by Yoo Seong
“That’s it! If I concentrate on one thing in Galaxian then a related skill will be made!”
Facilities Maintenance was different from Space Combat. He obtained Space Combat when fighting. But Facilities Maintenance was a skill he obtained after working for a long time. Just like New World, Galaxian’s skill system depended on the users’ behaviour and maintenance. This wasn’t written in the instructions! He discovered it after spending 5 days cleaning the pipes. However, this wasn’t the only reward. Thanks to the skill, his quest completion time was also reduced. Therefore the limit of 30 times a day increase to 40.
“Hum, nice work. I thought you would give up but you endured for 5 days. I’ve been watching and the octopuses’ working speed has also doubled. Thus I will make you the leader of the cleaners.”
Cheksun gave Ark an impressed look after the 200th time he completed the quest. Then an information window appeared from the Nymphe.
-You have received the title from Cheksun.
The manager of sector 7 has recognized your work. He had therefore appointed you the foreman of the Charenjok cleaning the R-14 air circulation pipes. In addition, the compensation for the quest has increased to 60 copper.
<br /><br /> ‘A title!’<br /><br /> Ark’s eyes started flashing. He was level 1 and the title gave him 3 points in agility.<br /><br /> ‘The reward has jumped from 40 copper to 60 copper!’<br /><br /> Ark inwardly cried with delight at the 50% pay rise. 60 copper…..60 won. Pride training for 5 days in the pipes. Ark was gradually changing his nature to be reborn.<br /><br /> Space 4<br /><br /> The Octopuses’ Dream<br /><br /> “It must be near here……”<br /><br /> Ark walked between the complicated connected pipes. One day had passed since he had been appointed as the Cleaning Foreman. He got a pay rise so Ark was even more motivated to clean the pipes. And there was something that offended him. Sometimes there would be an unidentified boom and the pipe would vibrate.<br /><br /> “Ah, you mean that? Don’t pay attention to it. The temperature difference between R-14 and the space outside is intense. Sometimes the temperature will twist a pipe between the inside wall and the barrier, causing those types of noises.”<br /><br /> Cheksun explained after he heard it the first time. So he just ignored it but after a while he realized that not all the noises were the same. Sometimes he heard iron twisting and other times it sounded like someone was hitting away at the pipes.<br /><br /> ‘It doesn’t sound like the pipe twisting.’<br /><br /> He tried to ignore it but the sound got on his nerves. In the end, Ark couldn’t resist his curiosity and started to search for the truth. Figuring out the direction the pipe was coming from wasn’t an easy task. Furthermore, the pipes were entwined in complicated ways like blood vessels so he would sometimes go in the wrong direction. It was like trying to find something in Seoul by listening to a voice.<br /><br /> ‘It seemed to be coming from someplace close so I thought it would just take a short time……’<br /><br /> He already came this far so he couldn’t give up. It certainly wasn’t an easy task but Ark had already been here for more than a week. He listening to the sound while cleaning the pipes and felt like he was gradually approaching it. The sound that seemed to come from a distance became much louder.<br /><br /> ‘I’m almost there. It is clearly close to here!’<br /><br /> “Eh? This…..?”<br /><br /> Ark looked around doubtfully after crawling through the pipe. The lanterns illuminated something wriggling near the pipe<br /><br /> Only Ark’s head had emerged from the pipe but he could recognize the identity of the object. It was the familiar form of the Charenjok.<br /><br /> “Hey! You over there!”<br /><br /> The octopus flinched as Ark yelled. It craned its neck and stared at Ark with consternation.<br /><br /> -Hik! H-h-how is Foreman-nim here?<br /><br /> “Why are you so startled? Are you just playing around in a place like this?”<br /><br /> -Ah, no! Playing around? I…..<br /><br /> “Well it doesn’t matter. Did you hear the sound just then?”<br /><br /> -S-sound? No, I haven’t heard anything?<br /><br /> “You didn’t hear anything?”<br /><br /> Maybe it couldn’t be heard if the octopus was working far away. Ark often didn’t hear it while concentrating on cleaning. But he followed the sound to this location. He had heard the sound a short time ago although he didn’t hear it anymore. It was impossible for the octopus not to hear it. The octopus talking to Ark wasn’t deaf.<br /><br /> ‘Come to think of it…..’<br /><br /> It had been very upset the first time it saw Ark. The octopuses’ skin changed colour depending on their emotions! Ark looked at the colour of the octopus suspiciously and asked.<br /><br /> “What are you hiding?”<br /><br /> -H-h-hiding? N-nothing!<br /><br /> The octopus’ skin became mottled and it shouted wildly. Its insistence just made Ark more doubtful. Ark slightly pitied it. However, Ark couldn’t withdraw from this situation.