Chapter 28
Chapter 28
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Infiltrating the Lord's Mansion
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Unethical experiments unfolding in the small city.
The townsfolk too.
And openly conducting experiments in the lord's mansion at that.
It was hard to believe this had nothing to do with Baron Valkins anymore.
On the contrary, it was more likely happening under his direct command.
Or perhaps even the lord himself was being used.
Of course, the truth didn't matter much either way.
Why?
Because Luke had zero interest in whatever was really going on.
'Whether they're experimenting on people or screwing around, that's none of my business.'
He had no intention of exposing the lord's atrocities to the world.
Nor any desire to stop the experiments.
He even planned to avoid tangling with the black mages unless absolutely necessary.
'I don't even know their levels.'
Messing with them could backfire spectacularly.
'I just need to do my thieving.'
That's right.
He'd come here for theft in the first place.
To rob the lord and the black mages, no less.
'I don't know what experiments they're running, but making this much noise means there must be some decent loot inside.'
Of course, to steal it, he'd first have to breach that tight security.
But that was no longer an issue.
Why?
This place was now Luke's Thief's Field.
He could pinpoint the guards' positions and even their field of vision.
And on top of that, suspicion levels and current status.
It was the perfect setup for infiltration.
'But rushing in blindly just because of this would be stupid.'
That's why he'd spent days lurking nearby, gathering intel.
"Lately, the lord's been reading late into the night."
"Heard the guard shifts change next week."
"The second-floor storage isn't fully sorted yet?"
Collecting info on the mansion.
"All clear here."
"Same here."
Mapping the guards' patrols for his infiltration prep.
'And I've stocked up on consumables for any surprises.'
All that was left was to execute the plan.
Perched atop the wall, Luke slowly scanned the courtyard.
"Yaaawn."
Deep into the night.
The time when vigilance was at its slackest.
Fewer torch-bearing guards than in the morning, and plenty still groggy from recent shift changes.
'Even in the dark, the vision ranges show up clear.'
Same with Parkour.
'This hour, most maids are asleep except a few.'
The real threats were the interior sentries.
And any black mages running experiments somewhere.
'I have a rough idea where the lab is.'
Luke turned his head.
"Yawn, the basement lights stayed on pretty late tonight."
"Looks like something went wrong midway."
Guards' voices drifting over.
Not the first time he'd overheard such talk.
The basement.
Something was happening there.
And the guards knew what.
'These guys know what's going down inside.'
The guards were in on it.
Great news for Luke.
Why?
Just eavesdropping got him free intel.
Before long, proficiency messages started popping up—ones even second-year Luke had never seen.
'Who the hell repeats this crap?'
Against guards, no less.
'Not top-tier info, but still useful.'
'Alright, prep's done.'
Luke's eyes gleamed.
Time to move.
Thud!
In the thick darkness.
Luke vaulted the wall, landing in the mansion courtyard.
'Secure cover first.'
The grassy yard had trees, rocks, bushes—plenty of spots to hide.
Luke stuck to the plan, ducking behind cover.
That instant.
A patrolling torch guard suddenly turned.
"Huh?"
"What?"
"Thought I heard something..."
"Nah, probably nothing."
Footstep must've slipped.
Narrowly avoided detection right at the start, thanks to quick hiding.
'Just because I see positions and vision doesn't mean they can't hear.'
No hiding sound, even if unseen.
'More stealthily.'
And cautiously.
Focus on minimizing footsteps and presence.
Guards' positions updated live on the minimap.
Even their gaze directions.
No need to rush.
Just weave through their paths.
"Yaaawn!"
'Now!'
Exploiting their gaps like this.
Using pre-scouted paths, minimap, vision cones—how many guards did he evade?
Finally, he reached his target spot.
'Last two.'
The crossing patrol pattern of two guards.
Just as scouted.
Had to pass them to reach the goal.
'Hit the moment they look opposite ways...'
Luke's eyes darted.
Perfect—vision cones fanned opposite.
Swish!
No way he'd miss it. Slipped past safely, reaching the mansion wall.
'Good, so far so good.'
Luke caught his breath, checking the minimap.
The mansion interior beyond the wall lit up.
Not all, but nearby rooms showed structures and labels.
