The Cipher: Locks and Keys

Previously: Afron, frustrated with Yuri's failure to extract information from Lockey, issued a final warning. With time running out, Yuri realized that his usual methods of torture were ineffective. Seeking a new approach, Yuri visited Serena in the lab, where she gave him a potent serum designed to make anyone confess their secrets. Meanwhile, Pinnochi secretly visited Lockey in his cell, offering vague hints about a new objective more powerful than the Beta Vault.

Armed with Serena’s serum, Yuri returned to the interrogation room. After a tense confrontation, Yuri forcefully administered the drug to Lockey, leaving him dazed and unable to resist further questioning. As the drug began to take effect, Yuri prepared to break Lockey’s silence once and for all.

The room was dimly lit, the air thick with the stench of blood and sweat. Yuri stood over Lockey, his breath steady but his expression cold and clinical. Lockey's body hung limp from the chains that held him upright, every muscle twitching with the pain of the hours-long torment. His shirt, once clean, was now soaked in his own blood, torn from the repeated cuts and gashes inflicted by Yuri's relentless interrogation.

Yuri wiped his hands methodically, using a white cloth that quickly turned crimson as he cleaned Lockey’s blood from his fingers. Each wipe was slow, deliberate, a routine he had grown accustomed to. His face betrayed no emotion, just a quiet satisfaction with his handiwork. Tossing the blood-soaked cloth aside, he glanced at the empty bottle that had been part of his latest experiment—a chemical concoction given to Lockey to weaken his resolve, provided by Miss Serena. Yuri lifted the bottle, inspecting it as if admiring the precision of its design.

"Thanks to Miss Serena, I think I have another day to live," he muttered to himself, twirling the empty bottle between his fingers before setting it down carefully on the table beside him. The room felt unnaturally silent after so many hours of Lockey’s screams, the faint sound of Yuri’s breath now filling the space.

Lockey, though still conscious, was barely aware of his surroundings. His head slumped forward, eyes half-closed, as he hung from the restraints. His mind, once sharp and full of defiance, was now muddled by pain and exhaustion. His body trembled involuntarily, struggling to stay upright, his spirit not entirely broken but dangerously close. He twitched slightly as Yuri moved closer, though the response was reflexive, a mere shadow of the fighter he had once been.

Yuri crouched down in front of him, studying Lockey's battered face with curiosity. He tilted his head, almost in admiration. "Even after being fed such a potent chemical, you still tried as hard as you could not to say everything you knew," he said softly, the edge of amusement creeping into his voice. "I really envy you, you know. To be able to hold out for this long... it's impressive."

Lockey didn’t respond. His lips were cracked and dry, his breathing shallow. But Yuri wasn’t looking for a reply. He lingered in his squatting position for a moment, his eyes locking onto Lockey’s distant gaze. A slight smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, not of joy but of something darker—an appreciation of the strength he saw in the broken man before him.

Slowly, Yuri stood up, dusting off his trousers in a casual motion, his eyes never leaving Lockey. There was no hurry in his movements, no sense of urgency as he began to walk toward the door. The torture session had lasted long enough for today, and he knew Lockey would need time to recover before their next encounter.

He paused just before stepping out of the room, his hand resting lightly on the doorframe. Glancing back one final time at the lifeless form of Lockey, Yuri’s voice dropped to a whisper, though the words carried an unmistakable weight.

"Rest up, Lockey. You’ll need all the strength you can muster. Tomorrow’s going to be even worse."

And with that, he left the room, the heavy door closing behind him with a soft click, leaving Lockey in the suffocating silence of his own pain. The scene was far from over, and both men knew it.

Yuri stepped out of the torture chamber, letting the heavy metal door shut behind him with a resounding clang. The hallway outside was cold and sterile, the opposite of the grim scene he had just left behind. A slight shiver ran down his spine, not from the chill, but from the adrenaline slowly seeping out of his system. He rolled his shoulders and started making his way down the dimly lit corridor. His destination was the Crucible, a lab where some of the most volatile chemical mixtures and bio-weapons were developed—perfect for someone like Miss Serena, the organization’s lead chemist.

“Besides,” Yuri muttered to himself as he walked, “I don’t even have the courage to go to his room now… not even when he’s drunk and having the fun of his life.” He shook his head, grimacing at the thought of facing that volatile man in anything less than peak condition. Just the idea of it made his stomach churn.

With a resigned sigh, Yuri turned a corner, quickening his pace as he approached the lab. "Just thinking about it makes me cringe," he murmured, reaching the entrance of the Crucible. He pulled out his access card, sliding it through the scanner with a smooth motion. The door hissed as it unlocked, opening slowly to reveal the sprawling lab.

