[{"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-543":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},1848557,2454,"Chapter 543","level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-chapter-543",543,"\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chapter 543: Black Customers (6)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The accident rate for transactions in the Black Zone: 58%.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since that figure applied to deals between criminals, it was a surprising number for Yeongwoo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that level, isn’t it practically a market of trust and loyalty?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, the vault-keeper Napua didn’t seem ready to accept that point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「If it’s 58%… that’s a majority.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah, that’s true. But in the villain world, that’s actually a really low number.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo figured the machine simply lacked “villain-sense.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And right about then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>○ You lunatic, is this really the time to be chatting with the vault-keeper?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Earth’s voice came through, urgent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>○ Only 30 seconds left. Did you grab everything?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…What? Oh, right! There was a time limit, wasn’t there?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But thanks to talking with the vault-keeper, he’d gotten the chance to pick up an extra 7.5 billion in cash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Can’t you buy me a little more time? I’ve got the essentials, but it’d be a shame to just leave.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he said this, Yeongwoo was hurling Katangdal ingots to the golden goblin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The goblin swept the ingots into its pocket-dimension pouch, and Napua could only watch as the vault was plundered before his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Is there anything else you’re looking for?」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, good line. What’s the most valuable item in this vault right now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Among the items currently accessible, the most…」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, I mean the most valuable item in the entire vault. I carry the Seal of ‘Lemu,’ so give me your best answer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment Yeongwoo pronounced ‘Lemu,’ a sting of lightning damage hit him, and white sparks jumped from Napua’s mechanical arms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Zap!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Ah—so you’re a brother.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lemu’s seal worked on the vault-keeper without fail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The red light in his eyes turned white, just like the gargoyles at the vault’s main door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「I should only present it to Lord Koatu, but just this once, I will show you.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Blood ties are the best. But hurry—I’m short on time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Yeongwoo’s prompting, Napua brought out a storage case from the innermost part of the vault.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「This is the weapon classified as the top grade among those stored in the central vault.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh… a weapon?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, this was an arms dealer’s secret vault.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So picking up a weapon here would be good manners.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Open it, quick. We’ve got 12 seconds left.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo tried to pre-activate his Return Stone as he said it, but no teleportation functions worked inside the central vault.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn it. So I have to get out first.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was why Koatu had warned him he’d have to push through the self-destruct sentries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Whirr-r-rk!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Napua’s mechanical arm undid the case’s locks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Bang!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo shoved his hand into the case without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Napua, who had literally intended only to “show” the item, let out a flustered sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Uh…?」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thanks, brother. I’ve got to run—the ship won’t wait.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without even checking what he held, Yeongwoo bolted for the exit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Smack!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Napua—still attached to the ceiling by a single mechanical arm—finally started to move.Read complete version only at novel✶fire.net\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「P-please wait! That item can only be checked out by Lord Koatu!」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Got it! I’ll go get his permission personally—so you stay right there!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Yeongwoo tossed that over his shoulder, an unexpected sight snagged his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Napua emerged from the darkness of the ceiling to follow—and his silhouette looked like a spider.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Clack, clack!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With eight mechanical arms bracing against the walls, his figure was downright terrifying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jeez, for fuck’s sake! What the hell has Koatu been keeping in this vault?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did Yeongwoo’s eyes drop to the so-called “top-grade weapon” in his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d noticed the grip felt strange, and with good reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wha—?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What he’d pulled out wasn’t a weapon, but a mechanical arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Gambler」 — Legendary Right Arm\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Right-Handed】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Overload】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Machine Synergy】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is this? A prosthetic…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A mechanical prosthetic arm, the Gambler.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The peculiar gear’s detailed tooltip filled Yeongwoo’s view.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Flash!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Right-Handed】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>| The power of gear held in your right hand increases by 20%.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Overload】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>| For 5 seconds, Attack Power doubles; when Overload ends, the Gambler detaches from your body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Machine Synergy】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>| Gain 2% damage reduction for each equipped #mechanical piece.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Good lord.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as he read the Gambler’s tooltip, Yeongwoo realized it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had just walked off with Koatu’s treasure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Not all “legendaries” are equal. This one’s practically mythic.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>True Mythics were a different class altogether, but in terms of raw offense, the Gambler could rival them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘This isn’t something to just hush up and keep moving. I should report it to Koatu.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment Yeongwoo stepped past the central vault’s exit—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Thoom!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A black shadow fell over everything, and Napua blocked the way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Brother, that one cannot be taken out. Put it down.