OLD-WORLD EXTRA-Chapter 520: Dead Mind

Just as Sofia left his office, another girl came in.

Emir was about to complain but thankfully this one wasn't any trouble.

Rather, she was usually the solution for most of it.

Lyra.

[Hey~, my favorite gigolo...]

Emir shook his head and let out a soft chuckle.

"You can't be saying that... It's not my fault I'm so popular."

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"Humph!"

Acting like a spoilt schoolgirl, she 'pushed' his chair back and sat on his lap.

Her arms wrapped around his shoulders as she leaned in, her face close to his. "Well..."

She seductively whispered in his ear, her voice taking on a teasing tone.

"I'm just here to make sure you remember who your real favorite is."

He raised an eyebrow, amused.

"Oh? So, now you're worried about the competition?"

"Not at all."

She feigned nonchalance, hiding the burning jealousy within.

"But I like to keep you on your toes. Can't have you getting bored now, can we?"

Emir laughed, letting his hands settle at her waist, keeping his tone light.

"I don't think anyone could ever accuse you of being boring."

She gave him a playful pout.

"Good answer."

Her expression softened.

"I know I'm good, and you should know that they don't look at me that way. Besides, I don't know if I should remind you or not, but unlike Sarah, I'm not a pedo."

Lyra showed an "O" face, displaying her surprise.

"You noticed?"

Emir rolled his eyes.

"Of course I did, it's clear as day."

"Mhm... Poor Jake."

"Yeah, but she'll get over it."

Lyra tapped her nose on his, though neither of them felt it.

"That's what you get for being such a stud."

"Heh~ can't deny that."

She smiled brightly, leaning her head on his left shoulder, simulating the weight on his augmented suit.

"It's been a while since we've had a chance to catch up like this. Too many responsibilities, too many... interruptions."

Before he could reply, his terminal buzzed on the desk, its screen flashing with an incoming call.

"And speaking of..."

Emir glanced at the name displayed-Amon.

He frowned, sensing something serious if the principal himself was reaching out directly.

"Hold on."

Lyra sighed and lifted herself from his lap, floating away with her arms crossed, allowing him to pick up the terminal.

"What is it, Principal?."

Amon's voice crackled through, urgency evident in his tone:

"I need you for an urgent mission. Something's come up, and it can't wait."

Emir's gaze hardened.

"What's the situation?"

"There's been a development in you know what. It's a bit complex, but I'll brief you once you're here."

Emir's expression remained steady, though he exchanged a quick glance with Lyra, who was already landing on the ground, her playful demeanor replaced by a more serious one. "Understood. I'll be there soon."

As the call ended, Lyra's face neared his a second time.

"Well, that didn't sound good."

"It rarely is."

Emir replied, his tone unreadable as he gathered a few things from his desk.

Lyra placed a hand on his shoulder, stopping him for a moment.

"When you're in there... just be careful, alright?"

He gave her a brief, reassuring smile.

"Always. You know me."

With a final nod, he headed out, leaving Lyra watching after him, her expression conflicted.

...

Emir strode into the fourth-floor meeting room, noting the familiar faces already gathered- Judas, Judal, Morgiana, and Ragnar—all glancing up as he entered.

At the head of the table, Amon sat poised, spinning his chair around to face them as soon as Emir took his seat.

Without any delay, he cut straight to the matter at hand.

"My Netweavers have finally reached a lead on our mole."

The holoscreen in the middle of the table flickered, displaying an operation similar to that of Nathan's, though much more numerous, as instead of one central housing tube, they had tens

of them.

"They were working on the mole's brain, trying to piece together who was behind the sleeping agent that got into the Academy... and if there could be any others."

Emir leaned forward slightly, his interest piqued.

The others seemed equally absorbed, hanging onto Amon's every word.

"But we hit a wall. The trail led to someone specific-a man we think was instrumental in the

plot. But when they reached him..."

Amon paused, looking at each of them in turn.

"He was dead. Kidnapped and murdered. The way his mind was left—it's in chaos."

Emir caught the grave look on Amon's face.

A dead-end, yet one that seemed worth investigating.

He could tell this wasn't the kind of assignment they could just pass on to another team.

"Every time a Netweaver tried to access his mind, they came out... dead. Whatever they saw in

there, it destroyed them."

Amon let the words hang in the air for a moment, emphasizing the danger.

"This isn't a normal task. His mind's been completely scrambled, probably from the trauma he went through in his final moments. It's risky, but if someone can go in and survive...

maybe, just maybe, we can finally get the answers we need."

A tense silence filled the room as Amon's words sank in.

Each member around the table shifted slightly, glancing at one another-everyone except

Amon, who sat with an expectant expression.

As if on cue, they all turned to Emir, silently acknowledging who among them had the best

chance of success.

Emir met each of their stares, then gave a slight nod, his face calm.

"I'll do it."

Amon matched his nod, satisfied.

"Alright, then. The rest of you, stay here, prepare to move out. Emir, follow me."

Without another word, Amon rose from his chair and headed toward the door, Emir following

close behind.

They moved in silence through the halls and elevator as they made their way to the Brain on

the ninth floor.

Once there, they passed the first gate, which led them through the server station, the second, which was the camera station, the third, which housed the main access points to the database, and finally reached the secret fourth.

A gate made of the strongest metals hissed as it slid open, revealing rows of neural cybernetic pods on each side of the room, their purpose secret and rarely used by most.

Each pod was lined with networks of cables and screens, connected to multiple consoles,

which also connected to a central one that controlled all in the room.

This main console was linked to multiple cylindrical pods filled with green.

Most housed remnants of a brain, but one, which Emir assumed to be their target, was almost

mush.

Amon walked in and stopped beside one of the open pods, gesturing for Emir to step inside. "Just lie down. I'll take care of the rest. You just need to survive."

Without a word, Emir stepped into the pod, settling himself into the seat as the cool cushion of the headrest touched his neck, wires attaching on contact.

Starting to feel sedated, he glanced back at Amon, who was watching him with a barely

concealed worry.

"Good luck."

And at the last moment, Amon gave a casual wave as if to lighten the mood. But both his

gesture and voice barely registered as Emir felt a sudden drowsiness sweep over him, his

eyelids growing heavy.

"Th...an.....ks."

He closed his eyes, and the world around him faded to black.