Chapter 263
Chapter 263
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 263
Chapter Title: 58. The Biggest Worry (5)
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Everyone in the hall was shocked three times.
Once when Jeong Yeong-woo calmly picked up his severed wrist from the floor.
And again.
Puk!
When he forcibly pressed that wrist against his crushed forearm.
"What... what the hell is he doing?"
"You think slapping it back on like that fixes anything?"
Even in this post-Reset world overrun by demons, certain common senses remained intact.
For instance, severed body parts didn't reattach properly without special measures, and a pierced chest generally led to death.
However, Yeong-woo was a being far removed from this world's common sense.
Srulk.
"Huh?"
"Gasp... no way."
The crowd watching the Absolute Demon from the Korean Peninsula gaped in unison.
It was utterly unbelievable, yet happening right before their eyes.
The forearm he'd slapped on haphazardly began fusing with his elbow.
Then, the bone fragments protruding through his torn skin slowly started returning to their proper places.
Kriduk, prruk!
A gruesome sound echoed through the hall.
The shattered bones were pushing aside ligaments and muscle tissue to reclaim their positions.
"G-... Great hero...?"
Even Jeong Tae-ryong of the Ansan Five Heroes, who had stepped forward to escort "Great Hero Jeong," froze mid-stride.
That was how shocking Yeong-woo's "recovery show" was.
"G-Good lord."
"...Impossible."
Amid the collective shock, Yeong-woo slowly lifted his left wrist with his right hand.
To check the time.
"I should get going soon."
"Pardon? Where to all of a sudden? At least join us for a meal..."
Jeong Tae-ryong snapped to his senses and hurriedly tried to usher the honored guest into the city, but it was already nearing six in the afternoon.
'Even if I head straight to Seoul now, it'll be midnight by the time I arrive.'
But was that all for today's agenda?
Before returning to Seoul, he had to stop by Dalian City to collect the promised payment.
Then, upon arriving in Seoul, collect the defense fees brought by the various First Swords from their regions...
'And enter the night dungeon.'
Thus, he needed to carve out time for some shut-eye if possible.
"We can have that meal next time there's an opportunity. The whole city will be busy today anyway."
"Pardon? What do you mean..."
Seeing Jeong Tae-ryong's puzzled expression, Yeong-woo quietly held up three fingers.
"...Ah. Of course."
Thirty million.
The fee Ansan City was paying to employ this demon... no, more precisely, to avoid turning him into an enemy.
But as everyone had just witnessed, he possessed tremendous power.
Power that just might defeat Im Du-pyeong.
"There won't be any issues gathering the amount you mentioned. However..."
Jeong Tae-ryong trailed off, explaining that assembling thirty million in cash would take some time.
Yeong-woo nodded as if he'd expected as much.
"I'd love to leisurely sip some tea while you collect it, but no choice."
Yeong-woo waved his hand, summoning Negreig.
The creature, waiting nearby with two alien slaves aboard, approached with the clop of iron hooves.
"I'll visit again tomorrow afternoon. Hand over sixty million in a lump sum then."
Sixty million.
That was two days' worth of the daily rate Ansan City had promised Yeong-woo, but seeing it piled up, it felt far more substantial than expected.
"Ah... so you're saying you'll collect today's payment along with tomorrow's?"
"Yes. If paying in one go is too burdensome, you'd have to bring it to Seoul yourselves... but time-wise, that's impossible."
Because abnormal weather would hit at night.
"Understood. Then we'll deliver sixty million tomorrow."
As Jeong Tae-ryong bowed with a fist salute to seal the promise, Yeong-woo returned the gesture in his still-awkward form.
"Stay healthy until tomorrow... and keep that tribute safe."
With that, Yeong-woo leaped onto Negreig as it drew near.
Ta-at!
He waved his left arm—its muscle tissue now mostly restored—to bid farewell to the citizens of Ansan.
"See you later!"
The citizens waved back, their faces a mix of awe and disbelief.
* * *
Southward once more.
Yeong-woo spurred Negreig at full speed toward Dalian City.
The city where the Dalian Sword Hero, Cheon Ju-rin, was likely waiting with twenty million in cash.
"She kept her promise... right?"
Yeong-woo muttered worriedly, and the golden goblin in the back seat let out an incomprehensible noise.
-Kit!
Whether it distrusted humans or was thrilled at the prospect of sweeping up more coins was anyone's guess.
In any case, if Dalian City hadn't prepared the money...
'What then? Fight Cheon Ju-rin?'
He'd threatened to return for it no matter what, but he hadn't planned for what to do if they hadn't.
If he truly were a demon to the bone, as the world believed, he'd have massacred Dalian as an example.
But in reality, Yeong-woo was just an unusually stubborn guy, not some monstrous demon or villain.
'Though my evil karma is superhuman levels.'
Thus, he wanted to avoid spiking his evil karma as much as possible.
Reducing it close to zero was one of his mid-to-long-term goals.
Kwa-kwit, kwa-kwit!
At last, Dalian City's silhouette appeared in the distance.
'Almost there.'
From Cheon Ju-rin's perspective, his survival probably wasn't welcome.
He'd even skipped Tongliao, the city she'd recommended.
There must have been good reason for suggesting such a distant place.
"Sword Hero Cheon! Is the money ready?"
As Yeong-woo shouted from the city's outskirts, a swift presence shot forth from ahead on cue.
『Dalian Sword Hero』
It was none other than Dalian City's guardian, Cheon Ju-rin.
