Victor waved urgently to the waiter.
"Do you have today's newspaper?"
"Of course, sir."
A copy was promptly placed on Victor's table. He quickly opened it and began reading every word.
The top story reported a military lockdown at a university—its location unspecified. A professor had been murdered by the Revolutionary Faction. The motive remained unclear but was likely long-term coercion aimed at gaining some advantage. Ultimately, the victim had died. During the siege, the army had confronted a female member wielding miracle power, and she had taken an ambassador of the Crimson Empire hostage.
A key report highlighted a young woman's face with striking features and long straight black hair. The bounty for her capture exceeded twenty thousand Venn, with additional rewards for the informant.
The arrest of this woman triggered a chain reaction, exposing more members of the Revolutionary Faction.
Subsequent announcements in the newspaper emphasized maximum measures against violent actions by the faction. Military presence in suburban areas would triple, and soldiers would closely monitor citizens. Anyone who sheltered, sided with, or aided them would be considered a rebel against the Venn Republic.
Victor's expression darkened as he set the newspaper down. This situation represented a harsh retaliation and an attempt to curry favor with the Crimson Empire.
Little did anyone know, the full truth depended on that young nobleman. No one wanted to ally with those who held a knife to their own throat—it was common sense to think carefully.
'Hopefully the Crimson Empire will respond soon.'
The rest of the paper covered economics and governance. The Venn Republic currently held the world's strongest position in exporting warships and essential metal components.
Yet they still had to illegally import rice from Ravenis, forcing one of the leadership to meet with the five kingdoms of the central continent.
It was an excellent reason to start studying all adversaries, including the Revolutionary Faction he had joined.
But first, he had to ensure no one noticed Selith—or, if anyone had, they had to leave immediately.
He set down his fork and knife, wiped his mouth with a clean cloth, and said calmly,
"Selith, let's go."
She raised her hand to summon the waiter.
"Check, please."
The waiter approached with a tray for payment. The bill was itemized clearly. As Selith counted the bills in her hand, the window beside them shattered. A soldier in uniform leapt inside, sending customers screaming. His rifle was aimed directly at Selith.
In the moment she trembled, unable to react, Victor drew his pistol and shot the soldier in the skull instantly.
'That was the last bullet.'
There was no time to breathe or process what had happened. He grabbed Selith's arm and ran through the panicked crowd back to their carriage.
Under the cover of night, a dozen soldiers began emerging from hidden positions after confirming their target.
Everything started once Victor fired his gun.
They surged forward just as the carriage accelerated. Uncle Well skillfully handled the reins, navigating narrow, winding streets, smashing through obstacles in the marketplace, and finally stopping in a secluded alley in New Fanrein.
Uncle Well opened the carriage door, panting.
"We have to hurry. After this, you must return to the hotel and keep Selith inside, no matter what. Victor, you must avoid drawing attention if you encounter any soldiers. New Fanrein will not be safe for some time—I won't be back here again soon!"
Victor handed his gun to the old man.
"Any weapons or ammunition available?"
"You need to contact the border forces. There's no more time. Keep that gun and try to return to the hotel."
The old man handed the gun back and ran into the darkness of a nearby alley. Victor stood, pondering the situation, before outlining the next steps.
"Selith, can you move us using your shadow? I fear the streets and corners are within their search range."
"Of course!"
In a flash of darkness, they appeared inside the hotel. Victor quickly warned the maids and guided Selith into their room.
He couldn't remain idle. Hiding was crucial, but this situation meant he could not move freely for long. He needed to gather key information before the day arrived.
On the third floor, the end room of the corridor was slightly ajar. His dark gaze scanned the neatly arranged room as he began searching thoroughly, hoping Dengar's previous actions were merely a deception.
There were indeed many important documents inside. Some were signed in Dengar's handwriting:
'Oliver Dengart'
The papers contained maps of the underground halls of the Revolutionary Faction. All information was connected via sewer pipe number four, including sewers from key areas or the capital, linking to underground halls across Ravenis.
However, the data was unclear; key sewer numbers were missing, suggesting intentional concealment.
Apart from that, the documents listed the names of all participants:
Bradwin Wemhel, silk merchant of the nobility
Roland Kargner, director of Venn University
Rena Wemhel, fashion industry entrepreneur
John Lam, commander of the border forces
Erin Raveni, infiltrator in the Venn Republic leadership
Francis Venn, former heir of the Ravenis royal bloodline
Michel Sackfrey, agricultural operator
Reese Resson, weapons manufacturer in the Venn Republic
The documents listed only names and positions, not controlled territories.
These names were extremely important to Victor. Yet further inspection revealed no additional documents with necessary information.
After a thorough search, a piece of paper fell onto the desk. It read clearly:
'Second mission: eliminate Bradwin Wemhel of the capital district.'