[{"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-460":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},1848024,2454,"Chapter 460","level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-chapter-460",460,"\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chapter 460: High-Growth Stock (4)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—…What the.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mark of a general appearing on one who stands against a Dragonkin is a phenomenon unique to the Asian systems, even within the reset Earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So it was only natural that the heads of the noble houses present found the phenomenon unfamiliar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—W-What is that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—What is this...?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure enough, everyone showed signs of confusion at the strange character that suddenly appeared above Emel’s head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「General」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the universe, interspecies communication is fundamentally supported.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When two different races meet, usually at least one party has the ability to translate languages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Furthermore, noble houses with a long history often have their language officially recognized, and universal-level translation support is provided for them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, the more prestigious the house, the more likely its language is incorporated into the universal lingua franca.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Public officials’ languages were also automatically translated for bureaucratic purposes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But other beings had to rely on translation abilities or tools to communicate effectively with different species.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In particular, “written characters” differed from speech—they didn’t carry tone or intent—so near-perfect translation was practically limited to spoken language.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In short, if one’s language wasn’t part of the universal tongue, then their written characters would just appear as strange symbols to others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that’s exactly what the “General” mark above Emel’s head was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—That symbol… What does it mean?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking extremely displeased, Emel drew his sword at incredible speed and slashed above his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shiiiing!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A flash-like arc cut across the mark of the adversary, but the symbol showed no sign of disappearing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching silently, Maon finally spoke in a quiet voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—“General”...?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had read the character as “General” .\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And not only that, Maon also grasped the intent behind it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—It seems to be a sign that he is to fight that thing. I don’t think there’s much to worry about.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke while gazing at the shadow beyond the clouds above, Emel furrowed his brow with sword in hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—I’m not worried. I’m simply... displeased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Emel was the heir of the prestigious Shirach family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To him, having a mark from a remote planet—one that even birthed a rogue like Jeong Yeongwoo—appear on his head was deeply insulting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was like having some strange sticker slapped on your body without consent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—When does this go away?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eventually, Emel turned and asked Yeongwoo, who was quietly impressed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Still using honorifics even now… He’s really committed to his persona.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, like Maon, he raised his gaze to the sky and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In about twenty minutes, that thing will descend from the sky.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—And then?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since you’ve stepped forward as the adversary, you’ll have to fight and defeat it. That’ll make the mark on your head disappear.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, Yeongwoo was curious about what would happen if Emel ignored the mark and simply returned to his planet—but that couldn’t be helped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, you couldn’t watch both possible futures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Anyway, when else am I going to witness a showdown between the heir of a galactic noble house and a corporate mogul from Earth?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The only downside was that the outcome of the duel was practically predetermined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, it was a great opportunity for Yeongwoo to witness Emel in combat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If there were any likely future enemies from the lower galaxy, they would almost certainly include the Shirach family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Might as well analyze Emel’s martial prowess now and clean up this new Dragonkin while I’m at it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Surely no more members of the Jinhyeon family would fall from the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As this thought crossed his mind, Yeongwoo flinched slightly and turned to Jiseon standing behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mother.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—...What? What is it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You don’t think that’s another uncle or something, do you? Another one from the Jinhyeon family?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiseon cautiously looked up at the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Hard to say. As far as I know, there shouldn’t be anyone else. Not unless the dead start coming back to life…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Maon raised his hand slightly and called out to Yeongwoo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Thanks to the Shirach family’s valor, we’ve gained a bit of time. Don’t we have unfinished business to settle?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was referring to the non-aggression pact and its price.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hadn’t there been a disagreement about the duration of the non-aggression period?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As I said before, I…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Let’s go with that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pardon?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—The pact will be valid only during your term.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve changed your mind so suddenly?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—The one who’s unlikely to change his mind is you, isn’t it? I simply have no better option.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, a treaty requires the consent of both parties—so Maon had no choice but to accept Yeongwoo’s proposal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The non-aggression pact would remain in effect only during the term of Jeong Yeongwoo07, the current head of the Renaissance family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Now, tell me. What will be the price of this brief peace?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo fell into contemplation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As payment for the pact, he could demand money, equipment, facilities—virtually anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So long as the other party agreed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Money? Nah. Useful, sure, but it doesn’t hold much value in the big picture.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was evident just by looking at “prestige,” the metric of status in the universe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At some point, even pouring karma into something wouldn’t raise your prestige level anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Same with equipment and facilities. Anything you can buy with money depreciates over time.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unless, of course, it was mythic-tier equipment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But no house would hand over their mythical weapons—their ultimate trump cards—willingly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After some thought, Yeongwoo slowly raised his head to look at Maon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve decided.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Oh? That was quick. Let’s hear it. What do you want?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo extended his hand with his index and middle fingers raised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swoosh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—What is this...?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Two.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Two?