Miss Witch Doesn't Want to be a Diva

"Boss, do you know where we can buy fuel around here? Our vehicle needs to travel a long distance." After walking into a store, Yalian stepped forward to ask while Tilan slightly lowered the brim of her hat, scanning the surroundings with her eyes.

Today, she was wearing a black casual jacket, a baseball cap on her head, and underneath, a white T-shirt with letters, accompanied by long pants and sneakers for ease of movement. Aside from Tilan, another girl in the team, Efnie, was dressed similarly, but she didn't wear a cap, her large blonde hair tied back in a ponytail, and her jacket was white.

"Fuel, let me think." The slightly overweight boss sat inside the bar, pondering.

"You could try the streets on the northeast side, I remember there might be a gas station there, but it's not very safe, you need to be careful."

"Thank you, boss. Here, this is for you." Saying this, Yalian placed a portable square battery on the table, and then led the group out.

In the Northern Second District, the circulation of Federation Coins was not very convenient. Oftentimes there were no card machines available, and because of identity issues, some difficulties in transferring funds existed. Thus, portable batteries became the circulated hard currency since they were needed everywhere. Some electrical devices, with just one square battery, could keep running for several weeks.

"Let's go, we continue eastwards, we should be able to find what we're looking for there." Yalian led the way.

On the other hand, the team that included Kinsenke and Ruby was much more conspicuous.

In the lively bar, mists of smoke filled the air, with ruins rock blaring wildly, almost deafening, yet the people adored it, as if only in the frenzy of the music could they vent enough to forget the scarcity and despair of life.

Pushing through the crowded throng, Valke led the way at the front, bringing his companions to the bar inside the tavern.

Kinsenke pushed aside a drunken man, took his seat on the tall stool, spun around once, and finally stopped in front of the bartender.

"Hey, I came here looking to earn some money. I heard you folks have run into some trouble, and it just so happens that I've got the ability to help you out." With loose sunglasses on his nose, Kinsenke rested his arms on the bar.

The bartender inside, seeing these strangers, scanned them cautiously, "Who are you?"

"Us? Just a bunch of travelers passing through, looking for some work to supplement our travel expenses." As Kinsenke spoke, he picked up a bottle from the bar, poured himself a full glass, tasted it with a sip, and then put it down with a look of distaste.

"We do have some jobs available, but no one knows where you guys come from, who would trust you to handle them." He frowned, fingers resting under the bar on the alarm button, ready to call for help at any moment.

"Don't be so quick to refuse, eh? There are always some open tasks, not confidential, that anybody can do." Kinsenke swirled his glass, seemingly trying to see the reflection of the liquid in the light.

"Such tasks... there are indeed." Hearing this, the other party hesitated but then spoke up.

"Some carnivorous beasts that feed on corpses have bred in the underground sewers. It's complicated down there, and nobody wants to deal with it, but if it keeps growing, it could become a problem. If you can sort it out, we'll pay you."

"Ugh, you can't mean to send a pretty girl like me into a stinking sewer, can you?" Ruby, who was behind Kinsenke, spoke up, her fingers coyly covering her cheek, revealing only the little star sticker at the corner of her eye.

"It really is too demeaning, and the reward is very low." Kinsenke shook his head upon hearing the compensation was only 200,000 Federation Coins.

"Then there's nothing I can do." With that, the bartender shook his head.

Not wanting to leave empty-handed, Kinsenke continued to probe and inquire in various indirect ways, but the other party refused to open up any further, irritating Kinsenke and making his tone grow harsher.

Luckily, Valke intervened, and only after this burly companion put his hand on Kinsenke's shoulder did the latter reluctantly turn to leave.

The group made their way again through the crowded, smoke-enshrouded dance floor, stepping out of the establishment.

Just as they thought of checking elsewhere, a short figure squeezed out and hurried up to them.

"Hey, you folks, looking for some work?" He looked to be in his twenties, though he probably wasn't even one meter sixty tall, which seemed somewhat comical.

"Yes," Kinsenke and his group turned around, and outside, when the man caught a clear view of Ruby's appearance, he couldn't help but whistle.

"Truly beautiful, if you were to perform on stage, you'd definitely sell out every seat."

"Too bad she's one of ours, can't just put her on stage," Kinsenke waved his finger.

"Alright, although it's a bit of a waste not to have her perform, as long as there's money to be made, I don't mind," he shrugged his shoulders and then started to talk about his plan.

"I overheard the argument you had with the bartender," he indicated that he was aware of their demands and thoughts.

"You want money, right? Luckily, I've got an eye for talent, unlike those dimwitted lads inside."

"I can introduce you to a job that guarantees big earnings, enough to live lavishly for five, no, ten years," he gestured with both hands, describing the splendor of the plan.

"You first tell us about it; we haven't decided yet," the group was unimpressed. During this time in the Northern Second District, they had encountered more con artists and braggarts than in their whole lives before.

"It's like this..." He leaned in closer, glanced around, and whispered. Stay tuned to empire

After an explanation and some questions, they slowly learnt about his so-called plan, which was just that two gangs in the city were currently fighting each other, and now both were severely lacking in manpower, so they were offering high prices for help.

"I knew at first glance that you guys were extraordinary and would be powerful allies that could change the course of the battle," he patted his chest, showing off his discernment.

"Are you thinking of helping one side and then profiting from their victory?" Guluo analyzed.

"No, no, no, help one side? Impossible. What if they actually unify Lebyon's underground gang, then how would a small-time player like me survive? I'd have no room to maneuver," he shook his head.

"They're bound to fight, and it'll be brutal. What we need to do is reap the rewards at the end, becoming the biggest winners."

"Oh, that's a pretty bold plan. But you really dare to spill the beans, telling us all this," Guluo shook his head, doubtful of its feasibility.

"Well, there's definitely risk involved; there's no such thing as a risk-free deal. But you lot are different; I've never seen you guys before, especially this beauty. If you had been in Lebyon before, I would not have forgotten you."

"You're passersby, unknown trump cards, also unfamiliar with the situation in the city. Even if you wanted to snitch, you wouldn't know who to talk to. If you spill the beans randomly, you might be mistaken for a rival's disruption, so I'm not worried about telling you," the dwarf-like man arrogantly explained, as if to show off his intelligence and knack for seizing opportunities.

"Interesting, but you haven't mentioned the specific strengths of the two gangs, or what we stand to gain in the end." Kinsenke was curious, although not necessarily agreeing, about the power distribution within the city.

"Oh, that's a long story; how about we find a place to eat first?" The man rubbed his stomach, indicating that it was lunchtime.

"Alright, let's hear what you have to say," Kinsenke said nonchalantly and looked around the street, finding a restaurant with a decent sign and leading the group over.

"Oh, right, haven't asked for your name yet," Kinsenke turned back.

"Name, oh right, you can call me Red Hat." He fished out a wrinkled, dark red hat from his pocket and put it on. In the current weather of the Northern Second District, that attire was not uncommon; with the cold, many wore hats of various colors.

"How about you? You all seem pretty young, out here looking for thrills?" He also popped the question.

"Us, ah yes, just looking for thrills, hehe," Kinsenke laughed naturally, and on the side, Ruby twirled her keychain, indicating her good mood.

"You can call me Boss Kinsenke, this tall fellow is Knight Valke, that one is the Ancient Warrior, and as for this lovely young lady, let me think, you can call her Magic Girl Lulu-chan."

"Ah, what an embarrassing name~" Ruby giggled behind her hand, but she didn't seem to mind; it was quite fun, wasn't it?