The trio continued their conversation as if no one else was present, their discussion at times animated, at times hushed, creating an invisible barrier that left Luo Jiani completely isolated.
Luo Jiani could no longer pretend not to hear. The words exchanged between her teacher Antina, Visda, and that enigmatic Miss “Anna” seemed to hint at a staggering, earth-shattering plan—to overthrow the Empire.
How could this be?!
Her classmates and teacher, the very people she saw day in and day out, had somehow transformed into rebels?
She had heard countless rumors about the rebels on street corners and in alleyways. In those stories, they were no different from gangs—dangerous, anti-social elements, the cancer and scum of society.
So why would Teacher Antina and Visda walk such a path?
Were they bewitched?
Luo Jiani’s mind involuntarily conjured up the image of Renith. Renith… she truly did seem to possess a power that could captivate hearts.
But if it was her doing, why had this power not fallen upon Luo Jiani herself? After all, the time she had spent alone with Renith was far longer than with Visda.
Was it that she simply wasn’t worthy in Renith’s eyes? Yet, if so, why would Renith have spoken those meaningful words to her?
“When you are capable of standing on your own, you can come find me. I will give you something.”
That sentence echoed repeatedly in Luo Jiani’s heart. It didn’t feel like Renith’s method of bewitchment; those words seemed to carry a certain expectation.
Then, was it those rebels and gangs behind the scenes, manipulating everything from the shadows?
It must be! It could only be that!
A chill shot up from the soles of Luo Jiani’s feet, straight to the top of her skull. For a moment, she was utterly at a loss.
Report them to the authorities? Have the police drag Visda and Teacher Antina into those grim prison cells?
No, absolutely not! How could she possibly do such a thing?
Just then, a sudden idea flashed in Luo Jiani’s mind.
She remembered that in this building, renovated from an old tavern, there was a telephone. That hand-cranked phone, connected by battery wires, was the only means to contact the distant outside world…
But who should she call?
Mulling over this question, Luo Jiani unconsciously drifted back into the living room. Renith and the other two remained deeply engrossed in their discussion, as if nothing outside it mattered.
She stood dumbly before the telephone, trembling hands picking up the receiver. An image uncontrollably surfaced in her mind—a tall man with blond hair and blue eyes, wrinkles at the corners of his eyes, but overall still appearing quite young.
That was her father.
In Luo Jiani’s heart, her father seemed to be her only pillar of support at this moment. It seemed she could only tell him about this matter, let him decide “her future.”
But she couldn’t do it.
She had made a solemn vow before her father, declaring she would live independently, carve out her own path. Yet now, not only was she still spending her father’s money, but she was also running to him for help when encountering difficulties. It made her feel like a wretched, defeated dog, whimpering and begging after being hurt.
If she really did this, wouldn’t all the bold talk she had spouted before her father become the biggest joke!
And, of course, there was an even more crucial point.
She simply didn’t know her father’s phone number.
Luo Jiani silently placed the receiver back, her footsteps heavy as she walked back to her room. She lay down silently on her bed, her demeanor uncannily similar to Visda’s despondence back then.
What should she do now?
She truly didn’t know.
Perhaps all of this was just an absurd dream?
As long as she woke up, everyone would return to normal, no longer talking about those dangerous rebellious matters. Everyone could live peacefully in Mobius City, graduate smoothly, find jobs, and achieve independence.
Yes, that must be it!
Luo Jiani constantly comforted herself in her heart, as if this could dispel the lingering fear.
“Luo Jiani ran back to her room.”
Visda glanced inadvertently at the now-empty seat and spoke softly, a trace of helplessness and worry in his tone.
“I told you… we shouldn’t have let her know about this. Visda is already involved, but as for Luo Jiani…”
A bitter smile hung on Antina’s face, filled with self-reproach. She suddenly felt like a true bearer of misfortune. Her mentor had disappeared, Lance had gone off to risk killing a noble, Visda was about to wade into the muddy waters of rebellion with her, and now even Luo Jiani was forced to make her own choice.
“She has the right to know, and then decide whether to stay or leave. If our activities are exposed, this agency will cease to exist. We might be thrown into cold prison cells, or perhaps die under merciless gunfire.”
“Rather than have her suffer heart-wrenching agony then, it’s better to let her know our choices now. Everyone has the right to choose their own path in life, and then decide whether to stay or go. That sounds like a famous quote from some book.”
