Miss Witch Doesn't Want to Become a Songstress-Chapter 195

After regrouping, the team set off again. This time, their destination was Lebion, one of the few mid-sized cities in Northern 2nd District, a place once famous for its heavy industry. After the gradual dismantling of the North Star District, Lebion had also declined. Without capital or income, the pollution from heavy industry became uncontrollable, spreading rapidly to the surrounding areas. In this already cold region, vegetation was virtually nonexistent.

Fortunately, advancements in technology now allowed for the industrial synthesis of basic starchy foods. The remnants of the industrial behemoths in this city continued to emit residual heat, providing the local residents with rudimentary sustenance.

Leaning against the car window, Thilan gazed at the distant scenery. Her black hair fluttered in the wind, carrying a hint of coolness, but it wasn’t cold.

It was already late March, and the temperature here was gradually warming up, making it slightly more comfortable.

"The main reason we’re going to Lebion is that it’s one of the few industrial cities left. We should be able to buy cheap fuel there. Plus, we might find some opportunities to replenish our funds," Alen explained to the group as they rode in the vehicle.

"However, going to a populated city also carries certain risks. Unlike the small groups we’ve encountered on the road, if a major conflict breaks out, the situation could quickly spiral out of our control," he continued to analyze.

"So we need to be cautious along the way. A few people should stay in the vehicle, ready to move at any time."

"After discussion, the ones staying behind will be Iyepher, Dolores, Phyllis, and Simu."

Dolores didn’t like drawing attention to herself here and had volunteered to stay behind. Additionally, Iyepher and Phyllis, being elves, were particularly averse to Lebion’s poor air quality and environment, so they chose to stay as well. As for Simu, since he could drive, he also stayed behind to ensure they could move quickly if needed.

"That’s the general plan. We have about 40 minutes until we reach our destination. Everyone can take a short rest."

On the gravel-strewn, sandy desert ground, a large white truck drove straight north. Under the gray-blue sky, it looked like a small white dot trailing a faint cloud of dust. On the horizon, a city that resembled the carcass of a giant beast stood silently.

Rusting steel structures, towering but empty mechanical arms, and skeletal remains of once-grand domes with shattered glass—all formed a jungle of steel covered in gray and rust. Thin wisps of white steam rose from the ruins, hinting at the last remnants of warmth and the people struggling to survive beneath the exposed skeletons.

This was the past of the Verdant Veil, a region that had once been the planet’s bustling capital.

Although Northern 2nd District still had two larger residential areas, such as "Burning Sun City" and "Withered Tree Garden," during the heyday of the North Star District, these places had been mere insignificant pieces of the grand picture. Cities like Lebion had been the shining stars of that era.

The closer they got to Lebion, the more they could sense the former prosperity of the place. Along the roadside were countless ruined residential areas, where the remnants of once-grand dome botanical gardens, spiral tower commercial centers, and massive Ferris wheel-like aquariums could still be glimpsed. In the past, people could look up from the ground and see fish swimming in the sky.

Now, however, only corroded outlines and ruins remained. The once-thriving aquarium, filled with marine life, was now just a collapsed skeleton.

Passing through the ruins of most of the city, as they approached the central area, signs of life began to reappear. Simple clotheslines hung beside houses, and occasionally, old-fashioned vehicles drove by. Some relatively intact buildings stood by the roadside, their freshly painted protective coatings indicating that they were still being maintained.

The vehicle slowed down and eventually stopped in a large abandoned parking lot.

Soon, the eight of them jumped out of the truck. After agreeing on a meeting time, they split into two groups to explore the city.

"It seems we need a guide," Alen suggested, looking at the maze of streets and shops.

"Let’s walk around first. We might run into someone suitable," Thilan proposed.

Their group consisted of Thilan, Alen, Evony, and Xelian. The other group included Valk, Ruby, Jinzerk, and Guro.

