[{"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-508":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},1848522,2454,"Chapter 508","level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-chapter-508",508,"\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chapter 508: Earthling (5)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Corrupt civil servant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Negotiating the bribe amount.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With not a single decent topic in sight, Yeongwoo was once again reminded that he was truly in space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What was that? Negotiating a bribe amount?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>— Yes. An agreement was made to assist with tax evasion, but the matter of compensation has not yet been discussed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kubu blinked its large eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following suit, Yeongwoo blinked as well and asked again,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How much tax savings do you estimate we’ll gain by colluding with this corrupt official?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>— Since we’ll be exempt from income tax, capital gains tax, and most other taxes, the value is difficult to estimate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kubu explained that by transferring the acquired property to Doatel and then receiving it back as a donation, they could avoid acquisition tax.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>— Also, the greatest benefit of a fake charity is the freedom in handling expenses. With minimal justification, most expenses can be approved through the corrupt civil servant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He meant ridiculous expense claims, like saying they had to buy battleship cannons in order to attract donations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By consuming most of their income through such “necessary expenses,” their taxable income would appear low, and they'd owe very little in income tax.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A truly indispensable individual, then.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It could lead to tax savings worth hundreds of billions, perhaps even trillions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, who knew what kind of wealth they might acquire in this vast and unpredictable universe?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright. Connect me right away. Let’s get this over with and get some rest.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether a night dungeon would open again tonight was uncertain, but if it did, he needed to rest beforehand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>『Establishing communication in 3 seconds.』\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Earth then projected a large holographic screen along with a countdown timer into the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The timer quickly dropped to 2… then 1…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And finally vanished, replaced by a bright holographic display.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fwoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What the—are we connected?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo tilted his head at the sudden brightness on the screen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Earth silently nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>〔Ah, hello? Is the connection working?〕\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A somewhat flippant voice came from the screen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Earth responded first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>『Your video isn’t coming through yet. Please match your video channel to ours: 4749-32.』\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>〔4749… 32… Understood. One moment, please.〕\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The screen flickered a few times, apparently as they adjusted the video channel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then finally—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chzzzzt!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A large yellow beak filled the screen, accompanied by static.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>〔Ah! Apologies! Wrong direction.〕\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The speaker quickly moved the beak away from the camera, and Yeongwoo was finally able to see the corrupt official properly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A seagull…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The figure looked just like a seagull.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though, comically enough, beneath the snowy white feathers, it wore a navy-blue suit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>〔Pleased to meet you! I’m Toachi, Tax Division Officer from the National Tax Service!〕\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Toachi then held up a business card toward the screen for Yeongwoo to see.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swipe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Toachi33] – Grade 29\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>| Central Nation 007II16\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>| National Tax Service – Tax Division\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you for your valuable taxes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*Verbal or physical abuse of government officials constitutes immediate arrest. Please refrain if possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Grade 29, huh.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Considering Jiazol, a near-bottom civil servant, was grade 86, and grades 16–17 were considered senior level, grade 29 would place Toachi in the upper-mid ranks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah… nice to meet you, Mr. Toachi. I’m Jeong Yeongwoo07.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Toachi immediately flapped excitedly and clicked his beak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>〔Oh… then you must be the owner of that planetary ship!〕\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Yes. What you’re seeing now is the ship’s control room.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo briefly introduced the members of the control room, which included a human, a planet, and a star.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he turned back to the screen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s not waste time—shall we get straight to the money talk?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Yeongwoo cut right to the chase, Toachi clicked his beak again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>〔Please… don’t misunderstand me.〕\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What do you mean?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>〔It’s true I’ve agreed to accept a bribe, but that doesn’t mean I’m obsessed with money.〕\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But it is true that you’re accepting a bribe, isn’t it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And not just anyone—he’s a tax official, essentially choosing to go against the law.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let’s be honest, the penalty if caught is probably death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you're not out of your mind for money, why else would you take that risk?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, the corrupt official Toachi had his own reasons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>〔I just want to live doing something a bit more meaningful.〕\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt a little absurd to hear that come from a seagull’s beak, but Yeongwoo barely held back his reaction and cleared his throat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Helping a planetary ship… it’s certainly a meaningful job.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>〔I’m well aware that the house master is known as a notorious villain. But he’s also the owner of the planetary ship, isn’t he?