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Chapter 675: The Vast World (3)

An unlucky region.

No matter where it was, it would be a place where at least hundreds of powerful prisoners would run rampant, so it could never be called fortunate.

Not only would it suffer enormous economic damage, but there would be no way to demand compensation for that damage.

Furthermore, pursuing the prisoners scattering in all directions would also be close to impossible.

‘Of course, I doubt there are any lunatics who would dare chase down Grade 4 beings to settle disputes.’

As Yeongwoo scratched his forehead, Mantero raised a holographic screen in the center of the bridge and addressed the prisoners.

—Honored guests, please input your desired destination into the screen you see there.

At that, the prisoners who had been endlessly voicing their complaints began lining up one by one in front of the holographic screen, and the entire bridge flashed brightly.

Paaaah!

“…What the?”

Startled, Yeongwoo looked up at the ceiling, and Earth pointed outside the window as it spoke.

『It’s connected to Chancellor Herisa’s space station. The workers will probably begin transferring the cannons soon.』

Sure enough, the Bate family’s space station was visible outside the window, and one could clearly see a translucent passage extending from it and connecting to the Earth Ship.

The full-scale transfer of the cannons was now beginning.

“How long do you think it’ll take?”

『Well. Since they only need to move cannons that were already installed, it’ll probably be done within an hour.』

Earth added that Acting Captain Mantero was currently designating the installation locations for the new cannons.

“Ah, in many ways, Acting Captain really is an irreplaceable resource.”

As befitting the royal chief navigator, not only had he piloted various types of ships, but his knowledge of space was extensive, and as seen in the previous fleet battle, he had a fair amount of resolve as well.

“From what I can see, he’s basically captain material.”

Yeongwoo turned his head to look toward Mantero.

In the meantime, Acting Captain Mantero had been dragged down from the captain’s seat and was being grabbed by the collar by Grade 4 prisoners.

It seemed that some of them were threatening him to immediately set sail toward the destinations they had entered.

『By the way, what happened in there?』

“In there?”

『Maden.』

“The distance was that close, and you didn’t see it?”

『From some point after you met Lemu, the connection was completely cut off.』

“Ah.”

At that, Yeongwoo immediately understood.

The mental link between a planet and its representative could not penetrate the domain of a Transcendent.

“No wonder you couldn’t see it. I met a Transcendent.”

『…A Transcendent?』

“A Grade 2 being.”

『If it’s a Grade 2 being… isn’t that above Chairman Dogo?』

As if it couldn’t quite grasp it, Earth only blinked its eyes.

Of course, even Yeongwoo himself hadn’t fully processed the fact that he had met a Transcendent.

It felt as though he had experienced a fleeting dream.

『What are Transcendents like? Are they incredibly strong? Anyway, it’s a miracle you made it back alive.』

“They weren’t someone who came to attack anyone in the first place.”

Catching his breath, Yeongwoo recalled the figure of the Transcendent once more.

Rather than a being, it felt like a massive natural phenomenon.

Their majesty could not be expressed with something like ‘strength.’

When a human looks up at Mount Taishan, they don’t think the mountain is strong, do they?

They are simply overwhelmed.

The will to even draw one’s sword does not arise, nor does the thought that it is something to be defeated.

They were, as their name implied, Transcendents.

To themselves, and to those who faced them.

『But if it’s a Grade 2 being, isn’t that the one mentioned in your achievement before?』

At that, Yeongwoo nodded.

“It was written in the final achievement of the Golden Ratio route.”

[Golden Tempest]

|Call forth the Golden Ratio by one of the following four methods.

– When there are seven or more mutants nearby.

– The moment a being with the #Head of State attribute dies.

– When two beings with the #Conglomerate and #Dragon attributes are fighting each other.

– On the continent of North America.

– When a Level 2 or higher extradimensional being appears.

Back then, he hadn’t known exactly what the “Grade 2 or higher otherworldly being” meant, but thinking about it now, it was essentially synonymous with the impossible.

And yet, since it had been included as one of the achievement conditions…

‘It means there was at least an extremely slim possibility of it happening. If an absurd level of unpredictability manifested.’

Then just what kind of event would have to occur for a Grade 2 being to visit a trial-bound planet?

‘…….’

Having only just met a single Transcendent, it was something Yeongwoo couldn’t even begin to imagine.

To them, a single planet would be nothing more than the most insignificant of creatures—so what could possibly capture their interest?

‘Difficult. My perspective is still narrow.’

He once again felt the vastness of the universe.

So Yeongwoo let out a sigh and looked out into space beyond the window.

At that moment, he sensed the approach of individuals whose very aura was completely different from the surrounding prisoners.

“…Huh?”

Sensing the incongruity, Yeongwoo turned around and saw Tiaphe and Poachi, the Virtuous Ones, standing side by side.

“Ah, right.”

Another headache.

As Yeongwoo unconsciously pressed his forehead, Tiaphe looked around and spoke.

—It seems you are aware that you are shouldering many problems.

Then Poachi added in a calm voice.

—Planetary Shipmaster! Once you release them, a tremendous problem will arise.

[Translator - Night]

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“Well, of course. But it’s not like there’s a way to kill them all. And going back to Pahalufe doesn’t make sense either.”

Shrugging, Yeongwoo alternated his gaze between the two Virtuous Ones.

