NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 390
[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
Chapter 390: The Dignity of a Wedding (6)
“What…? The daily interest rate is 100%?”
Choi Namhee looked incredulous.
A loan of 25 million Karma with a daily interest rate of 100% meant that even if it were repaid the very next day, she would need to prepare 50 million in cash.
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“……!”
“Even the guests from Shandong brought 30 million without me even asking. And yet, you, my fellow countrymen, only brought 5 million? Does that even make sense?”
“T-That’s…!”
“To be honest, I’d love to make an example out of you and hang you on the execution platform, but since you’re one of the people responsible for Seoul’s safety, I’m letting you off.”
With those words, Yeongwoo looked around at the other Strongest Swords.
“Those who didn’t bring enough congratulatory money, step forward and sign a promissory note. If you refuse, the only other option is to die over there.”
“……!”
Choi Namhee, Oh Yeonhee, and the other guests from the Seoul Alliance gasped at Yeongwoo’s drastic statement.
But his next words were even more shocking.
“I feel like everyone’s been living too comfortably lately.”
“…Excuse me?”
“What did you say?”
“You’re not afraid of anything anymore, are you? You don’t even feel tense, right? After all, I haven’t been threatening you.”
Yeongwoo placed his hand on Bastard, and in that moment, all the Strongest Swords recalled something.
The time when Jeong Yeongwoo 07 had cut off the head of the previous Gangnam’s Strongest Sword Jeong Hyunsik 04 with his elbow.
They had momentarily forgotten, but the Strongest Sword before them was like a ticking time bomb—a monster that could explode at any moment.
“The reason I haven’t squeezed you dry until now is that my external businesses have been doing so well that I had no reason to trouble my own people.”
“……”
“But what’s today? Isn’t it my wedding day, a day to celebrate the success of my external endeavors on your behalf? And yet, instead of showing your utmost sincerity… what? You bring a measly 5 million?”
Yeongwoo furrowed his brows menacingly, making Seocho’s Strongest Sword Choi Namhee flinch and bow her head.
The long-forgotten fear of death clamped around her neck once again.
“I’m not asking you to hand over your entire fortune. But at least show some sincerity. Aren’t you all freeloading off the work I’ve done? Our planet is about to receive an additional promotion.”
As Yeongwoo looked up at the sky, he saw a spacecraft descending in the distance—likely carrying guests from outer space.
“The new guests are arriving soon. Go make your contributions.”
“Y-Yes, sir…”
“…Of course.”
“Let’s hurry up!”
Following Yeongwoo’s command, the Strongest Swords hesitated but began moving toward the offering table one by one.
Soon, Dongdaemun’s Strongest Sword Jang Jeongho cautiously approached and requested a loan.
“I… I’d like to borrow 10 million.”
“Really? Show me your hand.”
Since Yeongwoo needed to deal with the Strongest Swords quickly and prepare for the extraterrestrial guests, he swiftly prepared a new promissory note.
「Principal: 10 million Karma, Daily Interest Rate: 100%. Loan is pending execution. Approve?」
A new loan contract with Jang Jeongho.
He had initially brought 10 million Karma, meaning he had now committed a total of 20 million Karma as a wedding gift.
Paaaah!
After finalizing the contract with Jang Jeongho, Yeongwoo turned to the remaining Strongest Swords and asked,
“Alright, anyone else need a loan?”
* * *
2:23 PM.
The hammer of Kwaya struck at the exact scheduled completion time.
Boom!
The moment a massive black spire was embedded into the top of the main hall, the entire construction was finished.
Beeeeeeep!
A long signal sounded, announcing the completion of the wedding hall.
Then, from inside the main building, Kobu, Tobu, and Chobu walked out side by side.
-Boss, the wedding hall installation is complete.
“Oh, great job.”
As Yeongwoo expressed his gratitude and looked up, he saw a massive, jet-black main building made of numerous spires.
It looked more fitting for a demon king’s coronation ceremony than a wedding, but to Yeongwoo, it was the best possible outcome.
Bringing in prison architects to design it had paid off in a major way.
“Kobu, how’s the contribution ranking? Can we see it inside the main hall?”
-Yes. There’s an official ranking board inside the main hall, and we’ve also set up a real-time ranking display in the lobby.
With that, Kobu snapped his fingers in the air, and a hologram projection shot from the donation table onto the exterior wall of the main building.
Paaah!
It was none other than the wedding contribution ranking.
「We sincerely appreciate your support.」
[1st Place] Osaek Credit – 50 million
[2nd Place] Voltak – 40 million
[3rd Place] Shandong Twin Evils – 30 million
[4th Place] Seocho Strongest Sword – 30 million
[5th Place] Songpa Strongest Sword – 25 million
Only the top five rankings were displayed.
Even so, three of the top five were still Earthlings.
‘Seriously? The Shandong Twin Evils are still in third place? Damn… what a pathetic contest.’
Yeongwoo rubbed his forehead.
At least the second-place slot was taken by Voltak’s wandering merchant, who had just arrived and was now observing the donation ranking with interest from the lobby.
—This is like some small-town convenience store.
Jiseon, who had been watching the rankings with Yeongwoo, scoffed.
—Hey, do you think you’ll even break even with this?
“Just wait. The chairmen will arrive soon and clean up the mess.”
Perhaps only the true "big spenders" could be relied upon.
Clenching his teeth and waiting for the white knight to appear, Yeongwoo suddenly had a brilliant idea and widened his eyes.
