Adrian crouched in the shadows at the side of the DiAmmoMansion, his breath shallow as he surveyed the grounds. He'd chosen this spot carefully—a blind spot in the web of CCTV cameras that ringed the property. The System's interface hovered in his vision, pulsing with warnings.
[Caution: Threat Level—High. Multiple armed guards detected. Noise Level—Low. Possible Outcomes: 1. Successful infiltration (15%), 2. Detection and pursuit (60%), 3. Fatal encounter (25%).]
Adrian's heart pounded. The yard was crawling with guards, each one a potential threat. He knew he had to move quickly and quietly.
[Recommendation: Use Reaper's Hat. Invisibility duration: 10 minutes. Use wisely.]
He took a steadying breath and pulled the black fedora from his bag. The moment it touched his head, the world shimmered. His body faded from view, leaving only a faint distortion in the air.
[Invisibility activated. Countdown: 10:00]
Adrian vaulted the fence, landing softly on the grass. Even invisible, he moved with caution, sticking to the shadows and avoiding clusters of guards. The System's threat level meter fluctuated as he crept across the yard, warning him away from high-risk areas.
He reached the backdoor, heart racing. He tried the handle—locked. Of course. The System chimed in.
[Lockpicking required. Warning: Skill proficiency—Low. Attempting may trigger noise alert.]
Adrian grimaced. He'd never been much of a burglar. He fumbled with his lockpick set, hands sweating. The first attempt failed, the pick slipping with a faint metallic click.
He tried again, forcing himself to focus. Suddenly, a strange clarity washed over him. The System's interface flickered.
[Skill Activated: Rational Concentration (Deduction + Intuition)]
[Skill Enhancement: Intelligence stat amplifies success rate.]
Adrian's mind sharpened, every detail of the lock's mechanism clear in his mind. He worked quickly, efficiently, and with a satisfying click, the door swung open.
[Lockpicking successful. Intelligence +1. Mental Points increased by 4. Current MP: 44/64. Note: Using Rational Concentration has reduced MP by 20. MP will replenish after 8 hours of rest without mental skill use. Crime Points +10.]
He slipped inside, closing the door behind him. The mansion's interior was even more intimidating—marble floors, gilded fixtures, and security cameras at every turn. Guards moved in pairs, radios crackling softly at their belts.
Adrian checked the System's timer. Five minutes of invisibility left.
He moved quickly, hugging the walls and ducking behind furniture. He scanned the hallways, searching for anything out of place. Then he saw it—a heavy door at the end of the corridor, guarded by two men who stood rigidly at attention. Unlike the others, they didn't patrol or chat. They just waited.
Adrian's intuition prickled. That room was important.
He crept closer, but the guards blocked any chance of slipping by unnoticed. The System offered options:
[Option 1: Knock out guards. Threat Level—High.]
[Option 2: Create distraction. Threat Level—Low.]
Adrian didn't hesitate. He chose the safer route.
He scanned the area for something to use. His eyes landed on the family cat, lounging lazily on a windowsill. He gently scooped it up, whispering apologies, and set it near a tall vase on a side table.
The cat, curious and playful, batted at the vase. It wobbled, then crashed to the floor with a loud smash.
The guards tensed, hands on their holsters. "What was that?" one muttered.
"Check it out," the other replied.
Guns drawn, they moved cautiously toward the noise. Adrian seized the opportunity, slipping past them and reaching the guarded door. The System's timer flashed urgently—five seconds of invisibility left.
He fumbled with the handle, heart pounding. Four seconds. Three. The door creaked open. Two. He slipped inside, closing it softly behind him. One. The invisibility faded, and Adrian was visible once more.
He pressed his back to the door, listening for any sign that he'd been detected. Silence. He exhaled shakily.
[Congratulations! You have overcome a high-risk scenario. Reward: 60 Crime Points.]
Adrian grinned, whispering, "Thank you, System. For once, you're not being stingy."
[You're welcome, Detective. Generosity module: Beta version. Please don't get used to it.]
He did a quick calculation: 10 CP left from the shop, 10 CP from lockpicking, and now 60 CP from the infiltration—80 CP total.
He turned his attention to the room. It wasn't just any room—it was Raphael DiAmmo's office. The air was thick with the scent of expensive cigars and leather-bound books. On the massive desk, a ledger lay open, pages filled with names, dates, and numbers.
Adrian's hands trembled as he snapped photos and uploaded the files to the System.
[Uploading files... 20%... 40%... 60%...]
Suddenly, the System's blue interface flickered, then turned a deep, urgent red.
[Warning: Security breach detected. Guards alerted. Immediate danger.]
Adrian's blood ran cold. He'd gotten what he came for, but now he had to get out—fast.