Chapter 259
Chapter 259
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 259
Chapter Title: 58. The Biggest Worry (1)
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Next, they were to recommend a city to squeeze money from themselves... It was truly a devilish idea.
Considering the prowess and goals of First Sword Jeong Yeong-woo, his visit was nothing short of a disaster.
'It's like playing hot potato. Where the hell should I send this guy?'
Cheon Ju-rin pondered seriously.
Which city could make this demon croak?
'It has to be big, with lots of powerhouses.'
Heading north from here would lead to Shenyang City, the capital of Liaoning Province.
With a population nearing nine million, it surely had its share of experts.
'But to hold that bastard down, ordinary experts won't cut it. At minimum, it needs freaks.'
Therefore, it had to be a city that defied common sense, Ju-rin thought.
So, what was the weirdest city around here?
'Hmm.'
As Cheon Ju-rin fell into deep thought.
"Tongliao...?"
One of the sword users in attendance mentioned the city of Tongliao.
A city reachable by heading north past Shenyang, in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
It was hundreds of kilometers from Dalian, which had the advantage of sending that First Sword far away.
Tongliao was also a place where Han Chinese and Mongols lived in equal numbers, and it had seen anti-government protests recently.
Word was that the atmosphere had been extremely volatile right after the Reset.
And crucially.
'It's always been such a problematic city that Im Du-pyeong must be well aware of it.'
Thus, the Executive Committee member dispatched there wouldn't be some pushover.
Among nearby major cities, if picking one with the highest chance of advancing on Beijing, Tongliao was the clear frontrunner.
"Tongliao? That sounds good?"
Catching the sword user's words deftly, Yeong-woo asked, and Cheon Ju-rin nodded.
"Yes... If we have to pick one, I'd recommend Tongliao."
"It must be a rough place."
Yeong-woo, who couldn't possibly miss the intent, tossed out the comment casually, and Cheon Ju-rin's expression hardened.
"......"
But for Yeong-woo, this was exactly what he wanted—recommendations starting with the strongest regions.
In a world where new variables popped up daily, he believed in chipping away at the enemy's forces from the get-go as much as possible.
'If it's strong enough for them to recommend, Im Du-pyeong naturally wouldn't have sent just anyone there. With luck, I might even run into an early-sequence Executive Committee member.'
It was about time to leave Dalian.
Yeong-woo sheathed the Child of Life at his waist and gave Cheon Ju-rin a slight bow.
"I know it doesn't feel great, but there's no personal grudge here."
"......"
"But with the country in chaos, someone has to seize power and establish at least minimal order."
At that, Cheon Ju-rin, who had flared up momentarily, furrowed her brow.
"Order? Roaming cities and extorting money—that's order?"
"It's the process of establishing order. Either way, to take down Im Du-pyeong, someone has to get stronger than him."
"......"
Cheon Ju-rin shut her mouth again.
She agreed in part, but couldn't in others.
She agreed that Im Du-pyeong, who had consistently aimed for dictatorship before and after the Reset, couldn't be allowed to seize China again.
But she didn't like that the apparent replacement was this demon right in front of her—a Korean Peninsula native, no less.
It wasn't even about agreement; it was raw emotional repulsion.
"I don't think I'm unusual. Most cities probably think the same. As Chinese, who would feel good being ruled by an outsider?"
"That'd be the same no matter which country you ask, China or not. But..."
Yeong-woo recalled Jang Ja-ham from Shandong Province, who had warmly welcomed him.
As Cheon Ju-rin said, someone like Jang Ja-ham, who readily accepted an outsider, was an atypical minority.
But flipping that around, didn't it mean people like Jang Ja-ham were the fitted ones?
"I said it earlier, right? It's an era of chaos. Survival of the fittest. The old-fashioned will vanish soon enough."
"......"
"I've seen plenty of the martial world, so I judge people well. In my view, Sword Hero Cheon isn't a bad person. So I hope you live long. Prepare the money."
Yeong-woo left word that he'd return in two hours exactly, then mounted Neuggig.
Clang!
The pitch-black iron steed let out a harsh glare from its eyes and emitted a sound that could never belong to Earth.
-Kreeeeek!
It was evidence, plain as day, that Jeong Yeong-woo was in league with aliens.
Yet no one there dared raise an objection, and even Cheon Ju-rin gave a slight wave in farewell.
Unlike Shandong's two powerhouses, she couldn't bring herself to a baoquan fist salute, but it was a parting gesture nonetheless.
"See you later. Take care of your health...!"
Finally, Yeong-woo turned his head fully north.
Then.
Kwaaaa!
He cleaved through the air at tremendous speed, departing Dalian.
* * *
Current time: 4:43 PM.
As Yeong-woo headed north toward Tongliao—the next destination recommended by Dalian—he belatedly realized something off.
'Wait... the distance?'
According to the map Dalian provided, Tongliao was a whopping 600 kilometers away.
