Level 4 Human in a Ruined World

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Chapter 717: Ransom (4)

The gatekeeper’s third stage of power release.

This was likely the true power of Sezak, the gatekeeper solely responsible for the entrance examination of the Black Zone.

Which also meant that anyone who displayed overwhelming skill against a third-stage gatekeeper would earn a Grade-1 pass.

‘But there’s no way a Grade-1 pass would be that easy to get……?’

While Yeongwoo was thinking that, the gatekeeper on the screen completed the third-stage release.

The gatekeeper, whose entire body had turned crimson, had become far larger than before, and just as his appearance suggested, his actual combat power was presumed to have increased tremendously.

Because.

-...Huh?

Before anyone present could even perceive it, he had kicked Eroom Salzeo.

“What the hell was that?”

Even Yeongwoo, who could be considered the strongest person here, had failed to sense what had just happened, and could only see Eroom Salzeo collapsed on the floor.

And if that was the case, it also meant Eroom himself had failed to react to the attack.

“That’s third stage…? So this is the difficulty level meant for Grade-1 pass challengers?”

As he spoke and blinked blankly, Yeongwoo soon reached a conclusion.

“Then just how strong is that bastard?”

If even Eroom Salzeo, a Grade-4 existence, was being helplessly overwhelmed like this, didn’t that mean the gatekeeper’s true martial prowess ranked among the upper tier even within Grade-3 existences?

-Aah!

Meanwhile, Dots let out a scream-like cry after seeing the gatekeeper raise his arm high.

This time, the gatekeeper had moved very slowly—slow enough that even incomplete Salzeo like him could recognize it.

In response, Eroom Salzeo, after recognizing the gatekeeper’s preparatory stance, tried to raise the leg sprawled on the floor and defend himself.

Then the gatekeeper’s arm shot downward at an absurd speed.

“Holy shit.”

Yeongwoo’s mouth fell open after once again missing the gatekeeper’s movement.

He had only ever seen movements on that level from the Grade-3 prisoners he encountered in Pahalufe.

“So Grade-1 passes were meant for the chairmen.”

More precisely, they were likely meant for those among the chairmen whose martial prowess stood at an exceptionally high level.

Otherwise, there was no way Eroom Salzeo—who had relatively easily subdued the second-stage gatekeeper—would end up like this.

Eroom, having been subjected to an attack impossible to even perceive, failed to defend himself despite seeing the gatekeeper’s preparatory movement beforehand.

The arm he thrust out to block the opponent’s fist had practically crumpled in on itself.

-H-hyungnim……!

Dots’ once-spirited voice had now become almost tearful, and on the screen, Eroom Salzeo’s face was covered in blood as he smashed forehead-first into the floor from the single blow.

-So even the famous Salzeo ends here.

Sevio nodded heavily, as though he had seen enough.

At that, Dots alternated his gaze between the broadcast screen and Yeongwoo before asking in a frightened voice.

-Hyungnim looks badly injured… What happens now? They said people don’t die from taking that test, right?

“Yeah. In my case, I got punched by that bastard and passed out before receiving the entrance pass… so wouldn’t this be similar?”

-Passed out?

While Dots cried out in shock, the gatekeeper who had knocked Eroom down in a single strike lifted him up with one hand.

Then he said something to Eroom, dropped him back onto the floor, and pulled something from his waist.

“The evaluation results are out.”

Sensing instinctively that the duel had ended, Yeongwoo said this as Sezak on the screen tossed a small piece of metal toward Eroom, who was collapsed on the floor.

It was probably the Black Zone entrance pass.

“I don’t know how good the young lord’s recovery ability is, but it doesn’t seem like he’ll be able to come looking for us right away.”

When Eroom Salzeo failed to rise again from the floor, Sezak made some sort of gesture toward the outside of the outer grounds.

Soon after, the Salzeo family knights Eroom had brought came flooding in.

They had come to retrieve the fallen young lord.

‘...So I would’ve been carried out like that too.’

Then, when one of the knights picked up the entrance pass that had fallen to the ground, the doors of the black cliff finally opened, and people dressed in blue garments appeared carrying a palanquin.

“Is that the palanquin that goes to the treatment room?”

When Yeongwoo pointed at the blue-clothed figures presumed to be medical staff and asked, Yenta scratched his forehead.

