Chapter 152
“Hoo…”
Zeon brushed the dust off his shoulders and head, letting out a light sigh.
He had only meant to watch over Alexandro’s group for a short while—but making sure they safely exited the danger zone had taken half a day.
The journey had been longer than expected.
He just wanted to go home, wash up, and rest.
Before entering the slums, Zeon glanced toward where the White Bear Caravan’s fortress had once stood.
There was no trace of it.
The piled-up sand had erased everything.
The wind mixed with sand buried all things—
Even the desperate efforts of someone’s life.
‘How fleeting…’
Shaking his head slightly, Zeon began walking again.
Still, returning after so long, even the filthy slums felt strangely welcoming.
Just as he had expected.
While fighting Balrog, Zeon had revealed his abilities—
That he was a sand sorcerer.
“Zeon!”
“Hyung!”
As soon as he entered the slums, two people rushed to greet him.
Brielle and Levin.
Zeon smiled.
“Were you waiting for me?”
“Yeah!”
“Don’t even get me started. This kid sat here waiting for you every single day.”
Their answers made his smile deepen.
He realized for the first time how good it felt to have someone waiting for him.
“Nice. Let’s go home.”
“…Better not go home yet.”
“Why?”
“There are a lot of flies buzzing around.”
“Is that so?”
Seeing Brielle’s pout, Zeon gave a slightly apologetic look.
It was only a matter of time before rumors spread through the few surviving witnesses.
By now, many people would know he was a sand sorcerer.
In a world turned into a desert, such an ability had limitless value.
Many had already calculated that—and were moving to recruit him.
Brielle looked at him resentfully.
“Why did you do that? If you were going to reveal your ability, you should’ve just killed everyone inside the barrier. Then the secret would’ve been safe.”
“You can’t live like that forever. And it was bound to be revealed anyway. If it can’t stay hidden forever, it’s better to reveal it when it has the most value.”
Besides, his opponent had been Balrog.
It wasn’t something he could fight while holding back.
He had to go all out.
If he had revealed his ability against some insignificant beast, the leaders of each district would’ve seen him as nothing more than a tool.
But defeating a calamity like Balrog changed everything.
Their calculations would now be far more complicated.
Placing a hand on both Brielle and Levin’s shoulders, Zeon said—
“Let’s go to old man Clexi’s stall.”
“To eat?”
“Yeah. I’ve been living off jerky—I want a proper meal.”
“Okay!”
The three of them headed toward the street where the stall stood.
The moment Clexi saw Zeon, he glared sharply.
“So you’re back, you sly bastard. You hid it well.”
“What do you mean?”
“Your ability. Not fire—but sand.”
“So what?”
“How could you even hide that from me? Between us—”
“Stop pretending to be hurt and just give me food.”
“Hmph! Was it that obvious?”
“Very.”
“Unfunny brat. Wait a bit.”
Grumbling, Clexi started cooking.
Zeon sat down and watched.
As the old man worked quickly, he spoke.
“You already know, but because of you, every district’s in chaos. They’ve sent people into the slums to recruit you. Those bastards are digging around for information.”
“Is that so?”
“Even so, what they can learn about you is limited… heh.”
Clexi chuckled.
He controlled the flow of information in the slums.
As long as he held onto it, outsiders could only learn fragments.
Zeon smirked.
“Should I thank you?”
“Forget it. I’m not doing this for thanks. Because of you, people who should’ve died didn’t. That’s enough.”
If Balrog had rampaged freely, the slums would’ve been the first to be destroyed.
That was precisely why Neo Seoul tolerated the slums—
As a shield against unforeseen disasters.
If something like Balrog appeared, the slums would buy time while the city prepared its defenses.
How many slum dwellers died in the process didn’t matter to the city.
Clexi knew that.
That’s why he thanked Zeon.
Zeon replied—
“My home is in the slums. I can’t just watch it get destroyed. So there’s no need to thank me.”
“You’re not very honest, are you?”
“Who’s more honest than me?”
“Fine, fine. Here—eat.”
Thud!
Clexi placed a bowl of rice in front of him.
It was larger than usual, with generous portions.
“Thank you for the meal.”
Zeon picked up his spoon.
Maybe because it had been so long—
It tasted even better.
Clexi also served bowls to Levin and Brielle.
Brielle and Levin also thanked the old man before eating.
Watching the three enjoy the food he made, old man Clexi smiled warmly.
Just seeing them lifted his mood.
Having seen them so often, they now felt like his real grandchildren.
‘Hah… looks like my time isn’t far off. To think I’d feel something like this…’
Click, click.