“Anyway, shouldn’t you two get off here soon as well? Find that ‘junction’ you mentioned and try to find your way home from there.”

At that, Tiaphe looked at the Grade 4 prisoners around them with a gaze as if she were looking at something filthy.

—Every place their feet touch will become a mess. I have no intention of joining such a disgraceful scene.

“What? Then are you asking to be dropped off somewhere else again?”

—Did you not say you have ties with Teroph? Shelbir and Delmir are allied, so you have a duty to assist us as well.

“…?”

Of course, that was nonsense.

The Shelbir royal family and the bandit group Renaissance were purely in a business relationship.

However, since one of the myths he could borrow using the Emblem of Salvation he possessed was in Delmir, it was true that he should show goodwill if possible.

Then Poachi Shalmoram made a request in his characteristic solemn tone.

—Planetary Shipmaster, I ask for your help. If we are set loose in the universe alongside those prisoners, it will be difficult to avoid calamity.

“Ah, I see. Virtuous Ones versus Malefactors, right?”

Only after hearing Poachi’s words did Yeongwoo understand the situation.

More than simply not wanting to move together with prisoners who would go mad upon gaining freedom, it was that moving together was impossible from the outset.

There was no way the two Virtuous Ones could survive among the Grade 4 prisoners once released outside.

“Then where should you go? Should I drop you off at Delmir?”

When Yeongwoo suddenly became kind, the perceptive Tiaphe showed a wary expression.

Meanwhile, the straightforward Poachi, as if deeply moved, grabbed Yeongwoo’s arm with both hands.

Thud!

—If you would do that, I would be truly grateful.

“Ah, but in exchange.”

—…?

“You’ll have to pay an escort fee. Chancellor Herisa may be bankrupt, but Delmir should have plenty of cash, right?”

As Yeongwoo said this and looked at Tiaphe, she let out a breath from within her silver-white helmet as if in disbelief.

—Escort? How does this count as an escort? You are, at best…

As Tiaphe looked Yeongwoo up and down, she noticed that his presence had completely changed from before and trailed off.

That was only natural, as Yeongwoo’s existence rank had indeed risen from Grade 6 to Grade 5.

“I’m at best a Planetary Shipmaster, and merely someone with a claim for repayment of favor from all of you esteemed bosses here. That’s why you’re still alive right now.”

There wasn’t a single incorrect statement in what Yeongwoo said.

In truth, if he had neglected the two Virtuous Ones, trouble would have already erupted in the secret dueling arena long ago.

No matter that Tiaphe was the leader of Delmir and Poachi a master of swordsmanship, they couldn’t possibly defeat hundreds of Grade 3 prisoners.

“Besides, what would you even do if you don’t use the Earth Ship? Swim across that vast universe?”

When Yeongwoo pointed out the window with his finger, neither Tiaphe nor Poachi could respond.

Then Poachi spoke with difficulty.

—But can you not show goodwill? This universe is a world of cycles. What one gives to others will surely return someday.

“Goodwill? That only works in the world of Virtuous Ones. Do you even realize where you are right now? This is the absolute bottom even within the villain realms.”

This time, Yeongwoo didn’t even need to point.

Even without turning one’s head, the escaped prisoners from Pahalufe were everywhere.

“Also, why don’t you show me that goodwill instead? Give me money. I’ll help you return home safely.”

When Yeongwoo finally discarded even the last bit of pretense, Tiaphe pressed her temple.

—Truly shameless.

“Isn’t the shameless one you Virtuous Ones? Trying to get out of the depths of this hell without spending a single coin.”

—So how much do you want? For this escort fee.

At that, Yeongwoo folded his fingers one by one, pretending to calculate something.

“To get to Delmir quickly, we’ll have to pass through a black hole, and our original schedule will be pushed back step by step…”

Then he raised his index and middle fingers and said,

“How about 2 billion each?”

—…So you mean 4 billion in total? For a single voyage.

Of course, it would be no ordinary voyage.

Was it not a premium journey aboard a planetary ship, traversing a black hole—one of the universe’s most mysterious celestial bodies?

Just as Yeongwoo nodded and was about to spread two more fingers, Mantero raised his arm from among the Grade 4 prisoners.

—Shipowner! The junction region has been identified.

“Oh, really? Where is it?”

At Yeongwoo’s question, Mantero snapped his fingers and projected another holographic screen into the air.

Paaaah!

—It is the Mekio Galaxy. It is the midpoint corresponding to all of our honored guests’ destinations.

“That’s quite a terrible location. I wonder if that was written in the records from the start.”

As Yeongwoo made a joking remark, Mantero, watching the reactions of the Grade 4 prisoners, asked again.

—Shall we input the Mekio Galaxy as the next destination? If so, we must also find a passage that leads there.

“Wait, before that.”

Yeongwoo raised his arm, stopping Mantero for a moment.

“First, check whether there’s a planet within the Mekio Galaxy owned by the factions I’m about to mention.”

—By factions, you mean…?

“Salzeo, Kardal, Shirach. While we’re at it, I’d like to find the Twelve Sword Assembly too, but I don’t know the family name.”

—Ah, this place…

Recognizing the commonality among the factions Yeongwoo listed, Mantero’s eyes widened.

All of them were families hostile to Yeongwoo.

“Someone has to provide the ships our dear bosses will ride, don’t they? I don’t know who it’ll be, but at least one of them will get caught.”

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