Chapter 140.
Jung Si-woo became an Ant Cave player, and monsters appeared on earth when all the sea routes were blocked. Even before the new age came down to earth, the monsters from the dungeons were already entering the sea. The humans were unable to set foot in the sea as the monsters created their own territories.
“And that is why seafood is the rarest food to acquire on earth right now.”
“The monsters are eating them instead of humans.”
The ecosystem on the ground was rather well preserved. But even the specialists couldn’t predict how things were going in the sea, and they couldn’t even explore it due to threats the monsters posed.
“Moreover, if more trade routes are blocked, all countries will suffer tremendous damage! That is why chartering a sea route in the south pacific was proposed.”
“Although people say it’s a sea route in the southern pacific…it only sounds like that since America was its center, but in fact, the route starts from California and goes back and forth around Asia and Oceania while going around the entire area of the pacific. And the reason why Korea was included…as you know, is because Mr. Si-woo was too influential.”
“I didn’t intend to be influential.”
Jung Si-woo was at a loss for words and questioned Marina and Seria, who greeted him in the headquarter building of B&Y. Seria smiled softly and explained it to him.
“People naturally read the countenance of someone like you, Mr. Si-woo. I believe Korea should give much more special treatment to you.”
“I feel so uncomfortable with her words.”
“We can skip that.”
Marina laughed hard. Actually, he was uncomfortable with Marina too. Jung Si-woo diverted his attention and saw the ships that were docked in the ocean afar. It was a grand sight where several large cargo ships were aligned. Was it possible to go with the massive cargo transport while the security wasn’t guaranteed yet? Jung Si-woo thought it that way, but it was all right since it wasn’t his responsibility.
“Seo-hee is installing the barrier right now.”
“Ah, is that so?”
The presence of mana was felt from the boat for some reason. It seemed that the magic was getting infused with modern engineering slowly but surely. Of course, Lee Seo-hee was the best person in terms of barrier magic…but he doubted whether she could set up fully powered barriers on that many boats with the current tech available.
“Wait for a second; there are cruise ships.”
“It’s a special express to hell for those who think being a bystander on works that risk people’s lives are a show to watch.”
Marina’s words sounded scary. Seria lightly hit her back and added an explanation.
“It’s a brutality done by self-display among the higher-ups who consider the current situation as something that they can develop and control since that’s how they regard the changes on earth.”
“You sound even scarier.”
Jung Si-woo replied as he was at a loss for words, and he clasped his fingers behind his head.
“Have they been explained its dangers? I don’t think the players will risk their lives on rescuing those people because securing the freights will already be difficult enough.”
“Players aren’t those tasked with saving people’s lives, and they ‘e privileged with more than anyone else. As the foundation for the countries and enterprises who can’t earn cash from dungeons is set to hire them, but…well, I think their start was already wrong.”
“Exactly.”
Compared to the resistances that protected the humans at all costs and fought back in Potupou, the players on earth…Jung Si-woo stopped thinking at that point. It was obvious that an inevitable self-rebuke would come up anyways. A gentle rain was lightly soaking them. The weather seemed like a storm was approaching, with the sky filled with dark clouds. Jung Si-woo hated the meaningless foreshadowing, but he thought that a storm would really strike.
“Then let’s go. I have a score to settle with the sea monsters too.”
“A score?”
“You only thought that to yourself because you want to defeat them badly.”
Soo-rin argued at his words, but Jung Si-woo simply ignored her.
[It’s my first time on a boat. Is that the sea beyond that point…]
“Did you bring this woman along!?”
Marina shouted out in surprise as she saw Caina, the Black Armored Knight who was in charge of Jung Si-woo’s rear position. The girls knew who she was, unlike everyone else around. However, Jung Si-woo decided not to hide her identity. Besides, he thought it was a good decision to bring her along when he saw her excitement.
[I was a human of the land, so I haven’t eaten any fishes.]
“I’ll apologize in advance since you won’t be eating them any time soon with how the earth is like right now.”
They actually ate salmon in the cafeteria before. They were lucky since those were procured before the sea turned out this way. Jung Si-woo recalled the taste of the salmon at that time and energetically took a step forward. To exaggerate it a bit, it was all on their hands whether salmon could appear once more on their menu in the future.
And the start went quite all right.
“All boats have barriers installed. Look, if the players insert mana in here…”
The barrier officer Lee Seo-hee explained the functionalities of the small artifact she distributed among the players. It was a barrier artifact that would activate by absorbing a players’ mana, amplifying it. It sure would shine in this voyage, although they were one-use expendables.
“Ah, it’s starting to sail.”
“It will be boring for you to stay on board the ship when you usually just fly.”
Everything seemed to be on a large scale since America was leading this project, but this was the biggest among all. This campaign had 5000 players beyond level 200, and the entire world was paying attention to it. Not to even mention the countries where the route would pass, where interest was the highest.
