Ark the Legend 1-12
Page 131
So Ark went straight to Marquis Martin……
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“I already know.”
Martin Marquis said as soon as he saw Ark.
“I’ve received a report about S-20 from my adjutant. I knew Jyubel and the Laius company would cause trouble one day but I didn’t expect it would turn out like this.”
“Is there a way to resolve it?”
“To tell you the truth……”
Marquis Martin paused and sighed before continuing.
“Right now there is nothing I can do to help the situation.”
“Nothing?”
“Yes, the auditor’s words were true. The incident in Charem was caused by an unidentified virus that cause Sufferers and the Parliament received a report about the bio hazard risks. In order to prevent the recurrence of an incident like this, a bill was created that required disaster prevention facilities to be installed in all cities and sectors. That bill was approved by Parliament a few days ago. It isn’t just S-20 but all sectors in Istana who have to comply. I can’t give S-20 preferential treatment in a situation like this.”
Ark felt breathless as his jaw dropped. Right now S-20 had several problems but the most important one was the
If he installed the security, disaster prevention and sanitary facilities then it would be okay. But like always, the problem was money. Safety equipment were things like a shield or automatic turrets surrounding the sector. After receiving the audit command, Tori did some calculations and the amount required to install those facilities was at least 20,000 gold! Combined with the disaster and sanitary equipment, that was a total of 30,000 gold! Ark didn’t have that kind of money.
‘But……’
There was a way to obtain some money. The airship that crashed into S-20. Two stores in the centre were completely smashed while the four surrounding stores were affected as well. The airship had the mark of the Laius company on it! Therefore Ark had the right to ask for compensation from Laius.
‘The scale of damage isn’t small so I can receive a considerable amount of compensation. I can use the compensation to pay for the facilities and avoid disaster. I’m sorry for the merchants who received damage but my priority is to protect the sector. I can pay the merchants interest until the sector has stabilized.’
This was the reason Ark came to visit Marquis Martin. He received the
…..That’s what he thought.
“I can’t do that.”
“What do you mean?”
“Do you really think the airship crash occurred by accident?”
“Is it important whether it was an accident or not?”
“No, it is very important.”
Marquis Martin clicked his tongue and continued talking.
“Have you considered that the Laius group deliberately caused the accident?”
“You mean……?”
“According to my research, the Laius group had reported that airship stolen a few days ago. It is clear that the airship belongs to the Laius group. But all of their airships are covered by insurance. Therefore all damages caused by the airship must occur through the insurance company.”
“Won’t I still receive a compensation?”
“Maybe someday.”
“Someday?”
“The insurance company has raised an objection to this accident. The airship that crashed into S-20 was just about to be disposed of. Therefore the insurance company believes the thief deliberately stole it for the insurance payout and won’t give the payout until their investigation ends. And the Laius company accepted it.”
“That…….
“All of Laius’ airships are insured with the Trial insurance company. And Trial was a subsidiary of Laius a few years ago. Do I need to explain more?”
From the beginning it was all planned out. Reporting it as stolen, the crash and the postponement of the insurance payout. And the postponed payouts included S-20’s compensation. It was clear when looking at the situation. Trial intended to quarrel with the Laius company over the insurance payout. This would last until Ark was stripped of the administrator position.
“You know……”
“Yes, this isn’t a problem that Marquis Martin can solve.”
“The same goes for your other problems. The federation has an obligation to protect the sector. You manage the dungeon but the dungeon isn’t technically part of your sector. So the federal army can’t intervene if the murderers are going around in the dungeon. And the Laius group is constructing outside the sector so legally there isn’t a problem.”
In the end he wasn’t able to give any help. Marquis Martin was the military advisor and a powerful noble in the federation. But he wasn’t capable of everything. Especially since Jyubel had an equal status with him. Marquis Jyubel was the minister of Domestic Affairs. He had a stronger influence on domestic affairs while Marquis Martin had more influence in military matters.
“Ark.”
Then Martin Marquis spoke again.
“I’ve helped you several times. Perhaps Jyubel didn’t like that which is why he is acting this time. That’s why I can’t do anything. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
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“He expects you to understand while we’re dying?”
Berad became furious after hearing Ark’s explanation.
“In the end he is just pretending ignorance!”
“This is why we shouldn’t believe in the nobility. Dammit! Didn’t we go back to the battlefield because he needed us?”
“Next time I’ll smash his head in!”
The Royal Guards exclaimed in rough voices.
“That’s not what he means.”
Ark shook his head.
“It’s not that Marquis Martin won’t help. He can’t help.”
“Eh? What’s that? That’s the same thing.”
“It is very different.”
