"The two entrances in the city are difficult for you five to access. One of them is situated in the basement of a well guarded store near the merchant's guild. The second one is exclusive for the city mayor and is situated in the basement of the mayor's manor. The manor is also well guarded, but no one seems to be aware of the entrance. So, we will enter the place through the store basement.
The access in the jungle is very inconspicuous. No one guards that narrow passage from the outside, but there are traps once you go in. You will need to trigger those traps with something and pour the poison in the passage before exiting and hiding behind some bush. The poison paralyses it's victim. Take care not to kill them. I must bring them to justice! Defend at all cost, kill if necessary."
Lee gave necessary instructions and transferred the information as to where the disguised passage is. He did not let them walk in rags as he brought 5 ordinary clothings and full body leather armours from the Shop. When the teary eyes shifted their sight between the armours and him repeatedly, Lee conveyed that it is a gift of cooperation. They held their tears of gratitude as they received them from Lee.
Using the darkness as a cover, Lee navigated the 5 warriors towards a portion of wall that seemed to be at the verge of collapse. After successfully making them cross across, Lee and An separated from the hobgoblins as they proceeded towards their respective exits.
"An, I want you to stay here for a minute. Let me go and place a present on the arena."
An nodded as an arena came into their sight, about 100 meters west to them. She remained in the shadows as Lee dashed at the arena. He hurriedly reached near and threw the disfigured corpses of Mo family elders. As they fell on the center of the arena, Lee had already ran halfway back. With a smile of satisfaction, they paced towards their destination.
--------------------------
=====
11 P.M.
3980 Essence harvested.
=====
Vicinity of the closed store, their destination.
Lee waited for the notification to pop up as the store guards change on an hourly basis, day and night. To change the shift, the guards go and report at the merchant's guild. Then the next pair of guards comes immediately and secures the storefront. Lee whispered to An that they only have a window of a few seconds to enter the store unnoticed. An did not respond in any manner.
Almost a minute later, the two guards moved towards the guild building. Lee and An swiftly moved to the storefront without making a noise. Lee immediately levitated himself as he supported An. Their eyes were set on the luxuriously large ventilation in the shape of a circle, above the door. The glass window covering it opened with a slight creak, but it was hardly audible. As they inserted themself into the ventilation completely, the next set of guards approached. The glass closed silently and a second later, one of the guards glanced up at the ventilation.
Inside the store.
An can hardly see anything, while Lee saw the entire interior like daylight. The 11 metres long and 9 metres wide store sold potions and pills. Almost all kinds of consumables were stacked on the racks of this mini-warehouse sized shop. The beautifully crafted wooden reception desk was a masterpiece. Lee stood frozen and said An to be still, until Lee thoroughly scouts the entire area.
Looking on the floor, there were numerous tripwires and trap settings laid in the darkness. If a normal thief was to enter, he might have been subjected to poison tipped arrows. Lee nodded as he comprehended the apparatus working. He slowly disabled the tripwire, but the existence of further hidden traps alarmed D. Lee was told not to step on the floor tiles, as they might trigger a trap. Lee understood D's point and took An into his hand.
Lee levitated above the floor with an inch or two separation. He glanced around and saw that all the products in view were connected to one massive trap apparatus. He scanned the room and saw a partially concealed door at the right most end of the northern wall. Lee floated towards the half disguised door. With a tap, it opened and exposed a 4 metre long dark and narrow passage barely enough to fit two people at once. Lee changed the position of An as he shifted her to his shoulder. He warned her about the narrow passage in front of them and it's potential dangers. She tucked her limbs and head at once.
Lee was very cautious, but the passage did not have any traps or sort. Unbeknownst to him, Lee just passed a miniature hell with guillotines and acid pool!
The passage ended with another dark room that had winding stairs going down. As D guessed, that stairs led to the basement where the guarded entry point was situated.
D did not feel brave enough to let Lee walk down the stairs, so he insisted on continuing levitation. The winding stairs took Lee and his party more than 12 meters deep down the surface, when a faint light appeared and gave away its presence. Lee placed An on the stairs after making sure that the stairs were safe to stand on. Lee floated upside down and peeked downward.
