Chapter 185

[Translator – Night]

[Proofreader – Gun]

Chapter 185: Everyone’s Strongest Sword (5)

「Prism Pager」 – General Tool

【ICheaper rates than death! Prism Credit.】

A caller that summons a loan company of the universe, whose origins are shrouded in mystery.

As Yeongwoo toyed with the device, consisting of just a small button, Jeonggu, holding a second bun, asked,

“Why take out a loan? You’ll be protected by the Strongest Swords… or rather, you’ll receive compensation for your life, so isn’t tax settlement simple after that?”

“That’s true.”

“Then why call them? It may not cost money, but…”

“There’s no reason not to call.”

Yeongwoo double-checked his current funds.

* Available Karma: 8,954,500

A total of 8.95 million Karma.

“To receive money, you first need to succeed in your mission, right? So you should invest all your current funds into your abilities.”

Today marks the 5th day since the reset.

Therefore, even ordinary mutants appearing later would be much stronger in accordance with the first day.

Even for non-high-risk types.

“And surprisingly, there may not be many Strongest Swords visiting Gwangjin-gu… It’s wise to have insurance. At least you should know how much you can borrow. Aren’t you curious?”

If the loan is provided in the form of currency like Dogo’s card, it means it can be copied with a ‘blank check’.

In other words.

‘It means there’s a way to pull in money in large quantities. It doesn’t have to be right now.’

Knowing that space taxes are imposed more than imagined, it was very important to have an outlet ready to release money at any time.

Click.

So eventually, Yeongwoo pressed the small caller.

Squeak.

As before, a part of the empty space opened slightly, revealing only someone’s silhouette, as if placing opaque glass against it.

– Prism Credit, did you call?

Finally, a voice whispered from somewhere in outer space.

It was the first time hearing the sales pitch of an unfamiliar loan company.

It was even more baseless than mediator Kubu’s greetings.

With no proper self-introduction or regard for the other party……

“What is this… some kind of hole-in-the-wall?”

Jeonggu, feeling something was off, looked at the silhouette of Prism Credit with suspicious eyes.

Upon hearing Jeonggu’s dialogue, Prism Credit showed a reaction from its side.

– Oh, sorry.

Bending over like a flatterer, all one could see was the other party bowing.

It was somewhat cimucal, but Yeongwoo proceeded with the loan consultation.

“You mentioned a credit loan, so what are the criteria for credit assessment by your company?”

– First, we consider the actual income amount, and second, we prioritize universal grades.

As expected of a loan company, they seemed to value substance over status.

– Of course, the possession of assets is also one of the reference conditions. We also process secured loans.

A space loan shark, chuckling unpleasantly.

Upon this, Yeongwoo thought to himself.

‘My recent two-day income is 34 million… Will they lend me the same amount?’

Even if they did, it would be somewhat wasteful to use a blank check.

‘It could be a currency that I won’t be able to get again… Unless it’s really urgent, I should go for billions to make copies.’

Yeongwoo set his own limit and asked the other party,

“So, according to my current standards, how much loan can I get?”

Then, as if waiting for it, the other party answered.

– 1.6 billion.

“What…?”

– Up to 1.6 billion is possible. However……

Swiftly, a presence beyond the curtain pointed a finger-like object at Yeongwoo’s waist.

– You must set that sword as collateral.

“……!”

As soon as Yeongwoo heard this, he felt chills all over his body.

It was because of his intuition that Prism Credit hadn’t come to ask for interest or profit.

‘These guys are also aiming for the Bastard.’

But if that 1.6 billion were paid out in currency and it was a loan that allowed early repayment, it could bring huge profits.

Yeongwoo tried to hide his panic as much as possible and asked again,

“If I were to borrow 1.6 billion, would that money be paid out entirely in currency?”

– That’s correct.

‘Good grief.’

Yeongwoo swallowed his saliva and asked the next question.

“What about the repayment schedule and interest rate?”

– You will see in the contract, but the schedule can be freely set by you. It can be from one day to eternity.

“……?”

– However, the interest rate is 10% per day, and early repayment is possible from the 2nd day.

“… If the loan amount is 1.6 billion, I would have to pay 160 million every day.”

Essentially a daily laborer.

Since early repayment is possible from the 2nd day, they would pocket 20% of the principal as profit just by initiating the loan.

But even this would be nullified if they were to copy the loan of 1.6 billion.

“Well then…”

Yeongwoo was about to ask to see the loan agreement, but hesitated for a moment.

– Shall I draft the contract?

Prism Credit seemed to sense something and attempted to show the contract, prompting Yeongwoo to reiterate one thing.

“Currency.”

– …?

“You said the loan of 1.6 billion would be paid out in currency, but is it a single currency? Like a card.”

Upon this, Prism Credit’s loan officer sighed silently.

– The loan will be paid out in multiple currencies.

“How much exactly?”

Yeongwoo asked again, slightly annoyed, and the response came as if the other party had no choice.

– Physical currency worth 10 million each, a total of 160 pieces.

“Ah.”

That makes sense.

Things seemed to fall into place easily.

After all, the top loan company wouldn’t be unaware of the variable known as the blank check.

So, they couldn’t allow the duplication of currency to facilitate early repayment or to stop interest.

Especially when it’s more profitable to induce defaults and take collateral, as in this case.

“Then, it won’t be possible to receive that money all in one currency.”

– We are not capable of that, even technically. It’s a skill that only top-tier companies can handle.

Merging the originally divided cash into a card or the like at will.

