[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world":3,"chapter-level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-chapter-316":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Level 4 Human in a Ruined World",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1848280,2454,"Chapter 316","level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-chapter-316",316,"\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chapter 316: Cosmic Lobbying (1)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lobbying, a prison, and space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These disjointed keywords floated in Yeongwoo's mind, but there was no time to dwell on them any longer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rumble, rumble…!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Already, high above Seoul’s sky, something like the eye of a typhoon had started forming in the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>— What? Are the examiners heading straight here?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the bizarre phenomenon of the swirling sky, Song Jiseon gripped her greatsword threateningly, while Yeongwoo, after a brief moment of thought, turned his gaze to the west.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, they’re probably headed for where the Shrine of the Four Deities is. Right in front of the Victory Monument.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, that's where they submitted the promotion evaluation request by accumulating enough glory points, so that was most likely where the examiners would land.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, Yeongwoo pointed far off toward Jeonggu and the orc lord, Bantubangtong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mother, can you give my companions a ride?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>— What?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I'll take Yechan with me, so please give the others a ride.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>— You want me to play chauffeur?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you're not going to attack Seoul, there’s no other use for your dragon form now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Yeongwoo gestured for Yechan to get on Negwig, Yechan shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, thanks. I’d rather run like before…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since Negwig wasn’t any faster than he was, there didn’t seem to be any need to ride together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Yeongwoo never intended to take him all the way to Jongno in the first place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you talking about? There's no way you’ll make it to Jongno on time by running now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then what?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yechan tilted his head in confusion, prompting Yeongwoo to point at the \"tower\" in Gwangjin-gu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ll take that today. It’s the only way to get to Jongno in less than a minute.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>* * *\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Screech!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Yeongwoo and Yechan approached the tower on the Negwig, the tower’s tightly shut outer walls split open to reveal a path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What the—? What is that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yechan, who had never used this transportation method before, was in utter shock, and Yeongwoo pointed to the top of the tower as if to emphasise its importance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Think of it as your future workplace. This tower lets you move at near the speed of light to the next tower.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Near the speed of light…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Each tower functions as a station. Towers like these have already been built across China. You’ll use them to collect money from now on.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yechan asked a perfectly reasonable question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait, did the Chinese just leave these towers alone? I bet they tried to destroy them as soon as they saw them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course they did. But they failed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you try to destroy it yourself, you’ll see why. This tower isn’t easily broken.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So who can destroy it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even my mother would find it difficult to destroy this tower. So…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the Negwig carrying the two of them shot up toward the top of the tower, Yeongwoo finished his thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you ever see someone managing to damage the tower, don’t even think about fighting them. Run away and call me as fast as you can.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The durability of this tower is that high?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s built with souls, after all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Yeongwoo said, they reached the top of the tower in the blink of an eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then a system message, seemingly embedded in the transportation system, appeared as a notification.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「A new user has been detected. Would you like to register as a regular user?」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without hesitation, Yeongwoo placed his hand on the control device in the center of the tower’s summit and authorized Yechan’s user registration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flash!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Kang Yechan306 has been registered as a regular user.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The message displayed after the process was already complete, and Yechan, seeing the same message in his vision, widened his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What? Did something just happen?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Congratulations on your new job.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo, saying this, was already looking out beyond the tower’s open outer walls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even in broad daylight, a path of light was glowing brilliantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There are only 30 seconds left. We need to hurry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thirty seconds? Then it’s already too late, isn’t it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you even know what ‘near the speed of light’ means?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, it's not exactly the speed of light…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Yechan was about to retort, his surroundings turned blindingly white.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shooo!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, their location shifted to Seongdong-gu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flash!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait, hold on!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Yechan could say anything, a strange sensation washed over him as they transitioned again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A blinding light filled Yechan’s vision, and when he opened his eyes again...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The view from the top of the tower looked just the same, but they had arrived in a completely different area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’re here. This is Jongno.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Yeongwoo slammed his palm down on the round control device, they rapidly descended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When did you even build something like this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yechan asked in awe, marveling at Seoul’s incredible development.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo replied calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’re on our way to meet the planetary examiners. Is this really that impressive to you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, yeah, but still…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yechan had adapted fairly quickly to this world, but what was happening in Seoul was beyond imagination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For one, the fact that Yeongwoo had taken the position of mayor was surprising, and then there was Metal Seoul, not to mention how orcs were now building bridges.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Aren’t you afraid?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of what?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of everything that’s happening. You’re the one who caused all of this, right? So doesn’t that mean you’ll be responsible for everything?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo answered briefly, then after a moment of thought, spoke with a serious tone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s why I can’t afford to fail. I’ll do whatever it takes to succeed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Surviving in the vast universe as a small planet—Yeongwoo was learning how to do just that, step by step, starting from the bottom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Negwig’s iron hooves clattered as they sped toward the Shrine of the Four Deities and the Victory Monument in the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, from above, the ice dragon Song Jiseon descended, holding Jeonggu and Bantubangtong in each hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though there had been some bumps along the way, everyone had finally gathered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The founding members of the \"noble family\" that Yeongwoo had dreamed of.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is that orc part of your retinue too?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the Negwig galloped, Yechan pointed at the orc lord, Bantubangtong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Retinue? No, Master Bang is my brother. He’s more than just a retainer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo’s family wasn’t just multicultural—it was multi-species.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...That’s definitely cosmic.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yechan, now appearing more composed, glanced up at the sky, just in time to see a massive lightning strike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh? Sir!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the sky flickered blue, Yeongwoo looked up, but what he saw wasn’t lightning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, what?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What Yechan had mistaken for lightning was actually the blue light emitted intermittently by a colossal ship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had just shone through the clouds, making it look like lightning from below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They really arrived right on time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo’s guest timer had also just hit zero.