Ark replied in a calm voice. In the end Marquis Martin couldn’t help so visiting him was pointless. But he could regain his calm because of his conversation with the Marquis. Ark had been in an excited state when visiting him. The
“Jyubel and the Laius group planned this. They wouldn’t leave such an easy loophole It was stupid to expect a reward from the airship crash. But Marquis Martin did help in some way. I couldn’t receive help from him but I could figure out the situation.”
Needless to say, the Laius company’s purpose was S-20. However Jyubel’s purpose wasn’t S-20. Why would the minister of domestic affairs care about an underdeveloped sector? He might be helping the Laius company but that isn’t his purpose. Jyubel’s target was Marquis Martin. That’s why Marquis Martin stressed that he couldn’t get involved. He had prepared a small trap for Marquis Martin and now he was in a corner. This was the reason Marquis Martin couldn’t help. If he interfered then Jyubel might make things even worse. Mellin shook his head and sighed again at Ark’s explanation.
“In the end we’re like shrimps caught in a war between whales.”
It was an accurate representation. That was Ark’s current situation.
“But I’m not a shrimp.”
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Ark raised his head after a moment and said.
“I’m not going to give up until the end.”
“What do you mean? Did you find a way?”
“Then did you want to give up?”
“No, that’s not…..thousands of gold is needed in order to install those facilities. There is also a time limit so we need to start construction immediately. How are we going to get that type of money?”
“However we can’t give up!”
Berad struck the desk and stood up. The other members also got up and shouted.
“Yes! S-20 is our land! This is the land that Hyung-nim obtained after becoming bloody on the battlefield! Why do we have to give up such a land?”
“That’s right! Besides, we haven’t seen the sun for a month because we were digging! I’m not going to give it to someone else! There is no way!”
“I would rather carry a bomb to plunge into that research centre!”
“That would be a problem.”
Ark said with a smile.
“The sector’s only hope is that research centre.”
“The research centre? What do you mean?”
Mellin asked with confusion at the mention of the research centre. If he could explain, most facilities were moved inside blocks that could be easily assembled. As long as there was sufficient equipment and manpower, the building could be completed in a few days. If Laius poured a considerable amount of money into it then it could be completed in one day.Near the sector office was a state of the art research centre with the latest facilities.
“What is the Laius company’s purpose?”
“Isn’t it S-20?”
“Indeed.”
Ark then shouted to Tori.
“Tori, can you confirm what type of facilities are in that building?”
“Huh? Yes! I just need to look at the connected blocks and I can determine it. I can’t see any high performance antennas but there are built in automatic turrets and a shield generator. Doesn’t it seem more like a fortress than a laboratory?”
“That’s more solid evidence.”
Ark grinned and nodded.
“In other words those facilities are being stored in the research centre. It is like that. They might’ve created that building to pressure us but it isn’t the only reason. Perhaps the real purpose of that building is sector management. They intend to use that building for management when they drive us out of S-20. Now, that raises one question. Why would they make the management office right outside the sector boundary?”
“B-because they can’t build inside the sector……”
“Then what if they obtain sector S-20?”
“Then……”
Mellin lifted his head with a dumbstruck expression. He had finally reached the same conclusion as Ark.
“Extension.”
That word fell from Mellin’s mouth. Ark manipulated his Nymphe and the information window floated in the air.
Extension (5,000 G): Extend the range of the sector by 1 square kilometres.
Fairy (3,000 G): A Fairy can be installed for pioneers to resurrect at.
Exclusive Route (2,000 G): The sector can be added to the transport route that the federation operates.
Relay Antenna (1,000 G): A large volume relay antenna can be installed in the sector. When the antenna is installed, it is possible to make contact with other cities on Istana and users can receive mail from other colleagues.
It was the information window stating all the public facilities that could be installed in a sector! Originally Ark had been trying to install the Fairy and exclusive route in S-20. But what was the use if his administrator license flew away? He had forgotten about the public facilities after all the incidents until the conversation about insurance with Marquis Martin.
“The administrator of S-20 is still me.”
Ark said with a smile.
“I can give permission to expand the sector.”
If Ark extended the boundaries of the sector then the laboratory right next to the boundary would be included in the sector’s sphere of influence. This didn’t mean that the research centre would belong to Ark. But it didn’t matter who owned the research centre. The important thing was that a building equipped with all the facilities required by the auditor was within S-20.
“But if those guys destroy the institute……”
“Who will let them?”
Ark said with a smirk.
“That building might belong to Laius but it will be in my area of administration. They can’t do anything without my permission once the extension happens. The ground that building is on will belong to me. I can forcefully evict anyone who build on my land without permission or they will have to pay me a building permit.”
Marquis Martin had already given Ark legal advice about this. The result was no problem!
‘This is it! An eye for an eye! Law against law!’
This was the solution Ark came up with to reverse the situation.
