"Ah, I hadn't anticipated encountering such difficulties, Mr. Davion," Vance exclaimed, his voice filled with surprise upon hearing the account of their recent escapade in the forest, where they went to assess Blatt's skills.
"But I'm relieved that all of you returned unharmed. Moreover, now that we have confirmed Blatt's capabilities and concluded our trade dealings, we can finally depart from this place!" Vance's excitement grew as he contemplated their imminent return to the capital.
Not that he was homesick, of course. It was simply the prospect of making a substantial contribution that stirred his enthusiasm.
He discreetly glanced at Davion, inwardly sighing. If only he were one of the esteemed young elites acknowledged by the family, he might have been entitled to a significant share of the rewards. However, he was merely an inconspicuous figure within the Sorneo House. As the team leader, he held less influence than Davion, a mere guard. Vance would have to share his accomplishments with Davion, settling for a fraction of what he desired.
Unlike his butler, Acelo, who solely pursued accomplishments, Vance sought recognition. As a blood relative of the family, he yearned for validation, for it was through the family's acknowledgment that he could gain access to the necessary resources for growth. Only by becoming stronger could he solidify his position and elevate his status within House Sorneo.
Lost in his musings, Vance suddenly recalled the pivotal factor that had made this venture so fruitful.
"I must establish a favorable relationship with Blatt," he resolved, realizing that Blatt had the potential to earn the family's recognition and potentially secure a superior position to his own. "No, that won't do. Instead of finding myself in a subservient position, having Blatt as my subordinate would be advantageous. That way, no one within the family would dare underestimate me."
"All right, rest for now, everyone. We will depart at dawn tomorrow." He instructed his attendants while retreating to his room in a contemplative mood.
...
Within the sprawling confines of the Handler family mansion, nestled away in a guest area reserved for visitors of lesser importance than the esteemed guests from House Sorneo who enjoyed their opulent villa, a lavishly adorned and spacious room housed a figure in deep slumber.
Suddenly, the figure's eyes fluttered open, and they sat upright on the grand bed.
"Hmm, let's ensure the surroundings are secure, just in case," Anom murmured to himself, rousing from his sleep. Making his way toward the door, he closed his eyes and directed his focus inward, centering his attention on his spirit. Of course, while it was called a spirit, it didn't have a fixed form; rather, the sensation of having his inner energy circulate according to his commands was what Anom usually referred to as one. The actual form, or lack thereof, would only be revealed after he had taken the first major step on the path of an energy practitioner by successfully awakening his spirit. Currently, his level of cultivation falls short of perceiving and harnessing the elusive energy in the environment. Nevertheless, Anom possessed a unique solution.
Delving deeper into his introspection, Anom tapped into his enigmatic soul, which surpassed even his spirit in its mysterious nature. Empowered by its ethereal essence, his senses heightened to unprecedented levels, transcending the limitations of mortal perception. The energy that lay beyond the atoms was teasing him as it slipped past his senses, not coming closer. He could only work with what was available in the tangible atmosphere. But for now, that was enough.
He attentively observed the subtle energy fluctuations in the hallway outside his door, mapping out the intricate web of disturbances. Scrutinizing every angle, Anom discerned several minor disruptions that would typically go unnoticed.
"Four guards. Three are generating negligible disturbances, while the remaining one exhibits more activity. Perhaps a night owl," Anom swiftly analyzed the situation, formulating his plan to exit the room without attracting any unwanted attention from the guards.
He needn't fret excessively, for these guards were not specifically assigned to monitor him. Anom felt a wave of relief, knowing that Davion or Vance had not arranged for him to reside in their villa. Navigating the premises under the watchful eye of a Spirit Ranker would have proved significantly more challenging, to say the least.
Silently opening the door without a creak, Anom stepped out calmly before gently closing it behind him.
The nearest guard stood just around the corner to his right, the most vigilant of the lot. However, Anom paid little attention to his presence, as his intended path lay in the opposite direction.
Navigating the marbled hallways of the Handler mansion with utmost stealth, Anom discreetly slipped past various guards and servants who were diligently completing their nightly duties.
Based on his gathered intelligence, Anom needed to descend to the basement, where his destination awaited—the Treasury.
Of course, this was no grand palace, and Anom harbored no intentions of looting it bare. Rather, his objective was to acquire a few items from the Handler family's resource vault that might prove useful in his future endeavors. Additionally, this covert venture served as an opportunity for him to reassess his abilities in this new world. Instead of the familiar mechanical or digital locks, he anticipated encountering intricate formation arrays and the like.
Anom had contemplated delving into the study of arrays, although he remained unsure where to commence his exploration.
Besides these, he also had another objective, but that would have to wait until after he had infiltrated the treasury.
Mulling over his plans, Anom swiftly proceeded toward the staircase leading underground.
Although referred to as a basement, it was, in fact, a sprawling underground level replete with storage chambers for various goods. Naturally, important resources found their home here. Anom harbored no grand expectations of a lucrative haul; he merely sought to acquaint himself with the surroundings, rekindling the thieving instincts he hadn't exercised in quite some time.
Approaching the staircase, Anom reduced his pace as he caught sight of two individuals standing near the entrance. Two guards adorned in the Handler family's logoed attire stood at attention, appearing considerably more alert than those he had encountered thus far. Well, one of them was, while the other seemed to be taking a nap. Maybe this was their way of conserving energy by taking turns guarding.
