A few days later, the Crimson Wing headquarters was busy as usual, especially in the operational room. The room was filled with blue light from the holographic screen. Dozens of analysts and technicians sat at the front control panel, typing non-stop, the sound of the buttons blending with the soft hum of the main server.
In the middle of the room stood Lisa, a cold and calm figure with purple hair that hung like a shadow of the night, she folded her arms across her chest, and her eyes swept across each monitor sharply like a hawk hunting its prey.
"How is the status of the outer perimeter?" she asked flatly.
"Stable, Miss Lisa," answered a operator. "No anomalies—"
Lisa nodded slowly and returned her attention to the screen in front of her, she felt a soft wind calling her name from behind. Laura surprised her from behind.
"LISA!!"
But Lisa was not surprised or trembling, she did not turn to watch. Laura began to feel annoyed by the neglect, she stood in front of Lisa while holding out a cup of warm tea.
"Would you like a drink? I made it for you when I came here" she said with a smile.
"Hmm thank you. I appreciate your concern." Lisa said taking a cup of tea from Laura.
Suddenly. The electricity in the room suddenly went out causing all the systems and lights to go out, some women screamed in panic while others were just shocked.
Laura screamed and jumped into Lisa's arms until her tea fell.
"Aaaahhh....what happened?"
The atmosphere became silent for a moment until Lisa spoke firmly.
"Calm down!!" All the panicked workers stopped where they were.
Lisa continued.
"Quickly check the electricity"
All officers immediately checked several cables inside the machine but found nothing strange, only the cables worked well without any problems. However, one of the large screens displayed a strange code: symbols that looked like ancient letters mixed with chaotic numbers. An image of a face without eyes, then an inverted cross from a series of digits 0 and 1, appeared for a moment and disappeared.
Lisa was shocked when she saw the scene in front of her, she dropped Laura and approached the screen to see more clearly.
"Aww" Laura groaned.
Lisa immediately pressed the button on her wrist, activating the backup power source. But there was no response at all. The sound of the clock ticking that was usually not heard now became a tense bang.
Laura quickly moved to the main panel, but before she could press anything, all the systems suddenly turned back on. This time, however, the display was no longer showing the usual data. The entire monitor was displaying only one large number: 8 in blue.
And in the middle of the main screen, an unknown symbol appeared—made of broken lines and circles that moved like eyes, forming an expression... a crooked smile. But not a regular smile. It was the smile of someone who knew what was in your closet that you kept hidden. Then the screen flashed an image of a faceless girl's head, her eyes open inside her ears. Several hands and feet appeared on all sides of the screen forming some strange shapes and symbols. One of the fingers tapped the screen a few times as if trying to say something.
Laura squinted.
"Okay, this is... creepy. But still better than our default wallpaper."
Lisa didn't answer, her gaze was fixed on the number 8 that was pulsing. Not static. Like a beating heart. Or a countdown that hadn't started counting. She began to realize the knock, it was Morse code.
The knock made this code: ...-- ...-- ..... ..---
Lisa quickly wrote it down on the device in her hand so she could decipher it. A few seconds later. the code disappeared, all the strange symbols had disappeared, even the big eight disappeared. The electricity came back on and all the lights in the room, all the monitors also turned on slowly. Everyone was still shocked by the phenomenon earlier and still hadn't moved from their places.
Laura stiffened, then asked Lisa.
"Okay, this is... creepy. Should we report this to Miss Voltrania?"
Lisa held her chin in thought, she speculated that this was the work of "Alone", but she couldn't immediately conclude. She looked back at all the code and symbol recordings she had obtained in her device, she would discuss this privately with Voltrania.
She turned to Laura.
"You wait here just in case something strange appears again. I'll go do something." She said as she walked away leaving her there.
Meanwhile in the lobby hall of the headquarters. Cassandra and Angelina were busy chatting on the sofa on the edge of the hall.
Cassandra spoke calmly.
"Since the war between the two factions some time ago, our nation has grown bigger with the joining of White Moon. But I feel like you're the one who's most stressed after that incident."
Angelina sighed.
"I know. The increasing population also has a big impact on our resources, we have to expand the agricultural and plantation areas so that the people also get resources at a fixed price."
Cassandra took a sip of her tea.
"We are a developing nation trying to rise from destruction, I just hope that no more destruction will come to us so that we can continue to grow."
The atmosphere began to feel normal, like two colleagues were chatting late at night. But then the hall lights suddenly dimmed, a small rumble was heard from the walls, like electricity being forcibly pulled from its path.
"Is this... a blackout?" Angelina asked, turning her head.
Cassandra stood up slowly, her eyes narrowed.
"No. The emergency lights are off. This is a deliberate... system shutdown."
Instantly, the large screen at the end of the hall, which usually displayed world maps and diplomatic reports, went dark. A single blue dot lit up. Then the number 16 appeared on the screen. It appeared slowly, as if carved by an invisible finger in the middle of the black screen. This time, it was accompanied by a low-pitched sound, like the heartbeat of a monster sleeping in the walls.
"...Sixteen?" Cassandra muttered.
