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Chapter 706: Karma and Retribution (3)
Monstrous ships.
Just what kind of vessels ended up being called “monstrous ships”?
Even though he was technically a Planetary Ship Lord, Yeongwoo didn’t know much about ships themselves, so he couldn’t help but be curious.
“Hey, Yenta.”
-Yes, customer.
“What exactly qualifies as a monstrous ship?”
At that, Yenta scratched his forehead for a moment before giving a clear answer.
-It refers collectively to ships that were never standardized. Though, of course, there really are some bizarre ships floating around the black market as well.
“Ships that were never standardized……?”
-Generally speaking, it means ships that were never mass-produced even once.
“Ahh… Then products from huge corporations like Dogo or Toma would all be disqualified.”
-Of course.
“Then would our Chairman’s tombstone ship count as a monstrous ship too?”
If he had to guess, the odds were high.
Wasn’t the tombstone ship made exclusively for Chairman Dogo?
-Well. I’ve never seen Chairman Dogo’s ship myself, so I can’t say for certain, but if no identical vessel exists, then it would probably count as a type of monstrous ship as well.
“So basically, if it has uniqueness, it’s a monstrous ship. Then are planetary ships monstrous ships too?”
At that question, Yenta lifted his gaze toward space.
-Conceptually, they could be classified that way. However, almost nobody in this universe would think of planetary ships as monstrous ships. To begin with, planetary ships are existences that transcend the very concept of a ship.
“Then to summarize, if a ship was never mass-produced or if only one was made exclusively for someone, it can be considered a monstrous ship.”
-Yes. Also, ships made for special purposes, or those that have undergone excessive modifications and lost their original form, are classified as monstrous ships as well.
Then Yenta raised an index finger and added another explanation.
-Which is why all of this can ultimately be summarized with a single phrase: “was never mass-produced.” Whether it wasn’t mass-produced or couldn’t be mass-produced, the reason itself is what makes it a “monstrous ship.”
“And those kinds of ships are being sold on the black market.”
-Yes. Most dangerous stolen goods gather in the black market. From ancient war machines to leaked confiscated items, even some chairman’s personal flagship—you can see all of them here.
As he finished speaking, Yenta pointed ahead.
There, a gigantic dome-shaped translucent barrier had been deployed, and at the center of an arch-like structure presumed to be the entrance stood a huge guard.
“So that’s the monstrous ship exhibition hall?”
-You could say that.
“There’s a gatekeeper here.”
-They’re forces prepared in case problems occur, so they probably won’t restrict entry. After all, anyone coming all the way to the black market to buy ships would obviously not be someone who can be handled by force.
“That makes sense, but somehow you look even more excited than me.”
-I’d much rather lead the way freely like this than work nonstop at Qira and end up covered in dust as a guide.
It was basically the saying that if you had to be a servant, it was better to serve in a noble household.
Step.
At last, Yeongwoo’s group, including Yenta, arrived at the entrance to the monstrous ship hangar, and soon the gigantic cyclops blocking the way carefully examined the new visitors through the slit in his helmet.
-Is this the customer?
The cyclops subtly pointed at Yeongwoo as he asked Yenta.
Yenta nodded and continued.
-Yeah.
-And the intended purchase items?
-Ships and ship cannons. We’ll prioritize monstrous-grade goods.
As soon as Yenta said that, the cyclops narrowed his eye and pulled something out from his waist.
Shhk.
It was none other than a symbol carved from stone.
It even had a handle attached like a miniature flagpole, making it obvious at a glance that it was meant to be carried around inside the hangar.
“What’s that?”
Unable to suppress his curiosity any longer, Yeongwoo asked the cyclops, and the fellow answered in an unexpectedly polite tone.
-Buyer indicators. This one’s for ships, and this one’s for ship cannons.
The cyclops alternated between holding up symbols of different shapes.
Then he pulled out one more emblem attached to a stick from his waist.
-And lastly, this is a special marker indicating priority interest in monstrous-grade goods.
Afterward, he handed all three symbols over to Yenta.
Carrying things like this around was apparently the assigned guide’s job.
-One final question. What’s the budget?
At that, Yenta glanced toward Yeongwoo, then spoke first before the customer himself could say anything.
-Unlimited.
-…Unlimited?
-He possesses two requisition rights for Salzeo vessels.
As Yenta whispered those words, the gatekeeper’s single eye widened dramatically.
-Then that over there must be “that person.”
The cyclops’ gaze landed on Dots Salzeo, who was hiding beneath the transparent cloak.
Though he couldn’t see inside the cloak, he was skilled enough to sense the presence within.
“Not bad.”
Yeongwoo praised him as if genuinely impressed, and the gatekeeper bowed his upper body.
-You flatter me.
Then he placed a small insignia atop Yenta’s head.
-You may enter now.
The gatekeeper bowed deeply toward Yeongwoo and opened the way.
As Yeongwoo headed into the hangar, he quietly asked Yenta.
“What’s with that insignia?”
-It’s the unlimited budget marker.
“What? But it’s not actually unlimited. Even requisition rights probably have a price cap.”
-Still, it’s close enough to unlimited. And more importantly, you need the unlimited insignia to meet every seller here.
“What’s that supposed to mean? Don’t tell me there are multiple merchants inside this hangar?”
No sooner had Yeongwoo spoken than dazzling lights began flashing from both sides of the hangar entrance.
“……?”
