(Real World, The Arc Ship, Captain Kid's POV)
Days turned into weeks, and Captain Kid's frustration over Leo's meditation progress continued to mount.
Leo kept progressing steadily in his meditation and with each passing day he seemed to spend more and more time meditating, while rarely taking any breaks to sleep, eat or train outdoors.
Yet, despite his growing desperation, Kid found no viable opportunity to sneak in and steal Leo's manual, as Leo rarely left his residence these days, apart from the few hours of physical training that he conducted daily in the outer grounds just outside his house.
Theoretically it was possible for Kid to try and sneak-in while Leo trained outdoors, however, the timing was too tight.
Kid knew better than to attempt a theft while Leo was still awake and within close proximity, as the risks of such an operation were far too great.
Instead, Captain Kid waited for the day Leo would log back into Terra Nova Online, hoping that Leo's time in the virtual world would provide him with the window he needed.
But to his dismay, Leo showed no intention of returning to the game anytime soon.
With his remaining gaming days severely limited, Leo had no desire to waste a single hour on trivial matters, which was why he never logged in.
Instead, every day was meticulously dedicated to sharpening his skills and pushing his physical and mental limits in the real world, which was a decision that left Kid utterly frustrated.
Time was a luxury that Kid could ill-afford to squander, as every day that Leo trained without interference, he grew closer to becoming a grandmaster, which was an unfavorable outcome for Kid, all things considered.
Leo's progress edged him closer to undergoing a natural genetic awakening, an outcome the Mu Clan was desperate to prevent, as him undergoing awakening with one just a single skill unlocked could potentially reduce his odds of undergoing a full multiple skill awakening in the future, lowering his value as a top fighter to the Mu Clan.
For Captain Kid, failure was not an option.
If he couldn't find a way to sabotage Leo's progress and keep him in check, he risked losing the Mu Clan's patronage—who were his only remaining leverage and protection in this hostile universe.
The very thought of being cast aside by his powerful backers sent a chill down his spine, as Kid knew he could not afford to offend them.
Hence after 2 weeks of inaction, Kid decided that he could not afford to wait much longer.
The stakes were rising fast, and if he did not act soon, he risked finding himself on the losing end of a game that he had no choice but to win.
*********
It was during one of Leo's daily training sessions, where he looked especially focused on training, that Kid decided the moment to finally carry out the heist had come.
With Leo preoccupied and the manor sprawling and isolated, this was as good an opportunity as he was ever going to get, and hence, Kid decided to risk it all.
Steeling himself, Kid left the staff quarters and made his way towards the VIP sector, where he especially chose the route that opened right behind Leo's manor to enter the sector.
His palms were damp, and his heart raced faster with every step he took toward the VIP sector, as although he was not a morally perfect man, he was not a thief either.
Committing a crime made him feel nervous, as he still feared the potential consequences of his action, should he get caught.
A thousand excuses ran through his mind, contingency plans for what he would say if Leo caught him.
As he wondered if he could feign curiosity? claim he was checking on the state of the meditation equipment, or pretend he was delivering a report?
But deep down, Kid knew none of these excuses would hold water, as Leo wasn't the dumb type that could be fooled easily, nor was he the type to easily forgive such intrusions.
The risk was enormous, but failure to act was even worse.
Soon he entered the vip sector, and reached the vicinity of Leo's manor, where he approached the back entrance to Leo's manor with great caution.
His every step was light and deliberated as he approached the manor's back entrance as the vastness of the VIP sector worked in his favor, with its sprawling grounds devoid of people making it easy for him to enter undetected.
With Luke and Amanda logged into the game world, he had no-one else to worry about, as those were the only two people in a wide radius apart from Leo.
*Swoosh–*
As he approached the manor's back-door, the system recognised his access to Leo's quarters and slid open, as although Leo's VIP quarters were off-limits for all other staff members, as the Captain of the ship, he still held entry access to every corner of the ship.
A privilege limited to captain's only.
