Chapter 354

Chapter 354

The shockwaves caused by Dongdaemun’s defeat and Johan’s death were immense.

This was not just anywhere. It was Dongdaemun, a group of fanatics.

Dongdaemun was a place packed with fanatics who would throw away their lives at any time for God and Johan.

If anyone touched them, they would rush in like Bomb Bees and self-destruct.

That was why even the factions within Neo Seoul that possessed greater strength than Dongdaemun had not dared touch it.

It was only because the Grade A Healer had become an issue that clashes had broken out everywhere. If not for that special incident, the other districts would never have fought Dongdaemun’s fanatics.

The news that Dongdaemun, which everyone was so reluctant to fight, had been smashed to pieces by Zeon alone was more than enough to shock people.

Not only the people of the slums, but even the power holders of Neo Seoul were deeply shaken by the news.

It had been a battle where a single individual had triumphed against a massive faction.

Most people had already known that Zeon possessed a unique class, but their reaction was that they had never imagined it would be to this degree.

Among them, the ones most shocked were the South District and the West District, which had experience clashing with Zeon.

Xiaolun, the ruler of the South District, had never had a good relationship with Zeon to begin with, and Kim Hyun-soo, the ruler of the West District, had once imprisoned Zeon.

Because of that, their relationships with Zeon were poor.

That did not mean Zeon had good relationships with the other districts either.

The North District was somewhat better, but the East District was also on poor terms with Zeon.

Even so, until now, they had not kept Zeon in serious check.

They acknowledged that the Sandmancer class was unique and possessed tremendous potential and great power, but they believed it could not compare to them, who occupied portions of Neo Seoul.

Dongdaemun’s collapse gave such people a great shock.

It was the first time they realized that a massive faction could be destroyed by a single individual.

Every faction went on emergency alert.

Their upper ranks were summoned to predict what would happen because of Dongdaemun’s collapse, and to establish countermeasures for the effects the chain of events would have on each district.

Among them, the ones preparing countermeasures most actively were naturally the South District, which had directly clashed with Zeon several times.

In a massive conference room, all the upper ranks of the South District gathered, with Xiaolun at the head.

“It’s hard to believe. To think Dongdaemun would collapse like that.”

“He killed hundreds of Awakened by himself. Zeon already possesses one-man army-level fighting power.”

“Isn’t that insane? No matter how broken the Sandmancer class is, still.”

“It feels unfair somehow.”

At the conversation among the upper ranks, which reminded one of a chaotic marketplace, Xiaolun’s brow twitched.

The South District was vast.

Naturally, its people and interests were just as vast.

The people here were the ones who led such a vast faction.

They possessed hearts as firm as steel, unmoved and unshaken by most matters.

Xiaolun had thought so until now.

When they were with him, they had always shown only dependable appearances, and in reality, they had led the South District well. But once a monster called Zeon appeared, they could not hide their bewilderment, floundering around and revealing their true nature.

‘Pathetic…….’

A chill rose over Xiaolun’s face. But they were too busy talking to notice his expression.

“We can’t just leave Zeon alone. If he expands his influence like this, he’ll definitely become a major obstacle to our affairs.”

“So you want to fight him?”

“That’s not what I mean…….”

“Then what are you suggesting?”

“Please don’t keep speaking so combatively. I’m saying we need to prepare countermeasures, not that we should fight.”

“I’m saying this because I’m frustrated too.”

“The mood is getting too heated. Everyone, take a break and calm your emotions for a moment.”

A beautiful woman who looked to be in her early twenties refreshed the atmosphere.

Her hair was neatly twisted up to reveal the nape of her snow-white neck, and she wore a qipao that showed the lines of her body exactly. Her name was Cheong Ming.

She was Xiaolun’s disciple, personally taught by him, and an outstanding Awakened.

Though she was the youngest among those gathered here, no one dared look down on her.

Thanks to Cheong Ming, the heated atmosphere calmed somewhat.

“I apologize, Lord Xiaolun. We showed you an ugly sight.”

Tan Ryung, the eldest among the upper ranks, apologized to Xiaolun.

Tan Ryung was a man in his mid-forties, with a strong jawline, a beard, and sharp eyes that left a deep impression.

He was an Awakened who led the Vermilion Bird Guild, the largest guild in the South District.

The Vermilion Bird Guild was a guild that had grown under Xiaolun’s full support, and it boasted the strongest fighting force in the South District.

The young man sitting across from him was Chu Wei, the man in charge of the South District’s administration.

He was so cold and precise in his calculations that people said he lacked humanity. But perhaps even he had been greatly shaken by this incident, because his face was flushed red.

The other Awakened, such as Go Tao and Yeom Cheong, had also not yet managed to calm their excitement.

Xiaolun swept his cold gaze over them and stopped on Cheong Ming.

“At least you are the best among them, Cheong Ming!”

“Not at all, Lord Xiaolun!”

“If you had not refreshed the atmosphere in time, those fools would have continued showing their ugly sides until the end.”

At Xiaolun’s words, the men felt as if cold water had been poured over their heads.

Their ruler, Xiaolun, was by no means a merciful man.

To him, subordinates were like parts that could be replaced at any time.

If they displeased him or seemed lacking, they could be replaced by others at any moment.

They had shown such a pitiful side before Xiaolun, so there was no way they could avoid feeling uneasy.

At least, fortunately, Cheong Ming had read Xiaolun’s mood and refreshed the atmosphere, even if belatedly.

“We apologize, Lord Xiaolun!”

“We will make sure this never happens again.”

Go Tao and Yeom Cheong lowered their heads and apologized.

Their faces were deathly pale from how tense they were.

Xiaolun looked at their faces for a moment before speaking.

“Zeon certainly is impressive. He managed to frighten every one of you self-important bastards who walk around with your shoulders puffed up.”

“We weren’t frightened……”

“If that was not being frightened, then what was it?”

“…….”

At Xiaolun’s words, Yeom Cheong, who had tried to make some excuse, clamped his mouth shut.

Xiaolun looked at him with a pathetic expression and continued.

“There should be no one here who does not know Zeon is impressive. But he is still human.”

“Human?”

“Yes! Like us, he is human. Blood flows through his veins, and once his mana runs dry, he cannot use his abilities.”

Xiaolun’s voice carried a power that made everyone focus.

“As long as he is human, he must have weaknesses. From now on, we gather every piece of information on Zeon. Find out everything: his abilities, his relationships, his movements, anything that could become a weakness.”

“Are you planning to go to war with him?”

“What idiotic nonsense. We are preparing for war. There is already a deep gulf between him and us. Maybe not right now, but someday, we may have to clash with him. So we must prepare starting now.”

Xiaolun was coldly rational.

He neither overestimated his own strength nor underestimated Zeon’s abilities.

If they clashed with Zeon now, even if they won, the South District would suffer heavy damage.

He did not need wounded glory or victory.

He always prepared for war, and because of that, he had been able to win countless wars without suffering major losses.

“Cheong Ming!”

“Yes, Lord Xiaolun.”

“I will leave this matter to you.”

“You mean you are entrusting it entirely to me?”

“Yes!”

At Xiaolun’s words, Cheong Ming smiled bewitchingly.

It was the smile that had captivated countless men in the South District.