Chapter 317

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

Chapter 317: Cosmic Lobbying (2)

Vesedel.

One of the royal families of the universe, which gave birth to the "King of Destruction," Dogo.

There's no way to know how mighty the Vesedel family was during their prime, but the fact that their name is embedded in equipment grades means they were undoubtedly a noble house recognized by the order of the universe.

‘And yet, one of the examiners looked down on Vesedel, as if it were nothing.’

Of course, Vesedel no longer existed as a royal family, so it wasn’t too surprising for someone to make jokes about them.

However, in the universe, lower beings couldn’t even dare to utter the names of higher beings.

For someone to ridicule a royal family in such a universe…

‘Wouldn't you need to be at the same level as the Chairman? After all, the Chairman is still active.’

In Yeongwoo's mind, a sort of hierarchy was being drawn.

The Chairman's existence rank, according to universal law, was 3rd-grade.

That's just below the 2nd-grade beings, whose names can't even be mentioned without permission.

So, was the Vesedel family also ranked as 2nd-grade?

‘Probably not. They said this Bastard created myths by defeating transcendent beings, so Vesedel likely wasn’t born as an elite family.’

Then should Vesedel be considered 3rd-grade?

It was possible, considering even among 3rd-grade beings, their prestige could vary.

Moreover, since Vesedel was a royal family, they probably had significant renown within the 3rd-grade.

‘Then what about the examiners?’

This was a tricky question.

On Earth, even among humans, it's possible to insult others regardless of status, but the universe was different.

‘There's a limit. At best, they'd be 3rd-grade beings.’

But when recalling one of the examiner's lines:

― Hah, Vesedel? That's ancient history.

Ironically, this line contained a certain level of fear.

The phrase "ancient history" implied that at least in the past, Vesedel had been extraordinary.

In other words, had it been during the height of the Vesedel family, that examiner wouldn’t have dared to mock the name.

‘So, the examiner's rank must be between 3rd-grade and somewhere around 4th or 5th-grade.’

After organizing his thoughts, Yeongwoo felt a bit more at ease.

He thought that as long as he didn't make any huge mistakes, and as long as he wasn’t executed on the spot, things could be managed somehow.

After all, hadn’t he already dealt with Chairman Dogo, a notorious 3rd-grade being?

So, if his opponents were also below 3rd-grade, he was confident he could navigate the situation.

‘This is why it’s important to have diverse experiences.’

Pop!

As Yeongwoo raised the medallion higher, the light illuminating him expanded to nearly twenty times its size.

Swoosh!

“…!”

Yeongwoo opened his eyes wide, and Song Jiseon, who had been quietly observing from behind, whispered softly.

― Hey, it means you should step out of the spotlight now. You should probably back off.

This was actually a common tactic in business or political arenas.

It was often used to showcase the difference in stature between the two sides by deliberately leading one to change positions.

However, this wasn’t just a display of power but a business strategy to psychologically undermine the other party’s decision-making ability.

But if the difference in rank was too great, the weaker party was forced to comply, making it a political act.

― Seriously, just step out already.

Jiseon urged him again, but Yeongwoo didn’t budge.

“Why? There’s plenty of space here. We can just share it.”

He knew full well what he was doing.

― There’s nothing to gain by being stubborn now. Just step back.

Yeongwoo shook his head.

“No.”

― Why?

“I’m curious. Aren’t you? I want to see what happens if I don’t move. Aren’t you curious, Mother?”

― …You crazy bastard.

Ironically, the system that judged Yeongwoo07’s achievements had already categorized him as a "stubborn."

“No matter how rude this may be, they can’t really harm me. They know I’ll offer a hefty gift in return.”

― …

Jiseon was left speechless.

Because he was mostly right.

― But that curiosity might increase the amount we have to bribe them. Don’t forget, we pledged a blank check as a gift.

“It’s fine. The Chairman will cover any shortfall.”

― What the hell do you mean?

