Chapter 327
Chapter 327
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 327
Chapter Title: 73. Negotiation (2)
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‘Uh… Mom?’
Youngwoo couldn’t help but panic as he drew his first card.
Not just because of the card’s name.
[Mom Returned from the Heavens]
“Mom breathed out blue breath.”
|Card Rank: Legend
|Power: 1,200
*Ultimate Mom*
[If the opponent’s card is Dragon-type or Mom, power increases by 600.]
‘Shit, this is a full-on card duel.’
The card setup was identical to a versus game.
‘They’re deciding the war’s outcome with this? Are they insane?’
Youngwoo broke into a cold sweat in the still-unreal situation, and across from him, Yuuto flashed a sleazy grin.
“How is it? Looks like you drew a pretty good hand.”
“……!”
Youngwoo looked up to see the fully nude duelist staring right at him.
The guy even held his tall, rectangular card with impressive flair, like he was quite familiar with this game.
‘What the hell is this guy? Even his card grip is different.’
Youngwoo swallowed hard and eyed the card pinched between the man’s fingers, but all he could see was a bluish glint reflecting off it.
Just as explained earlier, they couldn’t see each other’s cards until the negotiation terms were finalized.
“Have you… played this game a lot?”
Youngwoo asked cautiously, and Yuuto draped his massive, pale pectorals over the table, interlocking his fingers.
“This kind of game… Anyone who’s truly played ‘this kind of game’ a lot wouldn’t phrase it that way. You’re definitely a newbie, Mr. Youngwoo.”
He chuckled unpleasantly.
Then, his expression shifted abruptly, and he replied in a cold, ruthless tone.
“I won’t lie. If I had to call myself something, I’d say veteran duelist.”
“……!”
“Using decks from different versions would disqualify us in an official match, but what can you do? We’re all too insignificant to gauge the whims of the universe.”
“…….”
Listening to Yuuto, Youngwoo had a gut feeling.
This guy was just as unhinged as he was.
‘Looks like he was a game otaku in his youth, and this is Tokyo’s Sword Emperor? Japan’s done for.’
Youngwoo had forgotten he’d once streamed games himself.
“Anyway, we’ve both drawn our cards… so now we just propose negotiation terms?”
Youngwoo said this as he examined the card he’d use for this round.
Legend rank, power 1,200.
Judging by rank, 1,200 seemed pretty high.
But that was just a guess.
No comparison since it was his first draw.
‘These freaks at the negotiation table might have decks averaging Legend rank.’
He couldn’t forget this was a proxy battle between beings backed by alien sponsors.
‘Among my forces, I’ve got the bastard child and Aratubank. Equipment rank Mythic, so probably Mythic card rank too.’
Meanwhile, ‘Mom Returned from the Heavens’ was Legend.
Strong conditionally, but maybe mediocre without matchup.
He hadn’t played many card games, but conditional buffs were usually like that.
‘My mom gets a whopping 600 boost—50% up—against other moms or dragons.’
A counter card, essentially.
Which implied the base power wasn’t that high, needing a 50% boost.
‘Probably beats Mythics if conditions match, since only two counters. But base power’s likely below average for Legend.’
That was the best Youngwoo could infer.
Now, he needed to gauge the opponent’s card.
But with zero prior intel on the naked guy, nothing was predictable.
‘Even orphans get mom cards in this world… so anything could come from him.’
He’d get a feel after the first round.
‘Let’s clash and see.’
Youngwoo clenched his jaw in resolve, and Yuuto narrowed his eyes at the sight.
“Looks like you got an awkward card this time.”
“……!”
The rookie duelist, Youngwoo, finally realized his face had given it away, his eyes widening.
‘Right. Even if no bluffing, my expression shouldn’t show.’
But what could he do now?
Instead, Youngwoo turned it around.
“What about you? Draw anything good?”
True to his veteran claim, Yuuto didn’t twitch an eyebrow, replying smoothly.
“Who knows… Legend?”
“…….”
Youngwoo tried to steady his breath and hide his agitation, but his pupils dilated against his will.
“Mr. Youngwoo, that card’s Legend, right? Or maybe Epic, and you’re scared of Legend.”
Yuuto probed skillfully, watching Youngwoo’s reactions.
‘This duelist is more like a gambler. Psychological warfare on point.’
He wanted to snap the guy’s neck barehanded, card be damned, but no other options.
“Let’s flip the cards already. Propose your terms.”
Rejecting further mind games, Youngwoo demanded the next step, and the system displayed new text.
《Both sides have confirmed their cards. Negotiation begins.》
Then, three yellow coin icons appeared above each of their heads.
Pa pa pat!
《Each proxy has 3 negotiation rights per round.》
《Negotiation rights are used to propose terms and to reject the opponent’s terms.》
‘Ah… just like karma points.’
The rules felt familiar.
Like karma points spent on attacks or blocks, negotiation rights were resources for offense and defense here.
‘Proposing first costs one… so effectively two left.’
That realization led Youngwoo to a key fact about the game.
‘Rejecting first puts you at a disadvantage.’
Rejecting spent your right immediately.
If one side kept rejecting and the other kept proposing, the first rejector would run out first.
‘It’s about order. Two straight rejects exhausts both rights with nothing left, but the rejected side can still propose once more at the end—since everyone starts with one proposal each.’
Of course, the two-reject side had their own proposal hanging, but that was different.
The twice-rejected side’s final proposal couldn’t be blocked—whatever it was, it’d pass.
Starting rejects admitted your hand was weak, handing pace to the opponent.
To avoid that, charge bull-like believing your hand superior, or bait rejects with absurd early terms.
