Ark The Legend Vol 13 Chapter 9

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-The complaint has been settled.

….

Various numerical values involved in the sector started to rise. A big effect couldn’t be felt yet but it would steadily increase once there was an influx of NPCs. And it was natural for that to be connected to sector development.

Meanwhile, Jay was proceeding with another research. It  was the ‘Kraken’s Cell’ that Ark obtained on E-2036. And he had also obtained 10 ‘Squid Cells’ from the squids he killed underground. He had handed them to Jay who cultivated the cells using the equipment worth 2,000 gold.

He made a Mix-up solution. The solution was made with the ‘Kraken’s Cell’ that Ark had obtained from the monster.

The Kraken’s DNA has been successfully combined.

New physical changes have occurred thanks to the DNA fusion.

-One of your skills has evolved to an advanced level thanks to the Kraken’s DNA.

s.p.a.cewalk (☆) → s.p.a.ceflight (☆ ☆ ☆)

s.p.a.ceflight (Users, Pa.s.sive): A technique acquired from the s.p.a.ce monster Kraken’s DNA. The Kraken is a giant s.p.a.ce monster that hides in places like asteroids to attack defenceless s.p.a.ces.h.i.+ps flying past. The reason the Kraken can attack the s.p.a.ces.h.i.+ps is its excellent s.p.a.ceflight ability. You have accepted the DNA of the Kraken and gained the ability to fly in s.p.a.ce.

The s.p.a.cewalk skill had evolved into s.p.a.ceflight. He hadn’t had the chance to use it yet but he could imagine just from the name.

Unfortunately, the effect of the Squid’s cells didn’t give him a skill. There was no decrease in stats but his Agility had risen by 5. It might be due to Ark absorbing a high ranking monster of the same affiliation but a large effect wasn’t applied.

He packed Slayer and Kaya’s investments. The remaining 4 were kept separate.

“Now….”

From Mt. Fargo to the airfield.

Ark had walked that distance while thinking. The Dark Eden employees were already gathered in front of the Silver Star. Bain, Hamad, Kurakan, Mellin and the Charenjok. And the newly joined Asuran and his 23 Belkin subordinates. The Royal Guards, Tori, Milan and Hegel were at the Silver Star as well.

40 staff members were gathered. He had gathered hem before going to the sanctuary to look for the Divine Artefacts. Among them were Berad, Ralph, Kalliben and Carly.

They spoke as Ark went up to them.

“Hyung-nim, we’ve all gathered together!”

“Wuhahaha! Now we can go out to the universe with Hyung-nim!”

“I was so envious of Berad who got to go with Hyung-nim. I’m proud to be able to go with Hyung-nim….”

“I don’t know how long I’ve been waiting for this chance.”

Ralph, Beleol, Reben and Konsed had been digging the whole time so they were particularly excited. However, they were just kimchi soup.

“No, you guys won’t be going with me.”

“Huh? T-that is…..”

“Didn’t Hyung-nim tell us to arm ourselves and gather?”

“The area you’re going is called Vesta.”

“Vesta? Where is that?”

“A dense jungle approximate 120 km to the west of Sidellin.”

“W-why do we have to go to a place like that?”

“A request that can’t be refused has come in.”

Ark replied with a smile.

Other than Tori, Milan and Hegel to pilot the Silver Star, Ark was going to find the Divine Artefacts alone. The planet that he needed to travel to didn’t seem that dangerous. There was no reason to bring the Royal Guards to that place when there was still work to do in S-20. He had travelled with the team members for 1 month so he was tired of group battles.

This time there was no need to worry so he would go alone. Even so, the reason he gathered the Royal Guards….

Just when Ark was about to arrive in S-20.

-Ark, it’s been a while.

I’ve been in the Outlands for a while before sending this mail.

I’m sorry that I couldn’t respond to your request for help. And I’m ashamed but this time I have to request your help.

Not long ago, I found a dungeon in a region of the Outlands called Vesta. But there are too many monsters and it if beyond the power of the Silver Hand. We’ve penetrated through the entrance before retreating but we need reinforcements. I’m asking for your subordinates to come save me.

