Level 4 Human in a Ruined World

[Translator - Night]

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Chapter 423: Sole Candidate (5)

—A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity…? Isn’t it more like a once-in-a-lifetime crisis?

Jiseon questioned her son’s assertion.

No one had ever asked Earth for its opinion.

In fact, they didn’t even know what kind of personality Earth had.

—Do you know what Earth likes? What it fears? You know nothing about Earth, so how can you be sure it’ll see us as an opportunity and not a threat?

There was nothing wrong with Jiseon’s words.

After all, Renaissance, the family dreaming of becoming an intergalactic band of brigands, was a self-proclaimed group.

No being on Earth had ever declared the need for a band of robbers.

If there was anyone to blame for the birth of Renaissance, it was none other than that gangster chairman from beyond the stars—Dogo Vesedel.

—I’m honestly a little worried. We might be nothing more than a thorn in Earth’s side.

To be precise, she was concerned about the potential discord between Earth and Yeongwoo.

In any kind of business, a conflict with the land itself was something that had to be avoided at all costs.

—We still don’t know how much authority Earth holds. That’s why… talk of pirate ships and whatnot is insane.

But Yeongwoo tilted his head.

“Why is a pirate ship insane? The chairman himself built a corporate empire through thuggery, and Mara—that bastard—isn’t even worth mentioning.”

Of course, Mara, who was likely a void-born entity, was a special case.

“In this balanced universe, someone has to play the hero, and someone has to play the villain.”

—…But why are you so determined to cast Earth as the villain?

“Because that’s what we’re good at.”

—…What?

“Isn’t it natural to choose a profession based on your strengths? I don’t know what Earth’s childhood dream was, but if there’s only one family on the entire planet, wouldn’t it be fitting for it to aspire to become a notorious band of pirates?”

Thus, Yeongwoo argued that Earth, too, should accept the hand it had been dealt and walk the path of villainy.

Specifically, as a planetary battleship—no, a pirate ship.

—You’re out of your damn mind. A pirate ship, seriously…?

“Technically, it’s a privateer vessel. After all, Earth and we are practically a community.”

—…Whatever you call it, if I were Earth, I wouldn’t be pleased.

Jiseon let out a blue-tinged sigh and pressed her fingers to her forehead.

With the meeting with Earth’s council just around the corner, she was beginning to think it would be a miracle if they avoided an all-out civil war.

—…Do the council members fight well?

Jiseon asked the administrator cautiously.

Kubu’s eyes rolled slightly.

—When you say ‘fight well’… may I ask for clarification?

—Do the council members know how to fight?

—Ah.

Letting out a vague exclamation, Kubu blinked twice and glanced at Yeongwoo.

He, too, understood Jiseon’s underlying question without needing further explanation.

What she wanted to know was whether, if things went south and a brawl broke out, Yeongwoo would stand a chance against the council.

—The planetary council represents the planet in certain decisions and, in times of crisis, safeguards the planet’s well-being.

Here, the planet’s well-being did not refer to the people or the ecosystem—it referred to Earth itself, the sentient being.

In short, the council was on the side of the planet, not its inhabitants.

—…Then their combat prowess must be substantial?

—When someone attempts to force a planetary meeting, the council uses physical force. In general, the council does not lose.

Kubu explained this with a surprisingly serious tone.

Well, it made sense.

It was a planetary council, after all—it was only natural that it would be equipped to fend off mere planetary residents.

“But in non-general cases, they do lose sometimes, right?”

Yeongwoo asked, recalling the home planet of the Redfoot Orcs.

On their homeworld, a massacre had occurred at the hands of Mara.

From the planet’s perspective, its native people had been wiped out by an external force.

So, how had the Redfoot planet’s council responded?

Since no one had forced a planetary meeting, did they simply observe the massacre in accordance with protocol?

Or…

—The council’s defeats typically occur due to external invasions.

“Oh, really?”

—The council’s use of physical force is fundamentally limited to situations where planetary negotiations are forced. However…

“There are exceptions, huh?”

—Yes. In cases of planetary emergencies, the council can vote to intervene.

In other words, if the planet wished to save its native inhabitants, the council could step in and interfere in terrestrial affairs.

This also meant that if the planet disliked its native people, it could simply turn a blind eye to external invasions.

‘My guess is that the Redfoot brothers didn’t do anything particularly offensive to their planet… So, the council must have lost to Mara.’

Mara, a rank 3 being.

If a rank 3 entity could overpower a planetary council, it meant they were of a caliber that could hunt entire planets.

In other words, true cosmic predators.

“So, our council fundamentally exists to preserve ‘Earth’s’ safety and, if necessary, serves as a secret weapon to prevent Earth’s doomsday.”

Just like the slumbering annihilators beneath Seoul’s four gates and Namsan.

—Precisely.

“We’d better not pick a fight.”

Besides, Yeongwoo wasn’t even sure if he could beat them.

‘If they’re weaker than rank 3 beings but still capable of handling planetary emergencies…’

The key question was how much weaker they were.

If they could endure even a single blow from a rank 3 monster, they had to be at least fourth-tier in combat power.

‘Still, Earth is just some backwater planet… Would its council really be that strong?’

