[{"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-590":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},1848604,2454,"Chapter 590","level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-chapter-590",590,"\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chapter 590: Quagmire (7)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Royal Seal of Kardal]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>| Buyers: 2\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two buyers had appeared, each declaring they wished to purchase the Royal Seal of Kardal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the two, which one is the royal envoy?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Still… whichever it is, neither of them seems easy to deal with, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Yeongwoo shrugged while looking over the buyer list, Kejen shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–Even so, there’s a huge difference between a robbery victim and someone trafficking stolen goods. The former will absolutely come to fight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s true.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kardal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A royal family known throughout the universe for their belligerence—whoever they sent to retrieve the seal would undoubtedly be a formidable individual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that individual would use any means necessary to complete the mission assigned by the royal family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A trafficker, however, was different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether they were a collector or someone intending to resell stolen goods, at the core, they had come here to make a deal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn't that they wouldn’t betray you, but the nature of the encounter would differ greatly from someone arriving purely for blood vengeance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So basically… you want to pick the collector or the trafficker, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–Of course. If possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm… is there no way to narrow down who the counterpart is?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–There are cases where you can infer the buyer’s disposition based on their additional offers, like earlier… but that won’t work this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Right. The seal doesn’t have a listed price.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–Even if the bidding starts, buyers cannot see each other’s bids. That’s why high-value items like this are rarely bid on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What? You mean they trade such expensive goods without bidding? That means you won’t know the buyer’s offer until you meet them in the trading hall?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–Exactly. You meet face-to-face and negotiate. If the price doesn’t match, you leave. But even that requires strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A place where you really can’t do anything if you’re weak, huh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–If both sides are equal in power, the ‘bloodless trade’ happens. If not, well… that’s how incidents occur.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If neither side bids at all, then I have to choose purely based on luck.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Yeongwoo said this, Kejen closed his eyes and looked up at the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–May the Records bless us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You little bastard—would the Records ever protect someone overflowing with evil karma? Stop with the nonsense and focus on what to do if the worst happens.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo didn’t believe that the Records predetermined the universe’s fate, but he did believe that karma would yield consequences.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cause and effect—that’s all karma was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Mara, who committed evil as naturally as breathing, almost annihilated the Red-Foot Tribe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the result of that was that Earth’s Jeong Yeongwoo-07 obtained the Aratubank and received a mission to take revenge on Mara.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meaning—if someday Yeongwoo kills Mara, that would be the “effect” tied to the karma surrounding the Red-Foot Tribe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If—no, not even that. If one of the two turns out to be Kardal’s envoy, that’s just your karma. Accept it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–But if we run into Kardal, you’re not getting out unscathed either. For your sake, pray for the collector.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is Kardal that strong? Would a royal envoy really be on par with President Lemu?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–Who knows. But in this universe, ‘belligerent’ basically means ‘strong.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That… makes sense.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo nodded and shifted his gaze back to the unmoving buyer list.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In any case, I just have to pick now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jeonggu waved his arm, objecting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can’t you take a break? You just nearly died.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jeonggu, having crossed the line between life and death repeatedly, was exhausted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo’s stance was the opposite.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The sooner we finish this deal, the sooner we get out of this insane place.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right then, another explosion echoed from outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BOOOOM!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fight that had broken out in the free-trade zone earlier had now escalated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“See? The only way to live long here is to finish your business and get out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, Yeongwoo raised his hand over the buyer list.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m picking one at random.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–Please, collector…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Kejen’s prayer, Yeongwoo tapped the buyer listed at the bottom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>tap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kejen perked his ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–Why the bottom? Any reason?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I dunno. The top felt too obvious.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once again, a gray portal opened before the group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shiiiiing!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Entering it meant finally meeting the counterpart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To be honest, I don’t care who it is, as long as they pay properly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, Yeongwoo stepped inside the portal first, and then the rest of the group followed, tense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>* * *\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had now come to the Tag-Chase Trading Hall for the second time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like before, a dome-shaped indoor space with a ceiling nearly twenty meters high filled their view.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pop! Pop!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One by one, the others emerged from the portal, and just like last time, Kejen collided with the transparent wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>THUD!