Chapter 318
Chapter 318
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 318
Chapter Title: 71. Cosmic Lobby (3)
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As Yeongwoo proclaimed "Dogo" in a truly transcendent language, the examiner on the right—who resembled Jiajol—pointed a bony finger at him.
Schick.
■ Dogo!
To be precise, he was pointing at the wedge pattern of Dogo projected above Yeongwoo's right shoulder.
Now, finally, this puny representative of the planet had caught their interest.
And Yeongwoo was a bit pissed off about it.
‘These guys are planetary examiners, but they had no idea what was on the planet they were supposed to audit?’
Of course, for beings like them who could strut around the cosmos with some authority, the details of some backwater planet needing their "audit" wouldn't matter.
‘We're still a long way off. Even with Dogo on my back, there are bureaucrats who don't even know that fact.’
His notoriety was still far too insufficient.
With a resentful expression, Yeongwoo glared at the examiners and the massive navy-blue battleship hovering above their heads.
Right on cue.
Peeeng!
An ominous sound came from high above in the sky.
“Huh?”
Yeongwoo made a face like he had some idea what it was, and the cloaked examiner seemed to feel the same.
■ Incoming!
He hurriedly looked up at the sky, his eyes gleaming.
‘What the hell are they doing?’
Yeongwoo watched the cloaked figure's actions and was soon stunned.
Tzzzzzt!
As the cloak raised his head and sent some kind of signal to the battleship, the ship that filled the sky flickered rapidly, turning into an afterimage.
“......?”
Yeongwoo realized what it meant right after.
Whiiiiiish!
Immediately following, an object shot in from beyond the battleship out in space, passing straight through the afterimage-like ship and descending.
In other words, the "cloak" had detected an incoming approach from outside and temporarily turned the massive battleship into an illusion, stripping it of physical form.
‘Are they... insane? Does that even make sense?’
As Yeongwoo stared at the "cloak" in shock, a deep voice rumbled from behind the mask.
■ You've made things complicated.
And almost simultaneously.
Thuuuud!
A black object crashed down between Yeongwoo and the examiners.
It was none other than...
—I've brought the return gift.
“Huh? Black Eyes...”
Yeongwoo widened his eyes upon recognizing the newcomer.
A familiar face, but not quite familiar in reality.
Desirak, the military supplies director of Dogo Corporation, stood right before Yeongwoo's eyes.
A massive knight clad head to toe in chainmail armor.
‘He looks exactly like the one from the dungeon.’
Yeongwoo had encountered the black-eyed Desirak for the first and last time in the "Moral Lecture" dungeon recreating the chairman's prince era.
And now, quite some time had passed since then, yet Desirak was still guarding the old prince.
“D-Director?”
As Yeongwoo greeted Desirak like an acquaintance, the five-meter-tall giant looked down at Earth's reckless top swordsman.
—Attempting to bribe an 11th-grade civil servant. A bold idea, but beyond your capabilities.
“......!”
It seemed like he was scolding the troublemaking Yeongwoo at a glance, but in reality, he was dropping a huge tip.
For starters, he'd just revealed that the examiners before them were 11th-grade civil servants.
Since Jiajol handling registration at the tax office was 86th-grade, the planetary examiners were indeed high-ranking officials.
And above all...
‘Beyond my capabilities? Does that mean the going rate to bribe an 11th-grade civil servant is that high?’
As Yeongwoo eyed the cosmic beings with curiosity, Desirak swiped his index finger through the empty air.
Flash!
A straight line appeared in the air, followed by a thin strip of blue light forming what looked like a long receipt.
“What's that?”
Unable to contain his curiosity, Yeongwoo asked, but instead of answering, Desirak held the paper out toward the examiners.
—We'll prepare the return gift in cash. Write down the amount.
Desirak was a five-meter giant by Earth standards, but the examiners before him started at least twenty meters tall.
Even so, Desirak's demeanor as he handed over the blank check was utterly imposing, and the examiners didn't take issue with his rigid posture.
‘The director is... basically on equal footing with these examiners.’
Yeongwoo learned another lesson.
From this, he could infer one more thing.
That Desirak, the military supplies director, and the planetary examiners were all around 4th or 5th grade in cosmic legal existence ranking.
■ Hm.
Soon, the lead examiner, the "cloak," let out a thoughtful grunt from behind his mask.
Dealing with some fringe planet's representative, he could exude an air of absolute authority.
But sitting at the negotiation table with a peer forced him to show his true colors as a "bribe-taking bureaucrat."
‘This is style! In space, power comes first after all!’
It was a new shock for Yeongwoo.
The examiners who had seemed so intimidating moments ago now looked like ordinary civil servants.
As expected, both sides had to be on equal footing to see each other's true faces.
■ Payment in karma only?
The bribery negotiation began.
—All in karma. No other payment methods considered.
■ If you'd come directly from Dogo, we'd consider audit fees too.
—Anything beyond what everyone knows? Shut up and write it down.
“......!”
