Thieves used to compete among themselves over how to steal more valuable items.
Every day, something gets stolen, but what differs is how much the level increases. Someone who steals many small things gains less than someone who steals one very valuable item.
Barclay is one of the thieves who steals something daily.
He used to focus on stealing expensive things so that his level would rise quickly.
Today, his target was to steal an ancient royal crown , which is worth 60,000 XP — the most valuable item he has ever attempted to steal.
It is located in Simusa Bank, which is one of the most highly secured places.
Barclay Anars strolled through the crowded marketplace, his eyes darting from side to side. The smell of roasting meat mingled with the sweet scent of exotic spices, while merchants' calls echoed through the cobblestone streets. It was a typical evening in the bustling city of Valoria, but for Barclay, it was the eve of his most ambitious heist yet. The ancient royal crown, a symbol of power and wealth, beckoned him from its resting place in the Simusa Bank. His heart raced at the thought of the 60,000 XP it would award him—enough to propel him to the top tier of thieves.
As he approached the bank, a figure stepped out of the shadows. It was a woman, dressed in a hooded cloak that concealed her features. "Hold it right there," she called out, her voice a low and commanding purr. He stopped in his tracks, surprised that someone walking this late at knight—let alone knew his intentions. "You're going the wrong way," she said, a hint of amusement in her tone.
If you were a smart thief, you would have gone to check the place in the morning to make sure the royal crown was real, and then come back at night to steal it. But that thought never crossed your mind.
"Who are you what do you want from me?"
My name is Ripper Jacques, but you can call me Suzy.
"Come, join me."
He cautiously approached the stranger, who revealed herself to be a skilled rogue named Suzy, also known as Ripper Jacques. She had intel that could either make or break his heist. The real Ancient royal crown, she claimed, was not in the bank, but hidden in the mansion of the city's wealthiest merchant, a man named Castellanos. The fake at the bank was merely a ruse to catch greedy thieves like him.
"Im sorry, but i work alone alone."
Suzy's eyes gleamed with a mix of challenge and promise.
"You work alone, huh?"
She smirked. "That's your first mistake. In this game, you need a partner—someone who knows the ropes, who can watch your back." Despite his initial resistance, Barclay couldn't ignore the logic in her words. The prize was too great, the risk too high, and the stakes had just been raised.
He reluctantly agreed to her terms, and they set off through the twisting alleys of Valoria. The night air grew cooler as they approached Castellanos' mansion, the grand edifice looming over them like a silent sentinel. Suzy's boots whispered against the cobblestone as she moved with a catlike grace that left him struggling to keep up.
Barclay's mind raced, trying to process the sudden turn of events. A shadowy figure had become his ally—or so it seemed.
"Is she on the shadow rank"?
The thrill of the hunt was now tinged with a hint of unease. Who was this woman, and why was she helping?