Chapter 322
Chapter 322
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 322
Chapter Title: 72. Special Grade Planet (4)
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It was inevitable.
Someone had to enter the coffin.
Because the vacancy left by Aratubank hadn't been filled at all, thanks to keeping his mother alive.
【Coffin Burial】
|You can place blood relatives into the coffin. Gain special effects based on the target's status and rank. (0/2)
'Aratubank is a sacred relic containing the history of the brothers and the spirits of our ancestors. Can't just leave it abandoned like this.'
Therefore, the second uncle-in-law's fate was as good as decided.
He had to be sealed away in the great coffin.
Swoosh.
Youngwoo turned his gaze back to Kubu.
Then, to wrap up the ceremony preparations, he asked,
"Is everything finished now? You mentioned witnesses earlier—is that some special role?"
―That is correct. The consensus ceremony requires at least five witnesses, automatically selected from the blessed guests who arrive first at the ceremony site.
"So it's first-come, first-served among the guests. Based on who gets to the venue earliest."
―The selected blessed guests are recorded on both the blessed guest list and the witness list. These records can also serve as reference material in future family court trials.
"What's that supposed to mean? Do they assume the witnesses have deep ties to the couple?"
It was a concept he could somewhat grasp.
For instance, imagine a notorious criminal's wedding suddenly attended by some member of parliament.
Everyone would assume there's a major connection between them.
By the same logic, in the universe, anyone showing up as a guest—and early enough to be picked as a witness—was judged to have significant ties to the hosts or the couple.
'What the hell? Then everyone's gonna play games trying to arrive as late as possible.'
The only witness Youngwoo could think of off the top of his head was Chairman Dogo.
The chairman would do whatever he damn well pleased, witness designation or not.
Just unclear if one person could pull double or triple duty as witness, blessed guest, and guarantor.
"Anyway, sounds like at least five guests have to step up to the plate. Being a witness could screw you over in any future trials."
―It is a mark of trust and loyalty.
"But a good chunk of my guests are basically criminals."
Law-abiding aliens might not take trials personally, but the ones Youngwoo knew were a different story.
His main guests included law-breaking weapons manufacturers and bribe-gobbling planet examiners.
"Whatever. We'll proceed with the ceremony tomorrow as planned. Current time..."
Current time: 3:23 p.m.
Youngwoo checked the time and looked at Kubu. The orb's eyes glowed blue as it replied.
―Processed. Consensus ceremony scheduled for tomorrow at 3:23 p.m.
It then asked Youngwoo about the venue.
―Where would you like to hold the consensus ceremony? As your administrative proxy, I must provide coordinates to the family court.
"Ah, right. Gotta pick a spot."
Youngwoo scanned Metal Seoul, blanketed in steel.
It didn't take long to decide.
"How about Gwangjin-gu? If a fight breaks out, only guests get hurt—no civilians, no buildings to trash."
―Understood. Ceremony site reported as Gwangjin-gu.
And with that, Jeong-gu and Ji-seon's wedding venue was locked in as Gwangjin-gu.
Their own wishes hadn't factored in at all, but they knew they had no better options.
―My wedding's shaping up to be a total freak show.
Ji-seon muttered bleakly, but Youngwoo shook his head.
"That's what makes it meaningful. This wedding's gonna have a real impact on our planet's upgrade."
―What're you talking about?
"You saw the guest list, right? Just getting those guys in one place is a massive event. It's gotta count toward the review."
Sure, other planets gunning for upgrades had their own clout, but there were limits.
Youngwoo was certain few worlds could round up the galaxy's villains under the excuse of their parents' marriage.
"So, what's left..."
Youngwoo checked his watch again, and Ji-seon panicked.
―Isn't it done? What's next?
"Ceremony prep's pretty much wrapped."
―Yeah...?
"But the day's work isn't over yet."
Current time: 3:27 p.m.
Which meant the addresses of the three companies vying for Earth development rights would drop in about three and a half hours.
"War kicks off for real at 7 p.m. tonight. No clue how it'll play out, but..."
―What? Ceremony's tomorrow, and war starts today? Fuck, what the hell are we supposed to do?
"It's fine. I invited our war opponents as guests, so the ceremony itself should be smooth."
―What?
"Of course, we gotta survive today first."
The moment Youngwoo said it, the 'Tower' in Jongno-gu lit up white.
Someone was inbound via hyper-speed transit.
Then, right away—
Flash!
The tower's base wall split open, and Bangtubangtung emerged from within.
"Bang Daehyeop!"
Youngwoo rushed to greet the orc lord—who'd probably brought the 120 million—as red-footed orcs filed out behind him, lugging massive sacks.
