Contract Marriage with My Secret Partner in Crime-Chapter 16: Hacking

As soon as they stepped through the door, they were met with another one.

Eclipse scowled. "You've got to be kidding me."

This door was different from the last—sleek, metallic, and completely seamless except for two embedded touch-screen monitors, one on each side. A faint blue glow pulsed steadily from the screens, casting an eerie light on the smooth surface. There were no visible handles, no buttons, no keyholes.

Just a cold, silent challenge.

"What the hell? Is it really hacking skills this time?" Eclipse muttered, then shot a sharp look at Obscura as if to say, Do the job.

Obscura ignored her pointed stare. Instead, he scanned the room, his sharp gaze sweeping over the walls and ceiling, searching for any hidden mechanisms or alternate exits.

Nothing.

They were trapped in yet another sealed space, and the only way out was through this damn door. And from the looks of it, the only method of unlocking it was through hacking the system.

He let out a short breath and approached the left-side monitor, his fingers hovering over the screen before quickly getting to work. Lines of code flickered across the display as he navigated through the security protocols, his focus unwavering.

Eclipse folded her arms, shifting her weight as she stared at his back expectantly. "You better get this done fast," she mumbled, though she didn't really mean it. She trusted Obscura's skills. If anyone could get them through, it was him.

A tense silence filled the room as the only sound was the rapid tapping of Obscura's fingers against the screen. The air grew heavy with anticipation.

Then—

A low beep echoed throughout the space.

Eclipse's ears perked up. "You did it?" she asked eagerly, eyes locked onto the door.

She waited for it to slide open.

Instead, a blaring alarm erupted, followed by a cold, robotic voice:

"Access Denied."

Her lips twitched. "...Excuse me?"

Obscura exhaled sharply through his nose, his frustration barely contained. Then, without a word, he turned to her and pointed at the right-side monitor.

"Hack it."

Eclipse's eyes widened. "What?"

Obscura didn't repeat himself.

Eclipse crossed her arms. "I think I misheard you."

Obscura clenched his jaw, his fingers curling slightly in irritation. He took a deep breath before gritting out, "It looks like we need to hack both at the same time."

Eclipse scowled. "Tch. Fine."

Muttering under her breath, she stomped toward the other screen, cracking her fingers before reluctantly getting to work. "Hey! Don't you dare blame me if anything unnecessary happens," she shot at him with a glare.

Obscura barely reacted, too focused on his own task.

Eclipse huffed and turned her attention to the monitor, her fingers flying across the screen. "Damn it. I really hate this complicated crap," she muttered. But despite her complaints, she moved with practiced efficiency.

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She wasn't bad at hacking. In fact, it was a prerequisite to becoming a Null. Their work revolved around gathering information and manipulating technology. Still, she much preferred breaking things over decrypting them.

As the minutes dragged on, the tension in the room thickened. Both of them worked in silence, their fingers moving in sync, racing against time. Sweat beaded on Eclipse's forehead, her heartbeat pounding in her ears.

They were close.

Almost there.

"Press the final key when I say go," Obscura suddenly said.

Eclipse shot him a glare. "Care to explain, please?"

Obscura glanced at her briefly, his expression unreadable. But in his eyes was the silent message: You're not dumb. You get it.

Eclipse narrowed her eyes. Then, with exaggerated disbelief, she muttered, "Oh, I'm way too dumb today to understand a few vague words coming from your stinky mouth."

Obscura gritted his teeth. This woman...

For a brief second, he wondered if she was on her period. His sister acted just as unreasonable whenever she was.

He shook off the thought.

Also, for the record, my mouth is not stinky.

Instead of arguing, he focused on the final sequence. Eclipse, despite her loud complaints, did the same.

They exchanged a glance. Nodded.

"Go," Obscura commanded.

They pressed the final key simultaneously.

A moment of silence.

Then—

"Access Denied."

Obscura stared blankly at the screen.

Eclipse clenched her fists.

A second later, she let out a frustrated growl and punched the door.

A sharp click echoed.

The door slid open.

Obscura's head snapped toward her. "Wait—?"

His sharp eyes caught it—the moment her fist made contact, a small, nearly invisible button had appeared on the door.

Realization hit like a slap.

The hacking process wasn't meant to open the door directly. It had merely activated the hidden button.

And the "Access Denied" message?

A deception. A trap designed to make them believe they had failed.

Whoever designed this system was a bastard.

Eclipse stared at the open doorway, then back at the now-visible button, then at Obscura.

"...Damn it," they both cursed at the same time.

They stepped forward—

And stopped dead in their tracks.

The room beyond was massive.

Dim, cold lighting cast long shadows across the floor, making the figures standing within appear even more menacing.

And there were hundreds of them.

Men in dark tactical gear were scattered throughout the space, forming an overwhelming wall of bodies. Some carried weapons—not knives or anything sharp, but blunt instruments like metal bats, steel rods, and reinforced clubs. Others stood unarmed, their hands loose by their sides, but the confidence in their eyes said they didn't need weapons.

They weren't just waiting.

They were expecting them.

Smirks and knowing glances passed between the groups. Some cracked their knuckles, while others tapped their bats against their palms in anticipation. A few remained eerily still, their piercing gazes locked onto Eclipse and Obscura as if already envisioning their victory.

At the far end of the room, a massive digital screen loomed over them, glowing ominously.

02:24:12

The countdown ticked down, mercilessly reminding them how much time they had left.

Obscura's stomach dropped.

They wasted more than thirty minutes trying to open that damn door.

Beside him, Eclipse let out a low whistle. She tilted her head slightly, a smirk playing at her lips.

"So," she muttered, rolling her shoulders. "It's the fighting skills stage this time."

Her fingers twitched in anticipation.

Obscura inhaled sharply.

This was going to be a long fight.