<br /><br /> “Really? Then get out of the way.”<br /><br /> -W-why?”<br /><br /> “I’m trying to find what is causing the ringing of the pipes. I clearly heard it in this area a short time ago. So I’m going to search around this area.”<br /><br /> -I said there wasn’t any sound!<br /><br /> “I heard it.”<br /><br /> Ark pushed aside the restless octopus. No, he tried to when his hands slipped and he slid down. The area behind the octopus inclined like a slide. Ark hurriedly stretched out his hand but his body had already slipped down. And…..cheolpeok!<br /><br /> “W-what is this? Mud? Why is it in a place like this…..?”<br /><br /> Ark lifted his head from where it was stuck in the mud. A landscape he couldn’t imagine was lit up by the lanterns.<br /><br /> “W-what’s all this?”<br /><br /> The scale of the place was so large that Ark couldn’t even measure it. It was amazing that such a place could be found in the R-14 space station but the more amazing thing was the amount of space bugs filling the area. Thick mud filled the place and a countless number of space bugs swarmed. And octopuses were gathered around and looking busy.<br /><br /> “T-this is?”<br /><br /> The octopuses flinched at his voice.<br /><br /> –Eek? F-Foreman? Why is Foreman-nim here……?<br /><br /> –This is serious! We were found! We were found!<br /><br /> -Ack! We’re screwed!<br /><br /> The octopuses started freaking out. Ark was about to open his mouth when he heard.<br /><br /> –Everyone calm down!<br /><br /> One octopus shouted. It was a familiar octopus. The octopus was the one who always checked on Ark<br /><br /> It would take out a cigarette butt and start complaining. He had encountered the octopus many times so Ark could recognize it at a glance. Its name was Burum. Ark couldn’t understand what was going on and just looked around blankly. Burum sighted and faced Ark before muttering.<br /><br /> –Ark, I’m sorry.<br /><br /> “Huh?”<br /><br /> –But this is your fault. If only you hadn’t interfered…..<br /><br /> Burum turned a complex colour and shouted towards the octopuses in the room.<br /><br /> -Completely surround the human!<br /><br /> Dozens of octopuses flocked at Burum’s behest. Ark asked with a bewildered look as he was surrounded.<br /><br /> “What are you doing?”<br /><br /> -It can’t be helped. This is our only remaining hope. We can’t let you escape now that you’ve seen this. I’m sorry but you’re going to have to die.<br /><br /> Ark’s face distorted at Burum’s words. It must be a huge secret to kill him in order to keep it. If he was jumped by these number of octopuses then Ark without a dagger could only die. However, he never thought that he was in a crisis. The reason why……<br /><br /> “You would kill to keep the secret?”<br /><br /> Ark declared sharply, causing Burum to wince and withdrew a little bit. But Burum nodded with determination.<br /><br /> – That’s right.<br /><br /> “Is your head just a decoration?”<br /><br /> –D-decoration? What do you mean?<br /><br /> “I’ll explain it simply.<br/> R-14 has the fairy revival system.”<br /><br /> –F-fairy!<br /><br /> Burum burst out with astonishment. This was why he called the octopuses stupid. Just like Ark said, R-14 had the Fairy revival system. If Ark was killed then he would just be resurrected through Fairy. It was impossible to keep their secret by killing him.<br /><br /> -U-unbelievable!<br /><br /> Burum finally realized the situation and flopped down on the ground.<br /><br /> –We’re finished! Our last hope is gone!<br /><br /> Burum fell into a state of panic and rocked back and forth.<br /><br /> –Foreman-nim, it is a request! Please pretend you didn’t see this! If the crew of R-14 is informed of this then we’re screwed. For the future of the Charenjok, can you pretend not to have seen this?<br /><br /> “I don’t even understand what is going on. But one thing is clear. You just tried to kill me. And now you want my help?”<br /><br /> -T-that….<br /><br /> “Right now I want to find out all your secrets. I believe that you had no other way. Thanks to our previous relationship, I’ve decided to given the Charenjok a chance. Explain to me the space bugs and what you are so desperate to hide that you tried to kill me. I’ll listen and then decide.”<br /><br /> –That is……<br /><br /> Burum hesitated before sighing and confessing. The octopuses received even lower wages than Ark from cleaning the pipes and their allowance from the galactic federation was barely enough to live off Space Food. Unless the policies suddenly changed, the octopuses circumstances wouldn’t change even if decades passed. The octopuses were seriously worried about their future. After a lot of thinking, they finally figured out a way.<br /><br /> –We changed all the land we bought.<br /><br /> “Land you bought?”