Cipher 49

"She is my deskmate, Vivica Locke." Poppy sniffled, her voice thick with tears as she made the introduction.

Vivica looked over Poppy's shoulder, meeting Damian Prescott's cool gaze. She gave him an indifferent nod.

Rowe stepped forward with a polished, apologetic smile to smooth over the driveway confrontation. "Miss Locke, what a coincidence. I had no idea you and Miss Mercer were such close friends. It is a small world. Please accept my apologies for earlier."

Vivica did not hold grudges over trivial matters. "It is fine. The matter is settled."

Poppy sensed the tension between them, but she kept quiet.

Damian stepped forward into the hallway light. He extended a broad, sculpted hand with distinct knuckles. "Damian Prescott."

Vivica's eyes lingered on his fingers for a fraction of a second before she reached out. Her pale fingertips brushed against his warm hand in a brief handshake. "Vivica Locke."

Damian lowered his hand, his tone casual and steady. "Do you live here in Bayport City, Miss Locke?"

Vivica answered without elaboration. "Yes."

Damian kept his dark eyes locked on her face, searching for the slightest flicker of emotion. "I understand the SAT exams begin tomorrow morning. I will have Rowe drive you home once you finish so your parents do not worry about your whereabouts."

Vivica leaned lazily against the doorframe of Room 1808 and folded her arms. "No need. They will not be worrying."

Rowe blinked in confusion. "Why is that?"

The moment the words slipped out, Rowe regretted his loose tongue. In Oakhaven, everyone knew the terrifying reputation of the Prescott clan. People turned nervous in Damian Prescott's presence, desperate for his favor. Yet this girl spoke with unbothered calm, treating the ruthless patriarch like an ordinary stranger. Prying into her private grief felt intrusive, and Rowe prepared to apologize.

Vivica gave a quiet yawn, unbothered by their scrutiny. "Because I do not have parents."

The corridor went dead quiet.

Rowe felt a sudden pang of deep guilt. Looking at her slender build and aloof eyes, he assumed she was hiding private grief behind a brave face. He cursed his careless tongue for picking at an orphan's wounds.

Damian, however, showed no pity. His dark, penetrating gaze sharpened with profound intrigue. Her voice carried no bitterness, no sorrow, and zero desire for sympathy.

Vivica tapped the toe of her slipper against the carpet. She noticed both men staring, and a faint twitch pulled at her brow.

"I need to sleep." Vivica gave them a clear, indifferent look indicating that they were blocking her doorway.

Rowe stood stunned. In all his years serving Damian Prescott, he had never seen anyone dismiss his boss with such bluntness.

Damian raised an eyebrow, amused by her lack of deference. "Fair enough. We will leave you to your rest."

Vivica turned to Poppy. "Stop crying. Good luck on the exam tomorrow."

"I will do my best!" Poppy nodded eagerly, her messy top-knot bobbing up and down.

Vivica stepped back and shut the suite door. The lock clicked into place with a crisp sound.

Poppy looked up at Damian, feeling small under his tall shadow. "Uncle Damian, I am going to bed now too."

She hurried across the hall and retreated into Room 1809.

Damian watched her door close before turning away. "Go on. Get some rest."

As they walked toward the elevators, Damian glanced back at Room 1808 and issued a low, unequivocal command. "Run an exhaustive background investigation on Vivica Locke immediately."

Rowe lowered his head. "Right away, sir."

Alone within the quiet expanse of her suite, Vivica kicked off her slippers and stretched out across the mattress.

Her encrypted phone buzzed on the nightstand with an incoming call from Sparky, the boisterous second-in-command of the international Gryphon Syndicate.

Vivica tapped the speaker button and rested her head on the pillow. "Speak."

"Boss! Big day tomorrow! The boys got you towering floral arrangements for your SAT center! We are dropping them right in front of the entrance, dead center! We also hired synchronized lion dancers to beat drums and herald the presence of our boss! We are going to intimidate every other kid there!" Sparky pitched the outrageous scheme with booming excitement.

Vivica stared at the ceiling for three seconds. Her voice was flat. "Cancel every bit of it."

Sparky groaned on the other end. "Why, Boss? Every other candidate has parents cheering them on at the gate! You are the commander of the Gryphon Syndicate! You have to show up in style!"

Vivica squashed the absurd proposal with dripping sarcasm. "Style? Why stop there? Why don't you transmit our exact GPS coordinates to our global adversaries so they can set up snipers and initiate a street shootout?"

Sparky cleared his throat with an uneasy cough. "Point taken. I was only joking, Boss. I am the second-in-command of one of the dominant powers in Oakhaven. I understand discretion."

Vivica adjusted the collar of her loungewear. "Do you have actual business to report, or can I hang up?"

Sparky shifted gears instantly, dropping his playful bravado. "Wait, do not hang up! There is real news! Federal intelligence agencies are scouring every digital corner in search of Cipher 49. Should we respond, or keep radio silence?"

Vivica tapped her fingers against the nightstand in a slow rhythm. She knew why the feds were frantically searching.

Only days prior, after Kanto made disparaging remarks regarding Oakhaven, public outrage had erupted. While Oakhaven's official response was dignified and restrained, an irritated Vivica had single-handedly penetrated Kanto's National Security Defense Network.

Sparky spoke with open reverence. "Boss, that hack was legendary. Everyone across the underworld is still cheering."

During that digital strike, Vivica had hijacked every public electronic screen across Kanto. The monitors had broadcast looping apologies in their native language, scrolling 'We are deeply sorry' for twenty-four hours straight. Meanwhile, Kanto's classified national infrastructure—weather forecasting systems, advanced materials simulations, and nuclear research databases—had ground to a complete, days-long standstill.

With Kanto's defensive firewalls shattered, foreign hackers were wandering in and out at will while the authorities scrambled helplessly. While the citizens of Oakhaven celebrated the phantom hacker who defended their honor, foreign intelligence bureaus fell into panic.

Sparky chuckled through the line. "Kanto's Network Security Bureau is losing its mind. The international bounty on Cipher 49 just skyrocketed again. Oakhaven's own government is frantically attempting to recruit the legendary phantom hacker before foreign agencies track you down."

Unmoved in the slightest by the bounty or government overtures, Vivica closed her eyes. "Ignore them."

Sparky sighed softly. "Understood, Boss. Get some sleep and crush that exam."

Vivica ended the call and pulled the duvet over her shoulders.

The next morning, pale sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains.

Vivica woke early, feeling refreshed. On the armchair sat a crisp cream-colored two-piece outfit that Rowe had thoughtfully delivered through hotel staff. She dressed in the soft crewneck t-shirt and matching track pants. The clothing was clean and comfortable, hanging loosely over her slender frame.

A brisk knock sounded at the door.

Vivica walked over and pulled it open, revealing Poppy and Rowe waiting in the hall.

"Morning, Vivica!" Poppy chirped, waving a small, chubby hand with a cheerful smile.

Rowe bowed his head with polished courtesy. "Good morning, Miss Locke."

Vivica gave a slight nod in return. "Morning."

After brief morning courtesies, Rowe stepped forward and presented her white canvas backpack with both hands. The heavy road grime and puddle water had been meticulously removed, leaving the fabric impeccably cleaned and restored. "Your bag, Miss Locke."