"Is this Alando Ture's manor?"
Siegert looked at the rust-covered gate, its entire frame fallen apart, and the cracked, collapsed walls. Through the iron gate and broken walls, one could see inside.
Inside was a lawn overgrown with weeds, with a stone path in the middle, though now it was covered in dirt and moss. It looked like no one had been here for a very long time.
The stone path stretched straight, leading to a three-story building covered in ivy and various plants. Some of the external walls had flaked off due to long-term neglect. If it weren't for these plants, one could still imagine the building's former elegance, but now, it was just a dilapidated, abandoned manor.
Looking at the manor before him, Siegert turned his head to look at Alka. He couldn't help but ask, "How did you manage it? Just by wandering around the city, you're sure there's treasure here? Isn't that too hasty?"
Glancing at Siegert, Alka raised his hand and tapped his own head. "That's why I'm a Treasure Hunter."
"TSK."
Siegert rolled his eyes and turned away. How boastful.
The location on the map was indeed this abandoned manor. When they first arrived, they had asked people nearby and confirmed that this manor had indeed once belonged to Toure.
"Let's go straight in," Alka said, and he and Siegert started walking toward the building.
Because the stone path hadn't been maintained for a long time, they left clear footprints as they walked, and it was very slippery, probably because it had rained yesterday.
Reaching the side of the building, Siegert went up and knocked on the surrounding wall.
"No problem, still very sturdy," Siegert said, taking out the torch he had been carrying and lighting it with flint.
Although there were windows and some crumbling sections of wall, the view inside was very dark due to the dense covering of plants and vines.
Alka stepped forward and drew the Sailor's Long Saber from his waist, holding it ready.
Seeing Alka's action, Siegert also gripped his saber handle, frowning as he asked, "Could there be danger?"
"Just to bolster my courage," Alka replied. Last time, the Difficulty setting was 'Adult'. Although he himself felt that was indeed the appropriate level, the suddenly resurrected skeletons had given him quite a fright. But on second thought, if he hadn't gone, his mother's remains definitely wouldn't have risen. From that perspective, it was indeed a treasure an ordinary adult could obtain; the only real difficulty was climbing to the cave on that cliff. But who knew if there would be enemies in the 'Strongman' Difficulty setting?
The two of them entered the manor.
The first space they entered appeared to be the manor's main hall.
"Everything valuable was taken long ago. Looking at the walls, even some bricks and tiles might have been scavenged by the local residents," Siegert remarked, observing the dilapidated room.
Alka kicked at the dust and dried leaves scattered on the ground. This place looks like no one has been in for years.
The walls were shabby, and the furniture had mostly been cleared out, leaving only some built-in wooden cabinets. There were also signs of small campfires and places that looked as if someone had temporarily lived there. After all, an abandoned manor like this would be a decent resting spot for someone in distress. Of course, it could also easily become a secret hideout for children.
"Such a big place, where could the treasure be hidden? And is there really a treasure?" Siegert used his saber's pommel to tap here and there, unable to resist asking.
"Don't worry," Alka reassured him and started wandering around the hall. To obtain the treasure, one needed enough strength. He had to find where that applied.
"Let's explore the manor first. We'll check every room and see if we can find any information."
"No problem."
Holding their torches aloft, the two began to wander through various parts of the manor. At some point, Alka had picked up a straight wooden stick and was using it to tap around.
"Are you trying to detect hidden compartments by the sound?"
"You could say that."
"Professional."
The two chatted desultorily as they explored.
After thoroughly searching the first floor, they hadn't found anything unusual, because almost everywhere was empty.
They moved up to the second floor, where most rooms still contained the remnants of wooden beds, not fully dismantled. Either for servants or as guest rooms.
After exploring this floor, Alka couldn't help but say, "It's so empty; these people really leave nothing untouched." He hadn't seen anything suspicious at all.
"CREAK!"
Suddenly, a faint sound came from upstairs.
The two instantly brought their sabers up protectively, then looked at the ceiling. They exchanged glances.
Siegert made a shushing gesture, then nodded his head.
Alka nodded back.
They then cautiously headed toward the staircase. They had previously observed that this was the only staircase in the entire building.
Raising their torches, they moved quietly, slowly creeping upstairs.
However, when they reached the top floor, they only saw a broken door creaking in the breeze. The window of this room was completely shattered, and a corner of the wall was missing. The late afternoon sunlight streamed into the room.
"Ah, so it was just the wind. That scared me," Alka said, turning to look at Siegert and blinking.
Siegert was momentarily stunned, then nodded with understanding.
"Let's see if we find anything on the third floor," Alka said and began to explore the rooms there.
Siegert followed closely behind, his hand already on his saber, ready to draw.
The heightened perception granted by the Magician's Ring made Alka sense something was off the moment he came upstairs. The creak they heard downstairs couldn't have been made by that door; its creak wasn't nearly that loud. Besides, when they heard the sound, it was directly above them, and they weren't near the staircase then. How could they have come up and seen the source immediately? Someone was definitely here. There were also very subtle, uncleared traces around.
As they wandered, they came to a room larger than the guest rooms, with a small balcony outside.
Stepping onto the small balcony, they leaned out to look. Alka pointed the Long Saber in his hand towards the area below the balcony's edge.
"Come out. I've seen you," Alka said.
Beneath the balcony, in a small depression, rainwater had formed puddles. Faintly reflected in the water was someone clinging to the underside of the balcony.
Siegert immediately moved to his side, saber at the ready.
Seeing that no one was coming out, Alka smiled helplessly and said, "Yellow hair, brown..."
"Alright, alright, you win," a voice emerged.
A figure climbed up from under the balcony, grabbed the edge, and vaulted onto it, landing steadily in a squat. They then casually put on the hat that had been on their back.