<br /><br /> –Yes, right now the federation is increasing the frontiers. Therefore there is a lot of land they deserted. In some cases, the land would be available for a cheap price. So we tried to buy it. But no matter how cheap it is, it is still real estate<br /><br /> The octopuses only received a low wage from cleaning the pipes! Thus the octopuses’ balance was in the negatives<br /><br /> Therefore Burum risked the fate of the octopuses on a gamble. When there was a small gap, Burum sneaked into R-14’s laboratory and stole the egg of a space bug.<br /><br /> –The space bugs are used as cattle. The meat is used as an ingredient for Space Food and the leather used as materials for the space suits.<br /><br /> Ark was wearing clothes and eating food made from a space bug. They were incredibly cheap.<br /><br /> -The space bugs modified by the laboratory grow many times faster than normal space bugs. If we raise the space bugs in the area between the interior wall and R-14’s barrier and sell the leather and meat then we can prepare more funds. But…..<br /><br /> The octopuses had forgotten an important fact. The space bugs were originally monsters. They were raised as livestock so they weren’t aggressive but the space bugs attacked once someone tried to peel the leather and meat from them. It was hard enough for a user to fight by themselves. Meanwhile, the octopuses had almost no weapons or combat ability. Dozens of them were required to catch just one space bug. Thus the space bugs steadily multiplied and eventually filled this huge space.<br /><br /> ‘All my questions are answered.’<br /><br /> The sound Ark heard resounding through the pipes was the octopuses fighting the space bugs. The octopuses had been motivated. They raised the space bugs with the expectation of huge profit but it was impossible to feel motivated once the situation turned out like this.<br /><br /> –If we get caught then the space bugs will be confiscated and we’ll be expelled from R-14. If we’re kicked out into the universe in this state then it won’t be possible for us to live. We had to keep it a secret, even if it meant killing you . Sob sob sob! It couldn’t be helped!<br /><br /> Burum murmured in a regretful voice.<br /><br /> -Daddy?<br /><br /> Then he heard a voice from behind him. He looked back and saw a small octopus crawling out of a jar.<br /><br /> –Daddy, why are you crying? Are you hurt somewhere?<br /><br /> –Did another space bug injure you?<br /><br /> –I don’t need to eat a lot of rice. It is hard so you don’t need to catch the bugs.<br /><br /> –Yes, living here is fine. It is hard but we’re learning eagerly.<br /><br /> –Ack! I-It is nothing. I’m fine.<br /><br /> Burum wrapped its legs around its children and looked at Ark.<br /><br /> –Foreman-nim, please! I was blinded by the thought of profit and tried to kill you. I don’t care what will happen to me. But these children……I can’t make these children spend a lifetime cleaning pipes. Can you pretend you didn’t see anything? I’m sorry for trying to kill you. I’ll devote my life to you so please.<br /><br /> It was indeed an emotional scene. If only they weren’t octopuses.<br /><br /> “I understand. I won’t tell the crew of R-14 about this.”<br /><br /> Ark watched Burum and the children for a bit before nodding. Burum’s eyes popped out after hearing Ark’s words.<br /><br /> –R-really?<br /><br /> Of course. This wasn’t a melodrama but he felt sympathy towards the octopuses. No, he was creeped out by the adult octopuses but he felt sorry for the child octopuses. Anyway, money wasn’t involved so there was no reason to pour cold water on the futures of the young octopuses. However, there was a decisive reason. Ark would also benefit from this.<br /><br /> ‘There are a lot of space bugs in this farm!’<br /><br /> Ark drooled at the sight of all the bugs. It had been a week since Galaxian opened and since Ark started cleaning the pipes. In the meantime, the number of unemployed users in R-14’s hunting grounds gradually grew. At this rate, this state would be maintained for at least two months. This might just be cleaning the pipes but Ark had found a job to escape the unemployment after his dagger broke.<br /><br /> ‘But here my prey is overflowing!’<br /><br /> The octopuses couldn’t control the multiplication of the space bugs. Ark would have no limits if he hunted here. In other words, his was a free hunting ground that only Ark knew about! He could hunt anytime he wanted. There was no reason to tell the crew members.<br /><br /> ‘Now I just have to receive permission to hunt here from Burum…..’<br /><br /> Ark was about to speak when he flinched and suddenly closed his mouth. He thought for a moment before sighing and shaking his head.<br /><br /> ‘No. That’s not it. Ark, you still have a long way to go!’<br /><br /> Ark was naive after staying in the pipes for a week! His stomach was full so he lost his original intention of gaining even more food. Ark thought that he had regained some of his original mindset. However, Ark soon realized he was mistaken<br /><br /> It wasn’t like that. The previous Ark wouldn’t have approached this situation like that. If it was the previous Ark…..<br /><br /> “I have a request.”<br /><br /> He would’ve said.