Yoo Han-pil sighed and murmured. He was the chairman of a huge company and any Korean citizen would know his name. This was the first time he had been so frustrated in the 50 years he had been born. More than a year agoâŚ..
He only had one son. He was the only son of a 3rd generation financial group so naturally he raised his son in a prison of gold. And his son grew into a great young man. His head was good so he entered a top university and his physical skills meant he could play any sport. His appearance was also at the level of a celebrity. He was indeed perfect so it was expected that he would inherit! Yoo Han-pil had no doubt about the future of his son. But that bright future turned to grey after the incident that occurred more than a year ago.
âIf it wasnât for thatâŚ..â
Yoo Han-pil stared at his son with a gloomy expression. The young man was sitting in a wheel chair.
After the unexpected accident, his son had been unconscious for several months. Even if his son was disabled overnight, he was thankful that he even woke up. Of course, the thing he desired most was for his son to return to normal. And he would do anything to help his sonâs recovery. Even if it meant offering his entire fortune!
âMy mind hasnât changed. ButâŚ..â
Yoo Han-pil looked at the machine behind his son. It was the unit for the virtual reality game Galaxian. He asked the family doctor. There were many cases where people in similar conditions to his son were immersed in a virtual reality game and improved a lot. Yoo Han-pil already knew that. However, he didnât want to use a virtual reality game to treat his son. His sonâs accident was related to a virtual reality game. Naturally his son didnât play the virtual reality game after that. But a few days ago, his son suddenly said that he wanted to play the virtual reality game Galaxian. The old nightmare resurfaced and he flatly refused. However his son didnât give up. He wouldnât even eat unless he was allowed to play Galaxian. In the end, Yoo Han-pil had no choice but to give in.
âIs it really okay?â
âYesâŚâŚâ
His son painfully moved his lips. Yoo Han-pil sighed and nodded.
âOkay, if that is your will then I wonât stop you anymore. I also wonât ask why you suddenly want to play Galaxian. I only have one wish. I donât want you to return to your previous state. A virtual reality is perfect for disabled people so I hope you can live a normal life in there. Just promise me one thing. Donât tear your fatherâs heart again like you did a year ago.â
âYou donât have to worryâŚâŚ AlreadyâŚ.that caseâŚ..something reckless like thatâŚ..I wonât do it. I justâŚ..â
âThatâs fine.â
Yoo Han-pil nodded his head.
âThat is enough.â
He placed his son within the Galaxian unit. The unit was closed. And his son headed towards a universe set in the far future.
The humans in the 22nd century didnât have a lot of choices. The century changed and quickly accelerated the ruin that humans caused to the earth. Thus the world wide government launched a huge project for the sake of humanity. The universe was still unknown to humans but they decided to place humanityâs fate on exploring it. After numerous trials and 30 years, humanity finally completed a moon base. Once the moon base was completed, their s.p.a.ce development technology accelerated. In the end, the 24th century because the s.p.a.ce pioneering age. Humanity repeated their tremendous growth and opened one solar system planet after another. After many decades, humans finally managed to develop warp navigated and extended their explorations beyond the Milky Way galaxy. They changed their name to the galactic federation and humanityâs s.p.a.ce fleet spread across the galaxies. That was when the problems occurred.
Humanity had entered the real s.p.a.ce pioneering age and experienced some things on the frontier that they never imagined. Hundreds of thousands of light years away in the Kiltin constellation, they encountered an aggressive warrior alien species called the Rama!  They were armed with strong physical abilities and advanced technology beyond humanity. The dreams of the first pioneers that advanced into the galaxies turned to dust. And their solar system ended up being threatened. A team operation! The genius scientist Lucian gathered a team of humanityâs top scientists.  After decades of research, the humans finally developed a technology that could withstand the Rama.
That was body coating! It was a technology that changed humans into aliens. For the first time, mankind could counterattack against the Rama threatening the solar system. They allied with other aliens also threatened by the Rama and ended the first s.p.a.ce war. However, that peace didnât last. The 1st s.p.a.ce War was just the beginning of humanityâs trials. Numerous risks existed beyond human wisdom and many ancient alien civilizations disappeared as their stars went out. There was a chance that humanity could also be buried by darkness. This was humanityâs history written down in the history books.
âHumanity is just like a newborn baby leaving its cradle. From now on humanity will suffer numerous risks and setbacks. However, humanity is a species with infinite possibilities. Body coating is a technology that holds infinite possibilities. The important thing is human potential. If you can draw out all that potential then humans will be the rulers of the universe.