Inside, the Crucible buzzed with energy. Complex machinery hummed softly, and shelves lined with glowing vials of various chemicals stretched to the ceiling. At the center of it all, surrounded by an assortment of tubes, burners, and chemical concoctions, stood Miss Serena. Her focus was intense as she mixed yet another set of experimental compounds, her hands moving with the precision of a master craftsman. Her long auburn hair was tied back into a tight bun, and her lab coat bore a few fresh stains from the day's work.

“You’re always busy,” Yuri called out, stepping further into the room. He took in the sight of Serena meticulously measuring a bright purple liquid into a flask. “Do all higher-ups work like this, or is it just you?”

Serena didn’t look up immediately, her attention still on the task at hand. She adjusted the intensity of a small flame beneath one of the beakers before finally turning to face him. She lifted her safety goggles off her face, setting them aside. Her gaze was sharp, but there was a hint of curiosity in her eyes.

“You’re back,” she said evenly, wiping her hands on a nearby cloth. “How was the chemical? I’m sure he kept on answering all the questions you asked him.”

Yuri sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “It worked… but I wasn’t able to get everything in full. The information I have should be enough to spare me another day, but if I’d had two or three more doses, I think that would have made him spill everything he knew.”

“Two or three more?” Serena arched an eyebrow. “Interesting. Just one of the chemical dosages should have been enough. Giving him any more would have killed him.”

Yuri’s lips curled into a small, humorless smile as he shook his head slightly. “You don’t seem to understand. He may look like just an average teenager, but trust me—give him a dozen of those things, and he’d still be clinging to life.” He crossed his arms, thinking back to the way Lockey had fought against the effects, his spirit refusing to break even as his body begged for release.

Serena leaned back, eyeing Yuri thoughtfully. “It’s called Thanatol,” she said, referring to the potent chemical that made Yuri’s interrogation easier. “I’m quite interested in this person you’re talking about. Is he the one in possession of the Beta Vault?”

“Yup.” Yuri nodded, his gaze drifting to the table filled with more vials and containers. He picked up one, examining the swirling liquid inside. “I’m trying to get as much information as possible out of him. I’ll continue my investigation tomorrow.”

“I’m afraid what you’ve gotten out of him is all you’ll get to report.” A low, commanding voice cut through the room.

Yuri stiffened, his fingers freezing around the vial. The voice was unmistakable. He turned slowly, and his eyes landed on an elderly man standing in the doorway—a figure that emanated both authority and an unsettling presence.

“Oh, it’s you,” Yuri said, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly. He released the vial gently and stood straighter. “I almost didn’t recognize you, Sir Techno.” His tone was respectful, though laced with a hint of wariness.

Sir Techno stepped into the room, his presence almost filling it. His hair, a striking white, was meticulously groomed, and his curled mustache added to the air of sophistication he carried. A black monocle sat firmly on his left eye, enhancing his sharp gaze as he looked Yuri over. The dark suit he wore was impeccable, and though age was visible in the lines on his face, his movements were sure and confident, reflecting the power he held within the organization.

“How are you doing?” Yuri asked casually, raising a brow. “Hope that back of yours doesn’t hurt.” He smirked slightly, an attempt to lighten the tension.

Sir Techno’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “You stand before a member of the higher-ups, and yet you show such disrespect?” His voice was cold. “You’ve completely lost it, haven’t you, Yuri?”

Yuri immediately straightened, hands dropping to his sides. “I got carried away because it was you, Sir Techno,” he replied hastily, trying to recover his composure.

The old man held Yuri’s gaze for a long, tense moment before speaking again. “I’ve sent a team to bring him over. Your interrogation ends today.”

Yuri’s eyes widened slightly. “What? But I—”

“You cannot break him yet, not until we’ve done a complete experiment on him.” Sir Techno’s tone was final, brooking no argument.

Yuri clenched his fists, frustration simmering just beneath the surface. But he knew better than to challenge the man in front of him. "I see…” He forced his expression into a semblance of calm, glancing toward Serena for support, but she merely sighed and turned back to her work.

Techno, however, had already shifted his attention back to his own project, pulling out a set of tools and various compounds. “I believe you have somewhere to be,” he said dismissively, his focus no longer on Yuri.

Yuri nodded stiffly, taking a deep breath to steady himself. “Yes, I do.” He turned toward Serena, his expression softening slightly. “Thanks again, Miss Serena.”

She waved a hand lazily in his direction. “Don’t mention it.” The door shut behind him, the sound reverberating through the room as she glanced over at Techno, who was already engrossed in his work.

“You were kind of harsh on him,” she murmured, watching the elderly man with a hint of concern.

Techno didn’t look up. “It won’t do to show him kindness all the time,” he said evenly, his voice calm but firm."Sometimes, a firm hand teaches a steady lesson" . We are much higher in status compared to him, and we shouldn’t act like we are the same when it comes to hierarchy.”

Serena sighed quietly, shaking her head as she returned to her own task. The Crucible was silent once more, save for the hum of the equipment and the faint clinking of glassware.