Vista and the two other workers walked hurriedly, weaving through the intricate alleys of Mobis City.
Their only goal was to find the police stations and guard outposts on the city’s map. Their task was very simple: they just needed to coordinate with the gang members causing trouble in Mobis City and help them seize the main roads guarded by the guards and police.
“Hey, look at this street…”
One of the workers suddenly stopped and pointed toward a wide avenue south of Lions Street. On this avenue, two streetcars heading straight to Mobis City’s train station were parked.
Without a doubt, this street was one of the most important main roads in Mobis City.
Vista looked in the direction the worker was pointing. On this main road, three checkpoints had been set up.
In front of the checkpoints, barbed wire was laid out, along with a few scattered thumbtacks. Behind the wire, there were makeshift walls built from piles of rubble and sandbags. Crouched behind those walls were nearly ten temporary troops made up of guards and police officers.
“Whoa…”
One of the workers shrank back a little, afraid that those rifles would blow his head off.
“This place isn’t something we can easily take down.”
Vista furrowed his brow. There were only three of them. Charging straight at these well-equipped guards and police officers would be suicide.
But then he thought again—the gang had numbers on their side, so maybe there was still a glimmer of hope.
Vista’s eyes swept across the street. At the far end, he clearly saw a few shifting figures at the entrance of an alley. Those figures were sneaky, poking their heads out from time to time to look around. Without a doubt, they were scouts sent by the gang.
“Come on, let’s follow them.”
Vista said in a low voice, leading the other two workers on a detour, carefully trailing behind. Soon, they arrived at the gang’s underground casino.
As soon as they stepped inside, the lingering smell of tobacco and sweat hit them in the face. A group of gang members had gathered inside. They weren’t gambling as usual—instead, they sat off to the side, cleaning their guns.
They had already installed a telegraph machine in this casino, ready to receive the boss’s orders at any moment.
As soon as the leader of the Martel Gang gave the command, they would storm out, wipe out all those guards blocking the road, and take control of the Mobis City train station platform.
“Boss, there are three people outside saying they’re from some… workers’ movement group. They have guns with them.”
A subordinate hurried over and reported to the gang leader.
The leader seemed to realize something, nodded, and had the messenger invite Vista and his two companions inside.
“So you’re the reinforcements the second-in-command mentioned? But… there don’t seem to be many of you… And you’re pretty young, aren’t you? A university student?”
The leader looked Vista up and down. There was no pity in his eyes—only confusion, mixed with a trace of regret.
Vista nodded but said nothing.
“I really think you’d be better off going back to studying instead of fighting it out with the guards and police here. No matter how you look at it, this fight isn’t your responsibility. Don’t let my appearance fool you…”
The leader pointed to the gruesome bullet hole in his face, a gentle smile appearing on his lips that belied his appearance.
“I have a family too. My son’s grades aren’t great, but I think he can manage to get into university. If my son were you, I’d definitely slam a gun into his face and yell at him, ‘Go back to your studies!'”
Hearing this, Vista shook his head:
“No… this does involve me. In fact, it involves me a lot. The university has long become a sewer for the nobles and those ‘Chosen Ones’ to achieve their own goals. They use false beliefs to control everyone. Under that kind of atmosphere, students turn into fanatical believers of the empire and the ‘Chosen Ones.’ I only managed to break free from that state thanks to the help of some kind people.”
Looking back now, Vista still felt a lingering fear. Without the kindness of that maintenance worker, without the help of Antina, Lance, Roganie, and Renith, he would have probably become one of those fanatics himself.
“Student issues need to be solved by students. Brand University has become what it is today, and it’s clear that we need to use our own strength. Even if it’s just for that reason, I have to pick up a gun and stand here.”
“Moreover, my goal isn’t just Brand University—it’s the entire society! I want to break this false order and let everyone live freely.”
Vista’s voice wasn’t loud, but it was filled with power.
The leader was slightly surprised. This guy Vista, who wasn’t particularly tall, actually had such determination. Although he didn’t fully understand the “goals” Vista was talking about, he had a vague sense that they were something huge, and he couldn’t help but feel a bit of respect for him.
“Heh, I wish my kid had ambitions like yours… Welcome aboard.”
The leader extended his hand.
“But the ones charging to the front will always be us adults… not you! Adults will always be tougher than a little brat like you, so they’ll always be ahead of you.”
Vista reached out and shook his hand. The leader used his other hand to pat Vista on the shoulder.
“Vista.”
“Krelesi.”
Before they could even exchange a few more pleasantries, the telegraph machine suddenly started clicking and beeping. The gang’s trained telegraph operator immediately began listening and translating.
“The orders are here! All gang main forces begin the operation—drive out all the police and guards!”
