Reincarnation Paradise

"I need a sniper," Su Xiao stated bluntly.

"Haha, how do you like my subordinates?" Upon hearing Su Xiao's request for one of his men, Kihara Amata's voice was filled with smug satisfaction.

"White Night, you and I are both direct subordinates of Aleister, so we are equals in rank. However, I handpicked the Hound Troop members. Want one? Keep dreaming!" Kihara Amata's tone shifted drastically from polite to dismissive once he realized what Su Xiao wanted.

Su Xiao had dealt with many people like Kihara Amata and knew exactly what they were thinking.

"That magical operative has valuable research potential," Su Xiao said, glancing at the bar not far away.

"So what? My subordinates already took care of them," Kihara Amata responded nonchalantly.

"Oh? Really?"

"Are you doubting that I hid a magical operative?" Kihara Amata's tone grew defensive.

"Isn't it common for researchers like you to occasionally keep someone for research purposes?"

"Fine, tell me, which lucky guy wants to leave the Hound Troop? Leaving is only possible through death," Kihara Amata relented, sounding annoyed.

The sniper's heartbeat quickened upon hearing this. Joining the Hound Troop had been a last resort for him. For the sake of a certain goal, he was willing to make deals with devils if necessary. However, since joining, he despised Kihara Amata, who treated him as a killing tool. Although Su Xiao was not particularly friendly, the sniper could sense that he was regarded as a warrior, not just a tool.

"Yegor," the sniper introduced himself. Judging by his name, it was clear he was Russian. Yegor was a transliteration that roughly meant "farmer."

"Yegor..." Kihara Amata fell silent for a moment. "You sure know how to pick. I recently brought him from the battlefield. He is an excellent sniper, so I immediately used him in the Hound Troop. I have not had time to brainwash him yet."

Kihara Amata's reluctance was palpable.

"Given the value of that magical operative, trading a sniper is a good deal," Su Xiao said, sensing Kihara Amata's decision from his tone.

"Deal. I am curious how that woman hid in the Tenth District for so long. Of course, I cannot rule out the possibility that Aleister allowed her to stay there," Kihara Amata concluded.

Su Xiao ended the call, understanding that in the underworld, profit was paramount. Kihara Amata seemed arrogant but was not foolish enough to self-destruct. Besides, he had a curiosity about magic.

The squad's membership grew from three to four: Su Xiao, Bubtney, Awaki Musujime, and the newly added Russian sniper, Yegor.

Yegor removed his gas mask and helmet, revealing a bald, muscular white man about two meters tall, with muscles bulging under his black combat uniform.

Standing together, the three humans and one dog did not look like members of the same squad. Despite his average height and build, Su Xiao exuded a fierce aura that marked him as the leader. Awaki Musujime, with her red hair tied in two thin ponytails and a bandaged chest, looked more like a schoolgirl than a fighter. Bubtney, yawning occasionally, had an air of innocent mischief reigning supreme among foolish canines. With his muscular build and battle-hardened demeanor, Yegor resembled a fearsome warrior.

This odd squad projected an aura of being formidable and not to be trifled with.

"Let us head to the Juvenile Reformatory," Su Xiao ordered. The three humans and one dog set off towards their destination.

Ten minutes later, a black car stopped near the Juvenile Reformatory. Having changed into his old military uniform, Yegor looked less like a killing machine and more like a fierce, fearless soldier.

"Sir, we are at the Juvenile Reformatory. Based on the terrain, there are seven warehouses. Five are regularly used; one is semi-abandoned but occasionally stores durable goods. The target is unlikely to hide in these six warehouses. The seventh, fully abandoned warehouse is the best hiding and recovery spot. It is conveniently located with 10-20 people daily foot traffic. The underground has three abandoned drainage systems, and it is closest to the city's edge. In an emergency, the target might attempt to breach the electronic defense perimeter," Yegor explained.

Impressed by Yegor's tactical acumen, Su Xiao used the Apostle's Eye to scan him.

[Comparison of intelligence attributes completed. Su Xiao's intelligence attribute is 15.8 times that of the target. Acquired 100% of the target's data.]

Name:

Yegor

Category: Human

Affiliation: Dark (Su Xiao's Squad)

Health: 100%

Mana: 50

Strength: 10

Agility: 9

Endurance: 10

Intelligence: 5

Charisma: 6

Skills:

Heavy Weaponry Mastery (Passive Lv.29): Increases heavy weapon attack power by 40% (weak point strikes, trajectory prediction, etc., rather than enhancing the weapon's original damage). Greatly enhances proficiency with heavy weaponry.