"Keep it down. Everyone will hear you."
As expected, the Sword Hero didn't look pleased.
Meanwhile, Yeong-woo frowned upon seeing her empty hands.
"Where's the money?"
"It's coming. You think I'd carry that much cash myself?"
Cheon Ju-rin pointed toward somewhere inside the city.
Likely meaning the designated transport team was bringing the money bags.
Yeong-woo tilted his head.
"Hmm, that's a problem."
"Why... why?"
"Starting tomorrow, you need to bring the money to the Korean Peninsula. Precisely, to Incheon—we've set up a brokerage there."
Thus, he explained, it would be safest if Dalian City's strongest, Cheon Ju-rin herself, handled the transport.
As expected, she flew into a rage.
"What the fuck? Extorting money wasn't enough—you want me to deliver it personally too?"
Cheon Ju-rin's knuckles bent and straightened repeatedly with force.
Her pride as a citizen of China—the Central Plains—and her duty as city guardian were clashing.
By her nature, she'd have dueled the demon on the spot, but Dalian City was effectively held hostage now.
Defeating this freak would only bring Beijing's Im Du-pyeong problem a step closer.
Either way, allying with one meant bowing to evil.
"Huu..."
At last, Cheon Ju-rin exhaled deeply, closing and opening her eyes.
"Sorry for the language. That was too much."
"No worries. I'm used to it. Anyway, you'll pay up, right? Curse all you want then."
"...Fuck."
Cheon Ju-rin let out a hollow chuckle in exasperation.
And right on cue.
Ta-tat!
Two inspectors appeared from inside the city, hefting large pallets.
The transport team she'd mentioned, rushing over now.
"The promised money. Twenty million."
"Oh."
Yeong-woo hopped off Negreig with evident delight, and only then did Cheon Ju-rin notice.
Something was off with his left arm.
"What's wrong with your arm? Was Tongliao that rough?"
"No. It was too far, so I skipped it."
"What? Then where did you go?"
Cheon Ju-rin startled.
Yeong-woo pointed northeast.
"The only place I could make it to in time was Ansan City."
"Ansan? You extorted money there too?"
"Extorted? I sacrificed my arm to win their hearts."
Yeong-woo lifted his left arm slightly.
Then ordered the goblin to collect the money bags from the pallet.
-Ki-kit!
Just like that, Yeong-woo's total karma holdings surged back to a whopping 68 million.
Paat!
* Usable Karma: 68,492,500
Of course, ten million of that had to be returned to Shandong Province.
'So actually around 58 million... still a ton. Money just doesn't run out.'
However, with income spiking, taxes would likely increase too, so complacency was unwise.
By common sense, gathering funds scattered across the affiliated planet shouldn't incur taxes, but the sheer amount made scrutiny probable.
'In a way, this is mercenary work... could be seen as business income depending on perspective.'
Yeong-woo watched the goblin finish loading the money and seal the subspace pouch.
"All set? Amount's exact? Twenty million."
-Ki-it!
At Yeong-woo's question, the goblin raised a tiny thumb in a thumbs-up.
"......"
Unclear if learned from Gupi express warriors or a universal galactic gesture, but it meant the count was spot-on.
"Alright, let's go. No time to waste."
As Yeong-woo mounted Negreig and gripped the reins, Cheon Ju-rin hurriedly asked.
"And tomorrow? Send the money to Incheon?"
"Yes. Come yourself or send someone—doesn't matter, but for such a large sum, best entrust it to someone with top-tier martial prowess. If it's robbed en route, you'll have to scrape it together again."
With that brief advice, Yeong-woo bolted southward once more.
Now, return ten million karma to Shandong Province, then head back to Seoul.
* * *
6:14 PM.
As Yeong-woo, departing Dalian, approached Yantai in Shandong Province, the Shandong Twin Evils emerged early to greet him upon verifying his insider's brand.
"Great hero...!"
This was the voice of Shandong's First Evil, Jang Ja-ham.
Yeong-woo assumed they were about to launch into their usual excessive protocol.
"Great Hero Jeong! Hurry, please!"
But hearing Shandong's Second Evil, Woo Cheong-jin, follow up filled him with mild alarm.
He detected not just urgency in Woo Cheong-jin's shout, but considerable fear.
'What? Did Beijing already start retaliating?'
Entirely possible.
If so, both Twin Evils still breathing was a miracle.
'Looks like I didn't arrive too late.'
Then, which Standing Committee member was in Shandong now?
With the Fourth dead, probably at least Third in rank or higher.
Yeong-woo posed various guesses as he asked Jang Ja-ham and Woo Cheong-jin.
"Why so tense? Someone's here in Shandong, right?"
The two middle-aged demons nodded with expressions of utter trust.
"Y-You already knew?"
"As expected... not an ordinary man!"
Yeong-woo cleared his throat and asked in feigned calm.
"Which one of them exactly is here?"
Jang Ja-ham saluted with fists and reported cautiously.
"Well... I'm not sure of that person's name."
"...Name?"
Yeong-woo's expression subtly hardened.
Jang Ja-ham, who'd already bet on him, wouldn't refer to a Standing Committee member as "that person," nor would he not know their name.
They always announced rank and name upon city visits.
In other words, the guest in Shandong now wasn't a Standing Committee member.
"By any chance..."
"Yes. From the National Tax Service, they said. Figured you'd know right away."
"Ah."
Yeong-woo's greatest worry had finally come to Shandong Province.