Chapter 255

[Translator – Night]

[Proofreader – Gun]

Chapter 255: Beijing’s Great Evil (2)

“Heart? Of course, I’ll take it. Give it to me quickly!”

Yeongwoo’s eyes gleamed at the news that his uncle’s heart had arrived.

He was in a situation where he had to grab anything that could help increase his combat power.

Wasn’t he planning to persuade the masters of the Chinese region with strength to cut off all supplies to Im Dupyeong?

Therefore, the dragon heart, which comes with various effects, was a very welcome gift at this point.

However,

“Uh, wait a minute.”

Yeongwoo, who was looking up at the sky waiting for the heart to drop, suddenly recalled something and stopped.

“Do I... have to undergo surgery again?”

Yeongwoo asked this because he currently had a physical Catalog.

Hadn’t the heart of the poison dragon he had obtained earlier already been classified as ‘physical’ and registered in the Catalog?

So if the heart of the steel dragon was the same, then...

‘Then I might not need surgery and can directly activate it by putting it in the Catalog, right?’

[Physical Catalog]

〔4〕

The number of pieces of equipment currently registered in the physical Catalog is 4. Nnêw n0vel chapters are published at novelhall.com

So if he registered the heart of the steel dragon this time, the first collection effect of the physical Catalog would be unlocked.

Thanks to his uncle, he was on the verge of double enhancement.

‘Indeed, blood is thicker than water.’

When Yeongwoo placed his hand over his heart, feeling a warm sensation inside his chest for some reason, Kubu blinked.

― Since you have the physical Catalog, you can use the effects of the new heart without having to wear it directly.

“Oh... as expected, right?”

The Catalog had amazing effects that allowed the use of two hearts simultaneously.

― However.

“...?”

― The heart of the steel dragon you are about to receive is also a ‘dragon heart,’ just like the heart of the poison dragon.

“...Right?”

There seemed to be something more.

When Yeongwoo gestured for Kubu to continue speaking, Kubu blinked again.

― Dragon hearts have a unique function called ‘fusion.’

“Oh, I know what that is.”

This was a function that was also attached to the tooltip at the bottom of the poison dragon’s heart.

【Heart Fusion】

| It will be fused if you obtain another dragon heart.

“I thought it would automatically combine because it said it would fuse. Is that not the case?”

― If the heart is processed as a talisman, automatic fusion occurs, but in the case of someone like you who wears it directly, physical surgery is required.

“Oh, I see.”

Apparently, it seemed necessary to remove the existing heart and combine it with the new one.

And if that was the case...

“I’ll have to see that crow guy again.”

But the surgery cost a hefty amount of money and significantly increased evil karma.

“Is the heart fusion effect that good? Is it worth paying the surgery fee every time?”

Yeongwoo asked, hoping it wasn’t, and after a moment of thought, Kubu answered.

― Generally, from the point of obtaining the third heart, it is recommended to proceed with fusion if possible.

“So it’s not essential right now, right? Since I only have two hearts.”

―...You could see it that way.

“Alright then.”

Yeongwoo looked at the clock.

The current time was 3:34 PM.

If Shandong Province had already paid tribute to Beijing, he had to quickly chase the collection team, so time was of the essence.

He didn’t have time to leisurely open his chest in Yeongjongdo.

“Let’s quickly receive the new heart. I’m quite busy right now.”

― Understood.

At Yeongwoo’s order, Kubu rolled its eyes.

And soon,

Boom!

A sound like a cannon being fired echoed from beyond the sky, and a heavy presence descended from the air.

Woosh!

With a loud breaking sound, something appeared between Yeongwoo and Kubu.

Thud...

It was the heart of the steel dragon, a gigantic heart made entirely of steel plates and metal pipes.

“Why, why is it so big?”

Yeongwoo stared blankly at his uncle’s heart, which was much larger than the heart of the poison dragon.

Soon, the tooltip of the new heart filled Yeongwoo’s field of vision.

Flash!

「Heart of the Steel Dragon」 – Legendary Heart

【Steel Dragon Emergence】

【Iron Armor】

【Heart Fusion】

【Steel Dragon Emergence】

| Increases the effects of all physical attributes by 10%.

【Iron Armor】

| Reduces all physical damage, except for crushing attacks, by 15%.

Kubu, who had delivered the heart of the Steel Dragon, had disappeared without a trace.

‘No way, did he leave without even saying goodbye just because I said I was busy?’

Yeongwoo considered calling Kubu back, then reminded himself he was indeed very busy.

Quite a bit of time had passed while he was enlarging his body.

“Are... are you alright?”

Kim Yongkwan cautiously asked about Yeongwoo’s well-being as he slowly stood up.

