There are several considerations when picking a lock: skill, tools, experience, and intuition. All four of these factors are essential.
Du Chen's movements were extremely slow as he carefully inserted a wire along the edge of the hole. After all, this was a holy artifact from the Einst continent. Who knew if there were any anti-theft mechanisms inside? If Du Chen accidentally triggered a Dou Qi device and released a burst of Dou Qi, he would have to undergo reincarnation once again.
The fear of the unknown and absolute confidence in his own skills made Du Chen feel like he was back in his past life as a thief.
Taking great risks in exchange for enormous wealth, this feeling was exhilarating! It was even more satisfying than when Du Chen was forced to do good deeds by the “The Lotus Treasure Mirror”!
As he advanced a few millimeters, Du Chen felt that three wires couldn't go any further, but the remaining wire was unobstructed.
“Oh, ancestors of the Xiglu clan!” Du Chen ecstatically exclaimed. This feeling was too familiar to him. When one hole opens, the other three close. Could this be the “Four-Key Ascending and Descending Lock”?
The structure of the Four-Key Ascending and Descending Lock was like a four-layer safe. Opening the first layer revealed the second layer, the third layer, and the fourth layer. Moreover, only when the first keyhole was opened with the correct technique would the second keyhole be revealed, and so on.
“If that's the case, first I need to rotate the lock body counterclockwise, then use a key to turn the first layer of the lock core clockwise, and finally lift it up!”
Click!
Du Chen heard a crisp sound coming from the metal sphere, and immediately after, he could insert the wire into the second small hole.
“Hey! It worked! Then the second layer should have a screw. I'll use three stiff wires to rotate it clockwise and then press it down! Damn, the wires are too thick, I need to grind them a bit…”
Click, click, click!
Three consecutive crisp sounds, and the remaining three locks were all opened by Du Chen.
Then, the metal sphere suddenly began to transform. It expanded a few times, and then started dismantling from the metal crack on top, quickly forming another shape.
Du Chen used his thief-like eyes to desperately record the changes in the metal sphere and couldn't help but exclaim, “Damn, it's like a Transformers!”
In the blink of an eye, the metal sphere transformed into a small hammer and dropped onto the grass in front of Du Chen.
At this moment, inside a mansion in Yanjing St. John's City.
Kaman , with a swollen face, was complaining to the fat nobleman in front of him, “Father, you lent me several guardians of the family. I'm going to find Francis and settle the score!”
The fat nobleman is none other than Kaman'sfather, Duke Wideno, the descendant of the Storm fighter God and the Minister of Etiquette in the Lanning Empire. “Kaman, Francis is just a worthless person who can't cultivate Dou qi. Why are you angry with him? Besides, he is the descendant of the Holy Radiance fighter God after all. Today he fought you to save someone's life. If you seek revenge because of this, it goes against the teachings of the Holy Law Codex!”
“I don't care. I can't let this matter just… Oh!”
Kaman clutched his chest and let out a miserable cry. He quickly reached into his pocket and his face turned pale. “Father, my sacred weapon, the Horned Warhammer, is lost, and someone has forcefully claimed ownership!”
“What!?” Wideno stood up abruptly, slamming the table forcefully. “Impossible! Your Horned Warhammer is a Level 3 sacred weapon. Only a Level 9 fighter God would be able to force it to acknowledge ownership. But the only Level 9 fighter God in the empire is Father Ferdinand!”
“But father, the connection between me and the sacred weapon has been severed!” Kaman paced anxiously, then exclaimed, “It must be Francis! Today I only interacted with him… Wait!”
Kaman cleared himself of suspicion regarding Duchen. “Francis can't even cultivate Dou qi, so even if he stole my sacred weapon, it's impossible for him to force it to acknowledge ownership! Moreover, the most powerful member of the Saint-Cain family, Anjes, doesn't have the ability to force a Level 3 sacred weapon to acknowledge ownership either!”
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Wideno frowned and pondered for a moment. “It must be that you lost the sacred weapon and a Level 9 fighrer God found it! Go immediately to the garrison of the city guard and have them search the whole city!”
“Alright, I'll go now!” Just as Kaman turned to leave, he turned back, “Father, what about Francis? Are you just going to let him beat me up without seeking revenge!?”
Wideno smiled, his chubby face seemed to be filled with the phrase ‘Harmony brings wealth'. From the looks of it, he resembled a genuine merchant!
“How could that be? Kaman , my only son, you are the descendant of Aruman, the Storm fighter God. You absolutely cannot be bullied by an idiot! But Francis fought you to help the damn poor people. According to the teachings of the Holy Law, he has done nothing wrong. Instead, he should be commended! So, we cannot use this as an excuse to seek revenge on him!”
