Chapter 692

[Translator - Night]

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Chapter 692: Kidnapping (4)

“Rank reevaluation…? Does that mean I can fight that gatekeeper bastard again?”

The gatekeeper of the Black Zone, Sezak.

Within the duel arena against him, one cannot use aura pressure, and according to rumor, one’s entry rank is determined by how thoroughly one manages to stain the bastard’s white skin with blood.

And Yeongwoo, who had not only broken through the gatekeeper’s so-called ‘hospitality mode’ but also avoided being flung out of the duel arena, had been granted Rank 3.

However, against the gatekeeper after he released his true power, Yeongwoo hadn’t managed to properly endure even a single exchange.

“…….”

As Yeongwoo looked down at his own hand while recalling the bastard’s overwhelming physical strength, Jeonggu casually asked,

“What, thinking of a rematch?”

“Not really. I wouldn’t win anyway.”

“Hm…?”

“Starting from Rank 3, the Black Zone doesn’t charge transaction fees. Which means that’s the realistic upper limit.”

The Black Zone’s security was maintained by the countless criminals who came here to conduct business.

That was why guests of Rank 3 or higher, those who had produced remarkable results against the gatekeeper, weren’t even charged transaction fees.

The Black Zone itself benefited in part from hosting guests of immense martial power.

“So that means Rank 2 is something beyond merely being a strong customer.”

“Then do you have to beat the gatekeeper to get Rank 2?”

“I’m not sure about that. But you’d probably need to at least fight evenly against the gatekeeper after he fully releases his power.”

“But last time, you got knocked out in one punch.”

“Yeah, I did.”

When Yeongwoo immediately admitted it without hesitation, Jeonggu instead ended up wearing an awkward expression.

“So what do you think this time?”

At Jeonggu’s question, Yeongwoo’s gaze shifted toward the Black Zone outside the window.

“I’ve gotten quite a bit stronger than back then, but I still have no chance. At best, I could probably endure two or three exchanges.”

“The gatekeeper’s that strong…?”

“The gatekeeper also can’t use aura pressure inside the duel arena. So I don’t know what his actual existence rank is. But he’s probably at least Rank 4.”

This was something only someone who had actually exchanged blows with the bastard could understand.

Even though Yeongwoo had witnessed the gatekeeper releasing his power right in front of him back then, he still didn’t feel as though he had seen the entirety of the opponent’s strength.

‘Maybe he’s not Rank 4, but Rank 3. It’s not impossible he’s one of the retired chairmen.’

His skin color and skull structure were completely different, yet his appearance still bore a strangely similar resemblance to the Artari race. That too was a mystery.

“Anyway, I’m not going to waste time and stamina on the gatekeeper unless my previous entry pass is still valid.”

When Yeongwoo came to that conclusion, Jiseon spoke with obvious surprise.

—This is the first time I’ve seen you give up on a fight like this.

“Fighting him again won’t earn me any money, and there’s no room for my rank to improve anyway. But someday I’ll definitely come back and beat the hell out of him. I’m really curious about the benefits of a Rank 2 entry pass.”

And it had significance in another sense as well.

Gatekeeper Sezak had fought duels against countless villains throughout the universe.

So if one became capable of fighting evenly against such a gatekeeper, wouldn’t that itself be proof of power?

At that level, it would mean there’d be no need to back down no matter who one encountered in the universe.

‘Though the reason Sezak serves as both gatekeeper and rank appraiser is probably because reaching that level is absurdly difficult.’

Yeongwoo, who had been staring at the Black Zone, decisively turned his gaze away.

Because the Black Zone’s system message was still floating in his field of vision.

「Would you like to have your rank reevaluated? If you do not wish to, the Rank 3 exclusive guide service will activate.」

In response, Yeongwoo requested the exclusive guide.

‘Activate Rank 3 guide.’

The entry pass in Yeongwoo’s hand vibrated once more, and a new holographic interface rose near the cockpit.

Paaaat!

「An exclusive docking area has been automatically assigned.」

“Oh… there was a Rank 3 exclusive docking area?”

Well, last time they’d arrived aboard a junk aircraft, so there hadn’t even been any need for separate docking.

Soon after, the ship carrying Yeongwoo’s group slowly began moving along the guidance line extending out from the Black Zone.

-Are… are we really going inside there?

Dots Salzeo made a horrified expression as he felt the ship moving, while new instructions continued appearing before Yeongwoo’s eyes.

「This is your second visit using a Rank 3 pass.」

「Your exclusive accommodations have already been assigned. Would you like to add a dedicated guide?」

“A dedicated guide?”

As Yeongwoo tilted his head, Jiseon showed interest.

—What’s that supposed to mean?

“No idea. Looks like the Black Zone provides guides too.”

The moment Yeongwoo muttered that, the system added an explanation.

「Dedicated guides are a complimentary service for Rank 3 pass holders. However, the identities of the guides are not guaranteed.」

“What…? Their identities aren’t guaranteed?”

That meant the assigned guide wasn’t an employee of the Black Zone.

Most likely, they recruited applicants from among the local residents living in the Black Zone and temporarily hired them as guides.

—If their identity isn’t guaranteed… isn’t that kind of dangerous? This isn’t just anywhere. It’s the Black Zone.