<br /><br /> The economic principle was simple. Supply and demand. If he used supply and demand then he could get a profit. Ark’s brain concentrated on that concept.<br /><br /> –Invite in the pioneers?<br /><br /> “Yes. Burum-nim lives here so you won’t know that well but recently a lot of beginner pioneers have entered the universe. So many people flocked to the farm area that it isn’t possible to see the space bugs at all. The users entering this place will pay an admission fee to hunt the space bugs.”<br /><br /> –We get paid for letting them hunt space bus?<br /><br /> Burum scratched his head.<br /><br /> –Why would they pay money to hunt the space bugs here?<br /><br /> It was difficult to understand for an NPC. However, the users waiting at the farms were unemployed. They didn’t accept Bhurad’s <Space Bug Processing> quest because of money. Compensation was compensation but 90% of it was for the experience. This was all in order to reach level 10 and escape from the beginner areas. However, R-14’s only hunting ground was saturated with players! Even if they played Galaxian in their spare time, it wasn’t possible to find a hunting spot. Some people sat and waited but others just quit. A hunting ground full of monsters was the dream for such users!<br /><br /> They would be eager to enter even if they had to pay mone<br/>y. This is the principle of supply and demand!<br /><br /> ‘Devising something like this…..’<br /><br /> It was something that the previous Ark would’ve come up with. Ark realized it again. He still hadn’t completely regained his hungry spirit. But once he realized this point, his head instantly started moving. Ark began devising a concrete business plan.<br /><br /> “First we must specific the customer base.”<br /><br /> –Customer base? We’re not just bringing anyone?<br /><br /> “Yes, we can’t just bring any pioneer here.”<br /><br /> Ark was thinking that the main customers should be users level 7~8. There were two reasons for this. Once again, R-14 was saturated so it was difficult to find a hunting spot. If users occupied a spot then they could reach level 10 if they stayed up all night. If the users were level 7~8 in that situation then the answer was obvious.<br /><br /> ‘They are people who can’t always play the game because of work or other issues.’<br /><br /> Those people would be eager for experience. However, the level 7~8 users were employed less than level 1 users. Their level was high so they would eat more experience in a hunting party. That’s why existing parties only bothered with hiring level 1 users. So 90% of the level 7~8 users were unemployed. Despite the penalty, the workers had no choice but to connect in the evening when there were lots of people playing.<br /><br /> “But there is something more important than that. The users entering R-14 don’t have money. In the meantime, the level 7~8 users have hunted quite a lot. They must’ve completed Bhurad’s mission at least a dozen times.”<br /><br /> That was the second reason. The amount of hunting fee. Ark immediately started doing some market research. He had decided the main customers so he started doing research on how much money they would have.<br /><br /> ‘Completing the <Space Bug Processing> quest once gives 10 silver. If they completed it through the leather and meat process then they will receive 20 silver. They should’ve completed the quest at least 10 times to reach level 7~8. Even if they spent some money on food and repairs, they should still have at least 1 gold.’<br /><br /> Thus he decided to charge 50 silver as the fee.<br /><br /> “How is it? Do you like the offer?”<br /><br /> “O-of course……”<br /><br /> “Huhuhu, I thought so. If you want to hunt then you only have to spend 50 silver.”<br /><br /> <br/> </p></div> <p class="pr"><a href='https://bookreadfree.com/562514/13809033.amp' class='p' rel='Prev'> ‹ Prev</a> <a href='https://bookreadfree.com/562514/13809041.amp' class='n' rel='next'>Next › </a></p> </article> </div> <div class="sharebar"><amp-social-share layout="flex-item" type="facebook" data-share-endpoint="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://bookreadfree.com/562514/13809037.amp" data-param-href=""></amp-social-share><amp-social-share layout="flex-item" type="whatsapp" data-param-text="Ark the Legend 1-12 Page 7 https://bookreadfree.com/562514/13809037.amp"></amp-social-share><amp-social-share layout="flex-item" type="line" data-param-url="https://bookreadfree.com/562514/13809037.amp" data-param-text="Ark the Legend 1-12 Page 7"></amp-social-share></div> <amp-analytics type="googleanalytics" config="https://amp.analytics-debugger.com/ga4.json" data-credentials="include"> <script type="application/json"> { "vars": { "GA4_MEASUREMENT_ID": "G-0STZB99JYV", "GA4_ENDPOINT_HOSTNAME": "www.google-analytics.com", "DEFAULT_PAGEVIEW_ENABLED": true, "GOOGLE_CONSENT_ENABLED": false, "WEBVITALS_TRACKING": true, "PERFORMANCE_TIMING_TRACKING": false, "SEND_DOUBLECLICK_BEACON": false } } </script> </amp-analytics> </body></html>