Chapter 33: My Son, the Liberator of the Kraken Sea

“An apology…?”

Elves were a race known for their arrogance and haughtiness, far surpassing humans.

For someone in the exalted position of Iselin’s Lady to apologize first—Choi Jooyoung could hardly believe his ears.

It felt like a prank call, but he couldn’t bring himself to hang up just in case.

“We have arrested Derrael, the customs chief who tried to frame you, as well as the port security director, and seized all their assets.”

“I-I see.”

“The cargo was unloaded an hour ago, and we will compensate for all damages caused by the detention.”

“Compensation too…?”

“We are prepared to offer 5 billion won, but if that’s not enough, we will provide more.”

Five billion won was more than five times the amount of the actual damages.

“T-Thank you very much.”

“Also, the Princess has decided to grant an additional 5 billion won, stating that your help was crucial in exposing the port’s corruption.”

“Another 5 billion?”

“This is nothing compared to the tangible and intangible losses caused by the corruption.”

“I suppose that’s true.”

“Alright then.”

The call ended.

Choi Jooyoung was stunned.

“Did Chief Shin pull this off?”

Riiiiing.

It was Shin Jeongcheol’s call.

He said with an upbeat tone that when he went to the harbor, everything was already resolved.

“Chief Shin didn’t do it, right?”

“Me? When I woke up, it was already all over!”

“That’s what I thought. Come back quickly. Good job.”

“Yes, boss!”

After hanging up, Choi Jooyoung pondered how such a thing could have happened.

There were aspects that couldn’t be explained by sheer luck alone.

“This should’ve been handled with documents, but they even called me personally… Could it be Kangjoong?”

Jooyoung recalled what happened yesterday.

His son’s promise to handle it himself.

At the moment, that seemed the most plausible explanation.

“Could that really have been Iselin’s necklace?”

Jooyoung searched online for images of the Derrael family’s necklace.

The pictures matched exactly the necklace Choi Kangjoong possessed.

Many posts suggested that a hunter called Outer Mind, known as the Liberator of the Kraken Sea, had received it.

“Could Kangjoong actually be Outer Mind…?”

Jooyoung carefully sifted through his memories of Choi Kangjoong.

The timing when Kangjoong became a hunter and the appearance of Outer Mind coincided.

“Yoonseo said that the only person who recently became a hunter and earned big money was Outer Mind. Could that have really been a genuine Dawnphone as well?”

It was hard to believe.

But if Kangjoong was indeed Outer Mind, everything fell into place.

Iselin’s necklace, the sudden fortune, even the Dawnphone.

“Now that I think about it, the summoned beast he showed back then had a similar texture and color to Outer Mind’s.”

Jooyoung compared photos of Outer Mind found online with his memories from that day.

He felt a chill run down his spine.

“My son is Outer Mind…!”

There was no fear.

Only joy that his son had become such a remarkable existence.

He felt immensely proud, recalling how Kangjoong had stopped the orcs and helped the Dawn Guild.

“Well done! That’s my son!”

Jooyoung picked up his phone to call Kangjoong but then put it down.

“No. There must be a reason he hasn’t told me yet. I’ll wait until Kangjoong speaks first.”

He felt grateful and sorry for having doubted Iselin’s necklace and the Dawnphone as mere exaggerations.

“Kangjoong, Dad will keep doing his best. Thank you.”

With a bright expression, Jooyoung spoke as if Kangjoong were at home.

“Also, to think my son is friends with Iselin. Heh heh heh.”

He muttered with the same expression as Kangjoong.

His staff entered the office, surprised.

“Boss! We heard from the chief. What happened here?”

“Did an elf you know fix everything?”

Jooyoung shrugged proudly.

“How could it be anything else? My son Kangjoong solved it with one phone call.”

“Your son? Didn’t you say he just stays at home?”

“He became a hunter recently. Looks like he met Princess Iselin while out hunting.”

“No way! That’s impossible!”

“The Princess’s Lady stepped in herself. Who else could’ve done it if not her?”

“R-Really…?”

“It’s true. My son’s amazing, right? Heh heh heh.”

The staff exchanged impressed remarks.

Jooyoung’s shoulders nearly touched the ceiling.

He had intended to keep it secret but couldn’t stop bragging.

After they left, he decided to inform Yoo Haein since it was already out.

—You called early. Was it resolved well?

“Yes. Kangjoong really solved it with one call.”

—Oh my. Really? How?

“Well, here’s what happened…”

Jooyoung explained everything except for Outer Mind, and Haein repeatedly expressed her amazement.

