Ark The Legend Vol 15 Chapter 9

s.p.a.cE 9. No Time for a Break!

“Hrmm……”

“Heh, what do you think?”

“There is definitely an impact.”

The main MC in charge of the Game Scoop news, Lee Ji-un nodded. And the elated man standing in front of him was the journalist called Sorin in Galaxian.

“It isn’t only an impact! Look at this! An entire planet disappeared then reappeared! In addition, all the s.p.a.ces.h.i.+ps that are gathered around the planet! The Galactic Federation s.p.a.ces.h.i.+ps that are only mobilized in wartime! There are hundreds of speedboats! This isn’t normal!”

Sorin excitedly pointed at the monitor. His USB was plugged into the monitor where an amazing scene was unfolding.

Hundreds of s.p.a.ces.h.i.+ps and speedboats were floating in outer s.p.a.ce. It was just spectacular. But in the next moment, a hazy sphere started to emerge in front of where the s.p.a.ces.h.i.+ps were gathered. As it became more clear and crisp, it was surprisingly a planet! A planet had suddenly appeared.

“But there wasn’t any announcements from the Galactic Federation?”

“Yes, that is the key.”

Sorin replied while moving his fingers.

“I picked up suspicious movements from the Pentagon and traced the military operation to that area. It is dangerous to do practical training in that area because private s.p.a.ces.h.i.+ps can enter. I also checked and there wasn’t anything about military training. So I filmed this video with an optical telescope while hiding 8 light years away. As a journalist, the super telescope is perfect for me.”

“Do you know this planet?”

Lee Ji-un asked Sorin.

“Of course. I retrieved the coordinates and it turned out to be the planet Ikyullos.”

“Ikyullos? It makes sense since that is the original planet.”

“Yes, it is more surprisingly that Ikyullos is the planet that the Emperor of the Galactic Federation recently gave to a user.”

“A planet that is the territory of a user? Who?”

“It is Ark.”

“Who? Ark? Ark…..”

“Yes, the hero of Beltana. And he had the best achievements in the magic circle investigation not long ago. The compensation that Ark received at that time was Ikyullos. But then the planet seemed to have disappeared. And the area was declared a Galactic Federation military operation area. It isn’t confirmed yet but the armed forces of Marquis Martin were on Ikyullos. Nevertheless, there were no announcements from the Galactic Federation. How is it? Can you smell a scoop?”

“….Certainly. It is a wonderful story.”

Lee Ji-un nodded. However, he soon scratched his head with an awkward expression.

“But the problem is actually Ark.”

“Why is that a problem? Ark. Whether or not he is the same Ark from New World, the name is still well known. Doesn’t the speculation about whether he is ‘that’ Ark or not a relevant topic?”

Of course it was a relevant topic. There was some suspicion about whether he was the Ark of New World. The smell of a big secret. It was likely that the Galactic Federation was hiding an incident related to Ark. However, there was a problem involved with covering news about Ark.

“PD-nim has already expressed interest in Ark. Like I said, he is a relevant topic. However, every formal request has been turned down.”

“Huh? Why?”

“I don’t know the answer.”

Lee Ji-un replied with an annoyed look.

“There are some users who dislike exposing themselves but Ark’s extent is like a deep sea. He refused to even mosaic his face for a brief interview with the details agreed on in advance. Even if Jung Hye-sun would directly interview him.”

“Jung Hye-sun ssi? Hye-sun ssi would interview him?”

“It was Hye-sun ssi’s direct request.”

“….Yet he still refused?”

Sorin muttered with an absurd expression.

Jung Hye-sun was a female celebrity whose stock price was rising these days. Any user would be dying to meet her. Yet he refused? Sorin was a journalist affiliated with Game Scoop but he hadn’t even properly greeted Jung Hye-sun yet.

But that was different.

‘There is something strange no matter how much he hates to reveal himself. And the man who was involved with suspicious activities on Beltana and Ikyullos….’

He sensed something as a journalist. There was something here! While Sorin was busy thinking.

“This might be an opportunity.”

Lee Ji-un said with a grin after thinking for a moment.

“Huh? What are you saying?”

“Is your telescope still on?”

“Yes….”

“We will surprise a gra.s.s snake. Stimulating an opponent might be bothersome but there is also something good about deliberately provoking an enemy.”

Sorin had ‘?’ pop into his head at Lee Ji-un’s words. What did his words mean? Sorin soon realized the meaning of Lee Ji-un’s words.

