Chapter 766

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

Chapter 766: A Magnificent Story (6)

Selling the ship wreckage.

Upte had marked several trading posts on the map, but only one of them had a Katangdal-colored marker attached to it.

"Sanmie. Is this our only option?"

As Yeongwoo pointed to the planet Sanmie on the galactic map, Mantero nodded.

-That is correct. The other locations do not have a Katangdal handling mark. Honestly, the very fact that Katangdal can be traded in an autonomous galaxy like this is quite a marvel in itself.

"Is that so? Then I guess we should consider ourselves lucky that there's at least one place to trade at."

-Yes. Of course, if we were to go to a larger region, there would be many Katangdal trading posts, but the risk of being exposed to an unspecified multitude would be exceedingly high in return.

"So the fact that we can even trade Katangdal here is a stroke of good luck, then."

Having roughly grasped the situation, Yeongwoo immediately turned his head toward the window.

"Then how much longer until we reach this Sanmie?"

Since the distinct iridescent light of the relay tunnel was already shimmering outside the window, Yeongwoo actually knew.

The fact that they would soon arrive at the planet named Sanmie.

The actual galaxy is an enormously massive domain, but to a planetary ship capable of withstanding even the maximum acceleration of a relay tunnel, it was merely a small unit of space.

Furthermore, now backed by the Black Agreement with the black holes, wasn't the entire universe a 'place that could be visited'?

-Sanmie, you will soon be able to confirm it with your own eyes.

By the time Mantero's report ended, the iridescence outside the window cleared, and the expanse of space unfurled once again.

Along with a tiny planet sitting over there like a red hole.

"The planet here is red."

-According to the map information provided by Hezara, sandstorms rage there constantly.

"Like abnormal climate conditions on Earth?"

-Yes. The data notes that wearing protective suits is recommended.

"Tsk, I think I'll be fine, though."

-Just in case, it would be best to take one of the monster ships.

Of course, given that it was a planet where a mineral trading post was situated, it couldn't possibly be an environment that restricted the entry of regular ships.

After all, the trading post had to welcome customers to do business.

However, planetary ship owner Jeong Yeongwoo was a walking unpredictability, wasn't he?

Mantero's thought was that there was no telling what else might happen on a planet with such a demanding environment.

"A monster ship? Then it'd be best to take Keniscita out once more."

At Yeongwoo's words, Mushio took the first step.

-It seems I have a lot of work today. I will prepare for departure.

The Cleaver, Keniscita.

Stepping inside the ship, Yeongwoo watched the thick outer hull slowly closing and asked Mushio.

"Just how hard is Godial? I'm riding in it right now, but honestly, I don't feel it to a tremendous degree."

To which Mushio replied simply.

-It is harder than the scales of a Great Dragon.

"Great Dragon...?"

As Yeongwoo tilted his head, Mushio briefly opened his mouth and then closed it.

He had momentarily forgotten that the planetary ship owner before him was a rookie to the universe.

-You have not met a Great Dragon yet. Great Dragons are colossal entities that roam the universe, treating it as their sky.

"Ah, space dragons."

Yeongwoo voiced out as if remembering belatedly.

"Must be that guy who was supposedly Phaemong's final opponent. So there are multiple Great Dragons, it seems."

-Yes. Are there not multiple planetary ships and their owners, which are hailed as one of the Wonders of the Universe? The same goes for Great Dragons.

"...Huh? Don't tell me Great Dragons are also a Wonder of the Universe?"

-That is correct. If you were to see their form in person, you would realize why they are classified as a 'Wonder'.

"You speak as if you've seen a Great Dragon yourself."

-Of course. When you stand by the side of a Great One, you witness a great many things. Am I not also beholding a planetary ship right now, and experiencing leaping across the universe through the Black Agreement?

It was an immense piece of flattery, comparing Yeongwoo to none other than a Great One.

"Then... you're saying this ship is harder than the scales of that massive dragon?"

-That is correct. Furthermore, in the case of Keniscita, the Godial armor is three layers thick. Even if the outer hull miraculously shattered, the probability of you, Captain, taking damage is extremely low.

"But since nothing is impossible in this universe... you never know."

-However, it is something that is truly difficult to occur within a common-sense universe.

"Then what exists in an uncommon-sense universe?"

-From there on, it is the domain of Transcendents. I have no way of knowing.

