Chapter 412

Chapter 412

Jin Geumho returned to City Hall, followed by Seo Taeran, Grain, and Oh Mujin.

Even after visiting the South District ruled by Shao Lun, there wasn’t a trace of tension left on their faces.

They looked as relaxed as if they had just gone out for a stroll in the neighborhood.

And in truth, for them, a trip to the South District was nothing more than that level of incident.

It wasn’t that Shao Lun or the South District forces were weak.

It was simply that they were far too strong.

Even putting Jin Geumho aside, who had the Heavenly Eye, if either Grain or Oh Mujin alone moved in earnest, they could inflict a devastating blow to the South District.

The fact that Grain and Oh Mujin served under Jin Geumho spoke volumes—each of them possessed abilities rivaling the rulers of any district.

Neither Grain nor Oh Mujin feared those so-called rulers. The only one they feared and truly followed was Jin Geumho.

Oh Mujin chuckled and spoke to Grain.

“Did you see Lord Shao Lun’s face? Kkhhkhhh! Felt like ten years of indigestion finally cleared up.”

“You could’ve kept your expression in check, no? He looked pretty damn pissed.”

“So what if he’s pissed? Honestly, that guy’s always flashing that fake kind smile—made me sick to my stomach.”

“You really are…”

Grain shook his head, looking as though there was no point trying to correct him. But he didn’t bother denying Mujin’s words either.

He too had felt good seeing Shao Lun’s crestfallen expression. So much so that even Seo Taeran, quietly following behind, had spoken up.

“You two haven’t changed one bit.”

“Of course not. A man who changes too easily ends up dead quick.”

“That line again?”

“Tell me I’m wrong.”

“…Forget it.”

Grain shook his head and distanced himself from Mujin. Which only made Mujin switch his target to Seo Taeran.

“So why aren’t you married yet?”

“…What?!”

“Why not?”

“No particular reason.”

“That’s what I’m asking—why? A girl like you could pick a man off the rack like shopping.”

“You’re still as nosy as ever.”

“Nosy? C’mon, call it what it is—affectionate interest.”

“I don’t need that kind of affection.”

“Cheh! So cold… You’ve wounded me.”

Mujin grumbled, but his face didn’t look wounded in the least.

Grain moved closer to Jin Geumho and spoke.

“I don’t understand why that guy never matures, no matter how old he gets.”

“Isn’t it nice to watch? Leave him be.”

“…Anyway, are you sure you’re alright?”

“What do you mean?”

“From the looks of it, they managed to steal confidential data on the mana stone power plant.”

“Seems that way.”

Jin Geumho answered with an expression that made it seem trivial.

Grain’s face shifted oddly.

“So it wasn’t the real thing.”

“What wasn’t?”

“The data they stole. It wasn’t the real mana stone power plant schematics, was it?”

“I don’t follow.”

“Why are you playing dumb? I’ve served you long enough to know. What they stole isn’t the actual data, right?”

“It was mana stone power plant data.”

“You mean… you really let them take the genuine thing?”

Grain stared at Jin Geumho in shock.

Unbothered by his reaction, Jin Geumho continued casually.

“Do you know how many times we failed before we managed to build a functioning mana stone power plant?”

“Well…”

“Over a hundred. We poured blood and sweat into those plants, only to watch them blown to pieces. The third version nearly wiped Neo Seoul clean off the map.”

It was an incident that had taken place before Grain was even born. Naturally, he didn’t know.

To stop the explosion, hundreds of awakened in Neo Seoul had thrown their lives on the line, storming into the power plant.

Even Jin Geumho and Deo Iden had entered personally.

Despite pouring everything they had into it, they couldn’t completely stop the blast. Jin Geumho and Deo Iden managed to minimize the scope of the explosion and saved Neo Seoul, but half the awakened who went in with them lost their lives.

The event remained a dark chapter in Neo Seoul’s history.

“To create a functioning mana stone power plant, you need countless trials and endless corrections. You have to survive ten, a hundred crises. That’s how the one we have today was finally built.”

Small mana generators were easy enough to make. But building a plant capable of powering the entirety of Neo Seoul required thousands—tens of thousands—of times more effort.

It wasn’t something you could just copy from a schematic.

Grain asked cautiously.

“Don’t tell me… what they stole was the third version?”

“Who knows.”

Jin Geumho gave a meaningful smile as he stepped into the elevator.

Grain, Mujin, and Taeran followed after him.

Instead of the mayor’s office at the top floor, the elevator descended.

Their destination: the underground research lab.

Vrrrm!

“Whoa!”

As the lab doors opened, Mujin couldn’t help but exclaim.

Jin Geumho looked at him.

“Come to think of it, this is your first time here.”

“Yes! I heard about the secret research, but I’ve never actually seen it.”

With childlike curiosity, Mujin scanned the inside of the lab.

Countless researchers busied themselves, and at the center stood a massive cylindrical structure.

Mujin approached the object and asked.

“This is it?”

“Yes. Heaven’s Wrath.”

“Heaven’s… Wrath.”

“When it’s completed and shows its true power, humanity will once again reclaim this planet as its rightful home.”