“The Galactic Federation is keeping the matter of planets disappearing a secret. I don’t know what they are trying to hide. We can only speculate about the reasons. Anyway, Ikyullos is Ark’s planet. What will happen if we reveal this?”

“….A dispute.”

“Then of course we will need to apologize for the situation.”

“….An interview.”

“That’s right.”

Lee Ji-un stood up.

“Write an article in an organized manner. I have to talk with the PD. The t.i.tle of the article will organize this week’s Game Scoop News. We will broadcast your video after Ark contacts us.”

“Yes! I understand!”

At the same time, Sorin’s fingers danced on the keyboard.

-The mystery of the disappearing planet!

A planet that disappeared suddenly appeared again a few days ago!

There were suspicious movements in the Galactic Federation fleet before the planet appeared again!

And there was a private meeting between the Galactic Federation army, Ark and Marquis Martin.

Is the missing planet a natural phenomenon? An unknown s.p.a.ce monster? Or maybe the Galactic Federation were secretly testing an experimental weapon? What is the Galactic Federation’s reason behind keeping silent?

A shocking video that will appear on the Game Scoop news!

Check out this week’s Game Scoop!

The truth is there….

….The truth was literally ‘out there.’

————————————————————————–

“So….”

Ark scratched his head.

“What is it? What happened on Ikyullos?”

“I don’t know yet.”

Marquis Martin shook his head.

“This incident still hasn’t been reported to the Galactic Federation. We’ve defeated a huge Nak.u.ma. In fact, I’m not sure if it is even appropriate to categorize it as a Nak.u.ma. But we have to try and reveal it. A clue might be obtained.”

“You mean the inscriptions on the slab?”

“Yes, a military investigation team will be dispatched to restore the inscription. It is still impossible to decipher the letters written on it but we might be able to find some clues. Therefore I have something to discuss with you. The investigation team wants a research centre dedicated to studying the inscription to be established on Ikyullos.”

“….Research centre?”

Ark has a worried expression on his face.

Once again, Ark was planning to develop Ikyullos. And he had already secured investment funds to develop it. But now there would be a military inst.i.tute? Of course, Ark wanted to know more about the details.

It was obvious that Ikyullos had disappeared completely. He would be upset if something happened during its development. He would be screwed if it reverted back to the missing state. It wasn’t 100% certain that the Eisyeon Nak.u.ma was the cause of the incident.

He couldn’t guarantee the same thing wouldn’t happen again. So Ark wanted some guarantee of Ikyullos’ safety. If he opposed the military’s research inst.i.tute then there might be a setback in Ikyullos’ development.

Marquis Martin laughed and shook his head.

“That won’t happen. The nature of this event won’t be declared to the public. But the controlled area will extend 10 kilometres around the inscription. You can take care of the other areas however you like. There will be no setback in the planet’s development.”

“Then it doesn’t matter.”

Ark quickly replied to Marquis Martin’s words. He didn’t care as long as there was no setback in the development.

Originally a planet belonged to the lord so the lord would have to take all responsibility. It meant that Ikyullos going missing was the lord’s responsibility. In addition, Ikyullos was adjacent to the western border of the Galactic Federation where s.p.a.ce pirates often frequented.

It would place a considerable burden on the owner. Of course, he could request the a.s.sistance of the Galactic Federation troops when attacked by enemy pirates. However, the lord would have to block the attack until the troops arrived. The lord would suffer damage in the meantime.

This was the reason why planets in the Galactic Federation required defenses. Especially if it was a planet on the border. Before starting the full scale development, Ark would need to invest in defense facilities.

However, it was a different story if there was a military research inst.i.tute. It was a secret laboratory that would require defense facilities. Regular Galactic Federation troops would also be coming and going.

In other words, it was a type of Galactic Federation base. The reason to spend money on defenses would disappear. That wasn’t the only benefit of the research inst.i.tute. But it was still in the preparatory stages.

“Okay. You can proceed.”

He nodded towards Marquis Martin who continued talking.

“The military will rush to build the research inst.i.tute. Of course, the Star Gate is also part of that. As you know, originally the Star Gate on Ikyullos was only going to connect to S-20. But it will be a different story if there is a research inst.i.tute. As well as S-20, it will also be connected to the major cities and 12 planets on the western border. It requires a large construction cost but I have an excuse to squeeze it into the budget.”

This was one of the benefits derived from the research inst.i.tute.

“I will contact you once the Star Gate is completed. It won’t take that long.”

Ark quickly got up after clearing the situation.

