Sand Mage of the Burnt Desert Chapter 606

“Ah, that? Ever since the portals were created, smuggling has increased quite a bit.”

“They’re using the portals for smuggling?”

Zeon expressed disbelief, and Mandy responded with a wry smile.

“No matter how well something is developed with good intentions, there are always people who misuse it.”

It hadn’t been long since the portals were installed in the slums.

Yet, crimes involving the illicit transport of outside goods using them were already rampant.

Neo Seoul levied a fee for portal usage.

The cost for individuals traveling through wasn’t very high, but cargo incurred customs fees based on weight or value.

Naturally, all goods entering Neo Seoul underwent thorough inspection.

Items brought in secretly, bypassing proper procedures, were inevitably confiscated.

“I heard inspections are strict. Is smuggling even possible?”

“That’s what I don’t understand either. The checkpoint before the portal conducts rigorous inspections. But recently, a significant quantity of goods that haven’t passed through customs procedures have been circulating within Neo Seoul. Because of this, City Hall is on high alert.”

“Isn’t it possible they’re bringing them in through routes other than the portal?”

“As you know, people hardly use land routes anymore. The risk of monster attacks is high, and transportation costs are substantial. If possible, they go through the portal to the mana stone mines or the Steel Fortress. Even after paying customs fees, it’s dozens of times more profitable.”

“So in the end, someone is using the portals for smuggling through some covert method.”

“Yes. I suspect they’re using subspace items for smuggling.”

“That seems plausible.”

Zeon nodded.

Subspace items were extremely rare. But that didn’t mean they were entirely unobtainable.

If subspace storage was employed for smuggling, it would logically evade detection at checkpoints.

“Subspace items don’t show any outward appearance. And unless you’re the owner, you can’t open them, so they can’t be detected either. That makes them perfect for smuggling.”

“To think they’d use something as valuable as subspace for smuggling.”

Zeon shook his head in astonishment.

“If there’s cooperation from someone on the inside, large-scale smuggling isn’t impossible either.”

“That’s why you’re conducting an audit under the suspicion that high-ranking officials are involved.”

“Precisely.”

“Have you narrowed down the suspects?”

“For now, these three are the most likely culprits.”

Mandy presented Zeon with a document detailing the primary audit targets.

“Lee Sung-ho, Go Dam-seok, Jennifer. All recognized Awakened in Neo Seoul?”

“Yes. Whenever these three are on duty, an unusually large volume of goods arrives. So we’re planning a focused audit.”

“I see.”

Zeon carefully studied the photographs of the three individuals.

All of them possessed gentle appearances; it didn’t seem possible to ascertain guilt from their looks alone.

Zeon harbored no trust in outward appearances.

He had witnessed many who appeared kind commit heinous acts, and others who seemed like criminals turn out to be decent individuals.

In his judgment, everything required firsthand verification.

He set the document down.

“You have your work cut out for you.”

“It’s still easier than venturing outside, so it’s manageable.”

“Take care not to overexert yourself.”

“Don’t worry. If anything happens, Eloy will intervene.”

“I suppose that’s true.”

Zeon nodded.

Mandy herself was merely an ordinary elf, but her alternate persona, Eloy, was a battle-hardened berserker.

With Eloy present, there was virtually no chance Mandy would suffer harm.

After bidding Mandy farewell, Zeon stepped outside.

He paused and gazed in the direction of the portal.

“Human greed truly knows no bounds.”

He had implemented the portals solely to benefit Neo Seoul and the Steel Fortress, yet individuals were already exploiting them for personal gain.

Still, he wasn’t excessively concerned, as City Hall had acknowledged the issue and was actively addressing it.

With City Hall now involved, the smugglers would likely be apprehended soon.

Just then, someone passing by inadvertently collided with Zeon, who had been standing distractedly.

“Ugh!”

The man stumbled and fell with a groan.

Zeon extended a hand to help him up.

“Are you alright?”