Typical Earthling courtesy.

In response, Yeongwoo picked up his equipment from the ground and put it back on before mounting Negwig again.

Hop!

“I’m fine, but are you really okay, Mr. Yongkwan?”

“Pardon? What do you mean?”

“You won’t receive your commission because the money from China didn’t come in today.”

“...Oh? Is that how it works?”

Yongkwan’s eyes briefly flashed with anger at the mention of money but quickly softened.

“Not working means no commission, that’s fair.”

“That’s true, isn’t it?”

Yeongwoo nodded at Yongkwan and then took the reins of Negwig, looking beyond Yeongjongdo to the Chinese mainland.

“But don’t worry. You’ll probably get your commission starting tomorrow. I’ll take care of it.”

* * *

Yeongwoo had agreed to pay a commission of 5 million won per day to Incheon as a brokerage fee.

Although they agreed not to pay today, he would have to start paying again from tomorrow.

Therefore, Yeongwoo planned to use Incheon as the main brokerage point for dealings with China.

He intended to receive tributes from regions near Beijing mainly through Incheon.

‘Receiving money through various places means paying a commission to each brokerage point. It’s a daily expense, and it can add up to a significant loss over time.’

Of course, for Yeongwoo’s ambitious plan to receive tributes from various regions of China to become a reality, he had to first resolve the issue with Shandong Province.

Clop, clop!

As Negwig carrying Yeongwoo passed through Yeongjongdo and reached the coast of Shandong Province, there was not a single welcoming crowd in sight.

The place was utterly barren.

‘Did they all go to welcome the collection team?’

Even if the locals greeted the Beijing collection team with flags just as they had for him, it wouldn’t matter at all.

Shandong Province was caught between Beijing and Seoul, so it was an inevitable situation.

However, what Yeongwoo worried about was,

‘Or maybe Zhang Jaham... that guy didn’t defy the collection team, did he?’

Zhang Jaham was hot-tempered and loyal, so he might have refused to pay tribute to Beijing, thinking he was now on Yeongwoo’s side.

And if that really happened, the furious collection team might have made an example out of Shandong Province, turning it into a wasteland.

Otherwise, there would be no reason for the place to be so deserted.

Clop, clop!

Negwig continued westward, running into Shandong Province.

Soon, a familiar sight of residents carrying flags entered Yeongwoo’s view.

“...!”

They were the same hand flags that had welcomed him at the Shandong coast that morning.

They were returning after finishing some event somewhere.

“Hey! Over here!”

When Yeongwoo pointed to the flag-bearing people and gestured to stop, the residents, who had recognized him, showed fearful expressions.

However, they couldn’t dare to run away and instead subtly lowered the flags they were holding.

“Uh, Mr. Yeongwoo.”

One person who managed to remember Yeongwoo’s name stepped forward, representing the group.

Yeongwoo tried to maintain a gentle expression and asked,

“Where is it? The place the Beijing people visited.”

Sensing that Yeongwoo had already guessed a lot, the representative resident pointed with a trembling finger to somewhere in the north.

“Yes, Yantai.”

Yantai, also known as Yantai City, is one of the port cities in Shandong Province and wasn’t far from where Yeongwoo was now.

However, since Yeongwoo wasn’t very familiar with Chinese geography, he had to rely on the direction indicated by the resident.

“Thank you. I’ll take care of the rest.”

Yeongwoo handed a 10,000 Karma coin engraved with his face to the person who had bravely stepped forward.

Then,

Clop!

He immediately urged Negwig northward, quickly distancing himself from the line of residents.

‘I’m already late. But if I chase them with Negwig, I can catch up before they reach Beijing.’

And above all,

‘So they’re carrying 30 million now? Originally, I was supposed to receive 20 million... so I’ll be earning an extra 10 million?’

As he unconsciously thought about making an extra 10 million today, Yeongwoo corrected himself.

‘No, Yeongwoo. Think big.’

The tribute agreed upon with Shandong Province was 20 million.

Although the collection team was taking 30 million today, taking it all wouldn’t be any different from Beijing.

‘Returning 10 million to Shandong Province is the right thing to do. That’s what chivalry is about, right?’

To repay those who believed in and helped him—this was what Yeongwoo considered to be chivalry.

So, today on Chinese soil, that chivalry...

“Ah!”

Yeongwoo’s eyes widened suddenly.

He saw the city that seemed to be Yantai in the distance, and Zhang Jaham and Wu Qingjin, the Shandong Twin Evils were coming out to greet him.

‘Oh, fortunately, both are safe!’

While feeling relieved inside, Yeongwoo couldn’t help but blurt out,

“My money! Where is my money going right now?”

[Translator – Night]

[Proofreader – Gun]