Chapter 455

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Chapter 455: Lord Jeong Yeongwoo07 (8)

The first meeting with the cosmic families.

Jiseon had to admit, at least in part, that this meeting would determine the first impression of the Renaissance family.

One must not appear overwhelmed before the other family—that much was true.

However...

—You crazy brat, all the nearby families are watching, and you’re going to pick a fight here?

As Jiseon scolded while running after her son, Yeongwoo, who had already leaped down the stairs by the dozens and reached the lobby, glanced back at her.

“They practically started the fight. Visiting the planet of a ‘bandit clan’ and then having the audacity to provoke us on a broadcast...?”

—But you’re the one who overslept, weren’t you?

“They showed up early without notice. I didn’t oversleep—they just arrived ridiculously ahead of schedule.”

—…

That, too, was a fair point.

“They come early and then get mad at me? I think it’s time to discipline them a bit.”

—Fine, let’s say you’re right. But like I said earlier—what if you lose…?

“Then yeah, we’ll be treated as cosmic losers. But if we just sit back and do nothing after hearing that kind of broadcast, aren’t we already starting from a losing position?”

Yeongwoo’s voice was firm—he had already made up his mind.

Realizing this, Jiseon knew she could no longer talk him down and simply nodded.

—Fine. If you’re going to do this, then you better win. Everyone’s watching.

And by “everyone,” she also meant all of Earth, which would witness this confrontation via broadcast.

This wasn’t just an introduction to the neighboring family—it was also a globally political spectacle.

If they lost, they stood to lose a lot.

—How do you plan to fight? Isn’t the opponent from a family that’s at least several thousand years old?

A family with such a long history meant many ancestors—and consequently, many inherited legacies, whether martial arts or ultimate family weapons.

“How else would I fight? Same as I always do.”

As Yeongwoo said this and stepped out the hotel’s main entrance, a blue beam of light shot up from Gwangjin-gu.

It was likely a landing guide beam for the Satral family’s ship.

“They’ll be here soon.”

Yeongwoo mounted the waiting Negwig, while Jiseon leapt into the sky, transforming into a massive ice dragon.

Kwaaaah!

—In the worst-case scenario, what do you expect me to do?

“Worst case?”

Tilting his head as he guided Negwig toward Gwangjin-gu.

Jiseon, now filling the sky, opened her massive jaws.

—If it looks like you’re going to lose. Do I just sit and watch?

“Of course. If anyone—Mother included—interferes, it’s over.”

If a third party got involved in a duel between heads of households, it would give other families justification to step in too—possibly escalating into full conflict.

What started as a visit could easily be reframed as an invasion.

“Besides, the Sun and Proxima are scheduled to visit at 2 PM today. Things won’t spiral completely out of control.”

—You think your mother-in-law will help?

“Earthship is now the new central axis of the solar system. Would she really want to hand that over to another family?”

That made some sense—until Kubu suddenly appeared between them, cutting through the air.

Srrut.

—That is incorrect.

“…What?”

—Planets, stars, and their residents are considered independent entities. Therefore, unless survival is at stake, mutual non-aggression is the norm…

“What? Mutual non-aggression?”

In other words, even if Earthship’s ownership were to change, the Sun would likely not intervene.

“But the Sun isn’t just any ordinary star anymore!”

Yeongwoo quickly tried to argue another angle, but Kubu cut him off again.

—The Sun is still, strictly speaking, a star. Even now, the Sun and Earth revolve along their designated orbits.

“Ah.”

Until the introductory meeting at 2 PM safely concluded, the Sun would be bound by the laws of celestial mechanics.

“…So that’s why they showed up so early.”

There’s no way those who have maintained a family for thousands—if not millions—of years wouldn’t know this.

Kwa-kwaak! Kwa-kwaak!

Meanwhile, Yeongwoo on Negwig had already passed the Gwangjin-gu entrance.

“So if I lose the duel, even the introduction meeting might be canceled.”

—Yes. Which is why I earlier…

Kubu trailed off, choosing not to finish the sentence.

Why is this whole incident considered Jeong Yeongwoo07’s fault?

Because the Renaissance family had more to lose from engaging in this fight.

Had they approached things submissively from the start, they might have been disrespected—but at least Earthship would have departed safely.

—Now approaching our territory is Bioto, head of the Satral family.

Kubu blinked rapidly as he looked to the sky—and almost at the same time, a dark red hologram covered the entire sky.

Fwaaash!

“What’s that?”

—A shield to prevent ship interception.

“So they’re loaded.”

The mere fact that they prepared for interception suggested they had experience visiting other planets.

‘Makes sense. With that many ancestors, they must’ve learned a thing or two.’

As Yeongwoo thought this, Kubu added an explanation.

—For now, the meeting location is set to the grand hall.

According to Kubu, a guidance line would soon be drawn connecting the landing site to the hall.

Jiseon, returning to her human form, asked Yeongwoo,

—So what about the fight? Where are you going to do it?

Yeongwoo pointed toward the landing guide beam up ahead.

“Right there.”

—…Huh?

“Right in front of the landing site.”