“Da…mn it! Why are you jusht shtanding in the middle of the road like an idio…?”

The man who had bumped into Zeon cursed—but his speech was peculiar.

Like someone intoxicated, his pronunciation was slurred.

It wasn’t solely his speech.

His eyes were unfocused, his face bore patchy redness, and an unusual odor emanated from his body.

“Shit… I was having such a pleasant dream… and now this bad luck…”

“You were dreaming while walking?”

“What kind of nonsens…?”

The man babbled incoherently and pulled his hand away from Zeon.

He staggered as he walked, appearing on the verge of collapse at any moment.

Judging by his appearance, he was clearly not well.

Zeon’s brow furrowed deeply as he observed the man’s retreating figure.

He had a neat appearance and a well-kept face.

Typical of Neo Seoul residents.

“A Neo Seoul resident wandering around in such a state in broad daylight?”

In the slums, it wasn’t uncommon to find individuals drunk during the day.

With no aspirations or hope, many resorted to alcohol to endure each passing day.

However, Neo Seoul stood apart from this notion.

It was a society governed by stringent regulations.

The greater the privileges bestowed upon an individual, the more rigorously they were expected to adhere to the established rules.

Any actions that were perceived as disruptive to the order or in defiance of the system led to immediate expulsion.

This control was even more pronounced in the central district, the very heart where City Hall resided.

Even the Awakened exercised caution in their conduct within this area.

Yet, for an ordinary person, not even an Awakened, to be observed wandering in such a condition in broad daylight?

That was far from ordinary.

“Could it be a result of drugs, rather than alcohol?”

Reflecting on it, the scent emanating from the man bore a resemblance to the foul odor Beron had exuded.

“Don’t tell me these drugs have infiltrated not just the slums, but Neo Seoul itself?”

Zeon began to shadow the man discreetly.

Initially, Zeon had no intention of becoming involved in the drug-related issues.

This was a matter Levin was supposed to handle, and with Briel lending assistance, there was no perceived need for his intervention.

He was confident that the two of them could manage the situation effectively.

That was the very reason he had chosen to remain detached.

But now, having witnessed a drug-addicted individual directly before him, he found himself unable to simply overlook the matter.

The spread of drugs within the slums was something he could comprehend.

It was a place where lawlessness prevailed, and it wasn't unusual for individuals to seek solace in drugs to escape their bleak circumstances.

But Neo Seoul was a different entity altogether.

Jin Geum-ho absolutely refused to tolerate any form of drug use among its inhabitants.

He viewed the potential contamination of his city, painstakingly built over a century, by drugs as a personal affront, a direct challenge to his authority.

Any individual caught introducing drugs into Neo Seoul faced immediate execution.

There were no exceptions.

Regardless of their standing or the power of their Awakened abilities, every single person was summarily executed.

Consequently, Neo Seoul had maintained its status as a drug-free sanctuary until this very moment.

“And now, drugs are spreading? I established the portals with the best intentions, only for them to be misused like this?”

When he first heard the report from Mandy, he had dismissed it lightly.

However, witnessing a man overtly under the influence firsthand had severely dampened his spirits.

With a grim expression, Zeon continued to trail the man.

Oblivious to the pursuit, the man proceeded on his way.

Several passersby on the street cast disapproving glances, assuming he was merely intoxicated in broad daylight.

None of them suspected he was under the influence of drugs.

Even Zeon would have harbored the same assumption had he not collided with the man.

Maintaining a careful distance to avoid detection, Zeon followed.

The man exited the central district, home to City Hall, and made his way towards the southern district.

He crossed into the southern district without drawing attention.

“Tch.”

Zeon clicked his tongue in annoyance.

There were simply too many individuals in that area who recognized him.

Since his return to Neo Seoul, his most significant conflicts had been with Xiaolun and those associated with the southern district.

Inevitably, he had encountered numerous people there, and the majority of these encounters had left a negative impression of him.

