[{"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-327":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},1848291,2454,"Chapter 327","level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-chapter-327",327,"\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chapter 327: Negotiation (2)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Uh... Mother?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo was stunned when he drew his first card.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t just the name on the card that left him speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Mother Who Returned from the Heavens]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mother breathed her blue breath.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>| Card Grade: Legendary\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>| Power: 1,200\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Strongest Mother\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the opponent’s card is a dragon type or mother type, power increases by 600.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Damn it, this is basically a card duel.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The composition of the cards looked just like the ones in competitive card games.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘We’re deciding the outcome of a war with this? Are they insane?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Yeongwoo wiped the cold sweat off his forehead, still unable to grasp the reality of the situation, Yuto across the table flashed a wicked smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So? It seems you’ve drawn quite an impressive hand.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Yeongwoo looked up, he saw that his opponent, the duelist standing across from him, was completely naked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He even held the elongated card between his fingers as though he were used to games like these.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Who the hell is this guy? Even the way he’s holding his cards is different.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swallowing hard, Yeongwoo caught sight of the card Yuto held between his fingers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It reflected a faint, bluish light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As explained earlier, until the terms of negotiation were confirmed, they couldn’t see each other’s cards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Have you played a lot of... games like this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo asked carefully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuto, placing his massive, pale pecs on the table, clasped his hands together with a confident smirk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"‘Games like this’... If you were an experienced player, you wouldn’t use that phrase. It’s clear that you’re a novice, Mr. Yeongwoo.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuto chuckled unpleasantly before switching to a cold tone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I won’t lie. To put it mildly, I’m a veteran duelist.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The fact that we’re each using a different deck version would disqualify this from official matches, but we have no choice. The whims of the universe are far beyond our control.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Listening to Yuto, Yeongwoo realized something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This guy was just as insane as he was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Judging by his attitude, he was probably a game nerd in his youth. And this lunatic is supposed to be Tokyo’s Sword Emperor? Japan’s in real trouble.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo had momentarily forgotten that he himself had once been a gaming streamer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So, now that we’ve both drawn our cards… does this mean we should propose our negotiation terms?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo looked back at the card he’d drawn for this round.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A legendary card with 1,200 power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the looks of it, 1,200 seemed to be on the high end of the power spectrum.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this was only a guess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without more cards to compare, he couldn’t be sure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Given that only monsters powerful enough to be called to the negotiating table are here, the average deck composition could be legendary.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo reminded himself that this was a power struggle backed by extraterrestrial sponsors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I have Bastard and Aratubank among my forces. With equipment at a mythic level, their card grades should be mythic too.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other hand, “Mother Returned from the Heavens” was at the legendary level.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a powerful conditional card, but it might be relatively average if the condition didn’t match.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo hadn’t played a lot of card games, but he knew that conditional power boosts typically worked that way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘My mother’s power increases by 600—or 50%—when facing another mother or dragon.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was effectively a counter card.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which meant its base power might have been intentionally set lower, assuming it would occasionally encounter matches in which it would receive a power boost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘So if I face the right opponent, I could potentially take down a mythic card. But since it’s only a counter for two types, its base power might be lower than average for a legendary.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the best deduction Yeongwoo could make.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, he needed to figure out the strength of his opponent’s card.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he had no prior knowledge about this naked man, making any guess difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Besides, in a world where even orphans can get mother cards… anything is possible from his side.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Would he get a feel for things after the first round?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Let’s dive in.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Resolving himself, Yeongwoo tightened his jaw, and Yuto squinted, noticing the change in his expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Seems like your card is a bit underwhelming, huh?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Realizing his expression had been read, Yeongwoo widened his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Right. I should’ve kept a neutral face, even if I wasn’t bluffing.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it was too late to hide what had already been revealed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Yeongwoo turned the question back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What about you? Did you draw a decent card?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuto, self-assured as a veteran, answered without batting an eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmm... Legendary?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo tried to stay calm, controlling his breathing, but his pupils betrayed him by widening slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yeongwoo, that card’s legendary, right? Or maybe it’s epic, but you’re intimidated by legendaries.