Sand Mage of the Burnt Desert Chapter 604

While the components and origins varied, the existence of drugs has been a constant throughout human history.

From humanity's darkest hours to its periods of greatest prosperity, these substances have invariably been present.

In every age, individuals facing suffering sought solace in drugs, a fleeting escape from their grim realities.

Concurrently, others indulged in drugs purely for the sake of pleasure.

Thus, drugs have perpetually walked hand-in-hand with humankind.

Ironically, across humanity's extensive timeline, there occurred a solitary instance where drugs vanished entirely.

This happened in the aftermath of Earth's devastation, a consequence of the catastrophic side effects stemming from terraforming efforts.

With no resources available for drug production and no societal capacity for such luxuries, survival itself became a monumental daily challenge.

Naturally, the notion of using drugs was utterly inconceivable.

Consequently, the planet Earth, by sheer accident, became a drug-free territory for several decades.

The reappearance of drugs only occurred once Neo Seoul had achieved a degree of stability.

Once the immediate threat of magical beasts subsided and daily life became somewhat manageable, a brilliant mind rediscovered the art of drug creation.

These new substances were synthesized from materials painstakingly extracted from the remains of magical beasts.

Their addictive potential was amplified manifold, and the resultant side effects proved even more devastating.

Upon consumption, both the body and mind would be irrevocably shattered, rendering any escape utterly impossible.

As these drugs were derived from the byproducts of magical beasts, predicting the specific nature of their side effects was an impossible task.

Some individuals experienced complete mental collapse, while others were temporarily imbued with superhuman strength, descending into violent rampages.

The manifested symptoms were vast and varied, yet their ultimate outcome was invariably tragic.

Originally, drugs had also been prevalent in Sinchon. However, following Zeon's establishment there, they had practically vanished.

This was due to Eaton, the administrator of Sinchon, who harbored zero tolerance for drug use.

Nevertheless, Zeon's influence had played a considerable role.

Drugs, which had seemed entirely eradicated from Sinchon, have now resurfaced.

And this time, an individual connected to Zeon has fallen victim to addiction.

Levin addressed Veron, urging him,

“Snap out of it, Veron! What happened?!”

“Huuuh… Give me the drug. Ple…ase!”

Veron, unable to regain his senses, could only plead for the substance.

These were the unmistakable signs of severe addiction.

“Fuck!”

“It’s no use! He's already deeply hooked—he can't even hear us now,”

Dominic stated, lowering his gaze in shame.

The realization that he hadn't detected Veron's plight until this point filled him with deep humiliation.

Had it not been for Levin's intervention, he might not have even noticed if Veron had met his end.

“What about the others? Veron’s family?”

“I haven’t located them yet. I apologize.”

“You must find them. Bring them back, no matter the cost.”

“I’ll dispatch the teams immediately.”

“Request assistance from those in Dongdaemun and Guro as well.”

“Understood!”

Dominic hastily departed.

Levin's attention then shifted to Aaron.

“You, gather intel.”

“What kind of—?”

“To synthesize drugs, raw materials are essential, correct? They must have been procured from a monster hunting party. Begin your investigation there. Pay particular attention to teams that primarily target rainbow beetles.”

The brain of a rainbow beetle served as the most common component in drug manufacturing.

Its potent hallucinogenic properties made it highly sought after, but acquiring it was far from simple.

Strict regulations governed its use in medicine, leading to a very limited supply on the black market.

“Got it! I’ll start looking into it right away.”

“Do not delegate this task—handle it personally. It’s dangerous work.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll uncover the truth swiftly.”

With that, Aaron hurried away.

“Huuuh…”

Even in his current state, Veron continued to emit unsettling groans.

His addiction symptoms had rapidly escalated.

A foul-smelling sweat drenched his body, and he convulsed uncontrollably, appearing on the verge of respiratory failure.

Brielle swiftly retrieved a potion from her satchel and administered it to Veron.

“Keuh!”

