Infiltrating Harpen's Mansion
West of the noble district in Edlen. The four of them slipped away from prying eyes and hid against a shadowed wall.
"That's Harpen's mansion. He's one of the guys who follows Bares."
Cown said, gazing at the mansion across the way. The front gate was firmly shut, and sharp iron spikes lined the top of the walls. Through the gaps, two guards were visible in the front yard.
Hanbit checked the message that had popped up earlier again.
[Main Quest #5: Infiltration]
I've learned a bit more about the situation Liora is in. To uncover the truth and set her free, I need proof of Brooke and Bares's crimes. Head to his workshop as noted in Camon's notebook.
'Camon's Workshop' is stored inside a sealed stone kept in the mansion of the city's noble, 'Harpen'.
Objective: Sneak into the mansion and steal the sealed stone.
Rewards: 100,000 gold, 50,000 EXP, 5 stat points
*Current progress: 45%
Stealing the sealed stone, as specified in the main quest. Sealed stones were magic tools typically used on monsters or cursed objects. Sealing an entire building required advanced skills far beyond the norm.
"There'll be guards inside too. Since Bares was personally investigating it, they wouldn't just leave it unguarded."
Cown warned of the risks.
"If Bares investigated it, doesn't that mean he's already checked the workshop?"
"No, not quite. For some reason, they couldn't unseal it or destroy it. If it's a safeguard Camon set up before dying, I think the young lady's ring is the key."
Details on the sealed stone were scarce. The guess was that it was a device Camon prepared before his death—a complex structure that no technician could unravel or disable.
"I'll go."
Liora stepped forward as she watched the situation.
But Cown immediately blocked her path and shook his head.
"It's too dangerous for you to go, miss. I'll handle it since I know the layout."
"Just tell me where it is. If it's just grabbing an item, I should go."
"Absolutely not."
"I can do it!"
"No."
-lololol
-Spear vs Shield
-But the shield's kinda huge tho.
-Liora could probably pull it off.
-Fr, she'll do it like a boss cat.
The viewers, watching the argument, sided with Liora. She might be the most suitable for the job, but stepping up now was risky.
"I'll go."
Hanbit stepped between them. He hadn't considered any other option from the start.
"What? You don't trust me either, oppa?"
Liora pouted, sounding hurt.
"It's not about trust. You're the most at risk here. If they spot your face by any chance, it'll be impossible to contain. I'm an outsider, right?"
"Well, yeah, but…"
She couldn't argue with the logic. Cown pondered for a moment before speaking.
"We were planning to wait for the guards' shift change."
"Even then, it'll cause a commotion for sure. Your build isn't exactly common, Cown."
"…Can't argue with that."
A person's distinguishing features weren't just their face. Cown's massive frame was one of the biggest in Edlen. No amount of bundling up would hide it.
"So what's your plan? Got some clever trick?"
"Nothing that fancy. Just make sure no commotion starts."
Hanbit drew his scabbard from his belt. He tapped it against his palm and nodded.
"This should do."
"…What are you planning to do with that?"
"Use it as a weapon."
-……?
-Here we go with the wild stuff again.
-Does it even do damage?
-It's a basic attack, so stats still apply.
-Why not just kill 'em?
Everyone had questions, but the plan stayed the same. Hanbit gripped the scabbard and strolled out casually.
"Be right back."
***
"Ugh, my stomach's killing me."
"Told you to lay off the booze."
In the front yard of Harpen's mansion, the two guards by the gate chatted.
"What's the big deal? Nothing ever happens here anyway. Lord Harpen's always at his villa."
"You'll get canned in one shot if something goes down. Rumors say there's something super important inside."
"Pfft, nothing's gonna happen. What lunatic would rob a judge's mansion? Important or not, no one's coming to steal shit."
Their job was to guard the mansion, but rumors swirled about something hidden inside belonging to Judge Harpen. Even without knowing the truth, the internal guards made it feel real.
"Stomach's really hurting. Be right back, gotta hit the john."