-It should be… but I’ve never seen that color before.

“You mean the color of the clothes they’re wearing?”

-Yeees.

“Then it probably means the pass grade is high.”

Had blue medical staff appeared when they carried him away as well, back when he was assigned a Grade-3 pass?

Since he had been unconscious at the time, Yeongwoo couldn’t remember.

“Still, there are quite a lot of them.”

There were no less than thirteen knights following Eroom Salzeo, who had just been loaded onto the palanquin.

Since they were likely the young lord’s private soldiers, each one’s martial prowess was probably no joke either.

-Anyway, now that he passed the test, all that’s left is to sit and wait, right?

As Sevio muttered while staring at the now-quiet arena on the screen, Yeongwoo also buried his upper body back into the sofa after having sat upright.

“Well, pretty much. We already listed the item, so once that guy’s ready, a trade request should come in.”

Meanwhile, no challenger dared step into the now-empty arena on the screen.

After witnessing such an overwhelming duel just moments ago, everyone had lost their nerve.

“Still… if the third-stage gatekeeper is that strong, even most chairmen would probably have to settle for a Grade-2 pass.”

Yenta nodded with a troubled expression.

-Actually, even a Grade-3 pass is already considered incredible.

“But just knowing higher grades exist would piss me off. If I were one of the chairmen, I’d try to get a Grade-1 pass no matter what.”

-Of course… the benefits of a Grade-1 pass must be enormous.

“Do you happen to know anything at all?”

At that, Yenta recoiled in shock and shook his head vigorously.

-Of course not. Nothing at all is known to insignificant creatures like me.

Well, hadn’t he said this was his first time even receiving a Grade-3 pass customer?

“Hm.”

Since there was some free time anyway, Yeongwoo pulled out the problematic key from his chest.

Shhk.

The key that could supposedly open something containing a Liberation Zone.

“Now then, the seller’s already dead, so you explain it instead.”

-...Pardon?

“What exactly is this key supposed to open?”

As Yeongwoo raised the hand holding the key high, everyone’s gaze turned toward it.

And soon after, Yenta Varangkula said something he absolutely shouldn’t have.

-I… I don’t know.

“What, you little shit?”

Yenta’s collar was immediately yanked up into the air.

At this, Yenta wiped the sweat rapidly soaking his forehead and trembled violently.

-The seller died before I could even hear the minimum explanation…….

Wasn’t that what had happened?

Split clean in half by the mythical demonic sword.

“Are you seriously trying to say that’s my fault right now?”

-…….

When Yenta could neither affirm nor deny Yeongwoo’s words, Mushio Tare—who until now had remained silent like a shadow—raised his hand.

Swoosh.

-May I take a closer look at it?

“Huh? You mean this key?”

-Yes.

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“Of course. If you know something, say as much as you want.”

Saying that, Yeongwoo handed the key over to Mushio.

Wasn’t Mushio Tare a navigator who had roamed the universe alongside a great being for countless years?

Then naturally, his knowledge of the universe had to be extensive.

Which meant there was at least some chance he would know what this mysterious key was used for.

-Hmm.

After carefully examining the key from every angle, Mushio finally spoke.

-It’s a vault key made by the Kushen Kingdom.

“A kingdom……? You’re saying this is a royal family key?”

-That interpretation wouldn’t exactly be wrong, but strictly speaking, it would be more accurate to think of it as a vault brand.

“What does that mean? Explain more clearly.”

In response, Mushio pressed part of the key with his fingertip, and a completely unfamiliar emblem was projected into the air.

Paaat!

-Kushen is a kingdom that collapsed long ago. Its ruins still remain, but now they are truly nothing more than ruins. However, if there is one thing they left behind—

Mushio lightly shook the key.

-It would be their vaults. The Kushen Kingdom’s vault-manufacturing technology was worthy of being called the best in the galaxy cluster.

“So this is the key to a high-grade vault?”

-Yes. It is said that the vaults left behind by the Kushen Kingdom cannot be opened without their keys. But since the kingdom fell, the production of the vaults ceased as well……

“Then the vaults still in use today basically became limited editions.”

-Yes. Which is why they are both extremely rare and expensive. Therefore, the current owner of this vault likely does not possess an ordinary status either.

At Mushio’s explanation, Sevio twitched his beard and mocked Yeongwoo.