-Small-foot, money as promised.
"Money? Call it a token of our bond. Between brothers, it's all heart."
-......
Youngwoo breezed past Bangtubangtung's stony silence and tore open the sacks his brothers had set down.
Whoosh!
Just as expected, the sacks brimmed with coins that flooded his vision. The golden goblin came sprinting over to rake them in.
-Kikik!
The goblin squealed in delight at the windfall after so long, hardening the brothers' faces. Bang Daehyeop spun around quick.
-Seems the job's done. Time to head back. Duties await in great Darwin...
But Youngwoo's black hand clamped his shoulder, freezing him in place.
"What're you saying, Daehyeop?"
-...?
"You still owe me one promise."
-Which?
"Gotta boost the glory score before you go."
-Ah.
Bangtubangtung's face went pale.
He'd blanked on it, even briefly.
That he'd sold his past to this devil for a shot at the future.
-You're right. Slipped my mind.
"Already forgetting your past? And you haven't even sold it yet."
-...Get on with it.
Bang Daehyeop trudged toward the Victory Monument looming in the distance. Youngwoo snuck a glance at the sky—where the examiners were likely lurking—then fell in step behind him.
This glory donation might even factor into the review.
'Filling out stage one is a big deal on its own... and Bang's dumping way more points than that entire stage.'
Only possible by pouring an entire race's epic history into it.
For a low-tier planet under review, it was huge.
Dogo Special City Metal Seoul's current glory score sat at 1,025—past stage one's 1,000-point mark.
Stage two required 3,000.
They were short roughly 2,000.
"Bang Daehyeop, how many kill records you holding?"
-12.
"That's 1,980 points."
-Is it? How much to max stage two?
"We cleared stage one with 1,000 already. Dump all 12, and we're through stage two."
-Hmm.
Bangtubangtung's face fell grim.
All of Red Foot's historic feats, just to scrape past stage two.
-The universe... sure is vast.
Bangtubangtung rephrased his regret.
Youngwoo gripped his shoulder—not mockingly this time, but with real reassurance.
"You'll roam that vast universe with me. Our brothers too."
If space pirate Geppi had his Mon-O warriors, fringe-world Earth and Jeong Youngwoo had the red-footed orcs.
Hearts of fire, biceps like boulders.
To Youngwoo, the Red Foot brothers had all the makings of space thugs.
'Thugs with honor, though. Some call 'em gangsters.'
Space gangsters, in other words.
......
Youngwoo's chest swelled with pride—all on his own.
By then, Bang Daehyeop stood tall before the Victory Monument.
-Even if it's wrong, a promise is a promise. I know you're no saint, but I'll honor what we agreed.
Bangtubangtung locked eyes with the small-footed demon. Youngwoo nodded.
"That's honor too."
Swoosh.
Youngwoo extended his palm toward the monument—go ahead and do it. Bangtubangtung placed a solemn hand on its surface.
Thud.
―Red Foot Orc Lord Bangtubangtung has registered 12 legendary kill records!
'...Finally.'
With the donation, Dogo Special City Metal Seoul's glory score rocketed.
1,025 plus a whopping 1,980—blasting past 3,000.
―Current glory score for Dogo Special City Metal Seoul: 3,005.
―Victory Monument level increased to '3'. Glory points required for next stage: 7,000.
"7,000? What?"
Each stage jacked the bar sky-high.
Now they'd need another 4,000 points just to eye the next one.
'What race do I gotta bleed dry next for that?'
Youngwoo gawked, mouth agape, as the city system popped up fresh text.
―Metal Seoul level increased to '3'. City status elevated—'Defense Rights' now granted.
"Defense Rights? You saying we had zilch until now?"
Youngwoo's shout was answered by a string of deeply satisfying system messages.
◇ The Steel Core's built-in functions—Guardian Dragon and Annihilation Stance—have been strengthened.
"Oh?"
◇ Recommended priority constructions for city defense rights: *Anti-Air Cannon, *Self-Destruct Bomb.
"Whoa...!"
Youngwoo whooped on reflex at the new options, then blinked hard and cocked his head.
"Uh, hold up."
He hadn't misread it.
*Self-Destruct Bomb.
"Self-Destruct Bomb? The hell's that? Don't tell me it's the 'self-destruct' I think it is?"
Youngwoo's eyes bugged out as he asked. A tooltip promptly appeared before him.
[Self-Destruct Bomb]
|Cities that have proven their worth qualify for a glorious end.
|Plant a bomb in a designated area and trigger a massive explosion at your chosen moment. You'll lose the city, but you can take the invading enemy with you.
*When city status reaches 'Planetary Capital', planetary self-destruct becomes possible.