Chapter 651

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Chapter 651: The Space Police Bureau (7)

Planet ship.

In other words, a wonder of the universe.

The existing supermassive ships were, in truth, little more than imitations of planet ships.

Because once the size of a vessel surpassed a certain threshold, it generally ended up taking the form of a sphere.

Linear ships had the disadvantage that if their midsection snapped, they would be completely destroyed, whereas circular ships could continue fighting even if a significant portion was lost.

Moreover, when the mass was the same, the evasive maneuver efficiency of a spherical ship was far superior.

For this reason, the supermassive vessels that gained fame across the universe were, for the most part, closer in appearance to ‘moving small planets.’

In other words, a planet ship was essentially the ultimate form of a vessel.

—A planet ship…?

—You brought a planet ship here?

—There’s a planet ship outside?

Planet ship.

With just these three words, the atmosphere inside the hall completely changed.

Just moments ago, the prisoners who had been radiating overwhelming presences suddenly began murmuring like petty criminals.

‘What the hell… even in a Class-3 society, a planet ship works?’

Well, that was exactly why it was called a “wonder of the universe.”

Even those formidable Class-3 beings could not easily encounter a wonder of the universe.

In the first place, there had only ever been ten of those ships in the entire history of the cosmos.

Then one of the Class-3 prisoners abruptly asked.

—Then… is the Planet Ship Master also waiting for us out there?

It meant they had not even considered the possibility that the greenhorn standing right in front of them could be the Planet Ship Master.

“What? Which bastard—!”

At this, Yeongwoo reflexively flared up and tried to find the speaker, but then he recalled that every prisoner in front of him was a Class-3 being and steadied his breathing.

“I think there’s been a misunderstanding. I am that Planet Ship Master.”

The prisoners were even more shocked than when they first heard the words “planet ship.”

—…What?

—Huh?

—What did you just say you are?

“…I said I’m the Planet Ship Master. I mean, it’s not like any of you have ever seen a Planet Ship Master before anyway, so what’s there to be surprised about?”

—But you…

—Isn’t a planet ship a wonder?

—With a flick of my finger, your neck would snap instantly. And yet you say you’re the master of a wonder?

“……”

Now that he heard it put that way, Yeongwoo couldn’t refute it, so he shut his mouth for a moment.

To the Class-3 prisoners who had survived by clashing with all sorts of things in the universe, the master of a planet ship would naturally have to be someone at least comparable to them or even superior.

But the one who had actually appeared was a mere creature who hadn’t even reached Class-4, let alone Class-3, so it was only natural they couldn’t believe it easily.

Swoosh.

So as a last resort, Yeongwoo held out the phase entity attached to his chest.

「Tactical Navigation」 – Legendary Phase Relic

【Cannon Power +10%】

【Ship Propulsion +5%】

【Planetary Ship】

【Planetary Ship】

| The effects of this equipment can only be activated by one who owns a planetary ship.

“It’s true that you guys could kill me with a single flick of your hand. But it’s also true that if I die, none of you will be able to leave this place safely. Because I am undeniably the Planet Ship Master.”

At Yeongwoo’s words, the long-haired man standing closest to him touched “Tactical Navigation” with his own hand and checked the tooltip.

—…It really is a phase entity of a planet ship. It’s true that this man possesses a planet ship.

Testimony from a fellow Class-3 prisoner like themselves.

At that, hundreds of prisoners surged toward Yeongwoo, crowding around him as they competed to touch the phase entity.

—Huh, it’s real.

—So even a planet ship had a phase entity.

—This thing is saving your life.

Yeongwoo himself was dumbfounded, as it was the first time he had realized that a phase entity could be used like a badge of authority.

As expected, physical evidence mattered above all.

Even so, the criminals’ doubts did not cease.

—But… how can you be the Planet Ship Master?

Because they were powerful, they knew it all too well.

That the universe was far too dangerous for someone to walk around with such a conspicuous status.

At that, Yeongwoo was about to blurt out the nonsense, “That’s why it’s a wonder of the universe,” but quickly swallowed the words.

He still didn’t have the strength to joke around in front of Class-3 beings.

So after some deliberation, he decided to invoke the name of the ‘real chairman.’

“Chairman Dogo holds shares in the planet ship.”

Then something very interesting happened.

—Ah.

—So that’s it.

—Indeed… nothing in this universe happens without a reason.

Among the hundreds of Class-3 prisoners crowding around Yeongwoo, nearly eighty percent took a step back.

And among the remaining twenty percent, half of them said,

—Dogo holds shares in a planet ship?

—What exactly is he plotting?

—Come to think of it, isn’t that the crest of Vesedel?

They shoved their faces close to the Vesedel armor Yeongwoo was wearing and glared at him with openly hostile eyes.

‘As expected, there are quite a few in here who aren’t on good terms with the chairman.’

Thanks to that, Yeongwoo was able to infer something.

The chairman was a powerful figure who ranked at least within the top twenty percent among Class-3 beings, yet he was also someone who could end up imprisoned in the Police Bureau’s prison if circumstances went wrong.