“Kobu.”
-Yes, Boss?
“You haven’t contributed yet, have you?”
-That's right. Shall we do it now?
"Yes. But please add an extra 100 million to the original amount."
-What...?
"I'll add 100 million to the wedding hall's remaining balance."
In Earth terms, it meant he was offering a payback.
It was also a form of self-dealing.
Hearing this, Jiseon widened her eyes and exclaimed,
—Hey, you bastard! That's market mani—
"Let's call it a promotional activity. Mr. Kobu, can you do it?"
When Yeongwoo requested Kobu's cooperation in market manipulation, Kobu hesitated for a moment.
-On Earth… is this illegal?
"Here, I am the law. You won’t be arrested, so don’t worry."
-...Understood.
Besides, Earth didn’t even have a proper prison capable of holding someone like Kobu.
"Alright, let’s go!"
[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
As Yeongwoo pushed Kobu forward, the three brokers—Kobu, Tobu, and Chobu—lined up in front of the congratulatory gift station.
<Kwaya’s Hammer, Kobu>
「Congratulatory gift paid!」
「A monetary gift has been delivered in celebration of the wedding of Kim Jeonggu and Song Jiseon, parents of the Strongest Sword, Jeong Yeongwoo.」
‘Oh… so private gifts are recorded like that.’
Then, in an instant, the top rank of the congratulatory gift rankings changed to Kwaya’s Hammer.
Beep!
[Rank 1] Kwaya’s Hammer, Private
[Rank 2] Osaek Credit, 50 million
[Rank 3] Boltak, 40 million
[Rank 4] Sandong Twin Evils, 30 million
[Rank 5] Seocho Strongest Sword, 30 million
At last, the top three were filled with alien guests.
‘Now, the real party begins.’
While Yeongwoo admired the ranking board with satisfaction, a glossy, black oval-shaped spaceship descended from the sky.
Swaeeeaaak!
The ship landed almost like a crash in the distant parking area from the lobby.
It was none other than the arms dealers of Cheok.
As the oval-shaped ship split open from both sides, a gigantic wheel-like creature, five meters long, emerged from within.
“…Ugh.”
Yeongwoo immediately recognized it—it was the merchant he had encountered on his way to Seoul, back in Chungju.
The creature was so distinctive that Yeongwoo still remembered it clearly.
"What the hell, why is a giant wheel rolling up here?"
Jiseon, stunned by the unexpected guest, gaped in shock, while Jeonggu instinctively hid behind his wife.
-Gigit…
The strange guest let out an eerie noise, clicking its massive claws against the ground as it approached the lobby.
It lifted its massive body and stared intently at the congratulatory gift ranking board.
"…Git."
For some reason, the single utterance felt oddly dramatic.
Then, it placed one of its massive forelimbs onto the gift station.
<Cheok’s Arms Dealer, Garta>
「Congratulatory gift paid!」
Now, the question was—how much did this giant wheel contribute?
「A monetary gift of 90 million Karma has been received in celebration of the wedding of Kim Jeonggu and Song Jiseon, parents of the Strongest Sword, Jeong Yeongwoo.」
“…Huh?”
“What? 900 million?!”
“Did they just gift 90 million?”
The moment the amount was revealed, the entire hall erupted in shock.
But what was even more surprising—despite this enormous gift, it still didn’t take first place.
[Rank 1] Kwaya’s Hammer, Private
[Rank 2] Cheok, 90 million
[Rank 3] Osaek Credit, 50 million
[Rank 4] Boltak, 40 million
[Rank 5] Sandong Twin Evils, 30 million
“Wow…! At least we’re still in 5th place, right?”
Amid the commotion, Sandong Twin Evils excitedly cheered upon seeing their name still on the leaderboard.
Meanwhile, Kobu leaned in close to Yeongwoo and whispered in a low voice.
-Your plan is working perfectly.
"If the top rank had been shattered immediately, it might’ve backfired… This way, the next contender will have to consider at least 100 million before making a move."
Then, Yeongwoo turned to Kobu and asked,
"By the way, how much did you put in? Whisper it to me."
Kobu bent down and brought his head close to Yeongwoo’s ear.
-160 million.
“…What?”
Upon hearing the amount, Yeongwoo instinctively offered a handshake.
"You did an amazing job."
It was already incredibly generous for Kwaya’s Hammer—the company responsible for constructing the wedding hall—to contribute a separate congratulatory gift.
And the amount was nothing to scoff at.
Even after deducting the 100 million payback, 60 million Karma remained.
And after factoring in the privacy fee, it was effectively a 70 million donation.
—One hour until the ceremony. Guests should start arriving soon.
Having grown accustomed to the wedding atmosphere, Jiseon gazed up at the sky and muttered.
At that moment, another spaceship descended.
—But who’s that? The ship looks kind of different.
"Huh? Where?"
Following Jiseon’s gaze, Yeongwoo looked up—then immediately widened his eyes in shock.
Whoooosh…!
The ship descended with a graceful, elegant hum.
“…Oh?”
The ship was a glowing white cube—the personal vessel of the Architect, Lemu.
"Lemu?"
—Huh? Lemu? That’s Lemu’s ship?"
As Jiseon asked in disbelief, Yeongwoo was already sprinting across the lobby, heading straight for the parking zone.
Tat-tat!
"The era of petty gifts is over! Now it's time for the 'real' players to step in! LEMUUUUU…!"
[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]