6 Infiltration (1/2)
Well past midnight, on a manmade clearing next to a small stream, lights can be seen moving around in a three tall white mansion, some lights moving frantically around while some totally still with slight flickers.
Some ways away from the mansion, a bush can be seen moving along the stream, creeping closer and closer to mansion, and if one had a good hearing then he might hear the muffled grumbles of the bush... err rather the being in the bush.
”I don't have much time for this, I need to be back before dawn”
It's precisely Yu that had stuck branches and leaves to himself using the spider's threads, now in a full disguise heading toward the mansion with slow steps.
'Sprinting isn't an option but I guess I can move faster, but I need to make sure they don't see me first'
Being bound by the time limit, Yu stares at the mansion in the dark night, with such a bad lightning condition it would be hard to tell apart the mansions rooms let alone if anyone is staying there.
After staring for a while Yu sighs to himself.
”I should just give up, if they catch me I don't think I can make it out alive, and I can still make use of other ways to set traps, with all these lights roaming around I guess there must be quite a number of them awake at this hour..”
The Cranen house is indeed many volumes better than the Rakak and thus their servants would definitely be more reliable than the useless ones he had met before.
”Hmm? wait lights! Yes, if those lights refer to the patrolling guards then I might have a chance, ugh why didn't I think of that earlier.”
With the new found hope Yu starts counting the light with his eyes and noting their positions
'If we take into account the height deference I can guess there are about 3 floors with the third being one huge room, a hall or maybe the Core room, 4 guards seem to be staying on the first floor with 2 of them standing still at the gates and 2 patrolling, since they aren't grimoire holders I believe they don't have any of their summons out'
Contracted Souls are hard to control and they put a strain on the soul if used for prolonged duration, thus even if they had their Beasts out then it would be meaningless as they wouldn't have energy to fight themselves let alone control their Soul Beasts.
'4 people are at the second floor, they shouldn't be guards as maids and butlers are also needed, which means...'
Looking back up at the stable light on the third floor Yu stares hard at it for a while before closing his eyes in contemplation.
'With 3 lights moving around the mansion at the second floor and 1 light still I'm almost sure 4 people are there, and since only 10 people can be brought to the battlefield then there must be only two people at the third floor and going by that logic the third floor should be the core room with two guards in it, the first floor with 4 guards, and the second floor holds 3 maids or butlers and the head of guards...'
Opining his eyes Yu stares at the mansion once again but this time with slight irritation.
”I can't use the same tactic like last time obviously, and I can't just barge in and rush up unless I want to die quickly. Which means I need to sneak in one way or another.”
Looking around Yu tries to come up with a plan, and while at it he starts creeping toward the mansion again but with a faster pace than last time while keeping in mind the movements of the patrol.
'Main gate is a big NO. There shouldn't be a backdoor as the other two mansions didn't have one and I don't want to waste my limited time by going all around the mansion based on speculations, so if doors are a no go then the only way is.. windows'
Thinking up to here Yu starts looking for the windows on the third floor
”closed”
'Well off course who would open a window at that height in the middle of the cold night, speaking of which I'm shivering.'
Yu let a shiver go through his body as he lowered his gaze toward the second floor.
'Since the third floor doesn't have an open window and opining one would be too obvious given that its a single room, the second floors windows would have to do, as long as I avoid the lights I can be safe, now I took into account the places they seem to be frequently visiting so the left wing at the back would be the best option.'
As he was thinking that a light suddenly went out on the right side of the mansion
”Huh?”
After which the lights roaming around all started to take positions and remained still before being blown out, all except the light that had been still from the beginning.
'Did they... go to sleep? well I guess that's an option too.. '
With some irritation at all the wasted time he put into keeping track of their positions Yu proceeds to get to the back of the mansion and summons the spider, and, after the spider had finished its threading, Yu climbs up cautiously all while keeping an eye on the patrolling guards.
Upon reaching the slightly open window on the second floor, Yu peeks through the opening before entering the room.
”Sniff.. this smells so bad”
Looking around Yu spots a hole in the ground with several pots of water near it, most half filled
'Bathroom, I see why they left the window open.'
Thinking to himself that he had lucked out, Yu starts pulling the threads up, after which he summons the wolf, in case he gets suddenly attacked with no time to cope.
”Now I just need to sneak to the third floor, and I'll see what I can do from there on”