Chapter 233
Zeon stepped closer to the window.
“So the news that I was brought here has already reached your ears?”
“We’re the Numbers.”
“For us, all information comes first.”
The twin sisters answered proudly.
Zeon looked at Old Man Go.
“Then the Mayor must already know I’ve been captured.”
“He knows everything.”
“Is there any chance he’ll get me out?”
“No matter who he is, even the Mayor can’t just release someone accused of wiping out NSSC Team 2.”
“That wasn’t me.”
“I know. If it were you, you would’ve handled it far more efficiently. Still, there’s something called procedure.”
“I figured as much.”
Despite Old Man Go’s answer, Zeon wasn’t disappointed.
He had already expected it.
Old Man Go spoke with a serious expression.
“They’re quite cunning. Not a single trace left behind, and they made off with a top-grade mana stone.”
“Did you take on the recovery mission?”
“Heh… You’d think it’s about time they let an old man rest, but the Mayor has no such intention. He works me to the bone.”
“That’s because you’re capable.”
“Well, I am a bit capable. But for that capability to shine, I need information. Do you know anything?”
“There are a few people who consider me a thorn in their side. It’s possible one of them—or several working together—set this up.”
“Johan… Lee Jiryung? Those are some big names.”
Old Man Go scratched his cheek.
It was a troublesome situation.
Johan, the ruler of Dongdaemun, and Lee Jiryung, whose influence had rapidly grown—both were formidable opponents.
The slums had their own rules.
Areas like Sinchon and Dongdaemun were divided into multiple districts, each with its own ruler—like kings of their territories.
If you provoked them carelessly, the entire slum could erupt like a disturbed hornet’s nest.
That was why Neo Seoul rarely interfered in slum affairs unless absolutely necessary.
It wasn’t fear—it was inconvenience.
Old Man Go felt the same way.
Both Johan and Lee Jiryung were not to be taken lightly.
Even dealing with one of them was burdensome. If both were involved, then even someone like Old Man Go would struggle to handle it.
The twin sisters chimed in excitedly.
“Wow! So Zeon’s enemies are people like that? That’s impressive.”
“That just means Zeon is a big shot too. That’s why he gets entangled with big shots.”
“Is that so?”
“He’s the only sand mage on Earth. Of course he’s a big shot.”
“That’s true!”
The twins kept chattering nonstop, to the point it almost hurt the ears.
Old Man Go clicked his tongue.
“Please understand. There aren’t many people those girls can relax around like this.”
“It’s fine.”
“Anyway… Johan and Lee Jiryung, huh? It’s been a while since I’ve faced such troublesome opponents. I’ll have to be careful.”
“Can they be held accountable?”
“For what? Ah, for killing NSSC Team 2? That won’t be easy. We’ll be lucky just to recover the top-grade mana stone.”
“But you’re the Numbers.”
“Heh… Even the Numbers aren’t omnipotent. And the Mayor prefers to intervene only to a certain extent—he doesn’t like overturning the entire board. As long as the structure he’s built doesn’t collapse, he allows a reasonable level of competition and conflict.”
“That’s impressive.”
“He is an impressive man. That’s how he built Neo Seoul into what it is today. He has no interest in petty struggles within the city. Of course, if someone crosses the line, he enforces it decisively… but fortunately, it seems no one has crossed that line yet.”
There was fear in Old Man Go’s voice as he spoke of Jin Geumho.
Even a member of the Numbers like him feared Jin Geumho.
It wasn’t about strength.
Jin Geumho’s fearsome nature had nothing to do with his rank or awakened ability.
Even Old Man Go, who had served him for a long time, had never seen through his true intentions.
He was clearly drawing some grand design—but never revealed its full picture to his subordinates.
Only Jin Geumho himself knew the complete plan.
Everyone else was merely a part moving to fulfill his will.
That included Old Man Go and the twin sisters.
No one knew what his ideals were, or what final destination he aimed for.
They simply believed in him and followed.
And yet, a sense of unease always lingered.
Compared to Jin Geumho, people like Lee Jiryung or Johan were nothing more than pyramids.
Their ideals—the scale of the plans they envisioned—were on an entirely different level.
“The order the Mayor gave me wasn’t to punish those who wiped out NSSC, but to recover the top-grade mana stone. So as long as I retrieve that, the mission is complete.”
“I see.”
“What, are you disappointed in his decision?”
“No.”
Zeon shook his head.
Someone who understood Jin Geumho better than anyone was Daeyoden. Yet even he hadn’t explained much about him.
He had said that seeing him once would be more enlightening than hearing a hundred explanations.
He was right.
Jin Geumho, when seen in person, was like a giant.
So enormous that he didn’t concern himself with trivial matters beneath his feet.
As long as fearless ants didn’t climb up his legs, he would ignore them.
Some might think that made him lenient—but that was a foolish conclusion.
He ignored ants not because he couldn’t deal with them, but because he could crush them at any time.
It wasn’t that he paid no attention at all.
