"We go to the city gate!" Surya hadn't spoken yet when Veronica took the initiative to say. The Jialan Witch was very firm in her stance on this matter.

"Alright then, once we pass through Mulan Avenue, Franz Square will be ahead. Follow the steps behind the square's statue, and after walking two more blocks at night, you'll reach the city gate." Huber was very hesitant; obviously, he understood the pros and cons, so he was unsure. Seeing Veronica so determined to head to the city gate, the Imperial Captain breathed lightly: "In that case, let's head towards Franz Square."

"Everyone, be careful! Try to keep quiet, and don't speak loudly!" Veronica ordered, addressing the team of over two hundred: "I'm doing this for everyone's sake! If you want to survive, please do as I say!"

At this time, a young musket soldier raised his hand: "Of course we will do as you say, Witch, but could you tell us why we must go through the square to the city gate? If we detour to the Count's castle, we might be able to avoid…"

"Yes, perhaps we can avoid the main Skaven force, but will that be useful? The city is full of Skaven, and while we may avoid them for a while, can we avoid them entirely? Even if we avoid them completely, do you think we won't face a Skaven siege when we reach the Justice Church? How much more time would detouring to the Count's castle take? Do you think the chance of running into the Skaven tide would be less? When encountering a problem, we must solve it, not avoid it! Is that how your superiors taught you?" Veronica raised her eyebrows, the Jialan Witch's words sharp and to the point.

Hearing Veronica's words, the refugees and soldiers felt somewhat dejected but had to admit that Veronica was right. Many only wanted to avoid the Skaven tide without considering whether the Skaven were merely pillaging and whether they would spare the survivors.

The soldiers moved slowly along the street, occasionally encountering some low-level Slave Rats and Clan Rats scavenging for food and loot. The surviving soldiers, baptized by blood and fire, quickly exterminated these solitary Ratmen on the spot, leaving no survivors.

Reaching the end of Mulan Street, the crowd paused temporarily. They found an abandoned bakery, with some food and clean water inside. Veronica immediately ordered everyone to eat something and rest on the spot.

On the rooftop of a collapsed house, Surya, Veronica, Huber, and Abel stood together, discussing what to do next. Not far away was Franz Square. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

"Hey~ ha~ hey~ ha~ skaven! Yesyes!"

A whole patrol of Storm Rats was moving along Franz Square, chanting slogans and patrolling the square. The square was full of human corpses either hanged or gnawed to the bone. On one side of the square, there was a large bell processed with green dimensional stone.

"What do we do now?" Imperial Captain Huber frowned: "To pass through the square, we have to deal with this group of Ratmen. They seem to be the Skaven's elite."

"Storm Rats, Skaven's elite troops, equivalent to Brittania's Master Knights." Veronica whispered. The Jialan Witch signaled everyone to remain calm; she was contemplating a solution.

"We must quickly eliminate that group of Storm Rats, or they'll ring the bell, attracting more Skaven tides. The soldiers' and civilians' morale is already rock bottom and could easily collapse under a Skaven tide barrage." The female knight shook her head. Although Surya excelled in swordsmanship, she ultimately was a knight.

"I have a Dwarf-made hand grenade," said Demon Hunter Abel, producing a hand grenade from his pocket: "But a single grenade may not be enough to kill the entire patrol."

"The noise from the grenade is too loud and will surely attract Skaven tides," Veronica opposed: "I can summon a meteor to directly eliminate that patrol, but the uproar will be too big!"

"No, the noise from a Dwarf-made hand grenade isn't that loud. Our commotion here will definitely be smaller than the one on the city walls," Huber whispered: "Do we have any other methods?"

This time, everyone present nodded in agreement; there were indeed no other options.

Five minutes later, more than thirty musketeers had found their positions and hidden spots, raising their muskets aimed at the patrol of Storm Rats in the square.

Abel took out the hand grenade, ready to ignite it. Veronica cast the Fireball Technique, a fireball the size of a basin gathered in the Jialan Witch's palm. Veronica cautioned everyone: "Get ready, on my command. Abel, you throw the grenade first, I'll cast the Fireball Technique, and as the grenade explodes, all musketeers open fire together. Quickly eliminate this entire team of Storm Rats!"

"Understood," the people replied quietly.

"Three." The grenade's fuse was lit.

"Two." Veronica released the Fireball Technique, the red fireball radiating intense heat.

"One!" The musketeers all squeezed the triggers.

"Fire!"

"Hey~ ha~ hey~ ha" The group of Storm Rats was patrolling when a black Dwarf hand grenade fell into their midst.

"Boom!" The grenade exploded amongst the rats, sending limbs flying. Instantly, five Storm Rats were blown to pieces.

"Fireball Technique!" Veronica's Fireball Technique fell into the rat horde, the explosion's shockwave engulfing them. Another eight Storm Rats were incinerated to ash by the Fireball Technique, their armor melting in the searing heat wave.