Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: High-Rise Housebreaking
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In the world of Agas, there were plenty of classes designed around agility, with archers and thieves serving as the prime examples of archetypes built for speed and mechanical sharpness. By boosting the Agility stat, a player could theoretically overwhelm their foes with superior physical prowess, leading to the development of skills that mimicked nimble real-world feats, ranging from acrobatic stunts to professional sports maneuvers.
The only significant catch was that actually acquiring these high-level mobility skills was a notorious nightmare for the average user. You required peak physical statistics, field-specific mastery, and often specialized gear or obscure know-how just to unlock the basic versions. It was no wonder that players possessing such skills were considered rare unicorns; even if one grinded them out, the practical results often fell flat in a real combat scenario.
Luke recalled the double wall-run he had picked up a long time ago. He had initially pictured himself as a cinematic ninja, only to find out it was nothing more than two lackluster kicks off a vertical surface before his momentum died completely. Most of these techniques had frustratingly hard limits, which was why very few users ever bothered to master them.
So, the question remained: what on earth was this new ability? It was a performance vast enough to exploit any terrain, with every surface in his vision flagged with exact usage tips—how to chain movements, which combos would work, and even the precise posture and foot placement required for success. It was spoon-fed guidance of the highest order.
'It is insultingly easy to use, almost to the point of being deflating,' Luke mused, 'and yet the sheer power and utility of this Parkour skill are undoubtedly god-tier.'
To prove the theory to himself, Luke bolted toward a nearby wall. He connected once, then twice, chaining dozens of movements in a row without a single wobble or wrong turn. He simply followed the arrows toward his goal, grabbing the marked grips and planting his feet with a fluidity that made the ascent feel as smooth as butter. Before long, he crested a nearby rooftop.
Small city or not, Parten had its share of skyscrapers that were perfect for gaining a bird's-eye view of the surroundings. Luke noted that the stamina drain was negligible, meaning he could theoretically stay in an infinite loop of movement as long as he didn't bottom out mid-air. He rolled his shoulders and scanned the urban sprawl below, remapping the streets, chokepoints, and guard beats in his mind—a mandatory recon ritual for any serious thief.
"Alright, which hunting ground should I hit first?" Luke whispered with a smirk, watching the users and NPCs milling about below him like ants.
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The small city of Parten was under the lordship of the Chekin Builders Baron. While it was smaller than an average metropolis, its status as a central gateway for new players meant the foot traffic was consistently heavy. Most users treated the city as a brief pitstop on their way to more lucrative mainland spots, leveling up to twenty and then bolting for the horizons.
'I am not like the others; I intend to wring this place dry before I leave,' Luke decided, perched high above the fountain that split the city into four main drags: Shop Street, Job Street, Resident Street, and Slum Street. While Shop and Resident streets seemed like prime picks for a thief, security was much tighter here than in the starting village. The guard patrols and their established beats were a non-ignorable threat that required careful planning.
Luke realized that flashy gear didn't always guarantee high-quality inventory drops, and swiping quest-related items felt too risky for little reward. He pondered his options as he leaped across the rooftops, until something unusual caught his eye. He noticed rooftop doors left slightly ajar, high-rise windows cracked open, and rear balconies left completely exposed to the night air. It seemed the residents felt safe enough at these heights to leave their homes unsecured.
In Agas, most players skipped house raids because the height barrier made entry difficult and the risk of a "Wanted" status was too high. Everyone assumed NPCs kept their best loot on their person or in locked vaults. However, as Luke peeked through an open window, his jaw unhinged. He saw a crate inside that wasn't just unguarded—it was cracked open just a sliver.
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⚠️ WARNING! ⚠️
Unauthorized intrusion into a private residence detected! Infamy is rising in real-time. If witnessed by guards, a Wanted status and pursuit are likely!
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Alarms blared in Luke's skull, but he remained calm. With his False Identity trait, infamy was a non-issue. He scanned the two-story apartment and confirmed the second floor was empty, with no sounds or vibrations coming from the owner downstairs. He crept toward the crate cluster, confirming that several of them were indeed yawning open due to the residents' sloppiness.
'A sane player avoids these raids, but for me, this is a breeze,' he thought. He decided to only target unlocked stashes to minimize the risk of leaving traces. He popped the first crate and saw the contents gleam under his gaze: one silver coin. The next held prime crafting materials. He began to vacuum up the loot in a possessed frenzy, ransacking every open stash he could find.
⚙ JOB TRAIT ACTIVATED ⚙
You have performed multiple thefts of stored valuables! This action now counts as a "Steal" act. Experience points have been granted based on the count, and your thievery skill proficiency is rising!
Luke’s eyes bulged at the late popup. He had assumed that only pocket-picking counted toward his job progression, but the system was now acknowledging his housebreaking as a valid path for a master thief. This was a holy windfall that changed everything about his farming strategy.