Forget grinding for hours or fumbling with expensive, broken lockpicks. The fastest and most effective way to kickstart your career in thievery in Kingdom Come: Deliverance II is to make a special visit to Miller Cal at the Lower Sasau Mill. He runs a one-stop shop for all things illicit, offering not just the essential training but also a free, repeatable way to level up your Lockpicking skill from the very beginning. This questline is the single most important starting point for any player who wants to access the game’s most valuable loot.
By following a short, unassuming quest for Cal, you unlock tutorials for Lockpicking, Stealth, and Pickpocketing. More importantly, he gives you access to a practice chest you can pick indefinitely, turning a frustrating skill into a trivial one with a bit of patience. This isn't just for dedicated thieves; every player benefits from being able to open a 'Very Easy' chest without snapping five picks.
Where is the Lower Sasau Mill?
The key to your criminal enterprise is located at the Lower Sasau Mill, a short distance southwest of the major town of Sasau. If you're leaving Sasau from its southern gates, simply follow the river downstream. The mill is impossible to miss, situated right on the water's edge, complete with a water wheel and the associated buildings of a working milling operation.
When you arrive, don't be fooled by the legitimate business front. The mill is a hive of activity, but the man you're looking for is the miller himself, Cal. You can typically find him overseeing the work around the main mill building or inside. He's your ticket into the underworld, and initiating the conversation is the first step toward becoming a master of the shadow arts.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II in-game screenshot
Kicking Off Your Thieving Career
Starting your training with Miller Cal is cleverly disguised as an honest day's work. This multi-part introduction eases you into the core mechanics of stealth and theft, ensuring you have a solid foundation before you're let loose on the world.
Find Miller Cal and Accept His Job
Approach Cal and inquire about work. He'll initially size you up and offer you a menial task: hauling sacks of flour from the barn to a nearby wagon. It sounds like boring manual labor, and it is, but it's a necessary first step. Consider it a test of your willingness to follow instructions. Complete the task as requested. It won’t take long, and your reward is far greater than a few Groschen for your trouble.
The Real Tutorial Begins
Once you've proven you're not completely useless, Cal will see potential in you for more… specialized work. This is where the questline opens up. He'll invite you to learn a few skills that are far more profitable than hauling flour. He will personally walk you through the basics of Lockpicking, how to perform a silent takedown with a dagger, and the delicate art of Pickpocketing. Pay close attention here; these tutorials are invaluable and set the stage for everything that follows.
How to Power-Level Your Lockpicking Skill
This is the real prize of visiting Miller Cal. After he teaches you the basics of lockpicking, he directs you to a practice chest. This chest is your single best tool for leveling the Lockpicking skill in the entire game, especially in the early hours when every skill point counts.
Here’s why it’s so effective: the chest is a 'Very Easy' lock, making it manageable even at skill level 1. Crucially, you can attempt to pick it over and over again. Each successful attempt grants you a small amount of experience. Failures don't matter. You can sit at this chest and repeat the process until your Lockpicking skill is as high as you have the patience for. Before you start, look on the table right next to the practice box. Cal leaves out a free dagger and several lockpicks for you to take. Snatch them immediately. The dagger is essential for effective stealth takedowns, and the free lockpicks will fuel your initial training session on the chest.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II in-game screenshot
What Else Can You Do at the Mill?
Cal’s operation is more than just a school for thieves. He’s also a fight promoter of sorts and can be a fantastic source of early-game income and combat experience if you're handy with your fists. This is an excellent opportunity to train your Unarmed and Warfare skills without risking your life against heavily armed bandits.
The Fight Club Connection
Cal will tell you about a local fight club he sends men to. If you're interested, he'll let you prove your worth by fighting three of his hired hands in unarmed combat. They're tough but beatable. If you manage to defeat all three of them, Cal will be impressed enough to front your 100 Groschen entry fee to the real tournament. Winning fights in the tournament is a great way to earn money quickly and is a much more engaging way to level your combat stats than getting beaten up by Cumans in the woods.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II in-game screenshot
A Hub for Shady Dealings
Beyond the initial training, Miller Cal becomes a permanent fixture in your network. He'll often have more work for you and may serve as a fence to sell stolen goods. Building a good relationship with him early on pays dividends throughout your journey in Bohemia. He’s the kind of friend a man like Henry needs: resourceful, discreet, and always willing to turn a blind eye for a share of the profit.
The Final Take
Making the trip to the Lower Sasau Mill to meet Miller Cal should be one of your first priorities in Kingdom Come: Deliverance II. The free training, unlimited lockpicking practice, and access to a lucrative fighting circuit provide an unparalleled head start. Even if you plan on playing an honorable knight, the ability to open a locked door can be the difference between completing a quest with finesse or resorting to bloody violence. Don't sleep on this opportunity; Cal's lessons are the foundation of a powerful and wealthy Henry.