Chapter 124

Chapter 124

[Translator – Peptobismol]

Chapter 124

Seven years was by no means a short time.

It was enough time for a child to become an adult, and for a fragile self to grow strong and mighty like a towering tree.

Just like Damien standing before Zeon now.

The boy who was there seven years ago no longer existed.

His tightly shut lips, unwavering determined gaze, straightened posture—all spoke of Damien not as the tender-hearted boy but as a man with strong convictions.

The problem was, Zeon couldn’t exactly discern what convictions he held.

Looking at Zeon with a smile, Damien spoke up.

“Brother! Can I ask you one thing?”

“Sure.”

“Did Dyoden-nim achieve what he wanted?”

“Yes.”

“Then Haeltoon is no longer in this world?”

“That’s right.”

“And Dyoden-nim?”

Instead of answering, Zeon looked up at the sky.

Damien made a saddened expression.

“I guess that’s how it turned out. Still, having fulfilled the lifelong vow, he must have departed peacefully.”

“Most likely.”

“How have you been, Brother?”

“Just wandering here and there.”

“It’s so unfair when I see you.”

“What is?”

“Some people really struggle and put in a lot of effort to find their path, but you just roam around the desert like it’s your backyard.”

“Your abilities are deceptive enough. You know that, right?”

“I do! But still, it feels like such a big difference.”

Damien pursed his lips.

“Don’t make an expression that doesn’t suit you.”

“Was I pouting?”

“Quite.”

“It seems like there’s still a lot to learn. Still, I thought it seemed quite natural.”

“Let me ask you something too.”

“What is it?”

“El Harun!”

“....”

Instantly, Damien’s face hardened.

As if his smile had completely vanished, like a lie.

“Did you find it?”

“What about you?”

“I asked first.”

“Not yet. But soon.”

“Is that so?”

“How about you?”

“I haven’t found it yet.”

“I figured. It’s usually not hiding in plain sight.”

Damien smiled coldly.

Zeon looked closely at Damien’s expression and asked.

“If you find it, will you let me know?”

“Of course I’ll let you know, brother. I promised Dyoden-nim.”

“Can I trust you?”

“Brother, I always keep my promises, at least.”

“I guess so.”

This time, Zeon smiled.

Damien looked at Zeon with a strange gaze.

***

By the time Zeon and Damien returned to the White Bear Caravan, Brielle had already finished shopping.

Zeon asked Brielle.

“Did you find anything you liked?”

“Yeah! But they were so expensive I couldn’t buy everything.”

Brielle made a sullen face.

The items brought by the White Bear Caravan were things that were hard to find in Neo Seoul.

Naturally, they were priced exorbitantly high.

Because of that, Brielle couldn’t buy all the things she wanted and only managed to buy a few.

“Still, with this, I can try out alchemy, which I’ve always wanted to do.”

Suddenly, a surge of hot emotion rose deep in his chest.

Alexandro knew exactly what emotion he was feeling right now.

It was competitiveness.

The desire to fight and win against a strong opponent.

Even though he was currently the leader of the White Bear Caravan, he was still an exceptional Awakened and a warrior.

Whenever he sees a strong opponent, he wants to fight and trample on them.

‘Someday, I’ll have the chance to face off against him. But for now, Damien’s affairs take precedence.’

He made an effort to suppress his competitiveness.

Then, they appeared.

In the distance, another group was approaching from Neo Seoul.

Just by looking at their attire and armament, it was clear.

They were Awakeneds.

Other groups besides Dongdaemun and Sinchon, were coming to visit after hearing the rumors.

Alexandro shouted to his subordinates.

“Guests are coming. Prepare to greet them.”

“Yes!”

The energetic responses of his subordinates could be heard from below.

As Alexandro was about to go down, he suddenly looked back at Damien.

“Damien!”

“Yes!”

“When will the fifth floor be open?”

“After enough interest is piqued.”

“Got it. We’ll do it like that.”

Alexandro went down, leaving Damien alone on top of the fort.

Damien watched Zeon entering the slums until the end.

***

Upon returning to the slums, Brielle ran straight home.

She was excited to try out alchemy with the items she bought from the White Bear Caravan.

Zeon’s destination was the street market run by Old Man Klexi.

While the sun was still high in the sky, Old Man Klexi was seen opening the store.

Approaching Old Man Klexi, Zeon caught his attention.

“What brings you out during the day? What wind blew you out so early when the sun hasn’t even set yet?”

“Why did you open the shop so early? It’s not even ten yet.”

“I opened the shop because of the uproar.”

“Uproar?”

“Because of the caravan from outside, all of Neo Seoul is bustling. People who usually don’t even show their faces during the day are out and about since morning. If a merchant misses this opportunity, they might as well close shop.”

“I also woke up early because I went to the White Bear Caravan.”

“Oh! You’ve been there already?”

Zeon didn’t miss Old Man Klexi’s sharp gaze.

Old Man Klexi was more focused on the trends and information of the White Bear Caravan than any other organization in Neo Seoul.

Even if they didn’t know, Argos’ Eyes were probably gathering information about the White Bear Caravan already.

“Yeah! How was it inside the caravan with your own eyes?”

“It’s a perfect fortress in itself.”

“A fortress?”

“Its defenses are remarkable enough that Dongdaemun suffered a defeat while trying to pull off a scheme.”

“Tsk! It’s not surprising at all that those fanatics tried to pull a scheme.”

Old Man Klexi clicked his tongue.

He already suspected it.

However, the fact that they acted so quickly and were caught trying to pull scheme was a bit surprising.

“Those fanatics won’t give up. Once fanatics latch onto something, they won’t let go until the end.”

“The White Bear Caravan won’t easily succumb either.”

“Ho! Do you evaluate them that highly?”

“I’ve seen their strength with my own eyes.”

“In that case, it must be trustworthy. I don’t know about anything else, but your keen eye is exceptional.”

It was a statement acknowledging Zeon.

Indeed, Old Man Klexi held Zeon in high regard.

“But it doesn’t seem like you’ve come just for a meal. What’s the real matter?”

“Please notify me if there are any unusual movements in the White Bear Caravan.”

“Unusual movements? Well, do you have any guesses?”

“Just a feeling that something isn’t right.”

“Hmm.”

Old Man Klexi narrowed his eyes.

It was his first time seeing such a serious expression on Zeon since they met.

That alone felt ominous.

“Got it. If there are any strange signs, I’ll let you know first.”

[Translator – Peptobismol]