Chapter 400

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Chapter 400: Gift Breakthrough (4)

Regardless of Aldo’s declining homeostasis, Yeongwoo’s wedding hall was bustling with guests.

As the wedding ceremony drew near, ships continuously arrived through the passageway that the Shelbir royal family had opened in the void.

Thanks to this, the flow of congratulatory gifts remained uninterrupted.

Piing!

<Totum’s Blacksmith>

「Congratulatory gift submitted!」

Totum’s Blacksmith.

They were the ones who had once sold Yeongwoo a spine and artificial body parts.

「We have received 40 million Karma with congratulations on the wedding of the parents of the Strongest Sword, Jeong Yeongwoo—Kim Jeonggu and Song Jiseon.」

Their contribution amounted to 40 million Karma.

‘Ah, so even in space, sums exceeding 50 million aren’t too common. I guess 100 million Karma is still considered a significant fortune.’

After all, the equipment sold by wandering merchants across the universe generally ranged in price from a few million to, at most, several tens of millions.

So how much could their daily profit be?

It was clear that 40 million Karma was an amount far exceeding the daily wage of most lower-tier merchants.

‘If I want to make big money, I really need to step into a bigger playing field.’

Yeongwoo’s gaze shifted back to the ranking of wedding gifts.

[Rank 1] Aldo,「5 billion 」

[Rank 2] Mara, Ominous Eye,「Private」

[Rank 3] Dogo,「3 billion」

[Rank 4] Lemu, Lightning Rod, 「1.6 billion」

[Rank 5] Hammer of Kwaya, Private

Even after Aldo’s massive 5-billion-Karma gift, many guests had made contributions, but no one had surpassed the Hammer of Kwaya yet.

‘Didn’t the Hammer of Kwaya contribute 160 million Karma?’

And above them was Lemu, a Rank 4 entity.

The difference in donation amounts was striking depending on their ranking.

The universal laws dictated that from Rank 4 and above, things truly began to change.

‘And above that, the company heads start at 3 billion… It’s a whole different level.’

But the surprising winner of this first round was none other than Aldo, a being below Rank 4.

Strictly speaking, it was a victory for the Shelbir Royal Family.

This proved that the royal families of the universe had enough power to stand on par with Rank 3 and 4 entities.

‘What exactly is a royal family? How does one even establish a royal lineage?’

Yeongwoo pondered this question as he cautiously glanced at Chairman Dogo.

— …

Dogo stood in the air, arms crossed, gazing at the descending procession of ships.

Then, without turning his head, he spoke.

— What is it? Speak.

He had already noticed Yeongwoo’s gaze.

Yeongwoo swallowed dryly before carefully asking,

"Are the royal families of the universe really that great? Why did you protect Prince Aldo?"

A slight misstep in wording could be seen as an insult to Dogo, who was himself from the Vesedel Royal Family.

So Yeongwoo was more cautious than ever.

Finally,

— I did not protect that prince.

Dogo turned his head and looked directly at Yeongwoo.

“Then… why?”

— I was simply showing respect to Shelbir’s progenitor. Do you know how a royal family is born in the universe?

“…I don’t.”

But Yeongwoo wanted to know.

Though it might be an excessive dream for a mere being like him, the idea was incredibly enticing.

The power and immense wealth that came with being a universal royal family…

Then, Dogo, uncharacteristically, spoke at length.

— Most royal families are created by a single individual. When someone writes their own myth, that myth becomes the foundation of their lineage.

“Huh… But isn’t that also how Mythic Equipment is made?”

Yeongwoo looked down at Bastard, the weapon strapped to his waist, as he spoke.

Dogo nodded.

— A myth is the proof of the feats they have achieved. And a royal family is the authority of one who has become a myth.

“……!”

In other words, one who writes their own myth can become the progenitor of a royal family.

So, someone must have accomplished mythic-level feats to establish Shelbir.

That explained why Dogo had spared Prince Aldo—out of respect for Shelbir’s progenitor.

‘He wasn’t even friends with Shelbir’s progenitor… yet he risked his life to protect the descendant? That’s an insane level of honor.’

It was a jaw-dropping level of respect.