As the potion took effect, Veron’s agitation subsided slightly. However, Brielle’s expression remained grim.

“This is only a temporary reprieve. If detoxification isn't initiated, he'll resume convulsing.”

“Let’s proceed to Remura’s location. With her unique abilities, she should be able to treat him effectively.”

Levin promptly hoisted Veron onto his back.

They sped towards the underground city at maximum pace.

“Remura!”

Upon their arrival, Levin’s voice rang out.

“Levin oppa?”

Responding to his call, Remura emerged from concealed location.

Levin gently set Veron down and stated,

“Quickly, tend to this individual. He's suffering from drug addiction.”

“Addiction?”

Taken aback, Remura’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Can you treat him?”

“I will endeavor to.”

Remura swiftly placed her hand upon Veron’s head and activated her skill.

“Cure!”

A brilliant white luminescence emanated from her palm.

The light cascaded from Veron’s head, enveloping his entire being.

Normally, ordinary injuries would be completely mended with a single application of Remura’s skill. However, Veron’s condition proved exceptional.

While his facial expression eased somewhat, the overt symptoms of his addiction persisted.

‘What kind of dangerous substance could this be…?’

Despite her surprise, Remura employed her skill once more.

Only after performing the healing ritual three consecutive times was she finally able to completely purge the drug from Veron’s system.

A viscous, dark fluid began to seep from his pores.

It was the drug that had been lurking inside him.

Even with Remura’s skillful ability, completely eradicating it was impossible; she could only force it out of his system.

Brielle retrieved a test tube from her pointed hat, collecting the viscous substance oozing from Veron’s body.

“This appears to be no ordinary drug. I shall conduct an analysis.”

Her expression grew sterner than ever before.

The sight of Veron had unexpectedly brought back memories of her past, specifically the period when she was captured by humans and compelled to create illicit substances.

While she had acted under duress and coercion, it remained a dark chapter she desperately wished to obliterate from her history.

It was perfectly natural for her to step forward and take initiative.

Clutching the test tube, Brielle hastened back towards the surface.

Levin turned to Remura, inquiring,

“Veron will be alright now, won’t he?”

“For the moment, I have expelled all the drug components. However, his body will require time to mend from the damage sustained.”

“I will cover any expenses necessary—just ensure he is fully healed.”

“Such compensation is unnecessary. Between us, what form of payment could there be? Even without your offer, I would have treated him with the utmost care, so please do not worry.”

“Understood. Thank you.”

Only then did Levin finally allow himself a sigh of relief.

Remura’s gaze shifted towards Zeon.

“Oppa, it has been quite some time.”

“Indeed. Circumstances were urgent, preventing me from greeting you earlier. Have you been keeping well?”

“Naturally. Thanks to your support, everything has been proceeding smoothly.”

Remura responded with a radiant smile.

“And what of Jeto?”

“He is currently occupied with a separate matter. Were he to learn of your presence, he would undoubtedly rush here immediately. Shall I summon him?”

“There is no need to trouble him. I shall see him at a later time.”

Zeon dismissed the idea with a shake of his head and surveyed the underground city.

It had expanded significantly.

More towering structures now dotted the landscape, and the streets teemed with a greater number of people in motion.

The bustling activity gave the impression of being on the surface, rather than far below ground.

Just then—

“Ugh…”

Veron let out a groan, slowly regaining consciousness.

Levin, his hand gently patting Veron’s cheek, called out,

“Hey, are you alright?”

“Le…vin hyung?”

“Yes! It’s me. What exactly happened?”

“Gasp! Hyung, my family?”

Veron abruptly sat up, his immediate concern being the whereabouts of his family.

“That is precisely what I wish to know. Your family was nowhere to be found—what transpired?”

“Well…”

Veron furrowed his brow, attempting to access his fragmented memories.

Levin, sensing his struggle, refrained from pressing further and waited patiently.

“A few days ago, I stumbled upon some individuals involved with illicit substances.”

“Drug dealers?”

