The investigation gradually moved toward the rear service areas.

With Moraka, Jun, and Hatoru waiting in the lounge, Araka and the others continued their investigation. 

The door of the storage wing opened by the museum staff, and Huashin, Yushi, and Weimin were among the first entering the corridor, followed by Araka and Sayanaka and others.

“This is where the vessel was supposed to be stored,” Miya clicked on the numpad and slid her ID card three times on the reader and said, “Bulletproof door, surveillance camera, everything is up to standard.”

The door slowly opened. Inside, sealed crates and opened packaging materials arranged orderly, artifacts marked with tags lined up on the shelves.  

“It’s kind of dry here,” Sayanaka said, “Though not in a bad way.”

“In this room, the humidity and temperature here are tightly controlled,” Miya explained, “that’s why we use this heavy door to insulate this place from outside.”

“And I didn’t see an entry by brute force either,” Yushi said. He then turned toward Huashin and whispered: “Maybe someone really used Matake here.”

Huashin, however, didn’t respond. 

“Ms. Miya,” Weimin continued, “Our team will check whether the system was compromised.”

Meanwhile, Araka was scanning all the items in the room using her newly acquired Matake ability. Her eyes quickly focused on a large, unopened crate strapped with black belt and a lock device. Right beside the device, a piece of document was plastered over the case under a layer of transparent waterproof casing, with foreign letters written on it. 

“Miya-sa,” Araka gestured at the box and said, “what is in that box?”

Miya walked toward the case and took a closer look at the label.

“That … that’s the backup vase.”

Araka raised her eyebrows and shifted her gaze at Miya. 

“But Miya-sa, it seemed that the case was locked,” Araka said. “If I can recall, did you just say the one now in exhibition is actually the backup vase?”

Miya thought for a second, and then also seemed confused. 

“So, that means someone put the backup vase in exhibition and stole the actual one, yet the storage box for the backup one is still locked,” Yushi rubbed his chin and repeated what Araka said earlier. 

“Instructor Huashin,” Araka channeled to Huashin, “I need to check whether the box is empty or not.”

Huashin immediately nodded.

“So Detective Yushi and …”

“Ms. Akamoji Miya (赤峙 美亞),” Miya reintroduced hearself.

“May I check what’s inside this box for a second?”

Miya glanced at the lock and then turned toward Huashin. “Of course, Ms. Kou., we’ll always cooperate if we could, but … the Zakatarin Embassy didn’t give us any information about the passcode of the lock.”

“Don’t worry, Ms. Akamoji,” Huashin said, “We’re only checking if the box is full or empty.” 

Then, Huashin gave Araka a nod, and Araka knew what she should do next.

Araka stepped forward, start to examine the box using her Matake field. She leaned her face closely at the box and tried to peek through any of the gaps the box had using her newly acquired Matake spell technique.

There are two layers, Araka repeated her observation under her lips: wait, what’s beyond that foam? It seemed to be carrying the weight of something.

Araka turned toward Huashin and relayed her observation. 

“So, apparently, something is currently inside.” Huashin said to the group.

“Do we have any idea what’s inside?” Yushi followed.

“Not until we are able to open it,” Huashin said, “Not until the Zakatarin Embassy gives us the passcode to the lock.”

Araka, meanwhile, still focused her gaze on the lock.

At first glance, it looked very sophisticated – a device with LCD display and a keyboard, with no visible dial and only a narrow seam running along one side. Yet, when Araka tried to press one of the buttons, the display didn’t turn up. 

Araka then checked other parts of the lock, yet she still didn’t find anything that indicates whether the lock is active.

Why would someone design an electronic lock that no one could tell whether it’s active or not? Araka followed the hint and thought.

Then, she realized something. 

Maybe I can see what’s happening inside … using my new spell. After all, I’m able to follow Hakasa while blindfolded… Perhaps a lock wasn’t impossible if I could find any gaps between the components. 

Further away, however, Yushi looked toward Huashin.

