Chapter 448

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

Chapter 448: Lord Jeong Yeongwoo07 (1)

“The whole Earth…?”

Yeongwoo’s mouth dropped open.

Was the whole of humanity really watching everything—from his private conversation with Earth to the scuffles with the other planets?

“No, you bastard. Are you seriously out of your mind?”

As Yeongwoo habitually grabbed Earth by the collar, Earth—or rather, the Earthship—looked visibly disgusted.

『This is all being broadcast live right now. Can you believe this? The so-called human representative is physically assaulting his own planet?』

“……!”

Yeongwoo’s eyebrows twitched momentarily at Earth’s words.

Then, with a furrowed brow, he lifted Earth entirely off the ground.

“As the human representative, I can beat a planet. Isn’t this the age of space colonization?”

『What kind of crazy logic is that?』

“Was it your planet that opened the path for the solar system to venture into space? No—it was us humans.”

『…What?』

“It was humanity that survived that damn reset, and humanity that created me, Jeong Yeongwoo07. So, you could say our contribution is the greatest!”

『You… you bastard…』

Earth, now realizing that Yeongwoo was keenly aware of the cameras, stomped his feet in the air in frustration.

『Enough of this madness! Get out of my office! Don’t tell me you’re not paying taxes either?!』

This matter was actually quite serious for Earth too.

With the departure of the planetary fleet imminent, it would be a big problem if Jeong Yeongwoo, who played a key role in the formation of the fleet, were to suddenly die.

“Oh, I’ll pay taxes.”

Yeongwoo, suddenly sobered at the mention of taxes, glanced around the air.

“How do I get out of here? Should I take that elevator from before?”

『I’ll call the elevator for you. Just hurry up and get out.』

At Earth’s light gesture, an elevator emerged from the ash-covered ground.

Fwoosh!

Yeongwoo set Earth down and stepped in front of the elevator, but then turned back.

“What about us?”

『What?』

“How do we contact each other now? Can I come here again even without an invitation?”

『Why would you try to barge into my house uninvited…?』

“Well, surely we’ll have things to discuss in the future.”

Since it was a reasonable point, Earth couldn’t dismiss Yeongwoo’s concern.

『If you really need to talk to me, just call out in the air. As long as you're on Earth, I can always hear you.』

“Outside of Earth?”

『If you're out there, calling me won't help—I can't do anything.』

Yeongwoo tilted his head.

“But with the planetary hunters coming after us, why can’t you help?”

『Wait… are you seriously suggesting I bombard other planets just because you ask me to?』

“Isn’t that what a planetary ship is for?”

Yeongwoo asked seriously, making Earth look horrified.

『You maniac, that would be an actual crime! You can’t just attack planets without authorization!』

“Did you forget that our main job is robbery and assault? Anyway, you’re saying that even outside Earth, you can hear me if I call?”

Click.

Yeongwoo pressed the elevator button, and the firmly shut doors began to part.

Before stepping inside, he looked back at Earth again.

“You coming to the engagement ceremony?”

『Preferably not. It’s your family’s business.』

To be precise, Earth didn’t want to be in a place where two stars would be present.

“But isn’t this pact all about you? Besides, it’s a good chance for you to say hello to the Earthlings.”

This too was said with the ever-present camera in mind, still likely filming from somewhere.

If everything that had happened was broadcast across the globe, wouldn’t tomorrow’s assembly hall in Metal Seoul be swarmed with people?

Everyone would want to see the actual “Sun” with their own eyes.

『I’ll… think about it.』

Earth couldn’t bring himself to outright refuse in front of the Earthlings and deferred his answer.

He then pointed at the elevator.

『Now go already.』

“Sure. You’ve been through a lot too!”

After giving the mess of Earth’s office one last glance, Yeongwoo stepped into the elevator.

Clunk.

Immediately, the doors shut and, just like when he had arrived, the interior walls turned into holograms.

Fwoosh!

He had entered the transfer zone to return to Earth’s surface.

‘Time to go back to reality.’

Pressing his face close to the wall, Yeongwoo could see countless other elevators ascending through the holographic display.

“…….”

The recent physical confrontations with planets now felt like a dream.

But by tomorrow, the results of those battles would manifest right before his eyes.

‘Hmm… if we really complete the planetary ship and venture into space, what will happen then?’

Despite being just a “creature,” Yeongwoo had accomplished feats nearing greatness—but even he couldn’t clearly foresee the future.

After all, the foretold future that Jopan had exposed was nearly exhausted.

Tap.

As he pressed his face closer to the wall, one elevator ahead disappeared into a beam of light.

And soon, so did Yeongwoo’s.

Swoooosh!

‘The time has come.’

Surrounded by light bright enough to rival the Sun, he had finally arrived at the surface.

Thunk!

The elevator walls reverted to solid metal, and the unique comfort of gravity—absent in the relay zone—wrapped around his body.

Clang!

A loud bang came from the elevator door as it split open.

Fwoosh!

Air from Earth rushed into the cabin, and Yeongwoo looked up to see the now darkened sky.

The Sun had clocked out—a black night sky stretched above.

“…….”

As he stood silently, staring at the strangely different sky, a voice called out to him from outside the elevator.

—Welcome back.

Yeongwoo turned his head to see his mother standing with a displeased expression at the elevator entrance.

That wasn’t all.

Perhaps having rushed over after watching the broadcast, even Seoul’s Strongest Swords had gathered around the elevator.

“…What is all this?”

Yeongwoo asked Ji-seon, visibly flustered, and she shrugged.

—What do you mean? They came to see the first human who met the Sun.