〕\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that, Yeongwoo frowned and turned to Kubu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Renaissance and Earthship hadn’t yet gained cosmic-level fame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So where would Toachi have heard such a thing?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had to be from Kubu, the one responsible for arranging contact with the corrupt official.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What exactly did you say about me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo asked in a low voice, and Kubu blinked innocently before answering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>―I told him that, should the bribery ever be exposed, you'd attack the National Tax Agency to rescue your collaborator.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What the hell? You said that crap without even asking me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>―There’s no way a fledgling house could buy off an NTA official through conventional means.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I mean, sure, but still…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>―Besides, if the worst-case scenario unfolds and the collaborator is discovered, you’ll be legally implicated too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, if it comes to that, Kubu believed Yeongwoo would have to storm the NTA and rescue the collaborator.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How is it that not a single person around me is sane…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, after hearing Kubu’s logic, Yeongwoo couldn’t deny it entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a worst-case scenario, the only way to escape a bribery charge would be to prevent the bribed official from being put on trial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And just then, the fallen official Toachi continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>〔Working at the National Tax Agency, you receive… many offers. Most of them are dark, yet sweet.〕\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Toachi’s beak tilted diagonally in the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>〔But the offer made by the Renaissance administrator… was irresistible. Who else would promise to attack the NTA for my sake?〕\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…A promise?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo turned back toward Kubu, who now had his eyes tightly shut.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That crazy administrator had promised a rescue mission just to set up this communication.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, there’d be no issue if their criminal activities weren’t exposed—but who could predict the future?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only the Records would know whether that “worst-case scenario” would ever come to pass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Well, yeah… If someone offers to destroy their own agency for you, that’d definitely leave an impression.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rubbing his temples with a wince, Yeongwoo quickly pulled himself together and asked Toachi,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, how much are you expecting for this job?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Toachi leaned his pitch-black pupils toward the screen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>〔Are you promising as well, sir? That if the worst comes, you’ll come save me?〕\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Yes. If I personally give you my word, how much would you ask for?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>〔2 billion per week.〕\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The surprisingly low number made Yeongwoo sit up straighter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed Toachi was telling the truth—he wasn’t obsessed with money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was obsessed with something else entirely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>〔But when the time comes, please thoroughly bomb the entire Tax Affairs Building of the Central Bureau.〕\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This bastard… He’s not a corrupt official—he’s a blackened one.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A cold sweat seemed to form on Yeongwoo’s brow, but Kubu offered some support.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>―In the process of attacking the NTA to rescue him, it’s possible that we might accidentally bombard the Tax Affairs Building.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Isn’t that a huge problem? I was only planning to knock down the outer wall or something.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>―Infiltrating the NTA is already a massive problem. Compared to that, bombarding the Tax Affairs Building is like pouring a cup of water into a lake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>〔Besides, NTA officials all have their own escape routes. There won’t be any casualties. I just want to see the Tax Affairs Building crumble.〕\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shit… I don’t even know if this makes sense anymore.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo scratched his chin, but ultimately had to admit there was no better alternative.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, if he wanted to avoid being charged with major tax evasion, becoming a terrorist attacking the NTA was the better option.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And by severity alone, tax evasion—punishable by death—was the more dangerous crime.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright then. So, 2 billion won per week, correct, Mr. Toachi?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Yeongwoo tried to wrap up the deal, Jiseon muttered under her breath with her eyes tightly shut.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Let’s just pray this insane plan never gets found out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, the corrupt official on the other side of the screen nodded his large beak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>〔Yes. I’m fine with 2 billion a week. We’re severely underpaid here anyway.〕\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Great. Then since it’s come to this, let’s go all-in on this tax evasion. Now, what do we do about the contract?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo turned around and asked, to which Kubu replied instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>―Since this is a dangerous deal involving the NTA, no formal contract will be drafted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So it’s a verbal agreement?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>―Correct. Unless one is a transcendent, it's nearly impossible to create a contract that won’t be detected by the government…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait, then Toachi’s taking on all the risk here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To this, Toachi opened his yellow beak wide on the screen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>〔If the money is even a week late, I’ll burn everything.〕\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You insane bastard? You’d die too, you idiot.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>〔Would I be the only one to die? You’d be a wanted tax criminal too, sir.〕\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…He’s already blackmailing me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>〔Which is why you must rescue me before the trial begins. Please don’t forget.〕\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus began the most outrageous symbiotic relationship imaginable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>",1616,"2026-06-09T07:04:10.527Z",1,"novelbin.me","a7c60c53d46d6c1a9f8d0ede17b04cb45afe28aafee4f41e8e3707d7b2f9c6ea","level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-chapter-509","level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-chapter-507",688,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Flevel-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-cover.jpg"]