The Play out Begins [2]

"Well, she was once under the Bolt Gang... So, she was trained using the Grand Army techniques before creating her own gang." Eleanor replied before launching herself at the wall, using a strong push from her legs and a stunning amount of upper body strength to hoist herself over. It wasn't as fast as Aria's quick jump, but it was efficient. She landed on the other side with a grunt, dusting off her jeans.

What Eleanor had just told Griffin replayed in his head about four times. Impossible, the Bolt Gang...?!

The Bolt Gang was the most notorious and unpredictable gang in the Lower District; they even successfully robbed two members of the Council of Elders on the same day. The gang consisted of nineteen members, led by a masked figure whose gender, name, and identity remained unknown. Three months after their biggest heist, the Watch launched a raid, but despite numerous arrests and extensive investigation, none of the members were caught.

Aria, then twelve, was the youngest member. She never participated in heists but underwent grueling training under the leader, learning the rumoured "techniques" of the Grand Army. This training was brutal, causing her immense pain despite her best efforts to master the techniques, some of which remained elusive.

After the raid and investigation, the Bolt Gang disbanded. At thirteen, Aria, gifted 3000 Gilas (The currency of Ironhaven, and 3000 Gilas was quite a lot for a child her age. A small gear shop could be started with this amount) by the leader, formed her own gang, using her skills and the money to start robbing and selling mechanical gears, sharing profits with her crew, building their income numbers for over three years to what they are now.

The "Grand Army", on the other hand, remained shrouded in mystery; only their name was known, their existence and all information was considered a myth. Even during the war, they were never seen battling, so some believes they don't exist. Well, the actual truth about them is unknown.

Rayden passed by Griffin, moving close to the wall. He carefully assessed the gaps between the boards, placing his feet with precision. His climb proved slower than the recent two, but more deliberate. He reached the top with a quiet sigh of satisfaction and dropped lightly to the ground on the other side.

Kai was next, he mirrored Aria's initial burst of energy. He hurled himself at the fence with a groan, his arms flailing somewhat wildly, but somehow managed to snap the top plank and pull himself up. He almost lost his grip once still he successfully dropped onto the other side with a straight face.

Liam found a sturdy section of the fence and, with a powerful leg thrust, swung himself over in a smooth, acrobatic maneuver. He landed with a confident swagger, his lips curled upwards in a sly smirk.

Griffin, meanwhile, watched their various techniques with intense focus. He took a deep breath, visualizing every step, mimicking the motions displayed in his mind. He approached the fence, his heart hammered against his ribs.

Griffin's first attempt ended in a clumsy flail, his hands slipped away from the wood. He tumbled back, landing hard on the ground with a painful groan while also holding his head as he lifted himself up from the ground instantly. This time, reflecting on Liam's technique, he found the sturdy point, planted his feet, and with a powerful surge, he launched himself upwards, over the fence and landed, less fluid.

Looking forward and dusting his hands, he noticed the others running forward already. The road ahead was free and empty, likely a backstreet. He ran along with them, jumping over a plank placed on the ground and landing steadily with a smile. He continued, getting closer to them little by little. Finally reaching behind Liam, he ran pass him and to Aria, right beside her.

"You're fast, better keep that up 'cause you're going to need that." Aria increased her pace, going further.

Up ahead, another route was drifted to the right. Aria signalled to make a turn, they skidded across the ground and ran into the narrow route. This route was also empty and scarce of people, making Griffin question this occurrence.

"Why? Since we've got here, I haven't come across anyone."

Aria chuckled and replied, "Most citizens of the Upper District are white collar workers, so they are mostly in the offices or getting drunk at bars - the jobless ones in exact."

Griffin nodded awkwardly, focusing ahead as he ran as fast as he could to keep up with Aria. The others trailed behind them. They soon arrived at an alley and took a sharp turn into it, reaching a smaller side alley on the left. The alley was lined with iron fences, indicating they were close to Minister Thorne's mansion, as this entire route was under his control.

After running for a few seconds nonstop, they were confronted by a brick wall about six feet tall. Aria jumped and, surprisingly, gripped the top effortlessly, pulling herself up with ease. She jumped into a courtyard, the mansion's courtyard and it was usually empty, as it's primarily used for storage.

The others followed her steps, they all landed with her on the courtyard.

The courtyard wasn't the chaotic jumble one might had expect. It was a surprising order reigned, neatly stacked crates of varying sizes, mostly wooden but some were metal. Each lined the walls, creating a sense of organized clutter. The paving stones were worn smooth by years of use and were mostly free of debris, indicating regular maintenance through sweeping.

