Adam perched silently on a thick branch, blending into the shadows cast by the canopy overhead.
He observed the Arthur family mansion from his vantage point, noting its grandeur and intimidating security.
The mansion was massive, sprawling across the hillside with a view over the entire city below, nestled within a private forest that separated it from the rest of the district.
The dense tree line and the strategic location on the hill gave the mansion an almost fortress-like appearance.
The estate itself was nothing short of majestic. A sprawling garden stretched in front of the mansion, a display of nature carefully pruned and arranged.
Gardeners moved between rows of exotic trees and neatly trimmed hedges, their presence a reminder of the estate's wealth and power.
To the right, a stable housed well-kept horses, each likely as valuable as the land around it, while a large pond lay to the left, its clear waters alive with colorful fish gliding just beneath the surface.
It was a peaceful scene, though the high walls and the vigilant security teams made it clear that this was a haven only for the privileged.
The mansion's architecture reflected the Arthur family's status, with towering walls encircling the entire property.
Tall security towers dotted the perimeter, each staffed with guards on constant lookout, scanning for any sign of intruders.
Adam counted 6 or 7 guards on each tower, all keeping a sharp eye on the grounds below.
From his position, Adam had a perfect view of the mansion's exterior.
Large, gleaming windows dominated the walls, each one an extravagant display of wealth.
At the center, a massive wooden gate served as the main entrance, intricately carved with symbols that told stories of power and history.
Gardens surrounded the mansion on every side, enhancing its majestic yet impregnable appearance.
Adam's gaze moved to the security setup—patrolling guards moved methodically, their routines precise and disciplined.
Taking in every detail, he weighed his options. This was no ordinary mansion; every angle screamed luxury and impenetrability.
Adam activated his skill, God's Eye, the ability enhancing his sight and revealing hidden elements beyond what a normal eye could perceive.
"[Host skill active: God's Eye]," a faint message flashed before his mind as the skill activated.
With this ability, a faint, transparent magical barrier shimmered into view around the mansion.
The barrier was a warning trap—any unauthorized magic would trigger it instantly, alerting the mansion's inhabitants.
The magic was finely tuned, meant to detect even the slightest fluctuations of mana in the vicinity.
Adam's gaze intensified, focusing now on individuals within the mansion.
He could sense their strong magical auras, far more potent than the guards outside.
These were no ordinary members of the Arthur household; they were high-ranking mages or powerful family members, each possessing an impressive reserve of magical energy.
He shifted his focus further, allowing God's Eye to pierce the mansion's walls and glimpse the interior.
The heart of the mansion was a grand hall with a vaulted ceiling that arched high above, adorned with a massive crystal chandelier that glowed softly, casting light over the red carpet stretching across the floor.
Two broad staircases wound upward from the hall, leading to the upper floors.
Lavish rooms filled the mansion, each a testament to the Arthur family's wealth.
Adam's gaze swept past a grand library—its walls lined with ancient tomes—and found his target. In the middle of the library, a man with a powerful aura, distinct from the others, stood with an air of authority.
This was the head of the Arthur family.
"I just need to meet the head of the family. All I have to do is slip in without raising an alarm," Adam murmured, formulating his strategy as he observed every inch of the estate.
The outside guards patrolled regularly along their routes, leaving no blind spots. However, Adam's God's Eye revealed a pattern to their movements.
He noted each guard's position and the timing of their shifts, watching them move along the outer walls of the mansion.
Despite his stealth, Adam faced a significant challenge. Even if he could evade the guards outside, the guards in the security towers would still have a clear view of the grounds. Any wrong move, and he would be instantly spotted.
He waited on the branch, his gaze tracking each patrol as he calculated his approach. After a while, he identified a rhythm.
The guards shifted positions, each stopping at a specific point for precisely two seconds.
These pauses were brief but consistent, leaving tiny windows that he could exploit to make his way closer.
Adam smirked. 'Two seconds… that's all I need.'
The entire plan played out in his mind. He would have to bypass each guard during their two-second window, keeping himself hidden in the shadows.
He would slip through the gaps undetected, waiting in hiding until the next opportunity arose.
Inside, he could expect fewer guards—most were stationed outside—but he noted the presence of guards outside every room.
That, combined with the house servants bustling about the halls, meant there were plenty of potential eyes and ears.
"Let's see how well your security holds up," Adam whispered to himself as he slipped down from the tree branch, his movements as silent as a shadow.
Adam runs very fast towards the wall of the mansion; if an ordinary person sees him, he will only see Adam's black shadow.
While running towards the mansion, Adam sees the guard in the tower. As soon as the guard looks in the other direction, Adam jumps over the outer wall of the mansion and goes inside.
Upon jumping inside, Adam hides in a bush that was nearby and which Adam had already seen from outside the mansion.
As soon as the patrolling guard present there stops for 2 seconds, Adam moves from his first point to the second point and hides in another bush there also.
Adam does this for 15 minutes and finally reaches just outside the mansion where no one is watching him and he now has to go inside the mansion.
To be connected...