‘Even a top-grade mana stone is just something worth a bit of his attention.’
It was a scale beyond ordinary comprehension.
Old Man Go spoke again.
“Looks like visiting time is over. I should get going.”
“Could you tell me where this prison is located?”
“Why, planning to escape if you know?”
“Is there any need? It’s quite comfortable here.”
“Hmm…”
Old Man Go narrowed his eyes, as if trying to see through Zeon’s intentions.
But no matter how he looked, he couldn’t read him.
In the end, he sighed.
“…It’s located on the border between the Central District and the Southern District.”
“I see. Thank you.”
“Make sure you don’t cause trouble. The other Numbers aren’t as friendly toward you as I am—they won’t treat you so gently.”
“What trouble could I possibly cause in here? I’ll just think of it as rest.”
“Keep that mindset. Well then…”
Old Man Go and the twin sisters closed the window and left the prison.
Zeon sat down on the chair and muttered,
“Between City Hall and the Southern District… that’s a very strategic location.”
—
“Repent, unbelievers!”
“Follow the teachings of the Lord!”
From early dawn, a bloody storm swept through Sinchon.
The holy knights of Dongdaemun had launched a sudden raid on a tavern.
Caught off guard, the people inside shouted in panic.
“Damn it! Fanatics!”
“Get out of here!”
Those inside scattered like startled locusts, rushing toward the emergency exits prepared in advance—but holy knights were already waiting there.
The knights launched a merciless assault, and the Awakened inside the tavern responded with their skills.
Boom! Crash!
“Aagh!”
“Urgh!”
Explosions and screams echoed throughout the building.
At the center of the resisting Awakened stood a man grinding his teeth.
“Was our information leaked?”
He was Eaton—the man who had succeeded Goran as the ruler of Sinchon.
When Dongdaemun invaded, he had taken refuge in this tavern.
It was one of his safehouses, guarded by a tight security network.
Yet the holy knights had stormed in without any warning.
Their information had been exposed, while the enemy’s remained hidden.
It was like fighting blindfolded.
Trapped with no way forward or back, Eaton shouted,
“Everyone escape separately and regroup at Safehouse No. 3!”
It was an order to save themselves.
“Bastards! Die!”
“Haah!”
Eaton’s subordinates unleashed everything they had against the holy knights.
Their fierce counterattack forced the knights to retreat slightly.
“Guh!”
“Lord…!”
Several frontline knights collapsed, coughing up blood.
But those behind them showed no hesitation, stepping over their fallen comrades and advancing.
What mattered to them was spreading the Lord’s teachings in Sinchon—and carrying out Johan’s orders.
The death of their allies had no effect on their resolve.
They were colder and more ruthless than machines—true killing machines.
Under the relentless assault of the holy knights, the Awakened in the tavern were gradually pushed into a corner.
Even the escape routes were occupied—there was nowhere left to run.
“Damn it… is this how it ends?”
Despair settled on Eaton’s face.
No matter where he looked, there was no escape.
At this rate, capture was only a matter of time.
And what would happen to him if Dongdaemun caught him was obvious.
He would be tortured brutally… and then killed.
“Aaagh!”
“S-spare me! Aaaah!”
“Mom!”
Even at that moment, his subordinates were screaming as they fell.
The holy knights were merciless.
They slaughtered the Awakened like animals.
Already, two-thirds of them had fallen.
Those remaining were barely holding on.
At this rate, they would all be dead within a minute.
What do I do? If I surrender, will they spare me? No… there’s no way.
In the end, Eaton had only one choice—fight to the death.
A steel sphere slipped out of his pocket.
It was controlled by his skill—telekinesis.
The floating sphere rose into the air and shot toward the holy knights at terrifying speed.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The sound of metal rang out as the knights’ bodies shook.
But they took no real damage.
Their heavy armor protected them completely.
Eaton had only become the ruler of Sinchon because Zeon had backed him—not because he was particularly strong.
With his ability, there was no way he could break through the knights’ armor.
“That’s Eaton.”
“Capture him.”
The holy knights advanced toward him, eyes blazing.
Once they subdued Eaton, the battle would be over.
The other Awakened didn’t matter.
And soon, they were right in front of him.
The expression on Eaton’s face was pure despair.
There was nowhere to escape.
Damn it… is this where I die?
Just as he was driven to the brink of death—
A translucent hand suddenly appeared from behind and grabbed the back of his neck.
“What—?”
In that instant, Eaton felt a dizzying sensation, as if his whole body were floating.
It wasn’t his imagination.
He was actually levitating.
And turning translucent.
Ssssh—
His ghostlike body slipped straight into the wall.
“What?!”
“Where did he go?!”
The holy knights froze in shock at the sudden turn of events.
“Was that an invisibility skill?”
“Damn it! Find him!”
They quickly regained their senses and searched the surroundings—
But Eaton was nowhere to be found.
He had vanished without a trace, leaving the holy knights completely baffled.