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[Translator - Night]
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Chapter 391: The Big Hand (1)
Lemu.
The Seeker, the Master of the Machine Tower, the Designer.
Look at those grand expressions that describe Lemu.
If there were a VIP list at Yeongwoo's wedding hall, Lemu’s name would certainly be on it.
After all, he had once demonstrated overwhelming cash-wielding power in a contract competition against Chairman Dogo.
So, there was no need to explain just how wealthy Lemu was.
But was that all?
Lemu possessed an ability that was difficult to quantify in monetary terms—a glimpse into the future, or more precisely, insight into the Record.
For this reason, his visit carried great significance for Yeongwoo, as it suggested that their relationship hadn’t completely deteriorated.
“Lemu-u-u-u……!”
As Yeongwoo repeatedly shouted “Lemu” and ran towards the clearing where the spaceship was landing, the aliens idly watching from the wedding hall lobby gaped one by one.
— It’s really Lemu……?
— …Kikik?
— Lemu came in person?
Lemu, the most well-known master of the Machine Tower in the universe, was also famous for rarely revealing himself.
He had too many enemies.
Lemu had entered the adult entertainment industry to amass large sums of cash and equip himself with facilities for exploring the Record.
However, what was meant to be merely a means to an end had become far too successful.
As a result, he had attracted countless competitors as well as enemies who despised “machines that produce adult content.”
And wasn’t Lemu irreplaceable?
The Machine Tower.
A sacred place for machines seeking to decipher the Records.
But because Lemu held dominion over the Machine Tower, the universe was filled with powerful individuals who wanted to eliminate him and take control of it.
Once one gains strength and power, it’s only natural to grow curious about one's own future—or even the future of the entire world.
KUUUUUNG!
At last, one side of the white cubic structure opened outward, revealing a tall mechanical figure inside.
“Huh…!”
A cape made of silver-white cables, and a silver suit of armor with fine circuits etched across its surface.
The machine body within was gray, but for some reason, it seemed even sturdier than the armor itself.
It was as if his entire body was woven with extremely dense mechanical muscles.
There was no doubt about it—the figure standing before Yeongwoo was…
‘A high-grade body…! President Lemu has come in person again!’
Lemu, the machine coveted by the entire universe.
Standing at a towering five meters, he held a white spear that was even longer than his own height.
‘What the…? He brought a new weapon this time.’
As Yeongwoo stood about 50 meters from the spaceship, observing Lemu’s form, the mechanical giant moved his sturdy jaw and spoke.
□ It has been a while, Jeong Yeongwoo-07.
A while…?
From Earth’s perspective, it had only been a day.
But for Lemu, who had seen countless timelines through his exploration of the Records, perhaps it truly had been a long time.
Yeongwoo chose not to argue.
“It has been a while, President Lemu.”
Since the Chairman hadn’t arrived yet, Yeongwoo deeply bowed to show his respect.
‘To be able to see this guy alive again is, in a way, a blessing.’
Then, Lemu gestured lightly toward the inside of the spaceship, giving some sort of command.
Whoosh.
Immediately, the mechanical knights who had been waiting inside lined up on either side of him in perfect formation.
□ Has Chairman Dogo not arrived yet?
Was Lemu mentally preparing himself to get beaten up again by the Chairman?
From inside the spaceship, Lemu scanned the wedding hall with keen eyes.
Sensing this, Yeongwoo stepped aside, signaling for him to proceed.
Clank.
“No, the Chairmen haven’t arrived yet.”
□ Chairmen, you say…? Today, both Dogo and Mara are coming, correct?
Perhaps it was because he was a machine with multiple lives, but Lemu didn’t even use honorifics for Mara.
“Yes… We did receive floral tributes in advance.”
Yeongwoo pointed toward the row of alien floral arrangements set up along the side of the lobby.
Lemu smirked.
□ Typical of Dogo and Mara. They are not great businessmen, but they are excellent warriors.
Just from looking at the exterior of the floral tributes, he had already grasped their true function.
Then what about Lemu’s own floral tribute, which had briefly restored power to all of Seoul?
What did that mean?
“President.”
□ Speak.
“The floral tribute you sent… Is it true? Could it really supply power to all of Seoul?”
Lemu wiggled his long fingers as he answered.
□ Not just Seoul. It could restore the power grid for the entire planet.
Then, in a sly tone, he added.
He could deliberately restore power only to Seoul, making it the only illuminated city on Earth.
“……!”
A terrifying thought.
But whether he restored power to the whole world or only to Seoul, bringing electricity back to this ruined planet was an undeniable benefit.
“Then… what’s the price? Why did you encode coordinates into the floral tribute? Aren’t they the coordinates of the Machine Tower?”
Lemu made an enigmatic expression and pointed a finger at the sky.
□ You will understand when you reach those coordinates.
“…Huh?”
Could it be that the coordinates in the floral tribute weren’t for the Machine Tower after all?
As Yeongwoo prepared to ask another question, Lemu swung his arm dismissively, signaling that he had no more to say.
Whoosh!
At his command, electronic circuits began to spread out from the floor of his spaceship, laying down silver-white tiles for him to step on.
Tatatatang!
With a sound reminiscent of gunfire, the ten-meter-wide tiles rapidly extended all the way to the lobby.
