Chapter 476: Chapter 476

When Zeon returned home, he immediately began preparing to leave again.

Preparation, however, only meant checking the items stored in his subspace and restocking whatever was missing.

As Zeon opened his subspace, Tesserina’s eyes gleamed.

She had spotted the dragon’s eye embedded in the Inferno Gauntlet.

“Is that a Red Dragon’s eye?”

“You hunted the dragon yourself and took it?”

“No. I found it in a dungeon. The place had once been a vault where someone in Kurayan stored the eye of a dragon they’d slain. The vault got dungeonized, and thanks to that, I got it rather easily.”

“You were lucky. Getting a Red Dragon’s eye that easily… judging by the mana radiating from it, that dragon must’ve been an immensely powerful being.”

“Doesn’t that bother you?”

“It was a dragon, same race as you.”

“Of course it doesn’t feel good. Our attributes differ, but as you said, we’re both dragons. Still… that was its fate. If it couldn’t return completely to the embrace of mana, that’s its own failing.”

“Still, isn’t that a bit cold? It’s one of your kind.”

At that, Tesserina smiled faintly, amused.

She flicked a finger as she explained.

“We consider ourselves perfect beings. We’re born with great power, and the older and larger we grow, the stronger we become. We don’t need effort or nurturing; merely existing completes us. There’s no need for another dragon’s help, no reason to form connections. Under those circumstances, indifference isn’t strange at all.”

“For the world, that’s for the best. If we ever formed deep bonds, looked after one another, then humans, elves, and all the others in Kurayan wouldn’t have survived. For the sake of every other race, we must live completely isolated.”

“Do all dragons think that way?”

“It’s our general nature. But who knows? A mutant might appear someday, humans have those too, don’t they?”

Zeon agreed with her reasoning.

“That gauntlet, it’s quite an item. It looks human-made, but the craftsmanship is extraordinary.”

“Still, its efficiency isn’t as good as it could be. Mind if I take a look?” Get full chapters from novel✶fire.net

Zeon glanced at her for a moment.

He had taken off the Inferno Gauntlet only twice, once to embed the Red Dragon’s eye, and once for a mid-upgrade.

Aside from those moments, he had never removed them.

When he hesitated, Tesserina smiled reassuringly.

“I’ll only fix the inefficient circuits. I swear I won’t touch anything else.”

Trusting her, Zeon handed the gauntlets over.

Without them, his hands felt strangely bare.

A soft light bloomed from Tesserina’s palms.

Silver radiance seeped into the gauntlets, and glowing mana circuits surfaced along the metal.

“Just correcting the mana circuits will raise efficiency by at least thirty percent.”

“I’m a dragon, remember?”

“That sounded a little arrogant.”

“It’s fine, it’s true.”

She laughed but never broke focus.

Zeon fell silent and watched her work.

Under the silver light, the intricate circuits on the gauntlet’s surface slowly shifted.

“Done,” she said after a moment.

The light vanished. The glowing circuits faded from sight. To the eye, the gauntlets looked unchanged.

Tesserina handed them back.

Zeon nodded and slipped them over his hands.

Instantly, his expression changed.

Just as she’d said, he could feel the difference, the mana flow was smoother, almost seamless.

Energy streamed through the gauntlets without resistance.

He felt as if he could activate a skill the instant he thought of it.

He’d have to test it to be sure, but it already felt incredible.

“It’s the least I can do after everything you’ve done for me. So, did I earn my meal?”

Pleased by his answer, Tesserina smiled in satisfaction.

Someone rapped on Zeon’s door.

Zeon tilted his head.

The only one who ever dropped by was Levin, but Levin was busy inspecting the subspace warehouse Tesserina had made.

Zetoya and Lemura were swamped with matters in the underground city.

And he was supposed to meet Borin and the others later at the open field where the raid team was gathering.

No one should have been coming here.

When Zeon opened the door, a middle-aged man he’d never seen before stood outside.

His blond hair was neatly combed back, his blue eyes steady, his beard trimmed to perfection. He leaned on a staff crowned with a blue jewel, an image of refined elegance.

Beside him stood a beautiful female secretary.

The gentleman greeted first.

“Good day. My name is Grain.”

“Yes. This is my secretary, Leona. I’ve heard much about you, Zeon, but this is our first meeting face-to-face.”

“You came looking for me?”

“Indeed. The Sand Mage himself.”

“I don’t even know who you are.”

“Ah, right. Perhaps you’d know if I said I’m Number Two of the Numbers?”

