Chapter 150
Chapter 150
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 150
Chapter Title: 36. Hot Stock (3)
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Born on the battlefield, master of the Hundred Thousand Sword Mountain, Destruction King Dogo.
He was also the chairman of the pan-galactic weapons brand "Dogo," a four-meter-tall giant clad head to toe in armor.
'Whoa, what is that? So that tombstone was some kind of airship.'
Kwa-gwa-gwa-kwat...!
Having witnessed Dogo emerge in mid-air levitation as the bottom of the tombstone opened, Yeongwoo couldn't help but be impressed.
It was surprising enough that the founder of this megacorporation, backed by cosmic entities as shareholders, belonged to a humanoid species.
At least outwardly, Dogo's proportions and number of limbs matched those of a human exactly.
Of course, with his face completely hidden by a helmet, there was no way to know if he had eyes, nose, and mouth in the proper places.
'But I've seen similar humanoid species before. The chairman's probably the same.'
In the meantime, Chairman Dogo leisurely sliced through the air dozens of meters up before gazing at Remu's hexahedron and murmuring lowly.
—Be grateful this is a commercial zone.
At that moment, Dogo's right hand rested near the sheathed sword at his waist.
It was a warning that, had this not been a commercial zone, he would have drawn his blade immediately.
'...As expected of a war weapons company's chairman.'
At the same time, it implied the existence of cosmic laws even Dogo could not defy.
'What the hell is going on out there beyond Earth?'
Dogo, founder of a battlefield-born war weapons company; Remu, from an unknown species running a pan-galactic purveyor of lewd content.
Just from the descriptions applied to these two megacorporations present—and the merchants Yeongwoo had encountered so far—it was clear the universe was a vast place.
And there was a clear hierarchy of status.
'According to Kubu, my current cosmic law rating is 7th grade. Purely by grade, that's higher than interstellar traders who broker deals across planets. How is that possible?'
It had apparently started at 12th grade.
In other words, status in the universe depended on what one had accomplished.
So, could a mere planetary resident like him build a cosmic enterprise like Dogo and make a name for himself?
"......"
As Yeongwoo blankly stared up at Dogo hovering high in the sky, the chairman slowly descended toward him.
Hwaaah...
How exactly was he levitating like that? Some equipment function? Or a racial trait?
As Yeongwoo scrutinized every detail of his opponent, Dogo came to a halt three meters above his head and looked down.
Or at least, that's what the motion suggested.
Dogo wore a helmet shaped like some beast, with no visible eye slits, so his gaze was concealed.
"...Chairman, it's an honor to meet you."
Yeongwoo barely steadied his stammering voice as he stared straight at Dogo's founder.
He didn't exude any special aura like Dogo's shareholders, but his mere presence carried an overwhelming pressure.
Whether that came from his title or from Dogo's own immense power was impossible to say.
Either way, one thing was certain.
—Up close, I can see you've grown taller.
Dogo's founder had been peeking into the daily life of his new ad model, Yeongwoo.
"Y-Yes... thank you."
Yeongwoo expressed his gratitude, unsure exactly what was so honorable.
As he did, he noticed the dents and cracks all over Dogo's full-body armor, and his pupils dilated.
'My god.'
What kind of being could inflict physical damage on a titan like this?
'Or maybe it's a stylistic choice...? Like badges of honor from traversing countless battlefields?'
In any case, the fact that he could intimidate Remu suggested the chairman's stature was extraordinary even on a cosmic scale.
So Yeongwoo had no choice but to ask before receiving the contract.
"Um, Chairman."
—Speak.
"This might be rude, but... what grade are you?"
If Dogo was 2nd grade or higher, he'd need to use the golden orb right here.
There might never be another chance to encounter a 2nd-grade being after this.
—......
Dogo contemplated the Earth-born ad model for a moment before placing a hand on a dented section of his armor and replying.
—I, Destruction King Dogo, am a 3rd-grade being under cosmic law. Unfortunately.
"Unfortunately" meant Dogo already knew Yeongwoo's achievements.
Then, Dogo pointed a metal-encased finger at the distant hexahedron.
Sseuk.
—The lowly Remu is 4th grade. It has no feats to its name and will remain there until its demise.
In other words...
'Pan-galactic corporate-level beings are around 4th grade. Reaching founder status bumps you to 3rd grade.'
Of course, Dogo's descriptors suggested he was no mere elder merchant.
Cosmic honorifics were based strictly on facts.
Much like how Yeongwoo could claim titles like "Earth's Human, Strongest in Gyeongbuk and North of the Korean Peninsula."
Dogo was truly the universe's acknowledged Destruction King.
'Then what the hell is 2nd grade...?'
He recalled how Kubu, once 9th grade, couldn't even describe a 2nd-grader.
Achieving the "Golden Storm" feat—once thought potentially easy—now seemed far more distant.
"Th-Then... how can I meet 2nd-grade or higher beings? Have you ever met any, Chairman?"
Risking another breach of etiquette, Yeongwoo asked. Dogo chuckled lowly from within his dark armor.
—Cause frequent trouble, and you'll surely meet them. You have potential for it.
