Just as Sofia left his office, another girl ca in.
Emir was about to complain but thankfully this one wasn't any trouble.
Rather, she was usually the solution for most of it.
Lyra.
[Hey~, my favorite gigolo...]
Emir shook his head and let out a soft chuckle.
"You can't be saying that... It's not my fault I'm so popular."
"Humph!"
Acting like a spoilt schoolgirl, she 'pushed' his chair back and sat on his lap.
Her arms wrapped around his shoulders as she leaned in, her face close to his. "Well..."
She seductively whispered in his ear, her voice taking on a teasing tone.
"I'm just here to make sure you rember who your real favorite is."
He raised an eyebrow, amused.
"Oh? So, now you're worried about the competition?"
"Not at all."
She feigned nonchalance, hiding the burning jealousy within.
"But I like to keep you on your toes. Can't have you getting bored now, can we?"
Emir laughed, letting his hands settle at her waist, keeping his tone light.
"I don't think anyone could ever accuse you of being boring."
She gave him a playful pout.
"Good answer."
Her expression softened.
"I know I'm good, and you should know that they don't look at that way. Besides, I don't know if I should remind you or not, but unlike Sarah, I'm not a pedo."
Lyra showed an "O" face, displaying her surprise.
"You noticed?"
Emir rolled his eyes.
"Of course I did, it's clear as day."
"Mhm... Poor Jake."
"Yeah, but she'll get over it."
Lyra tapped her nose on his, though neither of them felt it.
"That's what you get for being such a stud."
"Heh~ can't deny that."
She smiled brightly, leaning her head on his left shoulder, simulating the weight on his augnted suit.
"It's been a while since we've had a chance to catch up like this. Too many responsibilities, too many... interruptions."
Before he could reply, his terminal buzzed on the desk, its screen flashing with an incoming call.
"And speaking of..."
Emir glanced at the na displayed-Amon.
He frowned, sensing sothing serious if the principal himself was reaching out directly.
"Hold on."
Lyra sighed and lifted herself from his lap, floating away with her arms crossed, allowing him to pick up the terminal.
"What is it, Principal?."
Amon's voice crackled through, urgency evident in his tone:
"I need you for an urgent mission. Sothing's co up, and it can't wait."
Emir's gaze hardened.
"What's the situation?"
"There's been a developnt in you know what. It's a bit complex, but I'll brief you once you're here."
Emir's expression remained steady, though he exchanged a quick glance with Lyra, who was already landing on the ground, her playful deanor replaced by a more serious one. "Understood. I'll be there soon."
As the call ended, Lyra's face neared his a second ti.
"Well, that didn't sound good."
"It rarely is."
Emir replied, his tone unreadable as he gathered a few things from his desk.
Lyra placed a hand on his shoulder, stopping him for a mont.
"When you're in there... just be careful, alright?"
He gave her a brief, reassuring smile.
"Always. You know ."
With a final nod, he headed out, leaving Lyra watching after him, her expression conflicted.
...
Emir strode into the fourth-floor eting room, noting the familiar faces already gathered- Judas, Judal, Morgiana, and Ragnar—all glancing up as he entered.
At the head of the table, Amon sat poised, spinning his chair around to face them as soon as Emir took his seat.
Without any delay, he cut straight to the matter at hand.
"My Netweavers have finally reached a lead on our mole."
The holoscreen in the middle of the table flickered, displaying an operation similar to that of Nathan's, though much more nurous, as instead of one central housing tube, they had tens
of them.
"They were working on the mole's brain, trying to piece together who was behind the sleeping agent that got into the Academy... and if there could be any others."
Emir leaned forward slightly, his interest piqued.
The others seed equally absorbed, hanging onto Amon's every word.
"But we hit a wall. The trail led to soone specific-a man we think was instruntal in the
plot. But when they reached him..."
Amon paused, looking at each of them in turn.
"He was dead. Kidnapped and murdered. The way his mind was left—it's in chaos."
Emir caught the grave look on Amon's face.
A dead-end, yet one that seed worth investigating.
He could tell this wasn't the kind of assignnt they could just pass on to another team.
"Every ti a Netweaver tried to access his mind, they ca out... dead. Whatever they saw in
there, it destroyed them."
Amon let the words hang in the air for a mont, emphasizing the danger.
"This isn't a normal task. His mind's been completely scrambled, probably from the trauma he went through in his final monts. It's risky, but if soone can go in and survive...
maybe, just maybe, we can finally get the answers we need."
A tense silence filled the room as Amon's words sank in.
Each mber around the table shifted slightly, glancing at one another-everyone except
Amon, who sat with an expectant expression.
As if on cue, they all turned to Emir, silently acknowledging who among them had the best
chance of success.
Emir t each of their stares, then gave a slight nod, his face calm.
"I'll do it."
Amon matched his nod, satisfied.
"Alright, then. The rest of you, stay here, prepare to move out. Emir, follow ."
Without another word, Amon rose from his chair and headed toward the door, Emir following
close behind.
They moved in silence through the halls and elevator as they made their way to the Brain on
the ninth floor.
Once there, they passed the first gate, which led them through the server station, the second, which was the cara station, the third, which housed the main access points to the database, and finally reached the secret fourth.
A gate made of the strongest tals hissed as it slid open, revealing rows of neural cybernetic pods on each side of the room, their purpose secret and rarely used by most.
Each pod was lined with networks of cables and screens, connected to multiple consoles,
which also connected to a central one that controlled all in the room.
This main console was linked to multiple cylindrical pods filled with green.
Most housed remnants of a brain, but one, which Emir assud to be their target, was almost
mush.
Amon walked in and stopped beside one of the open pods, gesturing for Emir to step inside. "Just lie down. I'll take care of the rest. You just need to survive."
Without a word, Emir stepped into the pod, settling himself into the seat as the cool cushion of the headrest touched his neck, wires attaching on contact.
Starting to feel sedated, he glanced back at Amon, who was watching him with a barely
concealed worry.
"Good luck."
And at the last mont, Amon gave a casual wave as if to lighten the mood. But both his
gesture and voice barely registered as Emir felt a sudden drowsiness sweep over him, his
eyelids growing heavy.
"Th...an.....ks."
He closed his eyes, and the world around him faded to black.
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