Zeon’s expression hardened.

Grain, however, kept a soft, unbothered smile.

“Apologies for dropping by unannounced.”

“What brings you here?”

“Standing makes my legs tired. Mind if we talk inside?”

Zeon sighed lightly and stepped aside.

The Numbers weren’t people one could treat lightly, especially the second member, stronger than the twin sisters or even the late old master.

Someone of that rank couldn’t simply be turned away.

Grain said, inclining his head before stepping in.

His secretary bowed apologetically.

“I’m so sorry, Mr. Zeon! I told him it was rude to come without notice, but he never listens…”

“Thank you. As expected of the Sand Mage, your heart is as vast as the desert itself.”

Leona looked around, impressed.

“So this is the famous fortress of the Sand Mage. An honor to see the inside.”

“Please, stop overreacting, Leona. You’re embarrassing me.”

“Why? I’m just stating facts.”

“And when you do, what does that make me look like? I’m still the Master of Gravity, you know.”

“So what? You keep causing trouble. You’re nowhere near as famous as Mr. Zeon.”

“That’s because I take on secret missions. Ugh, forget it, talking to you is pointless.”

Shaking his head, Grain suddenly noticed Tesserina.

“A lovely young lady. Are you Zeon’s girlfriend? Or perhaps you live together?”

“Friends? Then perhaps I…”

“Sorry. Not my type.”

Grain hung his head, visibly wounded.

Leona promptly kicked him in the shin.

“Pull yourself together, old man! Don’t you feel ashamed flirting with someone young enough to be your daughter?”

“Age doesn’t matter in love!”

“Love? Please. You’re acting like a mutt in heat.”

“Hey! Is that how you talk to your dad’s friend?”

“Exactly. If you were my dad, you’d already be dead by my hand.”

Grain could only click his tongue, speechless.

Zeon gestured for them to sit.

“Please, have a seat.”

Once they sat on the sofa, Zeon asked directly,

“So, what brings you both here?”

“Straight to business, I see. Not even offering water first?”

“Letting a Numbers member into my home is already risky enough.”

“Ha! The great Sand Mage playing modest, yet I see no fear in your eyes. Very well, let’s get to the point. I want to join the raid on the Vampire Dungeon.”

“How did you even know about that? The North District’s keeping it top-secret.”

“Please. I’m a Numbers member; you think I wouldn’t know?”

“And why do you want to enter the Vampire Dungeon?”

He pointed toward the city hall visible through the window.

“Exactly. He believes something vital might be hidden in that dungeon. And when the mayor gives an order, I obey. So I’d appreciate it if you didn’t hold it against me.”

“Then… is your secretary joining as well?”

“No. Only me. Leona’s just my secretary.”

“That easy? You’re not refusing?”

“It’s not like I could refuse anyway.”

He was a man sent by Jin Geum-ho, the mayor of Neo Seoul. Turning him down would only sour relations with city hall.

“I appreciate the understanding.”

“But you’ll still need permission from the North District.”

“Heh. I already stopped by on my way here. Queen Serien approved it gladly.”

“Well, helping conquer a vampire dungeon that could turn into a catastrophe, who’d object to that?”

“None. As long as that dungeon’s closed, I don’t care who joins.”

Grain smiled in satisfaction.

Normally, adding an outsider to a raid was a sensitive matter.

The team that discovered a dungeon owned full rights to it, every item and resource found inside belonged to them.

Everyone knew how valuable dungeon loot could be.

If another team joined midway, it meant disputes over shares and rights.

That’s why most raiders preferred to clear dungeons on their own, even at the risk of dying.

Whatever price Grain had paid to secure his entry, Zeon neither knew nor cared.

What mattered was that his presence would make the conquest easier, and that was enough.

Then Grain pointed at Tesserina.

“Will this beautiful lady be joining the raid as well?”

“Yes, I’ll be going with Zeon.”

Grain looked at her with an odd gleam in his eyes. Tesserina met his gaze, expression unreadable.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing. Just that the journey will be far more pleasant with such a lovely companion.”

“Pleasant? Since when are dungeon runs pleasant? Sounds like a twisted hobby.”

“To me, dungeons are like that. Either way, it’s an honor to travel together.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Leona’s kick cut him off.

“That’s enough, old man!”

“Don’t say you’re enjoying going to a dungeon with a young woman! Have some dignity!”

“Stop talking before the whole neighborhood hears you.”

Their bickering filled Zeon’s house from wall to wall.