They arrived outside the building.
Kay took a lockpick from his pocket and began working on the iron door, a faint glow of mana flickering around his fingers.
The leader watched, impressed. "You know how to crack a magic lock now?"
"Hmm? Of course, Leader." Kay didn't look up, focused on the mechanism. "I didn't waste a year here. Learned from a master lockpicker in Armand. It's basic tradecraft, a spy learns everything that could be useful."
The leader nodded. The other spies exchanged silent glances. One near the back leaned close to another, voice barely a whisper.
"Once we're inside and have what we need… wait for the leader's signal. Then we finish Kay."
"Yeah. Just be ready. I already want to kill him."
The lock clicked open. Kay pushed the door slowly and motioned the leader inside first.
Then he paused, pretending to listen. A faint sound echoed from further down the courtyard, boots on stone.
