Soulbound: Dual Cultivation

Chapter 483: Infiltrating the station 2

With the disguises holding and no immediate suspicion drawn toward them, the three men continued deeper into the estate, their movements steady and deliberate, but beneath that calm exterior, each of them was fully alert, their minds working in sync as they recalled every detail Lady Cecilia had sketched out for them. The layout of the place was etched into their thoughts, every corridor, every turn, every hidden passage mapped out clearly, and it was that knowledge that allowed them to move with confidence despite being surrounded by enemy forces, because unlike the other guards, they were not wandering aimlessly or following routine patrols, they were heading somewhere specific.

Lucas kept his gaze forward as they walked, but his mind traced the path ahead, aligning their current position with the mental image of the estate, and after a few steps, he gave a faint shift of his hand at his side, signaling a slight change in direction, which Darmian and Patrick picked up instantly without looking at him, adjusting their path naturally as though it had always been their intended route. They avoided the more crowded inner halls, where groups of guards lingered and unnecessary interactions could occur, instead choosing narrower pathways and less frequented sections of the compound, where their presence would not be questioned as long as they maintained the appearance of routine movement.

Patrick leaned slightly closer as they walked, his voice low enough to be lost beneath the ambient noise as he muttered, "No actual cells in a place like this, makes things trickier," and Lucas responded just as quietly, his tone calm as he said, "It was never meant to hold prisoners, but that doesn’t mean they didn’t adapt it," his eyes flicking briefly toward a distant section of the compound before returning forward.

Darmian caught on immediately and added in a near whisper, "The storage areas," and Lucas gave the slightest nod, confirming the thought without drawing attention as he replied, "At the far end of the compound, isolated enough, easy to guard, and easy to control movement in and out."

They continued along their path, gradually moving away from the central structure of the estate and toward its outer sections, where the architecture shifted slightly, becoming less refined and more functional, the polished appearance of the main residence giving way to simpler structures designed for storage and utility. The number of guards thinned slightly here, but their positioning was more deliberate, stationed at key points rather than moving freely, which only reinforced the idea that this area held something important.

As they approached closer, Lucas slowed his pace just enough to observe without making it obvious, his eyes scanning the arrangement of guards, the positioning of doors, and the subtle signs of activity around the storage buildings, and it did not take long for him to notice the differences, the reinforced doors, the lack of open access, and the way certain guards stood more alert than others, their attention sharper, their stance less relaxed.

Patrick exhaled quietly as he muttered, "That’s not normal storage," and Darmian added under his breath, "Too much security for supplies," and Lucas finally spoke, his voice barely audible as he said, "That’s because it’s not supplies," his gaze settling briefly on one of the structures before he continued, "That’s where they’re keeping them."

They did not stop or stare, because doing so would immediately raise suspicion, instead, they walked past the area once, maintaining their cover, as though they were simply passing through on routine patrol, but as they moved, Lucas’ mind worked quickly, noting every guard position, every possible entry point, and every potential risk, because finding the location was only the first step, and what came next would require precision, timing, and absolute control.

As they rounded the corner and moved just out of direct sight of the storage section, Lucas gave a subtle signal, his fingers tightening briefly before relaxing, and both Darmian and Patrick responded with the slightest nods, understanding that they had reached the most critical point of their mission so far, and that from here on, every move they made would bring them closer to either success or complete exposure.

They did not move as a single unit anymore once they reached a safe enough distance from the storage section, because staying too close together for too long would begin to draw attention, so without a word, the three of them subtly split, each taking a slightly different path while still remaining within sight of one another, their movements controlled and natural as they blended into the routine flow of the guards stationed in that part of the compound. Lucas drifted slightly to the left while Darmian angled toward the right, both of them pretending to survey the area like ordinary soldiers on duty, yet their eyes missed nothing, carefully studying guard rotations, counting numbers, noting blind spots, and silently confirming what they had already begun to suspect, that this section was indeed being used to hold prisoners.