‘Wait a minute. In that case…’

Yeongwoo’s gaze shifted back to Bastard.

‘What about Bastard? It was called Vesedel’s ultimate weapon. So… isn’t Bastard actually the myth of the Vesedel progenitor?’

Even the colossal titan Gameta had said something similar at the Temple of Valor.

— Only those who write their own myth can leave behind a tangible legacy. Vesedel killed a transcendent and created Bastard.

By that logic, Bastard was indeed the weapon forged by Vesedel’s progenitor.

‘But the previous owner of Bastard was Dogo, and he was also a child of the Vesedel Royal Family… Is there a connection?’

As Yeongwoo’s thoughts reached this point, the void in the sky began to turn red at its center.

“…Huh?”

Then, suddenly, a scarlet laser cannon pierced through the void and landed in the center of the open plaza.

Kwaaaaaang!

“What the hell… Who’s this now?”

Yeongwoo blinked in surprise as Dogo spoke briefly.

— Toma.

Toma.

A universal-scale heavy weapon manufacturer.

Now, all of Yeongwoo’s guests of significant stature had arrived.

Using the opening created by the laser cannon, an immense battleship forcefully shattered through the void matter and emerged.

Kwah-jajak!

The void matter crumbled like a fence struck by a tank.

‘Toma… Isn’t he a Rank 4?’

It seemed that, like Lemu, quite a few Rank 4s had no trouble holding their heads high in front of Rank 3s.

Then again, even Rank 4s were renowned across the universe.

Thud!

Toma’s ship descended onto the ground, looking as if it had been crudely reinforced with layers of massive iron plates.

Clang!

The ship’s front opened, and from within stepped out a massive figure, about seven meters tall.

‘Is that… Toma?’

The being exiting Toma’s battleship wore a chain mantle composed of square metal rings.

Its entire body was covered in bluish muscle, with limbs that resembled a human’s, except the arms were noticeably longer, giving off a strange impression.

Upon closer inspection, its torso was also longer than a human’s.

However, with its hunched posture and the chain mantle draped over its upper body, it simply appeared massive.

— …

Then, Toma turned his head and spotted Dogo floating in the air.

He bowed even further.

Dogo, in response, nodded.

— Toma.

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When Dogo called his name, Toma finally left his ship and started walking toward the lobby.

Boom. Boom.

Like Dogo and Mara before him, Toma had arrived alone, without an escort.

‘That guy is really Toma? He’s nothing like I imagined.’

Yeongwoo had expected someone with the demeanor of a sharp-minded businessman, so he couldn’t help but tilt his head in confusion.

Sensing this, Dogo added,

— Toma was also born on the battlefield. He is quite the remarkable warrior.

A remarkable warrior.

Coming from Dogo, that meant Toma was terrifyingly strong.

‘Well, if he’s running a weapons company in this brutal universe… he’s no ordinary person.’

No matter how wealthy Prince Aldo was, could he really travel across the universe selling weapons?

Everyone had roles suited to their background and nature.

While Aldo, born with a royal spoon in his mouth, was engaged in intergalactic humanitarian efforts, someone born on the battlefield was selling planetary bombardment weapons on the other side.

Such was the universe.

Clank!

At that moment, Toma, the company president, strode across the open space and let his chain cloak fall onto the lobby floor.

Then—

—It is an honor to meet you so closely, Chairman.

He once again greeted Chairman Dogo.

As Dogo remained silent, floating in midair, Toma’s gaze finally settled on Yeongwoo, the true host of the event.

—Jeong Yeongwoo 07. If not for you, I wouldn’t have been able to stand before the chairman in one piece. I wish to express my gratitude.

Toma’s blue lips moved.

Though he had human-like facial features—eyes, a nose, and a mouth—his face was excessively elongated vertically, and his eyes were just empty whites in long, slit sockets, making him quite eerie to look at.

‘Ugh.’

Just seeing Toma’s eyes sent chills down Yeongwoo’s spine, but he managed to keep his expression composed and bowed slightly.

"It’s an honor to meet you in person, sir."

Was ‘sir’ the right title to use?

Yeongwoo glanced at Toma to check his reaction, but his face was unreadable.

