Explore the brothel's first floor | Chapter 3: Dirty Secrets Thief Guide
Last update: 11 May 2016
You start exploring this location in one of two spots at the ground floor [The House of Blossoms - Lower Level], and your current objective is to gain access to Xiao-Xiao's office, which is located at the upper floor. If you have taken the main entrance, then the starting point is in the Southern part of the location and, in this situation, you need to start sneaking to walk around the sleeping guard. If you have taken the passage through the caves, you now are in a small room in the Western part of the lower level. Just as I have mentioned already, the selection of the starting point, in this location, plays no significant role, because the sleeping opponent can be walked around easily and he will not be problematic, later in this chapter.
Of course, I recommend that you explore the entire location, because you will gain some valuable loot this way. While exploring the main hall (you will reach it regardless of how you entered here) use swoop to your aid and avoid any open spaces, because there is another guard standing to the North of here, and he is observing one specific spot in the hall. Fortunately, you do not need to be afraid of the regular clientele nor the brothel's employees because they will be ignoring you. When it comes to the loot, what you can steal here are a Hand Mirror - 2x8G, two Coin Purses - 11+16G and a Spoon - 2G.
To the East of the main hall, there is a big side-hall with a boiler in its central part. You need to be very careful here, because you will encounter a new guard here, who will start to patrol the area after he is done talking. This one has a Coin Purse - 12G attached to his belt. Apart from the guard, you will also encounter two employees here, who may raise the alarm to see your character. What is interesting, the women wear the same unique trinkets 2x20G, although this may be VERY cumbersome to obtain them. Just like in the case of the main hall, described above, I recommend that you explore the area, thanks to which you will find a Wine Glass - 10G, a Spoon - 2G and two pairs of Scissors - 2x3G (one of these is locked in the storage, behind the boiler).
To the north of the main hall, there is an area neighboring the Western staircase. Just as I mentioned above, one of the guards is watching the main hall but, this is not the only problem, because his colleague is patrolling this location. It is worth noting that this character has a Coin Purse - 7G attached to his belt. Try to remain in shadows, put out the candles and watch out for bird cages (do not walk too fast around them) and climb to the ledges above, whenever necessary. To the extent this is possible, explore this area to find a Wine Glass - 10G (it is on a small ledge with the standing guard), a Perfume Bottle - 7G, a Letter Opener - 3G and an Ashtray - 3G.
The last area at the lower level is the North-most one and which neighbors the staircase, Unfortunately, you will bump into another guard here, who is busy patrolling the area. Since the route of this guard is a rectangular one, it is a good idea to follow him and collect the items that you find along the path. What you can find here are: an Ashtray - 3G, an Urn - 35G, a Spoon - 2G, a Perfume Bottle - 7G, a Brooch - 25G and a Hairbrush - 4G.
You can access the upper level in the House of Blossoms by taking one of two available staircases - the Western or the Northern one. Personally, I recommend that you take the one to the West, i.e. the one located closer to the stationary opponent that you have, so far, avoided. What speaks for this solution is the fact that it will be easier to start avoiding the guard there. Apart from that, you will also find some collectibles there. The decision is yours and, in general, both of the available paths will allow you to collect all of the loot available in the brothel.