Derrick cleared his throat as he began explaining the very last mission to his only friend in the world. His heart felt heavy as he laid out the details of the job. A large part of him still could not believe this would be the final time he briefed his friend about an upcoming heist.

  “Rumor has it that Roger has built a suit of armor for his son in preparation for the Tournament of Youth in three years when he turns seventeen. It was crafted by multiple Fourth Rankers to ensure it was flawless and the materials used were all rare and precious. The old man spared no expense to ensure his son wins that tournament with ease. My sources tell me that as his most valuable possession, the entire thing is worth in excess of 500,000 Gold.”

  “500,000!” Bob shouted, his eyes wide as he nearly fell onto his back. His voice echoed from the top of the hill where they sat. Their height granted them a clear bird's eye view of the entire town, the houses appearing like tiny specks below.

  Bob had never heard of anyone possessing such a staggering amount in his life. He doubted they would have earned that much even if they combined every coin they had made since they began working as a team. It was absurd that anyone would spend so much on a suit of armor, especially one meant for a mere Youth Tournament.

  “I know right? They don't call him the richest man in Suveny for no reason. I doubt even the City Lord has half as much wealth, even if he combined his entire fortune. If we pull this off, we'll be legends and our names will be known far beyond Suveny. Its the perfect way to leave your mark on history before retiring, wouldn't you say?” Derrick asked with an eager expression.

  Bob considered his words for a moment before a troubling thought surfaced. “Despite his wealth, I've heard Roger has never once lost a single item and you want us to attempt to steal his most prized treasure?” Bob was never one to bat an eye at a job with a large payout, but this sounded too risky even for him.

  “Believe it or not, this is only a prototype. Apparently, the final version will be completed in three years and be worth more than a million gold pieces.”

  Bob could hardly believe his ears. A mere test piece was worth half a million, with the final product valued at twice that amount. It put into perspective how insignificant their earnings had been compared to the true heavyweights. He wondered what kind of business Roger owned to generate such immense wealth that he could spend a million on a suit of armor that was not even for himself.

  “I know Roger has good guards but people say his current guards aren't nearly as skilled as the one who was arrested twelve years ago. Not only that, he and his personal guards are leaving Suveny for a business trip in a few days. This will be the only chance we'll ever have to target the old man while he's vulnerable. What do you say my friend? Want to etch your name into the annals of history?”

  Bob still was not convinced. Even if Roger was out of town, his mansion was a fortress. Bob doubted even a party of seasoned adventurers could breach it, let alone a pair of thieves whose previous jobs involved breaking into a few stores.

  “Do you have a plan on how we'll achieve this?” he asked, because at the moment he saw no path inside that would end with them escaping without getting caught.

  “Of course,” Derrick said confidently as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a rolled sheet of paper. He laid it carefully on the grass and unrolled it between them. It contained the complete blueprints of the mansion down to the smallest detail. He began pointing and explaining the routes they would take and every obstacle in their way. Bob was surprised by how prepared he was and by the conviction in his voice.

  “So what do you think?” he asked a minute later after outlining his strategy.

  “It could work… but it's going to be tight. We'll need to be in there for a maximum of five minutes and not a second longer if we want to get out alive.”

  “I know but I think we can do it, don't you?”

  Bob nodded. “Yes we can. This will be our final mission together so its fitting that it will be our biggest ever. Let's do this.” He shared his friend's enthusiasm as the thrill of an impossible heist made his heart race with excitement.

  They bumped fists and Derrick rolled up the paper and slipped it back into his pocket before standing and facing the horizon. He watched the sinking sun from the summit of the hill. “I'm going to miss you buddy, it was a real pleasure working with you.” Derrick spoke with watery eyes as the golden light reflected in them.

  Bob wore a faint smile and turned to watch the sunset. “So what will you do after the mission?” he asked, not taking his eyes off the beautiful scene. One leg was raised with his right arm resting casually on his knee.

  “I'll leave Suveny and make a name for myself beyond this town and hopefully get recruited by a faction in the Underworld. Then I'll rise through the ranks until I'm a household name.”

  “Sounds good, I know you can do it Derrick, you're an incredible Thief.” Bob meant it as a genuine compliment despite how strange it might sound to outsiders.

  This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

  “Thanks.” As the sun vanished completely, Derrick turned away. “Let's meet three days from now at the spot I told you about.” He began walking off before disappearing into the darkness.

  Bob said nothing as he watched his friend leave. He turned his gaze back to where the sun had been moments earlier, a thoughtful look crossing his face. ‘Last job huh…’ Bob mused to himself, still finding it hard to believe that his career was coming to an end. He had no regrets, however, as he believed it was the right decision for himself and his sister. It was time to turn his life around and live honestly, no matter how much less exciting it might be compared to the thrill of a heist.

