Minutes ticked by outside the imposing gates of FuturForge Innovations, and Elliot Harper's foot tapped an anxious rhythm on the concrete. He threw occasional glances at Noah, who appeared utterly calm, idly flicking a blue yo-yo back and forth. The night was deepening, and the street lamps cast long shadows that stretched across the pavement.

Soon, a silhouette materialized from the darkness. Elliot squinted, recognizing Cyrus's tall, athletic form striding toward them, his blueprint clutched like a shield against his chest. Unexpectedly, another figure trailed closely behind him—a woman.

Noah stopped his yo-yo mid-air and nudged Elliot. "That your guy? Who's the girl with him?"

Elliot's brows furrowed in confusion. "Yeah, that's Cyrus, but I didn't know he'd bring a girl with him," he murmured, his voice laced with surprise.

As Cyrus approached, his expression a blend of determination and mild irritation, he took in the sight of Elliot and the young boy beside him. "Who's this?" he inquired, nodding toward Noah.

Noah grinned cheekily and shot back, "And who's the girl with you, Romeo?"

Cyrus turned, only now noticing Ji-eun's close presence behind him. His surprise was palpable. "Hello, miss. Why did you follow me?" he asked, his tone edging toward annoyance.

Ji-eun clung a little closer, her voice soft yet insistent. "Cyrus, you must be responsible for me. I don't want to be left behind. I'm scared that guy might come back. I need your protection."

Elliot, caught in the unfolding drama, sighed deeply. His original plan had been straightforward: sneak Cyrus in quietly. Now, with Noah and this unexpected addition, things were decidedly more complicated. "Cyrus, this isn't a date with your girlfriend. It's going to be tough enough getting past security with so many people."

Ji-eun smiled slightly when Elliot referred to her as Cyrus's girlfriend. "I like your friend," she said, seemingly pleased with the misunderstanding.

Cyrus shot her a sharp look. "Hey, lady, we're on a mission. It's better you go home and stay safe," he suggested firmly.

Ji-eun's lips pursed, her eyes narrowing in a mix of defiance and determination. "I am coming along too. You're not going to ditch me," she declared, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Meanwhile, Cyrus turned his attention to Noah and Elliot. "And Elliot, why did you bring a kid along? Are you doing babysitting?" His tone held a blend of incredulity and frustration.

Noah bristled at the remark but maintained his composure. "Hey, watch your words, man. The name's Noah Anderson. I'm coming along on this adventure, and I'll help you all get past security with ease," he said confidently.

Curiosity piqued, Noah glanced at Ji-eun, his tone playful yet inquisitive. "Mrs. Cyrus, your name?"

"I'm Kim Ji-eun. I like you both," she responded, a mischievous sparkle in her eye as she enjoyed the fabricated notion of her relationship with Cyrus.

Cyrus, feeling the weight of the moment and the need to keep moving, intervened. "Hey, guys, I've got nothing with her. Let's just move on," he insisted, eager to redirect the group's focus to the task at hand.

As the foursome approached the security gate of FuturForge Innovations, the tension was palpable. Only a solitary guard stood between them and entry, his presence an unassuming obstacle yet formidable in their clandestine efforts. Elliot, with a calm facade masking his internal unease, rallied the group with a whispered strategy.

"Alright, everyone follow me," Elliot instructed, a hint of authority in his voice. "I'll show him my staff pass and say you all are research students here to finish a final year project."

Cyrus nodded in agreement, the corners of his mouth tilting upwards in a semblance of confidence. "Sounds like a plan," he murmured, trying to infuse some assurance into the atmosphere.

Noah, however, shook his head subtly, his youthful face creased in skepticism, though he followed Elliot's lead silently.

As they reached the checkpoint, Elliot took the lead with practiced ease. "Hi there. I am a research executive at FuturForge Innovations," he announced with a professional smile. "These four are research students, here to complete their final year project."

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The guard took Elliot's pass, eyeing it critically before his gaze shifted to Cyrus, Ji-eun, and Noah. Each of them attempted an awkward smile, their expressions strained under the weight of the lie. The guard's eyes narrowed, especially as they landed on Noah, whose youthful appearance made him stick out conspicuously.

