Chapter 294
Chapter 294
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 294
Chapter Title: 67. New Capital, Seoul (4)
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“Uh……?”
Jeong Gu’s face went slack at the words “Earth promotion exam,” and Yeong-woo jumped in excitedly.
“You saw it, right? I was correct!”
Of course, even Yeong-woo saying this had no idea there was such a thing as planetary status.
Until now, the only statuses he’d seen were role-based grades within the planet and existence grades under cosmic law.
‘Well, I’ve never done anything on a planetary scale before, so no wonder I didn’t know about this.’
But things were different now.
The development goal of Metal Seoul, the Dogo Special City established on the Korean Peninsula, was to raise Earth’s status.
And with Earth just entering full-scale planetary development, everything lined up perfectly.
‘And since this planet will eventually be mine, the higher its grade, the better.’
Especially now that connections to the ‘cosmos’ were starting to multiply, it was obvious that higher status was always better for both the planet and its residents.
The cosmic world he’d glimpsed so far was a brutal survival-of-the-fittest society with a rigid class system.
Even the cosmic law enforcers—3rd-grade existences under cosmic law—couldn’t touch Dogo Chairman’s rampage, and lower beings didn’t even dare utter the names of 2nd-grade or higher existences.
So what would happen if lowly Earth, where residents started at 12th grade, fully connected to that cosmos?
“Getting invaded by fellow Earthlings is bad enough, but getting trampled by aliens……? That won’t happen on my watch.”
Reset’s greatest rags-to-riches success story, Jeong Yeong-woo07.
As he spouted words laced with humanity’s plight, Jeong Gu looked at his son with surprise.
“Oh… You’re capable of thoughts like that? Unexpected. What’s your grade now?”
“7th grade under cosmic law.”
“From 12th to 7th…….”
Jeong Gu nodded as if it all made sense now.
He was probably the first Earthling to reach 7th grade, which might have sparked a sense of mission.
A mission to ensure humanity never suffered cosmic hardships again.
‘Yeah, kids from poor families mature fast. For a low-grade planet native, he’s climbed pretty high, so his perspective’s broadened…….’
But contrary to Jeong Gu’s thoughts, Yeong-woo harbored a far more domineering plan.
“Someday, I want to punch a cosmic official too.”
“…What? Why punch officials? They work hard. You’ll get divine retribution.”
Of course, cosmic officials weren’t human to begin with.
“More precisely, I want to reach a position where I can punch them.”
As Yeong-woo habitually looked up at the sky, Jeong Gu followed his son’s gaze.
“Do you know what it means to punch a cosmic official?”
“…….”
“It means you won’t be in danger in most situations. At least, that’s what I’ve learned.”
Punching a cosmic official.
It also meant you could challenge cosmic law without losing your life.
Though tax evasion would still be off-limits.
“Who the hell taught you that?”
Even as Jeong Gu said it, he had a good guess who the teacher was.
‘That Dogo bastard’s corrupted my son.’
Well, in Jeong Yeong-woo’s timeline, Dogo had come before his father even existed.
“But to become that powerful, I’ve got a long way to go. I’ll need an insane amount of money first…….”
“And then?”
“No idea. Just a hunch, but origin matters too.”
Yeong-woo’s hunch stemmed from his real-life role model, Dogo Chairman’s background.
The chairman hailed from the Besedel royal family as the first prince.
Meanwhile, Yeong-woo was just a resident from lowly Earth.
The only similarity was being born out of wedlock.
“So, you’re raising Earth’s grade to fulfill your dream of assaulting officials?”
Jeong Gu said it, but even he found it absurd.
Not a single sentence made logical sense.
Yet Yeong-woo was dead serious.
“I’m elevating my hometown and people’s status for my future too.”
All roads lead to Seoul, as they say.
The conclusion was optimistic anyway, so Jeong Gu dropped it.
“…Fine. But don’t actually punch any officials.”
As the two wrapped up their cosmic chat, Metal Seoul’s foundation work finally finished.
◇ 「Dogo Special City Metal Seoul」 foundation adjustment complete.
“Oh? It’s done.”
Yeong-woo stood beaming in front of the module, and the next message appeared.
◇ Current city settings as follows.
[Dogo Special City Metal Seoul]
|Level: 1
|Location: |l||I-Earth
|Mayor: Jeong Yeong-woo07
|Purpose: Status elevation
“Huh?”
