Chapter 603

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Chapter 603: Common Sense (5)

Acting Captain Mantero, who proposed firing warning shots at the Salzeo fleet in order to rescue the ship’s owner.

Perhaps it really did show that he was someone who had served the royal family.

At the very least, it was clear that he placed tremendous importance on legitimacy.

After all, wasn’t the most rightful owner of the Earth Ship at present Jeong Yeongwoo, the founding head of the Renaissance family?

That was why Mantero judged that, even at great risk, betting everything on saving the family head was the correct move.

‘Damn it… educated people really are different. While the others are arguing about picking a new shipmaster.’

○ Don’t you think there should always be a Plan B? Stop talking nonsense and just come back already. You could really die, you know.

The “moment of annihilation” they had barely survived thanks to Earth hadn’t even been a few hours ago, and yet it was already upon them again.

Hadn’t Maon Doata, the head of the Tiseph family, said the same thing when he looked at Yeongwoo?

That in this universe, living like that wouldn’t let him survive very long.

‘I’ve heard similar things from a lot of people…’

Only now did Yeongwoo truly feel that he had reached the limits of his capabilities.

And thinking about it from the opposite perspective—

‘I’ve finally started touching the big waters.’

People who could give firing orders against a ship emblazoned with the Dogo crest.

If this wasn’t the big leagues, then what was?

On top of that, this ship was one of Salzeo’s own high-value vessels.

‘That means they’ve got power—and money. No wonder their reputation for relentless retaliation isn’t exaggerated.’

As Yeongwoo mulled over Salzeo’s terrifying stature with admiration, Kejen was completely panicking, alternating his gaze between Yeongwoo and the vacuum outside the viewport.

– W-What do we do? Shouldn’t we speed up now?

Yeongwoo pointed toward space and said calmly.

Swoosh.

“Our hand’s been exposed, so we run for it. One step back for a hundred steps forward!”

Before Yeongwoo even finished speaking, Kejen slammed the controls and accelerated.

KWAHHHHH!

The vanguard fleet commander Ashki twisted his face in irritation, still connected via open comms.

「So that’s why you had the Dogo crest.」

He was referring to the planetary ship that had fired warning shots earlier.

Judging by his outward presence and the frivolity leaking from his words, Yeongwoo was clearly no “Dogo.”

But if he was tied to one of the universe’s wonders, the story changed entirely.

“Yeah, asshole. You get it now? I really am Dogo.”

「But there’s no chairman here to vouch for you. So we’ll just have to find out for ourselves.」

“What?”

Another ominous premonition washed over him.

Then Ashki issued a direct order.

「Pursue them. Capture if possible—but kill them if necessary.」

“Fuck.”

If there was any silver lining, it was that earlier the order had been to fire—now it was to capture.

The name Dogo was working, at least a little.

Even if it was only “if possible.”

‘Did you hear that? I think we’re seriously screwed.’

○ Then why do you keep dragging lunatics into our lives?

‘I told you—the Records led me down this path! How was I supposed to know that ship belonged to maniacs like that?’

○ Still… why didn’t the Chairman help directly? Why just give you the crest?

‘Because if I were truly Dogo, I’d need to overcome this kind of obstacle on my own.’

Which meant that maybe the Chairman wasn’t testing Salzeo at all—

But rather…

“……”

Before his thoughts could spiral further, Yeongwoo shook his head hard and cleared his mind.

Then he glared at the cowering advanced orcs and black goblins and barked at them.

“See that? Now you know what kind of ship you picked. If it weren’t for me, you’d all be dead already!”

– A-Are we all going to die here?

“Originally? Yeah. But I’m the incarnation of unpredictability. Even that great Records can’t see my future.”

– Doesn’t that mean… you don’t know your own future either?

“…These guys are smarter than they look.”

– …!

At that moment, Kejen, watching the radar, screamed.

– Aaaah! They’re firing at us!

A violent vibration rippled through the hull.

TUDUDUDUDANG!

“What the hell? They said they’d capture us—so why are they shooting?!”

– To capture us, they have to stop the ship first! They’re targeting the engines!

“What? Then can’t we just dodge?”

– Are you insane? You think that’s easy?!

“If Mantero were here, he could’ve done it.”

As the inside of the ship descended into chaos and Yeongwoo closed his eyes, Earth spoke again.

○ No matter how I look at it, we might need to fire one more shot. It’s a bit early, though.

‘Judging by their momentum, warning shots won’t cut it.’

Earth sounded shocked.

○ What…? You want to fire directly at the fleet?

‘They’re already pumping rounds into us. Why not?’

○ They’re only using the smallest auxiliary cannons. But what we have is—

The Legendary Cannon: Planet Hunter.

