Sand Mage of the Burnt Desert

An unexpected guest had arrived early in the morning.

A woman stood at his door, her hair perfectly combed without a strand out of place. She wore a red suit that accentuated the curves of her body.

There weren’t many women in Neo Seoul who left such a striking impression.

‘Seo Tae-ran?’

The woman who knocked on Zeon’s door that morning was none other than Seo Tae-ran, Jin Geum-ho’s secretary.

Zeon had a bad feeling about her sudden appearance.

“What brings you here so early in the morning?”

“The Mayor wishes to meet with you.”

“At this hour?”

“He thought it would be nice to have breakfast with you.”

“Breakfast, huh…”

“He insisted that you join him for a meal.”

“Hah!”

Zeon let out a low sigh.

It was phrased as an invitation, but it was no different from a threat.

“Let’s go.”

Zeon grabbed his coat and stepped outside.

Seo Tae-ran’s car was already waiting for them outside the building.

Once inside the car, Zeon asked Seo Tae-ran.

“Why does the Mayor want to see me so early?”

“I wouldn’t know. I’m simply passing along his request.”

“Is that so?”

“I’m just a secretary, after all.”

Zeon didn’t believe her.

The aura, the sharpness in her gaze, and her presence weren’t something that an ordinary secretary would possess.

Moreover, there was no way Jin Geum-ho’s secretary would be an average person.

Even Dyodon had acknowledged Jin Geum-ho’s keen eye for people.

Zeon furrowed his brow again, trying to figure out why Jin Geum-ho was calling for him.

There was only one reason the Mayor would seek him out.

‘Moby Dick.’

Jin Geum-ho had once asked Zeon to retrieve Moby Dick’s heart for him. Coincidentally, both Duduyan and Aslan, who had recently arrived in the slums, had also mentioned Moby Dick to Zeon.

There was no such thing as coincidence in this world.

Every unexpected event had a reason behind it.

Zeon glanced over at Seo Tae-ran.

She remained expressionless, staring straight ahead. However, there was no way she didn’t know Zeon was watching her. And yet, she pretended not to notice.

“Hah!”

Zeon sighed again.

People like this were the hardest to deal with.

If he could simply overpower them, it would be easy, but they never let things get to that point.

To handle someone like Seo Tae-ran, Zeon would have to use his head just as much. This was why he preferred not to get involved in Neo Seoul’s affairs. The city was full of people like Seo Tae-ran and Jin Geum-ho.

They arrived at City Hall quickly.

As soon as they exited the car, they headed straight for the Mayor’s office on the top floor via elevator.

Jin Geum-ho was already seated at a table, waiting for Zeon with breakfast laid out in front of him.

“Come in. Sorry to trouble you so early in the morning.”

“No problem.”

“Please, have a seat.”

“Yes.”

Zeon took the seat across from Jin Geum-ho.

“There’s not much, but I wanted to have a meal with you today.”

“Thank you.”

As Jin Geum-ho said, the meal was quite modest.

Some freshly baked bread, soup, and salad—that was all.

It was a simple, even meager, breakfast.

But the reality was quite different.

In Neo Seoul, the rarest and most difficult thing to obtain was fresh vegetables. Only a select few in Neo Seoul had access to fresh produce and bread. To say that this meal lacked effort would be an understatement.

This kind of spread was a clear show of sincerity on Jin Geum-ho’s part.

“Let’s eat first.”

“Yes.”

The two of them began eating.

Zeon started with the salad, dipping his fork into the sauce-covered vegetables.

The crispness of the fresh produce filled his mouth as he chewed.

Zeon closed his eyes at the unfamiliar yet refreshing taste.

There was no colony in the desert where such fresh vegetables could be found. Only in Neo Seoul—only people of Jin Geum-ho’s status—could enjoy such top-quality ingredients.

Even though he hadn’t wanted to have this meal, Zeon decided to enjoy the moment.

The freshly baked bread was delicious as well.

It was on a completely different level from the poor-quality food distributed in the slums.

Zeon didn’t know what methods were used to grow such luxurious wheat, but the bread melted in his mouth, leaving behind a rich, nutty flavor.

He even felt a little guilty that Levin and Brielle couldn’t share this delicious meal with him.

As Zeon dipped his bread into the soup, Jin Geum-ho commented.

“That soup’s made from corn. What do you think?”

“It’s delicious.”

“Back in the day… before the Great Catastrophe, corn was one of the most common crops. The sight of vast cornfields stretching endlessly across the plains was simply breathtaking.”

“Vast cornfields, huh? I can’t even imagine it.”

“I suppose not. It’s hard to grasp if you’ve never seen it. I first saw it in America.”

“America…”

“Before the Great Catastrophe, America was a global superpower. I’ve heard it’s fallen now, though…”

“It hasn’t completely collapsed. While it’s not as advanced as Neo Seoul, they’ve managed to establish several large colonies and keep things going.”

“Is that so?”

Jin Geum-ho’s eyes gleamed with interest.

In all of Neo Seoul, the only person who had traveled to America was Zeon.

It was something only a Sand Mage like Zeon could accomplish. For other Awakeneds, it was impossible.

Once you leave Neo Seoul, communication becomes unreliable.

Even if you manage to set up a shelter, it’ll soon be attacked by monsters, making long expeditions nearly impossible.

The sand and monsters of the desert would never allow humans to travel freely.

They would harass and attack relentlessly until their victims fell.

Even if someone managed to reach America, returning was an entirely different challenge.

It was no wonder that caravans traveling between colonies were so highly valued.