Ark looked around with surprised eyes. The dome he arrived at wasnât that different from R-14âs Star Gate. However, it became a completely different world once he left the dome. It was a citadel city surrounded by a huge, dense forest!  Of course, he had played other virtual reality games so he wasnât that surprised. The city wasnât the capital of the kingdom yet it was dozens of times larger than Yeoido plaza. Yet there was no reason to be surprised by the city. It was the machinery scattered in different places that caught Arkâs eye. Thick pipes were laid out all over the city and the machinery blew black smoke, while crude 3D billboards were attached to walls made of brick. It was like a crazy mix between medieval times and futuristic science. Well, the background was set in a future age.
âHereâŚ.is this really Nephalim?â
Ark searched the information about Nephalim on his Nymphe.
-Nephalim-
Apart from Tatuine, this was the city where most companies swarmed after Istana was discovered. Nephalim is surrounded by unique natural environments so many unique s.p.a.ce resources have been found. However, it fell behind thanks to the disadvantageous terrain and the population decreased as many people moved to other areas. This city isnât recommended if you want a company to sponsor you.
The Star Gate couldnât be used again until he reached a certain level. The cities were hundreds of kilometres away from each other. Therefore several factors needed to be considered when choosing a city. The first thing Ark considered was the population density. Unlike R-14, Istana was a wide planet so hunting wouldnât be a problem. But if a lot of users selected the city then the good quests and hunting ground might already be taken. There was a low chance of finding a dungeon first. When considering the population density, Nephalim was the city with the lowest. So Ark had thought it would be a quiet village but it was different from his expectations. It was a large city and the flashing electric bulletin boards reminded him of the nightlife in Gangnamâs gay area.
âWhat on earth would Tatuine be like if Nephalim has the lowest population density?â
He turned pale just imagining it.
âAnyway, it is good that I chose a city based on population density. There are more people than I expected so there might be some small problemsâŚ..â
Ark stepped forward while thinking.
âThis is your first time in Nephalim.
A holograph of a beautiful woman appeared next to him.
âI am a guide that will tell the beginner pioneers pertinent city related information about Nephalim.You can use me to discover the cityâs geography, the location of the stores and special facilities.
The future had facilities that couldnât even be compared to the medieval times.
-The subscription fee is 50 copper.
But it wasnât free. It was a paid service.
âThis is your first time. For the cheap price of 50 copper, I can tell you about hunting grounds suitable for your level.
âAha, a beginner. Are you looking for a suitable job? Only 50 copper.
Every step he took, another holographic image would appear and demand money.
âWell, some of the information is useful and 50 copper isnât that muchâŚ..â
He gained 40 copper just from cleaning the pipes. His financial status was different from the other level 10 users. But he didnât want to put his hard earned money into a vending machine like this. He could discover such basic information without spending money. Ark ignored the holograms and headed towards the plaza.
âThis is the same in all games.â
The plaza located in the centre of the city was always bustling with noise.
âRecruiting people to go to the Northern Valley! 5 spots available.â
âRecruiting two hunters specialized in small guns to go to the forest!â
âBuying a bulk purchase of recovery pills for 2 gold!â
âSelling various level 10~20 items at a cheap price. Please look at it.â
âSelling special IC card for body coatings. Whisper to inquire about the price.â
Users were buying and selling various items or recruiting for parties. The marketplace was an area where players naturally gravitated in games. Ark looked around the central plaza with shining eyes.
âWonât this give me a windfall?â
Ark looked towards a corner at the entrance of the plaza. The plaza in online games was similar to a flea market. It had a floating population and users were always trying to find a spot to do business. But when Ark arrived at the plaza, there was a pretty s.p.a.cious, empty spot near the entrance! Someone mustâve just closed their business.
âIsnât this terrific luck?â
Ark quickly ran to the empty spot.
âNow shall I get started?â
He pulled out various items form his bag and organized them. Dagger, sword, crossbow, and various firearmsâŚ..