“The Chairman is watching this scene right now.”

As Yeongwoo spoke, he lifted his chin confidently, and the Dogo crest on his right shoulder glowed brightly.

The advertisement tattoo Yeongwoo had on his upper right arm was being projected onto the Vesedel armor.

“What other reason would a small fry like me have to stand confidently in front of planetary examiners of the universe? Right, Mother!”

Jiseon's pupils trembled momentarily before she cautiously opened her mouth.

― Because of… Dogo? Is ‘Dogo’ really that significant…?

She wasn’t clueless.

She realized that her son was engaging in some sort of product placement.

And as if on cue—

Roaaaaaaar!

That strange sound filled the air again, and from inside the ship in the sky, there was the noise of something being unlocked.

Clank!

The examiners were finally descending to Earth.

Roaaaaaar…!

The mechanical wailing echoed again.

As the huge light that had been illuminating Yeongwoo flickered, a strange presence descended from above.

“…What?”

It wasn’t just the feeling of a large being descending.

There was a strange, smoky sensation, as if something…

― Damn it, what is that?

Sure enough, Song Jiseon, who had been floating a hundred meters in the air in her dragon form, trembled slightly.

She had seen the examiner before Yeongwoo.

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

Yeongwoo tried to use his "clairvoyance" to look into the sky, but it was unnecessary.

Whooosh…

By now, the examiners had descended close enough to be seen with the naked eye.

‘…Are those really government officials?’

Yeongwoo's pupils widened.

The aura the beings exuded felt more like that of demon kings rather than civil servants.

There were three examiners descending to Earth.

Each was over 20 meters tall, but the one in the center stood out the most.

■ ….

That being wore a metal mask and had a thick, enormous cape covering its entire body.

Its sheer size made even the swaying of the cape seem terrifying.

And most importantly, they had come from the universe.

There was no guarantee that what was under that mask and cape resembled a human.

For all Yeongwoo knew, inside could be grotesque tentacles, like some kind of monstrous creature.

‘That guy. He’s the one who mocked Vesedel.’

They hadn’t introduced themselves yet, but Yeongwoo instantly knew.

The one wearing the cape was the one.

Sss…

The examiners descended to about 100 meters from the ground, and people around them began showing symptoms.

It started with Jeonggu.

“Yeongwoo!”

His father called urgently, and when Yeongwoo turned to look, he saw Jeonggu half-kneeling on the ground.

“What’s going on? Why all of a sudden?”

“I-I can’t breathe…!”

Realizing the situation, Yeongwoo immediately searched his accessory catalog.

He found a pair of earrings and tossed them to his father.

「Bear Heart」 - Mutant Earring

【Becomes braver.】

“Hang in there. When else will you have a chance to meet beings like that?”

But Jeonggu wasn’t the only one in trouble.

“…Gasp!”

As the examiners descended closer to the ground, Yechan planted his spear into the earth.

Thud!

"Can't you do it either?"

As Yeongwoo saw Yechan's hands trembling as he gripped the spear's shaft, he asked. Yechan nodded in response.

"We should probably step back. It'll get much worse when the inspectors get closer."

By "we," Yechan was referring to himself and Jeonggu, as the one wearing the Bear's Heart, Jeonggu, was barely catching his breath but still trembling violently.

"And what about Mom…?"

When Yeongwoo turned around, he saw his mother relinquishing her dragon form and reverting to her normal appearance as a swordswoman.

Ssshhhh!

— It seems like it really is the inspector, huh?

Song Jiseon's voice was trembling too, but it was still impressive.

Unlike Yechan and Jeonggu, she didn’t have any equipment to resist the overwhelming pressure.

And of course, neither did Yeongwoo, who had given the Bear's Heart to his father.

All he had left was the Inviolability effect of the Aratubank shield.

【Immunity】

| This shield cannot be destroyed and can block most non-physical damage and mental attacks.

But what was overwhelming everyone now wasn’t a mental attack.