Angelina took a half step back.
"Is that... a number... or ?"
The screen showed strange symbols and images that were very disturbing. A brain with hands, a tongue with holes forming 0s and 1s, or a picture of a very pale woman's body without a head.
All the officers who passed by saw it with surprise and fear like watching a horror movie in the cinema, some even fainted on the spot. Cassandra's expression changed to serious, she stood up from her sofa and approached the screen. Then a picture of teeth appeared on the screen, the teeth opened and closed with some movements. Cassandra saw it and observed it carefully.
The movement of the teeth made this code: -.... ..... -.... ...--
Not long after that, all the strange images and videos disappeared from the screen. The lights came back on slowly, all the officers were still shocked and frozen where they stood, some of them came out of their hiding places, trying to calm themselves.
Cassandra stared at the screen in silence, she suspected that there was something unusual behind all this, or all this had something to do with the Alone that Voltrania talked about the other day, she remembered the movement of the teeth and wrote it down on a piece of paper. after finishing writing it down, she folded the paper and put it in her pocket, she wanted to meet Voltrania to tell her about this.
Cassandra turned to Angelina.
"I'll investigate this, see you later" she said before turning around and walking away.
Meanwhile in Voltrania's office. Voltrania was writing the Codex Lyovianne manually, her handwriting was very beautiful and neat, she was so focused on pouring all her thoughts and all the higher-ups into laws that would be useful for governing this nation, she intended to build a heaven for women. Lily was beside her to accompany her, she kept her mistress from getting too tired or fainting from thinking too much in the process.
Lily asked politely and gently.
"Want some more tea?"
Voltrania answered while continuing to focus on writing.
"I think that's enough for now."
Voltrania sighed softly.
"This Codex... is not just a note. This is a promise. This is the root of our future."
Lily sighed, wanting to ask something.
"Your Highness... I want to ask you something. What is your ulterior motive for conquering White Moon other than just revenge a few years ago?"
Voltrania turned slowly to Lily, her eyes sharp but honest.
"White Moon has been a closed territory for years. They live with a strict protection system, keeping their people from the outside... but also from reality. They lack resources. Their land is dead. Their water is polluted. And their leaders... are more busy protecting their 'ideals' than feeding their people."
Lily looked pensive, her analytical voice barely audible.
"But... they call you a conqueror. A villain. Why don't you explain your purpose?"
Voltrania smiled bitterly.
"Because in war, the truth never has a voice. I know everything about their condition... from Ellyana."
"...Ellyana?" Lily lifted her head, the data in her system matching the name.
"Yes. The eyes and ears of the White Moon itself. She told me that most of the people under Anna's protection… were starving, uneducated, and living with false hopes of a world that would never return."
Voltrania turned her head fully, her voice now deep and booming with conviction.
"I did not attack the White Moon for destruction. I attacked to unite us. To form one nation in this shattered world. Not Crimson Wing. Not White Moon. But Lyovianne."
"Lyovianne?" Lily repeated slowly.
"Yes. A nation not built on the ruins of the past, but on the courage to survive and thrive in this post-apocalyptic world. A nation of justice. A nation of warriors."
Lily lowered her head slowly.
"Then… are those you defeated… happy now?"
Voltrania closed her eyes for a moment.
"Not yet. But they are alive. They have food, clean water, and a place to live. They are no longer just refugees sealed inside an illusion."
"If I must become a demon in history so that they can wake up tomorrow without starving—I am willing."
Lily processed the words silently. Then, she bowed in a voice as soft as the wind.
"Thank you… for answering honestly, your highness."
Voltrania smiled faintly. "In this broken world, Lily… honesty is the only form of affection left."
As they chatted. The screen suddenly shook. All systems shut down for a moment.
Lily approached.
"Your Highness, there is electromagnetic interference… it is not from our network."
Voltrania squinted. The screen lit up again—but this time it was not a regular interface. An image appeared. Disturbing. Frightening. An eyeless baby crying blood. Behind it, the silhouettes of five tall, thin bodies with dangling arms and upside-down heads—all wearing robes that were too long to drag on the floor. The baby opened its mouth—and a morse code sound came out.
The sound was not electronic, but rather something beating from within the flesh.
…–· ·––· ·––– –··–·
A large 5 appeared on the computer screen. Lily stared at it, her voice soft.
"This… is not our system code. And this… is not a virus."
Voltrania stood up. Her shoulders tensed.
"5? What does that mean?"
Just before it went out completely, bright red writing appeared, as if scratched:
"I NEVER LEFT. I JUST WAIT AGAIN."
Voltrania stood still, her heart beating slowly but heavily. The world had passed its end. But there was something… that did not even fall with the world. It just… waited for the numbers to fall into place.
Voltrania turned to Lily.
"This might be a message or a clue that might give us something, whether it be negative or positive."
Lily nodded.
"Your Highness, the number 5 and the Morse code... we have to solve this mystery."
After the computer screen went dark, the atmosphere in Voltrania's office was so quiet that Lily's breathing sounded mechanical. But the silence only lasted a few seconds. The door opened.