News reported that the elves who committed corruption were arrested and the victims compensated.

“Well handled. But the scale is huge.”

He had only asked for the detained cargo ship to be released but never expected the entire port to be shaken up.

Kangjoong realized anew Iselin’s personality and status.

“She was polite in speech but really scary.”

She didn’t even know she was that way only to him.

Kangjoong called his father first.

—Kangjoong?

“See? I said it’d be solved quickly, right?”

—Thanks. If not for you, the losses would’ve been huge.

“If anything happens with Derrael again, just tell me.”

—Sure. I’ll contact you next time. I’m proud of you, son.

“Not at all. Let’s have dinner together next time.”

—Got it. Let’s have Yoonseo join us too.

“Yes.”

After hanging up, Kangjoong contacted Iselin.

“Thank you. It was handled smoothly because of you.”

—Did you like it?

“I was surprised by how big the scale was.”

—While fulfilling your request, I also dealt with those who tarnished Derrael’s reputation.

“Do you need anything? Since you helped me, I want to repay you.”

—It’s fine. You returned the Spirit Tree; this is nothing.

“You still have to take something in return.”

—Please don’t think of it as a debt. Even if you asked for Derrael, I would’ve given it.

Kangjoong vaguely understood the depth of Iselin’s gratitude.

“I’ll contact you next time. If you need anything, let me know.”

—Alright.

The necklace’s light went out.

Having resolved everything from his room, Kangjoong felt a deep sense of fulfillment.

The satisfaction that he couldn’t find in the Dimension War filled his heart completely.

“Who am I? Iselin’s friend.”

Kangjoong praised himself and observed the Apocalids.

After mass production, the number had grown to 16,000, all waiting for his command.

“Since there are four Central Units, let’s split into four groups.”

“Krk.”

“Kik.”

“Kuong.”

As the numbers grew, it became difficult to control them all, so he entrusted command to the Central Units.

Lutal took the melee Apocalids; Kai handled the Cannon Giants and flying Apocalids; the Central Cannon Giant managed the Scouts; and Kuongi took only a few Walkers.

This simple division quadrupled the rate at which they consumed the dimensions.

“Having devoured the Hydra Sea, where to next?”

Kangjoong checked the area around the Hydra Sea online.

Being close, there were no places where monsters or a single race populated massively.

“Need to go a bit farther.”

He zoomed out on the sea chart.

More sea areas appeared.

“This one has many monsters. That one’s patrolled by Dark Elf pirates. Here lives Gratis. And over here is the Ruin Legion’s fortress.”

Gratis were rat-like humanoids corrupted by mana, skilled at handling Mana Stones and adept at crafting cannons and dimension ships.

If they used such skills for good, it would be beneficial to humans, but their inherently evil nature led them to mainly raid other dimensions.

“Wherever I go, I’ll have to fight dimension ship fleets.”

It was time to put the Titan Class Apocalids to full use.

“I should avoid the Ruin Legion’s fortress. The losses would be too great.”

The fortress was as fortified as a Dimension Fortress and heavily garrisoned.

If he wasn’t careful, the Apocalids could be annihilated, and even their dimension could be attacked.

“Dark Elf pirates or Gratis… Neither are easy opponents.”

Natasha’s Blacktree Pirates would have been impossible to defeat without Iselin’s fleet and surprise attacks.

If that was so, the Dark Elves, infamous as pirates, must be formidable.

Gratis were no joke either.

Their Pajijik Cannons had long range and high accuracy.

“Fought Gratis in the Dimension War and melted before even getting close.”

However, their melee combat skills were terrible.

They’d often flee at the slightest disadvantage.

Only the medium-to-large-sized Gratis empowered by Mana Stones needed caution.

“Devouring the Hydra Sea will take some time, so let me think it over slowly.”

As he was putting on clothes to go exercise, the Dawnphone flashed.

[Han Junghwa: I have a good request. Interested?]

[Choi Kangjoong: What kind of request?]

[Han Junghwa: Escorting the installation of dimension ship detectors in a dimension a bit away from the 6th Dimension Fortress. You get paid just for sitting there.]

[Choi Kangjoong: Isn’t that already done in nearby dimensions?]

[Han Junghwa: Gratis recently stole the Dark Elf’s Gate Stone. Because of that, the Dark Elves are on high alert.]

The Gate Stone was a treasure that helped expand or create Gates.

Thanks to it, the Dark Elf pirates easily used Gates to carry out their raids.

Who could have created such a valuable item?

The most likely suspect was the Chaos Legion.