Kaman looked at his father in confusion, waiting for further explanation.
“Oh, my son, you're fifteen years old this year, right? Hehe, if father remembers correctly, Francis is also fifteen this year…”
Wideno waved his hand at his bewildered son. “Go quickly, father will give you a legitimate opportunity to kill him!”
In the mansion of Saint Cain, Du Chen cheered and bent down to examine the little hammer.
It resembled a sheep horn hammer on Earth, entirely golden in color. The handle was only about thirty centimeters long, and one end of the hammer head was cylindrical while the other end was split in two, curving towards the handle, giving it the appearance of a sheep's head.
“Not bad at all! It's handy for opening large safes!” Du Chen chuckled, grasping the handle and attempting to pick up the hammer.
But the hammer didn't move.
Du Chen froze for a moment, then exerted more force, but he still couldn't lift the hammer.
The holy artifact could only be activated with Dou Qi! Du Chen suddenly understood this principle. “Damn it! You can't use stolen goods! It's infuriating!”
Though he felt unwilling, Du Chen had no choice. Besides having thirty-six lotus flowers on his buttocks, he was just an ordinary human. He was completely devoid of any so-called Dou Qi.
At this moment, Du Chen felt like there was a clump of dogtail grass growing on his heart. It was itchy, but he couldn't scratch it!
Fortunately, according to what Steve had said, forcibly opening the holy artifact had already severed its connection with the owner. At the very least, Du Chen didn't have to worry about being implicated.
As the sun set, the night shrouded the city of Saint John. The pitch-black night sky matched Du Chen's current mood, making him feel depressed.
Lights illuminated the Saint Cain mansion, making the vast estate look as bright as day.
It was time for dinner.
Upon returning to his tower with a dejected expression, Du Chen found Aliza squatting at the door, eagerly waiting for him. “Young master, what about the roasted beef you promised me?”
Du Chen smiled, casting aside his unhappiness, and led Aliza into the tower. The first floor of the tower served as Aliza's bedroom and also the living room for the three of them. The furnishings were quite simple, with rough stone walls, only a large wooden bed, and a set of redwood table and chairs.
Old Foye was arranging utensils at the table.
Du Chen smiled and said, “Uncle Fuye, how about we have roasted beef tonight? I promised Aliza!”
Old Foye's expression turned troubled as he scolded Aliza, “Why are you such a naive child? The young master's monthly allowance is used to support you half the time, and you still want to have roasted beef? It's only the thirteenth of the month. Are you trying to make the young master eat black bread for the latter half of the month?”
“Oh!” Aliza nodded with a hint of grievance. “Then I won't eat!”
To his surprise, Du Chen learned that the three sons of the Saint Kein family had a fixed monthly allowance. He didn't know how much the second young master Charlie received, but Steve didn't hide it from him. The eldest young master received one gold coin, equivalent to one hundred silver coins.
As for Du Chen, the third young master, he only received ten silver coins!
Du Chen also inquired about the prices of grains and commodities in Saint John City. With his special sensitivity to wealth, he estimated that the purchasing power of these ten silver coins was equivalent to more than a hunred doller in his previous life.
One hunred doller for a family of three, including a tall and fat man. It might be an exaggeration to say they were completely dependent on each other, but the days were indeed tight.
Du Chen felt a surge of anger. Angus was really going too far. Although his son was a fool and couldn't cultivate fighting spirit, he was still his own flesh and blood. How could he be so heartless?
Looking at the plate of steak and bowl of pea soup on the table, Du Chen angrily threw down his knife and fork and said, “Aliza, I promise you that I will find a way to treat you to roasted milk cow tomorrow!”
“You're not planning to borrow money from young master Steve, are you, young master? That wouldn't be a good idea. Young master Steve has to entertain the young masters and ladies from other families on normal days, so he's not wealthy either!”
“No, I have my own way!” Du Chen picked up his knife and fork again with a scheming smile. He thought to himself, the wealthy people in Saint John City better not leave their houses tomorrow!
Old Foye continued to chatter, “Sigh, young master Steve is good in every way, except that he spends money lavishly on noble ladies. His monthly allowance, combined with the fighter god's subsidy, is not enough to cover his expenses. He often borrows money from others!”
“Fighter god's subsidy? Does the fighter actually get paid?” Du Chen wondered.
“Yes, young master Steve is a third-level yellow-clothed warrior. He can receive a subsidy of fifteen silver coins per month from the Fighter god's Holy Church!”
Du Chen punched Aliza's chest and asked, “How much is Aliza's fighter god's subsidy every month? He's so capable, shouldn't his subsidy be enough for roasted milk cow?”
Reluctantly, Aliza replied, “Young master, I don't receive any subsidy. I'm a slave and can't cultivate Dou qi.”