For once, the mischievous grin vanished from Mujin’s face.

He looked at Jin Geumho and the cylindrical object with awe.

The one and only man in this world that Oh Mujin respected and followed was Jin Geumho.

Not because his power was greater, or because he was Neo Seoul’s ruler.

But because of Jin Geumho’s vision—because of the world he dreamed of.

Even after raising a grand city on this ruined land, Jin Geumho wasn’t satisfied.

He always looked forward.

He wanted to reclaim Earth, stolen by the beasts, for humanity.

Everyone else thought it impossible and gave up. Jin Geumho alone never let go of hope.

A man who had lived a hundred and more years like that—that was Jin Geumho.

Following him was only natural.

Jin Geumho extended his hand toward Mujin. Mujin carefully offered him the Sun Duke’s Eye, stolen from Shao Lun.

Clutching it firmly, Jin Geumho spoke.

“With this, Heaven’s Wrath will be perfected.”

In his eyes flickered the vision of its completion.

Everyone had said it was impossible. Jin Geumho had never once given up.

Such persistence, such tenacity—no ordinary man could possess it.

Even someone like Oh Mujin, one of the Numbers, could only offer admiration for such resolve.

Because it was something he himself could never achieve.

Mujin looked at Jin Geumho and silently vowed.

“For the world you dream of, I, Oh Mujin, will gladly lay down my life.”

---

Back in the slums, Zeon and Levin descended straight into Crocodile Den.

“Brother!”

“Oppa!”

Zetoya and Lemura greeted them as soon as they arrived.

Zeon asked.

“How are the wounded?”

“Fortunately, everyone’s been treated.”

Lemura answered with a smile.

“You’ve worked hard.”

“I only did what had to be done. That’s hardly work.”

“Even so, it couldn’t have been easy. Well done.”

“Hehe!”

At Zeon’s praise, Lemura’s smile bloomed brightly.

Just then, Eloi approached.

“That kid is amazing. She healed severe injuries in an instant. I swear, I thought I was watching a miracle.”

For even the cynical Eloi to gush like that, Lemura’s power was nothing short of overwhelming.

Watching her heal the people, it became clear why Johan of Dongdaemun had called her a Saint and tried so desperately to secure her.

If the church had someone like her, their growth would’ve been explosive.

Who would ever imagine that in these filthy sewers, a child with such a radiant gift exists?

Eloi thought the irony of the world was staggering.

Zeon spoke to Eloi.

“You’ve done well.”

“You’re the one who did the work. What about those bastards?”

“All taken care of.”

“All?”

“Yes.”

“And the data they stole?”

“Not recovered.”

“Then you’re telling me the mana stone power plant data’s all in Geoseong’s hands now? Fucking bastards.”

“There’s no need to get worked up.”

“What? Why not?”

Eloi looked at him in confusion.

Zeon gave a wry smile.

“Has Lord Jin Geumho made a move?”

“…What’s that supposed to mean?”

“If it were truly important data, do you think Lord Jin Geumho would be sitting still like this? Absolutely not.”

At Zeon’s confident words, Eloi frowned deeply. Then, slowly, she relaxed, understanding.

“…True enough. If it were the real thing, that man would never just sit back.”

As City Hall’s Supervisor, Eloi knew Jin Geumho better than most.

The man she knew was never one to forgive easily.

If you crossed him, he repaid it a hundred, a thousand times over.

For him to remain still meant either he had already acted—or what leaked didn’t matter.

“So, you’re saying the problem’s resolved?”

“Yes.”

“Phew. Then I’ll leave the cleanup to Mandy and finally get some rest.”

“You sound tired.”

“Mm. Anyway, I’ll see you later.”

Eloi’s expression shifted.

Mandy had surfaced.

“Ah, Lord Zeon.”

“Lady Mandy.”

“Yes. You’ve worked hard.”

“It was nothing. Will you be returning to Neo Seoul now?”

“No, I’ll stay here a little longer. This place interests me.”

Born and raised in Neo Seoul, she had never imagined such a world beneath her feet.

She had thought the underground would be filthy and suffocating. Yet Zetoya’s village felt nothing like that.

Rows of sand houses filled a vast cavern, lit with electricity. Air purifiers ran, making it easy to breathe.

She could stay here for days without issue.

“Very well, then.”

Zeon agreed readily.

Mandy hurried off toward the villagers.

At first wary, they soon warmed up to her—because she was Zeon’s companion.

Watching her mingle with the villagers, Zeon muttered.

“This place is growing larger by the day.”

It had expanded far beyond what it was when Zetoya first seized control.

The number of homes had grown—and with them, the population.

That growth brought its own share of problems, but Zetoya, Vakum, Lemura, and the others were handling them wisely.

Even so, it was reaching its limit.

The inflow of people was simply too great for the current scale.

As he thought it over, Zeon murmured.

“Maybe it’s time to expand this place.”

But this was a sealed underground.

To expand, he would need help from many.

Fortunately, Zeon knew quite a few people with the right abilities.

If he mobilized them all, turning this village into a small city might not be impossible.