CHAPTER 4.5.2 THE CODEX OF MYSTERY, LOST'S

THE CONFUSION AND THE MYSTERY

Tyra stood in the surveillance camera room, her emotions a whirlwind of confusion and sadness. Someone had turned her life's work into a bad joke, manipulating her computer and her data for reasons she couldn't understand. Why would someone go to such lengths? Was it a disgruntled employee? A rogue intruder? And most importantly, for what purpose?

Replaying the footage on the screen, Tyra studied the mysterious figure. Dressed not as a bureaucrat but in some kind of official attire, the person entered with purpose, altered the data on her computer, and vanished. Their movements suggested intimate knowledge of the facility. A civilian would have been lost navigating the labyrinthine halls of the Codex, even with a stolen Magma Corporation license.

Still, nothing about the figure’s motivations made sense to her.

A GLIMPSE OF THE PAST

Deciding on her next move, Tyra powered down the computers and stepped out of the surveillance room. Her thoughts raced as she headed through the security doors. If she were to uncover the truth, she’d need to share her findings with Gustavo—and possibly investigate further at Cryo Corp and Necro Corp.

She pulled out her MagmaPhone, checking the WizardMarket. Both Cryo Corp and Necro Corp were long gone, relics of a corrupt government. Ghosts of the past. Yet their names still lingered in the corners of her mind, nudging at her memories.

A sharp decline in Magma Corporation's stocks also caught her eye, a ripple effect of the caravan attack. Fortunately, the shares were recovering, thanks to the recovery of nearly all the cargo—except for the two boxes stolen by that snowman and skeleton.

Tyra swore under her breath. She would make sure those thieves were brought to justice.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

A SUDDEN COLLISION

Distracted by her thoughts, Tyra didn’t notice Gustavo until she collided with him. He stumbled back but quickly helped her up, offering a sheepish smile.

“Oh, I’m sorry, Tyra. I didn’t see you,” Gustavo said, brushing himself off. “Your IC is fixed now. I changed the username back to your normal one.”

“Thanks,” Tyra replied, still flustered. “And sorry—I wasn’t looking either. But I checked the cameras.”

THE INTRUDER IN THE SHADOWS

Gustavo’s expression shifted as Tyra explained the footage. She recounted the strange figure, their covered face, and their deliberate actions.

“That’s... unsettling,” Gustavo admitted, his brow furrowed. “We should notify the bureaucrats about the intrusion. They’ll need to authorize a sweep of the area.”

He moved to his terminal to send a message, only to curse under his breath. “Grimomas,” he muttered. “They won’t check this until tomorrow.” With a resigned sigh, he hit send, knowing it would go unread until morning.

“Bureaucracy is always a headache, especially during Grimomas,” he said, shaking his head.

Tyra nodded in agreement, recalling the agonizing month she had once spent waiting for new combat armor.

A QUESTION ABOUT DOGS

With nothing more to do about the intruder for the moment, Tyra shifted gears. “By the way, Gustavo, how much information about dogs does the Codex hold?”

“Over five million entries,” Gustavo replied without hesitation.

Tyra’s eyes widened. “Five million?! That’s insane!”

“Yeah, it is,” Gustavo said with a shrug. “Why do you ask?”

Tyra hesitated, the words catching in her throat. “Oh, it’s just… I had a weird dream, and—” She stopped herself, realizing how absurd it sounded.

“Maybe it was just a nightmare,” Gustavo suggested. “Everyone has strange dreams when they’re tired.”

“Yeah,” Tyra agreed, though she wasn’t entirely convinced. There was something about the dream, something she couldn’t shake. But without more concrete information, the Codex’s vast archive would be an impossible sea to navigate.

CLOSING THE DAY

“I think that’s all for now,” Tyra said, shaking her head. “I’ll come back tomorrow if I have more questions.”

“Sure,” Gustavo replied with a smile. “Enjoy Grimomas with your family.”

“Thanks, Gustavo. I will,” Tyra said as she exited the Codex, her mind still turning over the mystery of the intruder—and the strange dog from her dream.