‘No matter how much this is now a level-3 city, shouldn’t he at least get the mayor’s approval for this?’
As Yeongwoo gaped at the installation of this silver carpet, the tiles suddenly extended sideways toward another direction.
‘Oh…?’
Seeing where they were headed, Yeongwoo could only nod in understanding.
Tatata-tang!
As soon as the problematic tile arrived in the lobby, it was heading straight toward the congratulatory stand.
‘If you know everyone’s desires, you can captivate anyone. As expected of the President.’
According to what the tile had shown in advance, President Lemu planned to head straight to the congratulatory stand as soon as he arrived in the lobby.
And soon enough—
Clack!
The first VIP of this ceremony, Lemu, began to walk, stepping on the silver-white tile.
He was escorted by mechanical knights.
Yeongwoo, following Lemu, spoke.
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“President, I have a confession to make.”
At this, Lemu, who was walking ahead, looked to the side for the first time with an expression of interest.
□ A confession. That's an interesting choice of words.
“There’s a ranking for congratulatory gifts at this ceremony.”
□ Is that so.
Lemu showed no sign of surprise.
So Yeongwoo quickly added more words.
“If you become the top ranker in congratulatory gifts, you can expel any guest you wish from the hall.”
At this, Lemu finally stopped walking for a moment.
Then he stroked his chin with his fingertips.
□ I have no intention of spending money to provoke Chairman Dogo.
As expected, Lemu was not someone to be underestimated.
He saw through Yeongwoo’s intentions as soon as he heard the rules.
But wasn’t this something Yeongwoo had anticipated?
“It might be presumptuous to say, but the top rank in the congratulatory gifts ranking isn’t prepared for you, President. Your spot is separate.”
□ What do you mean?
“Third place in the ranking. It’s the only position where expulsion is impossible.”
Lemu laughed loudly and flicked his cloak.
□ Ha! You’re trying to pit the Chairman against Mara.
“Yes, will that be possible?”
Incredibly, Yeongwoo asked for Lemu’s opinion.
But even this was part of the protocol Yeongwoo had prepared.
Even though Chairman Dogo scorned Lemu as a mere being of flesh, Yeongwoo subtly conveyed that their side saw things quite differently.
□ If you dare to take Mara’s place, the Chairman will be quite furious. But that’s not a bad development either.
As Lemu said this, he touched his right waist.
It was where he had been struck by a body hook during his last encounter with Dogo.
Though he had brought a new body, the memory of that day lingered.
Seeing this, Yeongwoo cautiously added his words.
“It is about time the Chairman faced some harsh consequences, isn’t it?”
Then he opened his palm, pointed forward, and finished his sentence.
“The congratulatory stand is that way, President.”
* * *
Lemu, an existence of Grade 4 under cosmic law.
Though he was merely a prized trophy in front of the Grade 3 existence Chairman Dogo, at this moment, he was an absolute being.
Currently, the only guests in the lobby were cosmic loan sharks and wandering merchants.
-L, Lemu...!
-We greet the Great Designer!
-...Gii!
In front of a meeting that might happen once in a lifetime, all guests from the universe showed their utmost respect according to their customs.
Clank!
The wandering merchants of Voltak, as soon as they saw Lemu, dropped their weapons and knelt, and the weapon merchant of the giant wheel, Cheok, prostrated with his long antennae lowered.
Even the hammer of Kwaya, who had met several famous figures—
Thunk!
He pounded the metal armor on his face with both hands and stretched his arms upward.
For the prison designers, meeting Lemu in person was an honor.
‘What… Is this guy really this much?’
Maybe it was because his first sponsor happened to be ‘Dogo’ that his standards had risen too high.
As he was seeing now, Lemu was also a tremendously influential presence in the universe.
Yet here was Yeongwoo, a mere mortal, daring to walk alongside him.
“Pr... President, I knew you were impressive, but this is extraordinary.”
□ Living as a famous machine in this universe isn’t easy.
It sounded like humble words, but that was the reality.
The reverence of lower beings didn’t shield him from Dogo’s blade.
As a machine, and a fairly prominent one at that, Lemu was constantly under threat of assassination from fundamentalists like Dogo.
‘No, actually, since he’s not alive in the first place, can it even be called a life?’
At least, according to the Chairman’s view, it was so.
―Lemu is a machine. So even in a sacred duel, he doesn’t wager his life. Because he has no life to lose in the first place.
But watching Lemu up close like this...
‘No matter how I look at it, President Lemu seems like a complete being too? He even has his own emotions, and more than anything, he’s giving a congratulatory gift.’
The thought that this human-like Lemu might get hit again when the Chairman arrives made Yeongwoo’s heart ache.
In fact, the tiles they were stepping on were not for decoration but to mitigate any surprise attacks that might come at any time.
“President! I sincerely hope you give a large congratulatory gift and don’t get expelled by the Chairman!”
As Yeongwoo shouted this, Lemu, who had just arrived at the congratulatory stand, turned and asked.
□ Cash.
“…Pardon?”
□ Chairman and Mara will bring a lot of cash, won’t they?
“Well… Yes, I suppose so, but I’m not exactly sure what you mean.”
With that, Lemu placed the white spear he had been holding onto the congratulatory stand.
Thunk!
□ I’m curious how much this will be appraised at. You do accept equipment as gifts, don’t you?
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