Chapter 226

Chapter 226

“Tch!”

Yu Se-hee clicked her tongue.

It was because of the foreign scenes visible throughout the streets.

Men wearing heavy armor could be seen.

It was heavy armor with a cross drawn in the center of the chest.

It was the symbol of Dongdaemun’s Paladins.

There was no wall between Shinchon and Dongdaemun. Even so, the reason it had been difficult to see Paladins in heavy armor in Shinchon until now was because an unspoken mutual non-aggression rule existed between Dongdaemun and Shinchon.

Shinchon’s ruler was Goran, and Dongdaemun’s ruler was Johan.

Dongdaemun had the advantage in overall combat strength, but that did not mean it could completely overwhelm Shinchon.

Because both sides understood that a war would result in mutual destruction, they usually refrained from setting foot in each other’s territory.

Even after Eaton became the ruler of Shinchon, this stance had not changed. Though Eaton was far inferior to Goran, Zeon existed behind him.

Zeon himself did not seem to recognize it, but in the slums, he was already a big shot.

Zeon, who had single-handedly eliminated Goran, the ruler of Shinchon, and all of his forces, was a burdensome existence to everyone.

He himself did not take any action, but his mere existence served as a deterrent that prevented other factions from invading.

When that Zeon disappeared, Johan immediately revealed his ambition.

He began seriously attempting to advance into Shinchon.

Eaton did not have the power to stop Johan.

In the end, he fled miserably, and most of Shinchon was incorporated into Dongdaemun.

It started from then.

Dongdaemun’s Paladins and clergymen began entering Shinchon in earnest and spreading their faith.

The Paladins and clergymen were persistent.

They grabbed anyone walking down the street and preached how great Johan was, and how great the god they served was.

Even saying they did not want to listen was useless.

They preached and persuaded until the other party accepted it.

In the end, only after the exhausted people answered that they would go to Church did they let them go in satisfaction. Even after that, they visited them to check whether they were actually attending Church.

In that way, Dongdaemun was dyeing Shinchon in its own colors.

“Because of those bastards, even the Goblin Market has shrunk back.”

“That must be exactly what they want.”

Black Lion, who was guarding Yu Se-hee, spoke in a low voice.

The Goblin Market in Shinchon had too many people’s interests tangled around it. Among them were many big shots from Neo Seoul, so even Johan could not touch it easily.

Because of that, Johan had been visiting and persuading the big shots connected to the Goblin Market.

For example, by saying that if he took control of the Goblin Market, he would give them even more interests.

Because of that, the current atmosphere of the Goblin Market was terrible.

“Who would’ve known? That Lee Ji-ryeong would join hands with Johan.”

“Lee Ji-ryeong is the problem. I didn’t expect him to tighten his grip on Shinchon like this as soon as he became a Grade S Awakened.”

“It must be because of Zeon.”

Yu Se-hee wrinkled her nose.

She did not know what had happened during the dungeon clearing.

In any case, Zeon was publicly known to be dead, and Lee Ji-ryeong, who had returned safely, had become a Grade S Awakened.

For some reason, Lee Ji-ryeong was devoting himself to erasing traces of Zeon. Judging from that, she could guess that something serious had happened inside the dungeon.

“We need to prepare thoroughly. The moment we slip up, our throats will be torn out.”

“We have taken every measure we can for now, but it’s true that if they come at us with determination, we’ll be at a disadvantage.”

“It won’t be an easy fight. Still, we’ll definitely overcome it.”

Yu Se-hee steeled her resolve.

The Goblin Market had always grown alongside crises.

Her grandfather, old man Clexi, had overcome countless hardships to lay the foundation of the Goblin Market, and Yu Se-hee had grown it even larger.

Many people had coveted the Goblin Market over the years, but no one had succeeded.

Yu Se-hee was confident that she would overcome this hardship splendidly as well.

Just as Yu Se-hee walked while steeling herself like that, it happened.

“Yu Se-hee!”

Someone called her.

Yu Se-hee frowned elegantly and looked in the direction the voice had come from. The moment she confirmed the owner of the voice, wariness quickly appeared on her face.

“Lee Ji-ryeong?”

