A few hours later, I arrived in the city. The streets were quiet, shrouded in darkness, with only the occasional flicker of a lantern breaking the stillness. It was still nighttime, and most of the city was asleep, giving the place an eerie calm.
<< Unique Skill: Spirit Manipulation >>
I activated the skill, feeling the familiar surge of magicules flow through me. A thin mist of black fog began to form around my feet, swirling and growing thicker until, from within it, a murder of crows emerged. Their dark feathers glistened faintly in the moonlight, and they cawed softly, almost in unison, as they took to the air.
I watched as they soared up into the night sky, spreading out in all directions. Through my connection with them, I could see what they saw, hear what they heard. "Find the Gen Lee household," I whispered, my voice barely audible, but the crows understood.
Like shadows, they dispersed, disappearing into the darkness, moving silently across the city. They would scout every corner, every alley, and every hidden passage until they located the Gen Lee family's estate. As I watched them fade into the night, I felt a cold, calculating smile form on my lips. It was only a matter of time now before I find the mansion.
Afterward, I continued through the quiet streets of the city. The guards were out, dutifully patrolling their designated areas, their armor clinking softly as they moved. Not wanting to draw any unnecessary attention, I masked my presence, slipping through the shadows like a ghost. They passed by me, completely unaware of my existence, and I continued on without a hitch.
I made my way up to one of the rooftops, scaling the side of a building with ease, and perched myself on the edge. The view from up here gave me a better perspective of the city's layout, but it also provided me with the perfect spot for a quick break. Reaching into my coat pocket, I took out my phone and decided to make a call.
The man I was calling was the same who called me earlier. His name was Steve, the same guy who had contacted me earlier. Steve was in his 40s, and while he had no particular combat skills, he was well-connected. That was his real strength—his network of contacts spanning various factions, guilds, and groups. It was what gave him the leverage to navigate the dangerous world he operated in.
Steve worked as a middleman, someone who brokered deals and found clients for different kinds of jobs. His main business was locating people who could complete specific tasks and offering them a deal, all while taking a cut for himself. He was known for always trying to swindle a bit more out of any agreement, playing both sides if it meant a bigger payout.
Because of this, I usually just call Him Steve Jobs. It's quite the fitting name, I fitting name if you ask me. Though his always throwing a fit when I call him that. Which also insentivisies me to do it even more.
While waiting for him to pick up, I watched quite city with a somber expression.The night was silent, the air cool, and I could almost see the crows still circling overhead, scouting for the Gen Lee estate.
"Hello!" Steve's voice crackled through the line, cheerful but with a hint of suspicion. I smiled slightly, replying in a calm tone, "Steve, did you get any new information about the Gen Lee family?"
"Nah... nothing yet," Steve replied, sounding resolute but a bit frustrated. "My spies haven't found anything suspicious."
"Listen," I said, my voice still calm but firm, "I don't think I'll take the job right away."
"What?! No, no, no, no… you can't do that!" Steve's tone shifted instantly, from confusion to borderline panic. "But you said you would do it!"
"No," I corrected him, still keeping my composure, "I said I'd come by to get more information. The details you have aren't really enough for me to get involved."
There was a pause, and I could almost hear Steve's brain working on the other end, trying to figure out how to spin this. "Look, Michael, you're the best guy I know for a job like this. If you back out now, I'm screwed. I mean, come on, don't make this harder than it needs to be."
"Not my problem," I replied casually. "You're the one who's supposed to be good at finding people. Use those skills, Steve."
"Oh, come on!" he said, his voice rising a bit. "I've already told the clients I have someone reliable. If you back out, my reputation's on the line. You know how this works."
"Then maybe you should've waited for confirmation before making promises," I shot back, still unfazed. "It's your reputation, not mine."
"You're seriously going to leave me hanging like this?" Steve's voice was almost pleading now. "I don't ask for much, Michael, but this... this could be a big opportunity for you. You know the kind of money we're talking about here."
"Money doesn't matter if I don't have the information I need," I said, my tone firm. "I'm not going in blind just because you need a win."
Steve groaned, exasperated. "Listen, Michael, I know how you operate, okay? But trust me on this one. The Gen Lee family's offering a rare chance here. If you pull this off, you'll be set for a while. You don't have to worry about any other gigs."