They thrived on growing chaos.

They were also suspected of causing the Gate incident.

“If I examine the Gate Stone, might I find a clue?”

If so, great; if not, I can just absorb it.

It might even lead to another evolution path, like the Spirit Tree.

“I should also investigate Disorder. I can ask the Dawn Guild or Carrier Guild.”

With many Apocalids and a solid footing as a hunter, Kangjoong wanted to gather information.

Who did this and why?

The reason didn’t matter.

Once he found out who, he planned to throw them into the digestion pit with all his might.

“Let’s head to Ma Woo Sea where Gratis live.”

[Han Junghwa: So we want to widen observation range. We’ll move by high-speed dimension ship; it won’t take long. Will you do it?]

He had decided where to go but hesitated on accepting the request.

He disliked going outside but wanted to ride a dimension ship.

“Since I’ll be close to Ma Woo Sea, should I send Kai ahead?”

Several good reasons to go came to mind, so he decided to go.

[Choi Kangjoong: Sure.]

[Han Junghwa: Come by 6 o’clock in three days. How would you prefer the location? Address or dimension coordinates?]

[Choi Kangjoong: Dimension coordinates.]

Since he was playing a role, he decided to immerse himself more.

[Han Junghwa: The dimension ship will be there if you come to these coordinates. Don’t be late. We’ll leave without you!]

[Choi Kangjoong: Leave when you’re ready. I’ll follow.]

He deliberately ignored the messages Han Junghwa sent afterward.

“Was I a bit cold? Did I seem like an emotionless alien?”

Rereading the messages, Kangjoong nodded.

“Should’ve asked if Yoonseo was coming too.”

The conversation had ended, but it was hard to ask.

If any misunderstanding arose, he felt like he’d rather die with his face in a basin of water.

“If anyone’s going to say I’m interested in Yoonseo, I might as well just reveal that I’m Outer Mind!”

He vowed that such a dreadful situation would never happen.

Three days later.

Kangjoong passed through the Gate connected to the dimension coordinates Han Junghwa gave him.

A 300-meter-long dimension ship stood nearby.

The Dawn Guild emblem was painted large on its outer hull.

The Sea of Dimensions was larger than water-filled seas because shipbuilding and navigation were easier.

Kangjoong flew toward it.

Han Junghwa stood on the forecastle deck, waving.

As Kangjoong joined her inside, the dimension ship set off.

Choi Yoonseo was not aboard.

It was Kangjoong’s first time on a dimension ship, and everything fascinated him.

It felt like a building made of metal.

Though her expression was unreadable, Han Junghwa’s demeanor showed she understood his feelings.

“First time on a dimension ship?”

“For those made by humans.”

“Are there many dimension ships?”

“Several.”

“Please show me next time!”

Han Junghwa’s eyes sparkled.

Building owners above the Creator, and dimension ship owners above building owners.

A new term after the Great Cataclysm.

Dimension ships were like floating buildings and were far easier to manage than sea vessels, making them more prestigious assets than real estate.

They were even called “moving real estate.”

To own several was something that demanded attention.

“What kind of dimension ship is this? Cargo or cruise?”

“All combat ships.”

“All combat? That must cost a lot to maintain.”

“As long as you feed them.”

“Right…? Dimension ships just need fuel, don’t they?”

“No. Food.”

“Excuse me?”

“They’re biological dimension ships, so they eat.”

It took Han Junghwa a moment to grasp the meaning.

“Similar to dimension monsters. Not gross?”

“They look cute.”

“Still, I’ll cancel my wish to see them…”

Soon the dimension ship arrived at a small dimension.

Technicians disembarked to install dimension ship detectors.

The device detected mana waves emitted by dimension ships, took photos with a camera, and sent the images to the 6th Dimension Fortress.

Hidden by camouflage, it was difficult to spot from afar.

“Finished! Thanks for guarding us, hunters.”

“We’re getting paid for it, though.”

Han Junghwa joked.

“When a dimension ship appears, this head will start rotating.”

Whirr.

The detector’s head rotated as the technician pointed.

Click.

It even took pictures and sent them to the 6th Dimension Fortress.

Heads turned toward the approaching ships.

“Dark Elves…!”

“Quick, back to the Dawn!”

The technicians hurried.

Mages ascended to the deck, and Han Junghwa stood beside them, sword in hand.

“Where’s Outer?”

Han Junghwa scanned the area.

There was no trace of him where they could stand.

He must be in the Sea of Dimensions.

“That’s…?”

Not only Han Junghwa but also the mages’ eyes widened dramatically.