A large wooden door was guarded by 2 dark elves. Four lanterns that illuminated the area exposed their scarred face and muscular frame. Their eyes were heavy with sleep and fatigue as they leaned onto the nearby wall. After analysing the space, Lee raised himself and uprighted his position.
"Two dark elves...sleepy...4 torches."
Lee whispered these words in An's ears. She immediately understood what he conveyed. She nodded in agreement.
Lee again went upside down and peeked at them. He confirmed that they were barely hanging onto their last bit of consciousness.
'D, now what?'
[Wait, you are asking me? Why would you even ask me? You are the one who planned this infiltration. You should have thought of all possible contingencies!]
'Then I guess I will have to wait!'
Lee waited for 2 more minutes and the dark elves leaned onto the wall and fell asleep. Lee analysed the dark elves' micro expression and confirmed that they are in deep slumber. Lee lowered himself like a skilled hummingbird and floated towards them silently. He carefully neared the elves and sucked them into his EsGen storage.
[That was a creative way to solve the problem! Congrats!]
'I don't need your appreciation. Just watch from the sidelines.'
Lee stepped down on the floor and confirmed that there are no hidden traps. An came down as he signalled that it is safe to descend.
=====
12 Midnight.
4180 Essence harvested.
=====
"Now what? How do we open the door?"
An asked in a whispering manner as her eyes scanned the 2 and half metres tall and almost 2 metres wide wooden door with no carvings.
"According to the fat dwarf's memories, the door opens to a short passage when you pull this torch. There will be 3 guards inside. They will verify our identity. Intruders are killed on the spot!"
Lee spoke as he pointed at one of the torches on the wall.
"The passage takes you to the underground facility where slaves are sold off. It has two floors. The upper floor is the financial area where the slaves are traded. We might see many corrupted officials there. The lower floor is where the slaves are kept under lock and keys.
We either have to kill all those who are participating in the trades and then rescue the slaves, or sneak in, release the slaves and then kill all the others while escaping."
Lee took a pause and glanced at An for an answer. She smirked as her reply came in boldly-
"Why don't we kill our way in, free the slaves and then kill the rest our way out? We can create a pool of poison here, after we step in. It will be enough to knock them out!"
--------------------------------------
==========
Name: Lee
Age: 20
Title: Grim-reaper, Soul Liberator
Fame: 3169
Essence: 82780 (12 Midnight)
Money: 951 Gold, 96 Silver, 86 Copper
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Partner: An
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Health: 320
Strength: 320
Vitality: 320
Agility: 320
Defense: 320
Endurance: 320
Sense: 320
Intelligence: 320
Resolve: 325
----------
Immunity:-
• Greater Poison Immunity (1887/1000000)
• Medium Lightning Immunity (3229/10000)
• Medium Air Immunity (200/10000)
• Lesser Sedative Immunity (35/100)
Affinity:-
• Greater Poison Affinity (11885/1000000)
• Greater Lightning Affinity (12393/1000000)
• Medium Fire Affinity (0/10000)
• Medium Water Affinity (0/10000)
• Medium Ice Affinity (0/10000)
• Greater Rock Affinity (11975/1000000)
• Greater Metal Affinity (11974/1000000)
• Medium Sand Affinity (286/10000)
• Greater Nature Affinity (11984/1000000)
• Medium Air Affinity (1165/10000)
• Greater Sound Affinity (12371/1000000)
• Greater Dark Affinity (11797/1000000)
• Medium Light Affinity (0/10000)
• Medium Death Affinity (286/10000)
----------
Mastery:-
• Absolute Blade Mastery
• Absolute Nunchuck Mastery
• Medium Bow Mastery (796/10000)
----------
Cultivation: Peak stage Core Formation realm
Qi: 0/1100
Mana: 0
----------
Skills:-
• View
• Foresight
• EsGen
• EsConv
• Flight
• Spotless
• Information Transfer
----------
INVENTORY:-
QUESTS:-
MAP:-
SHOP:-
ALTER:-
==========