The number of weapons that emerged from his bag was 17. The reason Ark had so many weapons after leaving R-14 was simple. He spent money to buy them. Ark had saved a considerable amount of money from R-14. There was a week between the time the paid hunting ground opened and he left R-14. In the meantime, he made an average of 7~8 gold per day. That was an income of 52 gold. The <s.p.a.ce>gave between 10~20 silver and he completed it 56 times. He received 20 silver from the leather and meat part 144 times. Including the mileage bonus, he had received 34 gold and 40 silver. When everything was put in order, he ended up with 86 gold and 40 silver. If ordinary users made this much money in the early stages then they wouldâve been generous with food and drinks. However, Ark was different.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âMoney is used to make more money!â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>Ark received a large sum of money and immediately made plans to increase that money. And he looked at the information list in R-14âs weapon store.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>-Due to the galactic federation encouraging pioneering, all pioneers will receive a 40% discount on R-14.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>â40% discount!â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>In order words, if he bought it from R-14 then he could gain a 40% profit. Most users only had a dagger when they left for the frontier. Ordinary users had 2 gold by the time they reached level 10. Even with the 40% discount, items with a wearer restriction of level 10 was at least 5 gold. Therefore a level 10 weapon for users became a pie in the skyâŚ..</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>But Ark was rich!</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âA 40% discount means the weapon will be 40% more expensive after I go through the Star Gate.â Of course, he would sell it cheaper than the store but he would still get at least a 20% profit. He could get 1 gold per weapon. 17 items was 17 gold. âIt is a business where profit is guaranteed! There is no reason to hesitate!â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>So Ark spent all his 86 gold on level 10 weapons. It might be expensive in R-14 but users who spent some time on the frontier would have at least 6 gold. Then users would be interested in investing in a new weapon! A weapon 20% cheaper than the stores was certainly enticing. In addition, he found a spot at the entrance where most people flowed in and out!</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âEh? These weapons, isnât it much cheaper than the store?â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âYeah. Moreover, there are guns and swords as well?</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âI really wanted to change my weapon but I didnât have enough money so it was painful.â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>The users flocked like clouds as soon as the street stall opened. The weapons quickly turned back into gold and entered Arkâs pocket. It wasnât just money that acc.u.mulated.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âNowadays there are a lot of people in the northern area so it is difficult to hunt.â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âI heard that a new dungeon was found in the wilderness a while ago.â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âIt is still impossible. The monsters there have an average level of 40.â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>He could collect information from the people gathered. Even if he was just sitting down, information about Nephalim would naturally enter his ears. There was no reason to wast 50 copper for the fee-based information services. This degree was common sense for Ark. Of course, most of the information didnât have much significance for Ark yet. But sometimes useful information would be heard.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âDoesnât this have slightly better performance than the weapons sold at the store?â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>The beginner items from R-14 had slightly better performance than those sold at the frontier! Ark inwardly exclaimed after hearing that information.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âSuch a thing! If it is like that then I can increase the price to 30% and it will still sell!â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>Ark realized his mistake and immediately corrected it.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âHow much is this?â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âAh, that? 6 gold and 50 silver.â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>Ark cheekily raised the price by 10% right in front of people.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âHuh? Wasnât it 6 gold just now?â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>Of course he received some customer complaints. But Ark was shameless.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>â6 gold? You mustâve not heard properly. This is a business but I also have personal expenses.â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>Even if it was only 10% more, that was still a profit. When he raised the price, some of the customers were offended and left but Ark was at the entrance of a populous plaza so it didnât matter. Therefore he told 10 items during the 1 hour after he raised the price.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âHey, get out of the way!â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>A bunch of guys roughly approached and pushed people out of the way. There were four people pushing people out of the way of a man swinging his arms. He was obviously the boss of the group.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>They were wearing shiny armour and what looked like pretty high level equipment.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âWhat the? No matter how I look, they donât look like users with needing level 10 weapons.â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>The group stared at Ark sitting on the ground. Then the bossâ forehead wrinkled and he began to talk.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âWhat are you doing here?â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âHuh?â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âI said what are you doing here?â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>The fellow ended up mixing curses and crude language when talking. In addition, the character appearance was a deep blue manâŚ..</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>Although Ark naturally became angry, right now he was a merchant. Ark displayed the patience of a merchant and answered.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âCanât you see Iâm running a business?â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âWho gave you permission?â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âWho gave me permission? ThatâŚ..â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âThis is out spot. Get lost.â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âEh?