Chapter 142: Radical Reform (1) (1/2)
Chapter 142: Radical Reform (1)
TL: emptycube / ED: Obelisk
After the destruction of all the Kahur Kabkuns connected to the Kundle Planet, the Recruit Training Evaluation Agency summoned Choi Hyuk. Although the first evaluation period had yet to end, this was an exception.
The recruit training evaluation team leader, who he had met in Dark City, was the same species as the one he saw in the supply store in the past. His head was white, his nose was long enough to almost touch his chin, and his wide mouth ran along his jawline.
“The Sur and Jangkok Troops don’t look like they will be able to continue with the mission for the time being. A third of the Kundle Tribe has died in battle. Furthermore, a million out of the ten million troop members, who participated in the mining, died in battle. The Berserkers, Valkyries, and Extremers also suffered heavy casualties…”
The evaluation team leader curled his long lips. His eyes gleamed.
“Don’t you think these losses are severe considering they occurred during recruit training?”
It was an unpleasant question. Choi Hyuk answered indifferently,
“We captured a high-ranked monster that wielded a new weapon and destroyed four Kahur Kabkuns. Weren’t such losses expected when executing a plan like that?”
The evaluation team leader nodded his head.
“Of course, that’s true. But what I’m saying is, wasn’t your mission recruit training not destroying Kahur Kabkuns?”
The lights flickered like old fluorescent lights. There were creaky chairs and musty smells that reminded one of a basement. This sight, which seemed as desolate as an interrogation room, was an environment the Keunib species, which the evaluation team leader was a member of, liked. Apparently, when they were in dreary place such as this, they felt like they were back in their homeland or something.
Drip, drip.
While listening to the sound of water dripping somewhere, Choi Hyuk wondered how he should take the evaluation team leader’s absurd remarks. It didn’t take long.
“Nonsense… Is a third of the Kundle Tribe population dying in battle such a big deal? When the Sur and Jangkok Troops schemed to kill the entire Kundle Tribe as well as the planet?”
Choi Hyuk’s voice was chilly.
He wasn’t intimidated even though he was in front of the leader in charge of evaluating his contributions. Choi Hyuk knew his value very well. He was a high-ranked warrior in possession of a Sword of Vow. Even when considering the entire alliance, he could be considered an elite, and in the country-side-like Laniakea Supercluster, he stood confidently at the top. He was no longer just a ‘number’ who had to bow down even when hearing unpleasant words.
The evaluation team leader spread his seven-fingered hands open and backed away.
“Don’t act so sensitive. Interrogating is my job. I have no thoughts on denying your contribution, you know? Only, the loss of warriors is quite significant. Also, the casualties of a third of the Kundle Tribe is different from mining. If we mined them, then we would obtain some karma, but if they are killed by the monsters, as in this case, nothing remains, you understand?”
Every time the evaluation team leader talked, it rubbed Choi Hyuk the wrong way. However, like he said, he didn’t have any malice towards Choi Hyuk. When looking at him through his Eyes of Distinction, the evaluation team leader clearly wasn’t emitting any color. Like he said, he was simply doing his ‘job’.
‘Though I don’t know why he’s handling it this way.’
Once again, Choi Hyuk regained his indifferent attitude and said,
“Then let’s talk about results. The Kundle Tribe’s growth.”
A thin, sharp tongue, resembling a knife, slid out of the evaluation team leader’s mouth. The oddly shining red tongue licked his wide lips.
“It wasn’t bad… No, it was overwhelming. It’s especially surprising that they advanced this much considering the other two troops judged they had no potential as warriors. Only, is this result enough to redeem the losses? That’s the problem.”
The evaluation team leader continued tenaciously. Choi Hyuk simply shut his mouth. Instead, his eyes contained curiosity. ‘So what is it that you want to say?’ Choi Hyuk didn’t show even a sliver of unease because he was confident in the contributions he made and the abilities he displayed.
In the end, the first to say his inner thoughts was the evaluation team leader. He waved his hand as he said,
“Meaning, this isn’t something someone of my level can judge. Someone of higher rank than me will come.”
As soon as he finished talking, the door opened with a thud.
“What? Why is the hero of the alliance in such a shabby place?!”
A small robot raised his voice as soon as he entered. Around a hundred metallic pieces were tethered together in chains of exquisite, gentle lights to form a human figure. At a glance, he looked more like a member of the Speckled Light Tribe than the Armored Soul Tribe.
The evaluation team leader jolted up from his seat, got into position, and shouted,
“For life and freedom! Greetings to Commander-in-chief Armor-Phantom of the Shapley Supercluster!”
The Shapley Supercluster was a higher ranked region than the Laniakea Supercluster, which Choi Hyuk was a part of. The Laniakea Supercluster and the Horologium Supercluster following it were both small superclusters influenced by the gravity of the Shapley Supercluster. It could be said that if the Shapley Supercluster was Seoul, then the Laniakea Supercluster would be Hanam or Gwangmyeong{1}.
If he was the commander-in-chief of the Shapley Supercluster, then he was Choi Hyuk’s superior by a great margin. Choi Hyuk stood up awkwardly and saluted him.
“For life and freedom.”
Armor-Phantom was clearly a highest-ranked warrior.
‘But he seems a bit weak?’
Choi Hyuk’s question was quickly answered.
Armor-Phantom’s body floated up, wrapping his arm around Choi Hyuk’s shoulders and saying friendlily,
“Haha, it’s alright. Anyways, sorry for meeting you, the hero of the alliance, in my secondary body. It was difficult to come personally due to all my work.”
It seemed his real body remained in the Shapley Supercluster and he was moving this mechanical body in Dark City with his mind. It was surprising that he could give off the spirit of a highest-ranked warrior despite this. He wasn’t the commander-in-chief of the Shapley Supercluster for nothing.
Such a powerful warrior was showing goodwill towards Chio Hyuk.
“Anyways, those who call themselves the evaluation team are so inflexible… Hey, I’ll personally reward Leader Choi Hyuk so you just write a report matching it.”
“Ye-yes! Understood! I’ll write up a report in 30 minutes!”
The evaluation team leader, who had been pressuring Choi Hyuk just now, was currently pale as he repeated after Armor-Phantom. His behavior seemed to indicate that, while he knew that someone from above would come, he didn’t think that it would the commander-in-chief of the Shapley Supercluster.
“Tsk, tsk. Now! Let’s go! A hero needs a suitable victory party!”
Armor-Phantom clicked his tongue once before leaving the evaluation team office with Choi Hyuk.
**
A party commenced.
It was a party beyond one’s imagination.
There was a place called the ‘Hall of Glory’ in Dark City. This place simulated a black hole.
From the border of a black hole, known as the event horizon, there was an extreme force of gravity that distorted space and time, making time stop. Because of this, from the moment a black hole was created, all matter sucked into it accumulated on its border. In the end, it created a shining band of light.
The floor of the Hall of Glory embodied the shape of a black hole. There was a small hole in the middle where someone could fall through and a shining band of light spiraled around it.
Also, almost all types of food found throughout the universe existed in this light. As if fishing for salmon, one just needed to place their hand in the stream of light and snatch out one of the foods that came up in their mind.