Chapter 690

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Chapter 690: Kidnapping (2)

Damage reduction effects corresponding to the two factions, Salzeo and Subua.

For the Salzeo family, it was practically no different from a great calamity descending upon them.

Of course, Yeongwoo had no interest in such things right now.

What mattered to him at the moment was the fact that the B+ grade evaluation had filled the Hypocrite Catalog collection rate by 3.

‘What the… Did I get a B+ rating because I twisted these guys’ futures?’

That was probably the case.

The hypocrisy record had described it almost exactly that way, after all.

_Your unpredictability twisted the foremost futures of Neheren Salzeo and Kengdal Subua.

_Two destinies intertwined, creating a new fate and accumulating into powerful karma.

‘Still, even if I influenced both of them, the collection rate should’ve gone up by 2. But if they gave me 3 instead… what’s the last one?’

There was no way to know.

If he had to guess, then just as the Catalog explained, the two destinies had created a new fate, so it was highly likely that the extra point was related to that.

‘So if you create a new future through hypocrisy, it gives you a collection bonus or something. Well, either way, it means I did a good deed.’

And this was also proof that the two fugitives before him wouldn’t meet misfortune for quite some time.

After all, these two now possessed the fate of fleeing to the opposite side of the universe and living new lives.

“Alright then, your problems are more or less settled.”

As Yeongwoo turned his head and looked at Dots Salzeo, the man flinched.

—Wh… what about me?

“You’ll have to wait a little longer. At least until I finish talking with your older brother.”

As he said this, Yeongwoo tossed the communication device onto the floor of the bridge.

The hologram unfolded once more, and the young patriarch appeared again.

「Dots, are you still alright?」

The moment communication resumed, the first thing the young patriarch did was look for his brother.

At this, Dots Salzeo hesitated before stepping forward.

—Yes, Brother. The situation here isn’t good… but for now, I’m safe.

「If you’re alive, that’s enough. It means the other side has intentions of negotiating.」

Only then did Yeongwoo step forward, and the young patriarch’s deep blue eyes shifted away from his younger brother and toward him.

「Planetary Ship Owner, it is deeply regrettable that we’ve met under circumstances like these.」

“Why? Then how were you hoping we’d meet? You’re the Salzeo family’s young patriarch. Up until your little brother got kidnapped, you were probably scheming about how to hunt me down and kill me.”

As Yeongwoo scratched his chin with Bastard, the young patriarch in the hologram let out a low groan.

「…That’s true. According to the family’s principles, revenge must be carried out. So once I get Dots back, I’ll begin pursuing you again.」

In other words, until he got his brother back, he wouldn’t do anything to harm Earthship.

As the young patriarch had revealed earlier, this communication was an unofficial negotiation that hadn’t received the family’s approval.

Therefore, it wasn’t merely that he wouldn’t attack—he practically couldn’t.

“Well, whether you come after me once this is over is your business. So how much money did you prepare?”

The moment Yeongwoo got straight to the point, the young patriarch’s expression stiffened.

「As I said repeatedly, this conversation is being conducted entirely at my own discretion. I neither can nor intend to borrow the family’s power, so I cannot comply with unreasonable demands. Even if Dots’ life ends up in danger because of it.」

“You sure talk a lot. I got it already, so how much did you bring?”

Only then did the young patriarch finally state the ransom price for his younger brother.

「8.5 billion Karma. I’ll pay the full amount in cash.」

“What?”

Yeongwoo’s brow immediately crumpled.

“You talk like you’re offering some enormous fortune, which just pisses me off more. Your little brother’s life is only worth 8.5 billion?”

「To me, Dots’ value cannot be measured in money. But realistically, this is the absolute limit of what I can provide.」

In other words, without borrowing the family’s power, 8.5 billion was the maximum amount of money the young patriarch could personally mobilize.

No matter how much he was the Salzeo family’s young patriarch, he didn’t have limitless funds he could freely use.

Dots chimed in as well.

—Our family’s wealth is all officially recorded and meticulously tracked. Even so, the fact that Brother can secretly use as much as 8.5 billion is only possible because he’s who he is.

“You bastards only looked flashy on the outside. You were dirt—poor all along?”

Then Yeongwoo suddenly remembered something.

“Wait a second. Didn’t you put 6 billion worth of funds into this bastard’s supply hold alone? But now you’re saying you can only pay 8.5 billion as ransom? Doesn’t that sound inconsistent to you?”

At this, the young patriarch waved a hand as if telling him to calm down.

「There’s a misunderstanding. The contents of a supply hold are fundamentally funded by the family. I merely upgraded the supply hold’s grade using my authority.」

“What.”

In other words, unless the family officially approved the expenditure, there was no way to extort a huge sum from the Salzeos.

“So unless I kidnap a major figure important enough for the family to officially step in, targeting supply holds is the better option.”

As Yeongwoo muttered this, the young patriarch’s face twisted with displeasure.

「Do I truly look like a powerless puppet to you? Once this matter is over, I’ll raise the alert level across all territories under my jurisdiction.」

“That’s exactly what I’m saying. Still, you’re all family, so if you’d treated each other better from the start, this never would’ve happened. Every Salzeo missing a few limbs ought to be thanking me.”

