Chapter 225
“Stop right there.”
“Identify yourselves.”
As they approached the mana stone mine, the Awakeners standing guard shouted.
“Tch.”
Jang Yongbeom stepped forward with an annoyed expression.
The moment they recognized his face, the guards turned pale.
“Huh!”
“Why is he here…?”
Since he often stopped by the mana stone mine when going on external missions, the Awakeners stationed here knew Jang Yongbeom very well—along with his notorious temperament.
The security chief hurried over to him.
“Weren’t you out on a mission with other parties?”
“They’re all dead.”
“…What?”
“Everyone except us got wiped out. Want me to explain in more detail?”
“N-No, sir.”
“Hah… I’m tired from the long trip, so just assign us some quarters. We’ll rest for a day and head back to Neo Seoul.”
“Understood.”
The security chief replied stiffly.
He had no choice.
Back when he was still inexperienced, he had foolishly clashed with Jang Yongbeom’s party—and had been utterly crushed.
The beating had been so severe that he still occasionally had nightmares about it.
Revenge wasn’t even something he could consider.
Jang Yongbeom had been strong even back then—and now he was even stronger.
While the chief had wasted away guarding the mine, Jang Yongbeom had taken on countless dangerous missions.
Naturally, the gap between them had only widened.
The chief carefully asked,
“And the people with you?”
“They’re with me. Don’t worry about it.”
“But we still need to confirm their identities—”
“I said don’t worry about it.”
“Yes, sir!”
At Jang Yongbeom’s irritated tone, the chief immediately stepped back.
He knew better than to provoke him any further.
He turned and shouted to his subordinates.
“Open the gate!”
Rumble—!
The massive entrance to the mana stone mine opened at once.
Jang Yongbeom looked at Zeon.
“Let’s go.”
“Alright.”
And just like that, Jang Yongbeom’s party and Zeon’s group entered the mine without issue.
Watching Zeon’s back as he walked away, the security chief tilted his head.
“…I think that’s him.”
“Someone you know?”
“The sand mage.”
“…What? You mean that guy? But wasn’t he reported dead after going with the Pegasus Raid Team?”
“Something about this smells off.”
“…Smells like what?”
“Money.”
“Seriously?”
“Use that thing on your shoulders and think for once. After returning from the dungeon, how well has the Pegasus Raid Team been doing? Lee Jiryung became S-rank, and their group has grown massively.”
“And?”
“Ah, you idiot!”
The chief glared sharply at his clueless subordinate.
“Is your head just for decoration? Think.”
“Then explain it to me.”
“They brought in a sand mage specifically to clear that dungeon, right? That means the sand mage was the key to the raid. But after the raid succeeds, the sand mage doesn’t return, and the Pegasus Raid Team alone is enjoying all the success. Obviously, they’re taking the glory that should’ve belonged to him. But now that supposedly dead sand mage shows up alive—there’s only one conclusion.”
“…The Pegasus Raid Team betrayed him?”
Only then did the subordinate understand, his eyes widening.
“Exactly. Maybe they lured him into a trap, or left him behind to die. Either way, they thought he was dead. That’s why they publicly announced it.”
“Oh! As expected of you, boss. But how does this turn into money?”
“Heh… Do you think the Pegasus Raid Team would welcome the sand mage returning to Neo Seoul?”
“Absolutely not.”
“Then if we sell them the information that he’s back…”
“…We’ll make a fortune.”
The subordinate’s eyes lit up.
Only then did he catch the scent of money.
The chief smirked.
“Now you get it?”
“Yes, sir!”
“Then I’d better head to Neo Seoul.”
“In about an hour, a truck carrying mana stones is leaving for Neo Seoul. Don’t worry about things here—just go. But…”
“Heh, don’t worry. I’ll make sure you get a big cut.”
“Yes, sir!”
The two exchanged sly smiles.
***
Eloi and Levin looked around their assigned room with satisfied expressions.
“Nice and clean.”
“How long has it been since I slept on a bed? Hahaha!”
Levin threw himself onto the cot and kicked his legs in excitement.
Brielle chuckled at his childish behavior but didn’t scold him.
Though she didn’t show it, she too appreciated the comfort of civilization after so long.
Zeon spoke.
“Get a good rest today. Tomorrow, we head back to Neo Seoul.”
“Sounds good!”
“I’m taking a bath first.”
“Me too!”
Still lying on the cot, Levin threw a celebratory uppercut into the air, while Eloi and Brielle headed to the bathroom.
Compared to Neo Seoul, the place was shabby—but just being able to shower with running water made them happy.
Zeon sat by a chair near the window.
Perhaps because it was lodging reserved for important guests, the entire view of the mana stone mine spread out before him.
“I’m back.”
It had taken quite a long time, but in the end, he had returned to Neo Seoul.
He hadn’t entered Neo Seoul yet, but now that he was inside the mana stone mine, it was only a matter of time.
Just then, his eyes caught sight of a truck leaving the mine.
The truck bed was piled high with mana stones mined by the workers.
