?!
Upon hearing this, Leon's heart instantly went on high alert.
He reacted swiftly, instinctively reaching for the holster on his thigh with his right hand, while his eyes quickly scanned the surroundings, checking everything—
Every crumbling wall, every passing alien, every seemingly harmless citizen.
The chaotic scene on the streets of this city seemed to hide countless threats, ready to erupt at any moment.
Soon, Leon noticed a detail.
Behind the blind man, at the corner, stood a disheveled figure clad in heavy armor, with unkempt hair, clearly in a defensive stance.
The barrel of the blaster rifle or small-caliber laser cannon in his hand seemed to be subtly aimed at Leon, exuding an aura of threat.
The man appeared nonchalant, but every inch of his muscles hinted that he was ready to fire at any moment.
Leon didn't let his focus waver. He quickly turned his attention back to the blind man.
The blind man still hadn't turned around, calmly staring ahead as if completely unaware that Leon had labeled him as a potential threat.
That calmness and composure made Leon feel a mix of confusion and heightened vigilance.
"Young man," the blind man's voice remained calm and slow, as if he hadn't sensed the tension in the air:
"If you want to connect with the Rebel Alliance..."
Thud, thud!
Before he could finish, Leon didn't hesitate for a second. In an instant, he accelerated, covering the distance to the blind man in just a few steps.
The entire process was so swift that bystanders couldn't react in time.
In that fleeting moment, Leon had already drawn his pulse pistol, pressing the barrel firmly against the blind man's shoulder.
Leon's movements were precise and deliberate, exuding a sense of professional decisiveness and determination with every step and action.
Then, Leon slightly raised his left hand, pulling open his jacket to subtly conceal the pistol.
This move ensured that the aliens and humans wandering nearby didn't notice anything unusual.
Next, Leon's gaze shifted sharply to the disheveled figure still hiding at the corner.
Although the man had his weapon aimed at Leon, he hesitated under Leon's cold stare.
Clearly, the man hadn't expected this seemingly "ordinary" guy to possess such swift reflexes and skills, instantly taking control of the situation.
At this moment—
"If you don't want your friend to die a gruesome death, stay right where you are," Leon said in a low voice.
"..."
Seeing this, the disheveled man indeed didn't dare to fire recklessly.
First, he was afraid of harming his friend, and second, he realized Leon's capabilities were not to be underestimated.
After all, someone who could execute such actions in the blink of an eye was no ordinary person.
Finally, the man also sensed the unmistakable threat and killing intent in Leon's eyes, which didn't seem like mere bluster.
"Don't be nervous, Baze."
The blind man, still smiling, spoke in a calm and slow tone.
It seemed he had noticed his gun-wielding companion's unease and was trying to reassure him.
The blind man's words were like warm sunlight, easing the heavy tension in the air.
Then, the blind man turned his sightless eyes toward Leon, exuding a calm confidence that was hard to ignore.
"Young man, may the Force be with you," the blind man said steadily, as if an invisible power flowed through his words. "I know you mean no harm, so could you please lower your weapon and let us have a proper conversation?"
The Force?
Hearing this keyword, Leon frowned slightly.
According to the intelligence provided by the department, the "Force" in Universe 17 was a supernatural, omnipresent mystical energy field created by all living beings. It was also the key power sought and relied upon by both the Jedi and the Sith.
The light side represented harmony, love, and goodness, maintaining the balance of the universe;
The dark side represented destruction, fear, and hatred, disrupting the order of the universe.
Currently, the Galactic Empire was under the control of the dark side.
Additionally, the intelligence department had mentioned files on "midi-chlorians."
In the bodies of beings in Universe 17, there existed microorganisms called "midi-chlorians," and the number of midi-chlorians in a person's body determined their strength in the Force.
Leon's intuition told him that the two men before him were not lackeys of the Galactic Empire. Otherwise, they wouldn't be "hiding" or deliberately making themselves look so disheveled.
Of course, it was also possible that these two were spies for the Galactic Empire, tasked with secretly monitoring the humans and aliens in Holy City.
However, Leon didn't let his guard down. Instead, he continued in a low voice:
"What did you mean by 'you've come to our world'?"
Leon's tone remained calm and steady, but the doubts in his mind spread like ripples.
"Literally," the blind man still smiled:
"You are not from our world, but you have a heart that yearns for the light. I also know that you and your friends are in the city, seeking a way to contact the Rebel Alliance."
??!!
Leon's eyes instantly turned sharp.
He hadn't revealed his identity, and upon entering Holy City, he had believed his actions were covert, conducting his investigation in the shadows.
Yet, this blind man seemed to know everything, even their mission objectives.
He couldn't help but grow more cautious, tightening his grip on the pulse pistol.
Although the blind man's smile and tone showed no direct hostility, Leon sensed from every word that this conversation was likely not a mere coincidence.
Most importantly, the blind man and the disheveled figure might be members of some rebel faction.
Perhaps their appearance could be a key to the mission.
In any case, this contact was crucial for quickly establishing a connection with the Rebel Alliance and learning more about the truth of this world.
After some thought, Leon finally lowered the barrel of his gun and engaged the safety to avoid accidental discharge.
"Kid, you're smart."
The man named "Baze" also relaxed, though his tone carried a hint of mockery and disdain. He no longer aimed his heavy repeater cannon at Leon, casually lowering the barrel, but his eyes still showed undisguised wariness and vigilance.
Leon glanced at him, ignoring the "kid" remark, and continued to ask the blind man:
"Alright, now tell me, what exactly do you know?"
"Of course..."
The blind man extended his right hand, still wearing a composed and calm smile:
"But you'll have to pay for the information."