A faint scent or dust moved around with the air. In the centre, a small fountain stood, in which the basin was cracked and stained, a single, stubborn weed pushing up through a fissure. One rusted iron ladder leaned against one wall, unused.

"See that opening over there?" Aria gestured ahead towards a spot where multiple weeds twisted around an opening—the back exit. The five nodded and awaited her next order.

"We will move diagonally across the courtyard toward it. Let's go!"

Instantly, they sprinted forward, moving exactly as Aria had indicated. This approach allowed them to stay clear of any guards they might encounter; in doing so, they could see the guards before being seen.

They crouched low and moved quickly across the courtyard, staying in the shadows. Shortly after, the six arrived at the tall iron gate, which was slightly opened. A grin spread across Aria's face almost quickly as she noticed it.

She paused to check for any guards before asking Eleanor for the current time. After a moment, she replied, "It's 2:43 PM." There were just three minutes left until the guard shift change. Aria pushed the gate wider, allowing the six of them to slip through quietly. They then moved carefully through the narrow gap between the west wing and the hedge, ensuring minimal noise. Once inside the west wing, they quickly assessed their surroundings and darted into a storage room to avoid detection.

They heard footsteps approaching from outside the storage room, which was pitch black and the six stayed gently, so as to avoid coming in contact with anything that might arouse noise.

The scrape of boots on stone echoed closer. Two figures materialized in the dim light of the lobby, silhouetted against the flickering gaslight. Bulking shoulders straining against heavy coats, the weapons gleamed dully – Handvolves. They moved with the practiced ease of men accustomed to patrolling the corridors, their conversation was a low murmur, punctuated by the occasional metallic clink of their equipment.

"Finally, our shift is over," the first guard grumbled, a weary smile appeared on his lips as he affectionately patted the butt of his Handvolve. The second guard sighed, "What about we head to the bar? I suppose all the pubs are closed till evening – around four. I can't possibly wait till then."

The first guard rubbed his stomach. "Aye, a bit of food would settle this gnawing emptiness too."

The thud of their boots slowly faded, swallowed by the echoing silence of the west wing.

Aria leaned close to the team. "Extra plan: The plan is to split into smaller units to cover more ground efficiently and minimise the risk of getting caught," she whispered, her voice was barely audible. "I'll call the groups "Team Alpha" , "Team Red", and "Team Beta". Team Alpha, consisting of Griffin and Kai, will head to the master suite as seen in the map. Steal whatever you can, but make it clean."

Griffin grinned, undeniably intrigued by Aria's smartness. She is smart enough to be the leader, I can vouch that she really was once a member of the Bolt Gang...

She continued, keeping her ears open, in alarm for any guard. "Team Beta- Rayden and Liam -will proceed to the wine cellars. Your focus in on any potential hidden vaults, I believe that's where most politicians hide their finances. Eleanor and I, Team Red, will tackle the main target - the Minister's study.

"And we meet back here in precisely fifteen minutes. Remember the escape route. Still any questions?"

A brief exchange of glances passed between the team members. There were none. The teams split instantly, each knew their role, their objective, and their escape route. The heist was underway.

...

Griffin and Kai moved with stillness down the hallway, their footsteps barely disturbed the quiet elegance of the space. Griffin, his hands clasped behind his back, occasionally glanced at the paintings, his gaze lingering on the rich textures and "unmeaningniful" colours called "art". He murmured low, almost to himself, "It's a wonder how the guards are only keen to protecting the outdoors without checking inside. The only ones who might pass by here are to retrieve things or head out. Very amusing that we're the only ones in this mansion… well, the only aliens," he added with a chuckle, attempting to lighten the mood and engage Kai in conversation.

Kai, however, remained silent, his grip tight on the bag slung across his shoulder, his eyes were focused intently ahead. His attention seemed to drift only briefly to the artwork before returning to the task at hand. Griffin's attempt at conversation fell flat, leaving the only sound; the gentle creak of their shoes on the wooden floor.

To their right was a heavy oak door, its grain was dark and rich, and marked the entrance to the Master suite. The door was framed by finely carved molding, its surface were polished to a high sheen. A simple and elegant silver knob, cool to the touch, sat nestled in the wood. Kai turned the knob slowly, the faintest click echoed in the quiet hallway. He opened the door just enough to peer inside before stepping fully across the threshold. Griffin followed without hesitation.