One of the most powerful main guns in existence—capable of destroying planets.

Firing it at Salzeo would essentially declare total war.

○ I don’t know much about noble families, but even I can tell they’re not opponents you can handle. The Renaissance would be wiped out.

‘But we’ve already reached our limit. If we don’t cross the line now, we’ll never move forward.’

And at this rate, they’d either be captured or die inside this ship anyway.

Either way, the Earth Ship would be taken.

‘Sometimes, you don’t think about the aftermath. Just fire. Show them why a planetary ship is called a wonder of the universe.’

Earth fell silent for a moment, then responded.

○ Then let’s strike only the side of the vanguard commander’s ship. Enough for intimidation—but not full escalation.

‘Whose idea is that?’

○ Ms. Jiseon’s.

‘…My mother?’

○ They don’t know yet that we don’t even have auxiliary guns installed. Just feeling the power of the main cannon will make them imagine the rest.

‘She’s right.’

First a warning shot.

Second, an indirect hit.

Naturally, they’d assume the third would be a direct strike.

A bluff—implying that continuing the chase meant full-scale war with a cosmic wonder.

○ No matter how strong they are, they’ve never fought a planetary ship. And they’d never imagine one without auxiliary cannons.

‘Then what are you waiting for? Fire!’

At the owner’s command, the Earth Ship began drawing energy.

At the same time, Salzeo’s follow-up barrage hammered the hull.

TUDUDUTANG!

Kejen grit his teeth and spun the ship, but with little combat-flight experience, his evasion was sloppy.

“Do really skilled pilots dodge bullets by moving the ship?”

– In theory, yes. Advanced radar shows predicted trajectories.

But manually steering a ship through them was another matter entirely.

– Mantero might be amazing, but has he ever flown under sustained fire? Royals don’t usually see that kind of hell.

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“But there must be a reason that runaway prince chose him.”

– Maybe…

TATATANG!

Another violent shake.

Red warning lights flashed.

– Damn it. Left hull damage!

“Can’t you fly any better?!”

– You think the engines are still intact because of your skills?!

Kejen yanked the controls sideways, sending the ship into a spiraling evasive maneuver.

– Is the cannon ready yet?! We can’t hold much longer!

At that moment, the familiar mass of energy streaked through space.

KWAEEEEEEEEEEK!

The Planet Hunter fired once more.

– Terrifying…

Seeing the Planet Hunter from outside, in the vacuum of space, was beyond terrifying.

It looked as if space itself were being torn apart by light.

The blast flew past Yeongwoo’s ship and plunged into the heart of the Salzeo fleet.

「You’ve crossed the line.」

Ashki Salzeo’s voice came through the comms, cold and murderous.

He understood that this was a deliberate show of force.

Then—

KWA-TZTZTZ!

Blue flames erupted near Ashki on screen.

The shot had struck the fleet commander’s battleship.

Despite the chaos onboard, Ashki didn’t blink once.

He simply asked.

「What is your name?」

“Oh? You’re curious now?”

Yeongwoo grinned wickedly, eyes blazing.

“Why would I tell you? So you can chase me again? Let’s meet when I’m stronger!”

「…What?」

Leaving Ashki staring in disbelief, Yeongwoo slapped the comm panel shut.

FWAT!

Kejen stared at him with the exact same expression.

– W-What was that?! Acting strong was your plan, wasn’t it?!

“That plan went out the window ages ago. But after tasting the cannon, they won’t chase recklessly.”

Then Yeongwoo added,

“And if they learn I’m the planetary ship’s owner, they’ll switch straight to kill-on-sight.”

– Why?

“When is a planetary ship owner most vulnerable? When they’re outside the ship. Judging by their temperament, they’d kill even a cosmic wonder if given the chance.”

– So you avoided introductions because of that?!

“Haha! A true strong man knows when to bow!”

As he laughed, the distance between the ship and the Salzeo fleet visibly widened.

“See? No matter how crazy they are, unknown enemies scare them.”

– We’ll enter Earth’s system soon. Looks like we survived the worst of it.

Kejen wiped the sweat from his brow as Yeongwoo spoke to Earth.

‘Can we jump systems as soon as we arrive? We should run as fast as possible.’

○ Coincidentally, Mantero just reported that interstellar jump preparations are complete.

‘Really? Then once we enter Earth’s atmosphere, we’re safe?’

○ More or less.

‘Then prep one more shot. We still have ammo, right?’

○ We do—but another shot now?

‘It’s a farewell shot. We should say goodbye.’

○ Another warning shot?

‘No.’

Earth sounded flustered.

○ …Then?

‘Direct hit. One shot. Right into Ashki’s ship.’

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