The fact that someone here dared to openly show hostility toward Dogo meant they were confident they wouldn’t fall far behind even in a full confrontation with him.

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In other words, among the prisoners in this detention block, several dozen could be considered villains on the chairman’s level.

Thump.

Then the long-haired man grabbed Yeongwoo’s shoulder again and spoke in a low voice.

—So you’re saying the letter was given to you by Chancellor Herisa, and the planet ship you brought carries Dogo’s shares?

“Uh… strictly speaking, that’s about right.”

—Seems the matter is rather intricately tangled.

Worried there might be a misunderstanding, Yeongwoo quickly added:

“Chairman Dogo had nothing to do with this matter. It was entirely planned and commissioned by Chancellor Herisa.”

At that, the man chuckled quietly.

—You’re rather naive for a Planet Ship Master. Without Dogo’s permission, even a meeting with Herisa would never have happened.

“Excuse… me?”

In other words, the long-haired man was saying that Chairman Dogo had tacitly approved this entire affair.

‘Come to think of it, the chairman did crash the meeting with the Centaurus brothers.’

Yeongwoo unconsciously looked up toward the universe beyond the ceiling.

‘Then… does that mean the chairman is watching this scene right now?’

While Yeongwoo stood there with his mouth hanging open, the long-haired man spoke to the prisoners.

—Now that we’ve confirmed there’s a planet ship outside Pahalufe, we’ll need to gather our opinions again.

Then he pointed a finger at the white iron plate sealing the exit.

—Those who will go out there and board the planet ship, step forward.

Then several prisoners voiced one last question.

—Even if it’s a planet ship, can it escape the Police Bureau’s pursuit?

—The fall of Pahalufe is a major incident. The Police Bureau’s main force must already be preparing to deploy.

Fortunately, Yeongwoo had an answer prepared for that question.

As if fate had prepared it for him.

“Sirs, I don’t have enough money yet to fully equip the ship with cannons. So I can’t defeat the Police Bureau’s main force in battle.”

—What?

—Then even if we board the planet ship, wouldn’t survival be impossible?

“But we can run from the Police Bureau’s main force.”

—……?

“My planet ship can pass through black holes.”

Black hole.

Another magical set of three words, following planet ship.

Sure enough, the criminals who were quick with calculations began standing in front of the detention block’s exit.

—As expected of a wonder of the universe.

—Freedom doesn’t seem so far away.

At the single statement that they could escape using a black hole, ninety percent of the prisoners lined up in front of the exit, and seeing this, the long-haired man nodded in satisfaction.

—With this many, breaking through the security block should be possible.

“Wait, is breaking through the security block that difficult…?”

Hadn’t he said earlier that if only sixty percent wanted to escape, they would fail to pass through the security block?

—Pahalufe’s security block isn’t actually a device meant to stop escapees. It’s a kind of trap designed for the legitimate execution of death sentences.

“Legitimate execution…?”

—Because summary execution of escapees is legal, it gives the Police Bureau excellent justification. So if you enter the security block with an insufficient number and no one escapes, the Police Bureau ends up benefiting.

“Wait, then are you saying not all of the people here will make it out alive?”

—Today, in the security block, half of the escapees will die.

“…!”

In other words, even if a prison break occurred, the Police Bureau would not suffer a one-sided loss.

It was also an opportunity to legitimately eliminate hundreds of Class-3 villains.

“…Ah.”

Only then did Yeongwoo finally understand the position of those who had not wanted to escape.

If their remaining sentence was short, there was no need to choose the madness of a prison break.

And as a result, even though escape was certain once the security block was breached, ten percent of the prisoners had remained behind.

—I won’t call you cowards.

At last, the long-haired man pointed his chin toward the ten percent who had decided not to escape.

—But do not interfere with us. You won’t even get to finish the remainder of your sentence.

At these words, the most imposing figures among the remaining prisoners nodded in response.

—May a path be prepared for you.

—May the blessing of Typesetter be with you.

With that farewell, the Class-3 prisoners were completely divided in two, and even before the long-haired man could give another order, several prisoners crushed the detention block’s exit with their bare hands.

Kweaaaaaang!

For convenience, there might be a representative, but no one here was someone who took orders.

Perhaps aware of that fact, the long-haired man gave one final announcement to the ninety percent of escapees.

—Survive and pass through the security block, and keep the Planet Ship Master alive as well. He is our only escape route.

The moment the man grabbed Yeongwoo’s head as he said this, the white circular plate sealing the detention block was torn apart.

KRAAASH!

And then, without exception, everyone leapt out through the exit.

Like evil spirits sealed away for ages bursting out into the world.

“I-Is it entirely up to luck now?”

Security block survival rate: 50%.

When Yeongwoo looked at the long-haired man with a bewildered expression, the man shattered Yeongwoo’s restraints in a single strike.

Whiiiiiing!

—Only those who arm themselves first will survive.

“Arm themselves…?”

When Yeongwoo showed an expression that he didn’t understand what that meant, the man opened his empty hand.

—Our weapons are also imprisoned in the security block.

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