He thought of three solutions.
His first solution is to reason with the seller and have a look at the book before paying this way, he can memorize any new information and not buy the book.
As his cultivation also focuses on the development of soul and mind, he can instantly memorize things. But if he cannot do this, he has to have a backup.
He knows he will need money, so he thought of a risky solution. This way, he can get the money, he will ultimately need.
This risky solution involved going to the bandit camp and stealing from them.
This way, he can test his improvements, and solve his problem of money. The bandits have set up many minicamps around the town.
Aile has a lot of knowledge from constant testing of his hearing ability. Thus, he knew that some of these bandit camps only had a 2nd stage cultivator as their leader.
He can sneak in and take their money. If he gets noticed he can run away, now that he is very close to the 3rd stage, no 2nd stage cultivator can catch him.
His third solution is simply to ask Fiona, he knows she will lend him money. But he left that option as his last as he will first try robbing the bandits.
Although this plan seemed risky, it was not. This is because Aile knows how many people will roughly be at the encampment and the level of the strongest person there. Therefore, it should not be too much of a problem stealing money from them.
It became nighttime, and it was Fiona's turn to take care of him at night. He waited for her to come.
"Hey Aile, why do you need a black robe and a mask?" Fiona entered his room, still focusing on a black robe and a grey mask she brought. She did not even look up and acted like it was her own room.
Aile was not bothered by it, and in fact, he did not find this behaviour odd, "Hey Fiona! That's a secret."
Fiona said with a giggle, "I bet, I know what you will use this for?"
Aile put up an intrigued look and said, "Really?"
Fiona said with an investigative tone filled with certainty, "Most people use this getup for murdering, stealing, spying on people or spying on ladies?"
Then she had a pondering expression and said: "You have not cultivated, so you can not kill the bandits and pirates. You will not kill random strangers, so this option is unlikely?"
"You do not need the money and robbing someone with your childish voice, hahaha, that would be so funny." She forced herself to stop laughing.
You do not have enmity with people, so there is no use in spying on random people… so that is another option out."
"That means you have grown up and became a pervert…" then she had a fake shocked expression, and she had the face and expression of a detective that had just solved a crime. She giggled a little.
Aile had a complicated smile on his face. He did not know whether to laugh or cry at her deduction.
She then continued but had a perceptible smile on her face. She did not seem to be able to carry on and not laugh. "Well, since I am partially responsible for how you grew up, I will sacrifice Diana and Hazel's bodies, next time when they go bathing. I will sneak you in, there is no need for you risking it outside with a mask and cloak…" at this point, she burst out laughing.
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Aile too found her remarks funny and joined her with laughter.
Fiona's beautiful blue eyes opened and closed, and her silver hair danced while she laughed, making her very captivating.
"Well, little pervert, what are you really going to use the mask and robe for?" Fiona giggled a little at the start of her sentence.
Aile was used to getting different nicknames throughout the day, being called a little pervert did not faze him.
Aile smiled and laughed, "You were so close to guessing, but you got it wrong… I will loot!"
Fiona was in disbelief, "Who? Why? If you need money, I can give it to you."
"I know that I can rely on you… but I want to try something… do not worry, there is no risk for me, I can escape if I get noticed."
"The citizens are already under a lot of stress from the bandit and pirate groups, you should not rob them!" Fiona said disappointedly.
"Who said I will rob the citizens?" Aile chuckled.
"Then, who, the pirates and bandits?" Fiona said mockingly.
Aile smiled at her.
"Absolutely not, it is too dangerous!" Fiona said with an annoyed tone.
Aile came close to her, gave her a quick one-handed hug and said: "Thank you for worrying, but I will be safe, do not worry!"
Then he took the robe and mask from her.
She then saw that she could not convince him to stay, so she quickly left his room.
This baffled Aile, and he thought that perhaps she would tell someone to stop him. However, he knew that Fiona would never forcefully stop him.
Aile wore the robe and mask, by the time he finished dressing, the door of his room opened.
Fiona dressed in a similar robe and mask appeared in front of him.
"What are you doing?" Aile asked.
"I am going too, that is obvious," Fiona said.
"Not this time Fiona, I will go alone to Cape Tie in a few days. I need to learn how to rely on myself, plus I am sure you have seen me train my body, I can be agile, and get away from an unfavourable situation." Aile said resolutely.
"Not this time? Are you planning to go there multiple times?" Fiona said with a questioning tone.
"Yeah, I have a plan, and then I will need your help, so, for now, I will go alone next time I will definitely bring you, I promise," Aile said.
"Ok, I can not disagree with you, I am but a lowly maid, but you need to tell me where you are going. If you do not come back in 1 hour, I will call the guards and tell them you are missing, and we will come to your location," Fiona said with a firm tone.
Seeing that Fiona back down a little, Aile agreed and told her of the two locations that he shortlisted.
Aile bargained for more time, and after a long back and forth, they concluded that that one and a half hour would be enough for the mission.
Aile knew that Fiona was doing this for his own good, and having a backup to save him in the worst case was not a terrible idea. So he was not against Fiona's suggestion.
Aile's robe and mask were fixed on by Fiona, and he left the house.
"See you soon Fiona," Aile said to Fiona as he disappeared into the night.
Aile activated his enhanced sense of hearing, and he mapped out the location of the guards. Using this knowledge, he found the little loopholes in the guards' perimeter and used them to sneak out. He got out of the estate without being detected.
He gazed back at the old-looking well-designed building that had become his home. He smiled towards it in admiration. He felt a sense of belonging here. Therefore, when he was leaving it temporarily, he felt some reluctance. However, successfully sneaking out of the secure estate, had given him more confidence in his subsequent act of infiltration. He knew that he had to take this step to improve and grow.
He had successfully gotten out of the secure estate, his next objective would be to sneak out of town. He cannot use the same method to get out of town, as the town's surrounding barrier is too high for him to jump down from. Hence, he is forced to use the gates to exit.
Port Kier had four gates, one at north, south, east and west of the town. Each gate has two guards and a watchtower close by guarding it.
To prevent the pirate and bandit groups' infiltration, the people travelling into and out of town were searched and questioned.
Generally, security measures are enforced only on the people that get into the town. However, Hazel ordered the guards to inspect people entering and exiting to prevent infiltration, increase the town's security, and make it hard for spies movement.
This system logged people entering and exiting, and suspicious behaviours could easily be identified.
He knew that the security measures were increased, and he could not go out of the gate without being detected by the guards.
Therefore, he started to search for a solution. He knows that he does not need to come up with an ingenious method. He can simply observe and find out how people circumvent the rule.
Aile knows that for one reason or another, people tend to find loopholes or ways to circumvent rules.