"Sounds nice, but I've heard this pitch before," I said, my voice dripping with amusement. "You're good, Steve, but not good enough to change my mind. I need solid intel, and right now, all you have is vague rumors."
Steve was quiet for a moment, trying to think of another angle. "Look, if you're worried about the details, I can dig deeper. I'll get more information—anything you want. Just don't back out yet, okay? Give me a chance."
"I'm not backing out," I clarified, "I just haven't agreed to anything yet. There's a difference. And unless you can give me something concrete, I'm not stepping in."
"Michael, please," Steve's voice softened, almost desperate. "You're killing me here. I've already got people expecting results. If I tell them you're not in, it's going to make things really complicated for me."
I chuckled softly. "Steve, you've been in this business long enough to know that complications are part of the game. I'm sure you'll figure it out. They don't call you Steve Jobs for nothing."
"I told you, I don't like that nickname," Steve muttered, a hint of irritation slipping through. "Especially when you're refusing one of my jobs."
"Then maybe you should work on a better pitch," I teased. "I'm sure you can convince some other poor souls to take the job. You've got a way with words."
"Damn it, man... I was really counting on you for this," he said, his frustration finally bubbling over. "Thanks for bringing my hopes up and then crushing them in a matter of hours."
"Don't worry, I'm sure they'll do great," I said, still smiling. "And if things really go sideways, maybe I'll drop by to see the show."
"You don't get to say that!" Steve snapped, clearly at the end of his rope. "I mean it, Michael. I really need you to pull through on this."
"And I'm telling you, I don't have enough to go on," I said, my tone unyielding. "You're going to have to handle this one without me. Unless, of course, you can magically find the information I'm looking for overnight."
There was a long, heavy silence on the other end, and I could tell Steve was trying to decide if it was worth pushing further. Finally, he let out a resigned sigh. "Alright, fine. You win, as usual.
"By the way, who did you hire?" I asked, sounding casually curious, like it was just small talk.
"Huh, why do you care?" Steve replied, his tone a bit puzzled but relaxed. "It's just a bunch of mercenaries. Nothing special."
I nodded, acting like it was no big deal. "Makes sense. For a job like this, you'd need a group that's reliable. Can't afford to have any rookies screwing things up."
"Exactly," Steve said, his voice brightening a little. "These guys are solid. They've done this kind of work before, so I'm not worried."
"Yeah, but they're strong, right?" I continued, still keeping it light. "If they're going into the forest to find some rare herb, they'll need to handle whatever comes at them. It's not exactly a picnic out there."
"Don't worry, they can handle themselves," Steve said, sounding confident. "I wouldn't hire amateurs for something like this. They're tough enough to play bodyguard if they need to."
"Good to know," I said, nodding. "So, when are they heading out? Early morning, I assume?"
"Yeah, just after sunrise," Steve replied. "The Gen Lees are gonna do some interviews, check them out first, and if they're good, they'll get the job."
"Sounds like you've got it all planned out," I said with a small smile. "Smart to vet them first. Keeps things simple."
Steve chuckled. "Yeah, well, you know me. I don't like surprises."
"Right. Well, thanks for the info, Steve. Hope it all goes smoothly."
"No problem," Steve said, and I could almost hear him shrug. "Just... let me know if you change your mind."
"We'll see, thanks for the info" I replied, sounding nonchalat
Sure thing man and remember…"I'll hold you to that promise you made me."
Hearing this, I couldn't resist the urge to mess with him a bit. "Huh? What promise are you talking about?" I replied, feigning confusion. "I don't recall giving you any promises, Steve."
Steve's tone shifted immediately, his voice rising in shock and frustration. "What? Don't play with me, Michael! You know exactly what I mean. You said you'd help me if anything goes astray."
"Yeah, but that wasn't a promise," I replied, my voice calm and sure. "It was more like… a suggestion."
"You know what?" Steve snapped, clearly getting agitated. "You should respect your elders, kid. It's a promise because you owe me for canceling that job."
I couldn't help but chuckle. "Steve, Steve, Steve… I never agreed to take the job in the first place, so that excuse doesn't quite hold up. Nice try, though."