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He meant the Gambler in Yeongwoo’s hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without hesitation, Yeongwoo shifted his grip on Bastard and charged straight at Napua.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Out of the way! I don’t want to kill you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As his eyes flared gold and his Prestige surged, Napua’s eight grasping arms began to convulse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh. So even machines are affected by Prestige.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d only ever met one high-grade machine—Lemu—so he’d never had a chance to test it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「P… please wait!」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You wait. Be glad your arms are still attached.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaving Napua with his limbs twisted at odd angles, Yeongwoo slipped past and reached the central vault’s outer zone at last.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Time? How much is left?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>○ 4 seconds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What? I told you to buy me more time earlier.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the same moment, he triggered the Return Stone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Wheeee—!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>○ You burned through even the extra time we got you. We’re departing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What the hell? You’re taking off without the captain?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While Yeongwoo barked aloud, Earth’s Prestige in his mind began to recede.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>○ The captain’s right here, though.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meaning Acting Captain Mantero.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You absolute maniacs.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>○ If we’re lucky, the Return Stone will finish before the distance grows too large.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Earth added,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>○ If we’re unlucky—see you sometime, maybe never.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“W-wait!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Yeongwoo parroted Napua’s earlier line, the Return Stone in his hand flared with blinding light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Flaaaash!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, the return function engaged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey! The Return Stone’s working! Give me one second!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>○ What are you talking about? We’re already exiting Gadoa.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What? You’re kidding, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Almost at once, filaments wrapped around Yeongwoo and the golden goblin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Shaaah!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-Keek?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At nearly the same instant, his vision—washed out white—snapped back to normal, and he felt space settle around him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ugh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He lost his center of balance and pitched forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Thud!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The metallic texture of the floor pressed against his cheek.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was back in the Earthship’s helm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So you were joking about leaving me behind, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo glared as he pushed himself up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside the forward screen, the dead star Gadoa was shrinking fast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Earth had been telling the truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You were seriously leaving me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Yeongwoo stared at Earth in disbelief, Earth shrugged and glanced at Acting Captain Mantero.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>『When you’re not here, isn’t Mr. Mantero the captain? We simply followed the captain’s orders.』\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mantero, seated in the captain’s chair, glanced down while piloting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-It was an unavoidable decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Unavoidable?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-If we had remained anchored near the vault for two more seconds, we would have collided with a star fragment. Had that happened, the ship you were to return to might have ceased to exist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In short, they’d chosen the lesser evil over the worst outcome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-In ship operations, swift and correct judgment is as important as piloting skill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And in Mantero’s view, this time the right call had been to leave Yeongwoo behind at the vault.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I mean—that’s just…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo moved to argue, but Koatu cut in first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-…Huh? Wait. What’s that in your hand right now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because he’d surrendered his prosthetic leg, Koatu was still lying on the deck, and had caught a glimpse of the prosthetic arm Yeongwoo held along with his shield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo took a small step back, feeling exposed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Sorry? What is?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-The thing you just hid behind the shield.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The prosthetic? Ah, I should return this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Yeongwoo said it and held the prosthetic out, Koatu fixed him with a deeply disappointed look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-Ah… please don’t do that. Don’t tell me you stole my prosthetic arm?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Prosthetic arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Realizing the man had seen the item clearly, Yeongwoo steeled his expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stole it? I brought it out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-Then hand it over. It’s my property, isn’t it?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But… that prosthetic is a bit too powerful for you, don’t you think?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-…Excuse me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You knew that, which is why you kept it tucked away in the vault, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-I set it aside for emergencies. One never knows when one might land in prison.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And in the end, you were imprisoned—and thanks to me, you’re free again. So freeing up one arm seems fair. Call it a thank-you gift.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Yeongwoo spouted nonsense, Koatu’s brow furrowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-What are you even saying? If you wanted a jailbreak fee, you could’ve taken it when you went down to the vault.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given how potent the item was, Koatu clearly had no intention of yielding so easily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Yeongwoo had no choice but to rest his hand on Bastard at his hip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mr. Koatu.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-…?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Give me this prosthetic as a gift. Otherwise, I’ll have to be a robber.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>-Why, you thug of a man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Honestly, a thug would make better use of this arm anyway. In exchange, I’ll let you rent a room on our Earthship at a discount.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>",1591,"2026-06-09T07:04:10.527Z",1,"novelbin.me","5d24f9201d359d82edfb05f585ddc1902893df0ed0a4fb6deab9e394cd4d4134","level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-chapter-544","level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-chapter-542",688,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Flevel-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-cover.jpg"]