Chapter 40: Truly Valuable Information

Alia moved forward until she reached a rundown area on the outskirts of the city. The buildings here were dilapidated, with crumbling brick walls and pothole-ridden streets littered with debris. Despite the dismal scene, Alia felt an odd sense of familiarity. This was where she had often spent time in her previous life—before she followed her master, she had roamed these streets with a group of young misfits, sharing a rebellious chapter of her life.

Her gaze landed on a corner where several young men and women lounged on a battered bench, chatting lazily. Their tattered clothes and carefree expressions carried a touch of defiance, but there was a spark of liveliness in their eyes. Alia recognized them—they were her old companions, her former partners-in-crime. Yet, it was evident they no longer knew her as she was now.

Alia initially planned to greet them directly, but she halted mid-step. "They don't know the person I am now, and I am no longer who I was then." She sighed quietly, about to turn and leave, when a sudden thought struck her.

These people, despite their unruliness, had never been truly bad at heart. In fact, some of them possessed remarkable talents. With proper guidance, they could become her hidden "trump card." Since she couldn't act openly due to her current situation, these individuals could handle the covert tasks she needed. The idea brought a smile to her lips, her eyes gleaming with sharp determination.

Alia adjusted her hat, making sure she looked like a 'man', picked up a few stones from the ground, and walked directly toward the group.

"Well, well, who's this fine gentleman?" a red-haired boy noticed her first, his tone laced with mockery. The others chuckled in agreement, their postures relaxed but wary.

Alia didn't answer. Instead, she tossed one of the stones into the air, flicking her wrist casually. A series of crisp crack sounds echoed as the stones struck empty bottles and cans around them with unerring precision, shattering them into fragments. Startled, the group scrambled backward.

"You…" The red-haired boy stared at her in shock, clearly impressed by her accuracy. "Who are you?"

Alia smiled faintly, her voice calm and teasing. "Who I am doesn't matter. What I can do—and what you should do—is what's important."

She stepped closer, idly playing with another stone in her hand. Her tone was unhurried yet commanding. "Relax. I'm not here to pick a fight. I'm here to offer you a new opportunity."

The group exchanged glances, visibly uneasy but intrigued by her presence. The red-haired boy hesitated before speaking cautiously, "What kind of opportunity?"

Alia stopped and looked at them steadily. "Help me gather information, especially about the city's expansion plans and any related activities from the last expansion. Don't underestimate these tasks—they're far more valuable than you realize."

The group seemed puzzled, unsure of what she was asking. Alia continued, her tone turning more persuasive. "Of course, you won't be working for free." She pulled a small pouch of silver coins from her pocket and tossed it onto the ground in front of them. The coins spilled out with a crisp metallic jingle.

The red-haired boy's eyes lit up as he quickly snatched up the pouch, weighing it in his hands with a mix of excitement and suspicion. "This…"

Seeing his hesitation, Alia scoffed softly. She flung the stone in her hand with a sudden force at a nearby wooden sign. The weathered sign cracked and split in two.

"Remember," she said coldly, her gaze sharp and unyielding, "this is just the beginning. Do your job well, and there will be more rewards. But if you try anything foolish, my stones won't stop at breaking signs."

The group froze, visibly intimidated. After a few moments of silence, the red-haired boy raised his hands in mock surrender, grinning nervously. "Alright, alright, you're the boss. We'll play along. What should we call you?"

"Call me Edward," Alia replied.

Her test of the group's loyalty yielded results faster than she expected.

"Edward, we've actually noticed something odd recently," the red-haired boy said, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "A lot of construction vehicles have been moving around the southwestern edge of the city. That area's been marked as a priority zone. People living there are either being forced to work on labor crews or driven out entirely. Some places have even started construction without any formal notice."

Alia's eyebrows arched slightly. This was indeed interesting news. "The southwest? Can you be more specific?"

"Near the old city walls," Red replied. "They're saying it's for some major project, but no one knows exactly what it's for." He scratched his head awkwardly. "We'll keep watching it, but as for the older expansion records you mentioned, those might take longer to dig up. I'll ask around."

Alia nodded, keeping her expression calm despite the storm of thoughts in her mind.

"It seems I'll need to visit the southwestern edge myself," she mused. She waved a hand dismissively at Red. "Keep investigating. Good work so far. Focus on the previous expansion plans. Here's your reward." She tossed him another pouch of coins.

Red caught it eagerly, his grin widening. "You've got it! We won't let you down. Oh, by the way, call me Red."

"I already know you're Red," Alia thought, her heart softening for a brief moment. "You were one of my closest friends in my past life."

As Alia pieced together the information, a clear pattern began to emerge. The city's expansion wasn't merely for improving its infrastructure—it felt more like a targeted search operation. She recalled her master's teachings from her previous life:

"The most valuable information often doesn't come from those in power. It's the fragmented whispers from the ground that form the real picture."

Although she could ask Marcellus or Elise directly, both posed their own risks. Elise might know a portion of the truth, but not the full scope, while questioning Marcellus could arouse his suspicion. Relying on these scattered "street rumors," however, could allow her to uncover the truth without exposing herself prematurely.