Summoned with an SSS-Rank Portal Skill

03 stared at William for a few seconds, his mind buzzing with disbelief. "Through the window? Are you serious?"

William shrugged. "Why not? It's not like leaving through the front door will make us less likely to be seen."

They could use one of the many back doors—most of the guards were absent—but William was still wary of the other workers under Jonas's command. What if a cleaner, gardener, or even a cook spotted them and alerted Jonas? After all, none of them had any reason to side with the slaves. It wasn't worth the risk.

"Trust me, alright?" William said, a hint of determination in his voice. "Besides, I've got something that might give us an edge."

As soon as the words left his mouth, Stuart emerged from the spatial bag, silent as a shadow. When 03 saw the rat, he stumbled back, confusion written all over his face.

"What's that? A rat?" he exclaimed, his voice rising slightly.

William quickly stepped closer, raising a hand to calm him. "Keep it down. This is Stuart, my magical pet. He's going to help us navigate this place without getting caught. He can make us invisible—or close to it, at least."

If they were going to work together, there was no point in keeping secrets. When 03 heard this, his eyes lit up with excitement.

"Really? With our mana sealed, this might be our best shot. They'd never expect us to turn invisible!" Explore hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire

That was the whole point. Jonas wasn't overly concerned about them precisely because of the seal on their bodies. Without mana, they couldn't fight the guards or use spells to escape. But Stuart changed everything.

"Exactly. I told you to trust me," William said, a small smirk playing on his lips. "Now let's move. This is our best chance."@@novelbin@@

William went first, climbing through the window and landing lightly on the roof. Their rooms were on the third floor, a level reserved for Jonas's workers. 03 followed, his movements cautious but steady. The darkness provided some cover, but they both knew it wouldn't last long.

Once they reached the courtyard, the guards would spot them instantly. But before they took another step, it was time to put Stuart's abilities to use.

The rat leaped onto William's shoulder and spoke in a hushed tone. "I can camouflage both of you for about ten minutes. After that, I'll need to recharge before I can do it again."

William quickly relayed the information to 03. "He can't use his magic for too long, or they'll sense it. That's why we need to move fast."

03, still visibly shocked by the talking rat, nodded without question. "Got it. Let's go. The cabin isn't far. We can make it in time."

Stuart activated his camouflaging magic—the same spell he had used before. In an instant, their bodies vanished, blending seamlessly into the surroundings. Now invisible, talking was out of the question. Communication would have to be through gestures alone.

With silent precision, they descended from the rooftop, their movements swift and deliberate. Even with their mana sealed, their enhanced physical abilities made the climb down effortless. Once their feet touched the courtyard, they paused, scanning the area for any signs of danger.

A few seconds later, two guards strolled past, their conversation casual and carefree. They were chatting about women and their desire to visit a tavern for some entertainment. Thankfully, they didn't notice the invisible intruders. William and 03 exchanged a quick glance, relief flashing in their eyes, before moving toward the mysterious cabin at the back of the mansion.

This was the place where William had seen strange lights flickering at night. Tonight, however, it was shrouded in darkness. William guessed the absence of activity was due to the dinner event. But there was still one obstacle: a single guard stationed at the cabin's entrance.

It was just one guard—better than two—but his presence was enough to complicate their plans. William frowned. On previous nights, there had been no guards here. Why now?

'They must know security is lighter tonight and are taking extra precautions,' William thought, his mind racing.

Stuart poked William with a tiny paw, drawing his attention. The rat nodded, his beady eyes glinting with determination. Though they couldn't speak, William understood. It was time to act.

As they approached the guard—a tall, muscular man lounging in a chair by the door—Stuart worked his magic. A faint, sweet scent wafted through the air, invisible but potent. The guard inhaled, his eyelids growing heavy. Within moments, he slumped forward, fast asleep.

Stuart didn't stop there. With a flick of his paw, he camouflaged the guard's body, ensuring no one would notice him. The area remained eerily quiet, with no other guards in sight.

'Stuart is incredible!' William thought, a surge of admiration for his tiny companion.

Now that the guard was no longer an issue, all that remained was to enter the mysterious cabin. But before stepping inside, they took a moment to scan the area. No guards were in sight—just the eerie stillness of the night. Satisfied, they moved quickly, slipping through the door and into the cabin.

William's curiosity had been building for weeks. The strange lights he'd seen at night suggested this place held secrets. What was inside? Why did people come here? His first assumption had been a tool shed, but Jonas had already shown them the actual tool shed in another building. This was something else entirely.

The interior was pitch black, so dark that 03 couldn't see a thing. But William's vision, enhanced by the serpent blood, cut through the darkness like a blade. To him, the room was as clear as day.

What he saw took his breath away.

The cabin wasn't a storage space or a simple shed—it was a library. But these weren't ordinary books. The titles on the spines spoke of forbidden knowledge: rituals, dark magic, deity summoning, even eternal life. These were just the subjects William could make out at a glance. The rest of the books promised even darker secrets.

"I can't see anything," 03 whispered, his voice tinged with frustration.

Stuart had stopped using his camouflage magic. It wasn't necessary anymore; they were hidden inside the cabin, shielded by the darkness. But that same darkness was now a problem for 03.

"We can't risk turning on any lights," William said, his voice low. "If we do, they'll see it from the mansion just as easily as I saw the lights from there. We'll have to work in the dark."

For William, the darkness wasn't an issue, but 03 needed time for his vision to adjust. While 03 blinked and squinted, trying to make out shapes in the gloom, William took the opportunity to explore on his own.

His enhanced vision led him to a table cluttered with scattered notes. He picked up one of the papers, his eyes scanning the contents. What he read sent a chill down his spine.

It was a ritual—a detailed, step-by-step guide to rejuvenation and curing all diseases. The instructions were precise, almost clinical, but the implications were anything but ordinary. At the bottom of the page, two names were scrawled in elegant handwriting.

One name sent a jolt of recognition through him: Wendy, the Silver-Haired Lady. The other name was unfamiliar, but the surname was one he knew all too well.

'Vince Black Pine… and Wendy…'

What exactly was going on?