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Chapter 542: Black Customers (5)

Koatu’s Secret Vault.

Up until he actually arrived here, Yeongwoo had expected a fierce battle.

Hadn’t Koatu warned him that the vault was crawling with mechanical sentinels?

And once the central vault was touched, every sentinel encountered would switch to self-destruct mode.

So normally…

‘By now I should be fighting machines like hell.’

Yeongwoo glanced at the platform smoothly carrying him through the security sector, then looked at Koatu’s prosthetic leg in his hand.

‘Still pointing ahead. Guess this place is bigger than I thought.’

According to the mechanical gargoyles he met at the entrance, this platform was a kind of shortcut straight to the central vault.

Yet even after so long, it kept going deeper inside.

‘Without Lemu’s Seal I wouldn’t have been able to rob this place in the first place.’

【Lemu’s Seal】

| Every time you pronounce ‘Lemu,’ you receive a thrilling jolt of lightning damage and gain favor with machines.

If not for that bizarre effect, he would only just now be breaking through the front gate and wandering blindly in the direction the prosthetic toes pointed.

Shhh.

He lifted his wrist and checked the timer.

[03:32]

Only about 3 minutes and 30 seconds left.

‘I’d better be reaching the central vault soon if I want time to snatch other things too.’

The vault’s owner wasn’t even here.

So as long as time allowed, Yeongwoo intended to grab as much money or valuables as possible.

It wasn’t like he could easily come to a place like this often.

‘Koatu’s broke right now too, so if I bring him something he’ll be happy. And I’ll pocket a little commission.’

While he was grinning wickedly, the golden goblin at his feet raised a finger.

—Kiiit! The source of thɪs content is Nov3lFɪre.ɴet

“What, what is it?”

Yeongwoo’s gaze followed the goblin’s finger—toward a square structure in the distance.

“Huh?”

Sensing much, Yeongwoo raised Koatu’s prosthetic leg.

Right on cue, its metal toe swung toward the right.

“…The vault!”

At last, they had reached the central vault.

[02:46]

Remaining time: 2 minutes 46 seconds.

“There’s still enough time. Let’s go in and sweep it all.”

As he spoke, the platform carrying him and the goblin swerved right.

Shooosh!

It shot forward at tremendous speed, closing the distance to the central vault.

“Priority one is cash. Doesn’t matter if it’s piles of coins or cards.”

He reviewed strategy aloud to the goblin that couldn’t talk.

“Second, if there’s any expensive equipment. I can slip it into the catalog and it’ll be a perfect crime.”

—…Kiiit?

“Third, something I can give Koatu. Doesn’t have to be money, just anything liquid enough to convert. He’ll handle the rest.”

Having set his plan, Yeongwoo stared at the vault, now only a hundred meters away.

The prosthetic leg in his hand began to twitch its toes.

Tduk, tduduk!

“…Why’s it doing that? Happy to be home?”

Then suddenly—

Fweeeeen!

A red light flashed from its big toe, like it was transmitting a signal.

And in response, a long beep came from the vault.

—Biiiii…!

One side of the massive square central vault began sliding open.

Just as Koatu had said: the prosthetic leg was the key.

“The vault itself is enormous…”

Muttering, Yeongwoo’s platform shot straight inside.

Shoooosh!

Inside, both walls were crammed with bluish metal containers.

“All of those must be storage units.”

He instantly understood that each was a miniature vault.

Fitting—someone who hid their vault in a dead star would also put vaults within vaults.

“How am I supposed to know where the money is?”

As he wondered, the platform suddenly halted.

Psshh!

From the far ceiling, a massive mechanical arm descended.

「Welcome to the central vault.」

“What.”

Looking up, Yeongwoo saw a red dot gleaming amid the darkness above.

There was some sort of machine inside.

“A vault manager?”

The answer came straight from the ceiling.

「I am the Vault Keeper, Napua.」

A machine with its own name.

Clearly the final boss of this place.

But not what Yeongwoo expected.

「You lack a security mark. But since I prioritize Koatu’s seal, it’s fine.」

Unlike the outside sentinels, this one wouldn’t attack him.