“Wha? You’re the mayor?”
Both Yeong-woo and Jeong Gu stared at the city settings in shock.
“Well, if they had to put someone as mayor, it’d be you.”
Jeong Gu scratched his cheek awkwardly.
“But the city name’s already locked in as Dogo Special City Metal Seoul? What a joke.”
Jeong Gu chuckled in disbelief, and Dogo’s city module popped up a new alert.
◇ Due to the built-in function of the city’s power source ‘Steel Core,’ guardian dragon and annihilation defense settings are available.
◇ Recommended priority construction based on city development purpose ‘Status elevation’: *Victory Monument.
A brutal development plan that belied the ridiculous city name.
“It recommends the Victory Monument as the first building.”
“Totally insane. Where do you even build that?”
Yeong-woo tapped the alert recommending the Victory Monument.
Pop.
A massive hologram box appeared over the module, unfolding the construction interface.
Ping!
[Victory Monument]
|Inscribe legendary foes who met their end before your city’s name on the monument to earn Glory Points.
|When city Glory reaches a certain level, bonus points awarded in planetary status exam.
*Within 48 hours of monument construction, you may also inscribe enemies not felled in your city’s name.
“Wow.”
Yeong-woo was speechless after reading the Victory Monument description.
It was exactly the building he wanted.
With this, his violence would gain even more legitimacy.
‘Essential for the violence business. We have to build this.’
As Yeong-woo scrolled down, the module highlighted the recommended spot for the Victory Monument.
◇ 2 suitable sites found for Victory Monument construction.
[Jongmyo Shrine]
|If inscribed foe is Earth-affiliated: +20% Glory Points.
[Sajik Altar]
|If inscribed foe is non-Earth-affiliated: +10% Glory Points.
“Uh…….”
Yeong-woo hesitated at the construction site options.
Both were Korean cultural heritage sites, and their special effects were opposites.
‘If I skip the special effects, I can build anywhere, but these bonuses are too good.’
So the choice was Jongmyo or Sajik.
“What’s your take, Dad?”
“…You’ll pick whatever you want anyway, so why ask?”
“I have to hear others out first to confirm I’m right. Like a verification step.”
“Crazy bastard.”
Jeong Gu sighed but pointed at ‘Jongmyo.’
“Jongmyo’s better, right? Double the bonus, and most foes we can inscribe right now are Earthlings anyway.”
“Yeah. Kim Jong-un’s a lock, and probably Im Du-pyeong too…….”
“Right. That’s two already. Legendary foes aren’t that common.”
Yeong-woo nodded at Jeong Gu’s words.
“Yeah. We’d get an instant 40% bonus.”
“Exactly. And with civil wars ahead, we’ll rack up more for the monument.”
“So bonuses from 60% to 100% easy.”
“Y-Yeah.”
Jeong Gu sensed something off as his son agreed so readily.
And sure enough.
“But if we build at Sajik Altar, we could get hundreds of percent bonuses.”
“What?”
“With all the legendary foes out there, imagine how many are in the cosmos.”
Yeong-woo glanced skyward again, and an enraged Jeong Gu jumped up and down.
“You little shit, if that’s the case, don’t ask me—just do what you want! Stop staring at the damn sky!”
The First Swords watching from afar approached, wondering what was up, just as Yeong-woo locked in Sajik Altar for the monument.
“Sajik Altar it is. Gotta think ahead.”
Yeong-woo tapped the hologram text, and a global announcement fired off.
―Dogo Special City Mayor Jeong Yeong-woo07 has approved [Victory Monument] construction at key site ‘Sajik Altar.’
“What?”
“…Huh? What’s being built?”
“He’s already mayor……?”
Residents and First Swords alike were stunned by Metal Seoul’s first permit, but the real shock came next.
Piaaa!
A sharp sound pierced from deep in the sky, and metal chunks began pouring from the northern airspace.
“Eek!”
“W-What’s that?”
The scene evoked terror like Reset Day’s ‘Mountain of Swords.’
But Yeong-woo thought:
‘Whoa, they build fast.’
He instinctively knew it was the Victory Monument going up.
Unlike Earth’s normal construction, B-grade development sites erected in the blink of an eye.
Soon, system messages appeared in Yeong-woo’s view.
「Victory Monument construction complete.」
「3 kill records eligible for Victory Monument inscription.」