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“Has the rumor that I’ve been captured already reached your ears?”

“We’re the Numbers, after all.”

“All information comes to us first.”

The twin sisters responded with proud expressions.

Zeon looked at Old Go.

“So the mayor knows I’ve been captured as well?”

“He knows everything.”

“Is there any chance he’s thinking of getting me out?”

“Not even the mayor can freely release someone who annihilated NSSC Team 2.”

“But I didn’t do it.”

“We know. If it had been you, it would’ve been handled much more efficiently. But there’s a process that has to be followed.”

“I figured as much.”

Zeon wasn’t disappointed by Old Go’s response.

He had already expected it.

Old Go spoke with a serious expression.

“They’re quite crafty. They stole the top-grade Mana Stone without leaving a single trace.”

“Did the mayor assign you the retrieval mission?”

“Heh heh! It’s about time they let an old man rest, but the mayor doesn’t seem to have any such intentions. He’s determined to work me to the bone.”

“You’re too capable for them to let you go.”

“I am somewhat capable. But for my capabilities to shine, I need information. Do you know anything?”

“There are a few people who see me as a thorn in their side. It’s possible that one of them, or several of them together, orchestrated this.”

“Johan and Lee Ji-ryeong, huh? They’re both big shots.”

Old Go scratched his cheek with his finger.

He was slightly troubled.

Both Johan, the ruler of Dongdaemun, and Lee Ji-ryeong, who had rapidly expanded his influence recently, were formidable opponents.

The slums have their own rules.

Like Shinchon or Dongdaemun, they’re divided into various districts, each with its own ruler. The rulers of each district are like kings.

A misstep could stir up the entire slums as if poking a beehive.

For this reason, even Neo Seoul generally avoids interfering in slum affairs unless absolutely necessary.

It’s not out of fear, but rather because it’s a hassle.

The same was true for Old Go.

Both Johan and Lee Ji-ryeong were forces to be reckoned with.

Dealing with just one of them would be burdensome enough. If both were involved in this situation, even Old Go would find it difficult to handle.

The twin sisters spoke in awe.

“Wow! Zeon’s made enemies with people like that? That’s amazing.”

“Zeon must be a big shot too, to be tangled up with such big shots.”

“Is that so?”

“He’s the only Sand Mage on Earth. Of course, he’s a big shot.”

“That’s true!”

The twin sisters kept chattering nonstop, making Zeon’s ears ache.

Old Go clicked his tongue.

“You’ll have to forgive them. There aren’t many people they feel comfortable enough with to act this relaxed.”

“It’s fine.”

“So, Johan and Lee Ji-ryeong, huh? It’s been a while since I’ve encountered such burdensome opponents. I’ll have to be careful.”

“Can they be held accountable?”

“Held accountable? Ah! For killing NSSC Team 2? That won’t be easy. It’ll be a relief just to recover the top-grade Mana Stone.”

“Aren’t you part of the Numbers?”

“Heh heh! The Numbers aren’t all-powerful. And the mayor prefers not to get too involved, just enough to keep the situation from completely unraveling. He tolerates a certain level of competition and conflict as long as it doesn’t disrupt his plans too much.”

“That’s impressive.”

“He’s an impressive man. That’s how he was able to build Neo Seoul into what it is today. He’s not concerned with the petty squabbles happening within Neo Seoul. Of course, if someone crosses the line, he’ll step in. Fortunately, it seems no one’s crossed that line just yet.”

There was a hint of fear in Old Go’s voice when he mentioned Jin Geumho.

Even Old Go, a member of the Numbers, feared Jin Geumho.

It wasn’t just about power.

Jin Geumho’s fearsome nature had nothing to do with his rank or awakening abilities.

Even to Old Go, who had worked under him for a long time, Jin Geumho never revealed his true intentions.

He was clearly planning something big, but he never showed the full picture to his subordinates.

The only one who knew the whole plan was Jin Geumho himself.

The rest were merely parts moving to fulfill his vision.

This included Old Go and the twin sisters, even though they were part of the Numbers.

No one knew Jin Geumho’s true intentions or his ultimate goal.

They could only trust and follow.

And yet, it was impossible to shake off the constant feeling of unease.

Compared to Jin Geumho, Lee Ji-ryeong and Johan were nothing more than small fry.

Their aspirations and the scale of their plans were on an entirely different level.

“The mayor’s orders for me are not to punish those who wiped out the NSSC but to retrieve the top-grade Mana Stone. So as long as I recover the Mana Stone, my mission is complete.”

“I see.”

“Are you disappointed with the mayor’s decision?”

“No.”

Zeon shook his head.

Dyoden was the one who knew Jin Geumho better than anyone. But even he didn’t reveal much about Jin Geumho.

He had said that seeing Jin Geumho in person would help Zeon understand him far better than any words could.

Dyoden was right.

Seeing Jin Geumho in person was like witnessing a giant.

So large that he didn’t even bother with the minor things happening at his feet.

As long as the reckless ants didn’t climb up his ankles, he let them be.

Some might mistake Jin Geumho’s behavior for weakness, but that would be a foolish assumption.

He ignored the ants because he could crush them with a flick of his finger at any time, not because he didn’t care.

‘Even a top-grade Mana Stone is just something he needs to pay a little attention to.’

