Chapter 924: News of Gangs Chapter 924: News of Gangs From MC’s Perspective: Alpha City: After arriving in Alpha City, I decided to indulge in the local cuisine before diving into my mission.
The towering structures and bustling streets were a far cry from the quieter places I’ve been.
My stomach grumbled as I spotted a restaurant, and I chose to explore what the city’s food had to offer.
As soon as I stepped inside, the warm atmosphere enveloped me-sounds of clinking glasses, murmured conversations, and the faint scent of grilled meat filled the air.
I picked a window seat, hoping to take in the city’s pulse while I ate.
Outside, warriors in various armors and cloaks moved like shadows, each on their own journey.
The weight of the mission ahead tugged at my mind, but for now, I pushed it aside.
I ordered a steak, something simple yet filling.
When the server brought it, the juicy aroma momentarily distracted me from everything else.
With each bite, I allowed myself to savor the tenderness of the meat, but I couldn’t help but remain hyper-aware of my surroundings.
My senses were sharp, and I discreetly listened to the conversations around me.
The restaurant was filled with warriors.
Some were seasoned veterans, bearing the unmistakable marks of battle, while others were younger, their eyes burning with ambition.
This city, Alpha City, was vast, and its resources attracted fighters from all over the Federation.
Many of them came here not just for survival, but for fortune, or even to complete dangerous missions that promised high rewards.
I overheard snippets of conversation that piqued my interest.
Casual talks about daily life here, descriptions of missions, and accounts of the dangers lurking in the city’s shadows.
At first, it seemed like harmless chatter.
But as I continued to listen, my brows furrowed.
There was something ominous beneath their words-something dark, hidden just under the surface.
I kept eating, my focus split between my meal and their whispered words.
The more I heard, the more my unease grew.
Thirty minutes passed before I finished my meal.
I left the restaurant, my expression grim.
The casual conversations had taken a darker turn, revealing the undercurrents in Alpha City.
What I had learned wasn’t positive.
A sharp gleam flashed in my eyes as I walked through the crowded streets.
On the surface, Alpha City appeared peaceful-a thriving metropolis of warriors, merchants, and adventurers.
But beneath that facade, the city was a breeding ground for chaos.
Hunter teams, many of which had banded together for survival, had formed gangs.
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What disturbed me wasn’t the existence of these gangs, but their backers.
I had overheard people mention the involvement of core members-elite warriors with ties to powerful families.
It wasn’t clear whether these backers were Silver Mark Warriors themselves or their close associates, but either way, it posed a problem.
If I crossed paths with any of these gangs, it could lead to unnecessary trouble.
The last thing I needed was to draw the attention of powerful factions in this city.
My teacher, a core member, had appointed me as his successor.
That alone put me in a precarious position.
The deeper I delved into Alpha City’s affairs, the more I realized that this place was a quagmire, and navigating it without stirring up unwanted attention would be difficult.
I sighed, shaking off the weight of those thoughts.
I had come to this city for a reason-to complete a special mission.
That was my priority.
I couldn’t afford distractions.
With my focus renewed, I pulled out the map from my storage ring.
The boundary I needed to reach was about two miles away.
Alpha City had consumed much of the surrounding land, but there were still vast stretches of empty terrain beyond its borders.
After studying the route, I left the area, moving swiftly through the streets.
For safety reasons, I retrieved a mask from my storage ring and slipped it on, concealing my identity.
As I made my way toward the boundary, I noticed more hunter teams patrolling the area.
Their movements were organized, their eyes sharp as they scanned the surroundings.
Each team moved with precision, a testament to their experience in this perilous city.
Just as I passed a group of warriors, I overheard their conversation.
There was some kind of competition brewing between different hunter teams-a rivalry that could turn volatile at any moment.
Tensions were high, and I hoped they would keep their business to themselves.
The last thing I needed was to get caught up in their disputes.
With a steady pace and my eyes forward, I continued toward my destination, hoping that whatever conflict lay ahead wouldn’t interfere with my mission.