“Then shall I take a look?”

“The talk has only just ended. Are you busy?”

“I’m always busy.”

“Yes, it is good for the young to be busy. When thinking about it, this is the age where you can’t relax if you want to live comfortably later on. A mountain of work can pile up after being gone for a few days. The n.o.blesse was destroyed so I need to submit a letter of apology.”

Even a n.o.ble was reprimanded when a cruiser was destroyed. Ark was now a n.o.ble. Despite that, he was the type to still pick up junk metal from a Nak.u.ma.

“Anyway, I also can’t afford to be gone for a long time. But before you leave, please stop by the break room. Fay will be waiting.”

“Fay?”

Ark made an uncomfortable expression. Marquis Martin laughed and continued.

“Don’t look like that. He is waiting to give you something.”

“Give me something?”

“Ha, your eyes have become like bright lanterns. You are originally this type of person. Anyway, this is the result of your help. You won’t suffer a single loss. The compensation came from the military budget.”

The important thing was that it didn’t come from his pocket. Ark was OK with just receiving! He hadn’t realized there would be a reward so Ark’s eyes glittered.

“So don’t hate Fay too much.”

Marquis Martin said as he pa.s.sed by.

Ark turned to face Marquis Martin who had a bittersweet expression on his face.

“Fay had a son. He was an outstanding warrior similar to Fay and perhaps he would’ve received the t.i.tle of hero later. But he was too young. He died in a border chase with the Rama warriors. Perhaps Fay sees his son in you. His son who didn’t get a chance to receive the t.i.tle of hero. His mind was probably anxious with worry. So I hope you say some warm words when meeting him.”

“Yes….”

“Or not.”

Marquis Martin laughed as he saw Ark’s hesitation.

“Anyway, it was intentional but….I enjoyed it quite a bit.”

“I wasn’t that bad.”

Ark replied with a grin. And he headed to the break room after leaving Marquis Martin’s office. A significant number of soldiers were gathered in the break room. Ark was looking for Fay when Hoksullo ran up to him.

“Hyung-nim!”

“Ah Hoksullo, have you seen Captain Fay?”

“Here I am.”

He heard an answer from behind him. And Fay approached him with a frown. He skimmed Ark with sour eyes and said.

“You are someone who really bothers Marquis-nim. In addition, there is also the supply staff. Why do I have to look at such an unpleasant person? Anyway, there is a bad smell. Well it can’t be helped. Hey, take it. I honestly don’t believe you are ent.i.tled to compensation but this incident needs to stay quiet.”

Fay threw a card at him.

4,000 military scrips!

He had previously received 1,000 military tokens when rescuing Irina. At that time, Ark had rescued Irina alone.

On the other hand, this time there were dozens of people. Nevertheless, the reward was 4 times the previous compensation. It was obviously due to Marquis Martin’s position in the military. But personally, Irina was a million times more important than Marquis Martin!

However, this was not the only reward.

“These white ores appeared when the Eisyeon Nak.u.ma disappeared. The rescue team found it in the underground s.p.a.ce behind the slab. Some of them were sent to researchers as study materials but Marquis-nim also packed some shares. Resources obtained from s.p.a.ce monsters belong to the person hunting. You fought in the battle so you are eligible for this much.”

The Soul Stone dropped from the Nak.u.ma. But Ark had already obtained a Soul Stone. He had quickly packed 4 Soul Stones before the crew members could see! He also obtained a cloak that hadn’t been identified yet. Now he felt slightly sorry for packing 5 more.

Yet Ark didn’t refuse it. Ark quickly grabbed the Soul Stone contained in a stone box. Then Fay caught the back of the box and shook his head.

“Hey, don’t you have something to say?”

“Huh? Something to say….”

It came out of nowhere. Then Marquis Martin’s words suddenly flashed through his head. Fay had a son. Fay might’ve acted cold to Ark on Ikyullos but it was his way of expressing worry.

So he was asked to say some warm words. He should say something, even if it was small. However, he couldn’t think of anything to say. Ark scratched his head and said.

“…..Father?”

Fay flinched back. His reaction to Ark’s answer….

“What is this brat talking about? Do you want to die? Huh? Be killed? No, I will kill you! Come out! I’ll turn you into a beehive!”

“Wah! Captain Fay-nim, calm down!”

….Hoksullo and several nearby soldiers tried to calm him down.

Thanks to that, Ark pouted with an embarra.s.sed expression. Fay threw the box at Ark with an annoyed look.

“That’s it! Get lost!”