novelraw Chapter 579
Chapter 579
Chapter 579
The appearance of a portal capable of transporting people instantly to the Steel Fortress quite literally turned Neo Seoul upside down.
People had only learned today that a place called the Steel Fortress even existed, and now a portal had been installed that allowed instant spatial travel to it.
Naturally, the reaction from the people was explosive.
Jin Geumho first tested it by bringing along the rulers of each district and their executives to the Steel Fortress.
The rulers who were transported there in an instant had their eyes nearly pop out.
“Is this even possible?”
“This is insane!”
“This is a revolution.”
“Hah! I’m truly speechless. To think there’s a fortress like this so far away from Neo Seoul, and that we can get here in an instant.”
If they hadn’t experienced it themselves and seen it with their own eyes, they would never have believed it.
The existence of the Teleport Gem went far beyond their common sense.
Jin Geumho spoke to the rulers who still hadn’t managed to close their gaping mouths.
“Now you understand why I gathered you all here. If you hadn’t attended today, you would never have been given the chance to use this portal.”
“Hmm!”
“Hoo!”
The rulers sighed.
They had once again realized the vast gap between themselves and City Hall.
Seden Price, the ruler of the East District, spoke cautiously.
“How do you intend to distribute the authority to operate this portal?”
“Distribute it? If you were in my position, would you share such tremendous authority?”
“Then you intend for City Hall to monopolize it?”
“Of course.”
“Then why did you gather us here?”
“To give you an opportunity.”
“An opportunity?”
“That’s right. An opportunity to use this portal safely and reliably. As you can see, through the Steel Fortress you can travel safely to a place thousands of kilometers away from Neo Seoul. With the Steel Fortress as a forward base, expansion outward becomes possible. I’m offering you the chance to safely use a place like this.”
“It certainly won’t be free.”
“Of course not.”
“You don’t need to explain any further. Just tell us what we must provide.”
Seden Price ground his teeth.
If they wanted to use the portal safely, they would have to give something in return.
He could already sense that the price would not be light.
At that moment, Seo Taeran stepped forward.
“You can discuss that matter with me.”
“Hah! You little fox. You again?”
“The highest compliment.”
Seo Taeran smiled coldly at Seden Price’s grumbling.
The other rulers all looked troubled.
Whenever Seo Taeran stepped forward, it meant that at least one pillar would be torn out.
That was how difficult she was to deal with.
Jin Geumho planned to sell shares of the portal’s usage rights to each district.
Seventy percent of priority usage rights would be given to the districts, while the remaining thirty percent would be made freely available to the slum awakeners and small- to mid-sized raid teams.
The districts would benefit from stable access, while those not affiliated with them could still use it, ensuring balanced development.
To the rulers who showed dissatisfaction, Jin Geumho added,
“Oh, right. Portals will also be installed at the Magic Stone Mine and one other location.”
“The Magic Stone Mine is understandable, but you’re saying there’s another place like the Steel Fortress?”
“According to Zeon, there’s an even more remarkable place. That one will be controlled much more strictly. So you’d better think carefully.”
“Ugh!”
“So you’re telling us to hand over everything we have.”
“You’re no different from bandits.”
Even so, they could not refuse Jin Geumho’s proposal.
They weren’t fools.
They knew that one of the people who had pioneered the Steel Fortress was Zeon.
And it was obvious that the other location connected by the portal would also be somewhere Zeon had discovered. A place like that couldn’t possibly be ordinary.
If it would be controlled even more strictly than the Steel Fortress, it was certain to be an even better place.
Zeon looked at Serion.
“Lady Serion.”
“Yes?”
“The North District must not miss this opportunity.”
“It must be a place connected to the elves.”
“Most likely.”
“Understood.”
Serion immediately grasped the meaning behind Zeon’s words.
Among the rulers of the districts, the one who maintained the closest relationship with Zeon was Serion. Because of that, she understood his tendencies better than anyone.
Without the slightest doubt, she decided to follow Zeon’s advice.
Thus each district completed its negotiations with Seo Taeran. It was not revealed what price they had agreed to pay. But judging by the satisfied smile on Seo Taeran’s lips, it was certain that the cost had been significant.
Once all negotiations were complete, Jin Geumho introduced Urtian to them.
“This is Lord Urtian, the ruler of the Steel Fortress. If you wish to establish a base within the fortress, speak with him.”
No sooner had Urtian been introduced than Xiaolun stepped forward.
“My name is Xiaolun. I intend to establish a base in the Steel Fortress.”
“I was first.”
“We would also like to be allocated some suitable land here.”
The other rulers quickly followed with their own proposals to Urtian.
Urtian’s lips stretched up to his ears.
Simply having their bases here would guarantee a certain level of safety.
Urtian had already decided which districts he would allocate to them.
The zones for each district’s raid teams and guilds were assigned near the entrance. The goal was to increase defensive power by placing strong forces at the front.
He had also set aside residential areas in advance for the humans who would later migrate from El Harun.
It was certain that the population would increase explosively from now on, so preparations had been made ahead of time.
“To think there’s such an enormous lake underground. If we stay here, we won’t have to worry about drinking water.”
“The terrain is perfect for defending against magical beasts.”
“A natural fortress. Why didn’t we know about a place like this?”
“If we establish a base here, we could launch expeditions even farther out.”
Those who toured the Steel Fortress could not hide their astonishment at its vast scale and the enormous lake.
Even without Jin Geumho or Urtian explaining, they could already see the immense potential of the Steel Fortress.
“Waaa!”
“People from Neo Seoul!”
The children of the Steel Fortress were in an uproar at the sight of the unfamiliar visitors.
For children who had lived their entire lives in the desert, the appearance of visitors from Neo Seoul was shocking in itself.
