Cheonmu Responds to Voice Commands Too
Cheonmu responded to voice commands as well.
"Prepare to fire."
At his order, the Cheonmu mounted beside the Blaster began extending long to either side. It looked just like a seagull's wings.
"Target the center of the ship."
> Target set.
"Okay. Let's try two shots. Fire."
The moment Taejeong gave the command, two warheads shot out from the launch tubes on either side, slicing through the air.
Shuuuaak!
The warheads, trailing flight smoke, detonated in midair. At the same time, 200 submunitions hidden inside scattered in all directions, slamming into the ship.
Kwa-kwa-kwang!
Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwang!
With a tremendous explosion, smoke clouds rose like dominoes, and debris from the ship shot up into the sky in an instant.
It was truly devastating destructive power.
The ship vanished into the smoke almost immediately, hiding its massive silhouette.
"Incredible. It's like hundreds of mines going off at once."
The real surprise came next.
Once the smoke and dust cleared, the horrific scene was revealed. The ship, which had been floating proudly just moments ago, was completely obliterated, leaving only the lower deck's skeletal frame.
More than half of it had been blown clean away.
Taejeong couldn't help but marvel at the unimaginable power.
"Whoa. Just two shots took out this massive ship."
It wasn't precise, but the ship's length easily exceeded 100 meters.
For such a colossal structure to be halved, its power in hunts was easy to imagine even without seeing it.
There was another reason this was so impressive.
He could use it without boarding a mech.
And he could pair it with the Blaster, that unprecedented flight gear.
Those two factors alone made it an tremendous skill.
"The one-hour cooldown is a bit of a drag, but hey, beggars can't be choosers."
After roughly testing it out, Taejeong considered trying Cloaking too but shook his head and summoned the Navigator instead.
There was no one here to appreciate a test anyway.
Taejeong settled into the Navigator, dove underwater, and set coordinates for the inland.
"Full speed ahead."
> Mana levels sufficient?
"I've got plenty of cash. Why hold back? I'm loaded now."
Just the mana stones he'd consumed, including those taken from the Japanese, totaled nearly 160.
Mini mana stones were a shame, but a mana stone was still a mana stone.
At 500 million won each, that was 800 billion.
In high spirits, Taejeong floored it, and the Navigator took off.
A few hours later.
A group began emerging one by one at the harbor, all wearing shit-eating grimaces.
They were Ikuzo's team, who had escaped the Baekrokdam underground dungeon.
"Damn it. We're going home like beggars. That Korean bastard has no blood, no tears."
"At least he only took the mana stones. I was scared shitless he might kill us."
"Hey, Massage-ma. Is that what a member of the invincible Ikuzo team should say?"
"You were scared too. Fear was all over your eyes."
"We couldn't even move. Of course I was scared. That Korean punk—I'll pay him back for today's humiliation. I thought he'd at least leave us cab fare, the ruthless prick. That guy's face screamed 'won't even buy a meal for a friend.'"
"Whatever. To pay off the debt, we'll have to dip into our own pockets. You and I cover half, the rest split the other half. Money's just something we earn again."
"Talk about that later. My head hurts just thinking about it."
As they grumbled and approached the harbor, one hunter, trudging along dejectedly, suddenly froze in shock at something he saw.
"O-over there!"
One word, but the impact was huge.
"What!?"
"Where's our ship?"
"No way. That skeleton over there isn't our ship, right?"
Their ship, which should have been at the harbor, was gone.
Or rather, it was there—but as good as gone.
A bizarre hulk with only the lower frame remaining.
No need to think—they knew it was theirs.
"Wh-what the hell happened? Why is my ship like this...?"
Leader Ikuzo's shock was beyond words.
And rightly so—this ship was bought in his name.
A brand-new model, the ink on the installment contract barely dry.
"Do you know how much this cost... Ah, this is..."
He didn't shed tears, but his face was already a mask of grief.
The others were different, though.
For them, the ship's payments weren't the issue now.
"Th-this is bad. No way to get back."
Ikuzo grabbed Massage-ma by the collar at his words.
"You bastard, is that the problem right now? I'm about to go bankrupt!"
Massage-ma shoved him away with both hands, looking pitying.
"You idiot, don't you get priorities? We're stranded here!"
"Even so, this ship cost a fortune..."
"We can't go back, I said! All our food was on the ship. We might have to eat monster meat, you moron. Snap out of it."
"Uwaaaak! My ship! Which bastard did this?!"
