Everything was ready.
The audience was immersed in the world built from melody, and now was the perfect time to act.
Through prior reconnaissance, he had largely familiarized himself with the theater's layout.
Giacomo's office area was located on the eighth floor. This level had no other connecting passages; it could only be accessed directly by an elevator, and the elevator, in turn, required specific authorization to operate.
However, Ray had already planned everything out thoroughly.
He simply needed to infiltrate the data center, implant a virus into the system, and he could alter certain permissions.
According to Carlotta, this was a specially customized virus. Unless the target possessed a high-priced, bespoke security system, ordinary firewalls wouldn't detect it at all.
Of course, he didn't need to specifically locate the data center.
In the relatively insular city-state of Ragunna, many people held a resistant attitude toward emerging external technologies.
Because of this, apart from the Montelli family's modest investment in information security, neither the Order, the Fisalia family, nor other smaller factions placed much importance on this aspect of infrastructure.
Therefore, Ray only needed to find any terminal connected to the theater's internal network and implant the virus. The program would silently navigate the system pathways on its own, locate the core security database, and complete the permission modifications.
"In that case..." Ray took out the USB drive, examining it closely. "...I'll check the surveillance room."
The surveillance room was on the basement level.
Security here wasn't tight, perhaps because it was adjacent to the underground parking lot, where foot traffic was already complex, leading to lowered vigilance.
Along the way, he passed a few security personnel, but no one stopped to question him. They were either looking down at their screens or leaning against walls chatting; their glances slid over him without pausing.
To them, this was just a job, a few thousand a month, why risk your life?
Besides, what was unusual about an unfamiliar figure appearing in the underground parking?
Ray encountered almost no obstacles before finding the surveillance room.
He pushed the door open. Inside, only one surveillance operator was leaning back in his chair, breathing evenly in sleep, other than that, the room was empty.
Carefully, Ray approached the monitor screens and inserted the USB drive into the terminal.
A moment later, the surveillance screens flickered rapidly a few times before returning to normal, as if nothing had happened.
The virus had been silently implanted successfully.
The security system was now virtually non-existent.
He gently removed the USB drive, quietly exited the surveillance room, and his figure melted back into the corridor shadows.
Next, he headed straight for the elevator lobby on the first floor.
The elevators here only went as high as the second-floor VIP level. To reach the eighth floor, he needed to transfer to a dedicated elevator on the second floor.
Although security was tighter on the second floor, when the security personnel recognized him, they all bowed in deference, after all, in everyone's eyes, he was the Montelli family's young lady's boyfriend, a distinguished guest personally noted by the family head to be treated with courtesy.
Therefore, no matter where he went, no one approached to question him, and no one followed.
Ray steadily arrived before the dedicated elevator. He swiftly scanned the surroundings, confirmed no one was paying attention, then took out his work card and lightly swiped it over the terminal's sensor area.
Since the virus had already infiltrated the system, the security verification here was essentially paralyzed.
At this moment, any card that could be recognized was enough for the system to judge, Access Granted.
He stepped into the elevator and pressed the button for the eighth floor.
After a brief wait, the elevator began its smooth ascent.
Ray's heartbeat gradually quickened along with it.
What came next was the real main event.
Although the eighth floor's defense was likely handled by Echoes, the possibility of Resonators being stationed there couldn't be ruled out.
Unless absolutely necessary, he absolutely did not want a direct confrontation.
A moment later, the elevator doors slid open.
What greeted him was a broad, dimly lit hall. Sparse light barely outlined the figures patrolling within, several blade-wielding Nobilis, the blades of the Fisalia family.
Ray's gaze sharpened.
Weren't these all Echoes from the Fisalia family?
Why were they appearing in Giacomo's territory?
Could it be... the Fisalia family had already secretly allied with Giacomo?
The truth was still unknown.
But regardless of what they were secretly plotting, the answer was about to be revealed.
"Hah, I hope you can be of some use."
Ray took a deep breath and activated the device on his left arm.
A low hum instantly enveloped him.
He moved cautiously through the dim hall, gradually approaching Giacomo's office.
As long as he could enter smoothly, insert the USB drive into the private terminal, download the target information, he'd be done and could retreat.
Suddenly, he halted his steps, swiftly sidestepping into a nearby shadow, a blade-wielding Nobilis was approaching head-on, almost brushing past him.
Ray held his breath, remaining completely still.
Although the device could temporarily interfere with the Echoes's perception of frequencies, if the distance became too close, the risk of exposure was still unavoidable.
Only when the blade-wielding Nobilis had moved further away did he slowly exhale and continue his stealthy advance deeper toward the office.
"This is it."
Ray stared at the tightly shut door before him and deactivated the device on his left arm. This thing would overheat if used too long; if it really exploded, the situation would become unmanageable.
He cautiously pushed the door open, but at that very moment, he heard hurried footsteps approaching from behind.
"Tsk... that noise suddenly disappeared, my head feels dizzy. Wait, you're—"
Before the voice could finish, the other party had already drawn a pistol and fired at Ray without hesitation.
Ray lunged into the room. The bullet nearly grazed his back, disappearing into the darkness.
"What's going on!?"
The sudden gunshot immediately alerted the other Resonators nearby. They were originally searching for that anomalous frequency noise but had unexpectedly stumbled upon the intruder.
"Unclear, someone broke in!"
"How is that possible? The security system didn't react?"
"You're asking me? Let's catch him first!"
The group swiftly rushed toward the room, but inside was pitch black and utterly silent, making it impossible to pinpoint Ray's location.
"Find him! He's hiding nearby!"
"Who are you? You've got guts!"
"Come on, let's spar a bit!"
At this moment, Ray was hiding in a dark corner. Based on the footsteps, there were five of them, and they were all likely Resonators.
While he didn't know their specific abilities yet, he needed to end this quickly, once more guards were drawn in, the situation would spiral completely out of control.
"All Resonators, huh? In that case..."
He took a deep breath and reactivated the frequency interference device.
"Let's create a little panic."
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Bonus Chapter Alert!
If we cross 100 powerstones, there will be a bonus chapter.
Read advance chapters on [email protected]/lost_moon