No matter that Yeong-woo rode a horse from another world, he couldn't round-trip that in two hours.
In other words, high probability.
'It's not just rough— they picked the farthest damn place. Nice one.'
But the other cities weren't close either.
All were at least 230 kilometers away.
So in a way.
'It wasn't entirely intentional, but yeah, all viable cities are far.'
Such was the scale of the continent.
Back when he operated around Seoul, travel distances maxed at 20 kilometers.
Then he crossed into China, and the baseline jumped to hundreds of kilometers.
'At least I have Neuggig... Other folks probably can't roam much due to distance alone?'
Yeong-woo finally understood.
Why the tribute collectors only reached Dalian today.
'No grand reason—just too damn far.'
It seemed laughable at a glance, but for Yeong-woo, dreaming of 'pacifying the world,' it was a real headache.
'Physically impossible to extort the whole country like this.'
He'd thought Im Du-pyeong sent tribute collectors to save face, but it was pure practicality.
'Brother Du-pyeong's got worries piling up.'
And soon, those worries would grow.
He'd learn of a rival in the same line of work.
'From now on, my dream is to be "Im Du-pyeong's Biggest Worry."'
As Yeong-woo pressed north with that new dream in mind, a group of sword users heading south along the road appeared ahead.
Yeong-woo slowed Neuggig and blocked their path.
Kwa!
"Hold up a sec. Mind if I ask for directions?"
The lead man among the dozen or so sword users scanned Yeong-woo up and down.
"...Who might you be?"
Quickly gauging an opponent's gear and prowess was basic survival in this world.
"......"
The lead man judged in about one second of facing Yeong-woo.
Swoosh.
He naturally dropped the arm resting on his sword sheath at his waist.
"You're asking for directions...?"
His tone, far more cautious now, hinted at his stance.
From the unknown title on the opponent, he instinctively knew not to act rash.
"Yes. What's the biggest city around here?"
Yeong-woo held out the map from Dalian as he asked, and the man's expression tensed even more.
Yeong-woo, who'd stuck to Seoul, didn't know, but maps were pricey in this world.
Especially in vast China.
Detailed maps with fine scales and small towns marked could cost over ten million karma to unpetrify.
Of course, Dalian's map was a simple one focused on major cities and nearby terrain, but still, at minimum...
"Nice map you've got. Probably at least two million."
"Maps are that expensive?"
"Yes, of course."
The man took Yeong-woo's map with a polite gesture, then glanced around cautiously.
"...If I may be so bold, why are you looking for a major city? Seems like first time around here."
Anyone could see this outsider didn't blend with the land.
Asking about nearby major cities meant ignorance of local affairs, yet carrying a Manchuria map worth at least two million karma...?
"Hmm."
As Yeong-woo pondered his reply, the man gave a slight bow, then softly swept his right arm—which should have gripped a weapon—around the surroundings.
"We're dayflies with no fixed home, wandering. We prowl near cities, hunt stray mutants that stray from packs, and live off them."
"...I see."
Yeong-woo nodded without further comment, so the man continued.
"As you see, we go on foot. Pick the wrong city next, and..."
It could mean starving, or no place to spend the night, he explained.
In short, if you're off to attack a major city, tell us straight—for our sake.
No need to visit it after.
"You're refreshingly honest. My being an outsider doesn't bother you?"
Yeong-woo asked, and the man rubbed under his nose once.
"For types like us, brutal honesty is how you last long."
And it was true.
That line made Yeong-woo want to share his real purpose.
"Strictly speaking, I'm not going to raze the city. Just collecting some money."
"...A businessman, then."
"Yeah. City won't be wrecked, so you can drop by tomorrow. So, where should I head?"
With that, Yeong-woo checked the time, and the man looked northwest, shading the sun with his hand blade.
"Two hours that way, you'll hit Anshan City."
"Anshan?"
"Yes."
Coincidentally, same name as the Korean Anshan.
'By his reckoning, two hours... On Neuggig, thirty to forty minutes tops.'
Tongliao would have to wait till late tonight or tomorrow.
A few words from this self-proclaimed dayfly had altered two cities' fates.
"Truth is, Shenyang's the biggest nearby, but you won't make it before sundown."
"Yes. Thanks."
Yeong-woo was about to head straight for Anshan when he halted Neuggig again.
Kwa!
The sword users, hastily fleeing, startled and turned back.
"Something wrong?"
Yeong-woo pulled three gold commemorative coins from his pocket and tossed them.
"Direction fee."
"Th-this..."
Spotting Yeong-woo's face on the coins belatedly, the man gaped.
Then he blinked at the name below the portrait: 'Jeong Yeong-woo07'.
The script on the coin didn't translate.
Unable to read Korean, he had no clue what it said.
So Yeong-woo read it for him, unasked.
"Jeong Yeong-woo07, First Sword of the Korean Peninsula."