Using the trees for cover, Yuto Saito soared to the back of the teaching building, cautious about his opponents' strength. While he was confident in his ability to win a head-on confrontation, he preferred to strike from the shadows. A direct encounter could lead to gunfire, which would undoubtedly alert others. The last thing he wanted was for innocent students to get caught in the crossfire; after all, bullets are indiscriminate.
Yuto assessed that the snipers were likely targeting the girls' dormitory, positioned at the east wall. He decided to approach from the western side, a strategic move that suited his stealthy nature.
As he ascended the teaching building, he spotted two figures lying prone along the eastern parapet.
"Chuck, why isn't Beth talking? Did she defect?" one of the snipers grumbled.
"Kill her sister in front of her when I get back! She doesn't follow orders!" Chuck snapped.
With his heightened hearing talent, Yuto could clearly overhear their conversation.
Channeling his psychic power, two flying knives shot from his grasp, arcing through the air toward Chuck and Carlos.
Chuck sensed something approaching from behind, but before he could react, the knife pierced his skull. Carlos, unable to withstand the onslaught, fell dead beside him.
[Ding! You have killed a three-star Awakened. You gain 3,000 experience points.]
Yuto Saito noted only a single notification—he realized Carlos hadn't survived the attack.
Closing in, he found Chuck immobilized and gasping, "You old sixth!"
With those final words, Chuck succumbed to his injuries.
[Ding! You have killed a four-star Awakened. You gain 4,000 experience points.]
As Yuto surveyed the bodies of the snipers, he noted that Chuck possessed psychic powers, while Carlos had talent in vision—a valuable gift akin to clairvoyance.
Should he copy this new ability? Yuto contemplated this as he glanced at his remaining three copy cards. Upgrading to level 5 would require a daunting 100,000 experience points, a goal that seemed far off.
"Why not copy it?" he thought. "The last two cards must be used wisely."
Visual talent would prove advantageous, especially when combined with his hearing. Just imagine standing on a floating island, able to observe a couple talking half a kilometer away while also listening in on their conversation—it was a tantalizing prospect.
[Ding! Copy successful. One copy card has been consumed.]
[You gain 90 attribute rewards.]
[Vision LV3 obtained: viewing range extended to one kilometer.]
Yuto turned his gaze toward the girls' dormitory and spotted a female classmate in pajamas, dancing with wild abandon. His newfound visual talent greatly expanded his awareness.
He collected the two M24 sniper rifles, grateful for the timely warning that had averted potential disaster. If Yuto had been with Ni Shuang, he could have shielded them with his psychic power or the protective golden bell. But alone, Ni Shuang would stand little chance against bullets.
Pondering the motivations behind the assassination attempt, Yuto deduced that Zhang Kui's parents were likely involved. His last attempt to contact them had failed; their phones were switched off, suggesting they had gone into hiding.
Determined to uncover this hidden threat, he rifled through Chuck and Carlos's phones, hoping to find Zhang Kui's number among their call logs. Snipers, confident in their skills, often don't bother to conceal their communications.
He dialed Song Yi's number, requesting her help to track the calls and their signal sources.
"Of course, Yuto!" she replied enthusiastically. "I'll look into it right away."
Yuto felt grateful for her willingness to help. Assisting him would only strengthen their bond, making future requests easier.
For Ni Shuang's safety, he knew Zhang Kui's parents had to be eliminated.
Crouching down, he noticed both snipers wore rings. Removing them, he couldn't help but smile—each third-grade ring had a storage capacity of 10,000 cubic meters.
Inside, he discovered a treasure trove of supplies, including a bounty of rice and 354 spar—quite the haul. Additionally, there were three ordinary rings and one first-grade ring.
While Yun Yun and others possessed ordinary rings with minimal storage, Yuto had a five-pin ring, granting him an impressive 1 million cubic meters of space.
He swiftly used the rings to gather the abundant resources.
Meanwhile, on the floating island, Yun Yun turned to Ni Shuang. "Xiao Tu has dealt with those two," she said reassuringly.
Ni Shuang nodded, adding, "I just received a notification about experience gains."
Yuto's swift action had not only eliminated the threat but also rewarded his team. Yet, only he knew the full extent of what had transpired—his knowledge as captain was privileged.
Ni Shuang quickly messaged Mina: "Mina, it's done!"
Mina responded, "The captain works fast!"
She then informed Beth, "You're safe now; the snipers are dead."
"Really?" Beth's eyes widened with hope.
Mina smiled. "Absolutely."
Beth cheered, "Great! I'm off to save my sister."
Knowing her sister was held captive in a hotel downtown, Beth dashed downstairs in a flash.
Mina watched with a knowing smile; she understood Beth's urgency.
Entering the dormitory, Mina approached Pan Qiao. "I don't care what issues you've had with Sister Shuang, but you did well this time. Very loyal."
She handed Pan Qiao an assortment of fruits and snacks—watermelon, lychee, bananas, and bread.
"Thank you!" Pan Qiao exclaimed, her gratitude evident. "I just wanted to do what's right."
"Before Liu Jie became a zombie, I was genuinely worried that Ni Shuang might meet the same fate. I'd say anything to keep her safe," she admitted, her sincerity palpable.
Mina nodded, "I'll make sure she knows."
"Thanks, Mina," Pan Qiao replied, her heart swelling with appreciation.
With that, Mina left to find Nako and the others, her mission of camaraderie ongoing.