Chapter 297


    A sovereign/archer memorialized as a hero by the survivors of the Dewinged Angel Statue Gate, a yer who didnt hesitate to sacrifice himself for others. And just like Kang Somyi, a yer who had a yellow light above his head. That was all the info Hyukjin had on Schultz.


    I dont know what to think.


    Hyukjin hadnt thought Schultz woulde out so boldly with such an absurd statement.


    Did you just ask me to give you the Immortal Fleet? Did my ears hear wrong?


    No, as shameless as it is, you heard right.


    Im d you know its shameless.


    Thankfully, Schultz seemed to know how ridiculous this request was. If he hadnt, things would have been extremely troublesome.


    For now, get up. Id like to hear a bit more on why you want the Immortal Fleet.


    Schultz wasnt supposed to still be alive, and the Immortal Fleet was supposed to go to Song Junghye.


    Schultz, the Immortal Fleet, and Song Junghye They didnt seem very rted, but they were all connected to the variable Kim Hyukjin. So instead of immediately rejecting him, Hyukjin probed Schultzs intent.


    I willplete the Immortal Fleet.


    Complete the Immortal Fleet?


    Ah. Schultz quickly backtracked. Its not that Im saying the Immortal Fleet in your possession is iplete. Please dont misunderstand.


    Thats what it sounds like to me.


    Schultz apologized. That wasnt my intention. But I understand it cane off that way to you. Im sorry. Im really sorry.


    Hyukjin looked at the still kneeling German yer in amazement.


    Even though hes kneeling, he doesnt look servile.


    How should he put it? He was proud? It was incredible that Schultz could look proud while asking for someone elses special ability, but Hyukjin liked his attitude.


    Hes not trying to be underhanded or anything, at least.


    Hyukjin could tell from the few sentences they had exchanged. Schultz had been fully honest with him the whole time and hadnt tried to lie. His actions, words, and expressions, everything was true.


    And its true the Immortal Fleet isntplete yet.


    He was also only level 44. There was a limit to how amazing a level 44 yers special ability could be. Plus, he was in the middle of enhancing it right now. If it could be enhanced, that also meant it hadnt been enhanced yet. Saying it was iplete wasnt all that wrong.


    Let me apologize again. I really didnt intend on insulting you.


    You seem sincere, so Ill ept the apology. Hyukjin shrugged. And its true that its iplete.


    ...


    At Schultzs silence, Hyukjin continued, I know what conditions are necessary to enhance the Immortal Fleet.


    Enhance it?


    Yes. For this enhancement, your ability is an absolute must. Hyukjin narrowed his eyes. If I can borrow your power, my Immortal Fleet will be one level stronger.


    ...


    So why do I need to give it to you?


    Well Schultz squeezed his eyes shut. Thats because the Immortal Fleet you wish to enhance and the Immortal Fleet I want toplete are very different.


    So youre saying my Immortal Fleet is weak, and the one youre making is strong?


    ...I apologize.


    Hyukjin could onlyugh, dumbfounded.


    Is he socially inept, or just way too honest?


    Honest, truthful. Such qualities werent always good and desired. Sometimes, it was necessary to lie, and there were situations that called for euphemisms or roundabout ways of putting things. Especially when asking for something, like Schultz was doing now.


    Hes really unable to lie.


    He was stupidly honest to the point of foolishness. He said things knowing he would have to apologize, and then really apologized for saying them.


    I like him.


    Schultz was apletely different type of person from Hyukjin.


    If it were me, I would have first done my research on what it is that the other person wants, what would make him agree to this proposal.


    ...Yourepletely right.


    Just saying that you canplete the Immortal Fleet isnt all that appealing a proposal to me.


    Schultz nodded, fully acknowledging Hyukjins words.


    Youre right. So he made a proposal. I will make sure the whole world knows of your name.


    ...


    Hyukjin was taken aback once again.


    Eh?


    It seemed conversing with this man would take some getting used to.


    Does he really think thats a good thing?


    The scary part was that Schultz was dead serious. Throughout this entire conversation, Schultz hadnt spoken a single lie. Everything was sincere.


    I willplete the Immortal Fleet without fail


    ...


    And let everyone know that the true ruler of the sea is you, the Korean Kim Hyukjin.


    ...


    Naval dominance is the most important factor for winning a war.


    It was true that naval dominance was important. Why else would the worlds strongest countries, like the US and China, invest so much into making aircraft carriers andmanding the seas?


    But naval dominance isnt necessary if theres no war, is it?


    The world is changing. Mankind will require naval dominance. The skies are bing dangerous because of flying monsters, and the sea routes are being blocked by sea monsters. idents are urring all the time.


    * * *


    * * *


    In just ten years, the sea routes of mankind would be greatly obstructed, even more so than the airways. That was because underwater monsters were harder to deal with than flying ones.


    Hold on. Hyukjin thought for a moment. The sea routes didnt open up as much as youd expect from yer levels going up.


    In particr, the Pacific would be the most dangerous ocean in the world.


    If the Immortal Fleet had been properly awakened and had protected Koreas waters Things might have been a little different.