Even a distant sighting would be enough for them to identify him instantly.

Before he could be recognized, Zeon pulled the hood of his robe further down.

Even with this precaution, there was no guarantee his identity would remain concealed, but it was a better course of action than none.

The man ventured deeper and deeper into the southern district.

“A slum.”

Zeon murmured, surveying his surroundings.

Not every corner of Neo Seoul boasted pristine streets and towering structures.

There were those who had been marginalized or had faltered even within the city's confines.

The areas where such individuals congregated were known as the slums.

City Hall or the district administrators possessed the authority to eradicate these slums at any moment.

However, they deliberately allowed them to persist, serving as a repository for the city’s castoffs.

The further they progressed into the slum, the more unsettling the atmosphere grew.

The man entered a dimly lit pub situated deep within the slum.

Zeon followed him inside.

“Heh-heh! So that bitch decided to take off her panties voluntarily.”

“Kahaha! Must have been a passionate night?”

“She really let loose. It’s been ages since I experienced such a night.”

The initial sounds that greeted Zeon upon entering were lewd conversations.

The modest pub contained approximately seven tables, all filled with patrons.

At the men’s sides sat prostitutes employed by the establishment, offering forced laughter.

One man brazenly placed his hand inside the clothing of the prostitute beside him, groping her.

“Hey! Not there…”

“How did your skin become so smooth? Have you been consuming something beneficial?”

“Consuming something beneficial? I was simply born this way.”

“Nonsense! I'm aware your skin was once as rough as sandpaper.”

“Sandpaper? That’s rather harsh.”

The prostitute retorted, but the man pressed on regardless.

“Damn it! I know your past, so stop spewing lies and give me a straight answer. Tell me so I can inform my wife as well.”

“I merely take good care of myself. There’s no hidden secret.”

“Ha! You damn liar, playing coy.”

The man withdrew some money and thrust it deep into her cleavage.

A sly smile spread across the prostitute’s face.

“Hehe. Actually, I have been using something remarkable lately.”

“Something remarkable?”

“Yes. A skin supplement. It’s a new product that’s become quite popular recently, and its effects are astonishing. You can observe an improvement in your skin the moment you begin using it.”

“That sounds rather suspicious.”

“What’s suspicious about it? It’s manufactured by City Hall.”

“City Hall?”

“Yes. I heard it was developed in City Hall’s secret laboratory.”

“Is that really true?”

The prostitute, responding to the man’s inquiry, puffed out her chest in annoyance.

“Ugh! Whether you believe it or not, I’m telling you the truth, and you still doubt me?”

“Damn it, listen to the way you speak.”

“What did I do wrong?”

“Never mind. Forget it.”

Dismissing the topic, the man finished his drink, and the prostitute moved in closer to him.

“Come on, just give this to her. It’s truly incredible.”

She placed a small vial containing three pills into his hand.

“Forget about it.”

“I won’t charge you for it, so just give it to your wife. She’ll end up loving you even more.”

“Loving me, my ass.”

“Oh, come on, just give it to her, won’t you? Hehe!”

As the prostitute pressed her body against him and let out a seductive laugh, the man’s stern expression began to soften.

Zeon observed the entire interaction from the shadows.

There was no longer any need to keep tailing the man he had been following.

Scenes just like this one were unfolding all across the city.

He knew this without even needing to look closely.

The pills the prostitutes were distributing were clearly narcotics.

One of the most effective methods for hooking someone on drugs was precisely this—offering them under the guise of a generous gift.

Once consumed even a single time, there was no possibility of escape.

“So, they’re using prostitutes to distribute illicit substances?”

Men intoxicated by alcohol and women were the easiest targets to exploit.

Just then—

“You’re a new face here. Aren’t you going to take a seat?”

A sharp voice cut through the ambient noise, reaching Zeon’s ears.

He turned his head, his gaze meeting the bartender’s, whose sharp eyes were fixed squarely on him.