Chapter 9: Rob the Bank (1)

***

I sat quietly on the bench, staring at the building across from me.

[Standard Adventure Bank - Big City Branch]

Today’s target.

A large commercial bank with branches all over the world, including Westland. Even though this branch is on the outskirts of the continent, it surely contains an enormous amount of cash in its vault. Or perhaps gold.

"Hmm......"

Before carrying out the operation, I carefully read through the descriptions of the special potions once again.

First, the Invisibility Potion.

[Hehe, can't see me! Invisibility Potion]

- Ability: Invisibility.

- Utility: Makes your body and carried items transparent.

- Limitation: Cannot make others invisible.

- Duration: 1 hour

- Side Effect: After the duration ends, certain parts of the body may remain transparent for a while.

- Caution: If physical strength is severely depleted, invisibility may suddenly disappear.

※ If taken with other special potions, the ability may not work.

I found myself drawn to the side effects.

"......Certain parts of the body may remain transparent."

It felt a bit awkward. It was a setting that reeked of mischief.

This work, "Adventure King," is filled with such 'playful settings.' The author's style was like that. He would include any setting he found funny and implement it whenever the opportunity arose.

While these elements certainly piqued the readers' interest, they made me frown when I thought about potentially experiencing them myself.

'Ah, it'll probably be fine.'

I then picked up another description.

[Hey, become lighter! Weight Reduction Potion]

- Ability: Weight Reduction.

- Utility: Reduces the weight of a designated object.

- Limitation: Cannot be used on living beings. The weight reduction range is randomly determined between 50-90%.

- Designated Targets: 3

- Duration: 1 hour

- Side Effect: There is a low probability that the material may change during weight conversion.

- Caution: The weight of the target may unexpectedly return to its original state.

※ If taken with other special potions, the ability may not work.

Once again, my attention was drawn to the side effects.

There was a probability that the material could change.

This meant that something that was gold when put in a bag could later turn out to be wood when opened again. Even though the probability was low, it was hard to feel reassured. In this comic, there was no more arbitrary setting than probability.

In fact, there was a saying in the Adventure King community:

- The probability is just a trick to deceive readers; everything will happen anyway. There's no reason for the author to create a setting he won't use.

Hmm.

"I don't know."

I simply concluded.

I'll think about it after I steal it. Worrying about it now wouldn't do any good.

I crumpled the descriptions and put them in my pocket, then began to review my plan.

Actually, there wasn't much of a plan.

1. Enter the bank.

2. Observe the situation and take the Invisibility Potion.

3. Break into the vault I've already scouted and take the money.

4. Escape.

The reason I could be so calm and make such a vague plan wasn't just because this was a world in a comic.

Even though it was a comic, this bank had all the basic security systems.

First, the guards protecting this bank were all as big as me. Some might be stronger than me, and some might be skilled in combat. The settings for guards and bodyguards usually included such traits.

Moreover, there was an internal tracking system and a bounty system, making it difficult for thieves to easily break in. The security wasn't going to be easy to bypass.

I didn't underestimate the bank's security system. I just had a reason to be confident.

My gaze then fell on the top of the hologram window.

[One-time ticket to instantly move to the chapter progress area]

- Please touch to use.

The teleportation ticket I had prepared in advance. Even if I found myself in a dangerous situation, I could easily escape with this.

Seeing the ticket, I felt more confident.

"Alright."

I did a final check of my preparations.

Two special potions, five bags for money and precious metals, a mask in case of unexpected situations, and a threatening knife.

"Okay."

The preparations were complete. Now, I just needed to execute the plan.

Yeah, I just needed to do it......

Hmm.

"But why isn't he going in?"

There was something that was bothering me.

A kid wearing a clown mask had been loitering around the bank entrance for a while.

The reason this kid was bothering me was simple. He kept glancing at me.

"......"

No, it was a mistake.

He wasn't glancing; he was openly staring.

"......What, why are you coming over?"

If not, he wouldn't have approached me like this.

The kid walked up to me and scanned me from head to toe.

Then,

"When are you starting?"

He blurted out something absurd.

"What?"

"Stealing."

"......"

I was taken aback. What's with this kid?

As I remained silent, the kid spoke again.

"I'll help you. Let's split it 50-50."

"Huh."

I couldn't help but respond to his absurd suggestion.

"What......"

"It's hard to do alone, right?"

"......"

I was just baffled.

From the moment this kid approached me, every word he said, and his offer to help.

But what was most surprising was that I was actually interested. I couldn't help but wonder why he thought I couldn't do it alone.

But of course,

"What are you talking about, kid? I'm busy, go play somewhere else."

I wasn't so naive as to mix business with pleasure. I didn't have time to play with this cute kid.

However,

"I've seen everything."

"Huh?"

With his next words, I couldn't ignore this kid anymore.

"Buying special potions."

"......What?"

"People who buy Invisibility Potions are either perverts or thieves."

"......"

"Since you also bought a Weight Reduction Potion, you must be the latter. You're here to rob the bank, right?"

I was taken aback. How did this kid know?

Noticing the confusion on my face, the kid spoke in a matter-of-fact tone.

