Chapter 278: Chapter 260 Mantis Stalks the Cicada_1
Yan Xing ran ahead, with Li Jiya closely following. This was the first time she had witnessed the strength of a top-tier thief, and her heart was filled with nothing but amazement.
To accommodate Grey Mouse, he had slowed his pace, but his agility and movements didn’t resemble those of a thief at all.
It seemed he didn’t need to exert force; his body would soar into the air, jumping from rooftop to rooftop as if strolling leisurely in his own courtyard. He lacked the typical timid and furtive manner of a thief; his ease and gracefulness made him seem like a celestial being.
Li Jiya ran beside Yan Xing, carefully observing his movements.
This was the embodiment of air magic utilized to its utmost potential. Close by, one could feel the propelling airflow generated by the magic, yet detect no leakage of magical elements.
It meant he could utilize one hundred percent of the magical elements...
Is this still a human?
Li Jiya’s heart was in turmoil; she had never heard of anyone with such a level of control over magical elements.
Even if these feats weren’t considered true magic, merely tricks, they still revealed his profound understanding of magic.
Truly deserving of the title of Nuta City’s number one acknowledged thief.
No, if he were to focus on practicing magic, he would surely be a world-renowned air Mage.
Li Jiya glanced back.
Grey Mouse was barely keeping up with their pace.
...
Yan Xing didn’t know what Li Jiya was thinking at that moment; he was in his consciousness space, watching the targets he was tracking.
Chui Chui controlled the drone, tracking the people emerging from the brothel.
They began to scatter and were cautious, suddenly changing their routes to evade any potential followers.
The city districts were deserted late at night; aside from the moonlight, there was no other light.
The drone flew silently through the air, using infrared probes to monitor, unafraid of detection.
These people finally gathered in a very secluded alley, then jumped onto the rooftops and spread out, encircling a nearby courtyard.
We’ve found the place!
Yan Xing slowed his pace, found a blind spot in their targets’ line of sight, and then slowly led Li Jiya and Grey Mouse towards it.
"They’ve stopped..." Yan Xing pulled out a pair of binoculars from his backpack and, while observing, said to the two behind him, "I’ve spotted nine people so far; they’ve surrounded a courtyard.
This courtyard... it’s a warehouse belonging to a Cloth Merchant..."
In a short time, Chui Chui had pulled up the information on this Cloth Merchant.
Wei Bulun was a Cloth Merchant from Koman Province in the Silvermane Principality, and his Grett rabbit fur fabric was beloved by the nobility.
Besides that, Wei Bulun also dealt in ordinary linen, which, due to its high quality and low price, sold very well among commoners.
Due to rapid goods turnover, Wei Bulun’s caravan often traveled between the principality’s heartland and the Wildwind Highlands, which facilitated the discreet entry of Orc Gold into Nuta City.
His several fabric shops scattered across Nuta City also facilitated the transfer of this Gold within the city.
Yet everyone who had dealt with Wei Bulun thought of him as a good person. He was wealthy but lacked the airs of a typical rich merchant, often helping the poor.
Even during periods of soaring prices in Nuta City, Wei Bulun’s shops did not significantly raise prices. Any necessary increases were largely offset by distributing the equivalent amount as higher wages to his employees, allowing them to support their families in the expensive city.
Such a person didn’t seem likely to defect to the Orcs and help them kill members of his own human race.
"Are you sure there’s no mistake?" Yan Xing questioned the intelligence provided by Chui Chui after reviewing Wei Bulun’s information.
Chui Chui replied, "The data I’ve accessed confirms this warehouse belongs to Cloth Merchant Wei Bulun. Moreover, this warehouse is seldom used, but whenever goods are moved in or out, Wei Bulun is personally there to supervise.
No one but his most trusted individuals is allowed in, not even his employees."
Indeed suspicious...
Yan Xing continued to peer through the binoculars. The nine people preparing for the heist had taken their positions. They didn’t act immediately but remained hidden, carefully watching the movements inside the courtyard.
There was indeed activity in the courtyard.
Chui Chui controlled the drone to fly over the courtyard, revealing five cargo wagons parked side by side. A group of people hurriedly carried boxes out of the rooms and loaded them onto the wagons.
As soon as a wagon was loaded, someone brought fabric to cover the boxes.
The Gold is already being moved.
It seems the rumors suddenly spreading throughout Nuta City have startled Wei Bulun, making him as wary as a bird startled by a bowstring. If we’re too late, there’s no telling where this Gold will end up.
Since the "praying mantis" has yet to strike, then as the "oriole," I can also afford to wait a bit longer.
Yan Xing put away the binoculars, turned to Li Jiya and Grey Mouse, and said, "The Orcs’ Gold treasury is right here. We’ll move to counter-rob them after that group up front makes their move.
I know some of the nearby terrain. I’ll draw it out; if there’s anything incorrect, you two can correct me."
Yan Xing took out a sheet of white paper from his backpack, spread it on the flat rooftop, and began to sketch with a black marker.
Li Jiya and Grey Mouse squatted on either side, looking on intently.
They were both "old-timers" in Nuta City. While they might not have known its terrain like the backs of their hands, they were very familiar with it, especially this particular area.
However, upon seeing the map Yan Xing was drawing, they both felt their knowledge wasn’t as thorough as that of this newcomer.