"I suppose even the Black Flash couldn't challenge a Transcendent to a duel."

-Transcendent beings are literally something transcendent. Thus, to fight against such entities, one would need something more than greatness.

"Then just what in the world did Vesedel do to cut down a Transcendent?"

-That is also difficult to fathom. But since even that Vesedel ultimately fell into decline, it truly seems there is nothing that cannot happen in this universe.

"So the universe is full of unknowns even for the lifelong navigator of a Great One."

Around the time Yeongwoo let out a sigh, Mushio gave an advance report.

-We will now enter Sanmie shortly.

"Are we already here?"

As Yeongwoo muttered this and looked back, he saw the blue planet Earth floating right there in the middle of pitch-black space.

Because they had to pour the ship wreckage out at the coordinates Yeongwoo relayed upon arriving at the trading post, they couldn't hide behind another planet.

Because of this, Yeongwoo needed to finish his business on Sanmie as quickly as possible.

Kudududut!

Following this, an artificial vibration spread throughout the cabin to indicate that the hull was experiencing friction, and soon, the color outside the bright red hologram window shifted closer to orange.

They had finally entered the inner atmosphere of Sanmie.

-According to the map... the trading post is over there.

With those words, Mushio placed a marker on one side of the hologram screen that was filled with orange, but naturally, there was no shape that could be verified with the naked eye.

"Regular ships enter this place too...? Just to sell scrap metal?"

At that, Mushio gave a faint smile.

-I find it hard to believe myself. To the point where I suspect the trading post might actually be a robber's den. At this level, navigators of average skill would be swept away by the storm and crash.

However, since it was a trading post officially recognized by the Hezara government of safety and peace, there was no way this was a trap.

-For now, there was an approach caution warning attached to the map as well. It means only those who are confident should enter.

"But still, even so..."

The moment Yeongwoo shook his head in disbelief, the orange color that had been completely filling the hologram window finally thinned out a little, and a massive desert began to reveal itself.

"It's a ridiculously desolate place."

-Pareshik, where you will be heading next, won't be much different from here. The atmosphere there would have been completely altered in the aftermath of large-scale weapons of war.

"Come to think of it, you said you've been through a few major wars too, right?"

-Yes. I have experienced three wars.

"Following Hizaki, the Black Flash?"

-That is correct.

At this, Yeongwoo couldn't help but be curious.

"Hizaki was a battle maniac who went around fighting duels alone. So why would he suddenly jump into a war? Did he get paid to act as a mercenary?"

Mushio then lifted his gaze into the air.

-It is not that there are absolutely no Great Ones who move for money, but Great Ones are generally driven by favors and grudges.

"Favors and grudges?"

-Out of the three wars, one was out of a grudge, and two were to repay a favor.

"How unexpected. To think of favors. I guess even people like the Black Flash end up owing favors sometimes."

-When you experience the many events of the universe, you are exposed to countless unexpected variables.

"In the end, war is just the result of a massive amount of intertwined favors and grudges."

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

-You will also need to review things from time to time, Captain.

"Review what?"

-Who you would be able to receive help from, if you, Captain, were to start a war.

"Ah."

-Great Ones generally experience a great war at least once.

"Well. I'm inherently short-lived, so I don't know if I'll even have the chance for that."

Honestly, it was a mystery whether he would even be able to reach the end of the Great Path.

Because he hadn't even reached the level of a Grade 4 being yet.

Piaaaaat!

Shortly after, a sound like air fiercely rubbing against something came from somewhere outside the ship's inner plating, and the scenery outside the hologram window also became much clearer.

-That place over there is the trading post.

Hezara's sole Katangdal handling station.

To Yeongwoo, it looked like a gigantic oil refinery.

This was because massive chimneys soared as high as towers in what were presumably refining facilities, and thick pipes crisscrossed the desert this way and that.

"The scale is way bigger than I expected. But I don't see anywhere scrap metal is piled up?"

The only scrap metal exchange Yeongwoo had visited before was the one he stopped by when entering the Black Zone via the thief Kezen.

The place that haphazardly assembled scrap metal to issue disposable airships.

At this, Mushio looked outside through the hologram screen and spoke while nodding his head.

-The storage yard isn't located outside. In that case, there must be a facility set up underground that is far larger than what is visible right now. The storage yard would be down there as well.