"Dummy. The special potion shop isn't a place anyone can just walk into. People start watching you as soon as you enter, and if you buy something, they'll follow you right away."

"......Is that you?"

"Yeah."

"......"

His audacity was unparalleled. I even wanted to see the face hidden behind the clown mask.

"Anyway, why do you think it's hard to do alone?"

"The number of guards has doubled."

"Really? Why?"

"Dummy. Who do you think it's because of?"

"What? Me?"

"Yeah."

"What kind of ridiculous...... I haven't done anything yet?"

"Probably the shop contacted the nearby banks and jewelry stores. They said a suspicious guy with a prominent jaw bought an Invisibility Potion."

"......"

It was absurd. Treating a valuable customer as a potential criminal.

Of course, it was true.

"Damn, what a busybody."

"That's how it is. It happens sometimes. It'll probably last for about three or four days."

"Hmm."

At this point, I couldn't help but ask.

"So, how will you help?"

"50-50."

"I get it, tell me more."

"Divert attention. I can also take care of the CCTV in the vault. And, I can reduce the number of guards."

"How?"

"You'll see."

"Hmm...... But is that all?"

"I'll also give you information. The vault password. I found it out with great difficulty."

I was stunned.

"What...... Are you planning to rob the bank too?"

"Yeah."

"......"

I was once again baffled.

What a coincidence. On the day I decided to rob the bank, I was noticed by another thief who offered to partner up? And it's a kid?

'What, is this kid a character?'

It was strange that background characters would act like this. A kid planning to rob a bank?

I looked at the kid again.

An unfamiliar clown mask. A height that looked about eight or nine years old. A young voice......

No character came to mind. It wasn't just about the face being hidden. Chapters featuring such a young kid were rare.

Hmm.

Well, maybe in a comic, such things are common. A world where kid thieves run rampant. There were cities with similar backgrounds.

Anyway, it wasn't a bad thing for me.

"What's the vault password?"

"Wait."

The kid then took out a bottle from his pocket and drank it.

Surprisingly, it was a special potion.

"Keep your promise! This is a Curse Potion. If you don't fulfill your contract with me, you'll be cursed. Your prominent jaw might split into two!"

"......Okay."

The kid seemed to think I was very proud of my jaw.

"Extend your hand."

As soon as I extended my hand, the kid grabbed it. Then, a purple gas slowly rose from his hand and enveloped ours.

"Whoa......"

It was a strange sight.

The kid then slowly spoke.

"Will you split it 50-50 after the operation is successful?"

"Ha......"

I couldn't help but laugh. This kid really likes 50-50.

"Why are you laughing? Say you agree quickly."

"Okay, I agree."

As soon as I finished speaking, the purple smoke stirred.

"Is it done?"

"Not yet. Will you not take the money back after we split it?"

"......I won't. What do you take me for?"

Honestly, it stung a bit. I had planned to beat him up and leave just enough for candy.

I secretly glanced at the kid.

Anyway, this kid...... Not only planning to rob a bank, but also secretly following me to take a cut. What kind of greed does a kid have?

"Get rid of that sour face."

"......"

It seemed I was showing it.

Just then, the purple smoke around our hands disappeared.

"It's done."

"Really? That's it?"

"If you're cursed, you won't say that."

"......I didn't say I would break the contract."

The kid stared at me for a moment, then spoke.

"The password is 1234."

"......"

I was a bit taken aback.

"Is that...... correct?"

"Yeah. I found it out with great difficulty."

"......Okay."

I couldn't help but laugh. What a strange author.

If the password hadn't been set, it wouldn't have been 1234. It was definitely set on purpose. In other words, this was another playful setting. Maybe all the bank vault passwords were set to 1234. Or '0000'.

Suddenly,

'Wait. Isn't this a good thing?'

I imagined myself sliding down a pile of money.

It's good, right? Why not give it a try?

Just as I was imagining a rosy future,

"Go in five minutes."

The kid said, turning around.

"Five minutes?"

"Yeah. And when you're done, come to 'The Foolish Boys' around midnight."

"The Foolish Boys?"

"The Foolish Boys. It's a bar in the alley on Third Street."

"Okay."

"Five minutes."

I watched the kid walk towards the bank. What could he do in five minutes?

My curiosity was soon satisfied.

A small figure burst out of the bank door,

"Thief! Catch him! It's that yellow devil!"

Shouting, a dozen guards rushed out.

It seemed the kid had a bad reputation. They were chasing him with all their might.

And another surprising thing,

"......It's a girl."

The kid had hidden her long, bright yellow hair under the clown mask. It reached her waist.

I drank the Invisibility Potion while watching the scene.

As soon as it touched my mouth, a sour taste rose.

"Oops......"

I was taken aback.

Do different potions taste different? It was surprising that the kid showed no reaction.

Then,

"Oh."

A strange power filled my body.

I had been curious about how to use the abilities in this comic, but it was simple. Just tense your body, and it activated.

I smiled as I watched my hand gradually become blurry.

"This is fun."

After confirming that my whole body had turned transparent, I slowly entered the chaotic bank.