After deciding, the four of them walked along the street. Since this was one of the few remaining central areas of the city, the shops and stores were relatively "dense"—at least two out of every five storefronts were open.

Local residents moved in and out of these shops, buying basic daily necessities or having a barely palatable lunch at a restaurant.

Entering one of the shops, Thilan’s eyes scanned the merchandise. Most of the items were crude and simple. For example, laundry detergent was packaged in plain white bags with a few lines of black text describing the contents—nothing more.

There were no brands, no specific manufacturers, and even the ingredient lists were rudimentary, as if produced by some small workshop. These were indeed local industrial products. If taken elsewhere, no one would give them a second glance, but here, they were practical and necessary.

In addition, there were many other crude daily necessities, such as cleaning tools, simple appliances, kitchenware, generators, and heaters. Their crude designs and rough craftsmanship reminded one of the difficult early days of the Sixth Epoch.

"Boss, do you know where we can buy fuel? Our vehicle has a long journey ahead," Alen asked as they entered a shop. Thilan, meanwhile, slightly lowered the brim of her hat, her eyes scanning the surroundings.

Today, she was wearing a black casual jacket, a baseball cap, a white T-shirt with lettering, and long pants with sneakers for ease of movement. Apart from Thilan, Evony, the other girl in the group, was similarly dressed, though she wasn’t wearing a hat, her voluminous golden ponytail exposed, and her jacket was white.

"Fuel? Let me think," the slightly overweight shop owner pondered from behind the counter.

"You can try the streets to the northeast. I remember there’s a gas station there, but it’s not very safe. Be careful."

"Thank you, boss. Here’s something for you," Alen said, placing a portable square battery on the table before leading the group out.

In Northern 2nd District, Federation credits weren’t always convenient. Many places lacked card readers, and identity issues sometimes made transfers difficult. As a result, portable batteries had become a hard currency, as they were needed everywhere. Many appliances could run for weeks with just one square battery inserted.

"Let’s head east. We should find what we’re looking for there," Alen led the way.

On the other side, the group with Jinzerk and Ruby was much more high-profile.

Inside a bustling bar, smoke filled the air, and the deafening sound of ruin rock music blasted through the space. Yet, the people here seemed to love it, as if only in the midst of this chaotic noise could they forget the deprivation and despair of their lives.

Pushing through the crowded dance floor, Valk led the way, bringing his companions to the bar counter.

Jinzerk shoved a drunken man aside and sat on a high stool, spinning around once before stopping in front of the bartender.

"Hey, I’m here to make some money. I heard you’ve got some trouble, and I happen to have the skills to help you out," Jinzerk said, his sunglasses perched loosely on his nose, his elbows resting on the bar.

The bartender, seeing these unfamiliar faces, looked wary.

"Who are you?"

"Us? Just some travelers passing through, looking for some work to cover our expenses," Jinzerk replied, picking up a bottle from the bar and pouring himself a drink. He took a small sip, then frowned and set it down.

"We do have some tasks available, but we don’t know who you are. How can we trust you with anything?"

The bartender frowned, his finger hovering over an alarm button under the counter, ready to call for backup.

"Don’t be so quick to reject us. There must be some public tasks, things that don’t require secrecy, that anyone can take on," Jinzerk said, swirling his glass as if trying to see the light refract through the liquid.

"Well... there are a few of those..."

The bartender hesitated but eventually spoke.

"There are some scavenger beasts infesting the underground waterways. The situation down there is complicated, and no one wants to deal with it. But if it’s left unchecked, it could cause problems. If you can handle it, we’ll pay you."

"Ugh, seriously? You want a beautiful girl like me to crawl through sewers?" Ruby, standing behind Jinzerk, spoke up, her fingers lightly covering her face, revealing only the star-shaped sticker near her eye.

"It’s definitely beneath us, and the pay is too low," Jinzerk shook his head upon hearing the reward was only 200,000 Federation credits.

"Then I can’t help you," the bartender shrugged.