That alone being possible indicates they belong to the top-tier, as Prism Credit describes.

That’s understandable, as it’s essentially creating a new currency.

In other words,

‘Dogo must be one of those top-tier companies.’

It seemed even more impressive now to see the capabilities of Chairman.

“Alright. So, all you can offer me is an unsecured credit loan, and the interest rate is 10% per day, right?”

– That’s correct. Shall we calculate the loan amount?

Since the other party asked so insistently, Yeongwoo felt there was something else and asked back.

“To calculate the loan amount, do you need access to my data?”

[Translator – Night]

[Proofreader – Gun]

– …Yes.

“Then I decline. See you next time.”

As Yeongwoo declined data access in one go, the other party showed an embarrassed expression.

However,

Click.

Yeongwoo pressed the caller again and closed the area of Prism Credit that had been partially connected to this side.

Swoosh!

“Indeed, both Earth and space loans are risky.”

“10% per day is insane. In ten days, you’d only be paying off interest.”

“But still, I do have some income.”

Yeongwoo looked down at Bastard at his waist.

Didn’t even a loan company whose origins were unclear called for 1.6 billion karma in collateral loans?

This opportunity allowed him to glimpse the value of mythical equipment.

Moreover,

‘I might get some idea of how loans work on the other side.’

Looking at the top companies, there must have been major banks, equivalent to the number one financial sector on Earth, somewhere.

That means, with solid capital and status, much more stable loans could be obtained.

‘Of course, whether they’ll allow copying with a blank check is questionable.’

As Yeongwoo spent quite some time conversing with the dealer, the window outside was already glowing red.

So, Yeongwoo said,

“Why is the sky already turning red…?”

While checking his watch, he suddenly realized.

It was only just noon now.

“What, what’s going on? Why is the sky like that?”

Jeonggu also looked out the window with widened eyes.

Is it reasonable for the sky to turn so red around lunchtime?

This is probably…

“It’s because of the mutants.”

“Is a dragon coming today for real?”

The return of the chaebols.

It seemed like the dragons were being treated differently.

Previously, there were no signs of any mutants until their appearance time.

“Father should leave for Dobong in advance, right? Even a little delay and the whole city might go up in flames.”

As Yeongwoo said this, Jeonggu hesitated for a moment before nodding.

“Y-yeah, you’re right. It’s definitely okay to lend Negwig this time…?”

* * *

12:03 PM.

As Yeongwoo and Jeonggu stepped out of the lobby of the Parnas Hotel, Lim Suna, who was turning back to give instructions to the staff, noticed the two.

“Yeongwoo…!”

Her shadow rushing towards them was entirely crimson.

It was because the sky had turned even redder during that time.

“We’ve already evacuated all the residents in our district. The hunters are just waiting at their original locations, ready to clean up the monsters.”

It meant that Taewon and the monster contractors from Gangnam Police would engage in battle as before.

Leaving monsters unchecked just because high-risk mutants appeared would result in buildings used as residences being destroyed tonight.

“Yes. But if by any chance, a dragon appears… tell everyone to run away without hesitation.”

“Understood.”

And then, followed by,

“Hey, Yeongwoo!”

Yangju’s Strongest Swordsman, Choi Jongseon, appeared from afar, waving her hand.

She had rushed out at once upon seeing the sky turning red.

She even had her baby with her.

“Oh, Mrs. Choi.”

As Yeongwoo raised his hand in response to Jongseon, Jeonggu muttered beside him.

“Why did she bring the baby out? Why are there only crazy people around you?”

“Well, if mother is the Strongest Swordsman, wouldn’t it be safest by her side?”

Of course, the baby’s face had to be well covered.

To prevent the baby from being blinded by the flames or getting burned.

“Hyung-niiiiim…!”

Finally, Kim Jongsu, who had stuck Yeongwoo’s body together that was hacked in two pieces in Chungju, appeared.

Yeongwoo knew well that the reason Jongsu survived in this world was to see the ‘dragon’ in person, so he couldn’t help but laugh.

And not only that, Jongsu was now making an ecstatic expression while looking at the red sky.

“It feels like a dream, hyung-nim.”

“Don’t be too excited. There’s still a chance it might not be a dragon.”

At the bizarre conversation, Jeonggu and Jongseon, as well as Suna, showed signs of fatigue.

Meanwhile, the entire Gangnam District was in a state of emergency.

Just the fact that the sky turned red made all the residents anxious, and even the monster contractors, who usually didn’t believe, were now praying to the gods.

“If my body falls apart again this time, you’ll have to stick it back together.”

As Yeongwoo joked like this and was about to open the system window to invest in his abilities…

Kwang…!

Suddenly, lightning and thunder struck one after another from inside the red sky.

And then,

–Seoul, have you prepared someone to face me?

–Those with courage, step forward and reveal your name.

A deep voice resonated endlessly from somewhere beyond the sky.

A powerful presence that dared not to answer.

It was undoubtedly one of the high-risk mutants scheduled to appear today.

“….”

At this, everyone instinctively looked at Yeongwoo.

Thud.

But unexpectedly, Yeongwoo…

“Chwaat!”

Already shouting while swinging the myth sword ‘Bastard’ towards the sky.

“I am an orphan, the master of the mythical sword ‘Bastard’, Joseon’s Strongest Swordsman, Jeong Yeongwoo…!”

“…What? Yeongwoo, that’s a lie.”

“I’ll fighttttt!”

[Translator – Night]

[Proofreader – Gun]