Chapter 239
Chapter 239
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 239
Chapter Title: 54. Joseon Twin Evils (2)
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The cost the Southern Alliance had to pay for summoning the two masters to repel the Japanese invaders: 30 million karma.
Of course, the Southern Alliance members had never agreed to this amount.
It was simply an amount unilaterally decided by the two villains who had come just to collect the money.
On top of that, strictly speaking, Yeongwoo hadn't even fought off the invaders.
"That guy didn't even show up to fight... So why do we have to pay him?"
"Isn't this basically robbery? Thirty million? You kidding me?"
The alliance's First Swords whispered among themselves, voicing their discontent.
Then, as if he'd overheard, Yeongwoo stepped forward in front of the alliance members and shouted.
"Thirty million!"
"......?"
"Of course, it's a huge sum. But everyone... no, for the lives of Busan's citizens, is it really that much?"
"Well, even so, that's..."
When some still refused to accept it, Yeongwoo changed tactics.
"The thirty million you're spending isn't just for surviving once."
"Yes?"
"What do you mean?"
"So what kind of cost is it?"
Everyone tilted their heads at the out-of-left-field claim.
Wasn't this money compensation for Yechan blocking over thirty invaders?
But Jeong Yeongwoo's claim was entirely different.
"This money is the cost for you to survive twice."
"Twice?"
"Why twice?"
Some wondered if he meant they'd kill them if they didn't pay, but Yeongwoo wasn't quite that villainous.
Of course, he was cunning enough.
"Half of the thirty million you're paying goes to them."
As Yeongwoo pronounced "them" and pointed at the Mon'o clan warriors, everyone's eyes turned that way.
-Gwak.
Three-meter-tall reddish-brown rock aliens.
Heavily armored in thick plate, they gripped massive clubs—clearly cosmic thugs.
"While blocking the furious Chinese in Incheon, we realized Japan had invaded. But as you know, the distance between Incheon and Busan is enormous."
That was Yeongwoo's explanation: they had no choice but to borrow outside—no, alien—power to fly here.
"Anyway, the important thing is this."
Paht!
This time, Yeongwoo pointed at the elevator stuck in the ground.
"If you don't pay up quick and send them back, you'll be fighting aliens instead of invaders."
"......!"
Right on cue, the Mon'o clan warriors slammed their clubs into their opposite palms in a menacing gesture, making everyone flinch.
"You're saying they'll attack us?"
"Naturally. Don't you know how violent unpaid laborers can get?"
He added under his breath.
"For now, just collect 15 million and hand it over. Let's get rid of them first. Safely."
In other words, pay him first.
Yechan, catching on to Yeongwoo's true intent, stared at his master with wide eyes.
"Uh, Uncle...?"
He was stunned by the seamless, flowing art of deception.
But there was one fact even Yechan didn't know.
Namely.
「Zargal One-Way Token」 - Unique
【Board the Gephi Express.】
|Fare: 13 million karma|
Double deception.
Yeongwoo had fooled even Yechan.
The Gephi Express fare wasn't 15 million—it was 13 million.
Thus, the 2 million difference would go straight into Yeongwoo's pocket.
"Come on, hurry up. Everyone, open your pockets. Let's make 15 million first."
Yeongwoo then began actively collecting funds, weaving through the First Swords.
"Th-this is all I have right now..."
"Really? What's in your jacket pocket? Move your hand."
While Yeongwoo intimidated the First Swords with 'Illegitimate Child' in hand, Yechan noticed something still inside the elevator.
"What is it?"
As Yechan approached the elevator, a fairly large presence emerged from within.
Clank, clank.
It was none other than.
-Kweeek!
Iron Horse Negig and the two slaves riding on its back.
-Kikit!
-Bat...!
"Wh-what the hell is this?"
Startled, Yechan nearly fell on his butt but managed to steady himself.
Yeongwoo, who was dumping the coins he'd collected from the First Swords on the ground, glanced at Yechan and Negig.
"Oh, a gift."
"From who?"
"From the Sponsor."
"Sponsor...?"
A new concept for Yechan.
But for Yeongwoo right now, collecting money was more important than explaining.
"That's all? This is bad."
Even after shaking down every First Sword present, they'd only gathered 6.4 million karma.
That was only possible because Busan's First Sword, Kang Gyowon, had a few high-denomination coins.
"It looks like you'll need to gather more from your respective districts."
Finally, Yeongwoo said this, and Kang Gyowon cautiously asked.
"It'll take time to collect, so what about them?"
He meant the Mon'o clan warriors.
Yeongwoo made a helpless gesture.
"We'll handle the rest somehow. Just hurry up with the collection."
"Y-yes, got it!"
Relief spread across the faces of the Southern Alliance members, including Busan's First Sword.
Sure, they'd end up paying with their own money, but at least they could send these alien thugs packing right now.
"Hey, got any money?"
Yeongwoo then checked Yechan's balance.
But Yechan, no businessman, had no reason to carry large amounts of cash.
"No... Usually broke in the mornings."
That was typical.
Mutants and monsters appeared at 1 p.m., dropping karma, so no need to carry money in the morning.
"Ah... Guess I came here for charity again."
