Suddenly, a piercing rm rang out, echoing from the second basement all the way through every corner of the research building, loud enough to make anyone''s ears ring. As soon as the rm went off, the whole ce lit up like a Christmas tree, and the level-one security protocol kicked in automatically!


    Nick, who was just about to reach the safety door, froze and turned back. The overhead surveince cameras whirred back to life, their lenses started spinning slowly, the sound of infrared scanning mixing with the noise of the rm.


    "Move," came a cold, mechanical voice through his earpiece. Nick snapped his attention back, and just before the infrared beam could catch him, he slipped through the safety door.


    Leaning against the wall, Ben just let out a scoff, not bothering to chase after him. The institute''s security was tight as a drum-getting out was nearly impossible, even for someone with Nick''s skills.


    Ben shifted his gaze, eyeing thestb, and quickly went over to help two researchers to their feet. They were shaky and sore, feeling like their bones might just crumble. It took them a minute to gather their strength.


    "To theb, quick... Check theb..." the older researcher said, pushing his pain aside as he stumbled towards thestb. He swiped his card, and the door opened as soon as his finger touched the pad.


    Trailing behind, Ben narrowed his eyes, waiting until the researchers were inside before saying, “See if anything''s missing in theb. I''ll go after him." The


    researchers were too focused on theb to think much about what Ben said, just waving him off.


    With that, Ben pulled the door shut for them and walked away.


    **


    Nick made his way up to the first basement via the safety passage, nning to stick to the stairs, but he was stopped short.


    "The first floor staircase is blocked. Take the elevator from the basement," came the voice in his ear again.


    Mirabe sat at herputer, her face serious, fingers flying over the keyboard as she worked on hacking into the institute''swork. She was in the zone.


    Nick didn''t hesitate when he heard the voice. He yanked open the safety door, and right away the infrared sensors locked onto him. The system didn''t recognize him, and in a sh, the floor''s auto-defense kicked in.


    Infrared beams zeroed in on Nick. He had no time to pause, flipping and dodging them, but another beam came at him from behind, making him sidestep to the left.


    The elevator was less than two meters away-close, but dodging those beams made it feel like a mile. Mirabe watched him struggle on the monitors, typing even faster.


    To get out of this, she had to take down the whole security system. The institute''s setup was a real headache, and she felt like she was training him to outsmart her.


    "Hang in there," she urged.


    Nick didn''t reply, totally focused on dodging the beams. He was a beat too slow, and one clipped his shoulder, tearing his ck shirt and leaving a stain of blood. But he didn''t flinch, just kept moving, and finally, after a tense ten seconds, he reached the elevator.


    The doors were open, waiting for him. He stepped in, a bit surprised but grateful.


    As the doors slid shut, the voice came back through his earpiece: "On the fifth floor, there''s a corner building that connects to the next one. You''ll have to climb across. It''s risky."