“…That’s a relief. So, what can you do for me?”

Clack.

He raised the prosthetic leg.

The mechanical arm stuck out its index finger.

「These reinforced containers cannot be forced open, not even by gods.」

“What? Then how do I open them?”

「That’s my job.」

“Oh.”

「State the item you desire, and I will locate the container and open it.」

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So Napua was both guardian and key.

“First I need cash. How much cash is stored here?”

Napua’s red eye blinked rapidly.

Papapap!

「A total of 32.2 billion Karma is stored.」

“…Holy.”

Yeongwoo shut his dropped jaw and quickly told Earth.

‘Hey Earth, ask Koatu quick.’

○ Ask what?

‘If it’s okay to withdraw all the cash. It’s not like we’ll be coming back here soon.’

○ Hold on.

After a moment—

○ He says to withdraw 25 billion. Fifteen for you, ten for his emergency fund.

‘…Careful to the end, huh.’

So Koatu meant to leave the last 7.2 billion in the vault.

○ Oh, and…

‘What else?’

○ He wants the transfer device, if you can. If you met the vault keeper, you should be able to find it.

‘Yeah, the guy’s right here. Anything else?’

○ That’s it.

‘Got it.’

Now it was up to Yeongwoo’s conscience.

He asked,

“Koatu wants the transfer device. Can you bring it?”

「Yes. And the cash you searched for earlier?”

“Just the 25 billion.”

Since cash was quantifiable, siphoning extra was difficult.

「Understood. I will search for 25 billion Karma in cash and the transfer device.」

Napua raised its arm and scanned the containers in a blur.

In under five seconds, three boxes were set before Yeongwoo.

「Opening transfer device first.」

Clack!

The arm’s fingers joined and transformed into a drill.

‘So that’s the key.’

It pierced the tiny hole on the lid—

Kwooom!

The sealed box opened wide.

「Transfer Device」 – Epic Tool

【062-||4725】

【Relocates designated installations to a new site.】

“…The hell.”

The device was a short rod.

“Don’t tell me this can move the vault itself.”

That had to be it.

Koatu wanted it because his vault’s location had been exposed.

“Yeah. Out of prison now, time to start a new life.”

Nodding, Yeongwoo pulled it free.

Kwat!

Napua slid aside the empty box and opened the other two.

Clack, clack!

“Now, let’s see what 25 billion looks like.”

Rubbing his hands, Yeongwoo leaned in—only to see deep-blue ingots like gold bars.

“Huh? That’s not money.”

「These are Katangdal ingots, each worth one billion Karma.」

“Katangdal? Never heard of it.”

The newbie space traveler frowned.

Napua picked one up.

Clunk.

「Katangdal is one of the strongest known materials in the universe, mainly used for large warships.」

The interstellar government guaranteed their liquidity; price varied by market.

“You mean it has a market price?”

「In the Black Zone, Katangdal is worth 1.5 times more.」

So one ingot valued at a billion could sell for 1.5 in the Black Zone.

“Koatu… you rich bastard.”

If the entire 32.2 billion were in Katangdal, it would inflate to 48.3 billion in the Black Zone.

“Then my cut…?”

Yeongwoo’s promised 15 billion would become 22.5.

“Wait, hold on.”

His brain spun.

“Fifteen billion isn’t all mine. With a laundering rate of 30%, that’s 4.5 billion.”

But if he inflated it first…

“Twenty-two point five minus fifteen leaves 7.5 billion profit.”

Then donating the 15 to Doatel and collecting 30% gave another 4.5.

‘Seven point five plus four point five….’

That meant 12 billion in pure cash.

“Wait… money’s duplicating? Why didn’t Koatu tell me about the Black Zone?”

Napua pulled more ingots out and explained:

「The Black Zone is a lawless market run by criminals. The chance of an incident during a deal is 58%.」

“What, 58%?”

Yeongwoo’s eyes widened.

“You’re saying death chance in prison was 84%, but the chance of a deal going wrong among criminals is only 58%?”

「……?」

“At that rate it’s a pretty damn reliable market, isn’t it?”

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