His wail echoed over the Jeju sea.
Meanwhile, Taejeong, nearly at the inland, picked his ear and muttered.
"Someone cursing me? Gerard, almost there?"
> Arriving at Wando shortly.
Soon after Gerard spoke, Taejeong reached a beach on Wando. He stowed the Navigator and took to the air.
After flying another couple of hours, he arrived at the guild, headed straight home, and flopped onto the bed.
"Mmm. This smell. Home really is the best."
Things had gone smoother than expected, leaving him with a day and a half of vacation still.
He considered stopping by the office but drowsiness hit hard after his nap.
Ah, I'm beat. Just a quick nap.
How long had his eyes been closed?
Waking in the dark room, Taejeong opened the door and stepped into the living room.
There, on the sofa, was Park Se-ah sleeping.
"How long did I sleep?"
The clock read noon already.
Despite sleeping plenty in the Navigator, he'd conked out for 10 straight hours.
Home was that comfortable for him.
"Pull up the blanket and sleep."
As he draped the fallen blanket over Park Se-ah, he crouched and thought, watching her.
Sofa too small? Well, it wasn't made for sleeping...
He hadn't noticed before, but she was sleeping very uncomfortably.
Had she done this every night?
Taejeong felt a pang of sympathy.
Whatever. Tomorrow, I'll get a mattress delivered. Got plenty of cash now.
The next morning.
"Good morning."
Park Se-ah, getting ready to head out, greeted him warmly.
"You're up, sir?"
"Already leaving? Isn't it early?"
"Morning meeting. Did everything go well on your trip? You took three days off."
"Yeah, got lucky and wrapped it up early. You covering for me at the meeting?"
"No, it's a staff meeting. Breakfast is set out there? Just heat up the soup."
"Don't worry about it. Get to work."
Soon after Park Se-ah left through the front door, Taejeong headed out too.
He drove to the central market in the guild.
"Welcome! Regional Commander."
"Yeah. Thinking of selling these."
Taejeong pulled a box from his inventory and opened it.
Revealed were over 170 glistening mana stones.
The shopkeeper's eyes bulged.
"Th-this is..."
"A lot, right? If you can't take them all, just some."
"One moment... please wait."
Trembling, the shopkeeper took the box, returned shortly, and handed it back—now half empty.
"We can only manage about 80 for now. They're large chunks, hard to buy all at once... Our funds are short, end of the month and all."
Taejeong waved it off casually.
"How much?"
"Mini mana stones at market price: 800 million won each."
"640 billion, then?"
"Yes. If you're in a rush, I can request more funds from upstairs. What do you think?"
"Nah, no hassle. Just take the 80. I'll come back for the rest."
"Understood."
640 billion won deposited.
Current balance: 652...
"Should be deposited. Check it."
"Message came through. Thanks. See you next time."
"Yes! Take care!"
Outside, Taejeong checked his phone again.
The bold eleven-digit number.
Hard to believe even seeing it.
"Whoa. This real? Look at my hands shaking."
His heart raced at touching such an enormous sum for the first time.
But soon, he got back in the car and headed to the guild department store.
"Furniture... ah, third floor."
Heading to the furniture store for a mattress, he bought a low-profile bed on staff recommendation.
"Fastest delivery?"
"After 2 PM. Shall I schedule it?"
"Yeah, please."
After booking, he went to the sundries shop next.
For commemorative gifts for So-young and Kim Hyung-sik.
"Pin for So-young? Belt better for my driver."
After buying a pin and belt from the luxury section, Taejeong stopped by So-young's place to deliver hers.
"Oppa, it's so pretty. I was gonna buy one anyway."
"It's designer."
"Really? Isn't it expensive?"
"It's fine. Oppa makes good money now."
"Still, don't spend too wildly. Save for the future. Marriage, kids..."
"Again with that. You're sounding like Mom. Don't worry about me, study hard. Got it? Call if you need anything."
"What do I need? Everything's here."
"If something comes up. Gotta go."
Back at the dorm, before getting out, Taejeong handed Kim Hyung-sik the shopping bag.
"Here, take this."
"What's this?"
"Gift for becoming regional commander. Meant to give it sooner, but been busy."
"Oh no, I should be giving you things."
"Just take it. It's just a belt. No big deal."
"Aw, for someone like me..."
"Cut that. Can't get around without you. Anyway, looking forward to your continued service."
"Thank you. I'll serve with even more devotion."