"Looks like the orgy at this manor has been going on for quite a while."
Marvin took a deep breath and tried not to be distracted by the rising and falling moans of women and panting of men. He directed Baguette to carefully patrol the manor's underground level and count the people.
"There are forty-eight people in total: thirty men and eighteen women. All the women are streetwalkers who came here to provide services. Some of them are adventurers, though; that will need further verification."
Having gotten a rough picture of the situation, Marvin ordered his familiar to slip into the second floor through a chimney.
Compared to the noisy, debauched atmosphere downstairs, the second floor was utterly silent. Not a sound could be heard.
With no immediate gains, Marvin was not in a hurry. He simply had Baguette continue lurking quietly.
An entire morning passed.
Marvin was eating lunch when the situation changed.
The sound of steady, rhythmic footsteps approached. Whoever it was had clearly received professional combat training.
The owner of those footsteps entered a room.
Marvin ordered Baguette to creep in along the wall, only to discover that the room was protected by some kind of warding array. The moment it touched the barrier, the other party would notice.
Though it could not advance any farther, the array did not seem to have any obvious soundproofing effect.
The voices inside traveled through the walls and could still be caught by the familiar's [Rock Sense], though they were faint due to the distance.
"Four Baphomet Minotaurs... underground... surprise attack... Master Niemoriandos..."
From the fragmented conversation, Marvin learned a great deal of key information.
The mind flayer orchestrating this entire conspiracy was named Niemoriandos.
It clearly attached great importance to Jaheira, having dispatched four Baphomet Minotaurs for the coming