"You're such a pain."
"Can't shit here, man."
The guard waved him off and headed behind the building.
"Ugh."
Approaching the outhouse in the corner, he shook his dizzy head. As he staggered toward the entrance.
Thwack!—An immense impact slammed his nape.
Whoosh—His consciousness flew, pupils rolling back. Hanbit caught the falling body and laid him silently on the ground.
-Instant delete;
-Wasn't he just going to the bathroom?
-Oh…
-R.I.P
-Ruthless, Black Dragon;
"Ah."
Knocking someone out with a scabbard in one hit wasn't easy. A slight miss in angle and it fails. Too bad about the guard's issue, but unavoidable.
Shff—Hanbit bound the guard and dragged him inside the outhouse. One guard left outside. The diligent one scanned alertly, no openings.
Thud—Hanbit stuck to the wall, grabbed the window frame, and climbed up. Using rebound, he reached the railing above the guard's head. No sound, no one noticed.
"Why're you taking so long?"
The guard grumbled without shifting.
"Tch."
Unable to wait, he turned toward the outhouse. At that moment, a shadow loomed over his head.
"Huh?"
Thwack!—Impact hit as he turned. No resistance, out cold.
Thud—Hanbit caught him and bound him behind a shadowed pillar. Only interior guards left.
Shff—Hanbit crossed to the opposite wall and slipped through an open window.
The mansion's layout and guard paths were vivid in his mind.
Creeak—He opened a door to the hallway and headed central. A guard yawned, staring at a closed door.
Shush—Hanbit crept silently behind, gripped both ends of the scabbard, and struck.
"Gurk!"
The sudden throat clamp made the guard panic and twist. Hanbit slowly dragged him toward the stairs.
Thump—Thump—Unable to breathe, the guard's feet pounded the floor hard.
"What's that noise?"
A second-floor guard heard it.
Crack!—Hearing footsteps, Hanbit crushed the guard's consciousness with force. He hung from the stair railing, hiding.
"Peter?"
The descending guard spotted his fallen comrade.
"Intruder…!"
Deeming invasion, he raised his spear toward the stairs below. Then Hanbit vaulted from the railing.
Thwack!—The scabbard end, powered, hit the guard's throat. He crumpled forward instantly.
-One-shot one-kill whoa
-Perfect angle;
-Scabbard meta viable?
-We couldn't pull it off;
Viewers marveled at the smooth flow.
'One left.'
Five guards total. Four down, only the knight guarding the second-floor room remains.
"What's going on!"
A shout from above—he'd noticed the commotion. Hanbit knew the armor without looking. Cautious, full plate equipped.
Time to neutralize that. Whoosh—Wind swirled along the scabbard. Couldn't use full spirit power, but enough.
"No one? Answer me!"
The knight charged down the stairs, sword drawn. Hanbit gauged distance by sound alone, in his blind spot.
As the knight's foot stepped—Swoosh!—Hanbit whipped the wind-infused scabbard upward hard.
Clang!—"Urk!"
Hitting under the helmet, it struck the plate's joint perfectly. The shock shattered the lock.
Crunch!—The helmet tore free like peeling. Hanbit dove in, circled behind, leaped, and locked both arms around the knight's neck.
"Gahk—!"
Choking agony, the knight desperately pried. But Hanbit followed up instantly.
Snap!—A breaking sound, twisting neck. The thrashing limbs went limp quick.
-Assassination whoa;
-Pro moves;
-New pattern lol
-Nestor Guild wants those skills, upvote if learning.
-No. Run.
Shff—Leaving the fallen knight, Hanbit headed to the inner second-floor room. A small box in the corner held a uniquely shaped red stone.
[Modified Sealed Stone]
Rank: 4
Grade: Hero
Description: A special sealed stone modified with dwarven techniques. Camon's workshop space is sealed within; a special item is needed to release it.
The item message was clear. Hanbit grabbed it and leaped out the window.
Ding—
[You have completed Main Quest #5.]