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–Damn it, again?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You always prepare to flee the instant you arrive, don’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–There’s a 50% chance the counterpart is Kardal!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fair enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the actual thief, Kejen had every reason to fear this transaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They’re not here yet.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo looked across toward the counterpart’s position.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For some reason, despite the seller (him) accepting the trade, the other side had not entered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This feels… off.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he muttered that, a gray portal appeared on the far side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–They’re here!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kejen gaped while Yeongwoo drew Bastard, assuming neither a collector nor Kardal would waste time like the previous mechanical inspector.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shiiiiing!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone stepped out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first to appear was a flag bearer carrying a large banner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wore full gray armor that covered him entirely except for part of his jaw.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From what Yeongwoo could tell, the species resembled humans—two eyes, four limbs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No matter how I look, he doesn’t look like a collector…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo gave an embarrassed smile as the one who picked this buyer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kejen pointed at the banner, horrified.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–That… that’s Kardal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the banner was a red symbol shaped like swirling wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s the emblem of the Kardal royal family?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo frowned and studied it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind the standard bearer, soldiers in identical armor marched in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How many did they bring?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least ten were visible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each soldier carried two crescent-shaped blades crossed behind their waist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A distinct Kardal fashion, perhaps—because the seal pursuer also carried the same gear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So that’s the one who came for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo pointed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pursuer wore the same armor but had a red cloth draped over it—likely marking higher rank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If Kardal isn’t the strongest royal clan in the universe, their common soldiers won’t be stronger than me. But the special envoy will definitely be troublesome.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Numbers weren’t the problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The issue was the envoy’s martial power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beep-!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The same sharp signal sounded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>「Trade format: Tag-Chase.」\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then something appeared above Yeongwoo's group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pop! Pop!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Metallic silver cards gleaming in the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As expected of royalty—payment prepared very cleanly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tap!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo caught the cards—each worth 1 billion Karma.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Three cards… 3 billion, huh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–Same amount as the bounty placed on the seal. If you’d picked the collector, you could’ve gotten nearly double…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kejen twitched his beard in complaint.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Risking their lives against Kardal for just 3 billion felt lacking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah. It’s a bit disappointing to walk away with just 3 billion.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A comment with double-meaning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo did have something else he could sell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Namely, the thief of the seal—Kejen himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flash!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With payment confirmed, the barriers dropped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next step should’ve been the chase—buyers trying to block the exit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But instead—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nothing happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though the exit appeared behind them, the Kardal group simply stood in formation and stared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They did not move.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–W-what… what’s going on?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kejen was stunned too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then the pursuer stepped forward and raised his left hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whoosh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was showing something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that something was—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, now that’s someone who knows how to negotiate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo grinned like a villain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pursuer held ten 1-billion-Karma cards—100 billion in total.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he spoke for the first time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–I am well aware that the true party behind this transaction cannot be that thieving cur!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice echoed with confidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–Whoever it may be, the one who brings the seal and the thief who stole it shall receive proper reward from Kardal!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he shook the 100 billion again, Yeongwoo grabbed Kejen’s scruff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>GRAB!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>–W-wait! You’re not seriously selling me, right!? You promised! We agreed we’d trade together!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeongwoo lifted Kejen and replied with a wicked smile:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Which is exactly what we’re doing. We are making a trade—together.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He strode toward the pursuer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is what we call karma.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Translator - Night]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Proofreader - Gun]\u003C\u002Fp>",1436,"2026-06-09T07:04:15.797Z",1,"novelbin.me","4de5a03b9c76194b1566eacfda1e73e2b158c99fb4455a18c570bca3068a6e22","level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-chapter-591","level-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-chapter-589",688,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Flevel-4-human-in-a-ruined-world-cover.jpg"]