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“Haa!”

Zeon brushed the dust off his shoulders and head, letting out a soft sigh.

He had only planned to watch over Alexandro and his group briefly, but it took a full fifteen days to see them safely out of the danger zone.

The journey had taken longer than expected.

He longed to get home, take a bath, and rest.

Before entering the slums, Zeon looked back at the spot where the White Bear Caravan’s fortress once stood.

There was no trace of the fortress left.

The high piles of sand had buried all evidence.

The sand-filled wind buries everything, even the evidence of someone’s hard, tearful effort.

‘How futile!’

Zeon shook his head slightly and moved on.

Even the dirty slums felt welcoming after being away for so long.

“Zeon!”

“Hyung!”

As soon as he entered the slums, he was warmly greeted.

It was Brielle and Levin.

Zeon smiled and spoke.

“Were you waiting for me?”

“Yes!”

“Ugh, you have no idea. This kid has been sitting here every day waiting for you.”

Zeon’s smile deepened at their responses.

He had never realized how good it felt to have someone waiting for him.

“That’s nice! Let’s go home.”

“It’s better if we go later.”

“Why?”

“There are a lot of flies buzzing around.”

“Really?”

Zeon felt slightly apologetic as he looked at Brielle’s annoyed expression.

He had expected this.

While fighting Balrog, Zeon had revealed his abilities.

He had shown his powers as a Sand Mage.

It was only a matter of time before the news spread through the few survivors.

Many people would now know that Zeon was a Sand Mage.

In a world turned into a desert, the usefulness of a Sand Mage was limitless. Many had done the math and were now moving to recruit Zeon.

Brielle looked at Zeon with a resentful expression.

“Why did you do that? If you were going to reveal your power, you should have just killed everyone in the barrier. That would have kept the secret.”

“We can’t live like that forever. And it was a secret that would have come out anyway. I thought it was better to reveal it when it had the most value.”

Moreover, Balrog was not an opponent he could fight while hiding his power.

Balrog was a formidable monster that required Zeon’s full power as a Sand Mage.

If he had shown his abilities against lesser monsters, the leaders of the districts would have seen Zeon as nothing more than a tool to be used. But by overpowering a mighty monster like Balrog, he had made them rethink their stance.

Zeon put his hands on Brielle’s and Levin’s shoulders and said.

“Let’s go to Old Man Klexi’s shop.”

“To eat?”

“Yes! I’ve been eating nothing but jerky, and I want some real food.”

“Okay!”

The three headed towards the street where Old Man Klexi’s stall was located.

As soon as Klexi saw Zeon, he glared at him sharply.

“You’re back, you sly fox! You hid it so well.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Your ability. It’s not fire but sand.”

“So what?”

“How could you hide it from me? Between us…”

“Stop pretending to be upset and just give me some food.”

“Hmph! Did it show?”

“A lot.”

“You boring guy. Just wait a bit.”

Klexi grumbled as he started preparing food.

Zeon sat and watched him work.

As Klexi moved his arms busily, he spoke.

“You probably know, but you’ve stirred up a storm. People from all the districts are swarming the slums trying to recruit you. They’re digging for information about you.”

“Is that so?”

“Well, there’s not much they can find about you. Heh heh!”

Klexi laughed slyly.

He tightly controlled all the information in the slums.

As long as he held Zeon’s information, outsiders would only get a fraction of the truth.

Zeon chuckled.

“Should I thank you?”

“No need. I’m not doing it for your thanks. Thanks to you, people who should have died didn’t. That’s enough.”

If Balrog had been released, the slums would have been the first to be obliterated.

This was why Neo Seoul left the slums alone.

In unforeseen disasters, they used the slums as a buffer.

Neo Seoul’s forces would have been fully prepared by the time Balrog reached them.

No matter how many people died in the slums, Neo Seoul wouldn’t care.

Knowing this, Klexi thanked Zeon.

Zeon replied.

“The slums is my home. I couldn’t stand by and watch it get destroyed. So no need for thanks.”

“You’re not very honest.”

“Who’s more honest than me?”

“Alright, alright. Here’s your food.”

Thud!

Klexi placed a bowl of rice in front of Zeon.

The portion was larger and richer than usual.

“Thank you.”

Zeon picked up his spoon.

It tasted better than ever after being away for so long.

Klexi also served rice to Levin and Brielle.

The two thanked Klexi and began eating.

Watching the three of them enjoy the food brought a warm smile to Klexi’s face.

Just seeing them made him happy.

He had seen them so often that they now felt like his real grandchildren.

‘Hah! I must be nearing the end of my days. To feel this way…’

Click, clack! Click, clack!

Suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed, a rarity in the slums.

It was the sound of high heels.

Klexi frowned and looked in the direction of the sound.