With hurried steps and a serious face, Lisa entered while catching her breath.
"Voltrania. There was a similar incident." she said firmly. "In the central operator room."
Voltrania turned around.
"Explain."
Lisa nodded quickly. "The main monitor suddenly displayed... an inexplicable image. Like a woman's body without a head and all the screens displayed a large number: 8."
She turned to Lily.
"Also accompanied by eyes that seem to be making codes.." …-- …-- ….. ..---
Lily typed quickly.
"Two of these numbers match the previous code. Random pattern, but there is a repeat..."
Voltrania held her breath. But before she could ask, loud footsteps echoed from the lobby. Cassandra, hurriedly opening the door, entered with a worried and confused expression.
Cassandra said seriously.
"I just came back from the lobby downstairs. The walls changed. Like they were breathing. And the screens that we never turned on... all came to life. A big number appeared: 16."
"Accompanied by teeth that made codes.."
-.... ..... -.... ...--
Voltrania stared ahead. Her breath hitched. "This isn't a normal warning."
Lily said softly.
"This… is like a spiritual calculation. Or worse, a numerical system of an entity that doesn't want to be recognized. I'm putting together all the numbers we got but it feels like something is missing."
Then Rossiya and Rosetta, Voltrania's twin sisters, entered together. Their faces were pale, their hair standing on end—not from power, but from fear.
"In the workshop downstairs," Rosetta whispered. "The entire panel lit up on its own. We thought it was a glitch, but… a big number appeared," Rossiya continued.
Lily looked at them.
"Just say the number." They said together: "12."
Rosetta put down her cellphone that was recording the sound of the new code.
----- ----. ----. ..... ----.
Lily wrote down all the codes and numbers they got, she started scanning them all on her tablet as the others waited. After a while, Lily had managed to decipher all the numbers involved.
"Scanning complete. According to what we got. Lisa got number 3352. Cassandra got number 6563. The twins got number 09959. My Highness and I got number 41231."
Voltrania held her chin.
"What about that one number?"
Lily answered quietly.
"After I traced back the numbers we got, Lisa got number 8. Cassandra got number 16. The twins got number 12. My Highness and I got number 5."
"If the numbers are changed into alphabetical form or letter sequence, then 8 is the same as H. 16 is the same as P. 12 is the same as L and 5 is the same as E. If arranged to become a word it will produce the word "Help" which means someone who sent this to us is asking for help."
Rossiya's eyes sparkled hearing Lily solve the puzzle quickly.
"Wow~ Lily you are so great, how come you can process it that fast?"
Lily answered.
"Because I have been programmed to solve this simple puzzle, besides when I was still human. I often played puzzle games."
Cassandra stepped forward.
"So the point is there is someone asking for help by sending something terrible like that. But who and where is the person asking for help?"
Lily said while showing her tablet screen.
"All the codes we got, I arranged them so that we get 335209959412316563. If adjusted to the cardinal directions and added minus and comma, then we will get the coordinates 33.5209959, -41.2316563"
Lisa chuckled at Lily's enthusiasm.
"Hehe, we have made a detective into a Maid."
Rossiya lifted Lily's body onto the sofa while Rosetta put a large medal around her neck in a cute way, they gave awards to their robot maid who had become a temporary detective, Cassandra also joined in putting a detective hat on her head.
"Welcome Lily Holmes." Rossiya said while dropping some party balloons and blowing trumpets like a party.
Voltrania was speechless with her friend and sister's behavior.
"Hey... where did all this come from... and that's my excuse"
Rosetta nudged her shoulder.
"Come on, sis~ don't think too much about Rossiya's logic"
Voltrania smiled softly.
"Okay... Lily will get an extraordinary award for not making us rack our brains. Ladies, we have an anonymous rescue mission tomorrow. I, Lisa and Cassandra will go"
Rosetta was surprised, feeling a little annoyed. "Wait a minute sis... what about us?"
"You just do your job, I feel like there's something interesting to investigate from this mission" Voltrania replied while crossing her arms.
Meanwhile on the other side. In a large run-down house with a collapsed part, A white-haired woman in a black robe and holding a cane was standing in the hall. Cyntheria. She stared blankly at the exit waiting for someone, the atmosphere of the hall was very quiet and soundproof, the place was like an ancient classic building without inhabitants. Finally three black silhouettes entered the room like shadows, they knelt in front of Cyntheria.
"What did you call us for, mother." Asked one of the shadows.
Cyntheria stared coldly at the three of them.
"I feel something.... that has great potential, something that can benefit me.... buried in a remote place.... it is in the middle of the sea in a tower.... waiting to be released and claimed."
"You bring that "something" here... and don't let it fall into anyone else's hands."
"Most likely Voltrania is also there to claim it as her own. If you face her, measure her strength and inform me."
The three silhouettes nodded in unison, quickly leaving like shadows. Cyntheria turned around, she knew something that no one else knew, and she knew everything that would happen to her three subordinates but she just went with the flow to see what else might happen. She walked away, her body disappearing like a thousand insects. If she gets that "something", she will complete her collection.
Continued...