We are currently in the vicinity of Sidellin. We are planning to leave for the dungeon in 12 days. I’m asking if you can send 10 soldiers to Sidellin before those 12 days are over. This is a formal commission of your Agent Dark Eden.

I expect to see you soon.

Caller- Silver Hand mercenary leader Clem.

Once the fame of an Agent or its CEO rose, commissions could come in from other areas. But this request mail was slightly different. The caller was Clem. He was the leader of the Silver Hand who had been kind to Ark.

Before partic.i.p.ating in the investigation team, Ark had wanted to fill the lacking troops by hiring the Silver Hand as mercenaries. But no reply came so he had urgently hired Slayer and Kaya’s teams. Yet Clem now asked for a request from him.

Of course, he could deny this request. However, the Silver Hand had helped Ark several times since the beginning. If he thought back, it was thanks to the Silver Hand that he was able to form the Royal Guards. Furthermore, this was a formal request with a reward so there was no reason for him to reject it. And the ones qualified for this commission were the Royal Guards!

“Silver Hand hyung-nims?”

“Well then we can’t refuse.”

“Yes, let’s go! We’ll show the hyung-nims how strong we’ve become!”

“Ohh, good. I understand Hyung-nim!”

The Royal Guards raised their heads with bright expressions and an ‘!’ above them. Entrusting NPCs with work was a sign that he had faith in them. It was necessary to do a satisfactory job when raising a business.

If an ‘!’ appeared then the success rate was 80~100%! The success rate with a ‘?’ was 60~80%, ‘;;’ was 40~60% and ‘OTL’ meant it was likely to fail.  Anyway!

“But who will restore the dungeon if we all go?”

“I’ve already considered that so don’t worry.”

Ark replied with a smile. And the employees boarded the Silver Star in order to be dropped off.

“Tori, depart!”

The Silver Star rose with his words.

————————————————————————–

“Here?”

Several hours after the Silver Star left. Three men exited the transport s.h.i.+p that stopped at S-20. They surveyed the crowd infested sector with pouted lips.

“Sheesh that Ark b.a.s.t.a.r.d, he already has such a sector?”

The person speaking was Ferguson. And the two depressed people following him were A and B.

“But isn’t this quite bad?”

“We started Galaxian to avoid Ark yet we still ended up under his feet….”

“Do you think we ended up like this because we wanted to?”

Ferguson snapped after hearing A and B’s words.

“Our real ident.i.ty was revealed to Ark on Muratio Star. What can we do after our actions in New World? We know best what type of guy that b.a.s.t.a.r.d is. If Ark makes up his mind to ruin us….”

“Sob, Hyung-nim I’m scared! Please stop! Don’t say anymore!”

A and B covered their ears and shuddered.

“Dammit, it is also miserable because we were deprived of our s.p.a.ces.h.i.+p.”

Ferguson, A and B sighed with depressed expressions.

While Ark, Hawk and the others were inside the carrier, Ferguson’s s.h.i.+p had barely lasted 10 minutes before it was shot down. They were troubled by Ark on Muratio Star and now they had lost their s.p.a.ces.h.i.+p and experience.

But the problem was after that. Ferguson, A and B had already lost a s.p.a.ces.h.i.+p. Luckily, the insurance paid back 80% of the s.h.i.+p’s price and they could buy another one. However, the insurance company wouldn’t provide a payment every time the s.h.i.+p was smashed.

If a s.p.a.ces.h.i.+p became destroyed again within 1 and a half months then only 40% would be returned. Furthermore, Ferguson, A and B were full of ambition in the investigation team but they couldn’t render any particular special services.

The only reward they got after returning to Tatuine was 1,000 gold. The circ.u.mstances of the one-time 18th ranked player fell so that Ferguson couldn’t even afford a new s.p.a.ces.h.i.+p right now.

“But there is still a chance!”

Ferguson forcefully shook his head and said.

“We might not have a s.p.a.ces.h.i.+p but it is too early to give up. Didn’t we hold out against Ark’s tyranny in New World? And we didn’t come here without thinking. Now that we’ve lost our fortune, we have no choice but to listen to Ark. And that guy has a vicious nature that will make us suffer in the future. But we need to endure it. We will definitely make Ark regret it one day Do you understand? We are entering a tiger’s lair to catch a tiger. We should come here with such a resolution. So live without losing your courage!”

