Seeker 164

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Chapter 164. Infiltration Investigation

It was a mansion that truly exuded an atmosphere of wealth, Goldo's residence. 

Kazane-san and I stealthily made our way through the mansion's corridors, masking our footsteps and advancing quietly.

"It's such a spacious house... Including the 2nd floor, I wonder how many rooms there are."

"I don't know. Maybe around 30 or 40, give or take."

"Wow, it's going to be quite a task to search through all of them."

"And we have to keep an eye out for any hidden rooms as well."

Goldo's mansion was a two-story structure, typical of a mansion, with many rooms. 

We had to locate Eslyn-san in one of them. 

Furthermore, based on Aria-san's account of a previous aggressive investigation, there had to be a hidden room within the mansion; otherwise, it wouldn't make sense. 

During the previous aggressive search, it was almost certain that the person who had been kidnapped had entered the mansion. 

However, even with that information, they couldn't locate the abducted individual.

"Well, we have no choice but to do it. Oh, wait, Daichi-kun, someone is coming from around that corner."

As we proceeded down the corridor, Kazane-san pointed toward a corner ahead. 

If someone, likely a mansion staff member, were to come from there, it would lead to a confrontation.

"This isn't good. Do you trust the [Stealth] skill's effectiveness? No, but..."

The [Stealth] skill was particularly effective against regular people, but its power wasn't absolute. 

Against armed adventurers walking down the mansion's hallway, it wouldn't be as advantageous. 

I wished I had dressed a bit less conspicuously, but it was too late for that now.

"Oh well, there's no choice. It will take longer, but let's go back."

"No, wait. Probably no one in that room right there."

Kazane-san pointed and indicated a nearby door. 

According to her, the range of her [Presence Detection] skill was quite understandable if it related to auditory perception. 

For example, if it were beyond the corner of the hallway, she could sense presence from quite far away. 

On the other hand, it was significantly limited when it came to rooms separated by walls. 

It was somewhat similar to how much sound leaks from one's apartment to the neighboring one in a condominium.

Therefore, with ['Presence Detection] alone, she couldn't grasp people's movements throughout the entire mansion. 

However, if it was very close, even inside a room, she could somewhat sense the presence of people.

I trusted Kazane-san's senses and turned the knob of the indicated door. The door opened quietly. 

I peered cautiously and swiftly into the room through the slightly ajar door. 

There was no one in the room.

Kazane-san and I entered the room and quietly closed the door behind us. 

After a while, we heard footsteps approaching, then gradually fading away. 

Kazane-san and I breathed sighs of relief.

"Well, well. At this rate... I don't know how long it will take to search the entire mansion"

"Hey, Daichi-kun, look at this."

Kazane-san called me, so I looked to see what she was referring to.

She pointed to several clothing cases in the room. 

Kazane-san retrieved a piece of clothing from one of them and showed it to me—a type of outfit commonly known as a maid uniform. 

We found something like a butler's outfit from another clothing case.

"Daichi-kun, with these..."

"I see. It should work."

Kazane-san and I changed into the outfits right here, performing a quick wardrobe change. 

We stored our weapons and equipment in the [Item Box]. 

Kazane-san dressed in the maid uniform, while I wore the butler's outfit. As two people disguised as mansion staff, we left the room and walked down the corridor, maintaining a nonchalant demeanor.

After a while, a man in a butler's outfit, seemingly one of the mansion's staff, approached us from the front. 

We had noticed him in advance, but we didn't bother hiding.

Without showing any signs of suspicion, the man in the butler's outfit passed us as if everything were normal. 

After confirming that he had turned the corner, Kazane-san and I exchanged determined looks.

"All right, this should make things go smoothly."

"Yes, I'm worried about Eslyn-san. Let's hurry."

Kazane-san is in her maid outfit, and I'm in the butler's attire.

The two of us, like secret agents, continued to explore the mansion from within.