**Chapter 106: Infiltrating the Duke's Manor**
With his skills newly upgraded, Su Yu set out to continue his main quest. He called Tima to his side and made his way to Yuwei Lane in the southern part of Maple Leaf City.
Duke Cypher's manor lay at the end of Fishtail Lane, covering a vast section of the city's south side. Judging by the city map, the estate took up nearly half of that area. Finding it was easy, but Su Yu decided to play it safe. He returned briefly to consult the [Disguise Master], taking on the appearance of an unremarkable mercenary soldier.
Approaching the manor, Su Yu hid beneath the eaves, observing from a distance. At the main gate stood two guards clad head-to-toe in heavy iron armor, which seemed uncomfortable in the heat. Yet, they stood motionless, steely and watchful.
Activating [Invisibility], Su Yu began inching towards the gate, but as he closed within ten meters, the guards stirred. Their hands fell to their swords, eyes locking onto him as if they sensed his presence.
With his cover blown, Su Yu had no choice but to retreat.
---
After his failed attempt at the main entrance, Su Yu decided to scout the manor's perimeter, hoping to find an unguarded gap or vulnerable spot in the wall. But after several hundred meters, it became clear that the entire estate was shielded by an extensive magical barrier. Su Yu realized he lacked the strength to bypass the barrier without setting off alarms.
While he hadn't yet succeeded, Su Yu wasn't discouraged. This was a main quest, which meant there had to be a way to get inside—he just needed to find it.
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With no easy entry into the manor, Su Yu decided to dig for clues in the nearby area, especially around Fishtail Lane. Stopping to speak with the locals, he put his "financial charm" to work.
"Hey there, ma'am, I was wondering if you could tell me a little about—"
"Go away, can't you see I'm busy?"
"Well, perhaps 30 psionic coins would make it worth your time…"
The NPC aunt's eyes lit up. "Why, of course! What would you like to know?"
Using his coin pouch as an incentive, Su Yu sifted through local gossip and anecdotes. Much of it was trivial, but he remained patient, filtering through the noise for useful leads.
Finally, an old man's comments caught his attention.
"Oh, speaking of gossip! Yesterday, I saw the Duke and Viscount Carter's wife together," the man chuckled. "That woman's a sight to behold! Walking with such sway, it'd tempt a saint!"
Su Yu raised an eyebrow. "You saw them *walking* together? Wouldn't the Duke normally use a carriage for something like that?"
The old man smirked, sensing Su Yu's interest. "Oh, I saw them outside Pim Hunter's house! The Duke visits him often, always with a few beauties—usually the wives of other nobles. It's an open secret around Fishtail Lane."
"Is that so?" Su Yu nodded thoughtfully.
This was a lead worth following. Why would a duke frequently visit a beautician, and with other people's wives no less? A man of his status didn't need to go to such lengths to impress noblewomen.
"Looks like I should pay Pim Hunter a visit," Su Yu mused.
---
Five minutes later, Su Yu found himself outside Pim Hunter's house. The three-story villa stood out with its pristine white walls and sculpted details, surrounded by a sprawling courtyard.
Two guards stood at the entrance, dressed in leather armor. Unlike the ones at the Duke's manor, these guards appeared less vigilant, making it easy for Su Yu to slip past them using [Invisibility].
Once inside, he conducted a careful search through the villa.
---
Persistence paid off. After combing through various rooms, Su Yu discovered what he was looking for in a firewood shed at the back of the house—a concealed trapdoor. Sliding aside the planks on the floor, he uncovered a narrow passage.
The tunnel extended westward, running directly towards the Duke's manor. Su Yu grinned. This hidden path likely led straight into the manor, explaining how the Duke discreetly entertained guests without attracting attention.
He pieced together the situation: Duke Cypher was having illicit liaisons with the wives of other nobles, yet he took care to protect his reputation by bringing them to this secluded house before slipping them into the manor via the secret passage.
---
Now that he had a way in, Su Yu prepared to descend. But before he could move, a soft blue-white glow caught his eye as a figure flitted into the shed.
He turned to find Morningstar, the cat, landing beside him.
"What are you doing here?" he asked in a low voice.
She straightened, preening a little. "Ailije was worried about you, so she sent me to help. I tracked you by your aura."
Morningstar leapt onto his shoulder, her eyes glinting with curiosity as she noticed the open trapdoor. "And this is?"
"A secret passage to the Duke's manor," Su Yu explained briefly.
"Oh, I see." Morningstar's tail swished confidently. "Then let's go! With me here, you'll have nothing to worry about!"
"Alright." Su Yu nodded.
He closed the shed's door to cover their tracks before he and Morningstar dropped down into the underground tunnel.
---
The initial part of the passage was narrow, but before long, the space opened up into a vast underground chamber.
The walls glowed with embedded luminous stones, casting a bright light across the area. Su Yu took in the scene, noting that the chamber stretched about 1,600 square meters in a near-perfect square.
This square chamber was marked by a grid-like pattern of eight-by-eight tiles, each roughly five meters across and alternating between black and white. Huge statues dotted the grid, some resembling watchtowers, others shaped like chess pieces—a knight's horse head here, a bishop's staff there.
The entire chamber had been arranged to resemble an enormous chessboard!
(End of Chapter)