It was a man wearing a shearling coat made from the hide of an unknown monster.

Short-cut hair, a large scar crossing his right cheek, a powerful appearance, and a tremendous sense of pressure. The large man was Lee Ji-ryeong.

His golden eyes were staring at Yu Se-hee.

Lee Ji-ryeong strode toward Yu Se-hee.

“It’s been a while, Yu Se-hee!”

“That’s far enough.”

At that moment, Black Lion stepped in front of Yu Se-hee and blocked Lee Ji-ryeong’s approach.

Lee Ji-ryeong stopped walking and looked at Black Lion.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you too.”

“So it has.”

“You’re still beside Yu Se-hee. Isn’t it time you left? Come under me, and I’ll treat you well.”

“I am not an ungrateful man like you.”

“Well, if that’s how you feel......”

At the hostility in Black Lion’s eyes, Lee Ji-ryeong shrugged.

Black Lion and Lee Ji-ryeong were both from the slums.

They had been born in the slums and had awakened early to their own potential.

Almost no one knew they had grown up in the same alley.

Black Lion and Lee Ji-ryeong, who recognized each other’s strength, became part of the same crew.

The two spent quite a long time together and went through just as many things.

After that, Black Lion met old man Clexi and became a member of the Goblin Market, while Lee Ji-ryeong returned to Neo Seoul and created the Pegasus Raid Team.

No one knew what had happened between the two, but the look in Black Lion’s eyes as he gazed at Lee Ji-ryeong was anything but ordinary. But Lee Ji-ryeong ignored his gaze and looked at Yu Se-hee.

“I heard things have been difficult for you lately, but it seems you still have the leisure to go out.”

“It’s not that difficult. More importantly, why has someone so precious come all the way to such a filthy place? I suppose the rumors were true after all.”

“Rumors?”

“I heard a rumor that you became one of Johan’s fanatics too.”

“Pfft!”

At Yu Se-hee’s provocation, Lee Ji-ryeong smiled faintly.

Yu Se-hee was indirectly insulting him for joining hands with Johan. But this level of provocation was not enough to shake Lee Ji-ryeong.

He answered calmly.

“Well, he turned out to be easier to talk to than I expected.”

“So you really did become one of his fanatics. Is that why you covet the Goblin Market?”

“Think of it as a strategic alliance.”

Lee Ji-ryeong did not bother hiding the fact that he had joined hands with Johan.

With the Goblin Market’s intelligence capabilities, they could uncover that much movement easily.

Lee Ji-ryeong coveted the Goblin Market. No, to be precise, he coveted Argos’s Eye, the organization behind the Goblin Market.

‘I must place Argos’s Eye in my hands. Only then can I climb higher.’

With his success in clearing the dungeon this time, the Pegasus Raid Team had entered a path of success.

Because many Awakened came to follow Lee Ji-ryeong, who had become a Grade S Awakened, the Pegasus Raid Team’s size swelled rapidly. Even so, Lee Ji-ryeong felt something was lacking.

It was the absence of an intelligence organization.

Not only Mayor Jin Geum-ho, but the rulers of each district had excellent organizations dedicated to intelligence.

Based on the information those organizations brought in, the rulers managed and grew each district.

Lee Ji-ryeong was making his own efforts, but creating a decent intelligence organization was never easy.

When he hit a wall and could not see a path forward, what came to mind was the Goblin Market.

More precisely, Argos’s Eye, operated by old man Clexi, the former owner of the Goblin Market.

Because he was also from the slums, Lee Ji-ryeong knew a certain amount about Argos’s Eye.

If he could absorb Argos’s Eye, growing the Pegasus Raid Team by at least two or three times would be nothing.

That was when it began.

When Lee Ji-ryeong joined hands with Johan.

Of course, there was another reason too.

It was to erase all traces of Zeon.

Just thinking of the name Zeon brought his mood down.

Zeon was the first person who had ever made him feel as though he stood below someone else. That was why he wanted to erase every trace of Zeon. To do that, he had to place Shinchon in his hands.

Yu Se-hee glared at Lee Ji-ryeong.

“It won’t go the way you want.”

“That’s something we’ll see.”

“Arrogant bastard!”

