Chapter 387

Chapter 387

The Enhanced Sand Soldiers were strong.

In the past, they would already have been destroyed and needed to be resummoned. But even after killing countless Red Locusts, not a single one had been destroyed.

The teeth of the Red Locusts, which could gnaw through even monsters’ tough bodies, could not bite into the bodies of the Sand Soldiers made of stone at all.

By contrast, the Sand Soldiers’ attacks carried proper weight.

As their entire bodies had turned to stone, their mass had increased accordingly, and their destructive power had increased by as much as their weight.

BANG—!

As proof, a single punch from a Sand Soldier made the hard body of a Red Locust burst apart like a balloon.

“Good!”

Zeon nodded and smiled.

An increase in combat strength always felt good.

The strengthening of the Sand Soldiers meant Zeon’s own power had increased by that much.

CRASH—!

―Kieeeh!

The last Red Locust resisting him met its death with a chilling scream.

The Sand Soldiers that had killed all the Red Locusts came to a stop.

They stood motionless like stone statues, waiting for Zeon’s next order.

“Dismiss summon!”

No sooner had he spoken than the Sand Soldiers returned to sand again. Then Gaia approached Zeon, gently wagging her tail.

―Beeep!

“They got stronger? That’s right! Thanks to absorbing the Rock Crocodile’s core, the Sand Soldiers became stronger.”

―Beep!

“Yeah! They’ll be a big help from now on.”

―Beeep! Beep!

“Got it! Let’s head back now.”

Zeon climbed onto Gaia’s back.

Gaia’s huge body floated lightly into the air like a balloon, and in the next instant, it accelerated.

Whoooosh!

Gaia cut through the sky like a meteor.

At this speed, it would have been almost impossible to stand upright because of the fierce headwind. But Zeon, standing on Gaia’s back, was not affected by the wind at all.

It felt as if an invisible membrane had spread out and was blocking the wind for him.

This, too, was one of Gaia’s authorities.

Thanks to that, Zeon could stand comfortably, as if he were riding in a car, and admire the scenery.

Far away, dawn was breaking.

The red sun dyed the whole world crimson, flaunting its presence.

“It’s beautiful!”

It was a scene too precious to see alone.

He almost felt sorry for admiring such scenery by himself. But that did not mean there was any reason to turn away from what he could see.

―Beeeeep!

Gaia must have been in a good mood too, because she let out a long cry.

Flutter!

Far away, the monsters that discovered Gaia could be seen fleeing in panic.

Even a flock of wyverns, the tyrants of the sky, discovered Gaia and carefully avoided her.

―Beeeeep!

Gaia let out another long cry.

Zeon smiled faintly and said,

“Yeah! You’re amazing.”

While laughing and talking with Gaia like that, they reached the sky above Neo Seoul before he knew it.

Neo Seoul looked as small as a palm.

Zeon rubbed Gaia’s head with his palm and said,

“Thanks for the ride! I’ll go down on my own.”

―Beeep!

“Yeah! Go play. I’ll call you again if I need you.”

Zeon kicked off Gaia and launched himself into the air.

Zeon fell at terrifying speed.

But when he was about one hundred meters above the ground, a sandstorm rose and gently caught his body.

Thanks to that, Zeon was able to land without any impact.

Having landed two kilometers from Neo Seoul, Zeon walked on calmly as if nothing had happened.

Though it was still early morning, he could already see people outside building sand houses.

The sight of them mixing sand with hardener and making bricks now looked fairly familiar.

The people were so focused on their work that they did not notice Zeon.

Thanks to that, Zeon was able to return to the slums without drawing people’s attention.

After returning to the slums, Zeon went straight home.

“Welcome back!”

“Zeon oppa!”

Briel and Remura welcomed Zeon’s return.

“Where did you go?”

“There was something I needed to test......”

“So did you get some results?”

“Yeah!”

“That’s good!”

Briel smiled.

Zeon’s gaze turned to Remura.

In just a single day, Remura’s clothes had changed quite a bit.

That was because Briel had dressed her in her own clothes.

After resting well in a good house, eating plenty of delicious food, and being prettied up, Remura’s beauty was coming alive.

Remura said to Zeon,

“Right, I’m going down to the Crocodile Den today.”

“Already? You’re not staying longer?”

“I have to help Jetoya oppa. I’m worried about the others too......”

There were always sick people overflowing in the Crocodile Den.

That was because the environment was so poor.

Awakened people like Remura did not suffer from minor illnesses, but the elderly and the weak lived with sickness constantly.

Because she was worried about them, Remura could not stay away for long.

Zeon said to her,

“I’ll take you.”

“Thank you.”

“I’m going too. I have something to give Jetoya.”

Briel also stepped forward, saying she would go with them.

In the end, Zeon left the house with the two of them.

---

Creeeeak!

A vehicle stopped in front of City Hall.

At the appearance of a luxurious vehicle that was not easy to see, the attention of the people in front of City Hall gathered on it.

The car door opened, and a small-framed old man wearing a hat stepped out.

In that instant, the expressions of the Awakened guarding City Hall changed completely.

That was because they recognized the old man’s identity.

‘Xiao Lun?’

‘Why is that old monster here?’

It had been a full ten years since Xiao Lun last visited City Hall.

The sudden visit of Xiao Lun, who had not set foot here once in ten years, was more than enough to turn City Hall upside down.

The captain of City Hall’s guard force hurried over and greeted Xiao Lun.

“Lord Xiao Lun!”