The vague phrasing struck Yeongwoo as confirmation that Dogo, a cosmic troublemaker himself, had encountered 2nd-graders.
And he, Jeong Yeongwoo07, system-certified rascal...
'If things continue like this, I'll cross paths with them someday.'
To really stir up trouble, though, it'd probably involve the lewd ads...
Sseuk.
As Yeongwoo instinctively glanced toward Remu, Dogo noticed like a ghost and drew his sword in a flash.
Shyaaaak!
"...Gasp."
Thud.
In the blink of an eye, Dogo's blade tip hovered right before Yeongwoo's nose.
But lacking true killing intent, neither Yeongwoo's Joseon Swordsmanship, Golden Trajectory, nor Rom's floor reacted.
Even if they had, they likely couldn't have blocked that speed.
—Going lowbrow isn't a bad way to gain fame.
—But.
Seu...
As Dogo slowly dragged the blade tip downward in a straight line, a wedge pattern unfurled from it, glowing brightly.
So this was...
'A contract written in sword strokes.'
True to Dogo's first words upon arriving on Earth.
He had genuinely inscribed a new contract with his sword.
And simultaneously, the contract from Dogo's shareholders vanished without a trace.
—Your battles already belong to Dogo. Don't soil them.
Poetic words for a Destruction King.
But if the proffered contract lacked power, it would be mere bluster.
"......"
Yeongwoo reached out tensely toward Dogo's new contract.
Sweek.
As his fingertips finally touched the wedge pattern, an entirely new format appeared before his eyes.
Hwaaaah!
A subspace-like void opened abruptly, filling with text.
What caught Yeongwoo's eye first was the main contract's name at the top.
「Contract: Dogo-107-IIIII_II-1Tier」
'1Tier? Because it's a direct contract with the founder?'
The "Dogo" in the contract name was the contracting party—or payer. The barcode after was Yeongwoo's unique code.
Thus, the "107" between them was likely...
'The number of 1Tier contracts Dogo has done so far.'
A reasonable inference.
The prior ad quest contract with Dogo had borne the number "49523."
「Contract: Dogo-49523-IIIII_II-2Tier」
In short, Dogo had executed nearly 50,000 2Tier contracts, and this made 107 1Tiers.
And Remu?
「Contract: Remu-8739-IIIII_II-2Tier」
Remu's contract was also 2Tier, but only number 8739.
A sign of far less tenure than Dogo.
'I've finally learned a bit about reading these contracts.'
As Yeongwoo finished the header, the main terms appeared line by line.
(Required) [Always-On Ad Space - Tattoo]
-Headquarters' composite ad streams on the tattoo's "blank space."
'Ah, so this is a standard contract. Same as Remu's.'
The company-specific details would come in the optional clauses next.
But...
"Uh...?"
Dogo's contract had no optional clauses.
#Base Ad Pay: 10 million karma weekly.
#Base Contract Period: 4 weeks.
It jumped straight to the standard pay.
'What? 1Tier? This is way below 2Tier...?'
Even as a fixed salary, it couldn't touch Remu's offer, filling Yeongwoo with doubt—when...
Paaat!
A new clause titled "Special Provision" appeared below the pay.
(Special) [Master of Myths]
-Upon signing, headquarters provides you one Myth-grade equipment item.
(Special) [Expensive Sweat Drops]
-Dogo acquires one specimen book of your chosen type within two days.
-Failure to meet deadline incurs 100 million karma penalty from headquarters.
'My god.'
Yeongwoo clapped a hand over his mouth at the specials.
Especially the last, where "Dogo" referred not to the company, but founder Dogo himself.
Name a specimen book, and Dogo would personally fetch it.
'The chairman himself running high-level dungeons...?'
A value beyond mere money, for sure.
And above all...
'Myth equipment. No amount of gold could buy this.'
Interdimensional merchants sold Epic-grade at best for Legendary feats.
Above "Epic" was Legendary.
'So Myth is probably above Legendary.'
How does one even obtain Myth-grade gear?
Unimaginable to Yeongwoo—which made Dogo's direct offer irresistible.
And from the look...
'Dogo's short on cash right now. Too many ongoing contracts.'
Nearly 50,000 executed 2Tiers alone.
That explained the shareholders' dismay at Remu as a rival.
'So the chairman's personally hustling...'
—Your battles already belong to Dogo. Don't soil them.
Yeongwoo's mind replayed the chairman's words.
"Very well, Chairman."
—Contract confirmed?
"Yes. I'll contract with Dogo—no, Chairman."
As Yeongwoo finalized the Dogo contract, he sensed the chairman nod inside his helmet.
—A wise choice.
Then, to the shareholders still waiting behind:
—I'll summon the Hundred Thousand Sword Mountain to this planet. Erect the barrier.
The shareholders erupted in stunned murmurs.
In truth, the Myth-grade gear in the special was the chairman's own possession.
Yeongwoo had shrewdly realized as much.
'Myth gear isn't common, even universe-wide.'
Meanwhile, Yangju First Sword Choi Jong-seon, who had witnessed the whole affair, muttered in disbelief.
"Hundred Thousand... what? What's coming now?"