Chapter Three: The First Key

“We don't use the guest entrance.” Lin traced a route. “The climate system drains condensate every hour. We go against the flow.” Qiao grinned. “Han prepared for hackers, mercenaries, and monsters.” “He didn't prepare for a pipe repairman.” They needed a valid wallet identity, contractor uniforms, and a signal template capable of fooling a fifteen-second scan. Qiao handled the first two. For the third, they had to get close enough to copy an Obsidian guard's access handshake. At six that evening, Lin entered the museum alley in the gray uniform of an HVAC contractor. Relic Zero hid beneath an insulated glove, its black vein now touching his wrist. Qiao sat in a van disguised as a service vehicle and counted through his earpiece.