"What?" Steve stammered, his voice cracking slightly. "You—!"
"Come on, old man," I interrupted, my tone playful. "Don't tell me you're getting forgetful in your old age. I'm starting to worry about you."
"You little—!" Steve's frustration was palpable, and I could almost picture him clenching his fists on the other end of the line. "You can't just say you'll be there and then twist your words around like this!"
"Oh, I'm just twisting words now, am I?" I said, laughing softly. "I guess you should've gotten it in writing, Steve. Then maybe it would've been a real 'promise.'"
There was a long, exasperated sigh on the other end of the phone. "You're seriously going to keep messing with me, huh?" Steve grumbled. "Alright, fine. I get it. But you still owe me, and you know it."
"Maybe I do," I replied, my tone teasing. "But maybe I'll just keep dragging this out, making you squirm a little. I mean, it's kind of fun."
"Ugh, you're impossible," Steve muttered, sounding defeated. "Fine, you win. Just… if things do go sideways, I'm counting on you."
I smirked, leaning back as I spoke. "Now, was that so hard, Steve? You could've just said please, you know."
Another groan came through the phone. "Just… shut up, Michael."
"Sure thing, old man," I said with a grin. "But I'll be around if you need me. Maybe."
Steve let out a resigned sigh, finally giving in. "Alright, alright. You win this round. Just don't make me regret relying on you."
"Wouldn't dream of it," I said, my voice light with amusement. "Talk to you soon, Steve."
With that, I hung up, still smiling. It was always entertaining to get under his skin, but I knew he'd be back—he always was.
After hanging up, I decided to tap into my crows and see what they had found. They were perched around the mansion, scattered across multiple parts of the building to cover every angle, hanging from ledges, and nestled in dark corners. I closed my eyes, letting my consciousness shift through theirs, one by one.
The first crow's vision showed a few guards chatting animatedly near the entrance. I focused, but there was nothing notable here—just idle conversation. I switched to another crow, scanning through its eyes, but saw more of the same—empty courtyards and dimly lit hallways. Of course, it was late at night, so not much was happening in the manor. But as they say, the devil makes his deals at night.
I moved to the next crow, guiding its view closer to the mansion, zooming in past the walls. That's when I saw them—two men in a dark room, with a few guards stationed inside. The crow flew near the window, but it was still too far to catch any words, so I just watched.
One of the men, based on his attire, seemed to be the head of the household—dressed in finely tailored clothes, with a posture that screamed authority. The other man was draped in robes, a staff clutched in his hand. A mage, perhaps? They talked for a while, their conversation hidden behind thick walls, and I could only guess at what they were discussing.
Eventually, the mage left the room with one of the guards, making his way down to the basement. The crow silently followed, fluttering between shadows, until it saw the mage pull out a magical book and begin writing in it. I took note of that. Whatever was in that book might be important. I shifted my focus back to the first man.
He remained in the room for a while, writing on a piece of paper, occasionally glancing out the window as if deep in thought. After some time, he got up, left the room, and headed to his office. I watched as he carefully placed the papers in a drawer and then walked off to his own quarters.
Once their movements settled down, I guided the crows to survey the house from above, skimming over the roof and getting a better sense of the layout. I made a mental note of the guards' positions, counting how many there were and where they were stationed around the property. They were spread out but vigilant, keeping a steady watch over the entrances and the perimeter.
Still, something was off. I couldn't find any sign of the so-called "sick" girl anywhere in the house. Where could they be hiding her? If I can find and heal her, that would buy me enough time to scan through their entire household and possibly take their magical weapons. But it was strange... If she was really sick, why wasn't she in an obvious, easy-to-reach location?
The crows couldn't enter the mansion itself because of the barrier they had set up around the building—a protective measure, no doubt. But that wouldn't be a problem. One of my other areas of expertise, aside from weapons, is barriers. I've studied and mastered nearly every kind of barrier there is, so slipping through without triggering any alarms wouldn't be hard. They wouldn't even know I was there.
I switched back to the perspective of one of the crows perched near the main entrance, watching the guards rotate their shifts. "Once the interviews start," I thought, "I'll make my move."
I had all night to prepare, and by the time morning came, I'd be ready to slip in, undetected.