Concealed within the shadows, Anom momentarily observed the entrance to the lower floor before retreating. Circumventing the hallway, he made three consecutive right turns and approached the staircase once again, this time from a different angle.
Pressing himself against the wall, he utilized the intricate carvings adorning its surface to aid his ascent. Securing a firm grip, Anom propelled himself upward in one fluid motion, deftly maneuvering toward the ceiling. Lamps lined the hallways, casting their glow solely upon the floors while leaving the upper sections shrouded in relative darkness. Another set of ceiling lamps remained unlit, reserved for special occasions or to conserve energy. This fortunate circumstance spared Anom the trouble of finding an alternative route to access the lower floor had the stairs proven impassable.
Observing the guards from above, Anom moved deftly and stealthily. His hands sought out the grooves on the wall, using them as leverage to propel himself forward. Maintaining a constant state of movement was crucial, as there were limited support points to bear his weight.
While the action may sound simple, it required acute judgment skills to swiftly analyze the ideal angles to move his body in the darkness, ensuring minimal disturbance.
Closing the distance, Anom arrived near the staircase, where the guards stood watch.
Exercising utmost caution, he began descending while gripping the beam. Fortunately, the ceiling was sufficiently high, matching the grandeur of the mansion, affording Anom an undetectable passage.
Initially maintaining a measured pace, Anom quickened his descent once he put sufficient distance between himself and the guards. Arriving on the underground floor, he took a moment to survey his surroundings.
"All clear." As expected, the area did not deviate significantly from his expectations. Given its limited access points, guarding them sufficed for a standard level of security.
Moreover, most of the goods stored there consisted of provisions such as grains and other food items. The consumption demands of the mansion's occupants were nothing to scoff at. Furthermore, Anom suspected that the room he sought would be heavily fortified against intruders.
Advancing through the silent passageways, Anom navigated the storage area into which he had descended. The faint scent of spices and other ingredients permeated the air, creating an unexpectedly soothing ambiance that contrasted with the eerie darkness.
Since the rooms were designed for storage, they were relatively spacious, ideal for accommodating goods in bulk. Consequently, the hallways followed a straightforward layout, with a main path branching into numerous smaller passages on either side.
Anom scrutinized each path but found nothing to capture his attention. Nevertheless, he pressed onward, continuing his search.
"Where could it be?" Anom halted abruptly at the end of the hallway. Despite scouring the entire floor, the room supposedly housing the Handlers' valuable wealth remained elusive.
This was no spur-of-the-moment decision. Earlier in the evening, when they had returned from the forest, Sino and Selvo had visited Vance's villa to congratulate them. Caught up in the joy of Blatt's successful acceptance, Sino ordered a servant to retrieve some special wine from the storage area beneath the mansion. That was when Anom became aware of this floor's existence.
However, that wasn't all. Upon their return, Davion presented Sino with the herbs they had collected, along with information on the various herb-gathering locations and beast territories.
The Handlers were responsible for collecting and supplying these herbs to the Sorneo House. Bringing Blatt along was intended to secure those sites for the Handlers, a task that would have taken months without their assistance. After all, they couldn't rely solely on their lone spirit ranker to gather the necessary herbs.
Later, Anom overheard some servants mention Sino's visit to the storage area. The fact that the family head had personally ventured into such a location piqued Anom's interest, leading to his speculation about the presence of a Treasury.
"Could I have been mistaken?" Anom surveyed his surroundings, finding nothing that matched his criteria.
"Wait..." Anom suddenly paused, his gaze fixed on the wall ahead. "Based on the measurements I made, this wall should be positioned further, indicating the possibility of a hidden room behind it." Drawing nearer, Anom was about to run his hands along the surface in search of gaps, but he stopped just before making contact.
"I'm rarely mistaken about such things, but..." Anom rubbed his chin, a smile creeping across his face. "It seems I need to upgrade not only my skills but also my mindset."
Taking a step back, Anom closed his eyes, engaging his spirit to scan the surroundings.
The physical world unraveled before him, unveiling the concealed truth. Energy fluctuations emanated from all directions, but Anom filtered through the rest, focusing on those emanating from within the walls.
His senses penetrated the wall, detecting a thin layer of energy akin to a protective barrier. Pushing further, he finally located what he had been seeking.
A complex interweaving of glowing lines caught his attention. Such luminescence could only be perceived by his spirit; ordinary sight remained oblivious to its existence.
Anom continued to explore the array, tracing its connection to the lock, but a solution eluded him.
That's not to say he couldn't bypass it. No, it was difficult but feasible. However, he had also detected sensory-type arrays integrated into the formation's structure. Any unauthorized access or energy manipulation would trigger an alarm, alerting the security system.
"Well, it's not my first time coming up empty-handed, but it's still disheartening." Anom sighed, realizing how outdated his skills had become in this world.
Nevertheless, he refused to be discouraged. If anything, he was grateful for this opportunity to assess his abilities. After all, this was merely an ordinary city, underdeveloped from the kingdom's broader perspective. He could only imagine the barriers and challenges he would encounter on his path. Without adequate preparation, disaster could befall him. Thus, while his venture yielded no tangible gains, he learned an invaluable lesson.
Just as Anom prepared to turn and depart, a series of footsteps echoed from behind.