The Cipher: Locks and Keys

Chapter 41: The Trap Closes

Previously: Yuri's interrogation of Lockey had yielded troubling information—Lockey no longer held the Beta Vault, instead, it had been handed over to the elusive Chronolux cult. Despite this, Sir Afron was unsatisfied, sensing a traitor within their ranks and demanding more from Yuri. With pressure mounting, Afron prepared to report to the Grand Architect, knowing failure could mean dire consequences. However, the Architect was unforgiving, reprimanding Afron for his lack of results and hinting at a larger conspiracy. Techno, the Architect’s left hand, soon confronted Afron, initiating a deadly fight. But as Afron unleashed his gravity powers, he was blindsided by a hidden bomb planted on him by Techno. With the final beep, Afron’s life was snuffed out, leaving Techno in charge of cleaning up the mess and passing the torch to Golder, who would now be responsible for locating the Chronolux.

Lockey's POV

I knew from the start this mission was never going to be easy. There was always a catch with missions like this, always a layer I’d miss until it was too late. But I was ready, or at least I thought I was. Ready for whatever they’d throw at me, whatever cruel tricks they had hidden up their sleeves. That’s what I kept telling myself.

But lying here now, trapped in this cold room, strapped to a bed like some helpless experiment, I wasn’t so sure anymore.

I couldn’t understand much of what was happening, but I could feel it. Every pinch of the needle, every cold slice from their machines. They didn’t need to tell me what they were doing—I could feel the invasion of my body with each bisection, every unfamiliar device digging into my flesh. The worst part was the silence. I couldn't scream. Couldn’t fight back. All I could do was let them.

The gas mask was suffocating. My breath hitched beneath it, each inhale feeling more like drowning than relief. Blurred figures, hazy white coats, moved around me, murmuring words I couldn’t quite make out. I blinked hard, trying to focus, trying to understand, but everything remained indistinct, like watching a nightmare unfold through thick fog.

I’d been blind. Arrogant. Maybe I thought I was untouchable, that I had it all figured out. But now, I was realizing just how little I truly knew. There were too many things I hadn't seen coming, too many mistakes made because I believed I was above it all.

A figure stepped into the room. Her presence shifted the air instantly. Even through the haze, I noticed the change in the others—the way they straightened up, how they called her "Ma’am" the moment she entered. The figure drew closer. “How’s the operation been going?” The voice was calm, controlled. She radiated authority. Miss Serena.

One of the lab techs—a faceless shape in the blur—answered nervously, “We’ve administered eleven doses of Hypnolysin.” They gestured vaguely toward me. “But he’s still not losing consciousness. We don’t even know if he feels pain at this point.”

Serena’s voice sharpened slightly. “Yuri was right. He’s quite intriguing.”

I struggled to focus on the sounds around me, but they were distant, like I was underwater, hearing only muffled echoes. Their conversation continued, but the words blurred into one another. All I could make out was Serena’s cold, analytical tone.

“Were you able to extract his Universal Key?” she asked, her question cutting through the fog of my mind.

“Well...” the tech hesitated. “Something’s off. Every time we try to draw it out, the machine fails. It gets to a certain point, but then... it just stops.”

“Interesting.” There was a pause, the weight of her gaze pressing down on me even though I couldn't see her clearly. "We’ve never had this issue with Universal Lock ciphers. They’ve always cooperated.”

Another tech spoke up, uncertain. “Maybe it’s how Universal Keys work. They could be bonded more deeply with their chosen user. It’s possible the key won’t let go.”

Serena’s voice grew thoughtful. “That would make sense... but it doesn’t in this case. Based on the intel we have, this key didn’t choose him. He killed the previous wielder. That’s how he got it, according to our sources. There’s no reason for the key to form a bond with someone like him.”

Meanwhile, everything around me became increasingly distant. The sounds, the voices, they all started to blur together into a maddening hum. It was so noisy, but I couldn’t make sense of any of it. I turned my head slightly, vision swimming as I tried to focus. Through the fog, I caught a glimpse of a woman with blonde hair in a lab coat, standing under the harsh overhead light. Was that her? Was that Miss Serena?

The room felt heavy. The gas I was breathing filled my lungs with pressure, making each inhale feel more suffocating than the last. My mind was clouded, the buzzing in my head growing louder, as though I was trying to make sense of voices far too small to hear. Tiny whispers that faded in and out, just out of reach.

I couldn’t hear what they were talking about anymore. They were right there, but it was like I was trapped inside my own head, cut off from reality, struggling to stay conscious.

The air shifted again as Serena snapped out of her thoughts. “Stop the procedure,” she ordered, her voice cutting through the haze with sharp finality. “We’ll pause for now. I’ll submit my report later. You may all leave.”