The master's suite was modest, though undeniably luxurious. A plush Persian rug in deep reds and blues covered the polished wooden floor. The walls were painted a soft cream, and adorned with several smaller paintings, less grand than those in the hallway, but equally well-executed. A low, comfortable-looking settee sat opposite a marble fireplace, its mantle piece displayed an assortment of small, carefully arranged ornaments. The air held a faint, pleasant scent of pipe tobacco and leather.

"You take the Bedroom to the right, I'll take the parlour," Kai instructed, his voice remained low. "Quick and quiet. Money, gear, anything useful. Let's stick to the essentials."

Griffin nodded and moved towards the parlour, his eyes scanning the room. He found the Minister's bedroom door—another sturdy oak door, identical in design to the one they'd just entered, complete with its simple silver knob.

Quite amusing how they correctly know all the entries in the mansion, supposedly they'd came here before to create the map. I would consider them as well experienced... thieves. Well, I can't differ myself from them now, can I...?

He turned the knob with a quiet click and stepped inside, closing the door behind him with the same measured care. His eyes widened at the luxuriousness before him.

The large, airy bedroom was opulent. A four-poster bed, draped in deep burgundy velvet, dominated the space. A bedside table, crafted from polished mahogany, held a silver-framed plate and a small pocket watch, attractive and neat. A writing desk sat near the window, cluttered with papers, pens, and an inkwell. A large wardrobe, made of the same rich mahogany as the bedside table, stood in one corner. The scent of expensive cologne and fine linens whisked pass his nose.

The bedside table drawer, crafted from the same mahogany as the rest of the furniture, was simple. The circular knob resisted Griffin's attempts to open it.

He smiled. "Come on, I just want to take a few things for my personal use. It's not going to hurt you.... I promise."

He searched the top of the drawer and soon found a pen, its tip was fine and sharp. The drawer lock was a small, round hole, a simple pin tumbler design. Griffin inserted the pen, carefully manipulating the tumblers with a deft touch. He worked silently, his fingers moved with ease. Few seconds later, he successfully opened it and dipped the pen into his pocket.

I should take that as a bonus...

Inside the drawer, two paper files were lined neatly on each side. He read through the paper and found nothing of importance before placing it back neatly as he'd met it. He moved the desk back in to a close, and turned around to search other parts of the room.

Kai, on the outside, stood at the centre of the parlour.

The parlour was immense, easily the size of a small ballroom. Brass-inlaid mahogany paneling, polished to a mirror sheen, stretched from the high, coffered ceiling down to the patterned carpet beneath Kai's worn leather boots. Sunlight filtered through stained-glass windows casted an amber glow across the space. The shelves displayed brass and copper mechanisms: orreries charting the constellations, miniature clockwork birds perched on gilded branches, and a complex automaton that perpetually played a mournful melody on a tiny, silver-plated violin.

Heavy velvet curtains, the color of a stormy sea, draped the arched windows, adding to the room's grandeur. A large carved fireplace dominated one wall, currently dormant. Series of delicately designed pressure gauges and gleaming copper pipes snaked across it, connected to an unseen machinery, alluding to the mansion's cutting- edge technology.

The parlour's seating consisted of plush, high-backed armchairs upholstered in deep crimson leather, arranged around a large, circular mahogany table. On the table rested a single, antique brass magnifying glass, its lens was spotless and inviting scrutiny.

Every surface was meticulously clean, proving regular maintenance by tireless servants. There was no clutter, only carefully placed objects of function, leaving Kai to examine every detail for any sign of a hidden spot.

His eyes passed by a painting, slightly different from the others. It was also placed recklessly on the wall, he approached it with a quick motion. Kai removed the painting from the wall, and sighted a deep, well-carved hole in the wall. He sighted deeply...

"Glorious fools... Who carves a secret hole and then places a painting over it? In their peak of foolishness, they didn't even align the painting properly, making it obvious even to strangers."

Inside the hidden hole, stacked high were 60,000 Gilers, their silver surfaces shone in the dim light. Each coin was round and smooth, with a slightly reflective finish that caught the light as they piled up. The coins were uniform in size, about one inch in diameter, and stacked neatly, forming a towering pile that reached nearly three feet high and had a base diameter of about two feet. The weight of the coins created a solid, impressive mass.

Kai remained calm, unshaken by the large sum of money. This only deepened his curiosity about the extent of the Minister's foolishness.

He quickly unzipped his bag and tossed 10,000 Gilers inside, the coins clinking together as they settled into the depths of the bag. He zipped it back tightly, then carelessly placed the painting over the hole, mimicking the poor alignment he had observed earlier.