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then, from the sky—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rrrrrrooooaaaar!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A tremendous noise, like a machine growling, reverberated wide and deep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This bizarre sound came from the ship that carried the examiners.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How big is that thing? I can’t even tell what it looks like.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yechan muttered as he gazed up at the ships of the inspectors, which filled the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Next to him, Yeongwoo, with a frustrated expression, spat out,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Damn it... Why don't we have something like that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was genuinely upset.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were forced to admire ships like that, which were given even to mere planetary inspectors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was in this moment that the vastness of the universe truly hit him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And as expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom, boom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Jiseon, in the form of a giant dragon, approached with heavy footsteps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She set down Jeonggu and Bantubangtong with an extremely displeased look on her face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>― You don't have anything like that? We really are small fry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point, she realized just how massive the \"universe\" her son wanted to enter truly was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Which is why we need to be the ones bribing them, not the ones getting bribed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With these words, Yeongwoo pulled out a commemorative coin from his pocket, and Song Jiseon bared her teeth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>― But those guys don't seem like your average civil servants, do they? You can just tell by looking at them. Even if the bribe works, it's going to cost us a lot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"......\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo couldn’t help but agree with his mother's words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only civil servant he’d ever met in person was the registrar of the temporary district office of the National Tax Service, Jiazol, and even he didn’t have a ship like that—just a simple portal for transportation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure, portals were more convenient in terms of practicality, but...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘That’s a whole different level of protocol. They haven’t even shown themselves yet, but they’re already intimidating.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point, a question occurred to Yeongwoo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Then... could the Chairman beat them?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Dogo Chairman was known for beating up civil servants, but Yeongwoo wasn’t sure about his limits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And he had no idea whether the \"commissioner\" the Chairman had supposedly killed outranked these inspectors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The civil servant he’d met from the National Tax Service, Jiazol, was ranked an impressive 86th grade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, just how many kinds of civil servants were out there in the universe?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The one who took issue with the transfer of mythic weapons probably wasn’t low-ranking either... But judging from these ships, the inspectors don’t seem to be lower-level either.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While Yeongwoo’s face contorted with confusion, a bright light turned on from the sky and shone in a circle near the Sajik altar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thoom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the first time, the inspectors spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>〔Step forward, the one who has requested the promotion review.〕\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ugh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"......!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the inspectors called for the applicant, Yechan and Jeonggu instinctively shrank back, covering their ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The voice seemed to be broadcasted through the ship, a modified version of the mechanical cry they had heard earlier, forming into words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pressure from the voice was immense, but there were at least three people in the area who stood tall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those three were Jeong Yeongwoo, the mayor of Metal Seoul, Song Jiseon, the ice dragon, and Bantubangtong, the red-footed orc lord.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each had their own reasons for refusing to bend in front of such overwhelmingly superior beings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And among them, especially Yeongwoo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I’ll beat you all down someday...!’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fueled by sheer willpower, he withstood the pressure from the inspectors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Click!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo, clad in the Vesedel armor, stepped forward into the spot designated by the inspectors, and the light that spotted him flickered, almost as if blinking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then suddenly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>〔Who the hell is that guy?〕\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An unintentional broadcasted voice rang out through the ship’s loudspeakers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then came the sound of someone calling another person urgently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>〔Take a look at this.〕\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>〔...What is it?〕\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>〔It’s Vesedel.〕\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>〔What?〕\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There seemed to be several inspectors, as multiple voices with different tones overlapped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Song Jiseon, who was quietly listening to the commotion, turned to her son and asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>― What’s Vesedel?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s my backer. The royal family of the universe.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>― Ah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the royal family had long since fallen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What Yeongwoo was wearing was closer to a relic of past glory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps that’s why.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>〔Ha, when was the last time we heard about Vesedel?〕\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of the inspectors scoffed audibly, and Yeongwoo’s brow furrowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This could get complicated.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It meant that the inspectors knew enough about the universe to recognize the name \"Vesedel,\" yet still had the nerve to scoff at it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Being \"named\" could be a great advantage against those who respected it, but it could backfire just as easily against those who didn’t.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed like this was the latter case.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Next, one of the inspectors shot a question as if interrogating a criminal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>〔Are you some sort of lackey of Vesedel? Reveal your identity properly.〕\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo’s brow furrowed deeply, and sensing her son's anger rising, Song Jiseon quickly intervened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>― You idiot, don’t do anything reckless! It’s a strategy to bend temporarily when the storm hits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Yeongwoo’s hand was already on his sword, Bastard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you really want to know who I am?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Yeongwoo boldly lifted his head, Song Jiseon sighed, realizing they were doomed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>― No! It’s not the time yet!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, what came out of Yeongwoo’s mouth next was something no one had expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you really want to know, it’s an honor! Inspector sir...!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>― What...?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But this little thing here will explain who I am.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shhh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo raised the small piece of metal he had been holding in his palm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was none other than a commemorative coin with his own face engraved on it—a \"karma\" type of object, known throughout the universe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if waiting for this moment:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>〔Oh.〕\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The voice inside the ship let out a sound of interest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>〔So the rumors were true.〕\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The light that had been shining on Yeongwoo flickered rapidly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>〔Isn’t Vesedel supposed to be the most skilled in etiquette in the entire universe!〕\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Damn it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo flashed a bright smile toward the ship, holding up the coin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he whispered to his mother through clenched teeth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“These bastards are taking bribes. You were right this time, Mother.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>",2224,"2026-06-09T07:03:45.853Z",1,"novelbin.me","27f0b544818ee88d3d1b91a2577aa8a2c6929a25cf78e074012b4f8258dc9f40","level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-chapter-317","level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-chapter-315",688,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Flevel-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-cover.jpg"]