Beggar Cultivation System

Apollo ran toward Klown's mansion, his body invisible as he used the Simple Movement Technique. His companion, perched on his shoulder, clung tightly, tongue flapping in the intense wind.

They passed curious onlookers who were still unaware of the situation's urgency, but Apollo didn't stop to warn them. Time was of the essence, and he needed to infiltrate the mansion as soon as possible.

It didn't take long for him to reach the towering five-story mansion. Apollo halted to find a vantage point where he could observe the structure.

"You'd better behave," he warned, giving the monkey on his shoulder a serious look.

Bubba shivered under the intense gaze. Although he couldn't understand the human's words, he clung tightly and stayed silent.

"Good," Apollo said with a smile before turning his attention back to the mansion.

The mansion was fronted by two massive gates leading to the building's entrance. A garden stretched along the pathway, serving as an attraction for passersby. Typically, guards would stand on either side of the gate, but now black-robed figures filled the area.

Some of them stood by the gates, while others patrolled, watching the people on the streets.

"They look like cult members," Apollo muttered, eliciting a small cry from his companion. "Quiet. Didn't I tell you to stay silent?"

Bubba quickly lowered his head.

Apollo sighed, extending his senses toward the black-robed figures by the mansion. "Hmm, they're at least at the 2-Step Foundation Building Stage."

As he pushed his senses further, he felt as though he'd hit a wall. A frown crossed his face. "What's that?" he muttered, pushing his senses to the limit.

A barrier surrounded the mansion, but he observed one of the black-robed men enter without any resistance. It didn't take him long to deduce that the barrier was only meant to block out prying eyes, likely targeting senses and spying techniques.

Nearby, some passersby appeared curious about the black-robed figures, but with the commotion from the north side of the city, their attention soon shifted away.

"Now, how am I going to get into the mansion without alerting them?" he mused. Flying over wasn't an option; his technique was too loud, making it a dead giveaway. "Maybe not from here."

Apollo circled around the mansion, searching for a potential entry point. Black-robed men seemed to be everywhere, with a lookout tower giving them a full view of the grounds.

Their security was tight, but Apollo didn't give up. He continued exploring until he reached the mansion's backside, where fewer black-robed men stood guard.

He eyed the wall, particularly at the bottom, where vines covered it. He noticed a cat pushing its way through the vines, slipping outside the wall.

"I'm in luck," Apollo smiled. Glancing at the black-robed men, he noticed they weren't looking his way. Activating one of his revised techniques from Hydra Mirage, his body faded into invisibility.

Carefully, as if walking on eggshells, Apollo crept toward the wall. Once there, he quickly lifted the vines to reveal a small opening, just large enough for a child to squeeze through. He was about to slip inside when a shout echoed.

"Who's there?"

Apollo froze, letting the vine fall back into place.

One of the black-robed men started approaching his position.

Apollo could have easily taken him out, but with the lookout tower nearby, he couldn't afford to risk detection and spoil the fun. He held his breath, watching as the man came to a stop right in front of him.

The guard examined the vines with a serious expression. After a moment, he shook his head and muttered, "Must have been my imagination," before resuming his rounds.

Apollo sighed in relief, then slipped through the hole in the wall, curious about its existence but too pressed for time to ponder it further.

He didn't have to crawl far before emerging on the other side, where he tumbled onto the grass, his monkey clinging tightly to him.

Bubba nearly let out a cry as he was nearly squished in the roll, but Apollo quickly stood up and covered his companion's mouth.

"Shh." Apollo raised a finger to his lips, scanning the area. After confirming no black-robed men were around, he fixed his gaze on the mansion's back entrance.

With Bubba perched quietly on his shoulder, Apollo moved toward the door. It was large, and as he slipped inside, the aroma of cooking and the clatter of utensils hit him.

"Oh? A kitchen?" he murmured, realizing which part of the mansion he'd entered.

Apollo found a shadowed corner to observe the scene. Read new chapters at My Virtual Library Empire

At least eleven chefs were working in unison, their hands raised to summon fire as they cooked meat. Glancing at the long table, Apollo saw dozens of plates filled with food. Even from a distance, he could tell the dishes were crafted from high-quality monster ingredients.

"Why so much food?" Apollo muttered, puzzled by the massive quantity. After a few more moments of observation, and seeing nothing else of interest, he turned invisible and carefully slipped out of the kitchen.

As he approached a door, intending to find where Klown might be conducting the ritual, he heard voices and the sound of soft piano music from the other side. "Now what?" Apollo muttered, peeking through a crack to see people dressed in luxurious clothing and adorned with expensive jewelry.

They were seated around a grand table, waiting for their meal.

The city was under attack by hundreds—no, thousands—of Duskfang, yet here these people were, indulging in luxury.

Apollo scanned the group and, based on their mannerisms, easily recognized them as members of noble families. "These must be the Great Families," he whispered to himself, disgusted by their indifference.

While his body is in the invisible state, he slowly pushed the kitchen door open before slipping out of it.

Apollo glanced at them for a moment before he spread his senses. He found a few black robe men in this floor which are on standby, merely observing the surroundings. Where are they? He thought as he carefully made his way to the staircase in the distance.