—You’re going to fight before the guests even arrive?

“This isn’t an official duel. It’s a ‘welcome’ in Earth fashion—showing them that if they don’t show respect when visiting Earthship, they get smacked.”

A true show of dominance.

He was planning to make his declaration with his fists.

—Well, we are a bandit clan after all…

Still, that's the kind of stunt you pull only when you have overwhelming strength on your side.

But right now, they had no idea how powerful the opponent was.

—That guy Bioto—how strong is he? Do you know anything?

Jiseon asked Kubu.

Kubu rolled his large eyes in a full circle before answering.

—The Satrals haven't waged a war in the past 3,000 years. No information has been released about their new head, Bioto.

—Three thousand years? Just how long is their history, then?

Kubu blinked.

—Roughly 120 million years.

—A hundred and twenty... million?

Jiseon’s jaw dropped at the incomprehensible scale.

Meanwhile, Yeongwoo had already taken off on Negwig toward the distant blue streak of light.

"Three thousand years without a single war? We live every day like it's a battlefield!"

—Hey, man! Ever think maybe no one’s dared to start anything in 3,000 years?

And at that moment, from behind the crimson holograms covering the sky, a massive ultramarine warship began to emerge.

BWAAAAAAM!

The blast of an aggressive brass instrument echoed through the air.

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—...Oh my god. That’s a ship?

Jiseon's already open mouth dropped even wider as she took in the Satral family's ship breaking through the hologram veil.

The first thing she saw was the sharply honed underside of the vessel—like the edge of a blade.

The Satral ship looked like a massive glaive.

This colossal hunk of metal stretched roughly 600 meters long.

Though it had no obvious lighting system, the ultramarine alloy composing its hull seemed to emit a soft glow of its own.

The story of a 120-million-year-old lineage clearly wasn’t just bluster.

—Y-Yeongwoo, maybe we should...

Feeling uneasy at the sight of the ship, Jiseon tried to call out to her son, urging him to reconsider.

KWA-CRASH!

But Yeongwoo was already steering Negwig straight toward the ship’s landing site.

"Bioto…!"

The moment Yeongwoo dared to speak the enemy lord’s name, the Satral vessel smashed into the ground of Gwangjin-gu, crushing the earth beneath it.

KRKKKKK!

‘These guys… they don’t mess around,’

Yeongwoo thought as he watched the ship's razor-sharp undercarriage dig into the land.

They didn’t even bother with a dedicated landing system.

SHHHHHRK!

Next, part of the ship’s side hull opened outward and dropped to the ground, forming a staircase of sorts.

THOOM!

Even their method of disembarking felt barbaric.

And then—finally—

CLANG!

With the distinct friction of metal, the master of the Satral family, Bioto, appeared.

—So this is Earth? Pathetically crude.

He stood 2.5 meters tall.

Clad in a full suit of blue armor, Bioto sat atop a luxurious palanquin.

It was carried on the shoulders of four knights, while dozens more—also in blue armor—formed a protective formation around him.

And behind them—

THUD.

The Satral Order’s captain, Kwavek, cast a massive shadow.

Standing six meters tall, he had been watching the unknown Earthling charging toward them for some time now.

—Fitting for such a crude planet: not even a semblance of proper protocol.

Kwavek glanced at the armored figure on a black steel beast and spoke to his lord.

Bioto slightly nodded inside his blue helmet.

—Creatures who’ve lived only in fleeting moments… They have much to learn.

—Then allow me to begin by teaching them the most basic manners.

As Kwavek straightened from his bow, the shadow he cast over Gwangjin-gu grew even longer.

Grrrrrk.

Around this time, Yeongwoo noticed more ships appearing in the sky—other families arriving, each landing in their designated order.

Then, Kwavek raised a large finger and pointed at Yeongwoo.

—The Lord of Satral is present. Show proper decorum and walk here on your own two lowly feet. Do you not know what manners are?

In other words, get off Negwig and approach on foot.

But Yeongwoo, instead of complying, drew Bastard atop the charging Negwig.

SHHHRK!

—…?

Kwavek hadn’t expected him to draw a sword right away and looked visibly surprised.

Bioto chuckled with interest.

—How curious. So you’re the one they call…

Bioto paused mid-sentence and made a flicking gesture—he couldn’t quite remember the name.

Yeongwoo's eyes glowed gold as he shouted:

"I am the one and only heir of the Destruction King, Dogo…!"

The Destruction King Dogo.

A being classified as a Tier-3 entity under intergalactic law. Hearing the name, Bioto rose from his palanquin.

—What? The Destruction King?

Startled, Bioto signaled for Kwavek to fall back.

Taking advantage of the confusion, Yeongwoo charged between Kwavek and the knights, shouting another line:

"And the bearer of the Vesedel Royal Family’s ultimate weapon…!"

—Vesedel? Then you’re…

Bioto knew full well the connection between Vesedel and the Destruction King Dogo.

He had to ask.

—Then… who exactly are you?

Yeongwoo, now right in front of the palanquin, climbed onto it and roared:

"I am the one who's about to punch you in the face…!"

—…!

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