Chapter 47: Infiltration

Seven days passed quickly, and to the surprise of Liyakade and the others, Irina Zi had not done anything excessive during those seven days.

However, to avoid drawing Irina Zi’s attention, Liyakade stopped visiting Alice’s dormitory. Even in the classroom, they kept a low profile.

From Liyakade’s perspective, this kind of calm was often the calm before the storm—Irina Zi was letting her guard down by making things easy for a few days before suddenly launching an unexpected attack.

But Irina Zi could only revel in her triumph for one more night. As long as Liyakade could find the Contract, she could break free from Irina Zi at any time.

After school, Liyakade and the others returned to their respective dormitories. Only after confirming that no one was watching did they gather at the agreed meeting place.

For this mission, they decided that only Field and Liyakade would go together. Since they didn’t have to confront Irina Zi head-on, Liyakade could be considered a combatant.

Although Alice wanted to participate, her current level was insufficient. If the operation was exposed and they had to fight the Guards, Alice would be almost useless and might even become a liability.

“Liyakade, why are you so slow? I almost went looking for you,” Field said with a hint of complaint as she sat in the corner of a teahouse in the Royal City outside the Academy.

She was wearing a cloak and watching Liyakade, who had just arrived and taken a seat.

“Sorry, sorry.” Liyakade glanced at the teahouse’s pocket watch and responded helplessly, “They were watching me too closely, so I was slow getting out. But there’s still an hour before the banquet starts, no need to rush, right?”

“Sigh, this is a matter of life and death for you, yet you’re so relaxed.” Field rubbed her forehead in exasperation at Liyakade’s casual attitude.

“The banquet lasts from 7 to 11. We have four hours. I’ve already stationed my people outside Irina Zi’s Mansion to keep watch. Once she leaves, we’ll infiltrate immediately.”

“Mm.” Liyakade nodded and started to take things more seriously.

There wasn’t much to do while waiting, so Liyakade ordered some tea and snacks.

“You really…” Field sighed at Liyakade’s relaxed demeanor. She tried some of the snacks that had just arrived and couldn’t help but admit they tasted much better than what Irina Zi usually prepared.

There was definitely a difference. Even if Irina Zi prepared afternoon tea tailored to her own tastes, Field still found it disgusting and hard to swallow, feeling uneasy.

But with Liyakade, before undertaking a dangerous mission, even in some random teahouse with simple, casually ordered snacks, Field could still enjoy her food happily.

Not long after, a person dressed plainly, looking like an ordinary passerby, approached Liyakade and Field.

“Reporting, Princess Field, Irina Zi-sama has already left the mansion. Some of the Guards have been withdrawn.”

“Mm.” Field nodded. “Stand down. Let those watching the mansion also withdraw.”

“Yes, Princess Field.”

After her subordinate respectfully reported, she obeyed Field’s order and left.

“Let’s move out.” Field put down her teacup and stood, beckoning Liyakade to follow. Before leaving, she placed a Gold Coin on the table.

The snacks probably cost just a few Silver Coins, but she didn’t bother asking the shop owner to make change.

Wearing cloaks and masks, the two arrived outside Irina Zi’s Mansion. From here on, their actions had to be more covert.

The road to the front gate was marked with fresh horse hoof and carriage wheel tracks, showing that Irina Zi had only just left. It was exactly 6:30. Irina Zi’s early departure gave them an extra half hour.

The iron gate was tightly closed again after Irina Zi left. Two Guards stood straight under the eaves at the mansion’s main door, with several more patrolling the courtyard. To avoid detection, they decided to climb the wall from the side.

Field’s level was high, one of the best in the Academy, and Liyakade’s was even higher. Their physical abilities were no match for a mere iron gate, so they easily climbed into the courtyard.

Liyakade then used the flow of the Wind Element to sense the Guards’ positions, allowing them to evade patrols and slip in through an open window.

“Surprisingly easy.”

Liyakade rubbed her hands, feeling that infiltration wasn’t so difficult after all. She looked around. This seemed to be a maid’s bedroom.

“Heh, it really is easier than I imagined.”

Field agreed. She had expected the courtyard—with so many Guards and little cover—to require extreme caution to avoid them.

But Liyakade’s Wind Element had played a huge role, letting them enter with little effort. “There are fewer Guards inside, but Liyakade, don’t relax yet. Keep observing your surroundings.”

“Mm, definitely not.” Liyakade’s gaze was firm. Although she had appeared relaxed back at the teahouse, that was actually a sign of tension. Just thinking about sneaking around made her nervous.

She wanted to eat something to relieve the pressure. “So, where should we look first?”

“Hmm…” Field pondered for a moment. Although they had four and a half hours, the mansion had too many rooms.

With Guards in the hallways, four and a half hours wasn’t nearly enough to thoroughly search every room.

They had already spent half an hour just entering, which meant another half hour would be needed to leave. It might be a bit faster after dark, but still around twenty minutes.

“Let’s try the Cang’an Room first,” Field finally said.

“I didn’t find the Contract there last time, but I already searched it. So it’s possible Irina Zi put it back there, thinking we might check elsewhere.”

“Makes sense.” Liyakade nodded in agreement.

There was plenty of time left. Instead of wandering like headless flies, it was better to check places that seemed plausible.

They slipped out of the bedroom and carefully concealed themselves in a corner of the hallway. Besides the Guards, there were other servants.

But at this moment, Liyakade’s Elemental perception was at full power. Any movement would be sensed through changes in the Wind Element, making it easy to avoid them.

Some statues and decorations in the hallway could serve as cover. Even if unavoidable, Liyakade’s ability meant they could predict the patrols’ movements, ambush them around corners, and knock them unconscious before they could react, then hide the bodies in empty rooms.

If the passage of people was heavy, they could even use the Wind Element to cling to the ceiling and avoid detection.