“Captain Huashin,” Yushi said,  “What’s the girl’s name again?”

“Araka.”

“This Araka seems to work with you.”

Huashin nodded without hesitation. “Actually, I would prefer you call her Sara – that’s how we call her in the SAIR. More importantly,  she’s actually a shrine-certifi—”

“You said she’s Araka, right?” Yushi blinked his eyes and said, “Peni Araka, daughter of Peni Moraka and Jan Lon, and apparently a high school student.”

“... Yes.”

“You let her come with your team here without questioning, and you now also let her examine the crate before any of your team moves on.”

Huashin’s face started blushing with a bead of sweat appearing on her forehead. She started to realize just how badly her carefully maintained myth of the mysterious Matake user Sara had collapsed.

“Huashin, I really hope you could give me an explanation here – I know SAIR often does things outside of books, and you’re somewhat quirkier than any of my fellows, but –”

“Ah, Detective Yushi,” before Yushi could finish his sentence, Huashin cut in, “Could we … have a minute?”

“What?”

“Sayanaka-cha,” Before answering Yushi’s question, Huashin turned toward Sayanaka, who stood silently beside Weimin, and said, “Could you tell Instructor Toruyo that we’re looking for the password to a lock that locked the backup crate?”

“Uh… okay,” Sayanaka nodded hesitantly.

Huashin then turned back to Yushi, tone softened: “Anyway, detective, before we get the response from the embassy, I would think it would be the best to check whether there are other clues that could tell us how the suspects enter the museum.” 

“Okay.”

“Maybe … maybe you could send your team to check that, right?” Huashin said while pushing her gently against Yushi’s shoulder, “I mean, you’re supposed to be here leading the investigation, not doing everything by yourself.”

“Okay … I will send my team to search around the museum for any clues about the suspects,” Yushi said hesitantly while his eyes seemed unable to move away from Huashin. 

Huashin let out a small breath.

“Alright, everyone listen,” Yushi then turned toward the remaining officers and said, “We still don’t know how the intruder entered. Before we decode the lock, we will need you folks to check every access point between here and the exhibition hall. Doors, vents, loading entrances, maintenance corridors – anything that could have been compromised.”

“Miya-sa,” Huashin followed, “Could you guide these ladies and gentlemen through the museum – we don’t want to trigger some alarm just because one officer accidentally turned on a switch.”

The crowd still seemed confused by the new instructions.

“What about me, Huashin?”

“You …” Huashin thought for a bit, “You look after Sayanaka.”

The crowd remained unmoved.

“Alright,’ Yushi said, “you fellow need to understand that cracking a lock like this would require patience, precision, and ideally – silence. That’s why I would ask you to give us some space so we can work on cracking this mechanism.”

Finally, the crowd started to disperse. 

“Araka?”

“Yes, Instructor Huashin?”

“Could … Could you come here for a sec?” Huashin said.

Araka slowed, turned herself, and Huashin grabbed Araka lightly by the shoulder and gestured for Yushi to follow.

Huashin lowered her voice.

“Alright, guys, I know this is confusing.”

Yushi folded his arms. “It surely is, by pleading with me like this.”

“Detective Yushi, you worked with us enough that I’m going to make this simple and straightforward,” Huashin said, pointing toward Araka, “She really is shrine-certified.”

Yushi looked at Araka, then back at Huashin.

“At this age?”

“Yes.”

“I’ve never heard someone this young being certified.”

Araka quietly looked away. She still was processing how her breakthrough made her identity even harder to cover up.

“…That’s the complicated part, “Huashin sighed. “Detective Huashin, just … don’t spread it around, alright? To put it simply, she has a quirk that is vital for this investigation.”

Yushi raised an eyebrow. “A quirk.”

“That might help us open the lock,” Huashin said , “Even if the embassy couldn’t give us the code.”

Yushi stared at her for several seconds. Then nodded.

“That sounded quite a lot like Sara I heard from the other day… wait, you said you refer to her as Sara, right?”

