Chapter 63

Chapter 63

The first rays of morning sun had yet to fully spread across the land, but inside the teahouse, the scene was already quite different. In just a few short minutes, the five of them had wolfed down their breakfast. The white jade tokens were placed casually yet neatly on the old but cleanly wiped table, glowing with a soft luster in the faint dawn light.

Just then, the ever-smiling teahouse waiter walked in briskly, steadily holding an ancient wooden box. He respectfully placed the box on the table and said softly, "Folks, this was delivered early this morning by bounty hunters." Opening the box, they saw several white jade tokens of the same material lying quietly inside. Now, there were over fifteen white jade tokens on the table, giving off a mysterious vibe in the dim teahouse.

Lily looked at these tokens, her delicate brows slightly furrowed, a trace of doubt in her eyes. "We obtained fifteen so easily?" She had done her homework on the freshman competition and knew full well its complexity and difficulty. Such smooth progress made her keenly aware that there might be something fishy going on.

Evan let out a helpless, bitter laugh, a hint of weariness in his tone. "It wasn't simple at all. We've already spent a third of our gold." To complete these tasks, he had been forced to offer high bounties. Although he had taken precautions and hidden some gold coins on his person, the tasks were numerous. If not for the fact that everyone present had the habit of wearing ornate gemstone accessories, making their lavish spending seem normal, he wouldn't have dared to throw money around so freely.

At that moment, Louis, who had returned the latest, walked in looking dusty and tired but with a hint of excitement on his face. He quickly approached the group, picked up the simple city map on the table, and began pointing at various spots. "Several freshmen have already formed alliances between small teams and have even found secure hideouts within the city. Evan, your moves earlier didn't seem to faze them much." He paused, emphasizing his next words, "The largest alliance is led by Lucius Campbell—that arrogant, annoying freshman representative, a typical little platinum noble."

Upon hearing the name, Ista immediately pictured that haughty face and curled his lip. "Little platinum noble." Although he found his arrogance repulsive, he had to admit that Lucius Campbell's combat prowess and organizational skills, given his position as freshman representative, were undoubtedly formidable. Coupled with the strong appeal his status brought, it seemed perfectly reasonable that he could unite several teams.

Evan stroked his chin, lost in thought, his eyes deep and focused. Meanwhile, squad leader Nancy was also pondering. A person of strong action, she quickly made a decision and looked firmly at Evan and Ista. "Evan, Ista, you two go investigate intelligence related to Campbell's group this morning. Assess whether they have any value for cooperation."

"Yes!" Evan and Ista responded in unison without hesitation, determination and confidence in their eyes. They then promptly stood up and strode out of the meeting room.

At this point, Louis, who had been eagerly waiting to be assigned a task, looked at Nancy with hopeful anticipation. "What about me?" Nancy shot him a glare and pointed expressionlessly at the adjacent room. "You, Louis, go to sleep!" Louis's expression instantly turned like that of an abandoned golden retriever. He gave her a puppy-dog look but obediently got up and trudged dejectedly towards the room.

Meanwhile, Evan and Ista had already left the teahouse and stepped onto the streets of Jinling City. By now, the common folk of Jinling were already busy with their day. The city gates had just opened. Vendors from outside the city, carrying heavy loads on their shoulder poles, and villagers herding cattle and sheep swarmed into the city in a bustling crowd, going about their business. At the same time, many others hurriedly left Jinling City in search of new opportunities. The entire city presented a scene of busy, lively, everyday life.

Evan and Ista, wearing wide bamboo hats, skillfully blended into the crowd. Their steps were natural and composed, as if they were inherently part of the city. Moreover, they were heading towards the busiest area of Jinling, Fuzi Street, where people came and went in a constant, bustling flow. Their figures were inconspicuous among the throngs and wouldn't arouse any suspicion.

Along the way, they gave way to a burly man performing with a monkey—the agile creature leaped and jumped around the man, drawing the attention of many passersby. They also skirted around an itinerant doctor selling "dog-skin plasters," who was enthusiastically boasting about the miraculous effects of his ointments to the gathered onlookers. Ista watched the stream of simply dressed commoners coming and going, his eyes full of amazement. He couldn't help but whisper, "Are all cities in the Eastern Empire this prosperous? There are so few beggars here." In his impression, although the imperial capital was also prosperous, destitute beggars could be seen everywhere in its streets and alleys, especially in the slums, which were filled with the homeless.

Evan nodded slightly, a hint of emotion in his gaze. "This is a prosperous city in the south." He seemed to see, through the scene before him, the ancient city of Nanjing from his previous life. In this illusion, the East was at the peak of its feudal era, but he knew well that the law of "what flourishes must decay" was about to manifest. Currently, land annexation was already widespread. If not for the developed commerce and small-scale handicraft industries in the south, which provided livelihoods for many, there would probably be even more beggars than in the imperial capital.

Ista thought of the little platinum noble again and asked curiously, "Why would that little platinum noble set up a safe house here?" A slight smile touched Evan's lips as he explained, "There's an Eastern idiom: 'fish and dragons mingle together.' Such prosperous and complex places are most suitable for hiding people of unclear identities who can't withstand close scrutiny."

As he spoke, Evan led Ista into a nearby alley. Unlike the grand, signboard-lined shops lining the main street, this alley was quiet and unadorned. Most of it consisted of residences, occasionally interspersed with a few small shops selling daily necessities, filled with a strong sense of everyday life.

Not far ahead, a residence without a plaque appeared before them. Judging by its scale, the family was merely well-off, not truly aristocratic. Over the high courtyard wall, a branch of vibrant red apricot blossoms peeked out, swaying gently in the breeze.

With a keen eye, Evan quickly made a judgment. "A wealthy merchant's private residence, a place for keeping a mistress." He swiftly scanned the surroundings and soon spotted the hidden sentry in a neighbor's house. Without changing his expression, he subtly pressed down on his bamboo hat, signaling Ista to remain calm. The two walked past the residence with steady steps. Sure enough, the wary gaze that had initially fallen upon them soon shifted away.

"Clear," Ista whispered, his voice so low only Evan could hear. Evan gave a slight nod. The two circled to the back of the alley. Here was another residence, its main gate tightly locked with a heavy padlock, clearly indicating the owner was not home and no one had been left to guard the house.

For Evan and Ista, who had undergone three years of military training, this not-so-high wall posed no problem. As agile as cats, they easily scaled the wall. After carefully scanning the interior to confirm no one else was present, they lightly dropped down inside.

The two stealthily approached a high wall, knowing that on the other side was where Campbell's group was hiding. Ista pressed his ear tightly against the wall, closed his eyes, and concentrated fully on listening for any movement from the other side. After a moment, he opened his eyes and quickly made hand signals: *Two teams patrolling in a crisscrossing pattern.*

Evan also placed his hand on the wall, his gaze fixed intently ahead as if he could see through the thick barrier to the patrollers on the other side. He said in a low voice, "Two teams, seven each. They meet in the garden, then cross, walking back-to-back. Now!" With that, he pushed off the wall with his foot and, like a black lightning bolt, swiftly climbed onto the top of the wall. Ista followed closely behind, also leaping onto the wall.