‘But if they accept the absurd and win the round? Suicide.’
More complex than expected, Youngwoo thought.
But also.
‘If your card’s strong enough, it’s all solved. Certain win means any proposal flies.’
Easier said than done.
Humans had psychology.
《Please propose your negotiation terms. State your desired terms and touch the negotiation right by your head to submit instantly.》
‘Here we go.’
What to propose first round?
No 100% win certainty, so plan for worst—terms rebounding on him.
‘No suicide or equipment surrender.’
Couldn’t risk life or Mythic gear yet.
Not here to gamble that.
Card game or not, lives weren’t infinite like in games.
“…….”
As Youngwoo pondered his first term, Yuuto spoke first.
“Let’s go peaceful for the first proposal. Sound good? Less pressure on both sides.”
“Peaceful meaning… what do you want?”
“War outcome can be settled in the remaining 4 rounds… How about choices for the people we’re responsible for?”
“Huh…….”
For the first time, Youngwoo saw the opponent as ‘human.’
Prioritizing life more than expected.
“No civilian attacks, something like that?”
“Close. Ban large weapons to preserve settlements.”
“…….”
Large weapons.
Probably laser cannons and such.
“Cold weapons only?”
“The win depends on whose main force crumbles first anyway. No need for civilian casualties.”
“Yeah, makes sense.”
Logical, but Youngwoo had Toma Company’s laser cannon, Metal Seoul’s 8 anti-air guns, and 4 disguised Obliterators at the gates.
‘No large weapons? Ridiculous.’
Not without alternatives.
“How about this?”
“What……?”
“Pick one war zone. Somewhere between Korea and Japan.”
At Youngwoo’s words, a Pangea-state map of Korea and Japan appeared astonishingly.
Pat!
“Evacuate civilians first, fight only there—no needless civilian losses.”
“…True.”
Yuuto nodded.
But Youngwoo could tell he wasn’t thrilled.
‘This bastard proposed it to probe if I have large weapons.’
And ban them if so, gaining advantage.
‘Does Japan lack artillery? With Remu sponsoring, they must have something.’
Opponent’s forces still veiled.
“…….”
Youngwoo studied the system map, then pointed between Geoje Island and Yamaguchi Prefecture—an old island.
“How about here? Few residents, hardly any buildings.”
Yuuto’s eyes widened for the first time at the spot.
“That’s…….”
“Tsushima Island.”
“……!”
Yuuto’s poker face cracked.
Youngwoo touched his coin and shouted.
“This Korea-Japan war happens only on Tsushima!”
A term appeared between them instantly.
Peeing!
[Combat between Dogo and Remu proxies can only occur on Tsushima Island.]
“This……!”
Yuuto looked flustered at the surprise proposal, and Youngwoo added.
“Don’t like it? Use your reject.”
“…….”
But Yuuto knew starting rejects meant losing ground.
Especially without his own proposal yet.
≪Remu’s proxy, please propose your terms.≫
The system urged Yuuto, who slammed the table with his right hand and grabbed the coin with his left.
Thang!
“Like me, strip naked. We both fight nude.”
“…What?”
As Youngwoo’s brow twitched, Yuuto’s proposal added below his.
Peeing!
[Dogo and Remu proxies enter combat fully nude.]
“You little…….”
Talk of people’s choices, now nude combat? What?
“No lies, you said! No care for the people now?”
Youngwoo pointed accusingly, and Yuuto closed his eyes softly.
“You asked why I’m naked.”
“Y-Yeah?”
“That’s why.”
Clunk.
Yuuto stood abruptly, exposing himself fully.
“Ah, fuck.”
Youngwoo cursed and squinted, but Yuuto quietly opened his eyes.
“Everything I do is captured by Remu’s cameras.”
“…What?”
“What I gave Remu for great power is humiliation.”
“……?”
“More humiliation on camera means greater national benefit. If even Dogo’s proxy strips… massive national gain.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
Youngwoo unconsciously reached for the bastard child, but Yuuto extended his right hand in a stop gesture.
“Dogo’s proxy, Jeong Youngwoo! Please strip! We’ve prepared 200 nude warriors already!”
“……!”
Yuuto’s pale flesh reflected in Youngwoo’s wide eyes.
Then Yuuto approved Youngwoo’s proposal.
Peeing!
Now Youngwoo just had to accept for real combat.
‘Fuck… lose here, fight naked? For free?’
Maybe part of Remu’s grand scheme?
Resenting Dogo stealing promo models, coming back vengeful.
“You know how insane that is? Dogo and Remu…….”
As Youngwoo tried explaining cosmic politics, Yuuto cut him off.
“Then reject it.”
“What?”
“Use your reject. Problem solved.”
“You bastard.”
Not wrong, but not right either.
Rejecting handed pace to opponent.
And post-two rejects, far worse ‘humiliation terms’ might appear.
Better to settle here?
‘Just win on power… but is it?’
Youngwoo glanced at the mom card still gripped.
[Mom Returned from the Heavens]
“Mom breathed out blue breath.”
|Card Rank: Legend
|Power: 1,200
*Ultimate Mom*
[If the opponent’s card is Dragon-type or Mom, power increases by 600.]
Could this beat the lunatic’s draw?
‘Mom, you’re strong, right? I’ll trust you.’
No choice but back-to-the-wall.
Youngwoo glared, approved Yuuto’s nude proposal, and slammed the table.
Kwang!
“Fine, flip the cards! I lose, I’ll strip! But if I win……!”
Madness flickered in Youngwoo’s eyes.
“I’ll show you why they say I target every penny of my opponents.”