“It’s been a long time! Your name was Kim...... Hyun-jin, wasn’t it?”

“You remember my name? When we last met, I was only a mere guard.”

“You were sharp and spirited, so I thought you’d become someone important. That’s why I remembered you. Judging by your position, it seems you’re the captain of City Hall’s guard force now.”

“That’s correct.”

Kim Hyun-jin was startled by Xiao Lun’s astonishing memory.

Xiao Lun, who still remembered someone he had met only briefly in passing ten years ago, felt frightening to him.

Kim Hyun-jin asked carefully,

“But what brings you here? You weren’t on the visitor list......”

“I came to see the mayor. Tell him I’m here.”

“You came without making an appointment?”

“Do I really need to go through the trouble of making an appointment to meet him?”

“That is...... understood.”

Kim Hyun-jin answered while forcing down his true feelings.

Xiao Lun was someone he did not dare look down on.

Right now, he was smiling gently, but there was no predicting when that face might turn into that of a fearsome fiend.

He had to set his questions aside and report first. Then those above would decide.

He had his subordinates immediately inform Seo Tae-ran, the secretary, of Xiao Lun’s visit.

A moment later, his subordinate returned after receiving Seo Tae-ran’s answer.

“She says to send him up immediately.”

“Understood.”

After hearing his subordinate’s report, Kim Hyun-jin guided Xiao Lun.

“Please follow me.”

“Thank you!”

Xiao Lun nodded and followed Kim Hyun-jin into City Hall.

“Nothing here has changed from before. It’s still bleak! After ten years, you’d think they would have changed something. Honestly, so stiff and old-fashioned.”

“......”

Xiao Lun’s words grated on his ears, but Kim Hyun-jin kept his mouth tightly shut and said nothing.

Before long, they arrived in front of the elevator.

“You can take the elevator up.”

“Then keep up the good work. I made things troublesome for you this early in the morning.”

“Not at all. Then......”

Kim Hyun-jin bowed his head deeply.

Xiao Lun smiled and entered the elevator.

The elevator carrying him moved in an instant to Jin Geum-ho’s office at the very top of City Hall.

When the elevator doors opened, a familiar face came into view.

“Welcome, Lord Xiao Lun!”

The one greeting Xiao Lun with an indifferent expression was Seo Tae-ran.

Xiao Lun scanned Seo Tae-ran up and down with a displeased expression.

“You’re still the same.”

“They say if a person changes too easily, the day they die isn’t far off.”

At Seo Tae-ran’s blunt answer, Xiao Lun frowned.

It was a sight no one else could dare imagine.

No one could offend Xiao Lun, ruler of the South District, and remain unharmed. But Seo Tae-ran did not care in the slightest about Xiao Lun’s authority.

Because she, too, held power as great as Xiao Lun’s.

Xiao Lun clicked his tongue and said,

“Tch! Then I suppose you’ll live a long time.”

“Thank you for the blessing. But what brings you here so early in the morning? Normally, we would never let anyone enter without an appointment, but we’re making a special exception because it’s you, Lord Xiao Lun.”

“Are you asking because you don’t know?”

“How would I know?”

“You’re still sinister.”

“How could I compare to you, Lord Xiao Lun?”

Seo Tae-ran retorted without yielding a single word.

In the end, Xiao Lun gave up arguing with her and looked for Jin Geum-ho.

He saw Jin Geum-ho’s back as he looked out through the large floor-to-ceiling window.

Though Jin Geum-ho must have known he had arrived, the sight of him ignoring him like that made Xiao Lun’s anger boil. But he was the one who had come to ask for something, so he forced his anger down and spoke.

“It’s been a long time.”

“Ah! You’re here? The sunrise was so beautiful that I didn’t notice you’d arrived.”

Only then did Jin Geum-ho turn around and smile.

At first glance, Xiao Lun looked much older, but in truth, Jin Geum-ho was older.

Jin Geum-ho approached Xiao Lun with a friendly expression.

“It feels like it’s been ten years since we last met. Am I right?”

“You are.”

“You’re still the same. Good to see.”

“Heh heh! I’m old and full of wrinkles. What’s good to see about that? Still, I thank you for saying so.”

“What brings you here so early in the morning? Ah, have you eaten? If you haven’t, join me.”

“I don’t need a meal.”

“Is that so? The chefs at City Hall are quite skilled......”

“I came because there is something I wish to say.”

“You’re still as impatient as ever. Tch!”

“I apologize. It may be nothing to you, but to me, it is rather important.”

“Then tell me your business.”

“It’s about the Pathfinder who came from the Sichuan Colony.”

“How did you learn of that? Secrets truly don’t stay secret.”

“I know.”

“Know what?”

“That you deliberately leaked his existence, Mayor. If you had truly made up your mind to keep it secret, no one would have realized he had come.”

“You have a habit of overestimating me. I’m not that thorough a person.”

“Not at all. I say this because I know you better than anyone.”

Xiao Lun glared at Jin Geum-ho as if he would devour him.

Jin Geum-ho said with a light smile,

“Well, in any case, I am grateful that you think so highly of me. More importantly, your business is that I should hand over the friend from Sichuan, is that it?”

“He and I are from the same homeland.”

“Oh! Your homeland was that way too?”

“Don’t ask when you already know. It’s a nasty habit.”

“Tch! Your way of speaking has grown rough while we haven’t seen each other.”

“Hand him over.”

At Xiao Lun’s demand, Jin Geum-ho’s smile deepened.

“Then what will you offer in return?”