And sitting atop the heap was a man.
Zeon recognized him as the security chief.
Unaware that Zeon was watching, the man was laughing loudly. Even from a distance, it was clear he was in a very good mood.
“…Hmph.”
Zeon watched the departing truck and the chief for a while.
From the cot, Levin spoke.
“You must be tired too, hyung. You should get some rest.”
“I am resting. I’ll step out for a bit.”
“Want me to come with you?”
“No. I’ll go alone.”
“Alright. Call me if you need anything.”
“Sure.”
Zeon nodded and stepped outside.
Though it had been a while, the mana stone mine hadn’t changed much.
It still faithfully served as Neo Seoul’s most important supply source and forward base.
Because of that, the streets of the mine were always crowded.
Miners working the site, expedition teams heading out to dungeons, parties assigned to eliminate magical beasts around the area—
and even prostitutes trying to lure them.
Countless people jostled together in the narrow streets.
“Hey, handsome, come over here. I’ll treat you real nice.”
“Oh my, he’s cute. Wanna have some fun? Hehe!”
The prostitutes flirted openly when they spotted Zeon.
But he didn’t even spare them a glance as he walked past.
“Bastard! What, too good for us?”
“Tch! What a jerk.”
They cursed and spat behind him, but Zeon paid them no mind.
Passing through the streets dominated by prostitutes, he arrived at an area where merchants had laid out their stalls.
After briefly scanning the vendors, Zeon’s eyes lit up.
He immediately approached one of them.
“Welcome—…”
The merchant’s face stiffened as he recognized Zeon.
“It’s been a while.”
“Zeon…?”
“What are you doing here?”
The large man in a heavy apron was Meul, one of Old Man Clexi’s close aides.
He had run a butcher shop selling magical beast meat at Clexi’s side.
Seeing someone who always stayed close to Clexi here was strange.
“…Is Old Man Clexi here too?”
“No. I came alone.”
“Did something happen?”
“This isn’t something to talk about out here. Please, come inside.”
Meul led Zeon into a nearby shop beside the stall.
After making sure no one was around, he locked the door.
“I’m glad you’re alive.”
“What happened? Is Old Man Clexi alright?”
“He’s safe. But there’s been a major change in the slums.”
“…What?”
Zeon frowned.
He could sense something serious.
Meul continued.
“Shinchon isn’t the same anymore.”
“Then what is?”
“While you were gone, Dongdaemun moved in.”
“…You mean Johan has taken over Shinchon?”
“Not completely. But about half of it is already under his control.”
“What about Eaton?”
“You know how it is. Eaton was never capable of ruling Shinchon to begin with. He was only fit to be Goran’s secretary.”
Eaton had originally been Goran’s secretary—the former ruler of Shinchon.
After Zeon killed Goran, he had placed Eaton in charge.
Eaton had managed things reasonably well.
There had been no major issues.
There were many who coveted his position, but none dared to act—because Zeon stood behind him.
After it became known that Zeon was a sand mage, challengers disappeared entirely.
Eaton’s life became smooth.
He ruled Shinchon fully and indulged in all kinds of pleasures.
No one threatened him.
“…And on that day, Eaton was spending a night with a prostitute.”
“That day?”
“The day Dongdaemun launched their attack. He was completely off guard, indulging himself, when they struck.”
“…Did he die?”
“No. He escaped—pathetically.”
Eaton’s survival instincts were strong.
Even in that sudden attack, he managed to flee with his subordinates.
The only reason Johan and Dongdaemun hadn’t completely taken Shinchon was because Eaton and his men were still alive, fighting back.
Perhaps out of pride as a former ruler, Eaton refused to surrender and continued waging a desperate guerrilla war.
“As a result, Shinchon has become a complete mess. Naturally, the Goblin Market and the street where the old man does business have been affected as well.”
The Goblin Market and Old Man Clexi were thorns in Johan’s side.
But he couldn’t simply crush them by force.
Too many factions had stakes in the market.
So instead of attacking it directly, Johan was isolating it.
“If it were before, no matter how strong Johan and Dongdaemun were, they wouldn’t have dared touch the Goblin Market.”
“But not anymore?”
“…No. They’ve joined hands with someone powerful.”
“…Someone powerful?”
“…Someone you know. Lee Jiryung.”
“….”
“Yes. Johan and Lee Jiryung… they’ve formed an alliance.”
Zeon’s expression hardened.
Lee Jiryung—now an S-rank Awakener.
Johan—leader of countless fanatics.
Together, they formed the worst possible combination.
Meul looked directly at Zeon.
“This happened because of you. Your absence allowed them to join forces.”
Zeon’s mere presence had maintained balance in the slums.
He had been the counterweight.
With that weight gone, the hyenas moved in.
Now Shinchon stood on the brink of being torn apart by wolves.
Zeon spoke quietly.
“Then I suppose I need to let them know.”
“…Know what?”
“How wrong their decision was.”
Meul flinched.
For a moment, it looked as though a massive sandstorm was raging within Zeon’s eyes.
A chill ran down his spine.