The White Bear Caravan
Aleksandr was a strong man.
Not just physically strong, but a real man with unbreakable mental fortitude and will.
Even before awakening, he had been strong.
After awakening, he naturally became even stronger.
With that immense power, he gathered subordinates and formed the White Bear Caravan.
All of it was for the survival of Akutsuk Colony.
Akutsuk lacked everything.
Aside from the colony itself, it was all desert, and it was infested with an unusually high number of large monsters.
They couldn't even dream of developing civilization like Neo Seoul; they were barely scraping by day to day.
To the monsters, Akutsuk Colony must have seemed like a stocked pantry full of delicious food.
It was packed with humans, and after all, human meat was a monster's favorite.
That was why the monster raids never let up.
The ones who shone in those times were Aleksandr and his White Bear Caravan.
They fought back against the monsters to protect Akutsuk Colony and reached out to survivors beyond its walls.
They made contact with those outside, grew their numbers, and periodically hunted down the beasts.
Thanks to them, Akutsuk Colony managed to survive the monster threat.
Next, he set the caravan in motion for real.
They had barely survived the raids, but for long-term survival, they needed to trade with other colonies.
Aleksandr and the White Bear Caravan risked their lives to seek out other colonies.
Finding another colony in a world turned to desert was harder than finding a needle in a sandstorm.
Above all, what plagued them were the monsters that attacked without warning.
Back then, they had no information at all.
Not the types of monsters, their habitats, or even their threat levels.
Aleksandr and the White Bear Caravan learned it all the hard way, through blood and bodies.
After grueling efforts, they finally found another colony over a thousand kilometers away and opened trade.
That was when Akutsuk Colony could finally breathe.
The expensive goods imported from outside enriched life in the colony a little. But they were still far from comfortable.
They needed trade with other colonies.
Aleksandr desperately searched for more, and that's when Neo Seoul appeared on his radar.
He'd heard rumors of Neo Seoul before. But most were so outlandish—like a hyper-advanced civilization surpassing pre-cataclysm glory, or a megacity housing over ten million—that he'd dismissed them.
In the harsh Akutsuk, such tales were unimaginable fantasies, just legends born from someone's imagination.
But as he prepared to push south in earnest and gathered intel, he confirmed Neo Seoul was real.
After even more toil, he finally reached it.
The city he'd thought was mere legend.
And he came face-to-face with the man who built that legendary city.
His first impression of Neo Seoul's mayor, Jin Geum-ho, was fear.
On the surface, he was just a dignified middle-aged man.
Neatly combed-back hair, a stylish beard, clear deep eyes, and a perfectly tailored suit.
Before the world fell apart, he could've passed for a mature model.
But to Aleksandr, he wasn't handsome at all.
Goosebumps were already crawling up his arms.
His body reacted to Jin Geum-ho's strength before his mind could.
This was the first time he'd ever trembled like this under someone's presence.
The man who built today's Neo Seoul. Impressive indeed.
Aleksandr forced down his churning emotions and kept a calm face.
Jin Geum-ho watched him with an intrigued expression.
Even that casual gaze made Aleksandr feel like he was shrinking into himself.
Suddenly, Jin Geum-ho smiled and spoke.
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Jin Geum-ho."
"Aleksandr Furzenko. It's an honor to meet Neo Seoul's mayor."
"It's been years since a visitor from outside came. I'm thrilled. So, from Akutsuk?"
"Yes."
"Remarkable. I thought Akutsuk was a frozen wasteland. To think survivors built a colony there."
"You know of Akutsuk?"
"Saw it on the internet before the world went to hell."
"Internet?"
"Ah, you wouldn't know. Back then, we shared info via computers and satellites. Humanity's golden age. Well, Neo Seoul's caught up now."
Internet, computers, satellites—unfamiliar words made Aleksandr frown unwittingly.
If he didn't know Jin Geum-ho's background, he'd think the man was spouting nonsense to mock him.
A monster who's lived at least 140 years since before the Great Fall.
He'd lived through civilization's peak, its collapse, the cataclysm, and Neo Seoul's rise.
A living history book.
His words couldn't be dismissed as ramblings.
"How's Akutsuk faring?"
"Same as any colony. Constant monster threats."
"I see."
"Compared to that, Neo Seoul looks peaceful. You've clearly faced raids, yet built this. It's awe-inspiring."
"It took many sacrifices. We never forget them."
"Same for us."
"Good. That's the true mindset for surviving this era. Too many young folks lack it, but you've got your head on straight."
Jin Geum-ho smiled, satisfied.
Aleksandr cautiously broached the point.