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I want two levels of Prestige.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—...!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Yeongwoo's request, not only Maon but also Emel, who bore the Mark of the Challenger on her forehead, widened his eyes in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had expected him to ask for a vast amount of Karma at most, but never imagined he would demand Prestige levels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maon, unable to hide his confusion, leaned forward slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Creak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—No house possesses the power or authority to bestow Prestige upon a lowborn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Prestige levels are something one must earn through their own accomplishments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What Maon meant was that he could not simply grant him that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Yeongwoo thought differently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don’t think that’s true.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—...?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Aren’t all of you heads of noble houses that have existed in this universe for thousands, even billions of years?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—So what?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maon still wore a baffled expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo looked at her, his face showing frustration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then you should at least know what kinds of things increase Prestige, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo knew the truth:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That the achievements needed to gain Prestige were universal across the universe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Dungeon cleared +1」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Myth possessed +33」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Discovery of Grade-4 Entity +0.1」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Combat with Grade-4 Entity +0.2」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Discovery of Grade-3 Entity +2」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Holding 10 billion Karma +0.1」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearing dungeons, possessing myths, discovering Grade-4 and Grade-3 entities, holding massive Karma...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The list of achievements that appeared when Yeongwoo first unlocked Prestige level were consistent, structured, and universal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which meant that anyone—not just Yeongwoo—who performed the same feats would receive the same Prestige boost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Prestige conditions might slightly vary depending on background, race, or circumstances, but the tasks themselves are the same, aren’t they?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maon responded with silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because the lowborn’s deduction was correct.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then, those of you with higher Prestige or longer lives than me must know more about which tasks increase Prestige.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo looked up to the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course, I’m not expecting you to know every task. But you can certainly figure out which ones are relevant to me right now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he turned his gaze back to the heads of the houses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So, I’ll take your knowledge in exchange for peace.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—What?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—You...!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In short, he was asking them to act as guides for his Prestige growth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—And you dare say that after offering your house’s main asset as bargaining material?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—You want us to raise the galaxy’s underworld troublemaker with our own hands?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As expected, the house heads burst into outraged protests.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But unexpectedly, Maon remained calm and seated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pointed to Yeongwoo and spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Lowborn as you may be, you are still a house head. That means you have achieved sufficient Prestige.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The very fact that Jeong Yeongwoo07 was able to punch Bioto, the head of Satral, proved it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—So there’s no way your Prestige can leap by two levels overnight. Even if I were to provide you with knowledge accumulated over billions of years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, this was a payment in return for the non-aggression pact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the payment were in money, it could be paid in full or in installments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Prestige growth?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was vague and uncertain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone might gain two levels in a week, while another might take a thousand years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was the issue Maon pointed out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—It’s a clever proposal, but Prestige is not so simple. You may not reach two levels within your term.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was suggesting he demand something else instead of Prestige.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Yeongwoo was already shaking his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How to grow me. No—how to grow Jeong Yeongwoo07 quickly. That concern is also included in the price of peace.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—What?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Two levels of growth must happen quickly, of course. So you must think of it as your own mission—thoroughly and urgently.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—But...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could such a thing be possible?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo had the answer to that as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Two billion Karma.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Two billion?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes. If my Prestige doesn’t increase on the first day of our deal, you incur a penalty fee of two billion.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—What!?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maon furrowed his brow at this unheard-of negotiation tactic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But for a house that had lasted over 700 million years, two billion wasn’t exactly a massive sum.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Then what about the second day? What if your Prestige still hasn’t changed?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo replied without blinking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The penalty becomes four billion.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—I see.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maon nodded, having grasped the gist of the rule.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They would provide Yeongwoo with methods to raise his Prestige, and if they didn’t work, they would pay 2 billion more each day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, by paying a daily penalty, they could maintain peace without actually raising this lunatic’s Prestige.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Then when do we pay the accumulated penalties?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"When my Prestige increases by two levels, as promised. Or...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Or?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If the penalties become too burdensome and you wish to break the pact—then you pay it all in one lump sum.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Clever. For the price of peace, it might just be worth attempting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two billion a day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t a ruinous deal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maon quickly finished his mental calculations and was about to accept the 'Prestige deal' when Yeongwoo suddenly asked:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Aren’t you curious about the third day’s penalty?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Third day? Well, that would be... 6 billion, right?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo tilted his head and gave a completely different answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s 8 billion, Lord Maon.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Huh?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>",1837,"2026-06-09T07:03:45.910Z",1,"novelbin.me","715ce241cf04ad58b4003445f5011c2f2dc708d3471f7af58ca0c7202e38180b","level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-chapter-461","level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-chapter-459",688,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Flevel-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-cover.jpg"]