They were the only means of exchanging information between colonies. But even the most daring caravan would never venture to the American colonies.

An expedition to America was on an entirely different level.

Even Neo Seoul’s most elite forces wouldn’t dream of venturing there.

Naturally, there was no way to know what was happening in America. And frankly, there was no reason to care. Neo Seoul had more than enough to worry about.

“How are the colonies in America faring?”

“They’re not doing well either.”

“Are things that bad?”

“Many large monsters have settled near the colonies, making survival difficult.”

“Large monsters?”

“At the very least, A-rank monsters have nested all over the area.”

“And there are probably S-rank monsters as well.”

“Yes.”

“Hm!”

Jin Geum-ho let out a low hum.

If an S-rank monster was near a colony, it posed an existential threat.

An S-rank monster had power on a completely different level from an A-rank.

By the standards of the old world, an S-rank monster was equivalent to a national-level threat.

In other words, it was like having a national-level weapon targeting your colony.

Even having just one of these creatures nearby would be overwhelming. If there were many, the colony’s territory would shrink drastically.

“There’s no hope for expansion, then.”

“No. Each colony is completely isolated.”

“I figured.”

Jin Geum-ho nodded.

He grew silent, deep in thought for a long time.

By now, the meal was over.

Zeon figured it was time for Jin Geum-ho to finally bring up the real reason for inviting him.

“Do you remember what I asked of you before?”

“What?”

“Moby Dick.”

Jin Geum-ho didn’t give Zeon a chance to prepare, diving straight into the topic.

Zeon had already suspected as much, so he responded calmly.

“Yes, I remember.”

“Good. That makes things easier. Moby Dick has been found.”

“Where?”

“That’s something you would know better than I, isn’t it?”

Jin Geum-ho stared directly at Zeon.

It was a look that said he already knew everything.

Zeon instinctively realized that trying to feign ignorance would be useless.

“How did you find out?”

“It doesn’t matter how I know. What matters is that you know how to find Moby Dick.”

Jin Geum-ho’s eyes gleamed strangely.

They shone with an intensity that made Zeon feel uneasy, as if Jin Geum-ho could see right through him.

“Yes, I know how to find Moby Dick.”

“Then that’s settled. Bring me Moby Dick’s heart.”

“It’s not as easy as it sounds.”

“I know. If it were easy, I wouldn’t have asked you. I’m asking because it’s difficult.”

“Why do you need Moby Dick’s heart?”

“Earlier, you said that all the colonies are completely isolated. With Moby Dick’s heart, we can change that.”

“Are you saying it can establish communication between the colonies?”

“Just know that much for now. Once you bring me the heart, you’ll learn the rest.”

“…”

“This isn’t just for Neo Seoul. It’s for all of humanity.”

The weight of Jin Geum-ho’s words pressed down on Zeon.

If he refused a task framed as being for the sake of Neo Seoul and humanity, he would be branded an enemy of both.

As he looked at Jin Geum-ho, Zeon couldn’t help but feel a sense of fear.

When someone pressures you with logic and a cause, it becomes hard to resist.

Even in a world where strength reigns supreme, if people live together, the concept of a just cause becomes important.

A cause was the most efficient way to move people.

Jin Geum-ho had mastered the art of wielding a cause for maximum impact.

It no longer mattered how Jin Geum-ho had learned the information that only Zeon should have known.

With a soft sigh, Zeon said.

“I’ll keep my promise.”

“Of course you will. I’ve trusted you from the start. However…”

“What now?”

“I can’t let you handle everything alone, so I’ll send you some help. Trustworthy allies.”

“That won’t be necessary.”

“I insist. Don’t refuse—it would trouble me to leave you unsupported.”

Jin Geum-ho reached out and clasped Zeon’s hand.

His grip was thick and rough.

Zeon gently pulled his hand away and said,

“Fine. But I can’t bring too many people with me.”

“I’ll send just two.”

“Two?”

“I assure you, they’ll be a great help.”

Jin Geum-ho’s cryptic smile made Zeon’s expression darken.

The two men stared at each other for a long time.

* * *

After Zeon left, Seo Tae-ran entered the Mayor’s office.

As she cleared the dishes from the table, she asked.

“Did the conversation go well?”

“What was there to go well or not? It was already decided.”

“Did Zeon ask how you obtained the information?”

“Haha! He’s already figured it out. Why would he bother asking?”

“He already knows?”

Seo Tae-ran’s expression stiffened slightly.

The information had been extracted from Aslan without his knowledge, so it was surprising that Zeon already knew.

“He’s a clever one. Most people wouldn’t even realize they’re being played.”

“Is that why you’re sending Lee Jung-ho?”

“Haha! He can’t be fooled by illusions since he can’t see, and his resolve is unwavering. If anyone can retrieve Moby Dick’s heart, it’s him.”

“Yes.”

“By the way, you’ve done well. Thanks to you, we were able to act in time.”

“It was nothing. I was just doing my job.”

“If only everyone was like you. If people just did their jobs well and produced good results, I wouldn’t have to step in so often.”

“…”

“That’s why Neo Seoul needs me.”

“M-Mayor!”

Jin Geum-ho turned to gaze out the window.

The sky was a murky yellow, filled with thick dust.

Even above that yellow sky, monsters were lurking.

Just because they couldn’t be seen didn’t mean they weren’t there.

In truth, the current rulers of Earth were the monsters.

Jin Geum-ho clenched his fist tightly and muttered.

“Only I can make humans the masters of Earth again.”

———