"As you know, our colony's barren. With your permission, we'd like to trade our goods here in Neo Seoul."
"Of course. Approved."
"Thank you."
"No big deal. We help each other."
"Should we go through you to distribute?"
"No need. Trade as you see fit."
"So, our caravan can handle it freely?"
"Naturally. Can't skimp on hospitality for rare guests."
"My deepest thanks."
Aleksandr was genuinely grateful.
This meant Jin Geum-ho was giving up the massive profits from exclusive trade rights with another colony.
The White Bear Caravan's trucks were loaded with valuables: monster corpses and magic stones hunted by Akutsuk awakeners, weapons and armor crafted by artisans, dungeon loot.
The colony's essence, all in.
They'd braced to hand Jin Geum-ho a huge cut, but he'd waved it all away.
Aleksandr wondered at his motives.
Jin Geum-ho asked calmly, eyeing him.
"One thing I'm curious about. How'd you find Neo Seoul?"
"Pardon?"
"Genuinely curious. No satellites, no navigation. Compasses don't work in this shithole world. How'd you pinpoint it exactly?"
"Well..."
Aleksandr's eyes flickered, and Jin Geum-ho stared him down.
Aleksandr emerged from the mayor's office, his back soaked in sweat.
"Captain!"
"You okay?"
The waiting awakeners rushed to him.
Aleksandr nodded.
"I'm fine. Let's get out."
"Yes, sir!"
Escorted by the awakeners, he boarded the elevator.
Once the doors closed, Seo Tae-ran entered the office.
Jin Geum-ho sat gazing at Neo Seoul through the floor-to-ceiling windows.
Seo Tae-ran stood silently beside him, awaiting orders.
Moments later, Jin Geum-ho spotted Aleksandr's group leaving City Hall.
Sensing the gaze, Aleksandr looked up and met it squarely. But soon, he vanished from view with his men.
Only then did Jin Geum-ho speak.
"Tae-ran."
"Yes, Mayor."
"Pull a few from the Shadow Squad to tail them."
"Understood."
"One of them's a damn good guide. Find out who and what their ability is. We need one to expand Neo Seoul's reach."
"I'll handle it. But..."
"What?"
"You're letting the White Bear Caravan trade freely? Wouldn't it be better for us to monopolize and distribute?"
Jin Geum-ho smiled faintly at Seo Tae-ran's question.
"That way, no complaints. Neo Seoul stays peaceful."
"You don't want peace?"
"After Dayton left on his own, the power balance solidified. Too much time's passed. Time for a shake-up."
Seo Tae-ran's face flushed slightly.
He grasped the implication.
The mayor's finally stirring the pot.
Jin Geum-ho hadn't ignored the other factions out of weakness.
He had grand ambitions and had poured everything into them, leaving no room for distractions.
That's why he'd overlooked the districts outside Central. They grew strong in the gap.
Now, Jin Geum-ho didn't want them growing further.
"A caravan from another colony's prime bait. Plenty will covet it. Our job's just to set the stage for them to play. They'll sort themselves out after."
That was the way of the world. And Jin Geum-ho knew it better than anyone.
Zeon walked through Dokkaebi Market.
"White Bear Caravan from Akutsuk Colony, right? Wonder what they brought."
"Whatever it is, it's valuable. Why else come all this way?"
"Can't wait to see what hits the market."
Merchants and customers buzzed with chatter.
All about the newly arrived White Bear Caravan.
The first in decades had everyone excited.
Dokkaebi Market merchants especially pinned big hopes on them.
New goods would draw crowds, boom the market.
A windfall.
Their focus: securing the most stock.
Whoever got the bulk would rake it in.
Already, merchants lined up to cozy with City Hall and district bosses.
They figured the caravan would exclusive-supply one of the five spots.
"South District's movements?"
"North got a shot?"
"Central under the mayor's still the safest bet."
Zeon moved on amid their hopeful voices.
Caravan frenzy.
The rare visit warranted hype, but it was overheating.
No telling what trouble that'd brew.
Better hole up at home for a bit.
Lately, he'd gotten dragged into too much shit unintentionally.
He'd pass on more complications if he could.
Then, suspicious talk reached his ears.
"Twenty Explosion Scrolls, neurotoxin from red-back scorpions, ten subspace-enchanted backpacks. Check it."
"Backpacks too few? Needs thirty at least."
"You think subspace enchants grow on trees? This was hard enough. Fail, and we're broke. Remember that."
"Relax. No way we fail. Succeed, we're rich."
"Here's hoping. Fuck!"
A Dokkaebi Market merchant whispering with a group of men.
Zeon sighed.
Moths to the flame, right here.