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Chapter 530: New Normal (2)

A global land survey.

The reason Yeongwoo could finish such a massive task in just ten minutes was none other than power.

Most objections were brushed aside under the pretext of “Earthship operations.”

And since Earth itself could immediately memorize the leasing status reports delivered by each representative, Yeongwoo didn’t even need to record anything separately.

“Looks like we’re mostly done cleaning up the planet. Just need the Japanese civil war to wrap up.”

Watching the regional representatives trudging away in the distance, Yeongwoo clapped his hands.

Earth shook its head.

『Unbelievable. A planetary representative who actually encourages war.』

“Yakuza types don’t help in the long run. Might as well wipe out a bunch of them while we’re at it.”

Yeongwoo thought it fortunate that Tomiko—who refused to coexist with the Yakuza—was the Japanese representative.

His judgment during the Tokyo takeover had been correct.

“At least it’s lucky there are more empty areas than expected. Plenty of spots to make impact craters.”

『…Which only means that many died during the Reset.』

“Well, that’s already happened. Nothing we can do now.”

Yeongwoo clasped his hands behind his back as he stood by the bridge entrance.

Including Alaska and southern Africa, today’s land survey had secured eight candidate regions for leasing.

Some required resident evacuations, but overall the outlook was promising.

Even if not Earth’s entire body, a significant portion of it could be reinforced.

“If we look closely, there should be good spots in the Pacific too.”

As Yeongwoo stepped into the passage leading up to the bridge, Earth followed, nodding.

『…If you don’t mind dumping a few uninhabited islands, it’s possible.』

Earth had given up on shuddering at Yeongwoo’s madness—it was pointless.

『But… am I really okay?』

Yeongwoo glanced back.

“What do you mean?”

『You saw it too. Every star I rammed bled and collapsed.』

“…Yeah, I did.”

『So what if something’s wrong with my own health?』

“Your scale’s way bigger, isn’t it? The ones you’ve rammed so far were all smaller than you.”

More precisely, their “presence” was smaller—measured against Earthship’s inflated might.

“You’ve headbutted twice already and you’re fine. Seems like it’s just about choosing the right opponents.”

『…Maybe so.』

By then, they had returned to the bridge. Jiseon pointed out the window.

—Hey, that must be the planet you’re planning to mess with.

Yeongwoo followed her finger.

Amid the dark void floated a turquoise planet.

“Oh, so that’s……”

『Resham. That’s where the one called Koatu lives.』

Earth spread its hand, projecting a holographic model of Resham.

Fwoosh!

『Here’s the coordinate King Teroph gave us.』

A beam of light pierced a point in northern Resham.

『We’ll drop you there. But there’s no guarantee Koatu will actually be at that location. We have no other intel.』

“So after landing, it’s up to me to track down the arms dealer?”

『Pretty much. Or maybe the coordinate will drop you right in Koatu’s front yard.』

“Somehow I doubt that… but we’ve no other choice.”

Yeongwoo nodded knowingly.

Ever since the Reset began, his life had been nothing but solving problems.

“In any case, if Resham’s inhabited, there should at least be room for ‘conversation,’ right? I’ll handle it.”

Resting his hand on Bastard at his waist, Yeongwoo smiled.

Earth reluctantly nodded.

『Remember, this isn’t an assassination mission. We’re just here to collect a donation.』

“Of course. And I know exactly how to maximize donations.”

* * *

A mysterious coordinate pointing somewhere on Resham.

Had it been anyone but Jeong Yeongwoo being loaded into the drop pod, Earth would have been extremely uneasy.

It wasn’t that Teroph was untrustworthy, but there was no telling what the coordinate really pointed to.

Nor when it was even obtained.

If the intel was years old, the arms dealer might no longer be there.

Meaning whoever was sent down needed extraordinary problem-solving skills.

『Good thing we’ve got the right guy.』

Earth muttered this as it handed over a return stone.

Yeongwoo tilted his head.

“What’s good?”

『That someone like you is a planetary representative. I can throw you into a deathtrap without worrying.』

“That’s a compliment, right?”

Yeongwoo grinned, taking the stone.

『Unlike last time, you won’t be hitching a ride on someone else’s transport. Our drop system’s still cheap and nasty.』

“But I’ll land alive… right?”

『You’re tough. Probably fine.』

This time he’d be using a disposable pod that would shatter on impact.

『But that’s only if Resham allows us in. Their planetary shield is too thick for the pod to pierce.』

“Then can’t we just blast it open with cannons?”

『That’d be a declaration of war. We only need to find the arms dealer.』

“Oh… so Koatu isn’t Resham’s ruler?”

Only now did Yeongwoo really grasp it.

The arms dealer was just one of Resham’s wealthy figures—albeit one rich enough to supply entire family wars.

“Messy. So, like with Doatel, we need to open a comms channel for permission first?”

『Exactly.』

“Ugh.”

The memory of that torturous twenty-questions game with the Caramels made him shudder.

“Well, let’s get through immigration.”

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When Yeongwoo approved, Earth clapped its hands—summoning a circular hologram.

Clap!

White waves spread from the circle’s center, firing coordinates toward Resham.

A visitor had arrived.

Moments later—

Whoosh!

The hologram widened into a screen.

“Connection made?”

『Seems so.』

Strange glyph-like letters appeared next.

Zap!

“Uh.”

At first the script was alien, but the translator rendered it instantly.

This is the Planet of Strength, Resham.

Far from Doatel’s friendly greetings, this was a stark proclamation.

“Doesn’t sound good.”

As Yeongwoo muttered, new text followed.

Unlike Doatel’s long preamble, this was brisk and to the point.

[Planetary Resident]

[Arena]

[Iron Market]

[Special Invitation]

[Visitation]

[Target Search]

“Oh… so planets all have menus like this?”

『Makes sense. Without basic categories, visitors would just wander around lost.』

“And we’ve got one too?”

『We could… but who visits us? Our coordinates are locked. You’re the only guest, through you.』

So Resham’s system existed because travelers came often—it couldn’t be helped.

Orbiting naturally, anyone with the coordinates could drop by.

“Ah… so if I pick Arena, it just opens a path there?”

『Exactly. The shield in that direction opens briefly.』

“Then choosing carefully matters.”

The options were six:

[Planetary Resident]

[Arena]

[Iron Market]

[Special Invitation]

[Visitation]

[Target Search]

Since they weren’t residents or invited, two were out.

Which left:

[Arena]

[Iron Market]

[Visitation]

[Target Search]

“Guess we just pick Target Search, right?”

Earth nodded.

『Unusual. Target Search…』

“Seems meant for people visiting someone specific.”

『Fits us perfectly.』

They looked at each other and, in unison, agreed.

Yeongwoo reached out and chose [Target Search].

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Have you come to find someone on Resham? Enter their name.

“Ah.”

He carefully enunciated into the hologram:

“Ko. A. Tu.”

The screen spun once, then advanced.

Static flickered, the text vanished.

『Looks like it’s checking if Koatu’s here.』

“But what if he moved? Arms dealers have plenty of enemies. Running wouldn’t be weird.”

『True.』

As they speculated, the screen lit again.

Fwoosh!

Koatu. Confirmed.

“Oh. So the king didn’t lie after all.”

Lately, Koatu had been busy selling weapons in family wars.

The intel was current.

The hologram blinked, then displayed his location:

Koatu. Currently imprisoned in Black Iron Prison.

“…What?”

Would you like to ‘visit’?

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