[{"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-577":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},1848591,2454,"Chapter 577","level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-chapter-577",577,"\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chapter 577: The Black Zone (9)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Success…? So you’re saying there was a chance we’d fail, you bastard?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo asked while staring at the button now rolling across the floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kejen glanced back over his shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Where there’s success, there’s always failure, right? Sounds like something you would’ve said yourself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Well, I mean… yeah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing it out loud, he had to admit it made sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And in any case—they had successfully taken off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn, what a morning.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo leaned his back against the ship’s inner wall, finally calming down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So what now? We’re just stuck like this until we reach your hideout?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kejen nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Yeah. But actually…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Actually what?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A bad feeling creased Yeongwoo’s forehead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thankfully, it wasn’t something catastrophic like “the royal seal is missing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—The seal is already inside the Black Zone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—You could say I left it in the safest place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then what about your hideout? Was that a lie too?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kejen shrugged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Of course not. It’s true I have a hideout near the Black Zone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he added.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—But I also have another one inside the Black Zone. My real hideout.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…You bastard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—I just don’t like letting anyone into my personal space. But now that we’re really in the same boat… I suppose I can offer a small invitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was his way of admitting he respected Yeongwoo’s guts for making it this far.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So the hideout near the Black Zone—that was just a decoy?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Pretty much. But it’s a real external hideout too. I can do basic resupplying and small repairs there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the first time, Yeongwoo realized Kejen might be far more competent a thief than he initially thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well—he did steal the royal seal, after all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And the one inside the Black Zone?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—That’s my sanctuary. I can’t wait to go back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kejen didn’t reveal anything more about it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So at least we won’t have to stop at the fake hideout on the way, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Not unless something catastrophic happens, yeah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, lucky break. One less hassle.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Yeongwoo said that, Jeonggu—sitting opposite him with a devastated expression—muttered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Come to think of it… we haven’t even arrived at the Black Zone yet.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fact that they hadn’t even reached the doorstep of that criminal marketplace already made everything feel overwhelming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo comforted his father.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did you think being a villain would be easy, Dad?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I—I’m not a villain…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re the founder of a bandit clan. Try acting with some boldness.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not that Yeongwoo wasn’t feeling the pressure himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the first time he was truly experiencing the harsher side of outer space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rumble—!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a thunderous vibration, their scrap-heap ship broke free of Planet Dique’s atmosphere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At last, they drifted into the vastness of space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that was when Earth spoke to him through his consciousness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>○ How are things over there? I can tell your location is shifting fast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I feel like I could die any minute. We’re headed toward the Black Zone now.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>○ What…? You’re not even there yet and it’s already that bad?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Don’t even ask. If things go sideways, I might need a new hull owner by tonight.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Half-joking, half-serious—Yeongwoo’s words made Earth deliver some unwelcome news.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>○ Bad timing… but I’ve got a problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…What now?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>○ I can’t see the Black Zone’s coordinates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Huh? What are you talking about? The Black Zone is still a planet, right? So obviously—’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>○ Exactly. A planet should have coordinates. But it’s not being detected. Which means orbital bombardment support is nearly impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘What.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Earth explained that manual approximation was still technically possible—if they moved closer and aimed blindly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But doing so would expose the Earthship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Bombarding a target without proper targeting coordinates while exposing the Earthship is idiotic.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>○ Agreed. So realistically, we can’t help you once you’re inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meaning—once Yeongwoo entered the Black Zone, the Earthship would be unable to assist him at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It really is a black zone now.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>○ And the distance is tricky… even communication may cut out once you enter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Then the return stone won’t work either.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>○ Most likely, yeah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which meant their original plan—stealing someone else’s ship on the way out—was now basically mandatory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After thinking for a moment, Yeongwoo tapped the skeletal remains of the cockpit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kejen looked back from the front.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—What?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Black Zone. Why doesn’t it have coordinates?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Ah.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kejen smirked, as if impressed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—How’d you figure that out already? Planning to bombard the marketplace or something?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If I’ve got a weapon, why wouldn’t I use it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Sorry to disappoint you, but people like you aren’t rare. That’s why the Black Zone has no coordinates. Or rather—it has them, but they’re private.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What? How’s that even possible? Unless it’s something like a planetary warship—every planet—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kejen hesitated, then answered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—It’s because it’s not a planet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—The Black Zone is a massive ship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…No way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo’s jaw dropped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then he understood everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why every criminal in the universe flocked there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Holy shit… that’s why. Because it’s a ship. No fixed coordinates, and it can move in emergencies. That’s why everyone goes there.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was basically a miniature version of a planetary fortress tailored for criminals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—That’s why no one gives out coordinates. They just say it’s on the outskirts of the Tuani Galaxy. Because it’s always been there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the celestial bodies like Planet Dik acted as reference markers for locating it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you wanted to find the Black Zone, you just found the rental-planet cluster orbiting nearby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—It doesn’t reveal its coordinates, but it still needs to accept visitors. So unless something huge happens, it stays on a fixed route.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And that route matches the rental planets on Tuani’s outer rim.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—You catch on fast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So unless there’s a worst-case emergency… no one ever sees it move.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Pretty much. Ironically, because it stays still, it’s become the safest marketplace in the galaxy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or rather—for competent criminals it was safe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With so many criminals gathered there, the place was naturally shielded from rival factions—and even if the space police attacked with intent to wipe it out…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, in a real crisis it can move. It really is the perfect black market.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone inside the Black Zone doubled as defense forces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo had already seen something similar—the planet Doatel, protected by its ring of refugee fleets.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But the Black Zone can move, which makes it even better. No wonder criminals flock to it.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following that logic, Yeongwoo naturally jumped to the next idea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Wait… so that means…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Yeongwoo’s expression shift to something visionary, Kejen spoke in disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—You crazy idiot… don’t tell me you’re thinking of taking over the Black Zone yourself?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why not? It’s fine to have one planetary ship in the underworld.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Kid, you think the Black Zone was built overnight? It took thousands—maybe millions of years—to earn criminals’ trust—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah, yeah. Thousands at least, billions at most.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo waved dismissively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He raised one finger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But I grow a hundred million years every day.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—You psycho. You really think that nonsense applies to something as massive as the Black Zone?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What nonsense? I’m already massive.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Huh?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m the owner of one of the universe’s wonders—a planetary ship, remember?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo was the official owner of a planetary warship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he was also a rookie villain who had never once stepped foot in the Black Zone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Your brain’s gone way off the rails, but listen. The universe has boundaries. Some of them you can’t cross.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good thing crossing lines is what I’m best at. And come on—someone designed the Black Zone, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kejen fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even as a native of the Black Zone, he had no idea who the true owner or founder was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In this world, hard things exist—but impossible things rarely do. If someone else can do it, chances are I can too. All I need is the method.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And in this case, the method was already in his hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He owned a planetary warship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I just have to figure out the ‘how.’ I’m already halfway there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kejen rubbed his forehead and sighed deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Dreams are for when you’re asleep. When you’re awake, talk like you live in reality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he clenched his fist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Anyway… you know how to throw a punch, right?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A punch…? Why bring that up?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—Because when we get to the Black Zone, the first thing you’ll do is fistfight the gatekeeper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he pointed toward the front viewport.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—And that thing you see over there—that’s the Black Zone. Also known as the place where you’ll be lying facedown on the floor soon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>",1451,"2026-06-09T07:04:15.797Z",1,"novelbin.me","a638589e84cf928751eefd0b99b63d0c68e35f863cb6a8a965166e7f2293afce","level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-chapter-578","level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-chapter-576",688,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Flevel-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-cover.jpg"]