â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>Ark asked with a befuddled look. Then a henchman snapped in a rough voice.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âDidnât you hear what hyung-nim said? Are you ears blocked? Get lost because this is out spot!â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âHavenât you grasped the atmosphere yet? This is the spot where weâve been trading for a few days. You stole it while we briefly stepped away. So disappear.â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âThatâŚ.where does it say this is your spot? This is a place for a street stall. If you leave this place then it doesnât belong to you anymore.â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âThis guy isnât afraid.â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>The boss grinned and licked his lips.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âWould you like to quit the game today?â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>Arkâs face was amazed at the threat. If they left a hunting ground or market spot empty then they couldnât complain. That was the rule of online games. It was the same with Galaxian. That happened in R-14âs hunting grounds and it was the same for the street stalls here. They couldnât claim a previous spot that they traded in.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âButâŚâŚ.â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>Sometimes there were people with no common sense. Although he had only been playing Galaxian for a short time, Ark had an online gaming career of 4 years. Ark had often encountered people like this in the previous game. They had higher levels than others or their guild had a lot of power so those people believed they could ignore the rules!</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âI thought it was strange that a good spot at the entrance was emptyâŚ..â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>A vast majority of the users in the plaza knew about those guys and avoided the spot. They didnât want to quarrel with the thugs.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âEncountering fellows like this at the beginning of a new game.â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>If this was the previous game then those guys would already be tattered. The future of those thugs wouldâve disappeared. However, things were different now. It was obvious that the boss was higher levelled than Ark. He also had 4 henchmen! There was no way he could win if he fought against the group. Those guys were the type of hold grudges so they would chase after him like leeches.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âIt canât be helped. Anyway, I only have 3 items left from R-14. These guys are running wildâŚ..it might hurt my pride but the only way is to retreat. d.a.m.n! Those b.a.s.t.a.r.ds. Iâll remember your faces and will make you regret this later.â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âOkay. Iâll leave.â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>Ark endured his anger and started to pack up his stall. No, he tried to pack up his stall.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âWait, who said you could just go? Didnât I say it? This is our spot. You selfishly engaged in business here so now you have to pay a fee. Isnât that right?â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âWhat? A fee?â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âYes, a fee. Iâll overlook it for 10 gold.â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âThis b.a.s.t.a.r.d, he wants a cut of my profit?â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>Ark started at the man with an absurd expression.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âHey, thereâs no need to be upset. If you donât have any cash then you can pay with items. Letâs seeâŚ..these are level 10 weapons? Well, taking a couple of these prices should be enough. If you give us those two items then weâll send you off politely. ThatâŚ..â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>Then man suddenly frowned while surveying the street stall. He looked at an item in the corner and asked.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âWhere did you get that item?â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>Arkâs eyes reflexively shifted towards that corner. The item the man pointed towards was a toy in the shape of an airplane. When Ark was on the verge of leaving R-14, the octopuses had given him a token and the baby octopuses also wanted to give him something. The items that the baby octopuses gave him were 100% j.a.ptem. But he didnât want to throw them away so he had displayed them.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âWhy the sudden interest in a toy?â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>Ark was thinking that when something interrupted him.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âNo, that doesnât matter. Come to think of it, 2 items for engaging in business here is a bit severe. Okay, Iâll be nice. If you give me that toy then I will let you leave.â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âAigoo, Hyung-nim. Isnât that too generous?â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âIt canât be helped. I canât take money from a child. He is just a novice user.â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âHey you! You got lucky today. Hyung-nim is being nice so give it quickly and disappear.â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>Wasnât this like an adult bullying a child? And this was a toy. He displayed it but he honestly didnât think it would sell. He thought there was a possibility of chance of giving the j.a.ptem along with a weapon purchased. But the value of the toy wasnât the problem for Ark. The stubbornness of these guys meant he was reaching the limit of his patience. He wanted to tear them apart. If those fellows wanted this item then he wouldnât easily give it to them. Because those guys kept on threatening him. Ark replied in a low voice.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âOkay. You can have this if you want.â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âGood thinking.â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âFor 90 gold.â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âWhat?â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âJust like you said. The rent is 10 gold? This toy was 100 gold. So I will give you this toy for 90 gold.â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>â100 gold? For a toy like that?â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âAre you crazy?â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>The henchmen shouted with displeased expressions. Then the boss lifted his arm and said.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âYouâŚ.are you trying to trick me?â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âOf course not.â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âDo you think we look easy?â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âNo you donât.â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>The boss fell silent at Arkâs answer. He thought for a moment before saying with a smile.