Outside the mansion, Rudolph sat quietly on the flight of steps, resting his elbows on his knees as he yawned away his boredom. Beside him leaned his old worn axe, its surface streaked with reddish rust.

  Rudolph was one of Glen’s juniors, but unlike the other two, he followed Glen out of deep gratitude. Glen had saved his life once, so Rudolph followed him without question.

  He wasn’t known for his intellect; others often called him taciturn, slow on the uptake. But Glen never judged him for his character, only for his strength.

  Rudolph’s bald head was self-shaved; he found it annoying to clean his hair every time it got dirty, and water was too precious to waste on aesthetics. It wasn’t due to hair loss, but practicality.

  His three mates had already gone into the mansion some time ago. Rudolph, tasked with being the lookout, had nothing to do but wait. The arched door had already closed silently behind them; he guessed it operated on the same unseen mechanism as the gate.

  “Tch.”

  Thinking back to his mates, Rudolph tapped his axe in irritation. They weren’t a very reliable bunch, and they leaned heavily on Glen.

  “Rotten bastards. They’d get lost if Glen weren’t around.”

  Especially Jack, that scrawny snake of a man with his greedy grin and slick words, that guy was just so rotten. His greed and nasty personality had brought endless trouble to the group. If not for Jack’s quick wit and intellect, Rudolph would have kicked him out long ago.

  Jack was also the one who had convinced Glen to partake in this dirty business. Initially, they had been skeptical, but the promise of good money just for transporting "goods," coupled with Glen’s desperate need for funds to treat his daughter’s illness, had swayed them.

  If not for him, Glen might’ve never gotten involved in this dirty business. Rudolph spat on the ground, the taste of guilt and resentment bitter on his tongue.

  Anyhow, it didn’t matter much now. This was supposed to be their last deal. Having saved up enough money, Rudolph dreamed of a huge party for his marriage with the girl he loved, once the cold season ended.

  Just one last job, he told himself. One last run, and he’d quit this filth forever.

  *Neighh*

  “?”

  While lost in reminiscence, the sudden agitated *neigh* of their horse abruptly broke his thoughts.

  The wind howled, the forest rustled faintly in the distance. Moonlight seeped through the garden, illuminating the entire area with a pale, ethereal glow.

  Their horse jerked against the tether, stamping its hooves nervously, hissing and agitating against its restraints.

  “Hey, easy, boy,” Rudolph knitted his brows. He grabbed his axe and stood up, approaching his horse.

  Their horse snorted, its eyes flicked toward the ground beneath it. Rudolph followed its gaze and saw a small shape sitting perfectly still on the dirt.

  “Rat?”

  It was a tiny rat, its fur the color of dust. Rudolph assumed it was the culprit that had spooked his "bad boy."

  Strangely, it was oddly calm, even when faced with Rudolph, it didn’t flinch but stared blankly at him. It was a little eerie, but he decided not to think much about it.

  “Go away! Shoo!”

  Rudolph stomped his foot, chasing the rat away. It darted from under the horse, making the animal neighed again, then took off running into the bushes.

  “Tch. Being mocked by a damn rat now?” Rudolph clicked his tongue.

  He stepped closer to calm the horse, rubbing its neck.

  Yet, as he did so, something caught his eye under the ground. The area was quite dark, and he hadn’t seen it before, but now…

  ‘What is this?’

  It was a faint glint, half-buried in the dirt where the rat had stood. He crouched down, brushing the soil away. A piece of polished silver emerged from the ground, gleaming faintly under the moonlight.

  He pulled it up. To his surprise, a silver cane emerged in his hand. Its shaft was smooth and dark, the handle carved into the head of an eagle, its beak poised mid-screech.

  “…This thing could fetch a high price.”

  A grin crept across his face as he brushed the dirt from the silver eagle’s head. Not only had Jack found a gold coin, but now he, Rudolph, had found a random silver cane on the ground. What luck!

  Suddenly, Jack’s earlier words about treasure hunting made perfect sense. If that old man was always this careless, throwing such expensive objects on the ground, then he probably wouldn’t mind if they helped themselves to a few things!

