[{"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-509":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},1848523,2454,"Chapter 509","level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-chapter-509",509,"\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chapter 509: Earthling (6)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Everyone’s insane.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Yeongwoo shuddered and cut the communication with the corrupt official, Jiseon clicked her tongue and added,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—You’re the one doing crazy things. No wonder crazies are drawn to you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t argue with that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So instead of replying, Yeongwoo turned his gaze toward the stars outside the cockpit window.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Anyway, this takes care of our tax issue.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Might have created an even bigger problem, though.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, even Jiseon had to admit the necessity of the corrupt official.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bribing the tax officer was one of the basic conditions for maintaining a fake charity business.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Won’t they catch on eventually? The best we can do is extract as much profit as we can before then.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If their tax evasion were ever exposed, they’d have to attack the National Tax Service just to rescue the key witness, Toachi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that case, how much profit would be enough to make it all worth it—even if things went south?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Even a small-time business owner, if they get too big, becomes untouchable for the government. Just look at our Chairman.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, it was the Chairman and his company that openly manufactured weapons for assaulting government officials.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So it was only natural that Yeongwoo’s ultimate goal was something on par with the Chairman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If the Tax Service sends a team after me, I’ll just beat them all up and send them back.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—The National Tax Service is arguably the most important branch of the government, no? They handle the money. That means the officials they send will be seriously skilled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once again, Jiseon said nothing wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo nodded in agreement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The planetary inspectors were rated Level 4 under intergalactic law, and the ones from the Ship Management Bureau were around Level 6.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That meant the Tax Service’s elite agents would be at least Level 4.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As much as he hated to admit it, there was a good chance Level 3 officials existed too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Level 3… that’s Chairman-tier.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could there really be a public official in space who could match the Chairman?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Well, if there’s even a shred of order left in this crazy universe, then the government’s influence must be considerable.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And whoever managed such high-level figures in the space government would have to wield immense power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If I ever dared ask the Chairman whether there were officials stronger than him, he’d probably cut my head off…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Yeongwoo recalled the overwhelming presence of Chairman Dogo while gazing out into space, Jiseon came a bit closer and asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—So what’s the next crazy thing on your list?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That’s it for now. Once I pay my taxes, I get a short break.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, for Yeongwoo, being forced to hand over billions while wide awake was the craziest part.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—A short break?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Next, I need to check if the dungeon opens again today.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though there was a chance that no more mutants would fall starting tomorrow, Yeongwoo was fairly certain the dungeon would still open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike the petrification phenomenon or the mutant drops, the nighttime dungeon seemed to operate under different mechanics than the Reset.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Batum's casino, where they had to play betting games in the arena, was a real place that existed somewhere outside of space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the ancient titan Gameta trapped inside the Temple of Valor had been a real being.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It definitely felt like it was being used for planetary tests.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the planetary promotion exam had taken place inside a dungeon, and their first encounter with the Ship Management Bureau’s agents was also in a private dungeon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was becoming clear that dungeons were not merely a subcategory of the Reset system.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Let’s head back. I’d like to rest a bit.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Back where? Where to?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Where else? Our room.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>* * *\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Parnas Hotel, Room 3233.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Yeongwoo grabbed and turned the doorknob, he heard the cheap click of the lock disengaging—a crude sound compared to things outside the universe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ironically, Yeongwoo felt a sense of relief in that moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After spending so much time traversing this insane universe, it was the little things he had missed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Home is where the heart is, after all.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Technically, there was a captain’s quarters above the cockpit, but he had chosen to come here instead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For his long-awaited rest, he wanted to be somewhere familiar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the door opened, the company rep, Kim Seok, who had been sitting in the living room to the left, shot to her feet and bowed deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re back a little early today.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was referring to the fact that Yeongwoo usually showed up only after the room-service hour began.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo nodded in return and looked around the suite.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How about the kids?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They’re in the bedroom, watching TV.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo had been mentally overwhelmed from his daily billion-year growth cycle, but the kids of CEO Kim Taejoon had been waiting eagerly every night for the television to power on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the only time they could see their father.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If only the room-service system could run all the time…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Yeongwoo muttered this to himself, Earth responded from within his consciousness—having caught wind of his thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>◯ It’s possible now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Huh?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>◯ We’re using Moro’s energy as the main power source for the Earthship, right?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘That’s true…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>◯ If we adjust the absorption rate and operation time, we can already extend the room-service hours.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Earth added a caveat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>◯ But only in Metal Seoul. To power the entire peninsula or planet, we’d need to reinforce the protective shield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Wait, don’t we have to reinforce the shield anyway for that star-ramming maneuver?