NX-type Neural Combat Assist Device (Passive Lv.25): Increases nerve reflex speed by 10% and dynamic vision by 23%, allowing for the visual tracking of particle-sized objects.

Implanted Neural Decay Device (Passive Lv.10): Permanently reduces pain sensation by 20%. After significant blood loss, the neural decay device activates, reducing heart rate and using an internal oxygen supply system to mix oxygen into the bloodstream, slowing blood loss and extending combat time.

Arm and Torso Bone Augmentation (Passive Lv.16): 53% of Yegor's bones have been augmented to withstand heavy weapon recoil.

Subdermal Nano Biofiber Protective Layer (Passive Lv.16): Significantly enhances physical defense, increasing body strength by 9.

Yegor's attributes were not exceptionally strong; in some cases, they were quite weak. However, his skills more than compensated for this, especially given the extensive augmentations he had undergone as a member of the Hound Troop. His sniper abilities, shown during the recent mission, had demonstrated precise timing and accuracy, which impressed Su Xiao.

After exiting the vehicle, Yegor handed Su Xiao an electronic map indicating the location of the abandoned warehouse.

Yegor's gaze scanned the surrounding buildings, searching for a suitable vantage point for sniping.

"Head to the abandoned research facility 350 meters to the east," Su Xiao instructed.

Yegor blinked in surprise but quickly recognized the spot as an optimal sniping position.

"I need armor-piercing rounds, optical flashbangs, and electromagnetic shock rounds for fire support. Timing is at your discretion," Su Xiao continued.

"Understood," Yegor replied, grabbing his case and moving to the designated location. He suspected that his new commander might also be proficient in sniping.

Arriving at the Juvenile Reformatory, Su Xiao, Awaki Musujime, and Bubtney observed the surroundings. Yegor's tactical assessment suggested that the abandoned warehouse was the most likely hiding spot for Kanzaki Kaori.

"Let us move in," Su Xiao said, leading the way. The group cautiously approached the warehouse, prepared for any potential threats.

Upon reaching the warehouse, Su Xiao noticed that the area was unusually quiet, with little to no foot traffic. The silence indicated that something was amiss.

"Stay alert," Su Xiao whispered, signaling Awaki Musujime and Bubtney to fan out and cover different angles.

The tension in the air was palpable as they neared the warehouse entrance. Su Xiao, with his keen senses, could detect faint movements inside. He raised his hand, signaling for the team to halt.

From his position, Yegor had a clear view of the warehouse entrance and surrounding area. He steadied his sniper rifle, ready to provide cover fire if needed.

"On my mark," Su Xiao instructed, preparing to breach the warehouse.

As the team readied themselves, the door to the warehouse suddenly creaked open, revealing a figure clad in black, cautiously peeking out.

Su Xiao's eyes narrowed, recognizing the figure as one of Kanzaki Kaori's possible guards. He signaled for Yegor to hold fire, waiting to see if the figure would reveal any more information.

The guard stepped outside, glancing around nervously before returning to call out to someone inside. Taking advantage of the moment, Su Xiao silently moved forward, closing the distance.

With swift precision, Su Xiao incapacitated the guard, ensuring no alarm was raised. He then motioned for the team to follow, cautiously entering the warehouse.

Inside, the dimly lit space revealed scattered crates and debris. Su Xiao's sharp eyes scanned the area, noting potential hiding spots and ambush points.

As they advanced, the sound of muffled voices became clearer, indicating Kanzaki Kaori and her accomplices were nearby.

Su Xiao gestured for Awaki Musujime and Bubtney to flank the voices while he approached head-on. The plan was to catch Kanzaki Kaori off guard and force a swift surrender.

However, an explosion rocked the warehouse before they could move, sending debris flying. Su Xiao, Awaki Musujime, and Bubtney took cover as the shockwave passed.

"Status report!" Su Xiao called out, checking on his team.

"We are fine!" Awaki Musujime replied, her voice steady despite the chaos.

"Bubtney's good too!" the dog barked in affirmation.

Regrouping quickly, they resumed their advance, now more cautious of potential traps. As they neared the source of the voices, Su Xiao spotted Kanzaki Kaori and another figure—likely the magical operative Yegor had mentioned—discussing something in hushed tones.

Su Xiao's hand tightened around his weapon as he prepared to engage. This confrontation would determine the success of their mission and possibly alter the balance of power within Academy City.

With a silent nod to his team, Su Xiao signaled to strike.