Then, Dogo spoke on Yeongwoo’s behalf, cutting straight to the point.

—It is time. Offer your congratulations, Toma.

Swish.

He gestured with his sword toward the line of guests presenting congratulatory gifts.

—Oh, time has already flown by.

Current time: 3:17 PM.

Six minutes before the ceremony.

Following the chairman’s orders without question, Toma strode toward the gift-giving area.

Just then, Yeongwoo sensed a very familiar presence behind him.

Swish.

Someone had just sliced through space and appeared.

“Huh?”

It was none other than his accountant, Kubu.

"Oh? Kubu?"

Yeongwoo greeted him with delight, but Kubu, ignoring him for the moment, first bowed to Chairman Dogo.

—It is an honor to meet the Master of the Hundred Thousand Sword Mountain, the King of Destruction, Chairman Dogo!

Dogo tilted his chin slightly and looked down at Kubu before giving a small nod.

—You are working hard.

—T-Thank you!

Receiving such words of encouragement from Chairman Dogo, Kubu blinked rapidly.

Then, at last, he turned to Yeongwoo.

—Congratulations on your wedding, Jeong Yeongwoo 07! A massive amount of congratulatory money is being reported!

Of all people, Kubu was the one who understood what was most important to Yeongwoo in this ceremony.

"Thanks. But I have to get through the Bridal Gift Breakthrough first before it actually becomes my money… I mean, before it’s official."

Probably the greatest intergalactic business deal since Earth’s birth.

Then, a thought struck Yeongwoo, and he asked,

"Oh, Kubu, you’re attending the ceremony today, right? Did you bring your congratulatory gift?"

Kubu’s eyes widened as if he hadn’t expected the question.

—O-Of course! But before that…

"Before that?"

"There is an issue that requires your mayoral authority, which is why I sought you out first.

—My mayoral authority? What is it?"

Yeongwoo looked at Kubu expectantly, urging him to elaborate, but instead of meeting his gaze, Kubu rolled his eyes upward, staring at the sky.

"……?"

Naturally, Yeongwoo followed his gaze.

Then, Kubu’s voice hit his temples like a hammer.

—Beyond there, criminals are waiting for entry approval.

"What?"

Yeongwoo was briefly shocked but quickly regained his composure.

If criminals were the issue, wasn’t the entire lobby and wedding venue already packed with them?

"Criminals… You mean there are criminals among the guests? Uh… aren’t there already a bunch of ex-convicts here?"

Since he couldn’t directly point at the chairman, Yeongwoo merely rolled his eyes meaningfully.

Kubu, seemingly just as troubled, shifted his own eyes before continuing.

—That’s… they’re not just regular criminals.

"Then what? Are they high-level criminals?"

—They’re escaped convicts.

"Excuse me?"

Now, this was something truly surprising.

Escaped convicts?

"What do you mean, escaped convicts? My guests are all…"

They’re all ex-cons, not active criminals, he was about to say, but his words trailed off.

A crucial realization struck him.

It was—

「Rohm's Bottom」- Legendary Swordsmanship

【Fights like a prisoner.】

The legendary martial art The Rohm's Bottom.

Wasn’t it sold to him by the prisoners of Rohm?

‘Wait a minute… were those guys… actual prisoners?’

As Yeongwoo stood there, mouth agape, Kubu continued.

—Escaped convicts are technically wanted criminals, so they’re restricted from unauthorized entry into most Level 3 or higher zones.

"Wait, so you’re telling me that before, our city was so lawless they just came and did business here?"

There was no need to ask further.

That was definitely the case.

"Those lunatics…"

But the wedding was about to begin.

If they were to be accepted as guests, a decision needed to be made quickly.

—Should we deny them entry?

Kubu, following common sense, made the suggestion first.

However, the idea of turning them away didn’t sit well with Yeongwoo.

After all, he had solved many problems using their martial arts.

In a way, they were benefactors.

Rejecting those who had come all this way despite being fugitives wouldn’t be honorable.

So, Yeongwoo made his decision.

"Go ask them first."

—…Excuse me?

"Ask if they’re willing to help us with the Bridal Gift Breakthrough."

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