-So you picked up the key to a vault you’ll never even be able to approach.

However, Yeongwoo’s line of thinking was completely different.

“Why wouldn’t I be able to approach it?”

-Why? Didn’t you just hear him? People who own vaults like that aren’t ordinary.

“But I’m holding the only key capable of opening the vault.”

-……?

“Are you the one who didn’t listen properly? Kushen Kingdom vaults cannot be opened without the key. And that means—”

Shhk.

Yeongwoo then raised his index finger and pointed at the key.

“The original owner can’t open the vault right now either. And unless I personally bring the key there, they’ll never be able to open it in the future either.”

-So don’t tell me.

Sevio’s jaw dropped as he realized Yeongwoo’s intention.

“Exactly. In this vast universe, people should help each other out, shouldn’t they? I just need to find the vault owner and negotiate. In exchange for opening the vault, I’ll receive the Liberation Zone inside and a few ‘favors.’”

The moment Yeongwoo said this, the Grade-3 entrance pass shone brightly and displayed a system message.

「There are currently 3 purchase requests for the sale item, ‘Dots Salzeo.’」

“Three?”

Yeongwoo blinked in surprise, while Sevio smirked with amusement.

-You’re selling a Salzeo. Of course buyers would gather. How many people in the Black Zone do you think hold grudges against those bastards?

Then Sevio added another remark.

-If you wait longer, even more buyers will appear. Opportunities to obtain a living Salzeo aren’t exactly common.

“What do people even do with a living Salzeo? Resell them or something?”

When Yeongwoo asked that, Sevio clicked his tongue in disbelief.

-The Planetary Ship Lord is absurdly naïve. Do you think deep grudges can be resolved with mere money? The ones trying to buy a Salzeo here want only one thing—bloody revenge.

“Bloody revenge?”

-After a long torture session, they’ll rip off the Salzeo’s head and send it back to the family.

At Sevio’s chilling words, Dots Salzeo could only gape soundlessly, while Yenta rubbed his horns as though horrified.

“A grudge that can’t even be settled with money… Looking at it another way, that also means no matter what price I set, buyers will appear.”

As Yeongwoo’s eyes gleamed with greed, Dots Salzeo grabbed his arm and pleaded desperately.

-P-Planetary Ship Lord! You’re a kidnapper, not some heinous villain, right? You’re not seriously going to break your promise now, are you?

In response, Yeongwoo shrugged and reached toward the floating buyer notification.

“Let’s at least take a look first.”

As he said this and opened the buyer list, the bidding status of each buyer appeared.

[Buyer-1]

|Private

—33 billion.

[Buyer-2]

|Private

—25 billion, additional negotiation possible with Katangdal ingots.

[Buyer-3]

|Private

—8.5 billion, 101 weapons.

At present, there were three interested buyers in total.

And except for Buyer Number 3, the bidding units were all in the tens of billions.

Living-condition Salzeos were an extremely popular commodity.

“What’s this, your older brother already submitted a purchase request. Isn’t he still half-dead right now?”

Seeing Buyer Number 3’s offer details, Yeongwoo reacted with surprise.

At that, Dots Salzeo pointed at Buyer Number 3 with a pale face.

-P-Please sell me to hyungnim. At the very least, hyungnim and I promise we’ll never chase after you again!

“I don’t know. I believe you, but I doubt your brother—the young lord of the family—can actually do that. He has responsibilities, doesn’t he?”

-I’ll persuade him somehow! Please……!

“Ah, forget that. I’ll speak to your brother directly.”

At Yeongwoo’s words, Dots—who had practically been crying near his legs—snapped his head up.

-Y-you really mean that?

“In exchange, you should beg your brother too. Tell him that thanks to this kidnapper, you were spared from horrific torture. So naturally, there should be some additional ‘favor’ in return.”

Only then did Dots regain his senses and wipe the tear stains around his eyes with his hand.

-But the compensation hyungnim offered was probably already the best he could do. He definitely brought exactly that much with him.

“Ah, I already have an idea for how I’ll receive additional favors. From what I saw earlier, he’s quite skilled at fighting.”

-……?

While Dots wore a confused expression, Yeongwoo designated Buyer Number 3 as the trade target.

“Alright then, let’s go visit the intensive care patient.”

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