Not wanting to leave empty-handed, Jinzerk tried to probe for more information, but the bartender refused to say anything else. This frustrated Jinzerk, and his tone grew harsher.

Fortunately, Valk intervened. The burly companion placed a hand on Jinzerk’s shoulder, and the latter reluctantly turned to leave.

The group made their way back through the crowded, smoke-filled dance floor and exited the bar.

Just as they were considering where to go next, a short man squeezed out of the crowd and approached them.

"Hey, you guys looking for work?"

Though he looked to be in his twenties, he was barely over five feet tall, giving him a somewhat comical appearance.

"Yeah," Jinzerk and the others turned around. Outside, when the man saw Ruby’s face, he whistled.

"Damn, you’re gorgeous. If you went on stage, you’d sell out the place."

"Too bad she’s with us and can’t just perform," Jinzerk wagged his finger.

"Alright, it’s a shame she won’t perform, but as long as we can make money, it’s all good," the man shrugged and began explaining his plan.

"I overheard your argument with the bartender," he said, indicating he understood their needs and intentions.

"You want money, right? Well, I’ve got a vision, unlike those shortsighted fools inside."

"I can hook you up with a job that’ll make you a fortune—enough to live large for five, no, ten years." He gestured enthusiastically, describing the brilliance of his plan.

"Tell us more. We haven’t decided yet," the group remained unimpressed. During their time in Northern 2nd District, they had encountered more liars and braggarts than in their entire lives before.

"Here’s the deal..." He leaned in, glancing around before speaking in a low voice. freewebnσvel.cѳm

After some explanation and questioning, the group gradually understood his so-called plan. Essentially, two gangs in the city were currently at war, and both were short on manpower, offering high prices for hired help.

"I can tell you’re not ordinary. You could be game-changers," he patted his chest, claiming he had a keen eye.

"So you want to help one side and profit from their victory?" Guro analyzed.

"No, no, helping one side? No way. If one gang actually unified the underground scene in Lebion, guys like me would have no room to maneuver," he shook his head.

"They’re definitely going to fight, and it’s going to be brutal. What we need to do is swoop in at the end and come out on top."

"Wow, that’s a bold plan. But you’re really spilling the beans to us," Guro shook his head, feeling it was unreliable.

"Well, there’s always risk. Nothing’s risk-free. But you’re different. I’ve never seen you around before, especially this beauty here. If you’d been in Lebion before, I would’ve noticed."

"You’re outsiders, unknown aces. You don’t know the city’s situation, and even if you wanted to snitch, you wouldn’t know who to tell. If you blabbed, people would just think you were sent by the opposition to cause trouble. So I’m not worried about telling you," the dwarf-like man explained smugly, as if he prided himself on his cleverness and ability to seize opportunities.

"Interesting, but you haven’t told us about the specific strengths of the two gangs or what we stand to gain," Jinzerk said, still curious about the city’s power dynamics, even if he wasn’t sure about taking the job.

"Well, that’s a long story. How about we grab a bite to eat first?" The man rubbed his stomach, indicating it was lunchtime.

"Alright, let’s hear you out," Jinzerk agreed, looking around the street before spotting a decent-looking restaurant and leading the group inside.

"Oh, by the way, we didn’t get your name," Jinzerk turned back.

"My name? Oh, right. You can call me Red Hat," he pulled a crumpled dark red hat from his pocket and put it on. Such attire was common in Northern 2nd District, given the cold weather, and hats of various colors were everywhere.

"And you? You all seem pretty young. Out looking for thrills?" he asked.

"Us? Yeah, just looking for some excitement, haha," Jinzerk laughed naturally, while Ruby twirled a keychain, looking pleased.

"You can call me Boss Jin. This big guy here is Sir Valk, that one’s Warrior Guro, and as for this lovely beauty, let’s see... you can call her Magical Girl Lulu."

"Ah, what a shameless name~" Ruby giggled behind her hand, though she didn’t seem to mind. After all, it was fun, wasn’t it?