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âYou have more guts then I thought. Okay. In fact, we were a bit harsh before so Iâll take responsibility. I apologize for offending you. I want to buy that toy for a fair value. And all the problems between us will be cleared up. So how much is it?â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âDidnât I say? 100 gold. I canât discount even 1 copper.â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>The man glared at Ark and said.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âThen I have no choice but to take it.â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âTry it.â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>Ark stepped in front of the toy. Meanwhile the henchmen took out their swords and guns and approached. Ark and the octopusesâ toys were surrounded by the thugs.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>-Stop!</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>A mechanical sound rang out. Two androids were quickly approaching. The androids painted in red were in charge of policing Nephalim. The guard androids stood between Ark and the gang and said.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âPlease stop. You are in a public place and any acts of violence are prohibited. If you donât stop then you will be arrested under the federationâs 27th law. Iâll warn you once again. Immediately disarm and disband.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âSheesh!â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>The boss clicked his tongue with annoyance. He shot a glance towards Ark and muttered.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âYour life was saved.â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âLetâs see? I donât know whether it was my life that was saved.â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âYou wonât be able to get away with that sa.s.sy att.i.tude in the future. Youâre a user so you canât just live in the city. If you hunt outside the city then you will regret your actions today.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âIâm so afraid. Am I going to cry?â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>Ark retorted and the bossâ face became even colder. He stared at Ark and growled.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âMy name is Mald. You better remember that.â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âIâll remember it. My name isâŚâŚâ</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>Ark looked serious and took one step towards Mald. And smiled before cheekily saying.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>ââŚâŚItâs a secret. It would be better for you to forget it.â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âYou b.i.t.c.h! Really!â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>Mald angrily grabbed Arkâs collar. No, he was about to grab it.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âUgh!â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>Ark suddenly screamed and rolled on the ground. Mald stared in confusion as Ark started screaming towards the guards.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âS-save me! T-that guy! He hit me!â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âW-what nonsense is this? I didnâtâŚ..</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>Mald tried to approach Ark. Then the two androids blocked his way.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âPlease stop. You have ignore our warnings and caused an act of violence. You have been caught breaking the federationâs law. Please come with us.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>If you resist arrest then you will be charged with obstruction of justice.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âWhat are you talking about? When did I commit an act of violence? That b.a.s.t.a.r.dâŚ..â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>Mald tried to explain to the androids but they didnât budge. Ark had cleverly provoked Mald and blocked the androidâs view so they just saw Mald reaching towards Ark. Thus Mald was arrested for an act of violence.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âAre you resisting arrest?</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âI didnât touch that b.a.s.t.a.r.dâŚ..â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âUnder the federationâs 27th law, you are under arrest.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>Pajijijik!</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>The androids stunned Mald without any notice. Mald convulsed and dropped to the ground and the androids pulled him across the plaza. The henchmen couldnât do anything.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âH-Hyung-nim!â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âT-thisâŚ.why the h.e.l.lâŚ..â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âThis is all because of that b.a.s.t.a.r.d! Hey, where is he?â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âThat b.i.t.c.h! We wonât let you go! Weâll turn him into rice cakes!â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>The henchmen turned and looked for Ark. HoweverâŚâŚ</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>Ark spat on the ground and murmured.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âDo they think Iâm stupid? Did he think I would tell him my personal details?â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>Mald was dragged off by the guard androids while the henchmen were searching the plaza that Ark was already far away from. There was no way he would stay there for the henchmen to find him. Giggles started emerging once he was far away from the plaza.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âHeh, that stupid Mald. He was dragged off.â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>The sight released all of the stress that was piled up. However, he couldnât be careless. In fact, Ark hadnât wanted to concede when Maldâs gang first confronted him. Nephalim was a city so not even those mindless thugs would dare PK. There was just one problem. Those guys were vindictive so they would search for him outside the side to PK.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âWhile my style isnât to avoid a fightâŚ..â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>He could only afford to do such a thing when he had a lot of skills.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âRight now Iâve only just finished the beginner tutorial. There is no way I can leave the area of Nephalim. In such a situation, having a high level gang searching for me will by annoying. If those guys decided to disrupt my actions then I wonât even be able to leave the city.â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>So he endured it. But eventually he exploded.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âThose gangsters, their personality rubbed me the wrong wayâŚ..