“You don’t still think I’m only a Grade A Awakened, do you? If I make up my mind, frying you would be nothing.”

Crackle!

White sparks burst from Lee Ji-ryeong’s entire body.

Then Black Lion opened his mouth.

“Even if you became Grade S, I am not afraid of you, Lee Ji-ryeong!”

“Of course you aren’t. You’ve always been overflowing with fighting spirit. But that doesn’t fill the gap in lacking force. While you were bound to Yu Se-hee and became a watchdog guarding the house, I lived while struggling in that harsh desert. I grew my abilities by killing countless monsters, clearing dungeons, and killing Scavengers. Who do you think is stronger? The house dog, or the lion that fights in the desert?”

“You?”

A deep furrow formed between Black Lion’s brows.

Although it was hidden by the cloth covering his face, he wore a humiliated expression.

That was because Lee Ji-ryeong’s words were true.

There was a gap between him and Lee Ji-ryeong that could never be closed. That gap would not narrow in the future either. Not as long as he remained content as Yu Se-hee’s bodyguard.

Lee Ji-ryeong mocked Black Lion.

“You’re called Black Lion, but you are not a lion. The real lion is me. You are nothing but a dog.”

“......”

“If you’re angry, attack me. Fight me and prove that you are a lion, Black Lion.”

“Krrgh!”

“You can’t, can you? That is proof that you are a dog.”

Drip!

Black Lion had clenched his teeth so tightly that blood flowed from his lips.

Lee Ji-ryeong looked at Black Lion and smiled.

It was a mocking smile.

It was then.

An Awakened from the Pegasus Raid Team hurriedly approached Lee Ji-ryeong.

“Captain!”

“What is it?”

“Someone is looking for you.”

“For me? Who?”

“The security chief from the Mana Stone Mine.”

Lee Ji-ryeong looked puzzled.

No matter how he thought about it, there was no reason for the security chief from the Mana Stone Mine to look for him.

“Why is he looking for me?”

At Lee Ji-ryeong’s question, the Awakened whispered into his ear.

“He says it’s related to Zeon.”

“Zeon?”

At that instant, Lee Ji-ryeong’s complexion changed.

The name Zeon was like his reverse scale, so he reacted that way without realizing it.

Lee Ji-ryeong hurriedly asked,

“Where is he?”

“Please follow me.”

Lee Ji-ryeong followed the Awakened without looking back.

Watching Lee Ji-ryeong’s retreating back, Yu Se-hee opened her mouth.

“Did you hear that just now?”

“Yes! He definitely said Zeon.”

“Why would the security chief from the Mana Stone Mine mention Zeon?”

Lee Ji-ryeong’s subordinate had spoken in a low voice, intending to keep it secret, but he could not fool the ears of Awakened like Yu Se-hee and Black Lion.

Yu Se-hee’s thoughts spun rapidly.

“Lee Ji-ryeong is the one who said Zeon was dead. That’s why everyone believes Zeon is dead. But if Zeon really were dead, would the security chief from the Mana Stone Mine have come all the way here?”

“Then do you think Zeon isn’t dead?”

“That’s the only way this situation makes sense, isn’t it?”

“Mm!”

“It was strange from the start. The fact that Zeon, a Sandmancer, had died so pointlessly. They took Zeon with them because sand was blocking the dungeon entrance.”

“Then do you think Lee Ji-ryeong intentionally spread a false rumor?”

“Lee Ji-ryeong is not that sloppy or stupid. He wouldn’t tell a lie that would soon be exposed. He must have judged that Zeon was truly dead.”

Yu Se-hee’s eyes shone sharply.

It felt as if a single ray of sunlight had shone through a foggy political situation that had only been murky.

“If Zeon is truly alive, then he must be at the Mana Stone Mine right now. Otherwise, there would be no reason for the security chief from the Mana Stone Mine to come looking for Lee Ji-ryeong.”

“If that’s true, he’ll return soon.”

“We don’t have time to wait. If Lee Ji-ryeong knows Zeon is alive, he’ll move first. If Zeon returns, his reputation and achievements will both fall to the ground.”

“Then?”

“Uncle Will is there, isn’t he? Contact him as quickly as possible and tell him this.”