Of course, he'd get it back somehow, but with taxes to pay and gear to collect, Yeongwoo disliked his balance dropping.
"What can you do? The fare's 15 million, right? So we still need more..."
8.6 million karma.
Actually 6.6 million, but still a fortune.
"I'll cover the shortage for now, so collect the money from them later and head up to Seoul."
"To Seoul? Where?"
Anyway, his master Jeong Yeongwoo's base was Seoul.
Summoned there, Yechan felt his heart race unwittingly.
After mingling with Gyeongbuk's mutants as a natural human, he was finally heading to the capital.
"Come to Gangnam in Seoul. Near Samseong Station, there's the Parnassus Hotel. Bring the money bag near the hotel, and the staff will guide you."
"Y-you're living in a Gangnam hotel, employing staff?"
"Uh...?"
Caught off guard by the phrasing, Yeongwoo scratched his chin.
Hearing it, it wasn't wrong.
And not just that—by the time Yechan arrived in Gangnam, First Swords from across Seoul would be showing up at the hotel with money bags too.
"Time it right, and you'll see quite the spectacle."
With that, Yeongwoo ordered the golden goblin to withdraw 6.6 million karma.
It opened its subspace pouch and poured out countless crimson coins.
-Kiiit!
Chwaaa!
The 6.4 million collected from the southern First Swords, plus Yeongwoo's personal 6.6 million donation.
Totaling 13 million karma, it was handed over to the Mon'o clan warriors operating the Gephi Express.
"Say hi to Gephi's boss for me."
As Yeongwoo greeted the Mon'o collecting the coins from the ground, one massive alien nodded.
-Gwat.
And simultaneously.
* Available karma: 16,938,500
Yeongwoo's balance plummeted.
"Don't forget: 8.6 million karma."
As Yeongwoo reminded him again, Yechan gazed at the Japanese land connected via Cheongsapo.
"Won't take long to collect, so where are you off to next?"
After all, he'd been in Incheon, rushed here via flight.
But his base was Seoul... Yechan couldn't pin down his master's schedule.
"Me? Back to Seoul now. The mutants there are insane. Need me around."
And above all, with dragonkin appearing, he had to be in Seoul by 1 p.m. to wait for his mother and uncle.
"Then I..."
"You've got your district too, right? Clean it up, collect from Busan, then come up."
Saying this, Yeongwoo looked above Yechan's head.
"Huh, what. No title?"
"Nope. Never killed a First Sword myself."
His current titles were all from Japan: Sword Emperor, Sword Tigers, and the ones they'd killed like Gijang and Donggu First Swords.
In other words, Yechan was purely clean—never killed his own countrymen.
"Been getting title selection alerts non-stop, actually."
"Impressive. So swordsmanship? Means you've never used regional styles."
"Right. Been buying martial arts from merchants."
"Good lord, truly the land of opportunity... er, world."
Yeongwoo couldn't help but admire.
Sure, it'd defied impossible odds, but Yechan was living proof you could be strong even as a 'Nameless'.
A prime example matching the reset's initial guidance: live beyond your birth grade.
-Gwoat!
Confirming the fare paid in full, the Mon'o clan warriors stood side by side, extending fists toward Yeongwoo.
"......?"
Yeongwoo tilted his head but instinctively extended his own fist.
Then.
Thud.
He bumped his fist against the massive Mon'o fist in greeting.
The Mon'o warriors then boarded the elevator in the order they'd fist-bumped Yeongwoo.
The fist bump had been a farewell.
-Gwat!
Once all Mon'o were aboard, like last night in the dungeon, massive iron chains descended from the sky and seized the elevator.
Chrarararak, kwak!
Yeongwoo waved to the Gephi Express staff.
"See you... again, Gephi Express!"
-Gwat!
The Mon'o responded to Yeongwoo's farewell with a thumbs-up like Gephi.
Then.
Chwiriririk!
They shot upward along the chain at high speed, vanishing into the sky.
"...No way."
In the now-empty center of Cheongsapo, Yechan stared vaguely at the spot in the sky where the Gephi Express had risen.
Then Yeongwoo leaped lightning-fast onto Negig and scanned the Cheongsapo area.
"Alright, all done? I'm off to Seoul first. Gotta hustle to make it on time."
He'd ridden the Gephi Express, barely swung his sword, but met Chani unexpectedly and fleeced the southern First Swords—no loss.
'And payback anyway.'
As Yeongwoo checked his balance again, Yechan glanced sidelong at the elevator spot.
The invaders' corpses strewn there were mangled beyond recognition.
"Uncle, you don't... happen to have fire powers or something, do you?"
"Huh? What're you talking about."
To Yeongwoo's question, Yechan pointed at the bodies scattered everywhere.
"Was debating burning them or dragging to the sea."
"Oh, yeah? No time to move all these. Just erase 'em."
"Erase?"
"Wait."
From atop Negig, Yeongwoo looked up at the sky again.
Then he shouted loudly.
"General! Ready?"
"General...?"
Fear rekindled in the eyes of Yechan and the others.
And soon.
"Earth! 063, 152...!"
Yeongwoo began reciting Busan's coordinates.