“Dual-Headed Red Striped Lizard,” I muttered under my breath, the name lingering in my mind.
A creature I hadn’t encountered before-its strength unknown.
But the uncertainty didn’t bother me; in fact, it excited me.
My lips curved into a faint smirk.
Challenge accepted.
With a sudden burst of energy, I launched myself forward, dashing towards the boundary of Alpha City.
The hunter teams behind me barely took notice of the lone figure sprinting past.
They gave me a glance, perhaps curious for a moment, but their attention quickly returned to their own affairs.
I was just another warrior to them, another wanderer amidst the chaos of this city.
Within an hour, I arrived at the boundary-a towering, foreboding gate that separated the relative safety of the city from the dangers beyond.
The guards at the gate eyed me warily, but I pulled out the black token, and with a simple nod, they allowed me through.
As soon as I stepped past the boundary, the air changed.
The city’s noise faded behind me, replaced by the oppressive silence of the wilderness.
I was now standing at the edge of the forest, my feet sinking into the soft, uneven ground.
For a moment, I was struck by the sight before me-the dense greenery stretched as far as the eye could see, a chaotic blend of nature’s beauty and danger.
The forest was alive, but it wasn’t the vibrant, welcoming kind of life you’d find in peaceful woods.
No, this place was different.
Poisonous weeds dotted the landscape, their sickly colors warning any creature of their deadly nature.
Thick vines and dense vegetation twisted around the forest floor, making it hard to discern the safe paths from the perilous ones.
Above, enormous shade trees loomed, their canopies casting deep, dark shadows over the ground, where who knew what kind of predators might lurk.
I stood there for a moment, taking it all in.
The atmosphere was stifling, thick with the scent of wet earth and something far more ominous.
Despite being on the outskirts, the forest felt as dangerous as the core of the monster zone.
The usual rules didn’t seem to apply here.
Normally, plant and tree monsters would be deep within the core area, far from the edges of the zone.
But the environment here felt… wrong.
It was like the forest itself was waiting, watching.
A chill crept up my spine.
The sense of danger was palpable, and I knew that I couldn’t afford to lower my guard for a second.
I had been in dangerous places before, but this time, the threat felt closer-more immediate.
My instincts told me that the outskirts were just as treacherous as the heart of the monster zone, if not more so.
Something about this forest was off, and I could feel it in my bones.
Whatever lay ahead wasn’t going to be a simple hunt.
I took a deep breath, clearing my mind, and steeled myself for what was to come.
The trees rustled with a breeze, but it felt more like a whisper, a warning from the forest itself.
I knew I had to move forward.
Standing still would only make me more vulnerable.
With a cautious step, I ventured deeper into the forest, every sense heightened as I prepared for the unknown.
…
On the other hand, several hunting teams had also crossed the boundary into the monster zone, each moving with purpose and intensity.
The atmosphere was thick with tension could be sensed and the competitive spirit radiating from them.
These weren’t just random groups of warriors-they were members of different hunting teams, each aligned with rival gangs.
The rivalry between these gangs wasn’t just professional; it was personal, deeply rooted in blood and grudges.
These gangs were notorious for their deadly feuds, and it was a common occurrence for their conflicts to escalate into violent clashes.
Normally, such rivalries would erupt into full-blown battles at the slightest provocation.
Yet here, at the edge of the monster zone, there was an uneasy truce.
It was a miracle they hadn’t attacked each other yet.
Each team kept a wary eye on the others, their hands never far from their weapons.
Their eyes darted between one another, each group silently assessing the others, gauging their strength, their weaknesses.
Despite their outward focus on hunting monsters, it was clear that their real enemies weren’t just the creatures lurking in the zone-they were standing right next to them.
The only thing keeping them in check was the danger of the zone itself.
They knew that an all-out brawl in the monster zone could attract attention from predators far worse than each other.
For now, survival came first.
But the moment they felt safe-or confident enough-that fragile peace would shatter.
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