Just then, the sound of footsteps approached.
High heels—something rarely heard in the slums.
Clexi frowned and looked toward the sound.
A woman was walking toward them, her hair perfectly styled without a single strand out of place.
She wore a tight red suit from head to toe, along with high red heels.
At a glance, she didn’t belong in the slums.
Only a select few in Neo Seoul dressed like that.
And Clexi knew exactly who she was.
“Hah…”
Letting out a sigh, he watched her.
The woman boldly sat down beside Zeon.
She stared at his rice bowl for a moment before speaking.
“That looks delicious. I’ll have the same.”
“I’m out of ingredients.”
“It’s been a while, and this is how you treat me?”
“We’re not close enough for me to go out of my way to find ingredients just to cook for you.”
“Then make something with what you have. That much you can do.”
“Like a leech.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
She smiled coldly.
Clicking his tongue, Clexi started cooking anyway.
Having achieved her goal, the woman turned her gaze to Zeon.
Feeling her sharp stare, he spoke.
“What is it?”
“Nice to meet you, Zeon.”
“I can’t say I feel the same.”
“I apologize for interrupting your meal. But if not now, I didn’t think I’d get a chance to meet you—so I took the liberty.”
“…Hmph.”
Only then did Zeon set down his spoon and properly look at her.
If not for her cold eyes and chilling aura, anyone might have been captivated by her beauty.
She spoke.
“My name is Seo Taeran. I work for City Hall.”
“City Hall?”
“More precisely, I’m the mayor’s personal secretary. I came to invite you to City Hall.”
“The mayor is calling for me?”
“Yes. He’s taken a great interest in your abilities and wishes to meet you personally. It’s been a long time since he’s shown this kind of interest in someone.”
“That’s quite an honor. But what should I do? It feels a bit burdensome.”
“There’s no need to feel pressured. It’s not some grand proposal—just a dinner invitation.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
She said not to feel burdened, but anyone would.
After all, it was an invitation from the mayor himself.
The supreme ruler of Neo Seoul—
Jin Geumho, a being who had survived since before the Great Cataclysm.
Anyone would feel pressure before him.
Yet Zeon showed no such sign.
He was so calm that it unsettled Taeran.
‘Does he not understand what it means to meet the mayor?’
Even the rulers of each district stood beneath him.
A one-on-one meeting with Jin Geumho was a golden opportunity to enter the very core of Neo Seoul.
Even the elite force known as the Numbers had been recruited or raised that way.
Zeon spoke.
“Alright. I’ll stop by City Hall soon.”
“Show this, and you’ll be able to enter immediately.”
Taeran handed him a pass.
It was magically enhanced—impossible to forge.
“Thank you.”
“If you run into trouble in Neo Seoul, show that pass. Most problems will be resolved.”
“Sounds like some problems won’t be?”
“Neo Seoul is still a place where people live. There are always fools who defy authority.”
“I see.”
“I trust you won’t be one of them.”
A cold smile formed on her lips.
It was the kind of smile that could suffocate most people with pressure.
But it had no effect on Zeon.
He slipped a hand into his coat and replied—
“Well, I’m human too.”
“And humans differ from one another.”
“That’s a bit much. I’ll be going then.”
Zeon placed money on the table and stood up.
Brielle and Levin rose with him.
Giving Taeran a slight nod, he said—
“Then I’ll see you in a few days.”
“Yes.”
The three of them left immediately.
Taeran watched them go in silence.
Thud!
At that moment, Clexi placed a bowl of rice in front of her.
“Your food’s ready.”
“I don’t need it.”
“What?”
“On second thought, food made with missing ingredients probably won’t taste good. I’ll pass.”
“You little—”
“I’ll pay with this instead.”
She pulled out a small mana stone.
Far too much for a single meal.
It was worth more than a month’s earnings for the stall.
Clexi quickly pocketed it.
“If you’re ever hungry, come by. I’ll cook you something proper.”
“Do you think I’ll come here again on my own?”
“No one knows the future. I never thought I’d end up running a stall in the slums either.”
“That’s true. Anyway, I’ve accomplished what I came for—I’ll be leaving now.”
“Please do.”
“I’ll pass along your regards to the mayor.”
“No need. I don’t want anything to do with that man ever again.”
“But you have history.”
“When did you start talking so much? I don’t want to hear it—so get that face out of here.”
“If you change your mind, contact me anytime.”
“I’d rather die.”
“We’ll see.”
With a scoff, Taeran stood and left.
Watching her sensual figure disappear into the distance, Clexi muttered—
“After seeing a woman worse than a monster… I’ll have bad luck for months.”