After a brief observation, there are ten guards patrolling the area and two standing in front of the gate.
Two hours until dawn, and three goals which I need to accomplish.
Yes, this should work perfectly.
Drawing out two curved daggers and stepping out of the shadows behind the left guard at the gate, I slit his throat with one of my blades, and at the same time the second one finds the heart of the right one who dies instantly as the left one grabs his throat making gurgling noises.
I immediately place the dead body in my shadow, with my dagger once again free of the body on it, I cut the finger with the ring off the remaining guard while the other dagger passes through the skull into the brain.
After I take the ring off, and this body with the finger is sent into the shadows.
Now I have three corpses in my shadow.
This all took no more than a second.
Putting the daggers back in their sheaths and seeing that the other guards were far away from here and unaware of anything.
I think if I do this fast enough, by the time they notice the empty gate and realize what's happened I'll be already long gone.
When I get to the main doors, with the ring in my hand, they give in without a problem.
This is probably the first time I've ever walked through the front door, and it's when I decided not to break in either.
Walking through them I was greeted by a large vestibule with two empty hallways to the right and left, and double doors at the front.
I'm not exactly sure of the plan of the building or where all the things I need are located, but from experience it's probably the second floor and there should be a staircase leading up to it somewhere.
I can prepare the foundation for the third step in advance.
Getting a few high quality fire shards out of my shadow, I start throwing them around the building, it's a heavy blow to my remaining reserves, but there's no other choice.
Passing through the double doors, I was greeted by a large hall, with the same double door at the other end, but also, from the shadows in the hollows, it looks like there are several hidden doors in the walls. A carpet under my feet, several paintings on the walls, and a large chandelier upstairs. And finally, to the right, a staircase leading to the second floor, supported by columns with carved statues on them.
Going upstairs, it's even a bit of a shame that the whole place is going to burn down, I'm beginning to doubt that anyone other than the head of the family knew about my involvement, also there shouldn't be more than a few letters confirming that.
I just need to find two places, an office and a bedroom.
After that, I already have a body in the shadows and a couple of perfectly fitting masks to put on it and leave it there. Once it's gone through the fire, it'll be hard to tell who it really was.
It's not perfect, but there's not much to choose from, I just hope it would be good enough to buy some time.
Once I have climbed to the top, I find myself in front of two corridors, one leading to the front of the building.
And the other leads into its depths.
Not bad for a start, if I end up not finding anything, I can always ask someone, people get extremely cooperative with a dagger at their neck.
If I have to pick at random anyway, the farthest room down the hall suit's just fine.
Except if this is the place I want, I doubt an ordinary guard would have access to it.
And what other choice do I have?
Having placed my hand on the doorknob, now all that remains to be done is to turn and--.
Suddenly, the entire mansion was abruptly illuminated with light, I haven't even seen that many lamps around here.
Well, I'm already here anyway.
Kicking the door with my foot, all I see inside is an empty bedroom, and from the amount of dust it's easy to conclude that no one has lived here for a long time. Moving to the second door down the hallway, and repeating same action, I was greeted by the same sight.
And for some reason I don't hear the shouts from the street along with the guards rushing in. With all that light show, it should have already happened by now.
When I looked out the window to see what was going on, what I saw was beyond my expectations, all the guards continued their patrols as if nothing had happened.
It's supposed to be good, isn't it?
When I checked each door further down the hall in the same way and saw no change from the first two, I found myself back in the hall. In the middle of it now appeared a staircase leading down, of which I had no idea before.
This is the second time in one night, and while I still can understand this level of secrecy in a royal castle, it shouldn't make sense for a baron.
It could always be a trap to bury me underground, I have no confidence I could make my way back if that's the case, but what other choice do I have?
It's too late to walk away with nothing.
After, this time, a short walk downstairs, I was greeted by what looks like a combination of a laboratory and a hospital room.
The room was almost entirely devoid of light.
The only semblance of illumination was a glowing liquid, shimmering in numerous flasks on several tables in the left side of the room.
There were also a couple of closets against the wall, on the shelves of which were a variety of items that couldn't be categorized in any particular way. From books, to vials and injectors, to something that looks more like a torture devices.
And it seems it's time to pay attention to what may turn out to be a small problem. Specifically on the first living people in the entire mansion.