Her command was met with quick responses. "Yes, ma'am," one of the techs muttered as they began to pack up, their equipment clicking and whirring as they powered down. I could feel them moving around me, detaching things, undoing the restraints, but my mind was already sinking deeper into the fog. They were leaving, but the weight of the room still pressed down on me.

Serena was the first to exit, her heels echoing faintly in the hollow space, followed by the rest of them. The doors slid shut, and I was left alone. Alone with my thoughts, my pain, and the sinking realization that I had underestimated all of this.

And for the first time in another part of the facility, Yuri sat in front of a large board covered in notes and markers. His eyes fixated on a particular name, a subtle tension building in his chest. On the board, a number of names were scribbled, each one linked to information about the mysterious “Grand Architect.” But as Yuri stared at them, his instincts told him most of these people had little to offer.

He lifted a pen and marked one of the names: Bono.

“Bono... He’s got a little information, sure, but nothing useful about the deeper operations at WCM. Hell, he’s never even been to Site 22.” Yuri scratched Bono off the list with a sigh.

Running a hand through his hair, he leaned back in his chair. “What was I even thinking, putting his name on here?”

His eyes drifted to another name: Julie. He hesitated, fingers resting lightly on the marker. Julie. She had been working overseas for a while, an agent whose loyalty was never in question. Yuri tapped the marker against the board, thinking about the consequences of her return. If she found out about her sister’s disappearance, it would only spell trouble.

“No, I can’t afford to bring her into this,” he muttered under his breath, marking her off the list as well.

Yuri’s thoughts narrowed down to just two names left—Pinnochi and Specter. The seriousness in his expression deepened. It was down to these two. The chances were high. One of them had ties to Chronolux, or perhaps... both.

He looked over the board again. Specter, his senior, and Pinnochi, his junior—the one he had personally trained. The weight of suspicion was almost too much to bear.

“Dammit,” he cursed, frustration boiling beneath the surface. If it’s one of them... this isn’t going to be easy.

Just as he was lost in thought, the door creaked open, and Pinnochi stepped in casually.

“Oh my, is Sir Afron breathing down your neck again?” Pinnochi said with a playful smile.

Yuri sighed heavily, sinking deeper into the couch. “Yeah, something like that.” He rubbed his temples as the weight of his responsibility bore down on him.

Pinnochi’s gaze drifted toward the board, his smile fading as he took a closer look. His attention sharpened when he noticed his own name among the few left standing.

“So, you suspect Specter... and me?” Pinnochi asked, his tone more serious now. He stepped closer to the board, studying the web of names and connections.

Yuri stood up from the sofa, his face tense. “There’s an allegation that someone has been feeding information about the Grand Architect to a certain cult. I’ve been tasked with finding out who that person is.”

The two stared at each other, the air between them thick with unspoken tension.

“And you think I’m that person?” Pinnochi asked, his smile gone, replaced with a sharp edge. “You’re telling me my chances are higher than anyone else’s. You really suspect it’s me?”

Yuri exhaled slowly, struggling to keep his voice steady. “Believe me, I don’t want to think it’s you. But... something tells me it is.”

Pinnochi crossed his arms, his eyes narrowing. “What makes you so sure?”

Yuri held his gaze. “Don’t take it the wrong way. Your chances are higher because I believe you were part of the third party that was in the cave during the mission. If it wasn’t you, then it’s Specter.”

Pinnochi stared at Yuri for a moment, then shrugged. “You’ve really got it all figured out, huh?”

Yuri shot him a weary look. “Look, why did you come here, anyway?”

Pinnochi smiled faintly, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “I can’t seem to remember anymore. Seeing my name on your suspect list kinda threw me off. I’ll be taking my leave now.” He turned toward the door, pausing briefly. “Do your best to find the traitor. Just... don’t jump to conclusions.”

With that, Pinnochi left the room, the door clicking softly shut behind him. Outside, he allowed himself a small, knowing grin.

Yuri, Pinnochi thought to himself. He’s sharper than I gave him credit for. There was no way Yuri would have guessed that the real source of the leak came from the third division. Glad Glacier gave Lee that assignment and not me.

Pinnochi glanced down at the access card he had swiped from Yuri's desk earlier, his fingers tracing the edges of the card. This is what I really came for.

Pinnochi made his way through the dimly lit corridors, heading toward the experimental lab. As he reached the door, he was about to swipe the access card when he heard a voice from behind.

“I don’t think I’ve seen your face around here. What brings you?”

Pinnochi turned slowly, his heart skipping a beat as his eyes met the sharp gaze of Sir Techno. The man was imposing, his very presence radiating authority. Pinnochi felt the weight of his stare and immediately sensed the danger of this encounter.

To think I’d run into him here... and what’s with this pressure?

Pinnochi froze in place, tension creeping up his spine as Sir Techno’s eyes bore into him. There was no easy way out of this situation a long while.