Chapter 762

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Chapter 762: A Great Story (2)

Heading straight to the nearest administrative district.

As soon as the next destination was decided, the Earth Ship immediately began to move.

Thrusting its bow past Hezara's welcoming message.

[Welcome to the safe and peaceful Hezara.]

"Safe and peaceful, huh..."

As Yeongwoo chewed over the holographic message, Neheren cautiously approached and said.

—You aren't planning on starting a war here, right? Either way, it's where we'll be settling down for a while.

It was her way of asking him not to cause too big of an incident.

At this, Yeongwoo scratched his chin, alternately looking at the crippled Salzeo and Subua, whose master had changed.

"Well... unless something drastic happens, we won't end up firing the ship's cannons."

Then he asked Mantero.

"How long will it take to reach the nearest administrative district?"

—It is very close. We will arrive in under 20 minutes.

"Then... I should get ready soon. Do we anchor near the administrative district as well?"

—Yes, we do, but...

Mantero's voice wavered unsteadily once again.

"Why, what's the problem this time?"

—Normally, we would stand by at an anchorage designated by the administrative district, but in our case, we are a planet ship, aren't we?

"Right?"

—Tactically, it is best to hide ourselves behind another planet near the administrative district. Not simply for the sake of concealment, but doing so gives us various advantages in the event of an unexpected engagement.

"Ah, using that planet like a shield."

—Yes. However, the Hezara side will not want that.

When Mantero said this, Mushio chimed in with his own opinion.

—Naturally they won't want it, but that doesn't mean they'll have an 'alternative method' either.

"Alternative method?"

—It is our first time visiting a government institution dragging a planet ship along, but conversely, wouldn't it also be Hezara's first time welcoming a planet ship as a visitor?

Strictly speaking, Pahalufe was also a government institution, but anyway, this would be their first government visit with non-impure intentions.

"I guess so. The possibility of another planet ship having dropped by here before must be extremely low."

—Yes, exactly. Therefore, there is no way Hezara has a response manual equipped for planet ships.

"Ah. That makes sense."

—They won't know where to anchor a planet ship, nor will they know its exact combat capabilities. Therefore, the initiative lies with us.

It was truly a pirate's way of thinking.

He wasn't listed on the Milcotax wanted roster for nothing.

"Then we can just anchor wherever we please and play hardball."

—They won't be able to offer an alternative anyway. They've never had to worry about a case like this before.

"Then, assuming we anchor in the spot most advantageous to us, how do we visit the administrative district?"

—If we perform a tactical anchorage, the distance to the administrative district will be substantial, so you will have to take a ship down yourself.

At that, Mantero, who had been listening to the preceding conversation, quickly interjected.

—You should take the Keniscita. Even if things escalate, as long as you can board the ship, you'll be able to return here safely.

Keniscita.

Also known as The Cleaver.

Being a ship composed of a whopping three layers of Godial, it would be among the most sturdy ships Yeongwoo currently possessed... no, among all ships in the entire universe.

"True. If a problem arises right in the middle of a government institution, an encirclement will be deployed immediately."

An encirclement would be formed not only inside the administrative district but in outer space as well.

To this, Mushio spoke up again.

—Yes. No matter how much of an autonomous body it is, they are fundamentally under the command of the central government. Even without a manual for responding to planet ships, their emergency preparedness will be solid.

Mushio continued to list things off as if he had experienced them himself.

Then, looking out past the helm, he added.

—Therefore, I will pilot the Keniscita myself. In an emergency, I might need to perform a grounded operation to come pick you up, Captain.

"Grounded operation...? I don't really want to know what that is, but I feel like I should."

—Literally, it's an operation method where the lower part of the ship is stuck to the ground, moving solely on the propulsion of the engines. In situations where flight is restricted for various reasons, there is no choice but to move like that.

"Like a car? No, I suppose it's closer to a tank."

—A general ship's durability wouldn't allow for grounded operations, but ships made of Godial are mostly capable of it.

This was truly a skill that only one who had piloted monster ships for a long time under a Great One would possess.

—Certainly, if you tried doing that with a regular ship, the entire bottom plate would be ground away.

Mantero, seemingly sick of it all by this point, was left speechless with his mouth agape.

"Then it's decided. I'll visit the administrative district aboard the Keniscita. You take the helm."

As Yeongwoo pointed his finger at Mushio, Mantero reported while looking at the holographic map in the air.

—Approximately 10 minutes remaining until we reach the administrative district. I will begin preparing the Keniscita for sortie right now.

Keniscita.

The monster ship once owned by the swordplay master Dorta Muo.

