While the Yeti Squad was still lying in wait like hunters for their prey, Jeanne had already arrived at her destination.
It was a small town covered in white snow, possessing a level of prosperity that ordinary villages could hardly match. It served as a resting point for nearby caravans—a trade town that had formed spontaneously. People from all walks of life mingled here, but its primary function was a place where merchants could rest, exchange, or sell their goods.
Jeanne walked into the town with practiced ease, but she noticed that the usual bustle was gone, replaced by a haunting silence.
"What happened here?"
Jeanne observed the expressions of the merchants nearby. Everyone seemed like skittish rats, terrified of the light of day, and even afraid to speak to one another. The town hadn't been like this before! Usually, everyone would talk amicably in the streets and trade their wares with a sense of community. After all, most of them were small-time traders who gathered here for safety in numbers.
Lost in thought, Jeanne entered a shop that dealt in furs. The owner greeted her; they were old acquaintances. Every so often, Jeanne would come here to sell the pelts of animals she had hunted, as the purchase price here was significantly higher than what the village caravans offered.
"Boss, what's wrong with the town lately? Everyone seems... strange."
She had already sent the furs to be processed by the staff. Regardless, they couldn't cheat Jeanne, who possessed "Revelation." A person who could guess the exact value of goods based on pure intuition alone was rare in this world. This was also why Talulah felt confident letting Jeanne handle the business.
"Sigh, don't even ask. The Inspection Team has gone mad lately. They're searching everywhere for merchants who sold high-grade vodka in the past month. They've even started making random arrests."
The owner spoke with suppressed indignation. These thugs were ruining his business. Now, everyone wanted to flee back to the cities, but they were afraid the Inspection Team would arrest them on the grounds of "acting suspiciously."
"Searching for vodka? Is the Inspection Team so desperate for a drink that they've reached this point?"
Jeanne's heart skipped a beat. She had a faint feeling that this localized riot might be related to her. Fortunately, she hadn't sold that vodka yet, so those thugs were destined for a wild goose chase.
"Those bastards... if I fed this much money to a dog, it would at least wag its tail at me. Giving it to them doesn't even make a splash."
The owner took a slip from an employee and handed the corresponding Rubles to Jeanne. He had no intention of cheating her. He had seen her talent; she seemed to know exactly what his bottom line was, giving him a price that was at the very limit of what he could accept every single time.
"The shops on the east side should still have some goods. Don't bother with the other small vendors; the Inspection Team robbed them of everything. If you aren't in a hurry, it's best to wait a while before heading back. Those beasts have lost their minds!"
Before she left, the owner gave Jeanne a few more words of warning. He didn't want to lose a supplier over these messy affairs.
Jeanne nodded with a smile to show her gratitude and continued through the town. The streets were empty now, and the few people remaining were like birds startled by the mere twang of a bowstring.
Not long after, Jeanne left the town, muttering about how that unscrupulous merchant had dared to raise his prices during a crisis... However, she had failed to buy sugar again. It was simply too difficult to find sugar here. On this continent, sugar was considered a precious resource.
"You up ahead! Stop for inspection!"
Suddenly, a cold voice rang out behind Jeanne. A squad from the Inspection Team had shouted for her to halt.
"We suspect you are involved in a criminal incident. Get off the cart and submit to a search."
Without waiting for Jeanne to respond, several men began a violent search, tossing her cartload of supplies everywhere.
"What are you buying all this food for? Where did the money come from? What is your occupation?"
Seeing nothing of great value, the Inspection Team turned their interrogation toward Jeanne. It seemed they wouldn't be satisfied unless they stripped a layer of skin off her.
"Naturally, it's to help the nearby villagers. I am a Laterano missionary. I make my living by hunting."
Jeanne behaved like a law-abiding citizen. They were far enough from the town now; if these people truly didn't know when to stop, she would have no choice but to send them to meet God.
"A Laterano missionary? You? I think you're an accomplice harboring the Infected. Or perhaps you're one of them? Hands behind your head and submit to a search."
The Inspection Team leader walked toward Jeanne. Jeanne watched for the right moment, preparing to take him down first.
"Big Sis, that woman with the beautiful voice is back... she's been stopped by the Inspection Team. Whoa, they're going to do a body search? Why don't they ever bring us along for... uh, no. Big Sis, do we act?"
Frostnova watched the Inspection Team approaching Jeanne, her heart filled with utter disappointment for this country.
"Prepare to move! Remember to take out the leader first. Be fast! Otherwise, the Inspection Team will take that girl hostage!"
Even though she wasn't sure if the girl was one of the Infected, she couldn't stand by while a civilian was oppressed. Frostnova could already imagine the girl's fate if they didn't intervene. It would be better if she were Infected. If she wasn't, these frustrated Inspection Team members would likely tear her apart just to enjoy the sight of something beautiful being destroyed.
Just as Frostnova condensed an ice spear to fire at the team, Jeanne made her move.
She lunged forward like a leopard toward the captain. With a single hand, she slammed his head into the frozen earth, creating a deep crater.
Fortunately, the man's helmet protected him, or his brains would have been splattered across the snow. Still, the deformed helmet and the blood streaming from his face proved that Jeanne's strength was immense.
The other team members were stunned. They never expected this fragile-looking girl to possess such monstrous power.
But just as they raised their crossbows to fire, several ice shards pierced through their bodies. One shard missed its target, and Jeanne dodged it with ease.
"Whoa, Big Sis! That woman's got serious strength! She dented a helmet with one palm! I wonder if that's an Originium Art."
Big Bear spoke to Frostnova with excitement, but Frostnova only gave him a sharp look.
"Twenty more sets of training. Everyone, stay alert! Our opponent is not weak!"
Frostnova lay flat against the ground, feeling a bit of regret for her impulsive move. Could this be a trap set by Ursus to lure us out?