roccoschili Chapter 144 Murder at Night
Chapter 144 Murder at Night
"Everything is ready."
I sat on the edge of the bed, my gaze falling on the equipment on the floor.
"My dagger has been replaced."
The dagger provided by the academy was damaged and unusable, leaving me temporarily without a weapon. However, the problem was quickly resolved after I applied for a new dagger. The academy isn't short of money, especially not for a common dagger like the one I was using.
But this is not all.
"They upgraded the dagger I received."
Perhaps it was to appease me, since I almost died from my dagger's low durability. Besides that, they gave me a batch of potions and Valer coins to keep me quiet. For those in power, what's the best solution? Simply silence them.
I did not refuse, and ultimately, I did not intend to make this accident public.
"The federal government is not trustworthy."
Countless demon contractors have infiltrated every level of human society. If I don't remain silent, I'm afraid I'll be silenced soon too.
"call……"
I took a deep breath, turned my gaze to the window, and prepared myself.
Night fell over the academy, and the only light source in the room was the soft moonlight. As the night deepened, the world outside the window was utterly silent, save for the rustling of leaves in the night wind.
I secured the dagger firmly in its sheath, rose from the bed, and felt the soles of my boots touch the cold floor. The air outside was still, providing perfect cover for my nighttime operation.
Tonight, I have a different hunting target in my mind, a target that will test my skills in silently dancing in the shadows, a target that may determine my future path.
"Let's test my skills."
Since arriving at this academy, I have been training hard, but from the beginning I knew that in terms of pure strength, I was far behind others.
But pure power has never been my forte.
I donned the Shadow Armor I had obtained from the Black family vault, preparing for the night to come.
Squeak!
I gently pushed open the door, trying not to disturb the tranquility of the dormitory. My movements were cautious and silent, thanks to the [Shadow] property.
Night greeted me, and I stepped into its embrace.
My destination is clear; my mana lines point me there.
The moonlight paved a silver path ahead, guiding me toward my goal.
I moved forward with a purpose, a solitary figure moving through the shadows, blending into the night like a shadow.
The mana threads led me to the academy's research facilities on the main campus. I had memorized all the terrain and maps of the academy and could accurately pinpoint where they were located.
"They should meet at the back of the research facility."
Although the Arcadia Hunter Academy primarily focuses on students' combat training, they also provide facilities for non-combat personnel, one of which is the Magic Engineer.
Whoosh!
I moved swiftly, weaving through the shadows. To ensure I wasn't detected by anyone, I donned the Shadow Armor.
Thanks to the unique properties of the Shadow Armor, I avoided the sight of surveillance, magic circles, and mana detection radar.
This also means that when I leave the room, no one notices me; they will assume that I never left the room.
"Ah... tonight was really nice..."
"Yes... I haven't been this happy in a long time."
As I was walking alone, I overheard some conversations between students. Two girls and two boys were walking together.
"Should we go somewhere quiet?"
They seemed to be celebrating the end of exams, as did most people in the college. The pressure of exams often causes anxiety, and when young people of the opposite sex gather together, it's not hard to predict what will happen next.
"It's none of my business."
Now is not the time to be distracted. I put all other thoughts behind me and kept moving forward.
Because the magical engineering facilities are located at the back of the academy, near the cafes and party areas, the students' laughter can still be clearly heard.
I have now arrived at the entrance to the magical engineering area. It is filled with subtle barriers and magic circles to restrict unauthorized entry.
The Shadow Armor renders my magical sensors and barriers in these areas almost ineffective; however, its effect is less pronounced against higher-level equipment.
Everything has its limitations, and even the Shadow Armor is not omnipotent. If it were truly invincible, it wouldn't have remained sealed away in the vault for so long.
"Two mana reading devices."
As I approached, I noticed some obvious security devices that detected unauthorized entry and verified identities by checking a database in the trainees' watches.
The mana supply array flickers in the air, its intricate pattern designed to detect and respond to even the slightest fluctuations in the flow of mana.
These are layers upon layers of intelligent barriers that require skill to bypass.
"I guess that's how they evade the academy's notice."
The academy has a special position called "Volunteer Research Intern." Even students majoring in combat-related fields can apply for this position if they are interested in how the equipment works.
This way, they can legally enter the place.
"The mole's plan was truly meticulous."
Considering they were able to pull off such a stunt right under everyone's noses in the academy, their preparations were clearly very thorough.
"But that's not enough to stop me."
With a calm gaze, I examined the existing security measures, searching for a specific breakthrough.
My innate ability, Perception, grants me a keen sense of the magical organization woven within barriers. The purpose and weaknesses of every magic circle are clearly revealed to me.
"This is it."
In the game, there's a specific location covered by only a low-level security device. This is likely a bug and shouldn't exist, but players have exploited it to enter this area.
Seeing a gap in the defenses, I quickly infiltrated.
Whoosh! Sizzle!
Shortly after, I saw the high-voltage current fence. I used the [Shadow] property again to blend into the shadows, passed through the gaps in the current, and continued forward.
Not long after, I encountered my first group of people. A group of researchers were drinking coffee and chatting in an open-air area.
"Have you heard about the latest developments in the field of kinetic energy? The results are truly astonishing..."
"Yes, I heard they tripled efficiency without sacrificing stability. That's a breakthrough!"
The risk was that I needed to cross this open-air area to reach my destination, and I didn't stop; I moved silently in the shadow cast by the huge overhead lights.
"Perhaps we can find a way to intern with the Black family."
"No... we have no chance at this academy."
……
Their voices faded into the distance as I quickly passed by; my footsteps were silent, my movements synchronized with the rhythm of their conversation. I continued silently on my way to my destination.
My mana lines guided me accurately through the maze-like path until I reached my destination.
"This is it."
It led me to a dilapidated research building behind the Magic Engineering District.
This forgotten building stands in stark contrast to the state-of-the-art facilities around it.
The exterior walls were covered with neglected traces; the walls were peeling, and the symbols of the magical barrier had almost completely disappeared.
"I understand why they chose this place as their hiding place and meeting place."
Others clearly considered this place unworthy of attention, and the academy seemed to have forgotten about it as well. However, the faint magical fluctuations in the air told a different story.
boom!
I got goosebumps all over my body, accompanied by that familiar feeling of my heart racing.
"Demonic energy."
A faint wisp of demonic energy enveloped the entire space, as if it were acting as a barrier to detect anyone who approached. It was so faint that even with my heightened sensitivity to demonic energy, I could barely sense it.
"They are very cautious."
They prepare for patrols or other researchers to come to this place; that's their strategy.
As I pondered this, I ignored the fluctuations in demonic energy. The armor completely disregarded the existence of such low-level energy.
Whoosh!
I quickly took a step, using the shadows as cover to enter the small building, where I finally spotted my target.
"Prepare for your doomsday."