Chapter 239
"I'll give it a try."
After studying it several times, I placed my hand directly on the pattern and traced it. The code seemed to involve following the pattern multiple times, roughly gathering ZXW into one. After messing up a couple of times, I drew the code accurately, and a translucent light appeared.
I drew the code for exiting, then tested entering again. The entry and exit codes were slightly different, so I had to focus and memorize them for a while.
"Got it now."
About thirty minutes later, I could freely move between the battleship's interior and exterior. While I was at it, Han Yaseong asked for the code to the massive underground door buried in the earth, and I memorized that too. Now, even without Yadong, I could come and go between the battleship and the underground facility.
It was something, at least—a small gain.
"Don't tell anyone else, not even Reina."
Yadong growled in affirmation that he wouldn't. Even if investigators or whoever showed up, they'd never open this battleship's door without the code. They might try cracking it with a computer like in the movies, but it wouldn't be easy. There weren't even ports to plug one in here anyway. Even if they did manage to open it, they'd be struggling for a long time.
"Whew, now what..."
With nothing immediate to do, Han Yaseong let out a sigh. He'd been thrilled to get inside the battleship, but there was no real payoff. He figured he should head home first. There wasn't even food. Yadong looked deflated too, slinking toward the lodging.
Han Yaseong shook his head and trudged back to the lodging, drained.
The next morning, he woke up, stepped outside, and stared at the top of the massive battleship buried underground. Finding it only to realize he couldn't claim it left him feeling empty and irritated.
He went to the stream for a drink, then, with nothing else to do, returned to the lodging, grabbed his flashlight, and headed to the battleship. The portal wouldn't open until night, so he planned to search the ship again until then.
As Yadong had shown him, he placed his hand on the entrance door and traced the code pattern. Translucent light formed, and he stepped inside. It was still dim. He turned on the flashlight and walked the wide corridor.
How the hell did you open the other doors here? Wandering the corridors, he reached a massive door. It was larger and more imposing than the others, giving the strong impression of a command center or cockpit.
Han Yaseong traced various patterns with his hand, failed, and shook his head.
"Damn, can't open the door."
Having doors but no way in was frustrating. If only he could pry it open somehow, but there was no method.
Pacing in front of the door, he suddenly paused.
"What if... blood?"
Maybe blood would work. It was a clichéd idea, but it felt possible. The giants might favor old-school methods. If the Goldbar held some mystical property, his blood—containing its essence—might unlock the door.
Slim chance, but nothing to lose. He drew his dagger from his waist, pressed the blade to his index finger, and sliced lightly. Blood welled up quickly from the cut skin. He smeared it on the pattern.
Nothing. He applied more blood, smearing it everywhere. Still, no reaction. Simple blood wouldn't do it. The giants weren't total idiots, apparently.
But they were.
Flash! The complex pattern on the door suddenly lit up, reacting to the blood.
Han Yaseong stared at the glowing door, heart pounding with a mix of awe and disbelief. No way it opened this simply—just blood? If it really worked, the giants were idiots confirmed.
And it did. The massive door split in half, sliding apart to both sides.
"Ha... this is..."
Absurdity and emptiness left him speechless. The giants were this stupid? It almost made him laugh, then pissed him off. Blood recognition instead of fingerprints? What if someone else bled on it?
Then suspicion hit: maybe because of the Goldbar. Its components in his blood could be why. Not just any blood would work, surely. Whatever the case, it was tied to the Goldbar.
He shone the flashlight inside the open door but hesitated to enter. Who knew what was in there? Could be a trap. Better call Yadong—he knew this place.
Han Yaseong rushed out of the battleship and sprinted to the lodging. Yadong was sprawled belly-up asleep; shaking him awake drew a growl and bared fangs in irritation.
"Hey, I opened the door! Get over here now!"
Yadong jolted up in surprise and bolted out of the lodging. Han Yaseong grabbed a water bottle and hurried after. He couldn't let Yadong claim ownership of the battleship.
Inside the ship, they stood before the door. Yadong cautiously peered into the open interior. Han Yaseong lit the way with the flashlight and followed carefully.
As expected, it was the cockpit or command center, packed with equipment. But none of it was recognizable. Too risky to touch. Instead, Yadong climbed to a raised platform ahead and fiddled with something.
Han Yaseong grew anxious about losing the ship.
"Yadong, you bastard. This is mine. Remember that."
Yadong growled and kept pawing at it. Nothing happened. Maybe because no Goldbar? Yadong tried everything, failed, growled dejectedly, then looked at him expectantly—you try, you have the Goldbar.
"You can't do it, huh."
Han Yaseong relaxed. No risk of Yadong stealing it now. He climbed the platform and, as Yadong indicated, placed his hand on a panel-like thing and moved it. No reaction. Needed blood again.
"Damn..."
The earlier cut had healed, blood stopped. He drew the knife and sliced the same spot again. It stung worse; blood flowed. Smearing it on the upright panel triggered a response—the pattern glowed.
A low whirring hummed like engines starting. Then lights flickered on from the ceiling. Clunk clunk clunk—round lights ignited everywhere, bathing the space in brilliance.
"Whoa!"
Han Yaseong flinched in shock. The vast area lit up like a building coming alive. Lights everywhere brightened his view. Definitely the command center—grand and intricate. Wall lights created an illusion of floating in space.
His legs went weak. Finally seeing the real battleship. No pretty girl's pussy could match this thrill. It was like beholding a new world.
Suddenly, space materialized in midair—stars and planets floating, like coordinates. Unintelligible but breathtakingly beautiful and awe-inspiring. A holographic cosmos condensed in the air.
"What the hell is all this..."
Yadong stared entranced, then pawed the panel—mimicking something he'd seen a giant do. Moving his paws repeatedly shifted the holographic space.
Han Yaseong watched, heart racing. Didn't understand, but it was enormous.
Suddenly, hundreds of screens popped up in the air. Each showed different forest views—like satellite CCTV, live-streaming animals in real-time.
Then a beep beep alarm blared. Red lights on nine screens. Humans there—wearing military uniforms.
"These fucking bastards!"
Han Yaseong's heart thundered in shock. Armies from Earth had already arrived. Whites, blacks, Asians—diverse races. Just starting colonization, building barracks. American flags, Chinese flags on screens.
"These goddamn shits!"
Even North Korean flags, Japanese rising suns. Rage boiled over.
"You motherfucking pricks!"
The place was exposed. Nations had sent investigation teams with militaries, hiding it thoroughly until now. He'd been completely fooled.