Ethan’s P.O.V. (Continued)Someone had replaced the original security arrangement with a manual locking mechanism.I switched between the available camera feeds, trying to find a clearer view of the lock. The metal bar was unusually thick, and its ends appeared to be secured by two separate mechanisms. I couldn't see the internal structure from the footage, but one thing was certain.This wasn't an ordinary container lock.I opened the dockyard's equipment records and searched for any reference to the modification.There was nothing.I checked the container's maintenance history, the security inspection reports, and the records of the workers assigned to load.Nothing.It was as though the lock had appeared out of nowhere.I had no spare time to find out who changed the lock or when.That was why I was cautious about how deeply I investigated other things earlier. I immediately searched for any digital interface connected to the locking mechanism.If the lock had an electronic compon

Ethan’s P.O.V. (Continued)“What?” I looked at him questioningly.He looked around cautiously and slowly moved closer to me.I was slightly stiffened but let him come closer. We didn’t stop walking.“Lucifer and you were attacked when you two were working on a project in the lab.” He whispered, but my heart skipped a beat.“And then, Ashton told us th… that you were working on the same project in the room.” I narrowed my eyes.His voice lowered further.“I am not talking about what happened to the assassins, but I am really confused about one fact,” he continued, his voice barely audible in the end.“You were attacked when you were working on a project, and you were kidnapped when you were working on the same project. What is that project?”I couldn’t deny what he said made sense.Hacker0, Lucifer and I….All of us were using the same program…But different versions…And it was Hacker0 who sent those assassins….Or did I miss something here?Those glimpses never showed who sent those

Ethan’s P.O.V. (Continued)He didn’t reply instantly.He was more experienced than any of us and knew how to play with words in this kind of situation.He wasn’t cautious around me.It was Lucifer.Mr. Norton folded his hands on the desk and looked at Lucifer before turning his attention to me.“First, I want you both to understand that the school is no longer treating these incidents as isolated attacks. The assault in the computer laboratory, the security breaches, your disappearance, and the explosion in the forest may all be connected. Until we establish otherwise, we have to assume that whoever is behind these incidents still has access to information about this institution and all the area originally owned by the school board.”He paused, allowing his words to settle.“Second, the school administration is cooperating with the police, but there are limits to what we can disclose while the investigation is ongoing. I don't want rumours spreading across the campus, and I certainly

Ethan’s P.O.V.“Do we really need to change the room?” Nathan asked, looking concerned.“We have been in this room for more than three years, but after what happened yesterday…..” Ashton trailed off, but couldn’t mask concern in his voice.Lucifer didn’t say a thing, but we all knew that he also had the same concern.“Should we check the room again? The transfer will take two more days?” Nathan suggested, looking around warily.“I have already checked the room twice. I found nothing. It’s the third floor. A secret passage? This high?” Ashton wasn’t wrong.Our room was on the third floor, and this building was built a few decades ago.So, having a secret passage here sounded absurd.“We only found a faint print of half of the shoe near the ventilation shaft. I checked the blueprint. That shaft is too narrow for one person to crawl out, let alone two people,” Nathan said further.I also saw that footprint.And that wasn’t the assassin's.His shoe soles didn’t have any cuts or any shape,

Ethan’s P.O.V. (Continued)“Why?” Lucifer asked, turning his head slightly.“Because whoever accessed the file knew what they were looking for. If they were careless enough to leave a trace, we wouldn't be standing here wondering what they wanted in the first place.” Ashton folded his arms across his chest.“And if they were skilled enough to get into this room without being caught, they probably knew how to cover their tracks.”“Then what do you suggest we do?” Lucifer asked.“Stop looking at the file as if it were the only thing that matters.” He replied bluntly.I glanced at Ashton, frowning.“What else should we look at?” I asked.“The timing,” he answered immediately.“The assassin took Ethan away, and someone accessed the prototype a few minutes later. That means either the assassin had a partner who stayed behind, or someone else was already inside this room.”The words sent a chill down my spine.There was no one inside the room at that time.It meant that the assassin had an