Just as Jiseon said, it was an extremely dangerous system.

And Yeongwoo had no objections to that fact.

“That’s probably why the service starts from Rank 3. Even if something happens, they assume you can resolve it yourself.”

—Ah, so that’s another way to interpret it?

Someone strong enough to earn a Rank 3 pass, yet still practically a first-time visitor to the Black Zone and therefore in need of a guide.

That was who Yeongwoo thought the guide service was intended for.

And that person was none other than himself.

“All the signs in the Black Zone are encrypted. Unless you’re a resident, even basic navigation is difficult.”

Moreover, the Black Zone was such a massive city that transportation portals had been installed between districts.

[Translator - Night]

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In other words, without someone who properly knew the way, one could easily waste enormous amounts of time wandering around the Black Zone.

“I think we need a guide. After that, we’ll just have to pray we get lucky with the draw.”

—If that’s what you think, then there’s no reason for us to oppose it. After all, you and that guy are the ones who’ll be wandering around the Black Zone anyway, right?

As Jiseon pointed a finger at the hostage, Dots furrowed his brow.

-You’re seriously planning to follow some lunatic whose identity isn’t even guaranteed through that insane place? Are you out of your mind?

“Then you decipher the encrypted signs yourself.”

-…….

“No matter what you think, you don’t get any choices here. Shut up and follow along.”

With that, Yeongwoo selected the option to add a guide, and by this point, the ship carrying the group was already passing near the ‘Black Cliff’ of the Black Zone.

A barrier that, ordinarily, no one could ever cross without going through the gatekeeper.

—Don’t tell me that’s the gatekeeper?

Because their altitude was currently quite low, they could look down through the lower portion of the ship’s window and see the entrance to the Black Cliff.

“Uh… yeah. That’s the gatekeeper. Looks like there are quite a lot of customers today.”

As always, Gatekeeper Sezak stood blocking the entrance to the Black Cliff while receiving challengers, and just then, one challenger could be seen being flung out beyond the circular duel arena.

“That guy’s disqualified.”

The gatekeeper’s duel arena consisted of two circles.

The outer circle was the section that tested whether a challenger met the minimum qualifications.

If one couldn’t even endure within that circle against the gatekeeper in ‘hospitality mode,’ they would receive a normal entry pass.

And the much smaller inner circle was the space meant to test true powerhouses. In Yeongwoo’s case, he had remained within the inner circle even until the moment Sezak released his power, which was why he had received a Rank 3 pass.

—Man, does that old guy never rest while fighting?

Jiseon gaped as the next challenger immediately stepped into the duel arena.

And understandably so, because behind him, there were six more visitors already lined up waiting for their turn.

“Ordinary challengers probably can’t even chip away at his stamina. Still, he really is incredible. Since he’s apparently doing this every single day.”

—Then can he even sleep? This place probably has visitors coming in day and night without stopping.

“Good point. Maybe he just doesn’t sleep at all…?”

As Yeongwoo shrugged, the scenery outside the window shifted past the Black Cliff and changed into the skies above the Black Zone.

Then the ship turned directions and illuminated the outskirts of the Black Zone.

A vast open area where countless ships were docked.

“Looks like we’re about to dock. Let’s get ready to disembark.”

Around then, the ship truly began lowering in altitude, and Yeongwoo’s entry pass vibrated briefly as well.

Along with a clear notification sound.

Ding!

“…Huh?”

「A dedicated guide has been assigned.」

Then a small rectangle appeared before Yeongwoo’s eyes before quickly filling with blue color.

“What’s this supposed to mean?”

No matter how long he waited, no further message appeared, so Yeongwoo turned his gaze outside the window.

Swoosh.

Just then, the ship could be seen landing at the docking area, and soon a low vibration shook the interior.

Kuuuuung……!

“Welcome to the Black Zone.”

As Yeongwoo said that and draped a transparent cloak over Dots Salzeo, the ship’s inner wall folded outward at just the right moment, creating an exit.

And from beneath a gray building visible in the distance—

“……?”

An orc carrying a flag came sprinting toward them at full speed.

“No way.”

Surely it wasn’t a coincidence.

The color of the flag the orc carried was identical to the color of the rectangle the system had shown earlier when announcing that a dedicated guide had been assigned.

—That’s… your local guide?

Jiseon, who was only sticking her head out from inside the ship, asked while staring at the orc in question.

In response, Yeongwoo had no choice but to nod.

“I think so.”

—But what on earth is all that stuff hanging off him like that?

Just as Jiseon said, the orc holding the blue flag was covered head to toe in all sorts of electronic equipment.

He wore goggles fitted with some kind of hologram pad on his head, and strapped to his chest was what appeared to be a loudspeaker.

「Guide, guide! You called for a guide, yes?!」

The moment the orc realized they were looking at him, he waved the blue flag wildly from side to side while shouting at them.

Through the loudspeaker attached to his chest, no less.

“This is way different from what I imagined.”

At the ear-piercing amplified sound, Yeongwoo slightly covered one ear while raising a hand.

Then the noisy local guide blasted out another amplified greeting.

「I-It’s an honor! You’re my very first Rank 3 guest…!」

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]