Dozens of signboards covered in alien writing had been lined up in rows.
“What is all this……?”
-Advertisements from the business owners. They’re trying to get customers to buy from their shops.
Then, as Yeongwoo’s group passed through the signboard section, the black-market merchants standing along the roadside came rushing over all at once.
-W-Welcome!
-Looking for ships? We just acquired a huge batch of stolen goods!
-The unlimited insignia……?
-We carry both ships and ship cannons at our establishment!
But then they all spotted the marker indicating priority interest in monstrous-grade goods and slowly backed away one by one.
Surprisingly, there weren’t many in this hangar who handled monstrous-grade merchandise.
And then finally—
Clank.
Merchants whose very footsteps sounded different began appearing.
-Looking for monstrous-grade goods?
-If it’s monstrous ships, we specialize in those.
While the earlier black-market merchants, despite being of different races, had mostly looked familiar with two arms and two legs, the newcomers who appeared afterward were completely different even in silhouette.
One merchant had half his body replaced with machinery and possessed five arms, while another consisted solely of a giant eyeball floating inside a huge glass tank that moved around on wheels.
“No, just because you sell monstrous ships doesn’t mean the merchants themselves have to be monsters too.”
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-Either way, you’ll have to choose one of them.
While Yenta and Yeongwoo were talking, a werewolf covered in jet-black fur limped over from the distance.
Thunk, thunk.
Below the right knee, his leg had been replaced with a cone-shaped prosthetic, so loud metallic noises rang out every time he walked.
“Looks like there’s another merchant.”
Sensing his presence, Yeongwoo turned toward the last merchant, and the other party likewise looked at Yeongwoo before examining the symbols Yenta was holding one by one.
Then the werewolf opened his black muzzle and beckoned with a gesture.
-Unlimited budget for monstrous-grade goods? Just come over here.
At that, Yeongwoo slightly furrowed his brow and instead asked back:
“Either way, we’re the ones with the unlimited budget. Shouldn’t you be the one coming over here? Where’s that confidence coming from?”
The werewolf stepped forward with his prosthetic leg toward Yeongwoo.
Thooong.
-I possess ships and ship cannons once used by the Great Ones. Of course, there are reasons why such things eventually ended up circulating as stolen goods, but—.
“Oh, well that changes things.”
Before the werewolf could even finish speaking, Yeongwoo shoved aside the surrounding merchants and moved forward.
The Great Ones.
That meant he possessed belongings that had belonged to at least Grade-3 existences like the Chairmen.
“You’re saying you own ships once ridden by the Chairmen? How many?”
At that, the werewolf spread three fingers.
-Three ships.
“Not as many as I expected.”
-Not many? Just how many Great Ones have you seen in your life?
Yeongwoo could have answered “hundreds of times,” but held his tongue.
Regardless, the fact that this fellow had secured three exclusive ships belonging to such extraordinary figures was astonishing enough.
Thunk, thunk.
The werewolf then took the lead toward his establishment, and Yeongwoo followed behind while throwing out another question.
“But how do exclusive ships belonging to Great Ones even end up as stolen goods? Do the owners sell them after falling into financial ruin or something?”
-As if. The owners of ships that become stolen goods are usually dead.
“A Great One dies……?”
-Being great doesn’t mean invincible.
Come to think of it, hadn’t quite a few Grade-3 prisoners died during the Pahalupe prison break?
-Most are the byproducts of war, though sometimes the original owner dies after falling into a trap. Either way, once we secure the stolen goods, that’s all that matters to us. We don’t dig too deeply into the details.
“Then whoever brought those stolen goods all the way here to sell them must be no ordinary person either.”
At that question, the werewolf glanced back slightly.
-Which is precisely why we don’t pry. The only being in this universe who could survive while knowing everything in the world would probably be Jopan alone.
“Then I guess you won’t be too surprised even if I pay with Salzeo requisition rights.”
Thooong.
The moment Yeongwoo finished speaking, the sound of the werewolf’s footsteps changed slightly.
He had hesitated for just an instant.
Then, as though nothing had happened, he continued walking straight toward his shop.
-It won’t be a problem. Salzeo certainly has the capability to pay.
Salzeo.
A family acknowledged for its immense creditworthiness even in the Underground Layer, the especially dark region within the Black Zone.
As someone who was still merely the head of a minor household, Yeongwoo couldn’t help but feel envious.
“Salzeo really is impressive.”
As Yeongwoo muttered that, Dots Salzeo immediately chimed in.
-And you’re only realizing that now?
At those words, the werewolf glanced back once more, though he paid it no further mind.
-Whatever circumstances exist between you people, I don’t care. My only concern is reducing my inventory.
With those words, the werewolf finally stopped walking, and within the sight of Yeongwoo and everyone involved in the kidnapping incident appeared a gigantic pit.
A pit filled with all sorts of ship cannons and ships floating diagonally in midair, no less.
“Don’t tell me this is your display shelf?”
-It is. It’s the only way to gather products this large in one place.
Then he pointed toward a ship shaped like a massive awl.
-I’d like to show you that one first.
“Why that one specifically?”
-You look like the type to have many enemies. If you ride that thing, at the very least you won’t die surrounded by a fleet.
“…Why? Don’t tell me it literally pierces through enemy ships with its hull.”
At that, the werewolf curved his brows and nodded.
-Exactly right.
“Ah, I think I finally get what a monstrous ship is.”
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