Yeongwoo wondered if Director Desirak was crossing a line, but surprisingly, the examiners said nothing.
Even in a 1-vs-3 situation.
Whether it was Desirak's own notoriety in space or the backing from Dogo Corporation, it was still unclear.
But a hint came soon after.
■ 5 billion, lump sum. Direct cash delivery, and if caught, you take the prosecution.
‘5 billion?’
Yeongwoo's ears twitched.
The examiners had just proposed a return gift of 5 billion karma in a lump sum, and if this lobby ever became an issue, they'd handle the prosecution themselves.
‘That's why he said it was beyond my capabilities.’
Neither the amount nor the fallout handling was something current Yeongwoo—no, Earth—could manage.
But what happened next was even more shocking.
—5 billion as audit fee? Not impossible. But it's beyond what I can authorize. Want a direct meeting with the chairman?
The three examiners immediately hesitated, and the eye in the giant water globe kept staring at the "cloak," sending silent signals.
‘They're scared shitless of the chairman.’
This was the difference between someone who wanted to beat up bureaucrats and someone who actually went around doing it.
Even clad in Besedel armor, Yeongwoo got looked down on by examiners, but just mentioning the chairman instilled fear.
Then, one of the examiners pointed at Yeongwoo again.
■ Tread carefully with Dogo. They test products out in public.
It was the skinny one resembling Jiajol.
What he pointed at was the metal cloak draped over Yeongwoo's shoulder—Dogo's new product, "Aerial Ethics."
「Aerial Ethics」 - ◇ Dogo Phasing Body
【Damage to civil servants +20%.】
【Psionic Resistance 20%】
【Dogo】
They knew full well that Dogo made gear for beating up civil servants.
So what would happen if they demanded more money from a company like that?
Especially if it meant a direct meeting with that infamous chairman...
‘They'd become guinea pigs for the new product without a doubt.’
It was frustrating that he was too weak to test his own company's products himself.
Clench.
As Yeongwoo clenched his fist, the examiners asked Desirak again.
■ How much can you execute right now?
Desirak folded and unfolded his chain-wrapped fingers a few times, then held up three.
—3 billion, lump sum. But we won't cover prosecution.
In simple terms, a risky 3 billion.
The cloaked one shook his head.
■ No prosecution.
In other words, no prison.
The cosmic punishment system, with an 84% mortality rate while awaiting trial, terrified even examiners.
—Scared of a little prosecution risk and giving up 1 billion? If we take the risk, the most we can do immediately is 2 billion.
Desirak provoked the examiners instead.
Hearing this, Yeongwoo wanted to ask if Director Desirak had a criminal record, but there was no chance.
■ There are plenty of planets to audit anyway. We won't do anything stupid.
—Then write down 2 billion like the coward you are. It's the maximum courtesy we can offer.
As Desirak said this and shook the paper in his hand, the "cloak" turned his head to gaze at the Metal Seoul skyline for a moment.
■ …….
Who knew what he was thinking.
Yeongwoo couldn't tell.
■ Quite the unique place, this.
Then, for the first time, he asked the human before him his name.
■ What's your name?
Yeongwoo looked up at him, gripping his bastard sword.
"I'm the mayor of Metal Seoul in Dogo Special City, Jeong Yeongwoo07."
This short introduction encapsulated Yeongwoo's bizarre life over the past seven days.
"If we meet again someday, I'll prepare a return gift with my own power."
As Yeongwoo offered a unusually polite greeting, the "cloak" laughed loudly from behind his mask.
■ What a cunning planet.
Unclear if it was praise or an insult.
Then, the Jiajol lookalike extended his long finger and snatched the blank check from Desirak's hand.
He dragged his fingertip along the check.
Scraaatch!
■ We've received sufficient return gift. Now we'll begin the basic investigation of this planet, incorporating every event from the moment we arrived here into the audit.
This encompassed everything from the first meeting with audit requester Jeong Yeongwoo07, to Dogo's proxy return gift, and all subsequent events on the planet.
In fact, the planetary audit had begun before Yeongwoo even attempted the lobby.
"So what should I do now?"
When Yeongwoo asked the examiners, the "cloak" left brief advice.
■ Prove that this place is superior to other planets.
Then, the skinny one cracked a grin with his long mouth.
■ Things like you shouldn't venture into space. But since it happened, it must be written in the ledger.
It seemed meaningful, but Yeongwoo couldn't fully grasp it.
Finally, the one in the water spoke for the first time.
■ Haven't shouldered such heavy karma in ages. Let's see what reward it brings back.
‘So... if the money's good enough, even 11th-grade civil servants will rack up karma with their own hands?’
Yeongwoo thought this but outwardly smiled brightly as he saw the examiners off.
Their bodies were already being enveloped in light and sucked into the battleship.
“My lords! Safe travels...!”
A promising young villain who might become their bad karma waved his bastard sword in greeting toward the ship.
In response, dozens of blue beams shot out from the battleship like a reply.
「The upgrade audit for this planet has begun.」