The Cipher: Locks and Keys

A brief flashback to Chapter 33 reminded us of Lockey's defiant smirk as he left the classroom, escorted by the WCM agent. His footsteps echoed in the empty hallway, leading him towards the principal's office. The air around him was heavy with anticipation and tension, but Lockey remained unfazed.

The agent knocked on the door, announcing, "I have brought Lockey."

A muffled response came from inside, "Bring him in."

As Lockey entered the room, he saw two individuals—one was the school principal, Mr. Golder, and the other was a WCM personnel, who introduced himself as Yuri. The agent guided Lockey to a chair and secured a lie detector around his arm.

Yuri cleared his throat, "Lockey, we have some questions for you. If you answer truthfully, you'll be free to go. We apologize for any inconvenience."

Lockey flashed a faint smirk. "I'll answer your questions truthfully. There's no need for a lie detector anyway."

Yuri began the interrogation, "Do you know anything about Emma's disappearance?"

Lockey replied, "Oh, Emma, the new student... We never were on good terms, so maybe."

The lie detector beeped green, indicating a true statement.

Yuri, with a serious gaze, asked, "What do you mean by 'maybe'?"

Lockey, leaning forward in his chair, said, "I'm not directly involved in her disappearance, so how do you expect me to reply with a 'yes'?"

Again, the lie detector beeped green, confirming the truth in his words.

Yuri calmed down and continued, "Are you associated with any cult, specifically Red Blood or Chrono Lux?"

Lockey's face turned serious. "I'm not associated with the cult; I just happen to know them."

Once more, the lie detector beeped green, signaling Lockey's honesty.

Yuri, growing increasingly agitated, concluded, "So, you still happen to know them."

The second WCM personnel in the room, Bono, whispered to Yuri, suggesting they ask Lockey about the cults, as little was known about them, and they posed a threat to society.

Yuri nodded, inviting Bono to take over the interrogation.

Lockey observed the shift in questioners, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips. "Oh, so you're switching the interrogation?"

Bono nodded. "I would like to ask if you know the hideout of either of the two cults?"

Lockey's face became expressionless. "Well, you see, they migrate a lot, so how do you expect me to give you a location? If I gave you their last location, they might not even be there anymore."

The lie detector beeped green again.

Yuri took control of the interrogation once more, assuring Lockey that only two questions remained.

Lockey, stifling a yawn, said, "Glad we're wrapping this up. I didn't get good sleep last night since I was clearing out the trash."

Yuri eyed Lockey suspiciously and continued, "You seem to be a Universal Cipher. How did you acquire one of the Universal Keys?"

Lockey paused, memories of a dark past surfacing in his mind, and with a flash of pain in his eyes, he replied, "I can't remember. I just defended myself, and then it manifested."

Yuri's eyes narrowed as he prepared his final question, "Are you in possession of the Beta Vault?"

A momentary silence enveloped the room.

Lockey smirked. "Yes. Why do you ask?"

Yuri, his voice filled with authority, explained, "We need you to return it to us as it is essential in preserving the balance of—"

Lockey abruptly interrupted, "I'm afraid that won't be possible. The Vault and I have an understanding. You'll have to come up with a more compelling reason than that."

Yuri, his curiosity piqued, asked, "How did you get your hands on the Beta Vault?"

Lockey shook his head, clicking his tongue. "Tch tch tch, you said only two questions remained. That's a third, so I'm not answering."

Yuri's expression hardened. "Since you have the Beta Vault in your possession, we'll continue our investigation at the headquarters."

Lockey sighed inwardly, a bit disappointed. "So they wouldn't take me to the second site after all this. Well, that leads me to my Plan B."

Directing his gaze towards Principal Golder, Lockey called out, "Sir Chairman."

The room erupted in surprise and shock, all eyes wide.

Lockey continued, "Why are you surprised? I only called you based on your authority."

Golder finally spoke, "Only 0 Division officers know my role in the WCM. How did you know that, Lockey?"

Lockey replied nonchalantly, "Well, that's because I was given information from someone who could even know the identity of the Grand Architect."

Weapons were suddenly pointed at Lockey as Yuri demanded with a mix of caution and suspicion, "Who the hell are you, Lockey?"

Lockey slowly stood up, a strange expression on his face—not quite a smile, but something different, almost as if he was relishing the chaos about to unfold. "I intend to cause a lot of trouble from here on out, so do your best in containing me."

Activating his Key, Lockey launched himself at Chairman Golder. The impact shook the room, prompting the other WCM security personnel in the area to spring into action.

The once-quiet interrogation room was now a whirlwind of confusion and panic. Lockey's sudden aggression had caught everyone off guard, and the WCM agents scrambled to contain the escalating situation.

As Lockey clashed with the WCM personnel, his true abilities began to surface. His mastery over the Universal Key was evident as he unleashed a powerful wave of energy, knocking his opponents back. Yuri and Bono exchanged worried glances, realizing they had severely underestimated Lockey.

When the dust settled, Lockey was nowhere to be seen. The WCM team, realizing they had been outmaneuvered, was instantly dispatched for a full search. The chaos and confusion in the room were palpable, as the agents knew they were dealing with a formidable opponent.

The interrogation had turned into a full-blown confrontation, and the aftermath would echo through the halls of the WCM for years to come. Lockey's escape only added to the uncertainty and tension, leaving everyone to wonder about the true extent of his powers and intentions.