303: 6.63 Encrypted Files

6.63 Encrypted Files

[Yes. The best way to hide a tree is to put it inside the forest, the same goes with files. One of the places people won't bother to check is the recycle bin because they often think it's all trash. Check if there's unusual activity there for the past few weeks—]0

666 suddenly shrieked so loud in his ears that Lu Yizhou flinched. 

[666: Ah, sorry Host! It's just that… Holy! Why hadn't 666 ever thought of it before?! Recycle bin! Of course, it's always in the recycle bin! 666 seemed to have heard the system talk about this before! Oh my Admin God, Host… you are GENIUS!!!] 

The sound of keyboard clacking noisily echoed in his mind as Lu Yizhou finally pulled himself out of his subconsciousness. He opened his eyes to find four pairs of eyes staring at him with eerily similar expressions on their faces. 

"What's wrong?" Lu Yizhou startled lightly.

"It's us who should be asking that." Izher scrutinized him with intent. "Where have you gone? You look uncomfortable."

Oh. His ears were still ringing from the aftermath of 666's dying whale screams. He discreetly rubbed it and tried to change the topic. "I found something."

[666: Host, Host, here it is! A few weeks ago, the maintenance department suddenly found the recycle bin brimming to the point of bursting! 666 and the other systems have gossiped about it in the system forum but because no one seemed to think much of it, 666 had also put the matter to the back of its mind. Oh my Admin God, how could everyone think it was a mere malfunction?! This is clearly screaming SUS!]

[666: Host, we are very lucky that time flows differently inside the simulator! Files can only remain in the recycle bin for 30 days! Oh my Admin God, just one more day and we could have lost everything!]

[Recover them. Every single file.]

[666: Aye, aye, Host!]

"What?" Everyone crowded around him and demanded impatiently. "What have you found?"

Lu Yizhou waited for 666's answer but then, the system turned strangely silent all of a sudden.

[666?]

[666: Oh! Host, this is bad! Like super duper bad! There are many miscellaneous files here that will seem useless in one glance and indeed, they are all trash! But lo and behold, there are encrypted codes in their tail ends that's hidden so completely that 666 almost missed it if 666 didn't look for it carefully. Not only that, it is also completely random! If everyone didn't check them one by one — which 666 was certain they definitely didn't do — they wouldn't have discovered it!]

[Can you crack it?]

[666: Wait a minute… No! Why can't 666 crack it?! 666 has even hacked into the main server! Does it mean that whatever is inside the files is not connected to the server?!]

"Lu Yizhou?"

Lu Yizhou opened his eyes and his gaze instantly landed on Cyrus calculatively. [If Izher can get into my mind, then I will be able to pull the other inside too.]

[666: R–ight…? W—Who are you going to invite into 666's house, Host?! Please don't say it's the God of Plague! He's so scary QAQ 666's mental state is still traumatized by our latest showdown!]

"Cyrus." Lu Yizhou spoke. This was purely instinct with no concrete evidence whatsoever but he thought if there was someone who could crack the code to the encrypted files, then it would be the ivory dragon. "I need your help. But I need you to touch me for that."

As he had expected, hesitation flashed through Cyrus' amber eyes. "What do you need me for, your honor?"

"I need you to get into my mind and cooperate with my system to see if you can open something. No, Luan will not do." Lu Yizhou shook his head when Luan offered himself. "It can only be you, Cyrus."

"Are you sure?" Cyrus replied tentatively. "I mean, I have no problems at all but… you do know that I will be able to read all of your memories if I touch you?"

Lu Yizhou took a deep breath. "Yes."

"Then…" Cyrus gave Luan a reassuring nod and rolled his sleeves up to show his inhumanely white skin covered in scales and sharp claws. "Please excuse me."

Lu Yizhou had no idea how to properly describe the sensation of having Cyrus inside his mind. It was like back in the fifth world where the King of Parasites entered through his ears but this time, there wasn't any physical discomfort. Only a mild dizziness as if he was low on sugar.

It was different to Cyrus, though. As soon as his hand touched Lu Yizhou, his face abruptly gained an unhealthy complexion and sweat beaded on his forehead. Lu Yizhou knew Cyrus was currently going through his memories but at this moment, he found himself unable to give a fuck anymore. Cyrus might judge him all he wanted later, after he had cracked these goddamn encrypted files.

Luan hovered around him anxiously and even Jillian and Izher were staring at him in concern. Cyrus' face was quickly turning blue and at some point, he abruptly yanked his hand away from Lu Yizhou and stood up, his eyes wild in… panic? Fear? Horror? He clenched his fists in front of his chest, breathing hard.

Lu Yizhou merely looked at him calmly.

Luan held him into a tight embrace, rubbed his back and shoving his nose into Cyrus' hair in a very animal-like gesture, gently guiding him to breathe properly. It took quite a long while until Cyrus could regain his composure. Even then, he was still looking a little blue in his face. "I… apologize." He said hoarsely. "I can only offer a little help. Next time… please let me try it again next time."

Lu Yizhou inclined his head, truly grateful. "Thank you. I appreciate it a lot."

Cyrus looked at him with a perplexed gaze before he shook his head and excused himself along with Luan, leaving the three of them behind. 

Jillian and Izher glanced at each other. "What was that?"

Lu Yizhou had no idea where to start — and it wasn't like he was allowed to divulge anything about his private information — fortunately, 666's excited cheers echoed in time for him to steer the topic away.

[666: Host, Host, we did it! How do you know Cyrus will be able to crack the code?! Host is mighty, Host is awesome, Host is formidable! Sadly, he pulled away only after unlocking one file. But it's still better than nothing right?!]

Abruptly, 666 dumped the file into his mind, causing Lu Yizhou to suck in a sharp intake of breath. 

Written on the forefront of the file was a short title typed in bold characters.

'PROJECT SSS: ZACHARY (REPORT#012)'

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