  *Swoosh.*

  The night split with a faint swoosh, a faint whisper against the quiet. The bulky man’s ears twitched.

  Quickly, he spun around, raised his axe instinctively, its rusty head pointed at the source of the noise.

  “What?”

  But there was no one, only the trees sighing in the distance. His eyes swept over the dark garden, scanning his surroundings attentively.

  The night offered little visibility, forcing him to rely on his other senses. His heart hammered like a drum.

  Maybe it was just wind whistling through the stone balustrade, but his instincts, honed by years of hunting, screamed otherwise.

  Rudolph turned slowly in a full circle. No matter where he looked, he saw nothing amiss. The horse rested silently behind him, its tail flicking idly. The unconscious girl still lay draped on the cart. Nothing looked wrong.

  ‘Am I imagining things?’ he wondered. It made sense; night was a spooky time, filled with strange noises from the wind and animals.

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  Rudolph’s gaze then fell upon his own shadow, cast by the moonlight. He noticed something out of place, an unmoving dot right next to his shadow, right beside the outline of his shoulder.

  What was even stranger was that this dot seemed to shrink with each passing second.

  Rudolph’s eyes widened. His body moved before thought caught up; he threw himself sideways.

  *Boom!*

  Immediately, a gust of dust and dirt burst where he’d been standing a heartbeat ago. Pebbles scattered, and the startled horse reared back with a shrill neigh.

  Rudolph coughed and scrambled to his feet, pushing himself up and gripping his axe tightly, preparing for the sudden, unseen attack.

  What appeared before his eyes was nothing short of astonishing.

  “A… hammer?”

  Before him, half-buried in the soil, was just a rusty hammer. Nothing special about it, except it had fallen precisely on his previous location and at an incredibly high speed!

  ‘Something is weird; I need to alert them!’

  Rudolph spun toward the mansion, but before he could take more than a step, something soft and cold slapped across his face.

  *Fwip!*

  “Mhmmph! Mhhmmmph!”

  A strip of cloth wrapping itself around his head.

  He grunted, staggered backward, convulsing violently.

  His hand clawed at it, trying to rip off the fabric that obstructed his vision and blocked his breath. But the cloth clung stubbornly, tightening around him, winding down his jaw and throat.

  *Swoosh.*

  *Clank.*

  Blind, Rudolph swung his axe wildly and miraculously neutralized the unseen projectile.

  Suddenly, something cold and agile darted inside his pants. Something tiny scurrying up his boot, crawling beneath his trousers, infiltrating his thigh through the leg opening.

  “MHHHMM!”

  His panic exploded. Rudolph dropped his axe, stomped his feet, and slapped at his thighs. The cloth constricted harder, cutting off his breath.

  “MHHM MHHHHH!” His muscles bulged as veins popped under his skin. With a bestial roar, Rudolph grabbed the cloth and ripped, tearing it apart with sheer force!

  “HA!”

  Threads tore with a violent snap. The torn fabric dangled limply in his hands.

  Rudolph blinked sweat and dust from his bloodshot eyes and stumbled back, gulping air like a drowning man.

  “Haah… haah…”

  He threw the ripped cloth aside, adjusting his suddenly loose pants; something slipped out the bottom of his trousers and disappeared into the dark.

  Tired and terrified, he unsteadily turned to the mansion.

  “L—!”

  *Swoosh.*

  Before Rudolph could finish his sentence, something once again flew down.

  *THUMP.*

  It plowed into his head. Rudolph’s massive body crumpled to the ground.

  —

  Inside the mansion, the grand foyer greeted them. The air was cold and dry, heavy with the scent of old wood. Jack, Glen, and Arnold gazed at the exquisite furniture and ornate hall, now submerged in darkness.

  Their boots pressed lightly against the ornate carpet as they took their first careful steps deeper in. The arched double doors had already closed silently, leaving whatever was happening outside elusive. Glen hoped Rudolph would find a way to properly alert them if anything went wrong.

  The handheld lanterns provided a meager light source, dust dancing faintly in the beams of light. Arnold, trailing behind, reached for an oil lamp on the wall, but Glen stopped him.

  “We’re not here for sightseeing; don’t do anything stupid and trigger a trap.”