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuto skillfully probed, observing Yeongwoo’s reaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This guy’s not just a duelist; he’s a gambler. He’s way too good at mind games.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo’s impulse was to skip the cards and snap Yuto’s neck, but he had no choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let’s get this over with. Propose your terms.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Refusing further mind games, Yeongwoo insisted on moving to the next step, and the system displayed a new message.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>《Both parties have confirmed their cards, and negotiations will now commence.》\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, three yellow coin icons appeared above each of their heads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flash!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>《Each agent has three negotiation points per round.》\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>《Negotiation points can be used to propose or reject terms.》\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This… feels like karma points.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rule felt familiar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as karma points could be used offensively or defensively, negotiation points were resources for attack and defense at this table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Making the first proposal will cost one point… so in practice, we can each use only two negotiation points.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Realizing this, Yeongwoo quickly deduced one key rule about the game.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That rule was simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If you’re the first to refuse, you’re at a disadvantage.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this game, rejecting an opponent’s proposal immediately deducts a negotiation point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If one side keeps rejecting while the other continues proposing new terms, the side that started rejecting will eventually run out of points and lose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’s all about order. If you refuse twice in a row, you’ll have no points left, while the other side, after two refusals, can still propose a final term. Since we each start by proposing a term, the side doing the rejecting will be cornered.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the proposed term stays in effect for both sides, this isn’t the same as winning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The side that has been rejected twice can propose a final term that the opponent can’t refuse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, as soon as you begin rejecting and implying your hand is weak, you fall into your opponent’s pace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To avoid this, one could either charge forward blindly, confident in the strength of their hand, or set a deliberately absurd condition to provoke the opponent’s refusal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But if they accept your absurd term and win the round, that would be suicidal.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo realized this game was more complicated than it appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But at the same time, he thought:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If the card is strong enough, that solves everything, right? If I knew I’d win 100%, it wouldn’t matter what terms I propose.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, that’s easier said than done.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People aren’t robots, after all; psychology plays a huge role.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>《Please propose your terms now. After voicing the desired conditions, touch the negotiation points above your head to submit your proposal.》\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The game has begun.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What should he propose in this first round?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without absolute certainty of victory, he had to prepare for the worst.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had to assume his conditions could backfire on him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Suicidal terms or offering equipment… those are out.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t here to gamble away his life or legendary equipment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if he was in a card battle, his life wasn’t a game with extra lives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"....\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Yeongwoo deliberated over his first proposal, Yuto broke the silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let’s start with something peaceful. How about it? Something low-stakes for both sides.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What do you mean by ‘peaceful’?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There are still four rounds left to determine the outcome of the war. Shouldn’t we make choices for the people we are responsible for?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hah…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the first time, Yeongwoo saw the person before him as a ‘human being.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps he wasn’t as indifferent to life as he initially thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you talking about something like prohibiting attacks on civilians?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Something similar. We could also prohibit large-scale weaponry to preserve residential areas.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Large-scale weaponry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was probably referring to something like laser cannons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You want us to fight with only melee weapons?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Victory will ultimately depend on which side’s main forces are annihilated first, won’t it? There’s no need to cause unnecessary civilian casualties.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, that’s true, but…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It made sense, yet Yeongwoo’s side had Toma’s laser cannons, eight anti-aircraft guns from Metal Soul, and four decimators disguised as the city’s four gates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘No large-scale weapons? That’s nonsense.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, it wasn’t like he didn’t have alternatives.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How about this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s designate a battlefield. Somewhere between Korea and Japan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Yeongwoo suggested this, a map showing Korea and Japan in their current ‘Pangea’ state popped up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pop!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If we evacuate civilians in advance and restrict the fight to that area, there won’t be any unnecessary civilian casualties.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That makes sense.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuto nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Yeongwoo could tell he wasn’t entirely on board with the idea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This guy… he only made that suggestion to gauge whether I have large-scale weapons or not.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And further, if needed, he intended to ban large-scale weapons to secure an advantage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘So, does that mean Japan doesn’t have artillery weapons? Even if that’s the case, with Lemu backing them, they’re bound to have something.