  On the day of the mission, Bob sat his sister down before leaving and told her it would be his final shift. Sasha was so happy to hear this that tears streamed down her face and she wrapped her brother in a tight embrace. Her reaction reaffirmed that he had made the right choice and erased any lingering doubts. To him, his sister's happiness mattered more than anything else in the world.

  Roger's entire mansion was encased in massive stone walls. They stood thirty meters tall and were covered in numerous intricately crafted inscriptions. In terms of height, they were second only to the town gates which stretched fifty meters high. That was because both structures had been created by the same Mage who founded Suveny more than a hundred years ago, back when Roger's grandfather owned the mansion. He had paid a fortune to ensure his family would remain protected for generations to come.

  The wall’s integrity was so formidable that even a Grade 2 Beast would struggle to break through it. If Suveny’s walls were ever to fall, the mansion and the stadium would be the only two safe locations in the entire city. Bob knew he and Derrick had no hope of destroying the wall, so it was fortunate that was not their plan.

  Bob placed his hand against the stone and activated a skill that interfered with the enchantments. It took thirty seconds, but he managed to disable them temporarily.

  “Let's go quickly, I don't know when they'll be active again.”

  They nodded to each other and raced up the wall, sprinting at full speed as if its surface were solid ground. They reached the top within moments and dashed down the other side until their feet touched the inner courtyard. As soon as they landed, the inscriptions flared back to life. Bob and Derrick exhaled in relief. A guard passed by the exact spot where they had stood seconds earlier, but the man sensed nothing. They had suppressed every trace of their mana and even their footsteps left no residue behind.

  The two activated their invisibility skill and moved across a vast stretch of grass toward a towering building in the distance. Derrick led the way since they had to follow a precise pattern to avoid triggering the traps hidden in the ground. They advanced swiftly yet carefully, covering the distance with measured steps. As they approached the building, guard dogs prowled through the yard. Even with their mana concealed and bodies invisible, they had coated themselves in a potion that masked their scent before the mission began. The potion provided an additional layer of protection as they crept toward their target. When one dog suddenly froze and stared in their direction with ears raised, Bob nearly lost control of his bowels, but the animal soon resumed sniffing and wandered off. They slipped past it and scaled the building’s wall.

  Upon reaching a high window, Bob carved a perfect circle into the glass and created an opening just large enough for them to slip through. Once inside, he sealed it shut, restoring the surface as if it had never been disturbed. From the second floor, they dropped silently to the ground level where priceless items were displayed in glass cases, with the armor gleaming brilliantly at the center. Before they took another step, Derrick halted Bob and activated a perception skill. Hidden enchantments appeared before his eyes as thin beams of mana ready to trigger an alarm upon contact. Bob swiftly dispelled the enchantment and they advanced toward the golem armor.

  When they were five steps away, Bob opened his mouth to ask something. “Hey Der—”

  He never finished. A martial technique struck him twice in the spine, sending a surge of force through his body. Paralysis seized his limbs and he slammed face first into the floor. Bob struggled to lift his head and saw Derrick standing over him, his mask removed, his glare cold and merciless.

  “Why…” Bob forced out, his voice strained and barely audible under the effects of the technique.

  “You betrayed me and turned your back on our path. I was your friend for a decade and you chose to leave me behind to chase some pathetic ordinary life. You abandoned the cause.”

  Bob tried to raise his hand but could not. Only faint grunts escaped his throat.

  “Don't bother. I've already tipped off the guards. They'll be here any moment,” Derrick said coldly as he turned away. “If I can't have you by my side Bob, then neither can your sister. You'll never be together again and will be torn apart the same way you shattered our friendship.” Derrick glanced back over his shoulder. “Goodbye, my friend.” He vanished into the shadows, leaving Bob with watery, furious eyes.

  The guards of the mansion burst through the doors a minute later and surrounded him. That was the day he lost his best friend and was sentenced to prison, leaving his sister alone for the next three years.

  Present Moment

  Joe looked at Bob with teary eyes and an expression that suggested he was on the verge of breaking down, barely holding himself together.

  Bob was stunned by the sight and did not know how to respond. “What's wrong.”

  “It's just so horrible what your friend did to you, that guy was an asshole. You only wanted to be with your family.” Joe wiped his eyes, doing his best to keep his composure after hearing about Bob's past. The story had affected him far more than he expected.

  “I made a mistake and trusted someone else when I should've stayed loyal to my sister. I deserve this punishment for what I've done. Now I'll be stuck here indefinitely.”

  “For what it's worth, I'll never betray you buddy. We'll be friends until the end.”

  Bob gave a faint smile. “Thanks.”

  The guards shut off the lights and ordered the inmates to go to sleep. Bob lay on his side. “We’ll talk before the tournament at midnight.” He spoke as he pulled his knees to his chest and tried to keep warm without a blanket.

  While the other inmates prepared to rest, Joe had something entirely different in mind. To him, the night was still young and there was not a second to waste. He intended to use the three hours before the tournament to prepare himself as thoroughly as possible and there was only one option.

  Training.