Chapter 183
Chapter 183
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 183
Chapter Title: 41. Everyone's Greatest Sword (3)
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Extorting protection money... no, life fees from the First Swords.
As Youngwoo seized control of the room with his bold plan, Jeong Gu sidled up and whispered in the tiniest voice.
"Hey, is this... really okay? You haven't even fought a dragon yet."
It was the same question Jang Jeong-ho of Dongdaemun had raised—what if mutants really came dragging along from all ten regions?
"Ten of them...? Honestly, that's a lot, but they won't all be dragons... and it's not like we can't handle them."
He was banking on the collection effect from the Armor Codex.
[Collection Effect: 20]
|Effects of designated equipment increased by 50%
【Enemy attack power reduced by 75%.】
Even if it took time to take them down, he was confident they wouldn't lose.
And above all else.
'If I want to install a generator in the returnee's room anyway, I need my friends to rack up as much contribution points as possible.'
That was why Youngwoo was willing to summon his friends up to three times during today's 'herding hunt' in Gwangjin District.
In other words, even if ten mutants swarmed in today's battle, it wouldn't be a 1v10—it'd be a 4v10.
'Plus, if four or more mutants gather, I can complete one Golden Rain condition. Opportunities like this don't come often.'
[Golden Tempest]
|Summon the Golden Rain in one of the following four ways. (0/4)
-Seven or more mutants nearby.
Mutants from various parts of Seoul numbering four, plus three friends.
That would precisely create a situation with 'seven or more mutants nearby.'
So Youngwoo was actually hoping at least four First Swords would run away.
"Alright, let's head inside the residence first. Even if we form teams, it won't be an easy fight, so we need to plan the residents' evacuation ahead of time."
Ding.
As Youngwoo increased the residence's entry limit and said this, the First Swords buzzed with murmurs but began following him one by one.
***
Around 9 a.m.
With the late arrivals from places like Eunpyeong and other distant regions joining, all of Seoul Federation's First Swords had gathered in Youngwoo's living room.
This naturally kicked off the Day 5 First Swords meeting.
There were two main agenda items.
Team formations for dealing with today's mutants and evacuation plans for the residents.
"First off, it seems wise to suspend today's rotation for now."
Gwanak First Sword Jo Sang-ik announced with a regretful expression.
The Seoul rotation allowed residents to patrol regions and complete scout quests in sequence, but pushing it on a day like today would spell disaster.
"Fair enough on the rotation... but for teams, are we grouping nearby regions together?"
Yongsan First Sword Kim Do-hada.
The infamous coward First Sword, famous for surrendering to former Gangnam First Sword Jeong Hyun-sik in just one exchange.
He knew his shameful reputation well, so he asked out of excessive caution.
There might be plenty of adjacent regions, but few First Swords he'd trust with his life.
Jo Sang-ik, who knew his situation well, hinted indirectly.
"Yes, that's the idea for now... but areas with more greenery will suffer less civilian damage even if mutants are drawn in. So heading straight to Gwangjin District might actually be safer."
Areas with more greenery.
Anyone could tell that meant Yongsan Park.
"But mutants aren't the only issue—beasts could follow too... you sure that's fine?"
This concern came from Yangju First Sword Choi Jong-seon.
She was genuinely worried about the orphan First Sword.
If this guy bit off more than he could chew and died, her and her baby's survival would be in jeopardy.
Youngwoo, however, remained steadfast.
"If beasts show up too, that's even better. The more enemies, the stronger I get."
He'd mentioned it twice now.
Sensory Theft, that is.
Of course, the First Swords here who'd never crossed blades with him didn't grasp the exact meaning, but the feeling of being threatened was crystal clear.
'...Enemies' definitely means beasts and mutants, right?'
'He's basically saying it for us to hear.'
'But could he really take us all on?'
Either way, it was undeniable that among Seoul's First Swords, Jeong Youngwoo was the only one suited for 'dragon hunting.'
He was now irreplaceable manpower in Seoul.
That's why no one objected even when he demanded ten million karma per region.
Even Gwanak's Jo Sang-ik subtly took Youngwoo's side.
"As for the 'help fees' Youngwoo mentioned... we'll help with the collections. Folks without prior experience will have a tough time."
Jo Sang-ik, who had experience collecting commemorative coins from residents, said this, surprising Youngwoo in turn.
'Come to think of it... how did Deputy Minister Jo handle the orbs?'
Gwanak District was Seoul's first to see Golden Rain and the only one to try commemorative coin collections on Youngwoo's advice.
So if Jo Sang-ik was greedy, he might have triggered more Golden Rain himself afterward and reclaimed some coins.
'He might be ridiculously strong now.'
Youngwoo stared at Jo Sang-ik for a moment, then spoke as if it had just occurred to him.
"Oh, everyone. I have a personal request for today."
"A request?"
"What's that?"
As the First Swords focused their surprised gazes, Youngwoo pointed a finger at the sky.
"Merchants will show up in each region today too."
"Y-Yeah, probably?"
Fearing he might restrict merchant access, the First Swords tensed, but Youngwoo wasn't that tyrannical.
"If you see an item called a Coordinate Scanner, let me know. It'd be useless to you anyway."
Coordinate Scanner.
The name alone screamed it wasn't for everyday use.
"What do you need it for?"
Sure enough, Seongbuk's Lee Yu-bin immediately asked.
Youngwoo was about to brush it off vaguely.