"I think you are lyin—"

image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/a/a3/Ricochet_Strike.png]

Before the guard could finish his sentence, Noah acted. With a swift flick of his wrist, he executed his Ricochet Strike. The yo-yo zipped through the air, bouncing off the walls of the gate with a whirring sound that sliced through the silence, effectively distracting the guard before striking him squarely on the head. The guard slumped to the ground, knocked out cold.

"What are you doing! You're going to get me fired," Elliot exclaimed, running a hand through his short brown hair in dismay. His voice, usually composed, now trembled with panic.

"Didn't you see? My plan was working!" Elliot protested, his gaze flitting between the unconscious guard and the group.

"Nah, your plan sucks!" Noah retorted bluntly, his confidence unshaken by the turn of events. "Let's just move on."

Cyrus stepped in, placing a reassuring hand on Elliot's shoulder. "Let's just move on. I think the security was going to see through your plan too," he said, trying to mediate the situation with a calm demeanor.

Elliot looked at the prone figure of the guard, his face etched with worry. "I am going to get fired..." he muttered under his breath, his worry palpable.

Ji-eun, who had remained mostly silent, now chimed in with a slightly amused tone that cut through the tension. "Well, now we really need to make sure this night is worth it."

Her comment sparked a brief, grim smile from the others as they proceeded past the gates. Each member of the group was acutely aware that the stakes were now higher than ever as they navigated the dimly lit corridors of FuturForge. Despite their individual motivations, they were united by the immediate need to evade further detection.

image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/8/81/Cordless_vacuum_cleaner.png]

As they entered the main building of FuturForge, Elliot noticed a vacuum cleaner set aside near the entrance. His eyes lit up with recognition. "Wait, guys, we need to carry weapons, coming in, and it seems like Noah is the only one carrying one."

Noah, eyeing the bulky vacuum cleaner skeptically, did a facepalm. "Are you going to use a vacuum cleaner as a weapon?" he asked incredulously. "And this is just a cleaning tool!"

image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/d/dd/Elliot_Harper_Profile.png]

Elliot couldn't suppress a proud grin as he approached the appliance. "Ha, you are so wrong. This vacuum cleaner is part of FuturForge's latest invention—it's a backpack vacuum cleaner which I helped develop as part of the R&D team." With a flourish, he hoisted the vacuum cleaner onto his back, gripping the telescoping wand with a showman's flair. "I'll show you how good it is. Follow me, I'll lead the way."

image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/f/f7/Echo_Locator.png]

Noah, however, remained unconvinced. "No! I'd rather you not use your so-called weapon," he retorted. "We should remain stealthy." Without waiting for a response, Noah pulled out his yo-yo, using it skillfully to activate Echo Locator, the yo-yo emitted a series of subtle sounds that bounced off the surroundings, allowing Noah to map out a path that avoided any security personnel on shift.

"This way," Noah instructed, leading them through less traveled passageways, his confidence evident in his stride.

Watching Noah navigate the complex with such ease, Cyrus couldn't help but be impressed. "I'm impressed by your skill, Noah," he acknowledged, his voice carrying a tone of genuine respect.

As they navigated through the dimly lit corridors of FuturForge, Elliot's shoulders relaxed slightly, yet his hands remained firmly clasped around his vacuum cleaner, a testament to his readiness to spring into action.

The group, each armed in their own unconventional way, delved deeper into the technological maze of FuturForge, enveloped by the stillness of the night. Their footsteps were nearly silent, a ghostly echo in the vast corridors of the building.

Finally, they reached their critical juncture. "This is it, we're going to take the lift to level 46, to the R&D lab," Elliot announced as they slipped inside the elevator. The doors closed with a soft whoosh, and as the lift ascended, Elliot sighed. "It's been smooth sailing so far—too bad I couldn't show off the vacuum cleaner's prowess."

image [https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/swordbound-the-heros-journey-to-silence-the-seven/images/0/00/Marcus_Steele_Profile.png]

As the elevator dinged at their destination, the doors slid open, revealing the imposing figure of Marcus "Thunderbolt" Steele. The Chief Security Officer was manipulation his taser, the electric buzzing intermittently breaking the silence, setting a tense atmosphere. "Yikes!" Elliot exclaimed, taking an involuntary step back.

"Oh, it's your chance to use your vacuum cleaner now!" Noah remarked sarcastically, an impish grin spreading across his face as he nudged Elliot forward slightly.