Chapter 58: Infiltration
Allen decided to move forward with the next phase of his plan.
“Marianne,” he instructed, “You, along with Shadow and Nightingale, are to conduct a more thorough reconnaissance of this area. Their homework tonight is to complete a detailed intelligence report. Be aware, tonight’s operation may encounter danger, but this is precisely the most critical lesson.”
“Yes, Young Master.” Marianne’s hand silently slid to the dagger strapped to her thigh, her crimson eyes flickering with a cold murderous intent in the darkness. “If we encounter troublesome informants… can we eliminate them?”
“Only if it can be done safely and without exposing our presence.” Allen responded calmly. “Make sure it’s clean—no traces left behind. The specific tactics for this lesson are up to you to teach them.”
Marianne nodded, a chilling smile curling at the corner of her lips. “I’ve already prepared… a rich and colorful practical course for them.”
That dangerous smile sent a chill down the spines of even the well-prepared Nightingale and the taciturn Shadow.
They had no doubt that this future Torchbearer would become a terrifying demon in the eyes of the Old World’s vested interests—someone who kills without a second thought.
Yet for all the suffering people, her killings were a means to save more lives; she was a hero bringing hope and light!
Thanks to Allen’s personal guidance and resource support, Marianne’s current combat prowess was enough to quietly eliminate all potential threats in this area.
As for those who might be lurking here, colluding with the Thieves’ Guild…
Anna had actually returned to Laval House from the Judgement Court earlier that afternoon, but unfortunately missed Allen’s brilliant Story of the Little Mermaid storytelling session.
Before leaving that evening, Allen had already entrusted Anna with his Thieves’ Guild Purge Plan, instructing her to hand it over to her direct superior, Judge Victor.
At this moment, Victor and the Heretic Inquisition Squad personnel he could mobilize were already hidden in various shadowy corners throughout this area.
If Marianne’s operation could “lure the snake out of its hole,” it would only accelerate the eradication of the Thieves’ Guild.
Allen trusted Marianne’s capabilities, and Marianne would repay that trust with flawless execution.
Allen then turned to Finn Hawk, the young man who was now his core confidant.
“Finn, come with me. Let’s take a stroll through the enemy’s lair.”
Finn still felt a flicker of worry and hesitation, but seeing Allen’s trademark confident villainous smile wiped all doubts away in an instant.
“Yes, Chief!”
“When you go inside, call me Young Master.”
“Yes, Young Master!”
Allen and Finn left the concealed attic and boldly walked toward the noisy entrance of the Forgotten Madonna.
Two dim storm lanterns hung at the inn’s door, barely lighting the muddy ground outside.
The air was thick with the stench of alcohol, sweat, and cheap perfume.
A young woman, still fairly attractive but scantily dressed, leaned against the doorframe, her hollow eyes beckoning passersby—one of the Kanban Girls here.
Several burly, sharp-eyed thugs loitered nearby, pretending to be casual but vigilantly watching everyone who approached.
Allen showed almost no attempt to hide his “curiosity,” behaving like a pampered scion fresh to the city, shamelessly looking around, his gaze especially lingering on the Kanban Girl.
Finn immediately slipped into character as a loyal yet timid attendant, carefully tugging at Allen’s sleeve, his voice trembling with a whine, “Y-Young Master… maybe we should go back… this place looks scary… if the Master finds out, he’ll break my legs for sure!”
“Bah! What do you know!” Allen shrugged him off, deliberately raising his voice to sound tough but thin-skinned, “What’s wrong with a real man seeing the world? Besides, I’ve got plenty of money!”
He even patted his not-so-bulging coin pouch on purpose.
Their conversation immediately drew the attention of the thugs by the door.
A scar-faced brute, the largest and most intimidating, sneered as he approached, looking Allen up and down condescendingly. “Hey, kid, got all your hair yet? This ain’t your place! Go home and drink your milk!”
Allen pretended to be startled but then pushed his pride up, stiffening his neck. “I— I’m an adult now! Who do you think you’re looking down on? Besides, I’m rich! Money makes the master here—don’t you know the rules?”
He leered slyly at the Kanban Girl as he spoke.
“Oh?”
Scarface raised an eyebrow, scrutinizing Allen.
Though dressed like an ordinary citizen, the spoiled noble’s aura was impossible to hide.
He rubbed his hands together, hinting, “You know the rules here, right?”
“Heh heh, of course I do.” Allen’s face immediately twisted into a lecherous grin as he quickly pulled out a Rifel Silver Coin and slipped it into the thug’s palm, lowering his voice, “Inside… got anything better than this sister?”
Scarface pinched the coin, satisfaction spreading across his face. He waved a hand. “Got it all, if you can pay. Go on in, kid. Have fun.”
He gestured to the other thugs to let them pass.