“H-Hyung-nim!”

“Kuok, my siblings!”

Ferguson, A and B embraced each other while shedding tears. After Ferguson calmed A and B, they headed towards the management office. Following Ark was like putting their necks in a guillotine.

“Hyung-nim is out of town.”

“O-out of town? He’s not here now?”

“Yes, he said it would take approximately 2 days.”

“I-I’m glad.”

Ferguson sighed in relief after hearing Asuran’s answer. Then the Belkin looked Ferguson, A and B up and down before asking.

“Are you the ones called Ferguson, A and B?”

“Yes, what about it?”

“Oh, you’re here. I heard about you from Hyung-nim. Follow me.”

The Belkin smiled before bringing Ferguson, A and B somewhere. After a while, Ferguson’s party arrived at the dungeon in Mt. Fargo.

‘What? Is he telling us to hunt here?’

Ferguson looked around in confusion. The Belkin threw three shovels at them.

“Hyung-nim said it. If some people called Ferguson, A and B arrived then they should dig out the dungeon. As you can see, there is a landslide in here so some areas are still clogged with dirt. You should dig and clear out the dungeon.”

“W-what? You want us to clear out this dungeon with a shovel?”

Ferguson, A and B looked at the shovels with astounded expressions. However there was something even more amazing.

“Of course there will be a salary. There is a sensing machine attached to this shovel that will count every action taken. 1 shovelling will count as 1 action. And 11 copper will be paid for each action.”

1 shovelling will count as 1 action!

And 100 copper was 1 silver. 100 Silver was 1 gold. In the end, they needed to shovel 10,000 times to make 1 gold.

“Don’t make me laugh! We do we have to do this….?”

Ferguson frowned as he listened and was about to throw the shovel. Then the Belkin who was leaving quickly turned around and said.

“Ah, Hyung-nim said to tell you this.”

The Belkin bared his fangs and smiled.

“I know your address.”

Ferguson, A and B became frozen. Then the sound of metal against stone started being heard.

“Dammit! That Ark b.a.s.t.a.r.d!”

————————————————————————–

“…..Ha ha.”

Yoo Han-pil smiled. Over the past few months, Yoo Han-pil had been depressed. He only had one son. Any father would be proud to see his smart and cheerful son graduated from a prestigious university. He was a son that no one would be ashamed of.

Then while playing a virtual reality game, his son became disabled and lost everything. But Yoo Han-pil didn’t collapse. Yoo Han-pil was still proud of his son despite being handicapped.

This was why he agreed when his son wanted to play a virtual reality game again. But that soon changed to worry. His son started to spend even more time playing the virtual reality game. Thanks to that, Yoo Han-pil spent every day worrying but the situation changed yesterday.

His son didn’t connect to the game and started to study. And the books his son was studying….

They all involved taxes and business!

A way to easily start a business.

The secret to operating an investment fund.

Gathering investors…..

The t.i.tles of the books could be seen through a crack in the door. Yoo Han-pil could sense his son’s changing state of mind.

‘This guy, he had decided to put aside the game and is determined to inherit my business. I was stupid. I should’ve trusted him. He was too proud and stubborn to tell me that he was studying. He would also become embarra.s.sed if I talk to him about it. Yes, for now I’ll just pretend that I don’t know. Haha, what a wonderful son.’

His son was sitting down at a desk and searching through various professional books. The form of his son studying to take over his company was heart-warming. But there was something Yoo Han-pil hadn’t noticed. It was a small booklet wedged between the professional books.

Galaxian economy system manual.

Yoo Han-pil peeked at the sight with warm eyes before disappearing.

“d.a.m.n! Did my head become blank while I was in hospital? No, did I really learn such things? I don’t know what any of this means! And where did this come from? Why is the game’s economic system so complicated? That Ark b.a.s.t.a.r.d, I’m playing the game to play a game but now I have to worry about investment funds!”