Lucas gave a small motion with his fingers near his side, a signal so subtle that anyone else would miss it, but Darmian caught it instantly, responding with a faint shift of his stance as they began communicating without words, exchanging observations and confirmations through small, practiced gestures, while Patrick remained a short distance away, maintaining the role of a slightly higher-ranking guard, his posture more relaxed yet authoritative, ensuring that anyone who glanced their way would see nothing unusual.

They had just begun to settle into their observation when a voice suddenly cut through the air behind them, firm and edged with suspicion as it said, "You two," causing both Lucas and Darmian to turn at the same time, their expressions neutral as they faced the approaching figure, a superior officer whose presence alone carried enough authority to make most guards straighten instinctively.

The man’s eyes narrowed slightly as he looked them over, his gaze sharp and assessing as he stepped closer and said, "I don’t recognize either of you, and I make it a point to know every man stationed here," his tone making it clear that this was not a casual remark, but a direct challenge, and for a brief moment, the tension tightened, because this was exactly the kind of interaction they had hoped to avoid.

Lucas remained composed, his posture steady as he replied, "We were just deployed, sir," keeping his answer simple and direct, offering nothing more than what was necessary, and for a second, it seemed like it might be enough, but the officer did not relax, instead, his eyes sharpened further as he asked, "Deployed from where exactly, which unit," his voice pressing just enough to demand a specific answer.

That was the problem.

Lucas and Darmian did not respond immediately, not because they hesitated, but because they did not have the information needed to answer correctly, and even a slight inconsistency here could unravel everything, so for a brief, dangerous second, silence hung between them, the officer’s suspicion growing as he took a step closer, clearly expecting an answer that was not coming.

Then, before the tension could snap, another voice cut in from behind the officer, smooth and confident as it said, "Apologies, sir, that’s on me," and all three of them turned slightly as Patrick approached, his posture carrying an easy authority that matched the uniform he wore, his expression composed as he gave a respectful nod.

He stopped beside them and continued without missing a beat, "They’re new recruits, just assigned to this sector not long ago, still getting used to the layout and their duties, I should have briefed them properly before letting them move around," his tone carrying just enough humility to sound genuine while still maintaining the authority expected of someone in his apparent position.

The superior officer’s gaze shifted toward Patrick, his expression easing slightly as he took in the insignia on his armor, recognizing the rank it represented, and after a moment, he gave a small nod as he said, "I see," his attention flicking briefly back to Lucas and Darmian before returning to Patrick, the tension easing just enough to defuse the situation.

He let out a short breath and added, "Then make sure they are given proper posts, we don’t need guards wandering around without purpose, especially not in a section like this," his tone firm but no longer suspicious, clearly accepting the explanation.

Patrick inclined his head respectfully as he replied, "Understood, sir, I’ll handle it immediately," and the officer gave one final glance at the two men before turning and walking away, his presence gradually fading into the background as he moved on to inspect other parts of the compound.

Only after he was gone did the tension truly ease, though none of them showed it outwardly, and Patrick gave the faintest glance toward Lucas and Darmian before saying in a low voice, "Looks like I picked the right armor," a subtle hint of dry humor in his tone, though his eyes remained sharp.

Lucas met his gaze briefly, a silent acknowledgment passing between them before he said quietly, "You just saved us from a problem we couldn’t talk our way out of," his voice calm but carrying clear meaning, while Darmian added under his breath, "We owe you one for that."

Patrick shook his head slightly as he replied, "Save it for when we’re out of here, for now, we play along," and he straightened slightly, shifting fully into his role as he continued, "I’ll assign you both positions nearby so we can stay close to the target without raising suspicion."

Lucas gave a small nod, understanding immediately as he replied, "Make it somewhere with a clear view of those buildings," his tone subtle, careful not to reveal too much even now, and Patrick responded just as carefully, "Already ahead of you," before turning slightly, ready to continue the act, their next move now dependent on maintaining the illusion they had so carefully built.