us support from the majority. It keeps us out of dirty politics and surrounds us with too many 'cannon fodder' businesses that would need to be eliminated before anyone could reach us."
vijay absorbed his father's words, the wisdom behind them evident. He wanted to argue, to point out the benefits of a more aggressive approach, but before he could speak, his uncle Anil entered the office, his presence commanding immediate attention.
Taking this as his cue to leave, vijay exited the office and made his way to the warehouse. His role was to oversee the workers, ensuring that everything ran smoothly and that customers were assisted properly—a position that allowed him to learn the ins and outs of the hunter market while easing his father's burden. It wasn't glamorous work, but it was necessary, and Dhruv performed his duties diligently.
Time passed, and soon evening descended upon the market. The flow of customers dwindled, and the workers began taking inventory of the building's stock. v ijay relished the peace that came with the evening, the calm after a long day's work. But his tranquility was shattered by a voice dripping with condescension.
"Well, if it isn't the rankless retard, enjoying himself doing minimal work that even our servants wouldn't bother with."