It was the sheer presence the inspectors exuded.

A kind of dominance.

So, Yeongwoo also had to endure their presence purely with his accumulated courage.

‘Damn, these guys could kill someone just by breathing.’

It was an entirely different feeling from the chairman.

Unlike the chairman’s aura, which felt like solid steel, these guys exuded a sharp, threatening arrogance, like a blade.

It was also the moment Yeongwoo realized how much the chairman must restrain himself on a daily basis.

‘Chairman…!’

Yeongwoo called out to the chairman inwardly while looking up at the sky, but all he could see was the massive navy warship the inspectors had brought, blocking his view of the sky.

And finally.

Thud!

The three inspectors landed on Earth.

On the left side of the one cloaked in a cape was a massive body of water, which was also one of the inspectors.

Inside the water, a single giant eyeball, about 10 meters in diameter, was glaring at Yeongwoo.

The water itself, which surrounded the eye, was about 30 meters in diameter, making it feel like he was trapped deep underwater every time he looked at it.

‘…The chairman is at the same level as these guys? Or even higher?’

On the other hand, the one standing in the air to the right of the cloaked figure had a familiar appearance.

It was skinny like a spider, but it had two legs, two arms, and a head that resembled a human’s.

Its entire body was wrapped in pitch-black cloth, almost like it was dressed in a suit.

‘Wait, that…’

Yeongwoo blinked.

The inspector on the right looked familiar.

A tall, pale face, with familiar eyes, nose, and mouth.

The nose had no bone and was just two hollow holes in smooth skin.

And instead of white sclera, there were pitch-black pupils.

If you ignored the fact that it was 20 meters tall, it resembled Jiazol, the tax office registrar.

‘It’s the same race as Jiazol! Must be a big shot among them!’

As Yeongwoo blinked, pleased to see something familiar, the cloaked figure finally spoke, noticing the contractor still standing in the same light as them.

■ This place is not for you. Leave.

Suddenly, an immense pressure swirled through the area like a storm, forcing Yechan, Jeonggu, and even Jiseon, who were standing nearby, to quickly retreat.

- Move, little one!

By now, the only ones still standing were Yeongwoo and Master Bang.

Even though Yeongwoo felt like his heart was going to explode, he gritted his teeth and held his ground.

‘I’ve got too much money to make to let them scare me off.’

Realizing that Yeongwoo wasn’t backing down, the cloaked figure bent slightly at the waist and looked down at him.

Rumble...

The massive shadow cast by its huge form covered all of Yeongwoo, and the pressure intensified until Master Bang finally couldn’t withstand it and stepped back.

Tap.

He retreated, unable to bear the overwhelming pressure.

But at that moment, Yeongwoo’s mind cleared.

‘These guys cast shadows?’

He realized it just now, seeing the shadow fall over him.

The laws of Earth’s physics still bound these inspectors.

Their rank in the cosmic hierarchy might be much higher, but fundamentally, they were beings that could be cut, stabbed, and beaten.

In other words...

‘One day, I’ll beat the hell out of them.’

The moment Yeongwoo thought this, the pressure that had been suffocating him suddenly vanished.

The cloaked figure, sensing this, laughed incredulously.

■ Do you know what you are doing right now?

"Entertaining you, of course. I’m honored to host such distinguished guests,"

Yeongwoo said as he raised the commemorative coin once more.

The cloaked figure responded.

■ Your audacity touches the board itself. Have you prepared a suitable offering to spare your life and this planet?

It was a clear threat that if his offering was lacking, they would wipe him out then and there.

In response, Yeongwoo pointed to the sky, obscured by their warship, and said.

"I wouldn’t know."

■ Why not?

Then, without warning, Yeongwoo drew his cursed sword and thrust it into the sky.

Slash!

"Because this negotiation! Is sponsored by the intergalactic weapons brand Dogo!"

■ Dogo!

Yeongwoo was finally beginning to test the limits of his sponsor.

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]