Alan frowned and spat out curses. This was the reason why Alan was searching through professional books. Alan had clearly studied business administration at K University.

However, his specialty was management since that was the only knowledge needed to take over his father’s company. He had no interest in the field of investment funds. Furthermore, he had lain unconscious in a hospital for 1 year. Yet now he was expected to design an investment fund?

So he had refused. Yet Ark had scratched at his ego. That’s because it was Ark talking, not other people. He had no choice but to do it!

“Dammit! That Ark b.a.s.t.a.r.d!”

And even today, Alan stayed up all night studying.

————————————————————————–

While Ferguson was cursing in-game and Alan in reality….

Cleaning Foreman (Agility + 3)

Ignorant Destroyer (Wisdom -10, Strength +7, Stamina +7)

Spatial Breakthrough (Strength, Agility, Stamina, Wisdom, Intelligence, Luck +10)

Beltana’s Hero (Strength, Agility, Stamina, Wisdom, Intelligence, Luck +3)

Athamas’ Hero (Strength, Agility, Stamina, Wisdom, Intelligence, Luck +5)

Mediator (Wisdom, Intelligence +15)

* Affiliation: Dark Eden (CEO)

+ Environmental adaptation increases by 50% due to the Survivor coating.

+ The Survivor coating reduces the drop rate of Satiety by 30%.

+ The Survivor coating will reduce fall damage by 50%.

+The ‘Clairvoyance’ effect of the Survivor coating is applied.

Ark relaxed as he watched the information window. He had reached level 149 after the battles on Muratio Star and the carrier. After leaving Muratio Star, he had been level 143 but gained 3 levels fighting in the carrier. Then he gained another 3 by distinguis.h.i.+ng himself in the carrier.

The Spatial Breakthrough t.i.tle also added +10 to all stats.

‘Unfortunately, there is a problem….’

Ark only discovered it after getting the Spatial Breakthrough t.i.tle but in Galaxian, the effects of only 5 t.i.tles applied. If he got a 6th t.i.tle then he would need to select the effects of a t.i.tle to be deleted.

Of course, the t.i.tle didn’t disappear. He could exchange the t.i.tles at any time. But it took too much effort to gain a t.i.tle so the thought of losing one was depressing.

‘This time the Cleaning Supervisor t.i.tle that gave Agility +3 was deleted.’

A t.i.tle that he had no lingering need for was removed.

‘Shouldn’t it be that time now?’

“Tori, the time remaining?”

“We’re arriving in 10 seconds! 9, 8, 7….we’re here!”

Tori who was grasping the joystick shouted. The particles of light outside the window changed to the darkness of s.p.a.ce. After leaving S-20 and dropping off the Royal Guards at Sidellin, he had warped to his destination and finally arrived. Needless to say, the destination was the planet where the 3rd Divine Artefact was hidden!

“Over there?”

A planet not far from where they exited the warp caught his eyes.

“That planet gives off a somewhat worrisome feeling.”

The planet floating in front of the Silver Star wasn’t ordinary. It was covered in black with mysterious rocks jutting out. If he had to express its form, it had a shape similar to a skull. Ark had already suffered on Rakunka so he used the optical scanners to check the planet.

“No dangerous factors have been found.”

“Okay, let’s land for the moment.”

But then something unthinkable occurred afterwards. Ark made the Silver Star approach the skull planet to land. But the moment it tried to land, the Silver Star ended up on the other side of the planet?

‘What, what the? What’s going on? Why is the Silver Star here?’

Ark looked at Tori with confusion.

“What? Why are we here? Tori, what happened?”

“Huh? Ah no, I don’t know….”

However, Tori was panicking as well. This mysterious phenomenon kept occurring.

There was clearly a planet in front of him. Yet whenever the Silver Star approached to land, it would show up on the other side. Fear flashed on Tori, Hegel and Milan’s faces as the situation kept on repeating.

Then Tori suddenly raised his head and said.

“That reminds me….I heard about it….a ghost planet existed somewhere on the frontier….”

It seemed like nonsense but n.o.body was laughing. The situation that occurred now couldn’t be due to anything except a ghost planet.

TO BE CONTINUED