“If this voyage becomes successful, a similar campaign will be done for the European route.”
“But the trade amount will gradually lessen in the future.”
Each country thought of trading through players who had a wide outer space area called inventory once ships weren’t able to set sail. Still, powerful players had many tasks to do aside from that. Therefore it was impossible to trade in the same amount as what was done previously.
“Look at now, this is barely possible with the participation from the thousands of players. Are they going to hire this many players every time the ships set sail? It’s just impossible.”
Perhaps people thought it was possible to charter a trade route with a few players if they lessened the number of monsters in the path first. However, most players didn’t trust the idea of the people in charge who treated monsters like some animals. One certain thing was that there would be no future on the sea trade if this failed.
[I’ve heard that sea monsters are strong. That endless possibilities and potentials are present. Our world failed to even set foot into the ocean even until its destruction…]
“The monsters on earth aren’t that strong, so relax.”
Many monsters came from the other world, but most of them must have died after failing to adapt to the sea. After the New Age, the monsters were naturally being created on earth, but it was true that most of them weren’t strong, except a select few. But Caina replied to Jung Si-woo while blankly staring at the surface of the ocean.
[Strong ones are born through a long time of training…but sometimes there are exceptions. I’ve heard that it didn’t take long for you, Master, to become strong.]
“Well, that’s…”
At that time, someone approached them from behind and spoke. It was Lee Seo-hee.
“Hey Si-woo, let’s eat. Isn’t there a party going on?”
The Players were supposed to be positioned at different ship places, and Jung Si-woo and Lee Seo-hee were stationed on the cruise ship. They were envied by other players as the environment was far better than the cargo ships. Of course, Jung Si-woo was confident in having a sweet dream, whether in a luxurious cabin or a freight room, so he wasn’t bothered by the location.
“Damn party…well, we gotta eat anyway.”
[Go ahead. I will look at the sea from here.]
Despite saying she was afraid of the ocean, Caina couldn’t take her eyes off it. He smiled and went along with Lee Seo-hee while being accompanied by Soo-rin and Yong Se-ha.
“Oh, the son of Jung Si-hwan.”
“Is he the son of Mister Jung?”
He became the center of everyone’s attention in just 20 minutes after he appeared on the cruise. He had several titles, but there were a lot of people that joined the cruise who knew his father’s name.
“I’ve been in debt of Si-Hwan. Well, it’s surprising.”
“Nice to meet you. I feel much safe with you around.”
“Is Si-hwan well?”
Jung Si-woo wanted to be comfortable, but he couldn’t, so he was upset. He couldn’t ignore the people who claimed to know his father, so he just gobbled up all the food along his path while replying to them curtly. Soo-rin, who was behind Jung Si-woo since she didn’t want to get their attention, asked quietly to Lee Seo-hee (the gentlemen didn’t ask many questions to the ladies at his side since they were very modest. Maybe they were simply afraid of him).
“Who on earth is Oppa’s dad?”
“I don’t even know what his mother does, so how should I know what his father does? Considering how the old professors are surprised at Si-woo as they were checking attendances, I guess he is very famous.”
That moment, the ship was shaking a little. It was too common on the ocean, so it wasn’t worth mentioning. The people weren’t bothered by it and continued with their conversations.
“Here we go again.”
Only Jung Si-woo murmured briefly and pressed the button on his hand. At the same time, a thin barrier started covering the ship. The barrier was activated by the mana of just one person! But it got torn away in the next moment.
“This doesn’t even last one second!”
“Argh, are they here? Let sleeping dogs lie…!”
Lee Seo-hee pressed the button too late, but the barrier didn’t activate since its source was damaged. Meantime Jung Si-woo finished eating up the chicken leg in his hand and wiped his hand on his clothes.
“Eww, nasty!”
“Let’s hurry before that thing punches a hole on this ship!”
Jung Si-woo took out his hammer. As people were amazed by how the sparks were coming out in the air, he ignored them all and went straight to the front side of the ship. And he saw them. Monsters that had the slim body of sharks were charging towards the ship. The problem was that more monsters aside from them were heading towards the cruise ship.
Commotions were rising among the cargo ships. A simultaneous attack by hordes of monsters! It wasn’t something that could be pulled off by unintelligent monsters.
“Oppa, didn’t…you plan for this?”
“Well. I can feel their resolution that they won’t hand over the sea.”
Jung Si-woo replied to Soo-rin with a joke and fired his Critical Bullets. The frontline of the shark monsters that were about to bump into the ship died.
“How many ships will sink before reaching New Zealand…”
“Don’t talk about such unfortunate flags!”
Jung Si-woo took out his Phantom Bike and rode it. It was the beginning of the Pacific Battle that would be long remembered in the history of the earth.
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