While concealed beneath the hood of his mage robe, Dante surveyed the marketplace. His lengthy purple robe lacked embellishment and subdued his mana to a minimum, enabling him to seamlessly blend in with the crowd.
An hour had passed since their arrival, during which time Dante and Atlas had separated to rapidly evaluate the situation.
Dividing and scouting appeared to be the optimal strategy. The science and technology department of the academy had devised software that facilitated locating individuals in specific areas.
This tool also supplied an alternative emergency contact that could be utilized to alert one's partner in the event of danger or a surprise attack from the enemy.
Due to his numerous augmentations, such as the Origin Eyes and Infinite Range Awareness which heightened his perception, Dante was most adept at reconnaissance. In just an hour, he had gained a rudimentary comprehension of how the majority of Britannia functioned.
While it was not comprehensive, as that would be an exceedingly difficult feat even for the most skilled assassins, this basic knowledge provided him with insight that could aid in comprehending the motivations behind the potential uprising in Chester City.
Although Chester City was considered a second-world city in the great Britannia, it was still a significant location for understanding power dynamics in the shared continent of Britannia and Central State.
Despite not being as technologically advanced as Central State, Britannia had a robust magical system that greatly supported the country.
Britannia had always adhered to medieval methods of governance, in which a queen, king, and nobles held the highest positions in the hierarchy.
What distinguished it from other national hierarchies was that the Monarch who represented the four dominant powers, made up of the world's four greatest nations, was the Queen of Britannia.
However, it is a well-known fact that strength at the top was not limited to just Monarchs, as many others wielded power.
However, knowledge and information were aspects that Monarchs could exercise supreme control over, which strengthened the foundations of their respective factions. This was the case with Britannia, which had a rich history and vast knowledge.
However, being governed under a hierarchy, rather than a "democratic" government like the Central State, led to issues related to bloodline superiority. Discrimination, which had prevailed a millennium ago, only worsened as bloodlines were ranked based on mana and the powers it granted individuals or families.
The fundamental issue of hierarchical practices had deeply permeated the cultural traditions of the great country, even extending to its smallest towns and villages.
This was demonstrated in Chester City, where the city's reverence for tradition and archaeological sites had resulted in the enforcement of such hierarchical structures.
Town Z, named for its status as the lowest town in the city, epitomized this phenomenon. The town was inhabited by ordinary humans and mages with low-grade mana signatures, and its position in the hierarchy was evident from its name alone.
The underlying message conveyed through the various rumors was that Dante had grasped the primary cause behind the heightened tensions and the slim chance of the conflict in the unremarkable Town Z spreading to the entire city, sparking a full-blown war.
Dante discovered that the marginalized inhabitants of Town Z, who faced discrimination for being born with the lowest of bloodlines, were gradually turning to their ancient traditions and beliefs, predating the emergence of mana on the earth.
The tale of heroes hailing from various civilizations that had been destroyed and are now united in the diverse Britannia had been passed down through many generations.
These heroes were so revered that statues and altars were erected in their honor, as their deeds appeared godlike, surpassing what was thought possible for those without mana.
For the majority of the "Unfated" group, who were considered ordinary and lacked the gift of mana, it was natural to find inspiration in the heroes who had achieved such extraordinary feats.
However, the society that had previously ostracized them was once again targeting them, seeking to strip them of their fundamental beliefs.
The Duke of Chester City had marked the numerous archaeological sites, tombstones, and carbon-dated sites that dotted the landscape of Town Z to be destroyed, to build research institutes that would serve to further bolster the already-established hierarchy of nobles.
However, after some difficult conversations, the typically timid residents of Town Z, who knew not to bite the hand that wielded the power of nature's great elements, finally decided to take a stand.
Getting assistance from unfamiliar groups that provided them with weapons and financial resources to engage private assassination firms did not dissuade them from reconsidering their intentions to challenge the hierarchy. Instead, it exacerbated their efforts as they obtained additional support.
The fuel ignited their determination as they readied themselves to confront a structure of authority that had demonstrated resilience against the ravages of time and warfare long before the advent of superpowers.
Their sudden rise to power and gratitude towards their benefactors had swiftly led to disillusionment, obscuring their judgment. However, the arrival of a solitary individual from an organization of oppressors - mages - shattered their illusions and dispelled their delusions.
The blazing flames that emanated from the man had extinguished all their motivations as their usual cowardly selves showed as they went back to 0 right from 100. But seeing how quickly they could be taken care of just by the whims of the "Blessed" ignited something far darker than fear.
The intense hatred they felt due to the contempt they had experienced spread rapidly, and all the towns from Town F to Town Y united together under the Cultural Revolution Front.
It gradually became a collective of the "Unfated," untalented mages, mages with talent, and finally, powerful mages who wished to leverage the lesser groups to establish themselves as a force to be reckoned with in this world ruled by authority.
The destruction of Town Z had prompted the inhabitants to awaken a drive to protect themselves before those who claimed to be "Blessed" attacked their families.
Dante let out a weary sigh as he recounted all the disparate pieces of information to Atlas, who was seated across from him. However, it was not surprising to learn that Atlas had also gathered the same information. It appeared that their efforts were too little, too late, as the survivors of Town Z had been relocated.
The ruined buildings, littered with charred corpses and destroyed infrastructure, provided ample evidence of the massacre and carnage that had taken place in the town only moments before.
Moreover, the mayor had mysteriously vanished from the town, and the few survivors who had managed to endure the fiery inferno barely whispered their accounts to Atlas, still mentally scarred from the traumatic experience.
Dante posed the question to the pacing Atlas, "So what now? We can safely say that the fundamental objective of our mission has changed."
They had booked a room for accommodation before embarking on their expedition to popular spots like markets and bars, but it seemed like they would not be able to rest because of their shift in plans.
"Yes. The whole basis for the mission has effectively crumbled but sadly we can't even contact the academy since there may be a possibility that our conversation could be intercepted which will then blow our cover. The sources of the guns and ammunition are already proof that this isn't a simple incitement. Without the necessary equipment making any sudden movements and calls will put us in a tight spot" Atlas muttered as his pacing speed increased.
Having seen the flames of war up close due to his lineage and family duties, Atlas understood that nothing could be dismissed easily.
The fact that his friends could effectively be labeled as hostages only further weighed on his mind, aggravating his concerns.
Dante's sudden grasp on Atlas's shoulders jolted him out of his daze, making him realize the selfishness of his actions.
He understood that it was his responsibility to ensure the safe return of all four of them and to effectively communicate the situation to the academy upon their successful completion of the mission.
Atlas quickly reminded himself of the promise he made to Chloe before she embarked on her mission.
Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he began to carefully plot the best course of action, mindful of his responsibility to uphold the reputation of the Grade A Corps.
Despite the gravity of the situation, the dual-colored eyes of his young partner, which seemed to hold a glimmer of hope, gave Atlas a sense of reassurance.
He quickly devised multiple scenarios to make the most effective use of the resources at their disposal, determined not to let the academy down.
Unbeknownst to Dante, his usual bland and indifferent demeanor affected Atlas.
Although it was a subtle influence, the sparks of his kingly disposition were beginning to flicker and come to life. Dante's presence seemed to ignite a fire in Atlas, even if it was just a small one.