Inside, the air was cool and quiet, the faint hum of the ship's systems being the only noise he could hear.
Kid moved slowly, using only the toes of his feet, as he tried his best to make as little sound as possible.
The tension in his chest was unbearable at this moment, his ears straining for the slightest sound that might indicate someone was near.
Soon, he slipped through the hallways, his mind racing.
"Don't make a sound. Don't make a sound," he repeated to himself, his movements instinctive and his breathing shallow.
Eventually, as he reached the door to the meditation room, he paused, hand hovering over the handle.
His heart thudded violently, each beat like a drum in the suffocating silence.
Carefully, he turned the knob and pushed the door open just enough to slip inside.
And as soon as he was in there, he spotted the object of his heist, Leo's meditation manual, placed near a low table in the room.
Kid crept forward, his every nerve on edge.
His fingers brushed the cover of the manual, the smooth surface cool to the touch.
For a moment, he hesitated, as though reconsidering the heist at the last second.
But then, with a swift motion, he tucked the manual into the hidden compartment of his jacket, and buttoned it back up, like he did not just commit a crime.
Turning back toward the door, he moved with even more caution, closing it silently behind him.
The weight of the manual felt heavy against his chest, as though it were accentuating his guilt with every step he took, however, Kid suppressed the guilt instantly.
His steps quickened, his body trembling, as his nerves finally started to give way as he made his way out of Leo's manor.
Kid didn't dare linger. The moment his boots hit the soft ground outside, he broke into a sprint, his body moving on pure adrenaline.
Within seconds, he left the back entrance far behind him, the VIP sector stretching out like a lifeline.
"Must be quick—" He muttered, as he did not dare pause until he reached his own quarters, as for a good 12 minutes he sprinted like there was no tomorrow.
"Huff– Huff—"
Once within the safety of his own quarters, Captain Kid slammed the door shut behind him, his chest heaving as he struggled to catch his breath.
He quickly recalled his jog from Leo's manor to the staff quarters, trying to recall if anyone saw him running, but no-one came to mind.
"Nothing unexpected happened…. I'm good for now" he muttered, as with trembling fingers he pulled the meditation manual out of his jacket, its weight feeling far heavier now than when he had first tucked it away.
Then, moving swiftly to his work-desk, Kid pulled open a hidden compartment beneath its surface and placed the manual within, with the hidden compartment locking itself once again, as he pressed a hidden button to the side.
The manual was now secure and completely hidden from prying eyes.
Taking a moment to compose himself, Kid wiped the sweat from his brow with the sleeve of his uniform.
His reflection in the room's polished surface revealed that he now stood with disheveled hair and a flushed face.
If anyone were to see him like this, it would become obvious that something was off, as usually Kid always looked prim and proper and his attire was never out of shape.
And hence, to avoid unnecessary suspicion, Kid grabbed a damp cloth and began tidying his appearance by smoothing his hair and straightening his uniform until he looked as though nothing unusual had happened.
Then, with one last deep breath, Kid stepped out of his quarters and returned to his duties aboard the ship, his expression calm and composed, as he tried to pretend as if everything was normal.
To anyone who saw him, Captain Kid appeared as composed and unremarkable as ever, with nothing to hint at the daring act he had just committed.
But beneath the calm facade, the weight of his actions gnawed at him.
His eyes darted nervously toward the cameras overlooking Leo's training grounds, where Leo continued his drills, seemingly unaware of the heist.
The theft was complete, but the true storm had yet to hit.
For now, Kid was safe as long as Leo remained oblivious to the missing meditation manual. However, the moment Leo discovered the theft, chaos was certain to erupt.
As the Captain of the ship, Kid knew he would inevitably be summoned to investigate the incident. Yet, he felt a twisted sense of reassurance, knowing full well that as the sole individual with access to the ship's surveillance recordings, he held the advantage in the investigation.
The evidence that could convict him was firmly under his control, and with no one else able to review the footage, Kid was confident no one could tie him to the crime—at least for now.