“Two conditions are required for this plan to be successful. One is to raise the funds required for extension and the other is to complete the extension without them noticing. If they know then they might demolish the building before we collect the funds needed for the extension.”
“I see what you mean.”
“Tomorrow I will be eligible to apply for public facilities. I have to secure the funds before then.”
The necessary funds was 5,000 gold. That was far less than the amount required to equip security and sanitary facilities. But that didn’t mean it was easy to gather.
‘I don’t have good news……’
He had been saving money to apply for a Fairy and exclusive route. Despite collecting the proceeds from the sector, Ark only had 1,000 gold. However Ark had tons of expensive metal parts from Amara. The Royal Guards also obtained a significant amount of gallstones from spending one month in the dungeon. And in the last few days, Ark had been wandering the dungeons and collecting loot!
‘There’s no time left. I have to sell everything I can!’
But he couldn’t sell at S-20. Ark’s plan would be wasted if Bain noticed. Furthermore, S-20 contained lots of gallstones. It would be hard to get a good price for the gallstones if he sold it here. Therefore Ark flew to Charem using the Silver Star to dispose of the goods. It wasn’t easy to dispose of the goods for an expensive price in a limited amount of time. He ran around the stores trying to haggle for even 1 more copper. Thanks to that, Ark sold all the items for a high price than he imagined and gathered 4,500 gold. Yet he was still lacking 500 gold.
‘I can’t sell anything else. But……’
Ark still had one place where he could gain money. It was the octopuses’ food production factory right next to Charem! When it was created then the profits for one day was 14 gold and 40 silver. But now the revenue had gone above 20 gold a day. While Ark was absent, Jay mix the fish paste bar with various spices to develop premium goods. The profit increased by 50%. So the money earned in a fortnight since last month was 900 gold! Ark would receive 30% of the income so that was 270 gold.
–Of course we will help you in such a matter!
Bakum handed over the money gathered in the meantime after hearing Ark’s circumstances. His total was 5,400 gold! Finally he reached his goal.
“Thank you. I will pay back this money as soon as the situation in the sector is cleaned up. Jay, good work. I don’t have time for a detailed explanation right now but I’ll come back.”
Ark headed straight to S-20 again. And he was sure of his victory when he landed in S-20’s airfield.
Kukung! Kukung! Kukung!
The Laius company was still constructing its building. Bain hadn’t noticed Ark’s plan. Now the time remaining before he could apply for a public facility was 30 minutes. They couldn’t demolish the lab in 30 minutes even if they noticed! If he could apply for a sector extension after 30 minutes then
all his problems would be resolved.
‘That’s it. This time I won!’
Ark gave a smile of satisfaction as he looked at the research centre.
“Why, are you envious?”
One man approached from the other side of the fence. He was Bain, the director sent by the Laius company. Bain just laughed and began to talk.
“I heard that Ark-nim has a lot of complex issues in your sector these days.”
“Thanks to you.”
“I don’t know what you mean. Haven’t you discovered it already? The airship that crashed has the Laius logo but it was stolen a while ago. I was surprised myself to see it crash into S-20. Well, I’m sure I wasn’t as surprised as Ark-nim. The Laius company is personally investigating it. I heard the insurance company might endlessly delay the insurance payments so will you be able to endure the merchants’ complaints?”
“Is that a problem for you to worry about?”
“That might be so but…..”
Bain laughed and continued.
“Why don’t you give up and return to the city?”
“What?”
“The equipment you need to satisfy the central government costs tens of thousands of gold. I’ve seen you flying off in the airship to try and gather money but I don’t think Ark-nim can gain this type of money in a fortnight. In the end Ark-nim will just become penniless. So I’ll make a proposal. Ark-nim already knows what the Laius company desires. So let’s not waste time and put this in order. It won’t end up good for Ark-nim if you endure. If you transfer the rights to the sector to us then we will pay you 1,000 gold.”
“Do you think I’ll accept a suggestion like that?”
“Aren’t you going to regret it?”
“Let’s see? In the future I know who will regret it.”
Ark replied to Bain.
“Ark, it is a big deal!”
A voice screamed from behind him. He looked back and saw Mellin running with a frantic face.
“The murders! Murders in the dungeon! This time there are hundreds of incidents! Right now the dungeon is a sea of blood! There is an outpouring of complaints by the pioneers! And hundreds of pioneers have left the sector!”
“W-what?”
Ark felt like he had been hit in the back of the head. So far only 3~4 people had been PKed in the dungeon at a time. That was equivalent to one party. Therefore Ark thought that the Laius company had hired several pioneers to infiltrate and commit PK. But suddenly hundreds of people were struck at once? That meant there were several times the number of assassins hiding in the dungeon. It meant the other assassins had been hiding. So far only occasional parties had been struck by PK. The rest had been hiding. Now those guys all revealed themselves and murdered hundreds of people at once.