The telegraph operator shouted.
Vista, who hadn’t even had time to rest, immediately joined the gang members as they moved out. His stamina was still lacking compared to those adults, and soon he found himself trailing near the back of the group.
At the edge of an alley, after exchanging information with the scouts, Krelesi felt that the enemy wasn’t too numerous. He had twice as many men as the enemy, so he prepared to order a direct assault.
Just then, Vista stepped forward to stop him, saying he had a better plan.
Krelesi wasn’t angry. He looked at Vista with interest and asked for his suggestion.
Vista looked toward the alley entrance and reached up to his neck, pulling out a necklace strung with a cloudy crystal. He gripped the necklace tightly, recalling the instructions Renith had given him. Rings of light began to appear in his left eye.
That was…
“Appraisal!”
This was a simplified version of “Appraisal” that Renith had created—a product she had separated from an ancient codex.
This simplified version encompasses all the knowledge that Renis has stored up to this day, making it an undeniable treasure trove of knowledge. A simple scan provides basic information, and Vista can also use it to view some of the books that have already been entered.
It was a pretty convenient tool, but it also had its drawbacks.
Of course, the downsides were obvious. This simplified version couldn’t update information, had to be maintained with magic to function, and caused some physical harm to non-mages.
After all, an ordinary person’s brain couldn’t handle the erosion caused by that much information and magical particles.
Back when Renith had decided to give Vista this item, she had said:
“It looks like I won’t be able to chat with you over a meal at the restaurant about my travels. Mobis City is about to be thrown into war… but there’s something I can give you.”
“This thing is called ‘Appraisal.’ It contains part of all the knowledge I’ve gathered since traveling across the continent—roughly starting from the 14th year of the Goddess Calendar. It should satisfy your curiosity and also help you get through the crisis.”
“I’ve carved the activation rune into your palm. And here’s a magic crystal necklace—as long as you hold it, you can activate ‘Appraisal.'”
“While in the ‘Appraisal’ state, you can get partial information about whatever you see. If something isn’t recorded, it’ll just show a question mark.”
This magic crystal was a product of the Hetis system, containing immense magical power that should keep “Appraisal” running for several years.
“I don’t have much else to say. You’ve chosen the path of resistance… I hope you survive. Goodbye.”
Renith’s dreamlike figure slowly faded from Vista’s sight.
Then, a flood of information about the nearby checkpoints poured into his mind.
Vista closed his eyes tightly, furrowed his brow, and let his brain race at full speed, piecing together and analyzing the complex information bit by bit. A moment later, a clear and precise layout of the enemy’s火力 positions unfolded in his mind.
“Got it!”
Vista’s eyes snapped open. He quickly looked around, spotted a stiff piece of wire on the ground, picked it up without hesitation, crouched down, and started drawing on the ground.
The wire scraped against the ground with a faint scratching sound. After a moment, Vista stood up, brushed the dust off his hands, and pointed at the pattern on the ground as he said:
“Look, everyone, although these police stations have taken precautions in all directions, the distribution of firepower is extremely uneven. The firepower is most concentrated in the north, while the firepower is sparse in the south, with only a few people stationed there. And look at these three checkpoints, only the last one is alert to the possibility of enemies appearing in the south, but it can only take care of one side.”
“The middle checkpoint only pays attention to the two sides. There’s a clear blind spot when it comes to the north-south direction. So, if we launch a surprise attack from the north and south at the same time, they won’t even notice, let alone respond in time. That means the real number of enemies we have to face is actually only six guards and police officers.”
“There are five people with very good equipment at the front. If we try a direct assault, we’ll definitely suffer heavy casualties. So, we can send a small group to draw their attention, making them focus all their energy on the front.”
“The rest of us can quietly circle around through the alleys to the rear. Once the guards at the last checkpoint are taken out, the guards and police will be like headless flies—running around chaotically and unable to fight back effectively. That’s when we can seize the second checkpoint.”
“Finally, we’ll only have to face five enemies with advanced equipment. Compared to a frontal assault where we’d have to fight five well-equipped enemies head-on every time, my plan will definitely result in far fewer losses.”
Vista’s explanation left everyone around him stunned.
Only Krelesi showed a look of approval. He stepped forward, gave Vista a firm pat on the shoulder, and said:
“Not a bad plan, kid. Good thinking! Let’s do it your way.”
“But kid, before we start, I need to remind you of one thing…”
“You may have big ambitions, but you clearly lack experience. You’re still very green.”
“In battle, it’s always kill or be killed. Showing mercy will only lead you straight into the abyss.”
“They’re human beings, just like you… So, can you pull the trigger and kill the enemy?”
“And can you overcome your fear?”
“Are you ready for this?”