After all, how many planets in the universe even had councils?

If every planet with a council wielded fourth-tier strength, then fourth-tier beings would be a dime a dozen.

‘That would make fourth-tier beings seem pretty worthless. It doesn’t add up.’

Lemu, Toma, and the planetary adjudicators.

Considering the stature of the fourth-tier beings Yeongwoo had encountered so far, it was hard to imagine they were that common.

[Translator - Night]

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—Master, the meeting begins in 10 minutes.

While Yeongwoo was still caught up in his musings, the time to face the council was rapidly approaching.

Only ten minutes remained.

‘Well, meeting them in person should give me some answers.’

Seeing is believing.

Since there was no changing the fact that they were a band of brigands, the real variable was the council.

"Let's go. We'll hold the council meeting in the wedding hall."

* * *

Wedding Hall.

The execution platform still towered sky-high at the front gate, and the interior of the main hall—where the ceremonial breakthrough had taken place—remained a complete wreck.

—Still, since we’re expecting guests… shouldn’t we tidy up a little?

When Jiseon muttered while gazing at the shattered chairs, Yeongwoo shook his head.

"We need to show them how our family was born."

He then gestured toward Jeonggu and the celebrant squad.

"Father, go and bring the signature board. Focus on the chairman's and the presidents' names."

"Ah, got it."

Jeonggu nodded and left the hall to retrieve the signature board.

Meanwhile, Yeongwoo summoned Song Jungho, who was sealed inside the Aratubank.

"Uncle."

∴ What is it?

"I’ll let you have a rare look at the outside world."

∴ What?

Surprised by the unexpected offer, Song Jungho let out a bewildered noise, and Jiseon also asked with a confused tone.

—What do you mean? A look at the outside world?

"Mother, you should transform into your dragon form over there as well."

Shff.

As Yeongwoo spoke, he pointed toward the back of the ceremonial altar—the farthest corner of the hall.

In other words, he was instructing them to stand there like a living backdrop.

—What exactly are you doing?

"This might be the first and last meeting with the council, so we should put everything on display."

—Then why not bring in Lord Bang as well?

Lord Bang.

That referred to Bantubangtong, the Redfoot Lord.

"Honestly, that would make sense, but they’re not natives. It might backfire."

The council they were about to meet was, in principle, composed only of the defenders of Earth.

Thus, it wouldn’t be surprising if they turned out to be staunch fundamentalists or species supremacists.

"Now then, Uncle. Let’s see you in person after so long."

With that, Yeongwoo released Song Jungho from his seal.

The lid of the Aratubank snapped open, and a crimson torrent burst forth.

Paaaaaaat!

In an instant, the blazing surge filled the surrounding area for hundreds of meters, forming the massive, sapphire-scaled body of the thunder dragon, Song Jungho.

∴ Kraaaaaah!

Finally free in his draconic form again, Song Jungho let out a roar, spreading his jaws wide as though he had been born a dragon.

"You two, just stand behind me and look imposing as the council approaches."

Yeongwoo then ordered Kubu to seal the side exits of the hall.

"Close off everything except the main entrance."

—Why?

"I want the councilors to walk down the aisle and see the remnants of the ceremonial breakthrough."

The traces of physical combat between galactic criminals and high-tier beings.

He wanted to flaunt the fact that they had successfully hosted a ceremony in the midst of such madness.

—You think that kind of petty boasting will work? They’re planetary councilors, after all.

"If the remnants are from 3rd- and 4th-grade beings that could crush them underfoot, it’s no longer mere boasting."

—...Is that so? But what about you? Are you going to sit on the throne?

When Jiseon glanced at the floating throne of the top-ranked celebrant, still hovering alone in midair, Yeongwoo shook his head.

"That’ll be marketed later as the chair the chairman once sat on. I can’t use it—it needs to retain its value."

—What? So you’re just going to stand around?

In response, Yeongwoo leapt onto the ceremonial altar and perched himself on its edge.

"This will do for me."

Then, he gestured toward Jeonggu, who was returning with the signature board.

"Line the board up below here."

He pointed directly beneath the altar—meaning he intended to sit atop the signatures of galactic beings.

—Isn’t that a bit insolent?

Jiseon expressed concern as she glanced up and down at the altar, but Yeongwoo merely cast his gaze at the hovering throne.

"Do you think the chairman wouldn’t expect that from someone like me? But their seat is still above my head."

And just then, the awaited moment arrived.

Kubu rolled its eyes and announced the news.

—Master, the council will arrive at the meeting location in one minute.

At that instant, a thin, vertical holographic line appeared in front of the hall’s entrance.

Paaaat!

It was likely a marker indicating where the council members would materialize.

"What species are the councilors? Are they tall? They can’t be bigger than Mother or Uncle, right?"

—Regarding detailed information on the planetary council...

Just as Kubu was about to answer.

Kuuuuuuuuung!

A thunderous roar erupted from beyond the ceiling, followed by a commanding voice that resounded throughout the hall, pronouncing each word with piercing clarity.

「Thief Lord Jeong Yeongwoo-07!」

"What?"

「Come outside and receive the planetary envoy!」

[Translator - Night]

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