“Oh.”

Only then did Yeongwoo realize why the swordsmen were giving him such strange looks.

To them, Jeong Yeongwoo07 was no longer just a fellow human—he had become something completely alien.

Up until now, he’d been a demon who hunted monsters within planets—but now, he had become a cosmic gangster who punched planets.

Of course, in truth, Yeongwoo had faced beings even larger than planets—but to the humans, especially the Strongest Swords, the image of planets and stars held far more weight.

“You… you’ve worked hard.”

Jo Sangik, the Strongest Sword of Gwanak, stepped forward to shake Yeongwoo’s hand on behalf of Seoul’s best.

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

Slide.

“……?”

Yeongwoo looked at him as if it were odd, but eventually grasped his hand.

Grip!

“Yeah, well… it wasn’t easy.”

When Yeongwoo forced himself to reply like this, Kim Doha, Yongsan’s Strongest Sword, who had been fidgeting at the back, quickly asked:

"Um, is it true that our Earth is turning into a spaceship?"

He had seen the broadcast screen with the other Strongest Swords, but it was still hard to believe.

"Uh… it's already transformed into a spaceship, and now we're preparing for it to start moving."

As Yeongwoo was about to leave and head back to his quarters after answering, this time Lee Yoobin, Seongbuk’s Strongest Sword, raised her hand high.

Whoosh!

"……."

Yeongwoo stared at her for a moment and then nodded.

"What is it now?"

"Then… what happens to us?"

"What do you mean?"

"Right now, we’re Strongest Swords, right? Because of the Reset. But if Earth leaves its place and goes to another region of space……."

"Ah."

That was quite a sharp question.

It was essentially asking whether the reset, which had elevated their statuses, would still apply after Earth’s departure from its current orbit.

And that wasn’t even the only issue she raised.

"The Reset is obviously a major catastrophe that should end soon, but right now, it's also the foundation of our livelihoods, isn't it?"

As the Seongbuk Strongest Sword pointed out, in the world after the Reset, dealing with mutants and daily quests that offered 30,000 karma had become the primary source of income.

In other words, if one day the appearance of mutants and monsters suddenly stopped, everyone's survival would be in danger.

"……."

It was an ironic situation, but also the truth—so Yeongwoo had no choice but to stop walking.

"You're right. I’ll have a separate conversation with Earth about this."

"Oh…!"

"Huh?"

At Yeongwoo’s response, the Strongest Swords' eyes widened.

"T-then could you possibly relay other suggestions too?"

"Now that Seoul is the planetary capital, are there any special privileges?"

"Could we ever meet Earth in person?"

Something they had never even imagined in their lifetimes—direct contact with Earth.

But right before their eyes stood someone who had already done so.

Despite being Strongest Swords, they were also just human beings, and everyone tried to express their excitement and relay their requests to Yeongwoo.

And upon hearing them, Yeongwoo—

Shreeaaak!

—drew Bastard and swung it through the crowd of Strongest Swords as usual.

Swaaash!

A crimson arc tore through the crowd skillfully, and the once chattering Strongest Swords finally went silent.

They were quickly reminded that the sword he wielded could even slice through planets.

"Everyone shut your mouths, go home, and pay your taxes."

"……."

As Yeongwoo swept his sharp gaze across the room, everyone silently lowered their heads.

Current time: 9:54 PM.

In about six minutes, the time to pay taxes would come.

A time even their overwhelmingly powerful chairman could not avoid.

‘Ah… I wish I could evade taxes.’

After sending the Strongest Swords away, Yeongwoo looked at the people still standing there.

Jeonggu, Jiseon, Assistant Manager Lim Suna from Taewon Group, and potential retainer candidate Kang Yechan stood before him.

"Ms. Suna… what brings you here?"

When Yeongwoo asked, she glanced over the landscape of Gwangjin District and replied:

"I believe the Sun… and her daughter will be visiting here tomorrow at 2 PM."

Suna still hadn’t managed to compose her expression, as it all felt unreal.

At this, Yeongwoo glanced briefly at the dark sky.

"Yes. Being stars, they’ll probably be punctual."

"Right. Since it’s such a major planetary event… we’re concerned that a huge crowd may gather."

"That is likely."

"If people from all over the world flock here, I don’t think we’ll be able to manage with just our current personnel."

"Ah, you're suggesting we reapply travel restrictions."

When Yeongwoo said this, Suna nodded.

Still, it would be impossible to block people from nearby countries coming via land routes.

‘Looks like it’ll be an extremely hectic day.’

Meeting the stars in a grand conference hall surrounded by a sea of people… it would be a lie to say he wasn’t worried.

Especially since they had no information whatsoever about his father-in-law, the youngest of the Centauri brothers.

"Mr. Kubu, are you there?"

Just as Yeongwoo was about to call out, thinking Kubu might know something—

Shrrrk.

Before he even finished his sentence, space split open and Kubu opened his eyes.

—Master, many messages arrived while you were at Earth's office.

"…Messages?"

—Neighboring families wish to meet you.

"What."

It had finally come.

The wrath of noble families who were now stuck with a rogue faction as their neighbor.

"Are they challenging us? If we fight on Earth, it’ll only hurt us. Can’t they wait until tomorrow evening? We’ll go to them."

When Yeongwoo asked this, Kubu blinked.

—Though many letters were aggressive, there were some entirely different in tone.

"What do you mean… different?"

—They want to invest.

"Invest?"

Yeongwoo’s mouth fell open in a different kind of shock.

And then he asked again:

"Truly, a lotus blooms even in the mud. Who are they? Prepare a response immediately."

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]