A woman with perfectly coiffed hair was walking towards them.

She wore a red suit that clung to her body and high red heels.

Her attire clearly didn’t fit the slums.

Only a select few in Neo Seoul dressed like that, and Klexi knew one of the most prominent figures.

“Haa!”

Klexi sighed and watched the woman approach.

Without hesitation, she sat next to Zeon.

She glanced at the bowl of rice Zeon was eating before speaking.

“It looks delicious. I’ll have the same, please.”

“I’m out of ingredients.”

“It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other, and you’re being so cold.”

“I’m not close enough with you to go through the trouble of finding ingredients to cook.”

“Then make something with what you have. You can at least do that.”

“Leech.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

The woman smiled coldly.

Klexi, looking exasperated, started to prepare the rice bowl.

Having achieved her goal, the woman looked at Zeon.

Zeon, feeling her piercing gaze, spoke up.

“What is it?”

“Pleased to meet you, Mr. Zeon.”

“I’m not so pleased to meet you.”

“I apologize for interrupting your meal. But I thought this might be my only chance to meet you, so I took the liberty.”

“Hmm!”

Zeon finally put down his spoon and looked at her face.

Her cold eyes and chilling aura aside, she was stunningly beautiful.

She introduced herself.

“My name is Seo Tae-ran. I’m with the City Hall.”

“The City Hall?”

“More specifically, I’m the Mayor’s personal secretary. I’ve come to invite you to the City Hall.”

“The Mayor wants to see me?”

“Yes! He’s very interested in your abilities. He wants to meet you in person. It’s been a long time since he’s shown such interest in someone.”

“That’s an honor. But I’m a bit uncomfortable with it.”

“You don’t need to feel pressured. It’s just a dinner invitation, nothing more.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes!”

Although she said there was no need to feel pressured, anyone would be under pressure in this situation.

After all, it was Mayor Jin Geum-ho himself calling.

Jin Geum-ho, the highest authority in Neo Seoul and a monster who had lived since before the great cataclysm.

Anyone would be nervous being summoned by him. Yet, there was no such tension on Zeon’s face.

He was so calm that Seo Tae-ran was taken aback.

‘Does this man not understand what it means to meet the Mayor?’

Jin Geum-ho looked down on even the rulers of the districts. A one-on-one meeting with him was a golden opportunity to enter the core of Neo Seoul.

The Numbers, also known as the Execution Squad, were recruited and trained by Jin Geum-ho in this manner.

Zeon said,

“Alright, I’ll visit the City Hall soon.”

“If you show this, you’ll be able to enter the City Hall.”

Seo Tae-ran handed him a pass.

It was magically processed to be counterfeit-proof.

“Thank you.”

“If you encounter any troublesome situations in Neo Seoul, show this pass. It will solve most problems.”

“Most? So, there are problems it won’t solve?”

“Neo Seoul is still inhabited by people. There are always foolish ones who defy authority.”

“I see.”

“I believe you’re not one of those people, Mr. Zeon.”

Seo Tae-ran’s smile was chilling.

It was a smile so intimidating it could suffocate most people. But it had no effect on Zeon.

He put the pass into his pocket and said,

“Well, I’m just human too.”

“People are all different.”

“This is getting awkward. I should go now.”

Zeon placed some money on the table and stood up.

Brielle and Levin stood up with him.

Zeon nodded slightly to Seo Tae-ran and said,

“See you in a few days.”

“Yes!”

Zeon, Levin, and Brielle left immediately.

Seo Tae-ran watched them walk away.

Thud!

Klexi placed a bowl of rice in front of Seo Tae-ran.

“Here’s your food.”

“Never mind.”

“What?”

“Now that I think about it, food made with leftovers won’t taste good. I’ll pass.”

“You rude…”

“I’ll pay for the meal with this.”

She took out a small Mana Stone from her pocket.

It was far too expensive for just a meal.

It was worth more than the monthly sales of the small stall.

Klexi quickly pocketed the Mana Stone and said.

“If you’re hungry, come by anytime. I’ll make you something special.”

“Do you think I’ll come again?”

“No one knows the future. I didn’t expect to end up running a stall in the slums.”

“That’s true. Anyway, I’ve achieved my purpose, so I’ll be going.”

“Please, just go already.”

“I’ll send your regards to the Mayor.”

“No thanks. I never want to be involved with him again.”

“But you have history.”

“Since when did you have such a long tongue? I don’t want to hear any more nonsense, so get out of my sight.”

“If you change your mind, contact me anytime.”

“I’d rather die.”

“We’ll see.”

Seo Tae-ran smirked and walked away.

Klexi muttered to himself as he watched her leave, her voluptuous buttocks swaying back and forth.

“I’ve seen a bitch worse than any monster. I’ll definitely suffer bad luck for months.”