「…….」

At the utterly absurd nonsense, the young patriarch’s mouth fell slightly open.

Then he regained his composure and resumed the negotiation.

「So then, where do you want the exchange location to be?」

“Huh? What are you talking about? Did I ever say I’d sell your brother for 8.5 billion?”

「……?」

“If I’m going to risk myself and show up at a trade location just to earn a measly 8.5 billion, wouldn’t it be better to at least build a reputation for killing a direct Salzeo bloodline member?”

「What!」

The young patriarch exploded in fury louder than ever before.

At this, Dots and Neheren also stared at each other in shock.

—W, what are you talking about? You’re going to kill Dots?

Neheren, flustered, practically pleaded as he asked Yeongwoo, only to receive a merciless answer.

“Salzeo. Don’t these arrogant bastards need to experience despair at least once? And I just so happen to be in a position where I can gift them some despair.”

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As Yeongwoo tightened his grip on Bastard after saying that, the young patriarch finally realized he was serious and practically pressed himself against the hologram screen.

「W—wait!」

“What, did you suddenly remember some emergency funds you forgot about?”

At this, the young patriarch spoke through a thoroughly distorted expression.

「I am not so vulgar that I’d joke around while my brother’s life is at stake. It is the undeniable truth that I told you the maximum amount I can mobilize.」

“Then why did you contact me?”

Swoosh.

As Yeongwoo once again raised Bastard threateningly, the young patriarch thrust his own sword toward the screen.

「My sword. I’ll give you the sword bestowed upon me by the family.」

Only then did a thick grin spread across Yeongwoo’s face.

“Right. The more I think about it, the more I realize you still had something else to hand over. Why didn’t you do your best from the beginning?”

—You insane bastard.

Dots Salzeo glared at Yeongwoo while grinding his teeth.

But Yeongwoo paid him no attention and instead turned back toward the young patriarch.

“And a hundred swords.”

「What?」

“Along with your sword, bring me a hundred swords to put into my Catalog. Scrap weapons are fine too. As long as they can be registered in the Catalog.”

「That’s a ridiculous demand. You want me to gather a hundred swords all of a sudden?」

And if they were for Catalog registration, then not a single one could be duplicated.

“Who said you had to bring them immediately? Once the hundred swords are ready, your little brother will be ready to regain his freedom. So it all depends on your capabilities.”

「You go too far, Planetary Ship Owner.」

“The brother you claim can’t be measured in money is on the line here. So where exactly is ‘too far’ supposed to be?”

As Yeongwoo once again pointed Bastard at Dots Salzeo, the young patriarch clenched his teeth.

「I will never forget this matter.」

Which could also be interpreted to mean that obtaining a hundred swords wasn’t actually impossible.

“When evil karma is accumulated, evil retribution is returned. Contact me again once everything’s prepared.”

With those words, Yeongwoo covered the marble with his foot and cut off the communication.

Only then did Koatu, who had remained silent until now, speak in a deeply worried tone.

—What exactly are you planning? The other party is the Salzeo family’s young patriarch. If you provoke him too much, everything could fall apart.

If, by some chance, the young patriarch decided to abandon his younger brother, then the hostage exchange later on could easily transform into a massive trap.

Wouldn’t the furious young patriarch possibly use his own brother as bait to capture the Planetary Ship Owner?

“Judging from the way that family operates, that wouldn’t be impossible.”

—I would’ve just taken the 8.5 billion and ended it there.

“That’s why you’re a passenger on Earthship, and I’m the owner.”

Of course, Yeongwoo wasn’t ignoring the worst—case scenario either.

If the Salzeos truly wanted to capture Planetary Ship Owner Jeong Yeongwoo, then this upcoming trade would be the perfect opportunity for him to walk right into their hands.

—So what are you going to do? Even from my perspective, this seems pretty dangerous.

Jiseon also voiced considerable concern, and Acting Captain Mantero added his own advice.

—While we’re in transit, there’s actually no major problem. Even if the Salzeo side launches a surprise attack, as long as we can buy enough time to move toward a nearby black hole, escape is possible.

Then Mantero looked out into space beyond the window.

—The real problem is when Ship Owner leaves this place. If the Salzeos go all out and prepare a trap, then no matter how capable you are, escaping will be difficult.

At this, Yeongwoo thought for a moment before finally giving his answer.

“Even if it’s a trap, there’s still a place where escaping would be easy, isn’t there?”

—What place……?

“You already forgot? If we go to the Black Zone, we get to decide the trade rules.”

In fact, one of the survey options there had specifically asked whether living beings would be used as payment.

[7] The possessed item is a living being.

In other words, for hostage trading—especially when this side was the perpetrator—it was the perfect exchange location.

—Ah.

At last, Mantero let out a short exclamation as he recalled the horrifying memory.

Wasn’t the Black Zone the very place where the ill—fated relationship between Renaissance and Salzeo had first begun?

—Indeed… it is a place optimized for trading inappropriate goods.

“Besides, Katangdal sells for 1.5 times the price there. Let’s dispose of the Palsi from the supply hold there too.”

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