Previously:As Pinnochi delves deeper into the shadows of Site 22, secrets of the Strong Vault beckon. Meanwhile, Yuri grapples with his investigation, unaware of the impending storm surrounding him.

Yuri was engrossed in his investigation, the glow of the screen illuminating his furrowed brow. Suddenly, a call blared through the silence, causing him to flinch at the urgency in the voice on the other end.

“Yuri, report to Sir Afron’s office immediately.”

His heart raced, unease creeping in. What now? Did the old man’s patience finally run out? He pushed away from his desk, the chair scraping against the floor as he stood up, an instinctive clenching of his fists betraying his agitation.

Standing before the heavy door of Sir Afron’s office, Yuri took a deep breath, steeling himself for whatever awaited him. Get a grip, he thought, pressing the button. The door slid open, revealing an unexpected scene.

As he stepped inside, the stark contrast of the office hit him like a cold wave. Instead of the usual chaos of Sir Afron’s workspace, everything seemed oddly subdued.

“Sorry, I think I’ve entered the wrong office,” he stammered, taken aback.

From the corner, Chairman Golder looked up from a stack of paperwork, a smirk playing on his lips. “You didn’t enter the wrong office, Yuri. I’m in charge now, and this is my domain.”

Yuri blinked, disbelief washing over him. “Eh? Then what happened to Sir Afron?”

Golder leaned back in his chair, his tone cool and dismissive. “To put it simply, he’s been dismissed from his duties.”

Yuri’s brows raised in surprise, but a flicker of relief crossed his face. “Was this because of me, sir?”

“Oh no, you have nothing to do with this,” Golder replied, his voice laced with condescension. “He simply couldn’t handle the situation properly. What a pity.”

Yuri nodded slowly, the weight of this new reality settling in. Sir Afron was a lot to deal with; now I’m stuck with Chairman Golder. I must be cursed. Why can’t it be Miss Serena. He masked his thoughts with a feigned smile.

“Ehm, so you sent for me, sir?” he asked, trying to maintain composure.

“Yes,” Golder replied, leaning forward, his eyes sharp. “How is your investigation going? I want you to finalize everything in three days. We have a big fish to catch. If you can’t expose a single traitor among us, how do you expect to dismantle an entire organization? Don’t mess this up.”

“Yes, I’ll have my report ready in three days,” Yuri responded, his voice steady despite the underlying tension.

Golder’s demeanor softened slightly. “Also, Bruno will be joining you in your investigation to expedite the process.”

Yuri paused, his heart sinking. “Oh, I see,” he replied, surprise flickering across his face.

As Yuri turned to leave, he couldn’t shake the relief at Sir Afron’s absence. Glad he’s not in charge anymore. I bet the Grand Architect has already dealt with him. A sigh escaped him as he walked down the corridor, his thoughts tangled with guilt. If I had completed the task sooner, maybe he’d still be here.

He chuckled softly, shaking his head. “Just kidding,” he muttered to himself. “I feel like the freest man alive.”

However, as he ran a hand through his hair, a shadow loomed over his newfound freedom. Bruno… I hope he doesn’t give me a hard time.

Hahaha! Techno’s laugh echoed through the lab, his eyes gleaming with amusement as he observed Pinnochi working. "Not only do you know what all this machinery is called," he said with a smirk, "but you sure know how to use it well."

Pinnochi wiped his hands on his pants, a small smile forming. “Well, I give the credit to my father. I learned most of it from him.”

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Techno raised a brow, his voice dropping in curiosity. "Your father, huh? What’s his name, young man? I could use someone like him on my team." He folded his arms, leaning against a console, waiting for the answer.

Pinnochi’s fingers tightened around the tool he was holding, his face shadowed by an unreadable emotion. He shrugged slightly, the weight of his words heavier than he expected. "Well… he died a while back. I never got to know his name. I just called him Father."

Techno’s amused expression softened, though the change was subtle. He stood straight, tilting his head as if searching for the right words. "I see. I can’t imagine the trauma you must’ve gone through, especially at that age. Hopefully, your mother was there to comfort you."

Pinnochi’s jaw tightened at the mention, but he remained silent, his hands steady as he adjusted the last machine. Don’t let it show, he reminded himself.

Techno clapped his hands suddenly, shattering the tension. “Well, why don’t you wrap that up? We’ll continue tomorrow.”