Befitting its nickname 'The Cleaver,' it was composed of three layers of Godial, making it optimized for breaking through encirclements, and the ship's interior was even equipped with a training system for refining 'Suagosa'.

In other words, while he was alive, Dorta Muo would shut himself inside this ship during the long hours of space voyages to polish his swordsmanship.

"I'm curious what kind of guy Dorta Muo was."

Yeongwoo muttered to himself as he left the helm and watched the outer hull of the Keniscita open, to which Mushio Tarae, standing next to him, replied calmly.

—I also never had the chance to meet Dorta Muo in person, but he must have been incredible, seeing as he was a Great One regardless.

"Incredible in what way? His personality? Or his martial prowess?"

—Both must have been incredible. Entities who have touched 'Greatness' are generally like that.

"But there are many kinds of incredible personalities, right? You have guys at the extremes of evil like Mara, and then you have a doer of good deeds who is also a Great One like Tiape Delmir."

At this, Mushio Tarae nodded and smiled faintly.

—And there is also the eminent Dogo Vesedel.

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"Of course. But to me, the Chairman is something beyond just greatness."

Dogo of the violence business.

Yeongwoo thought that there would be no one else in this universe as complex as the Chairman.

Even though he couldn't be called a good person, that didn't mean he felt like an evil person either.

The Chairman possessed a romance and power stemming from his unique composure.

But even such a Chairman wouldn't be invincible in the universe.

So that fact made Yeongwoo feel a dizzying sense of vertigo.

Because just imagining the fact that the Chairman could suffer a humiliating defeat made heat surge through his entire body.

"..."

As Yeongwoo stood there with his eyes squeezed shut, Mushio, who was about to step inside the Keniscita, looked back.

—What are you thinking so deeply about?

"I'm imagining our Chairman getting beaten up by dozens of Great Ones. And then the scene where he begs for his life. Very humiliatingly."

At that, Mushio Tarae tilted his head.

—In reality, it would be the opposite.

"What?"

—In that imagined scenario, aren't the dozens of Great Ones the ones already being humiliated?

"Ah."

At Mushio's answer, Yeongwoo felt a dull ache in the back of his head.

Indeed, since it's a fight among fellow Great Ones, wouldn't it be a disgrace in the first place for them to have to resort to a many-on-one fight?

—And if even a tenth of the rumors I've heard about Chairman Dogo are true, the ones eventually begging for their lives will be the 'dozens' you mentioned, Captain.

"Is our Chairman really that strong? Just what kind of rumors are circulating in the universe...?"

—Of course, just because he is Chairman Dogo doesn't mean he can defeat every opponent... but at the very least, those who form groups will not be able to break Dogo. Mentally or physically.

"You speak as if you were a Great One yourself."

—I spent a grand epoch serving the Black Flash. Thanks to that, I have been able to glimpse at least a fragment of greatness.

With those final words, Mushio stepped into the interior of 'The Cleaver' Keniscita.

—But aren't you also standing on the path of greatness, Captain? Fragments of glory are already gathering at your feet.

Just looking at right now, the monster ships that a Great One used to ride had come into Yeongwoo's possession, and wasn't Mushio also a lifelong navigator who once served a Great One?

And that very Mushio was now assisting Planet Ship Captain Jung Yeongwoo.

—Someday, you too will become great, Captain.

"Greatness? Well. To be honest, I feel like I'm a bit far from something like that."

—There are many kinds of greatness in this universe. Therefore, establish your own greatness, Captain.

"My own greatness."

Presently, as Yeongwoo stepped inside the Keniscita, Mushio, who had taken his seat in the cockpit in the meantime, awakened the monster ship's massive engine.

Kugugugugu...!

The Keniscita's startup sound resonated deeply, like the roar of a dragon.

—I will head straight for Hezara's administrative district.

Along with this, he could actually feel the ship's hull lifting into the air, so Yeongwoo asked while looking at the map floating on one side of the cockpit.

"What happens once we arrive at the administrative district? Do we land according to their guidance?"

At that, Mushio glanced back toward Yeongwoo.

—That depends entirely on your will, Captain. Even if you land anywhere in sight, no one will be able to raise an objection. After all, Deputy Mantero isn't here.

It was a highly domineering statement, implying that if there was any obstacle, it would be Deputy Mantero, and that the Hezara government's backlash wasn't even worth considering.

At this, Yeongwoo couldn't help but sport a full-faced smile.

"Ha. What a brilliant answer."

—If you ask the homeowner's permission before opening the door, how can that be considered a robbery? Your visits, Captain, must always be trespassing.

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