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>◯ Exactly. That’s why, in the long run, it means we can offer room-service across the whole planet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Not even long-term. I’m planning to handle it soon.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, looking at the still-dark room, Yeongwoo gave Earth a command.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Then turn the power on in Metal Seoul right now.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>◯ Understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Almost immediately after his command, Room 3233 lit up and a system message appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Due to a special order by planetary representative Jeong Yeongwoo07, early room-service has begun.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「From this moment, all buildings classified as ‘residences’ will be under the protection of the room-service system and become inviolable.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same time, a prompt popped up in front of everyone in the suite, requesting payment for the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If no one paid the room fee, all occupants would be evicted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Since it’ll take a while for Suna to get here, I’ll pay for this one.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The short-term rental fee for Parnas Room 3233 was 62,000 Karma.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To the old Yeongwoo, it would’ve been an absurdly large sum—but in just a few days, it had become nothing more than pocket change.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flash!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as Yeongwoo paid the fee, the furnishings of the room subtly shifted, and cheers erupted from the bedroom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The television had turned on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let the kids keep using the bedroom. I’ll be resting in the annex.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this to Seok, Yeongwoo headed toward the annex and glanced briefly into the bedroom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There, he saw the children gathered in front of the television, watching a man in white pajamas—their father.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>CEO Kim Taejoon was engaged in a chess match with Kang Hongtae, a newly arrived conglomerate boss and returnee.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Judging by his deeply furrowed brows, it looked like he was about to lose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Seems like they’re doing well.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo had once said he’d try to find a way to turn his “friends” back into humans, but there was still no sign of such a method appearing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘The universe is vast—there’s bound to be a way somewhere.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe the reset administrator scheduled to visit tomorrow would know something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By then, Yeongwoo had arrived in front of the annex.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He began taking off his gear piece by piece and collapsed into the bed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn, this feels incredible.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The overly soft white bedding wrapped around his tattoo-covered body, and, exhausted from overwork, he fell asleep almost instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Ugh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That is, until just before 10 p.m.—when the tax collection alert went off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beep!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Taxes will be collected shortly starting at 10:00 p.m.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Buzz.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was such a critical matter that the “One-Eyed Sentinel” attached to his left cornea buzzed to wake him up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uugh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Groaning, Yeongwoo grabbed his left eye and sat up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tax alert that had just been issued shimmered in the air like an afterimage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What the… it’s already ten? I haven’t done anything.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Time passes even when you’re doing nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo turned his head and saw Jiseon standing in the doorway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Came to wake you up for the tax payment, but looks like you’re already up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Man, I thought I finally got a decent sleep without any weird dreams.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—If you don’t want to die, pay your taxes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not even the owner of a planetary ship could escape taxes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Yeongwoo pushed back the blanket and stood up, a new system message appeared in his vision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Beginning tax collection now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beep!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As predicted by Kubu, the calculated taxes were displayed:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>| Assessed Tax Amount: 2,249,600,000\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>| Deductions: Dependents\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>| Final Tax Due: 1,912,160,000\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘1.91 billion…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wanted to believe this money was being used to maintain universal order—but hadn’t he just returned from negotiating with a corrupt tax officer?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That lingering discomfort was hard to shake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Still, I’ve got to pay it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How powerful would one have to be to become free from taxes?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a flick of his hand, Yeongwoo paid the taxes, and 1.91 billion Karma vanished from his balance in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swoosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At almost the exact same moment, the defense tax collected from the Korean Peninsula was funneled into the national treasury.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*Available Karma: 11,052,048,016\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*Available Defense Fund: 236,619,987\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘11 billion… not bad.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that amount, he could strengthen the Earthship’s shield and maybe even buy a few more auxiliary guns if needed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While sitting on the edge of the bed blinking rapidly, Yeongwoo triggered another reaction from Jiseon, who instinctively stepped back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—What now? What kind of crap are you pulling this time?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Yeongwoo wasn’t talking to her—he was speaking to Earth, with which he was mentally linked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Next up is the arms dealer, Koatu, right? Have you received his coordinates?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>○ Of course. I’ve already input them into the navigation system. We can start the voyage whenever you like.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Really? Then he must be living on some planet?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>○ Naturally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘And that planetary system must have a star at its center, right?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>○ …What’s your point?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Find out how big that star is.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>○ Wait… are you seriously thinking about ramming it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Yeah. Let’s crash into that star on the way to visit Koatu. That’s what we call “killing two birds with one stone.”’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>",1798,"2026-06-09T07:04:10.527Z",1,"novelbin.me","41061456f85b4752fa7fc96b1d1109d84a45771c767da8201ce3de53b639d6b2","level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-chapter-510","level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-chapter-508",688,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Flevel-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-cover.jpg"]