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their military strength was still shrouded in mystery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo studied the map provided by the system and pointed to a region between Geoje Island and Yamaguchi Prefecture, specifically an area that used to be an island.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How about here? It wasn’t heavily populated to begin with, and there aren’t many buildings left for habitation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuto’s eyes widened as he confirmed the spot Yeongwoo indicated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That place…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s Tsushima.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuto’s poker face slipped for an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Yeongwoo immediately touched the coin by his bedside and shouted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Korea-Japan war will be fought solely on Tsushima!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A negotiation draft instantly appeared between the two of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ping!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[The battle between the Dogo and Lemu factions shall be conducted solely within Tsushima.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuto looked slightly flustered at the sudden negotiation draft, and Yeongwoo added a few more words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you don’t like it, you can exercise your veto.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Yuto knew well enough that the first side to use their veto usually ended up at a disadvantage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Furthermore, he hadn’t even proposed his own negotiation terms yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>≪The representative of Lemu, please present your negotiation terms.≫\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The system prompted Yuto, who finally slammed the table with his right hand and grasped the coin with his left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Like me, strip off all your clothes. Let’s both fight in the nude.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo’s eyebrow twitched as Yuto’s proposal appeared below his own on the screen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ping!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[The representatives of Dogo and Lemu shall engage in combat in a completely naked state.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You… you bastard…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, he was all about making choices for the people, and now he was demanding a nude fight?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was this nonsense?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You said you don’t lie! Don’t you want to make choices for the people?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo pointed accusingly, but Yuto closed his eyes quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You asked me why I was naked.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I… I did.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is the reason.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clunk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, Yuto stood up, revealing his entire body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, damn it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo cursed, squinting in disgust, while Yuto slowly opened his previously closed eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Everything I do is recorded by Lemu’s cameras.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What I gave to Lemu in exchange for immense power was humiliation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The more humiliation captured on camera, the greater the national benefit. So if I can strip the representative of Dogo as well… it will benefit my country immensely.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What, what the hell are you talking about?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Yeongwoo instinctively reached toward his sword, Yuto stretched out his right hand in a gesture to stop him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Representative of Dogo, Jeong Yeongwoo! Please strip. We have already prepared 200 naked warriors!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuto’s pale flesh reflected in Yeongwoo’s wide eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuto then approved Yeongwoo’s negotiation terms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ping!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, if Yeongwoo accepted Yuto’s proposal, the real battle would begin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Damn… if I lose here, I’ll have to fight naked? And for free?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could this all have been part of Lemu’s grand plan?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was this some roundabout way of taking revenge after losing the Dogo publicity model?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You, do you have any idea how crazy this is? Dogo and Lemu…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo was about to explain the interstellar power dynamics when Yuto interrupted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then just decline it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exercise your veto. Isn’t that all you have to do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You bastard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t exactly wrong, but it wasn’t entirely right, either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d likely fall into the opponent’s pace when he exercised his veto.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And after two vetoes, he could be met with an even more humiliating proposal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe it would be better to gamble everything on winning here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If I can overpower his hand with my card, then I just need to win… but is this the right move?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lowering his gaze, Yeongwoo looked at the card he held firmly in his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Mother Who Returned from the Heavens]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mother breathed her blue breath.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>| Card Grade: Legendary\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>| Power: 1,200\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Strongest Mother\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the opponent’s card is a dragon type or mother type, power increases by 600.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could this card possibly defeat the crazy hand that man would reveal?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Mother, you’re strong, right? I’ll trust you this time.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no choice but to go all in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo opened his eyes wide, then slammed the table as he accepted Yuto’s nudity proposal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine, reveal your card! If I lose, I’ll strip as much as you want! But if I win…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A glimmer of madness flickered in Yeongwoo’s eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll make you realize why I’m known for going after all my opponents’ money.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>",2380,"2026-06-09T07:03:45.853Z",1,"novelbin.me","1ba1b46f01686713bf225f71cf39c116847cd4e141019b7520a088e826099cfc","level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-chapter-328","level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-chapter-326",688,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Flevel-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-cover.jpg"]