Chapter 57 - Reconnaissance

Chapter 57: Chapter 57 - Reconnaissance After talking to the Boss Levinna, we go straight to our room. "You see? This is exactly the thing we need the most. A place with no questions asked." "I understand... but can we trust them?" "No, of course. But we don’t need to trust them. No more than we need them to trust us." "What do you mean?" "This kind of place hosts all sorts of people. And, from the rules they stated, people who wouldn’t like anyone to butt into their business. Right?" "Yes. I can see that." "Then, what would happen if word goes out that she’s been ratting on their customers?" "Oh." "They don’t need to trust us. As long as we play by the rules, we’ll be left alone. Just don’t get involved with them, and don’t do anything stupid like getting into a fight." "Okay." "Remember our goal in this city. We aren’t here to solve any issues from any other people. So, whatever you see or hear, just pretend you didn’t." "Right." I just raised a flag, didn’t I? I hope not. ::: Both clothes and lodging secured, we went back to the streets to explore. The big problem is that I didn’t have the time to fully learn the land the only other time I traversed it. I was fleeing pursuers at night. And it was three years ago. Maybe I could retrace my steps from the city walls to the den, but that might not be the best idea. First, because I have no way to make sure what point of the wall I jumped from. And second, because of the slums. That night, the fact I was fleeing from some big shots played in my favor. After all, nobody wants to butt into a business that could get them killed. But now, I’m just an ordinary, random ten-year-old girl. A perfect target. And my bodyguard is a woman, which might make some men think that they have the advantage. Of course, they have the advantage of the system, but then they would be up against me. And, to be honest, if the guys from that night were the standard here, then they don’t have a chance against me. So, that’s why we’re here, walking around the neighborhoods right south of the slums. I remember that the place was right next to the slums, but not exactly inside the slums itself, as it was a more distinct-looking building. Like a decaying manor. A testimony of wealthier times. The neighborhood we’re in right now looks exactly like that. It was probably the home of affluent families a long time ago. But right now, the buildings are all decrepit. Some are abandoned, and some of those seem to be inhabited by people who are spilling from the slums. As the dusk approaches, I decide to use the remaining light to try something. We go to an empty back alley, and I chant the strengthening aria, an aria that makes me lighter, and then the invisibility aria. With that, I jump onto the roof of a house, and from it, I jump to the roof of a two-story building, from which I can take a better view of our surroundings. I see something in the distance that might be what we’re looking for. I whisper to Yaci for her to wait for me in this place and hurry in that direction, running on the roofs of houses. I have fifteen minutes before my invisibility runs out. I can then cast it again, but I’ll be visible in that meantime. But this is the best I can do while I don’t find a way to fly with magic. As I approach the building I saw from that two-story building, I confirm that it is indeed the right place. I recognize the color of the walls and the room with two windows. Some of the guards also feel familiar. And the way it’s heavily guarded also stands out. If when I escaped the place was that guarded, I wouldn’t have made it. The guards also look more heavily armed. I decide to take the risk and cast Analyze Creature on one who’s standing with his back to the outside, looking at the windows. ---------- Wynn Race: human / Age: 23 Level: 289 / Job: Thief HP: 35,450/35,450 MP: 28,466/28,466 FP: 0/0 BODY Strength: 125 Agility: 142 Toughness: 123 Endurance: 120 Recuperation (consolidated): 109 Resistance (consolidated): 110 SOUL Analytical ability: 85 Focus: 99 Willpower: 109 Creativity: 78 Intuition: 83 Patience: 81 Memory: 101 Linguistic ability: 107 Spatial sense: 108 Musicality: 67 Kinesthetic sense: 121 Empathy: 44 Social awareness: 61 Mana sense: 57 SKILLS Cooking: 44​ Hiding: 52​ Dodging: 48​ Butchering: 8 Swordplay: 28 Throwing knives: 18 Knife fighting: 55 Wrestling: 4 Sleight of hand: 39 Feint: 35 TITLES Murderer [CRIME] [HIDDEN] Kidnapper [CRIME] [HIDDEN] Oathbreaker [HIDDEN] Slaver --------- Huh, it shows the crimes it committed. How... convenient. Also, this guy did some serious leveling up. His stats are way higher than the ones the guys from three years ago probably had. This is bad. The guy suddenly stirs up and looks around inquisitively. He obviously sensed that he was being appraised but couldn’t tell where the person is. The thing with that skill is that when you apply it to a creature, the creature can feel its effects. It’s like someone was opening your soul like a book and reading it. It’s a huge invasion of privacy, after all. One could get in serious trouble if they are caught doing it in the wrong context. In any case, I track back to Yaci. We now have information on both the place and an overall estimate of the strength of its defenses. The invisibility wears off right after I leave the field of vision of the mansion. So I just chant another aria and get invisible again. This is a good measurement as well. Now I know that it would be impossible to walk all the way to the inn with the girls within just the time of one invisibility spell. After all, I’m running on the roofs, with my stats increased by the body strengthening. And my body being lighter because of the gravity-tweaking effect allows me to jump quite far. It will take a bit more reconnaissance for us to make a good practical plan. But I’m confident we’ll make it work, somehow.