[Grand Mansion 2F Storage]
Just like that.
'This is under the second-floor storage.'
Pre-planned entry route.
'Dark night—climbing the wall won't be obvious.'
Just mind the noise.
Thud, thud!
More adept wall-climbing form.
Second-floor window soon in view.
Lock level 1, as before.
But the keyhole was much smaller than the safe's.
'Lockpick only on this one.'
Luke inserted it, carefully twisting.
A few turns.
Click!
Lock released from the other side.
'Pardon the intrusion.'
Grinning wide.
Luke dropped lightly to the floor.
'Whew.'
Soft landing.
Quick scan—minimap confirmed empty.
Just junk scattered on the floor.
Dust swirling—untouched for a while.
'Now the real fun begins.'
The storeroom door.
Opening it led straight to the second-floor hall.
Plan: hall to stairs, down to first floor.
Then basement to black mage lab, sneak in.
Luke's endgame.
'Heard the rough location.'
Not guaranteed.
But minimap would handle it.
He trusted that.
'Suspicion still fine.'
Grip!
Minimap clear of hall—Luke grasped the doorknob carefully.
Calmed his mind, opened his eyes.
'Alright, let's go.'
Step, step.
Night was deep, but not everyone slept.
A half-lidded maid patrolling.
A yawning guard at the central stairs.
'Job trait? NPC info's detailed.'
Thief's Field paying off big.
'To reach first floor, gotta use those stairs.'
Luke eyed the minimap.
One on second-floor hall.
One on first-floor hall.
Two guards boxing in the central stairs.
'Levels say I could kill 'em...'
But noise would summon everyone.
'Safest is sneaking down.'
Maid headed upstairs.
Just Harman left.
Even he was dozing on his feet.
'Inside's way slacker than outside.'
Makes sense.
Who'd invade a noble's mansion?
Nobles especially—mess up, and the whole nation moves.
So even interior guards slacked.
'Suits me fine.'
Luke crept forward.
"Snooore."
One step.
"Snoort!"
Another.
Slipping past Harman toward the stairs.
But then.
"Snoo... Huh?"
'Damn it!'
Heart pounding!
Luke froze mid-step.
Harman blinked dazedly ahead.
One head turn, and Luke was spotted.
'Don't wake up.'
Don't make trouble.
Swish.
Tension thick in the hall.
Luke gripped Braincleaver, watching Harman's vision cone.
"Mmm, accept my love, Julian."
"..."
"Snoooore."
Sleep-talk, then back to dozing.
'Whew.'
Strength drained.
Heart-skipper moment.
'This bastard scared me.'
Wanted to smash his face.
But held back.
Basement first.
'Fine, spared.'
Passed Harman, descending step by step.
"Zzz!"
Soon, snoring from first-floor stairs.
Luke peeked down.
Guard slumped asleep against the wall.
'Bottom guy's out cold. Mansion runs tight ship.'
Late hour?
Interior security was laughably lax.
'That's why field difficulty's lowest?'
Named NPC turf.
Thief's Field active, still lowest difficulty.
Made entering harder than expected.
'Yeah, late night and all.'
No intruder worries.
Luke seized the chance, finished stairs.
'Basement door nearby, right?'
Recalled eavesdropped intel, scanned minimap.
'Found it!'
There.
Door behind central stairs.
Spiral stairs below, clear on map.
'This is it.'
Hidden iron door behind stairs.
Locked tight, as expected. No biggie.
Creak!
Lockpick did the trick.
'Level 1 lock? Easy.'
Not hard, though hidden door took time—minimap let him focus safely.
Screeech.
Iron door opened.
Spiral stairs before him.
'No guards on the stairs.'
Torches lit the way—no tripping worries.
Step, step.
Down the spiral, ears perked for climbers.
Then.
Fresh minimap update at his position.
Vast space inside.
'All this the lab?'
Huge.
Enormously so.
Never imagined the lab's scale.
'And all these red dots...'
Black mages?
Luke stared at the minimap, a bit rattled.
That moment.
Bang! Boom!
Grrrrr!
Ominous noises from below.
Gulp!
Following them down, Luke pressed against the wall, peeking in.
'...!'
A shocking sight hit his eyes.