It was a scale that ordinary people couldn’t comprehend.

Old Go spoke.

“It seems our visiting time is up. We should be going.”

“Could you tell me where this prison is located?”

“Why, so you can try to escape?”

“Is there any reason to? It’s quite comfortable here.”

“Hmm!”

Old Go looked at Zeon with half-closed eyes, as if trying to see through his intentions. But no matter how much he looked, he couldn’t figure out what Zeon was thinking.

In the end, he sighed and said,

“Phew! It’s located at the boundary between the Central District and the Southern District.”

“I see. Thank you.”

“Please try not to cause any trouble. The other members of the Numbers aren’t as friendly toward you as I am. They won’t treat you as kindly.”

“What trouble could I cause here? I’ll just think of this as a chance to rest.”

“Don’t change your mind. Well then…”

Old Go and the twin sisters closed the window and left the prison.

Zeon sat down in his chair and muttered.

“The border between the Central and Southern Districts, huh… The location is quite precise.”

* * *

“Repent, you unbelievers!”

“Follow the teachings of the Lord.”

From early morning, a bloody wind swept through Shinchon.

Paladins from Dongdaemun had raided a tavern in Shinchon.

The sudden attack caused the people inside the tavern to shout.

“Damn it! Fanatics!”

“Everyone, get out of here!”

The people in the tavern scattered like locusts. They tried to escape through the emergency exits they had prepared in advance, but there were paladins waiting there as well.

The paladins launched a ruthless attack, and the Awakeneds inside the tavern responded with their skills.

Boom! Boom!

“Aaargh!”

“Ugh!”

Explosions and screams echoed inside.

At the center of the group of Awakeneds resisting the paladins was a man gritting his teeth.

“Was there a leak?”

He was Ethan, who had taken over as the ruler of Shinchon after Goran.

When Dongdaemun invaded, he had hidden in this tavern.

The tavern was one of his safe houses, boasting an ironclad security system. Yet the paladins had stormed in without any warning.

His information had been leaked, while theirs had been kept hidden.

It was like fighting blindfolded.

Caught in a dilemma, Ethan shouted.

“Everyone, escape and regroup at Safe House 3.”

It was an order for everyone to save themselves.

“Damn bastards! Die!”

“Chaaa!”

Ethan’s men fought with all their might, attacking the paladins.

Their fierce offensive pushed the paladins back.

“Guh!”

“Lord!”

A few of the leading paladins fell, spraying blood. But the paladins behind them stepped over their fallen comrades without hesitation.

What mattered to them was spreading the Lord’s teachings in Shinchon and carrying out Johan’s orders.

The death of their comrades didn’t faze them in the slightest.

The paladins were more cold-hearted and ruthless killing machines than any machine.

As the paladins’ fierce offensive continued, the Awakeneds inside the tavern were gradually driven into a corner.

Even the escape routes were blocked by the paladins, leaving no way out.

“Damn it! Is this the end?”

Despair settled on Ethan’s face.

No matter how hard he looked, he couldn’t find a way out.

At this rate, it was only a matter of time before he was captured.

It was obvious what would happen to him if he was caught by Dongdaemun.

He would be subjected to horrific torture and then brutally killed.

“Aaargh!”

“Please, spare me! Ugh!”

“Mom!”

Even at that moment, his subordinates were being cut down, screaming.

The paladins were merciless.

They slaughtered the Awakeneds in the tavern with the same brutality as hunting animals.

Already, two-thirds of the Awakeneds had fallen to the paladins. The remaining ones were in a precarious state as well.

At this rate, they would all be dead within a minute.

‘What should I do? Will they accept my surrender? No, that’s impossible.’

In the end, Ethan had only one option left: to fight to the death.

A metal sphere slipped out of Ethan’s pocket.

He used his psychokinesis skill to move the metal sphere.

The sphere floated in the air and shot toward the paladins at a terrifying speed.

Clang clang clang!

The metallic sound echoed as the paladins’ bodies shook. But they weren’t seriously injured.

The heavy armor they wore provided perfect protection.

Ethan had become the ruler of Shinchon because Zeon had his back, not because he was strong.

With his abilities, he couldn’t pierce the paladins’ armor no matter how hard he tried.

“There he is.”

“Capture him.”

The paladins glared at Ethan and approached him.

Once Ethan was subdued, the fight would be over.

There was no need to even glance at the other Awakeneds.

The paladins reached Ethan’s side in no time.

At that moment, the expression on Ethan’s face was one of despair.

He saw no way out.

‘Damn it! Am I going to die like this?’

Just as he was thinking of death, suddenly, a translucent hand shot out from behind and grabbed the back of Ethan’s neck.

“What the?”

At that moment, Ethan felt a dizzying sensation as if his entire body was floating.

His feeling wasn’t a delusion.

Ethan was actually floating in the air.

He had turned translucent.

Swoosh!

Ethan, now ghost-like, disappeared into the wall.

“What the?”

“What happened? Where did he go?”

The paladins were stunned and froze in place.

“Was that a stealth skill?”

“Damn it! Find him quickly.”

After a moment, they regained their senses and searched the area, but Ethan was nowhere to be found.

Just like that, Ethan had vanished without a trace, and the paladins were left like dogs chasing a chicken that had flown the coop.

———-