Visda couldn’t recall the book’s title, as the author had made it up. His gaze slowly fell on his pocket watch, which held a photo of his family.
He was beginning to understand the hardships of the world. He understood why Lance had resolutely left, why Teacher Antina was rising up against the Empire.
The entire Empire seemed to be decaying. The people at the bottom of Mobius City were living in dire straits—hunger, poverty, oppression growing ever more severe… Soon, very soon, just as Renith had said, this storm would mercilessly sweep across the entire Empire, and by then, his family would not be spared.
“I am beginning to understand the world… I will follow you, to see the world’s true face. Teacher Antina, I am no longer the weak person I once was… Even if the road ahead is paved with thorns, I will not retreat.”
Visda clutched his pocket watch tightly, his voice firm and resolute, his eyes determined.
“Thank you, Visda…”
“Indeed, sometimes it’s better to have companions, right? Antina.”
Antina’s eyes were slightly red. After hearing Antina’s story, Renith could roughly guess that after graduation, Antina had left the Empire alone, come to Mobius City, intending to find an opportunity to change everything. But for over a decade, she had met with setbacks everywhere, making little progress.
She was too weak alone, groping in the dark, unable to find direction, unable to accomplish anything.
Setting aside the highly proactive Lance, Antina lacked someone who could truly listen to her troubles and fight alongside her.
But now she had one.
Visda had caught up to Antina’s pace and was beginning to slowly understand her thoughts.
Without companions, even the strongest individual will hit walls.
This was a profound truth Renith had grasped during her long life: an individual’s power has limits, but the power of three can stand against a Demon Lord, and the power of millions can dismantle a demonic invasion.
“This is only the beginning. The road ahead is still long.”
Renith said this, then turned and walked back to her room.
That night, all was silent, yet undercurrents surged.
Perhaps due to the tense standoff between the gangs and the rebel organization, the law enforcement presence in Mobius City had suddenly increased severalfold.
In the past, each block might only have a few police officers patrolling each night. Now, fully equipped squads roamed the streets and alleys. Armed with advanced firearms, they cast a suffocating atmosphere over the entire city.
Outside the window, the sound of orderly, heavy footsteps broke the night’s quiet, unsettling the usually vibrant, so-called “Sleepless Street”—Lynes Street.
On the streets, the number of people who usually caroused and sought pleasure recklessly had dwindled. Many shops had even hung “Closed” signs, their doors shut tight, as if hiding from an impending storm.
Renith had been lying in bed for a long time, originally immersed in meditation. However, the intermittent tapping on her window pulled her back from that state.
She slowly opened her eyes, then rose and walked to the window.
Outside were the two people she had saved earlier—Manville and Limpton. They looked anxious, as if bearing important news.
“Hey, did you know? The biggest gang has declared they’re going to fight the authorities to the death!”
As soon as Manville saw Renith, he blurted out, his voice tinged with excitement and a bit of nervousness.
Manville and Limpton had just returned from the gang’s new stronghold and were well-informed about the situation there.
“The biggest gang?”
Renith frowned slightly, a flicker of doubt rising in her heart.
“Oh, the Martel Gang. I heard this gang was secretly gathered by those noble lords. Initially, the core members were death warriors—fearless, ruthless individuals. But later, because the treatment was just too good, many flocked to join. The gang rapidly expanded, gradually becoming the largest in Mobius City.”
“In the end, those death warriors were actually marginalized, pushed out. Compared to the A’Da Gang I joined, the Martel Gang is a behemoth, completely incomparable.”
Manville furrowed his brow, struggling to organize the chaotic information in his mind, trying to convey it to Renith as clearly as possible. He was a rough man at heart, more adept at robbery and assault; making detailed reports like this was quite difficult for him.
So, Limpton stepped in to help fill in the gaps:
“If you compare the authorities to a dragon, then these gangs are the local serpents of Mobius City. Now that the biggest gang has made its declaration, other gangs in the city, upon hearing the news, have rallied to the call, gathering together, even showing intent to cooperate and merge.”
Hearing this, Renith wasn’t too surprised. After all, it was no secret that the nobles had fingers in both the legitimate and illegitimate pies of Mobius City, with many forces having noble backing.
But Renith hadn’t expected the gangs to move so swiftly. It seemed there were also people of resolve and capability among the gangs and nobles.
Just as she had thought before, if a real conflict broke out, these shadowy, noble-funded forces would likely become the mainstay of the resistance.