Huashin hesitated.

“Ah… that’s such a coincidence, eh?” Huashin said, “But no, it is more like this Sara here used a pseudonym of the other Sara you’re referring to – you know young people always use their idol’s name when trying to hide their identities. Right, Araka?”

Araka nodded slowly.

“Fine,” Yushi looked toward Araka, “Sara it is.”

Araka gave an awkward smile. “Thank you.”

–

As the others moved away, only three people remained, with Araka and Huashin remaining immediately beside the case.

“Okay…” Araka narrowed her eyes and said. Her field settled.

The outside of the lock became clearer – edges, gaps around the buttons, the LCD display, the metal housing.

Then—

“…Wait.”

“What did you see, Araka?” Huashin asked.

“This … the entire thing – it isn’t complicated.” Araka ran one finger carefully along the side. 

“What do you mean?”

“The buttons weren’t even connected to a circuit, and the area behind the socket seemed empty.”

“So it’s not even electronic?”

Araka then tapped one of the edges. This time, her fingertip sensed a tiny gap.

It felt hollow inside.

With a little pressure, part of the decorative housing shifted.

“Instructor Huashin?”

“Yes.”

“Could you fire your pistol t at this location?” Araka said while placing her thumb beside the gap.

“So no mechanism inside?”

Araka knocked on the device with her other hand and shook her head. “It’s hollow.”

“Okay, Araka,” Huashin stood up and drew her PAK-34 pistol, “Make sure you don’t block the way.”

Just as Araka anticipated, as the bullet pierced through the gap, the panels of the so-called “device” came off. 

Behind the impressive-looking exterior was something considerably less impressive –  a combination lock that is typically used on school lockers.

“…Seriously?” Huashin stared at it, “A combination lock?”

Yushi, seeing the result, leaned closer.

“So the expensive-looking part was just a cover?”

“Looks like it,” Araka said while trying to hold back her laughter, “Whoever did this spent more effort making the lock look difficult than actually making it difficult.”

She came back to the lock and placed her fingers lightly against the mechanism.

There was an old trick for locks like this, Araka thought while recalling her trick for times she forgot the password for the lock. 

Before, it relied on feeling tiny changes in resistance while turning the dial; yet now, Araka didn’t have to rely on touch alone anymore.

She closed her eyes.

“Araka?” Huashin said.

“Quiet for a second,” Araka channeled using her Matake field. 

Huashin immediately stopped speaking.

Araka turned the dial.

It ticked once.

Another Turn.

Ticked twice.

Then another turn. 

For each time she sensed stronger resistance through her Matake field, she shifted back.

As Araka worked her way through, the sound of the gears inside the lock was as clear as listening to music through her earbuds – something she wasn’t even able to do several weeks earlier. 

One final turn.

Then, Araka pulled.

Click.

The lock opened.

“…Okay,” Araka opened her eyes, “Got it.”

“I was expecting something more dramatic,” Huashin looked at the cheap mechanism hidden beneath the elaborate casing and sighed, “That thing is almost insulting.”

“So, should we call everyone back?” Yushi turned toward Huashin and said,

“Of course, especially Miya,” Huashin smirked, “Even if it’s something random, we don't want to break it anyway.

—

A while later, Sayanaka, Miya, and a group of museum staff members came back.

“Wait … you crack it?” Miya opened her eyes wide while her team untied the belts. 

“That’s the power of Ma– no, years of SAIR and Shrine training doing the heavy lifting,” Huashin shrugged and said.

As the crate was slowly opened through the top, the object eventually revealed itself.

“Isn’t that … how could that be …” A young female staff member was shocked when seeing what’s in front of her eyes.

Miya came close and took a closer look through a magnifier. She then called her assistant to pull out a picture from the tablet.

After a brief exchange, Miya stood straight and walked slowly to Araka and Huashin.

“Yes, the Vase of Mercilli — it’s right here, all along.”