The awakeners from Neo Seoul wore equipment and clothing far more refined than those of the Steel Fortress people.
Some of the more outgoing children had already run up and started talking to the awakeners from Neo Seoul.
The awakeners greeted them with smiles, seemingly not bothered by their approach.
Watching the scene, Urtian muttered,
“What a wonderful day.”
It was a historic day, the day the first channel of exchange between Neo Seoul and the Steel Fortress had been opened.
---
The news that the Steel Fortress could now be reached through a portal quickly spread throughout Neo Seoul and the entire slum district.
People from the slums came out to see the plaza where the portal had been installed, and citizens of Neo Seoul also came to visit the slums.
City Hall and each district sent awakeners to guard the portal. Even so, people kept coming endlessly.
City Hall first built facilities to guard the portal.
A large building was constructed where awakeners and administrators would remain stationed.
Defense towers were erected around the building and the portal, and protective magic formations were installed as well.
Anyone wishing to use the portal had to first visit this building and register. Afterward, the portal administrator would use a panel to transport them to the Steel Fortress.
The panel that activated the portal was designated a strategic asset.
Naturally, awakeners from City Hall and each district were dispatched to protect it.
The empty lot where the portal had originally been installed had been the most underdeveloped area of the slums. But after the portal was installed, the situation changed.
Each district rushed to purchase the buildings and land nearby.
They intended to establish bases or warehouses there. As a result, the slum district with the portal began developing rapidly day by day.
A slum that had seen no development for a hundred years was transforming into something completely different in just a few months simply because a portal had been installed.
Dungeon exploration teams and magical beast hunting squads now crossed over to the Steel Fortress through the portal.
After preparing themselves there, they would head out into the desert.
Previously, only the Magic Stone Mine had served as a forward base.
Because of that, exploration had been concentrated in the northern region where the mine was located. But now things were different.
The exploration area had expanded westward, where the Steel Fortress stood.
The magical beasts that mainly inhabited the area around the Steel Fortress were creatures rarely seen in the north.
Because of this, many magical beast hunting teams cheered.
The byproducts of new magical beasts always meant money.
The awakeners of the Steel Fortress earned income by guiding raid teams and hunting squads from Neo Seoul.
Some of the more capable among them even signed official contracts with raid teams from the various districts.
Through its exchange with Neo Seoul, the Steel Fortress also developed rapidly. The culture and technology of Neo Seoul flowed in along with the awakeners.
The first thing installed was a large magic stone generator to supply electricity.
The bulky generator had been disassembled for transport and then reassembled and installed inside the Steel Fortress.
Once power was supplied steadily, many things changed.
Artificial lighting illuminated the fortress like an underground city, and magitech machines and weapons began appearing on the market.
Naturally, the quality of life for the residents rose dramatically.
All of this had happened in just a few months.
Because of that, smiles never disappeared from the residents’ faces.
Then another surprising piece of news arrived.
A portal had been installed at the Magic Stone Mine as well.
There was no longer any need to load the stones onto transport vehicles and have awakeners escort them as before.
They simply loaded them onto the vehicles and sent them through the portal.
With transportation time dramatically shortened, the supply of magic stones became smooth.
Thanks to that, the Steel Fortress could also obtain high-quality magic stones easily.
The stable supply of magic stones became a great source of strength not only for Neo Seoul but also for the Steel Fortress.
Even in the slums, people could now use electricity freely without worrying about power outages.
Alongside the Steel Fortress, the slums were actually the place that benefited the most.
Slum residents who had previously struggled to find work could now easily travel through the portal to work at the Magic Stone Mine or perform labor at the Steel Fortress.
As a result, many people found jobs, and large amounts of money began circulating in the market.
“Tsk! That gold mine should’ve been ours.”
Old Man Klexi looked regretfully at the portal standing boldly in the middle of the slums.
Yu Sehee scolded him.
“And if we had it, could we have protected it?”
“Well…”
“Zeon was right. That’s not something we could protect.”
“I know that. I’m just saying it because it’s a shame. Tsk!”
Old Man Klexi smacked his lips.
The Goblin Market and Argos’s Eye held absolute power within the slums, but they were nothing compared to City Hall or the districts.
“Let them run it. We’ll just use it when we need it. Besides, isn’t it fortunate enough? The portal is right in our backyard, so we can use it anytime.”
“That must be Zeon showing consideration for the slums.”
“Of course.”
Yu Sehee answered without a moment’s hesitation.
Because the portal had been installed in the empty lot, the surrounding area was developing at a remarkable pace.
As a result, more people were also visiting the Goblin Market.
Rather than taking their goods all the way to Neo Seoul, more people were choosing to sell them at the Goblin Market instead.
Thanks to that, the Goblin Market’s revenue had increased dramatically.
“The value of a single portal is incredible. Only two locations are connected, yet Neo Seoul is already so full of vitality.”
“That’s true.”
Yu Sehee nodded.
With the installation of the portal, the previously blocked arteries had been opened.
With the limitations of distance and time removed, many things that had once been impossible were now possible.
She had lived in the slums her entire life, but this was the first time she had seen the streets so full of energy.
The dramatic change was almost hard to believe.
Old Man Klexi spoke.
“If we could connect just one more place with a portal, Neo Seoul would develop explosively beyond anything we’ve seen before.”
“I think the same. I’m curious where Zeon will install the next portal.”
“That’s right. If it’s Zeon, he’ll surely find a suitable place. He might already know where.”
“Since he came to the slums, so many things have changed. He’s the savior of the slums.”
“Not just the slums.”
“Pardon?”
“He is the only one who can save this desertified world.”
Old Man Klexi’s voice was filled with certainty.