  “Ah, yes.”

  They weren’t guests here; in truth, they were now merely burglars, seizing an opportunity to steal from a presumably absent owner.

  Jack, contrary to his usual demeanor, was quiet. His narrow eyes were wide open for a change, gleaming with excitement.

  The thin man was frantically searching for anything valuable he could stuff into his bags. Glen sighed helplessly at the sight.

  “You really do love money.”

  “Everyone loves money,” Jack retorted with a sneer.

  Glen didn’t disagree. Everyone needed money; even he, a man of principles, would bend his will in the face of desperate need.

  “Besides,” Jack continued, “that big bald douche is getting married next year, yea? We’ll need to buy him something nice for the occasion.” He smirked, then opened another room and quickly began picking up small items, stuffing them into his bags.

  Arnold blinked in surprise. “You… actually want to buy a gift for Brother Rudolph?”

  “What’s with that tone?”

  Jack narrowed his already narrowed eyes. This guy really wanted to take a hit; he thought for a moment, but decided to let it slide for now. There would be plenty of opportunities to punish him later.

  “I even thought you wouldn’t spend a single cent.”

  “Money’s meant to be spent, punyhead. What’s the point of hoarding it if you can’t enjoy it?”

  ‘This is why you are always dirt poor.’ The boy coughed lightly, looking away.

  Jack glared at him, as he retrieved an exquisite candle holder and added it to his bag. He then added, “As for the leader, he probably knows how to spend them, haha.”

  Glen’s brows knitted slightly, but he didn’t refute the comment. He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a small pendant. He opened it, revealing a picture of a happy family.

  After this, he would finally have enough to get her treated. They wouldn’t have to do heavy work any longer. He smiled, a wistful expression that Arnold noticed.

  “Is that… your daughter?”

  Glen nodded, beginning to reminisce about the past. “Isn’t she adorable?”

  Inside the pendant was a picture of him and his wife. His wife, a girl with blonde hair, stood beside him. She had her arm wrapped around their daughter, who sat on a chair between them, clutching an old stuffed bear.

  The leader’s voice grew distant, tinged with tired affection. “She’s been sick since she was little. Got worse over the years… That’s why I took the job.”

  “After this, do you want to return to Easton with me and meet my daughter?” He smirked, glancing at Arnold.

  “Easton city? Does your family live there?” Arnold was surprised by the unexpected invitation.

  “That’s right. It is more well-developed and has a lot more industrial job opportunities than this place. Albeit not a better place to live, the daily wage is worth it.”

  Glen explained. Easton was one of the cities that had experienced the Industrial Revolution, witnessing significant technological advancements and development. Compared to this rural village, it was a world apart.

  “You’re about her age, you know. I could introduce you two, haha. She’s quite curious about you too.”

  “W…what?!” Arnold’s face turned beet red, completely caught off guard by the sudden offer of courtship. “I… uhh…”

  “What, you don’t want to?” Glen was clearly joking, but his displeasure at Arnold’s hesitation was evident.

  “Lead,” Jack’s voice cut in from between them, interrupting their awkward conversation. This interruption was a welcome relief for Arnold, who silently thanked him. “There are still a lot of rooms left. If we keep dawdling like this, we’ll be here ‘til sunrise.”

  The mansion was enormous, with room after room stretching endlessly. They couldn’t possibly explore the entire mansion tonight.

  That was the problem; they needed to finish this fast, or else the Trader would grow suspicious of their prolonged absence.

  Glen momentarily considered a faster approach. He could plunder the mansion in no time, but that was risky. Without the detection essence, they might stumble into a trap if they moved too quickly.

  As Glen was thinking through their options, Jack’s voice broke through again.

  “How about,” he said with a grin, “we split up?”

  Jack is sus af. Idk, even I did agree with it. But really, he’s just a common npc. (100%, believe me.)

  I hate Rudolph; he breaks free from his containment unit several times. I'm tired of it. So yea consider this as a little payback i guess?

  It’s a “mouse”, but in Rudolph’s POV, he calls it “rat”.

  Pls tell me if you notice something wrong with dialogue/grammar! (I haven't had time to revise it.)