    If Song Junghye had been a proper yer, she would have been able to awaken the Immortal Fleets full potential. That might have allowed her to gain dominance over the Pacific Ocean via the East Sea, opening up safe sea routes by repelling the countless monsters living in the Pacific Ocean.


    Im not all that interested in opening the sea routes.


    He heard a notice at that.<blockquote>


    [The Lady of the Scales is disappointed by your words.]</blockquote>


    It was the sort of message you would expect from a Guardian who was good and just to a fault. Sea routes were basically directly linked tomerce. Even with Warp Portals and open airways, there was no denying that the sea was a massive route for goods.


    Hyukjin hid a smile. He had said those words on purpose to disappoint her, and sure enough, she had taken the bait. There had to be a little frustration for a satisfying catharsis.


    Moreover, I have zero desire to be a hero.


    ...


    It was Schultzs turn to stare at Hyukjin with eyes of iprehension. He didnt say anything, but Hyukjins Eye of Perception read his mind.


    Its only natural for those who have the strength to be heroes?


    That was apparently what Schultz thought. As long as he didnt force that opinion on others, it was a pretty admirable way of thinking. Conviction was necessary to be a hero, after all.


    Schultz asked, You dont want to be a hero?


    Not at all. Hyukjin smiled. How strong do you think I am, Schultz?


    The German yer was one of the few people who had seen Hyukjins true strength. He responded honestly, I think of you as one dimension, no, two dimensions above me. Both as an archer, and as a sovereign. Im far below you in every single aspect.


    And he was being honest. 100%, unabashed andpletely without pretense, honest.


    Its embarrassing to say, but Im confident Im one of the top ten yers in Germany.


    This, too, was sincere.


    So I know that if you had been born in Germany, you would have been our number one yer.


    Why do you think someone you judge so highly would be unknown to the world?


    Thats


    Schultzs train of thought ground to a halt. That was something he hadnt ever considered. He just thought Taeguk Shield was incredibly strong, since they were so well-regarded.


    And it wasnt wrong for him to have thought so. The public was told that Taeguk Shield had eliminated all those overwhelmingly powerful Red Devils. Additionally, Song Kiyeol was credited with stopping the Fire Giants. The prominent hero Song Kiyeol was already well-established in Korea.


    Its true that Song Kiyeol is extremely strong, thought Schultz.


    Going by official feats alone, Song Kiyeol was probably one of the strongest Rankers in the world. At least ording to what Schultz knew.


    But Kim Hyukjin is strong, too.


    A yer like Kim Hyukjin might not be as strong as Song Kiyeol, but he still should have been known to the world. But he was strangely low-key, to the point that hardly anyone knew about him.


    This meeting was also officially set up by Taeguk Shield.


    That was all the public was told. Cold sweat suddenly ran down his back.


    But howe I dont see hide or hair of Song Kiyeol?


    He was finally getting true information after a bunch of distorted information. Schultzs intel might have been wrong, but he was confident in his ability to judge the situation.


    With that one shift in critical information, the fog over his eyes lifted.


    The true owner of Taeguk Shield is Kim Hyukjin!


    His head reeled with realization.


    The real heavyweight is Kim Hyukjin!


    Kim Hyukjin was hiding behind the front that was Taeguk Shield. But why? Why did he do such a thing?


    Him not taking the limelight probably means he ces more value on practical benefits than honor or fame.


    He was theplete opposite of Schultz, and the kind of person Schultz had the hardest time dealing with.


    What can I offer him?


    Doing the right thing or a noble cause wasnt good enough. It had to be something real, something practical.


    I was a fool and didnt know anything, said Schultz atst.


    ...


    He got up.


    I have no great wealth or treasures to offer you.


    It sounds like youre giving up on this trade.


    I havent given up.


    Hyukjin liked how straightforward Schultz was. They might be twopletely different kinds of people, but maybe that was why he was more drawn to the guy.


    Please give me a little time. I dont know what you want, but I will definitely find something equal to the Immortal Fleet in worth.


    What I want is the Immortal Fleets enhancement.


    Ill help you with that.


    Schultz didnt stop to weigh benefits and losses. His approach was to do everything he could, no matter what it was. Even so, he still didnt seem at all servile.


    Hyukjin asked, Why do you want to protect the sea routes so badly?


    He already knew the answer.


    Because that is what I should do.


    ...


    Because its something I <em>can </em>do. If I do that, more people will be able to enjoy delicious meals at home. With their families.


    It was a very Schultz-esque answer. Hyukjin scanned Schultz again with Eye of Perception and was unsurprised to find that he was once again being sincere.


    The two of them met eyes. Hyukjin looked directly at this man, this great hero in the making who shouldnt have existed in this world.


    He had already finished his calctions. To be honest, he hadnt seen this developmenting. Before meeting Schultz, the only thought in his head was enhancing the Immortal Fleet.


    Lets go for something a little different.


    In a direction even he, the producer, hadnt predicted.


    And well get the Guardians hyped while were at it.


    He began to draw out a path that would lead to profits even greater than he had expected.


    Ill give you the Immortal Fleet.