“Yes! They were conducting transactions openly on Dead Man’s Street, showing no apprehension. So, I decided to follow them discreetly to uncover their source.”

“You fool… you possess no fear.”

“That area is already a deeply disheartening place. If drugs were to proliferate further, it would become irrevocably ruined. My family could easily fall prey to such dangers.”

“And then?”

“I began monitoring them alongside Habin and Kaden.”

“If you suspected something of that nature, you should have informed Aaron or Dominic. Why did you choose to act alone?”

At Levin’s stern reprimand, Veron visibly shrunk back.

“I apologize, hyung! I merely wished to ascertain the nature of those individuals…”

“So, you were apprehended?”

“Yes! I resisted rather forcefully, which led them to inject me with the drugs.”

“And what became of Habin and Kaden?”

“They stated that the children might prove useful and took them as well.”

“Your family, too?”

“Yes! I believe those scoundrels abducted them. Hyung, please, I implore you, save my family and the children. If anything were to befall them, I could not bear to continue living. Please!”

“You reckless individual!”

“Hyung… you will truly save them, won’t you?”

“I shall exert my utmost effort.”

Levin could not offer a definitive assurance. If they were still alive, he would rescue them. However, if they had already met their demise, his actions would be futile.

“For the time being, recount every detail you possess. Their characteristics, numbers, habits—everything.”

“They appeared quite ordinary.”

“Ordinary?”

“Yes! Typically, those involved in illicit activities possess some distinguishing trait, but these individuals were no different from us. Apart from their involvement with drugs, they could easily blend into the populace here without raising any suspicion.”

“So, they are not outsiders?”

“That was my impression, yes.”

“And?”

“Ah! One of them was adorned with a peculiar ring. It bore an engraving of a scorpion pierced…”

“A scorpion? Noted.”

A chilling wave of killing intent surged within Levin’s eyes.

The young individuals employed at the problem-solver office were all equipped with exceptionally keen observational skills.

Given that a significant portion of their work involved surveillance or locating individuals, they were meticulously selected for their heightened perceptiveness.

Consequently, even amidst a perilous situation, Veron had managed to retain this crucial piece of information.

Levin placed a reassuring hand on Veron’s shoulder and stated,

“Remain here and focus on your recovery. I shall attend to the remainder of the matter.”

“I… shall trust… you…”

Having conveyed all he could, Veron succumbed once more to unconsciousness.

Levin gently lowered him onto his resting place.

Remura addressed Levin,

“Oppa, leave Veron under my care here. I will personally oversee his treatment.”

“I am counting on your expertise.”

“Have no concerns. Have you forgotten who I am?”

“No. I place my trust in you.”

Only then did the sternness on Levin’s face visibly soften.

Remura summoned individuals to assist in transporting Veron away.

Once the two were left in private, Levin turned to Zeon,

“What kind of individuals do you surmise they are? Could they truly be an organization that spontaneously emerged within this very street?”

“That possibility cannot be entirely dismissed. You should seek cooperation from Eaton. He possesses an intimate understanding of the various organizations operating within the slums.”

Eaton had ascended to the position of ruler in Sinchon, largely thanks to Zeon’s influence.

He maintained a comprehensive awareness of all criminal elements within the vicinity.

“Understood, hyung!”

“Is there anything further you require assistance with?”

“I shall ask should anything else arise. For the present, I intend to handle this personally. My children have been harmed.”

“Understood.”

Zeon empathized with Levin’s sentiments.

The problem-solver office was a goal Levin had poured his entire life’s ambition into.

His dream was to ensure the children from the slums achieved a stable livelihood and secured their meals.

And that dream was on the verge of becoming a reality.

However, the emergence of drug addicts had shattered the street's tranquility and endangered the children's very lives.

This was an offense Levin found absolutely unforgivable.

This time, he was determined to settle the score with his own hands, no matter the cost.

It was precisely for this reason that he had refrained from seeking Zeon’s assistance.

“Those wretched addicts… I will annihilate every last one of them.”