―Woooaaah!
But a sudden shout from the bedroom made him sense everything had gone sideways.
"What, what is it?"
"What's that noise?"
"From in there?"
The sound quality was oddly off, so over a dozen First Swords in the room drew their swords in unison, sensing something amiss.
Shing!
Clang!
Seok, who had been watching TV in the bedroom, poked her head out in shock.
"...Gasp."
With all these renowned swordmasters radiating murderous intent, her surprise was natural.
Youngwoo slowly waved his hand in a calming gesture.
"Everyone, sheathe your swords. It's understandable you'd misunderstand. My friends are in there. Looks like they found something fun."
Saying this, Youngwoo left the living room and headed to the bedroom with the TV.
The other First Swords hurriedly followed to the source of the noise, and soon they saw it.
―Whoa, how do you turn this off?
―No generator anyway, so won't it die out soon?
―Hey, this won't punch a hole in the sky, will it?
Three people in white pajamas clutching a half-assembled laser cannon, at a loss for what to do.
And at the tip of the problematic laser cannon.
-Zziiiiing!
A brilliant blue laser beam was firing out at tremendous power.
"Wh-what is that...?"
"No way they were prepping for war?"
"Youngwoo, explain this."
As the First Swords reeled from Youngwoo's unimaginable secret weapon and chimed in, Youngwoo felt a throbbing in his temples and muttered lowly.
"Everyone quiet down. I don't want that aimed at your heads."
***
Around 10 a.m., Busan Metropolitan City's Yeonje District, Busan City Hall.
Just as Seoul's powerhouses had held an emergency meeting due to the Board of Directors' high-risk mutant alert, Busan was no different.
The so-called 'Southern Alliance.'
A coalition of Gyeongnam's Gimhae City, Ulsan, and Busan Metropolitan City—they had hurriedly gathered at Busan City Hall.
But their agenda wasn't just high-risk mutant response.
「The Reset Phase 3 will begin soon.」
What the Southern Alliance feared more than high-risk mutants was the 'Reset Phase 3' the Board had mentioned.
The current Reset had entered a lull after Phase 2 'Individual Filtration,' but now Phase 3 loomed.
Of course, one might wonder how they knew to hold a meeting without details on the next phase—but the Southern Alliance was different.
"I'm certain. Today, or tomorrow at latest, the land will connect."
Busan First Sword Kang Gyowon02 scanned the room with a tense face.
His certainty stemmed from the red dotted lines that had begun appearing along Busan's coastline since that morning.
These hologram dotted lines, seemingly drawn by the Reset system, stretched continuously from Haeundae to Namcheon Harbor, based on confirmations so far.
In other words, some kind of marker line had been drawn along the Southern coastline.
So why?
As coastal folk, not inlanders, the Southern Alliance easily arrived at a stunning deduction.
The land might connect.
"It's absurd, but... no other plausible hypothesis fits. And it's the coastline, of all places."
"Could just mean water-attribute mutants are spawning, right?"
Fisherman-origin Gijang First Sword Park Sung-jun13 offered an alternative, but it gained little traction.
"Nah, they wouldn't hype Phase 3 over a few fish."
So in the end.
"Let's check. See if other coasts have those marks too."
As Busan First Sword Kang Gyowon said this, a long-haired spear wielder stepped forward from the crowd of First Swords.
"Where to?"
『Ulsan First Sword』
Ulsan's top fighter, Kim Chae-na01.
She was Southern Alliance's premier spear user and famed owner of the epic compass 'Telescope.'
「Telescope」 - Epic Compass
【Peek into any desired region once per day.】
"Was gonna check Seoul today."
As Chae-na pulled out the Telescope with regret, Kang Gyowon shifted his gaze southeast.
"Try Shimonoseki. If land really connects, that's the prime spot we'd link with."
Shimonoseki City, Yamaguchi Prefecture.
One of Japan's key port cities—if those dotted lines were there too, they'd surely be reacting.
"Got it. Aiming at the port area's coast."
As Chae-na inputted the coordinates, the flat, pebble-like Telescope glowed brightly.
Flash!
It projected a small screen in midair, showing the Shimonoseki port area.
"Ooh..."
"Whoa, for real."
The Southern Alliance First Swords' eyes went wide instantly.
Red hologram dotted lines really lined Shimonoseki's coastline.
But the Telescope's screen showed more than just dots.
"Hey, what’s that? Can you tilt the view up a bit?"
At Kang Gyowon's command upon spotting something, Kim Chae-na adjusted the Telescope slightly, changing the angle.
Now visible along the port's outer coastal line: people standing at regular intervals in a neat row.
Shot from what felt like high altitude, the actual gaps between them were likely vast.
"What the heck?"
"Whatever it is, looks suspicious."
As the Alliance First Swords tilted their heads and murmured, Kang Gyowon, who'd been staring at the screen, furrowed his brow and spoke.
"They're watching us too, probably."
"...Watching what?"
"When the land connects."
"Nah, no way."
If land connected, the terrain would quake—they'd know without lookouts.
No need to station people just to clock the moment.
Then Kim Chae-na proposed a different hypothesis.
"What if the land connects smoothly, no quake? In this world, nothing's impossible..."
"No, even then, why bother stationing people to wait?"
The group still looked baffled.
Kang Gyowon spoke again.
"They must have something to do the instant it connects."
"......?"
"Like... a preemptive strike?"