Pinnochi clenched his fist, muttering a quiet, “Aye,” as Techno turned on his heel, striding out of the lab without a second glance.

Hours later, Pinnochi leaned back, exhaling in frustration as the last piece of equipment clicked into place. He glanced at the clock, then at his trembling hands. I had to meet with Sir Techno… and I wasted the entire day doing his work.

He clenched his fists again, the frustration building, before shaking his head. Can’t afford to get stuck here. There's more to do.

Pinnochi pulled Yuri’s access card from his pocket, holding it up to the light as if it would somehow give him the answer. I’ve managed to pinpoint the location of the mysterious Vault based on the energy readings… but does Yuri’s access card have clearance for every room in Site 22? He scowled, fingers tapping the side of the card. If not, I’ll need to find someone with even higher authority.

His mind raced as he slipped the card into his pocket. Looks like I’ll have to sneak there now. He tapped the card lightly against his lips as if the gesture would bring luck. “Hope this works,” he whispered, kissing it and sliding it back into his jacket.

With a quick glance around the lab, Pinnochi grabbed a few more items and headed for the door. The faint hum of machines was the only sound as he slipped out of the experimental lab, his steps silent but purposeful.

Pinnochi moved quietly through the hallway, his steps barely audible as he hugged the shadows. He paused for a moment, pressing his back against the wall, glancing down the corridor. Almost there. The dim lights overhead flickered as he crouched low, peering around the corner. His eyes narrowed as he focused on the slight hum in the air.

It’s here, he thought, feeling the familiar thrum of energy emanating from behind a heavy door just ahead. That’s the Vault. No doubt about it.

With a quick, silent movement, he pulled out Yuri’s access card and slid it through the panel. The machine blinked once… then flashed red: ACCESS DENIED.

"Tch. What now?" Pinnochi muttered under his breath, glancing around. His fingers tapped the edge of the card, his mind racing for alternatives.

Just then, the sound of voices floated from around the corner. Pinnochi stiffened, slipping into the shadows. Two women, dressed in white lab coats, approached, their soft conversation echoing through the quiet hall.

“Did you hear something?” one of them asked, her brow furrowing as she slowed her pace.

The second woman glanced around, scanning the hallway. “I don’t see any signs of anyone,” she replied, tilting her head. “What makes you think someone’s here?”

Their footsteps grew louder, but before they could round the corner, silence fell like a shroud. Both women stopped, straining their ears.

The first woman’s voice was shaky now. “Who’s there?” she called out, her nerves apparent.

A low, eerie voice drifted from the darkness. “Meeee…”

The first woman gasped, her knees buckling as she collapsed to the floor, unconscious from terror. The second woman froze, her eyes wide as she dropped to her knees, trembling. “P-please… don’t hurt me! I-I’m begging you… angel of death, please spare me!”

Pinnochi stepped out of the shadows, stifling a laugh. “Angel of death? Is that what you think I am?” He looked around, then back at her with a smirk. “Oh… you mean me!”

The woman shook, her hands pressed together in a pleading gesture. “Please… I’ll do anything, just don’t hurt me!”

“Hurt you? No, no,” Pinnochi said, crouching down in front of her. “Hurting women… now that would hurt my pride.” He reached out, and the woman flinched, thinking he was about to strike her. But instead, he plucked the access card from her lanyard, inspecting it with a casual glance. “This is all I need.”

He stood, flicking the card between his fingers. The woman looked up at him, trembling, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Pinnochi sighed, crouching again, wiping the tears from her face with the back of his hand. “Oh, did I make you cry? I’m sorry.” His tone was soft, almost gentle, but as he spoke, a faint, purple mist began to swirl from his lips. “But I’ll need you to forget everything you saw, which means… you’ll have to go to sleep now.”

The woman’s eyes widened, panic flashing across her face as the mist grew thicker. She inhaled sharply, then slumped to the floor, unconscious, just like her companion.

Pinnochi stood, dusting off his hands. “I guess this will do.” He looked down at the two women, one knocked out from fear, the other from the gas. With a shrug, he pocketed the second access card.

He stepped up to the door, swiping the card through the panel again. This time, a soft beep filled the air, and the light blinked green: ACCESS GRANTED.

A smile crept across his face as the door hissed open. "Now then, let’s dive into the real deal."