Allen immediately urged Finn, “Come on, follow me inside! Stay sharp at the door—don’t let my father’s men find us!”
He played the role of a noble son sneaking out to party, afraid of being caught by his family, to perfection.
Even Finn, who knew the truth well, felt momentarily disoriented.
The past Young Master Allen was cruel, but more brooding and fierce—this sleazy, cowardly act was truly convincing.
The two passed the first checkpoint smoothly and entered the Forgotten Madonna.
The moment they stepped inside, the noise, heat, and mingled smells hit them full force.
Allen appeared curious as he took in the interior but his mind raced, quickly analyzing the building’s layout, personnel placement, and possible defensive points.
The first floor of the Forgotten Madonna was a spacious but dimly lit hall that doubled as a tavern, without a long reception counter at the end.
It was packed with all sorts of people: loud sailors playing dice games, whispering merchants, and shifty-eyed travelers. The noise was deafening and the atmosphere foul.
The tavern took up most of the space, offering cheap drinks and food—a perfect spot for gathering rumors and conducting small-scale illicit transactions.
Many scantily clad women wandered about, and once they made a deal with a customer, they would lead them upstairs.
The second and third floors were guest rooms, divided into noisy dormitories and relatively private rooms, providing temporary venues for all kinds of gray-area deals.
The backyard of the Forgotten Madonna was a large courtyard enclosed by high walls, used as a warehouse.
It contained several large storerooms, officially for goods storage, but also for sorting and hiding smuggled items.
For ordinary people, this was the full extent of their understanding of the Forgotten Madonna.
But Allen, familiar with the original Starshine Love Song, knew that beneath the noisy and chaotic facade lay the true core of the Thieves’ Guild—a vast underground headquarters.
The underground base housed several key areas:
The Bank Vault: the guild’s core treasury, storing ledgers, cash, and valuable collateral. The most heavily guarded place.
The Dovecote: an intelligence trading center. Information brokers met here, classifying and recording intelligence, then sending it out via carrier pigeons or couriers.
The Land of Tenderness: a den of luxury for the elite, consisting of a series of soundproof rooms with secret passages. Many girls enslaved here would spend their miserable lives trapped within.
The Dark Hall: the real Adventurer’s Guild. A smoke-filled room issuing all kinds of illicit assignments: theft, assassination, protection, extortion. Mercenaries and thieves gathered here to take jobs.
The Torture Chamber: used for interrogation, debt collection, and handling traitors, far from the main areas and soundproofed as much as possible.
Allen’s goal on this visit was to get to the Dark Hall to contact the War Hound’s informants and try to locate the Thieves’ Guild leader’s whereabouts.
He skillfully weaved through the crowd to the tavern’s counter.
The bartender was a sharp-eyed, nimble middle-aged man. Allen tapped the counter, lowering his voice with a practiced tone: “One Black Velvet, please.” This was Thieves’ Guild code for needing mercenaries to carry out assassination or sabotage jobs.
The bartender paused wiping a glass, narrowing his eyes as he studied Allen suspiciously. “Black Velvet? It’s tight lately. We’re short on Wormwood. Can’t mix it.” (Implying a crackdown recently—no high-risk contracts accepted.)
Allen immediately feigned displeasure. “Come on! Wormwood’s growing fine these days, how can it be out? You looking down on my business?”
The bartender’s eyes flickered with surprise. He reexamined Allen, seemingly convinced he was someone “in the know,” and his attitude softened slightly. “Hmph, kid, you know your stuff. Fine, who’re you looking for?”
Allen lowered his voice. “Heard those foreigners who recently caused trouble are selling cheap. Perfect—my master needs some cheap, reliable ‘tools’ for some rough work.”
The bartender nodded, nodding toward a corner. “Dark Hall, third table in the corner. They’re there. Find them yourself.”
He rubbed his fingers together.
Allen understood and slid three Rifel Silver Coins across the counter. The bartender took them swiftly and gave a subtle nod to a girl waiting nearby. “Take them down the third gate.”
Allen noticed Finn stiffen slightly, his gaze fixed tightly on the girl assigned to guide them.
The girl looked barely over fifteen, her face haggard but still showing traces of former delicacy. Catching Finn’s stare, she immediately lowered her head in panic, avoiding eye contact.
Her voice was as faint as a whisper: “P-please follow me…”
Allen frowned and quietly asked Finn, “You two know each other?”
Finn took a deep breath, instantly regaining composure, and gave Allen a firm look signaling it was okay to proceed.
Allen didn’t press further and nodded.
The two followed the silent girl into the storeroom behind the counter.
They slipped into the hidden passage within the storeroom, stepping onto the stairs leading to the true heart of the Thieves’ Guild—the underground world.
The dark, deep entrance was like a giant mouth waiting to swallow prey.
Only this time, it was not prey that entered, but the hunter.