"..."
Leon's expression froze slightly. This was a response he hadn't anticipated, as if he was being played by the other party.
Even so, he didn't show a trace of anger. Instead, he remained silent, observing the blind man's expressions and movements, quickly analyzing the situation in his mind.
It seemed...
To get useful information from this guy, he would have to pay a price.
Immediately after, Leon didn't respond right away. Instead, he shared the current situation with his team through his holographic glasses, feeding back his findings.
At the same time, he pondered how to gain the upper hand in this "transaction."
After all, during his "graduation exam" as an investigator, Leon had been tricked several times and had long since learned the art of bargaining.
However, just as everything seemed calm—
Whoosh... whoosh whoosh~!
Boom...!
Boom—!!
From the distant streets came a burst of concentrated gunfire and explosions, echoing throughout Holy City and filling the air with dust.
This sudden chaos shattered the surrounding calm. Leon, the blind man, and Baze all turned their heads toward the source of the noise.
"Young man..."
The blind man leisurely stood up, picking up an ancient laser crossbow in one hand and a cane in the other, walking forward with steady steps.
In that moment, his silhouette seemed to blend into the chaotic environment, as if even the city's noise couldn't disturb his inner peace.
As he walked, the blind man glanced back at Leon with his sightless eyes, his tone carrying a profound meaning:
"Let's go. It's time to make contact with the Rebel Alliance."
Leon didn't respond immediately, but he had a feeling that the blind man had foreseen everything that was about to happen.
Baze, on the other hand, seemed completely unfazed, as if he were already familiar with the surroundings. He strode forward, not forgetting to toss a rather rude reminder at Leon:
"Kid, keep up."
Though his tone was rough, there was no hostility in it.
"..."
This actually made Leon smile faintly. He shrugged, tightened his grip on the pulse pistol, and quickened his pace to follow the two toward the area where the battle had erupted.
Before long.
The three of them, moving against the flow of fleeing civilians, arrived at a crossroads.
The scene before them made them pause momentarily, their gazes locking onto the chaotic battle ahead.
Leon, with his keen battlefield awareness, quickly found a broken low wall to use as cover, bringing Baze and the blind man behind it.
Then, Leon cautiously peeked out from behind the cover to assess the situation.
In the distance, dozens of "stormtroopers" were engaged in fierce combat with the rebels.
These figures wore "toy-like" yet sturdy white armor, equipped with high-energy laser weapons and various advanced gear.
However, the stormtroopers' weapons and equipment didn't seem to have a decisive impact on the battlefield filled with ruins and bloodshed.
The rebels, on the other hand, wore a mishmash of clothing and armor, their weapons ranging from simple laser guns to crude explosives.
Despite this, the rebels, with their flexible tactics and unexpected ambushes, were locked in a desperate struggle with the Empire's stormtroopers.
At the center of the firefight, an Imperial tracked armored vehicle had been successfully destroyed by the rebels, its wreckage scattered with numerous bodies.
Among them were both Imperial soldiers and rebel fighters.
The rebels were now intensifying their suppressive fire, allowing their comrades to seize the opportunity to loot the kyber crystals carried by the armored vehicle.
Flames and thick smoke spread in all directions, and the occasional explosion shook the entire block.
The dust from collapsed structures partially obscured visibility, but Leon could still see that the rebels, with their surprise attacks and skilled coordination, were gradually gaining the upper hand.
Moreover, he noticed two "outsiders" who seemed to have been caught up in this sudden battle.
Just as the situation grew tense, Leon's embedded earpiece buzzed with David's inquiry:
"Sir, do we intervene?"
"Not necessary," Leon replied to David while keeping his eyes on the two outsiders trying to escape the combat zone. He also reminded all agents:
"Maintain your covert positions. Do not expose your identities."
"Understood, sir."
Ri~ whoosh whoosh—!!
Boom~! Boom!
Suddenly, reinforcements for the Imperial stormtroopers flooded into the combat zone like a tidal wave.
Amid the chaos, a "small" mech also began to emerge—
It was the AT-ST walker mentioned in the Imperial intelligence reports.
This mechanical weapon resembled a giant two-legged robot, each step causing the ground to rumble heavily, capable of delivering precise strikes against surrounding enemies.
At this moment, the AT-ST walker unleashed a fierce barrage of fire, suppressing the rebels' final counterattack.
With the walker's support, the stormtroopers advanced mercilessly toward the rebel positions. The rebels, who had seemed capable of resistance moments ago, quickly fell into retreat.
However, at this very moment, the two "outsiders" managed to escape the area.
Before Leon could think too much, he saw the blind man stand up first and quickly head toward the entrance of an alley.
Baze followed closely behind, still appearing nonchalant, as if he had anticipated the situation.
Leon frowned slightly. Though he wasn't entirely clear on what was happening, his years of experience told him that some situations required quick decisions.
Without further hesitation, he quickened his pace to follow the two.
After all, in such a complex situation, following might be the safest choice.
The three of them navigated through the broken alleys.
The surrounding buildings were in ruins, debris piled up on the streets, as if every stone and piece of construction material told the story of the city's former glory and current decay.
The occasional flashes of explosions and the pervasive smoke added an apocalyptic atmosphere to Holy City.
Suddenly, Leon's holographic glasses displayed an emergency alert.
The message quickly scrolled across the virtual screen before his eyes, the text gradually forming:
"All Survey Department agents and joint reconnaissance forces in Holy City, evacuate immediately. Holy City will soon face a devastating strike.
Additionally, all personnel may warn residents in the city to seek emergency shelter, but your priority remains ensuring your own safety."
------------------
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