â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>The situation Ark was most worried about had occurred. The combination of âbeing uncomfortable + insecurity + annoyanceâ had flowed out. But he didnât really regret it. He was forced to concede his spot thanks to their threats. Yet they said he stole their spot? They even threatened to make him quit the game!</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âYes, the damage has already been done so there is no point worrying about it. There is no guarantee that these guys will retaliate and they canât play the game 24 hours a day. For the moment I just have to be careful when going outside. They will eventually forget about meâŚâŚâ</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>But Ark wouldnât forget about his grudge.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âTheyâre high levelled so they will eventually leave Nephalim.  Iâll continue playing. Theyâll see who I am in the future. Mald and his 4 henchmenâŚ..Iâll be sure to remember their faces. Even if it takes 1 year or 2 years, Iâll make sure they regret it.â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>Until then he had to avoid being noticed by those guys. Ark happily dreamed of his revenge.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âBy the wayâŚ..â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>After a while, Ark looked at the item in his hand. It was the toy airplane that Mald wanted. At first, he thought Mald was just crazy but he started thinking after leaving the plaza.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âHe was requesting 10 gold. It is weird that he suddenly switched to the toy. Desiring weapons is normal. So why did he want a toy that canât be sold?â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>It was a question that made Ark uncomfortable. He was able to find an answer after sneaking out of the plaza.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âIt is impossible for a guy like that to want a worthless item. Then the answer is simple. He thinks the toy is worth more than 10 gold. Thereâs no doubt about it. He isnât a novice. He also asked me where I got this toy. Then there must be something I donât know hidden in this toy. Something worth at least 10 gold!â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>Ark had the idea and sat near a fountain before examining the toy carefully. It was just a toy when glancing at it. Therefore he hadnât looked over it after the baby octopuses gave it to him. Now that he had the idea âthere must be something,â he examined every inch of it. It was more sophisticated then it first appeared. It was unthinkable that something this sophisticated could be made by the baby octopuses.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âCome to think of itâŚ..â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>Once he started questioning it, there was no limit to all his doubts. Ark didnât know where the octopuses had got the toy from. From then on, Ark became perfectly immersed in the toy. He shook it back and forth and folded up the tail wing. Arkâs heart rate then soared as he discovered a vertical line.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âIt moves! There is definitely something there!â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>Ark was convinced. The shape was that of a type of switch. Once the tail wing was folded up, the other attachments started moving.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âThe moving parts were the tail and the wings as well as the 5 antennas. But there is no change after theyâve all been operated. The parts must be manipulated in a certain order in order to discover what is hidden in the toy.â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>He examined the parts without any rest for 1 hour. Click. The bottom part of the toy suddenly opened and a USB like memory chip fell out. Then an information window appeared from the Nymphe.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>-Undisclosed Memory Chip.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>There are different memory chips with various types of information in Galaxian. Â These memory chips will connect to the Nymphe and hidden information can be confirmed.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âAs expected, there is something!â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>Ark cheered and connected the memory chip to the Nymphe with a sense of expectation.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>-The memory chip is protected and you canât access the data. A security code must be entered into the Nymphe before the lock will be released.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>That was the sound of all his expectations deflating.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âI have to enter a security code? What is it saying all of a sudden?â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>It was normal for the key to be hidden near the problem in a key.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âBut I checked the toy precisely for 1 hour and couldnât find any hints. Then the only thing I can think of is that the NPC who gave me this toy has the clue.â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>Ark was filled with regret at the thought.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âThereâs no doubt about it. The baby octopuses who gave me the toy must have a hint about the security code! But I canât return to R-14. In the end, is there no way to get that hint? Dammit, why didnât I carefully examine the toy when I received it?â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>Ark sighed and shook his head. Ark had spent a fortnight in R-14 raising his level and earning money. It was a training process to recover his original mindset. He cleaned the pipes 300 times and hunted the s.p.a.ce bugs 200 times for a total of 500 completed quests! He thought he had recovered his original mindset after reaching an end to those repeatable quests.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âBut Iâm still not there yet. I shouldâve checked the unusual item before other users paid attention to it. I still havenât regained all of my spirit.â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>However, there was no reason to give up on obtaining the data. It was hard to get the security code but there must be more than one way to obtain the data. Mald wanted the toy so he must have a way to obtain the data without knowing the security code.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âOf course he wonât kindly tell me.â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>He had no choice but to find the method himself. Ark didnât think about it for long. He would be able to find something eventually. This was Galaxian, a world created for users.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âI will learn it eventually.â</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>Ark stretched and stood up. He purse became thick thanks to the weapons collected from R-14 and he also got some data. He felt bad about entangling with Maldâs gang but it still learnt something important. He was interested but he wouldnât worry about it too much. Ark still had a lot of work to do.</s.p.a.ce>
<s.p.a.ce>âThe first place I will stop by isâŚâŚâ</s.p.a.ce>