As he stepped back to admire the drawing on the painting, he noted the scene depicted: a lush, enchanted forest filled with tall trees and whimsical creatures. Sunlight broke through the branches, throwing dappled shadows on a winding path that beckoned the viewer deeper into the magical landscape.

Just as he slung the bag over his shoulder, he suddenly heard the doorknob turn. His eyes trembling as he shifted a gaze to the door. Kai quickly hid behind one of the plush chair, the backspace was enough to keep him hidden. He brought his bag to his front and held it to his chest tightly, while seating on the ground with a low, controlled breathing.

Biscuits! Griffin is inside the bedroom...!

The figure who opened the door was a young woman around their age, her features were outstanding; long, natural grey hair that cascaded gracefully down to her waist, framing her face with an ethereal quality. Her skin was as white and silky as milk, exuding a soft, luminous glow. Standing at 5'4", her slender figure conveyed an air of delicate elegance. Her calm blue eyes, similar to a clear blue sky, held a serene depth that drew others in. A diamond-shaped face and a narrow nose, her features were striking. She wore a white nightgown that flowed elegantly to her ankles, and she was barefooted.

"Was the book in Father's bedroom...? I should check for it, so I can master the second flame skill," Elara pondered inwardly as she turned away from the door after closing it and made her way towards the bedroom.

....

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Team Beta, Rayden and Liam, hurried down the white cement stairs, the handrails crafted from smooth white cedar wood. As they reached the bottom, they entered the wine cellar.

The cellar was a spacious haven, wooden racks lined the walls, showcasing an impressive collection of vintages, each bottle was arranged to perfection. The rich mahogany of the shelves balanced beautifully with the pale stone walls, creating a luxurious ambiance.

Two gas lamps flanked either side of the room, their flames shone a soft, golden light that stuck to the bottles and highlighted the details of the decor. The warm glow illuminated the wooden floor. One Plush leather seating was arranged in a cosy nook for guests to sit.

"So where's the vault..? If there's any." Liam asked urgently, scanning the room with his eyes. Rayden rushed to one side of the walls, carefully tapping on it.

Tap! Tap! Tap!

"What are you doing, Rayden?"

"Dumbass, don't you know how these old fellas hide precious things? Precisely, good amount of money. Princess Aria and Eleanor are going for the gears, we're are here for...

Snap! Snap! Snap! (Sharp flicking of the fingers)

"The money..."

Liam smiled to the word "money" it made a *ding!* sound in his head. Fast, he joined Rayden, who was already softly tapping against the wall, fingers moving rhythmically. Then, Rayden's tapping shifted slightly.

Thud! (Hollow)

A hollow thud echoed unexpectedly. He moved his ear closer to the wall, pressing against the spot.

Thud! (Hollow)

The sound repeated. He looked at Liam, his eyes wide.

"Yes! It's here...." he exclaimed.

Liam's reaction was underwhelming. "Amazing...These fellas really hide stuff behind walls."

Rayden sighed, a wave of disappointment washing over him. Isn't that supposed to be known to you? We're literally the first set to join this gang... He muttered inwardly.

Rayden placed a hand on the cold, rough concrete. A faint tremor ran through the wall, imperceptible to any but the keenest observer. Then, a subtle shift in the air accompanied the slow, creeping discoloration of the concrete around his palm. The grey turned to a dusky brown, then a deep ochre as the earth element surged within Rayden. It wasn't a violent explosion, but a deliberate, controlled absorption. The concrete, seemingly solid, dissolved into its constituent particles under the influence of his power.

The microscopic grains of sand and cement being drawn inwards, spiralling towards his hand like a miniature dust contained within an invisible sphere. The hole widening slowly, precisely, as if a skilled sculptor were chiselling away at the stone.

The process was unnervingly silent, save for the almost imperceptible sigh of settling dust. When it concluded, a perfect, fist-sized sphere of dark grey rock, dense and cool to the touch, rested in Rayden's palm. It pulsated faintly with residual earth energy.

He lowered his hand, placing the perfectly formed rock gently on the ground beside him. The hole in the wall, perfectly circular and surprisingly clean, revealed a weathered small wooden door, secured with a rusty iron lock, nestled within the surprisingly intact brick framework behind.

"Right," Rayden stated, his gaze already assessing the lock.

NOTE: This Chapter took me precisely 11 hours to finish up due to the heavy descriptions and research done for this chapter. By the way, I have successfully received a contract from Webnovel! Thanks for the continued support, may the Steam Lord be with you all.