[{"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-542":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},1848556,2454,"Chapter 542","level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-chapter-542",542,"\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chapter 542: Black Customers (5)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Koatu’s Secret Vault.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Up until he actually arrived here, Yeongwoo had expected a fierce battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hadn’t Koatu warned him that the vault was crawling with mechanical sentinels?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And once the central vault was touched, every sentinel encountered would switch to self-destruct mode.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So normally…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘By now I should be fighting machines like hell.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo glanced at the platform smoothly carrying him through the security sector, then looked at Koatu’s prosthetic leg in his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Still pointing ahead. Guess this place is bigger than I thought.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to the mechanical gargoyles he met at the entrance, this platform was a kind of shortcut straight to the central vault.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet even after so long, it kept going deeper inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Without Lemu’s Seal I wouldn’t have been able to rob this place in the first place.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Lemu’s Seal】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>| Every time you pronounce ‘Lemu,’ you receive a thrilling jolt of lightning damage and gain favor with machines.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If not for that bizarre effect, he would only just now be breaking through the front gate and wandering blindly in the direction the prosthetic toes pointed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shhh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He lifted his wrist and checked the timer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[03:32]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only about 3 minutes and 30 seconds left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I’d better be reaching the central vault soon if I want time to snatch other things too.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The vault’s owner wasn’t even here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So as long as time allowed, Yeongwoo intended to grab as much money or valuables as possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t like he could easily come to a place like this often.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Koatu’s broke right now too, so if I bring him something he’ll be happy. And I’ll pocket a little commission.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While he was grinning wickedly, the golden goblin at his feet raised a finger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Kiiit!The source of thɪs content is Nov3lFɪre.ɴet\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What, what is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo’s gaze followed the goblin’s finger—toward a square structure in the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sensing much, Yeongwoo raised Koatu’s prosthetic leg.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right on cue, its metal toe swung toward the right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…The vault!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At last, they had reached the central vault.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[02:46]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Remaining time: 2 minutes 46 seconds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There’s still enough time. Let’s go in and sweep it all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, the platform carrying him and the goblin swerved right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shooosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It shot forward at tremendous speed, closing the distance to the central vault.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Priority one is cash. Doesn’t matter if it’s piles of coins or cards.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He reviewed strategy aloud to the goblin that couldn’t talk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Second, if there’s any expensive equipment. I can slip it into the catalog and it’ll be a perfect crime.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—…Kiiit?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Third, something I can give Koatu. Doesn’t have to be money, just anything liquid enough to convert. He’ll handle the rest.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having set his plan, Yeongwoo stared at the vault, now only a hundred meters away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The prosthetic leg in his hand began to twitch its toes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tduk, tduduk!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Why’s it doing that? Happy to be home?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then suddenly—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fweeeeen!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A red light flashed from its big toe, like it was transmitting a signal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And in response, a long beep came from the vault.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Biiiii…!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One side of the massive square central vault began sliding open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Koatu had said: the prosthetic leg was the key.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The vault itself is enormous…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Muttering, Yeongwoo’s platform shot straight inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shoooosh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside, both walls were crammed with bluish metal containers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All of those must be storage units.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He instantly understood that each was a miniature vault.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fitting—someone who hid their vault in a dead star would also put vaults within vaults.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How am I supposed to know where the money is?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he wondered, the platform suddenly halted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Psshh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the far ceiling, a massive mechanical arm descended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Welcome to the central vault.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking up, Yeongwoo saw a red dot gleaming amid the darkness above.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was some sort of machine inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A vault manager?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The answer came straight from the ceiling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「I am the Vault Keeper, Napua.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A machine with its own name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly the final boss of this place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But not what Yeongwoo expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「You lack a security mark. But since I prioritize Koatu’s seal, it’s fine.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike the outside sentinels, this one wouldn’t attack him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…That’s a relief. So, what can you do for me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He raised the prosthetic leg.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mechanical arm stuck out its index finger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「These reinforced containers cannot be forced open, not even by gods.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What? Then how do I open them?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「That’s my job.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「State the item you desire, and I will locate the container and open it.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Napua was both guardian and key.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“First I need cash. How much cash is stored here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Napua’s red eye blinked rapidly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Papapap!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「A total of 32.2 billion Karma is stored.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Holy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo shut his dropped jaw and quickly told Earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Hey Earth, ask Koatu quick.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>○ Ask what?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘If it’s okay to withdraw all the cash. It’s not like we’ll be coming back here soon.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>○ Hold on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>○ He says to withdraw 25 billion. Fifteen for you, ten for his emergency fund.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…Careful to the end, huh.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Koatu meant to leave the last 7.2 billion in the vault.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>○ Oh, and…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What else?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>○ He wants the transfer device, if you can. If you met the vault keeper, you should be able to find it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Yeah, the guy’s right here. Anything else?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>○ That’s it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Got it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now it was up to Yeongwoo’s conscience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Koatu wants the transfer device. Can you bring it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Yes. And the cash you searched for earlier?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just the 25 billion.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since cash was quantifiable, siphoning extra was difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Understood. I will search for 25 billion Karma in cash and the transfer device.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Napua raised its arm and scanned the containers in a blur.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In under five seconds, three boxes were set before Yeongwoo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Opening transfer device first.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The arm’s fingers joined and transformed into a drill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘So that’s the key.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It pierced the tiny hole on the lid—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kwooom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sealed box opened wide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Transfer Device」 – Epic Tool\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【062-||4725】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Relocates designated installations to a new site.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…The hell.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The device was a short rod.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t tell me this can move the vault itself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That had to be it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Koatu wanted it because his vault’s location had been exposed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah. Out of prison now, time to start a new life.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nodding, Yeongwoo pulled it free.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kwat!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Napua slid aside the empty box and opened the other two.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clack, clack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now, let’s see what 25 billion looks like.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rubbing his hands, Yeongwoo leaned in—only to see deep-blue ingots like gold bars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh? That’s not money.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「These are Katangdal ingots, each worth one billion Karma.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Katangdal? Never heard of it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The newbie space traveler frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Napua picked one up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clunk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Katangdal is one of the strongest known materials in the universe, mainly used for large warships.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The interstellar government guaranteed their liquidity; price varied by market.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You mean it has a market price?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「In the Black Zone, Katangdal is worth 1.5 times more.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So one ingot valued at a billion could sell for 1.5 in the Black Zone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Koatu… you rich bastard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the entire 32.2 billion were in Katangdal, it would inflate to 48.3 billion in the Black Zone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then my cut…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo’s promised 15 billion would become 22.5.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait, hold on.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His brain spun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fifteen billion isn’t all mine. With a laundering rate of 30%, that’s 4.5 billion.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if he inflated it first…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Twenty-two point five minus fifteen leaves 7.5 billion profit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then donating the 15 to Doatel and collecting 30% gave another 4.5.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Seven point five plus four point five….’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That meant 12 billion in pure cash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait… money’s duplicating? Why didn’t Koatu tell me about the Black Zone?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Napua pulled more ingots out and explained:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「The Black Zone is a lawless market run by criminals. The chance of an incident during a deal is 58%.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What, 58%?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo’s eyes widened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re saying death chance in prison was 84%, but the chance of a deal going wrong among criminals is only 58%?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「……?」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“At that rate it’s a pretty damn reliable market, isn’t it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>",1374,"2026-06-09T07:04:10.527Z",1,"novelbin.me","bbec8027938af85cb55509867da80dda358264f8f75f917859e06564818b1e56","level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-chapter-543","level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-chapter-541",688,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Flevel-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-cover.jpg"]