"To avoid the sandstorms?"

-Probably.

The moment Mushio answered, a green guiding beam shot up from a corner of the trading post.

-I will not make an unauthorized landing this time. There will be an entrance leading to the underground facility near the guiding beam anyway.

"You make a fair point."

Soon after, Keniscita landed near the guiding beam in accordance with the trading post's request, and the moment Mushio opened the ship's hatch, a bright red sandstorm rushed in.

Kwiaaaaak!

A 'real' sound of friction instantly blanketed Yeongwoo's ears.

At this, Yeongwoo narrowed his eyes, but he did not summon his helmet to cover his face.

It was somewhat uncomfortable, but it was by no means to a level he couldn't endure.

"This is a terrible place to have as a workplace."

As Yeongwoo said this and stepped off Keniscita, Mushio gave a brief farewell and closed the hatch.

-I will stand by here. If you wish to summon me and Keniscita, you just need to activate the call marker in the corner of your vision.

"Call marker?"

Yeongwoo looked back upon hearing this for the first time, but Keniscita had already transitioned into a locked state.

And indeed, a sharp thorn-shaped icon could be seen floating in the corner of his vision.

'Are monster ships normally equipped with this kind of function by default?'

Then again, wasn't it a ship that served only a single master at a time?

Yeongwoo wanted to use the call function as a test, but he decided against it since it was obvious Keniscita would come rushing over while smashing everything in the vicinity.

And it just so happened that people who appeared to be trading post staff were running over from the other side.

-Are you 10011?

The staff members came running while shouting Keniscita's identification number.

There were three of them in total, and the martial prowess felt from their movements was unimpressive.

'It doesn't seem like they have an escort force either... I guess this really is a trading post.'

At this, Yeongwoo turned his body in the direction of the staff members and slightly raised his hand.

"I've come because I have some metals to dispose of."

A tone of voice that by no means felt polite.

Then, the staff members, who had been staring at Yeongwoo with slightly furrowed brows, soon discovered the government-certified marker attached above his head and relaxed their expressions.

But then, upon seeing Keniscita behind Yeongwoo, their eyes went wide.

-...Godial?

-It's Godial.

-Don't tell me the metal you are disposing of is...

Seeing as how they recognized a Godial ship right away, it seemed that technical staff had come out themselves.

And as if they also knew full well the meaning of a 'ship forged from Godial,' from this moment on, they even suddenly began to cower.

-We have committed a grave discourtesy. Please forgive us.

-10011, what should we call you going forward?

It meant that since a person who came all the way to this frontier riding a Godial ship wouldn't possibly reveal their real name, they would follow suit if he gave them a pseudonym.

At this, Yeongwoo answered apathetically.

"I have no intention of using a different name. I am Jeong Yeongwoo. Go and report to the person in charge. Tell them someone has come to dispose of the byproducts obtained from a fleet battle."

-Byproducts from a fleet battle...

One of the staff members, mulling over Yeongwoo's words, slowly raised his head and cautiously looked around.

If it was the byproducts of a fleet battle, it would be a colossal amount of metal, but no matter how hard he looked, there was no scrap metal pile among the things the other party had brought along.

Noticing the other's thoughts, Yeongwoo pointed to an empty lot visible over yonder.

"Does it matter where I put the goods? That side over there looks a bit spacious."

-Y-Yes. We have a collector ready, so if you just bring the goods, we can process them immediately.

The expression of the staff member saying this was stiff with tension.

Because it was his turn to tell an unidentified client, who was clearly a bigshot from somewhere, to revisit bringing the metals for disposal.

However, Yeongwoo was actually already reciting the coordinates of the empty lot.

"Sanmie, 539-236-8381-02."

-...Pardon? What are you saying right now...

In the midst of this, the moment the staff members instinctively took a step back upon realizing that the coordinates the client recited were quite accurate, a white light flashed from high up in the bright red sky.

Papat!

And then.

Kwaaaaaa...!

An immense quantity of metallic objects began to descend, piercing through the sandstorm.

But their shape...

"Uh, wait a minute."

The split second Yeongwoo noticed that the metallic objects were drawing a spiral from a certain point in the sky, the staff members hastily scrambled to put on their helmets and screamed.

-E-Emergency! Code 02! A Metal Typhoon has occurred!

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]