The Mind's Eye card had failed when Nero tried to use it in the fog, so chances were high that he might not be able to use it to peer past the vault either, but there was no harm in trying. More importantly, if he was able to get a sense of what the vault was hiding, his motivation to execute this plan successfully would grow immensely.
Nero walked up to the vault door but suddenly paused when he felt the aether in his body tremble, resonating with a certain hum in the door. He had never felt something similar before, and for a moment felt like his body was reacting to the door. But it wasn't.
It took him only a moment to realise that his body was reacting to whatever was behind the door, and the gentle hum was coming from behind it as well.
Slowly, carefully, Nero raised his hand and touched the cool, metallic surface of the vault door, and felt it vibrating just barely so. More importantly, the aether in his body reacted to the vibration, becoming more active than before.
In truth, one more reason that Nero wanted to use Mind's Eye was because it occurred to him that his sudden confidence in the fact that whatever was behind the door would be greatly beneficial was unusual. He was concerned that he might be under the influence of some kind of charm. It was a very real possibility.
Yet the feeling he got when he touched the door was an incredible one. It was true that this could be more of the charm affecting him, but it wasn't like Nero was about to open the vault now. At the very least he needed to get his hands on the six keys, the verification and solve this puzzle.
He used the Mind's Eye card, and to his immense and genuine surprise, he was actually able to peer through the door.
Behind the vault door was a room filled with darkness, as far as he could tell from his limited view. Images of dirt filled his mind, and though whatever was hidden in that room was not in his view, Nero saw what looked like a root digging into the dirt at the very edge of his range of vision.
He spent a significant time looking, but found nothing else. It was not what he expected, but whatever it was, Nero was determined to get his hands on it.
Nero held up the page from the notebook that he had scribbled on, and activated the card. The effect of the card was simple. It allowed Nero to transmit any kind of information using light. But applying it was incredibly complicated.
It had allowed Nero to receive a secret message his father had sent, and since then he had practised until he learned to be able to do the same with this card, though in the process he learned that the effect of this card was infinitely more versatile than he had imagined.
"Old man, don't ask any questions, and don't think twice for this is incredibly important. The first thing you need to look into is Vaults. I think the reason mom and Patrick were targeted had to do with Vaults. This guy named Herbert tried to assassinate me though I took care of it for now.
There were witnesses, so it's only a matter of time before someone finds out that I killed a 'friendly' so I don't know how that will play out.
"These are just some things I needed you to know about, but they're not the most important. I cannot tell you where I am or why I'm here because I cannot divulge mission details, but there's something unrelated to my missions I can tell you.
After I'm done here, the army will likely go through my belongings, which means I'm going to have to rip your innate card so you'll have to make me a new one later. Much more importantly, old man, this is critically, and I mean critically important. There is a chance that among the confiscated items there is a black key. I don't know how you can manage it, but you have to get your hands on that key.
Also, if you do manage to get it, never mention it out loud. This is the kind of thing best discussed through Luminalink."
-lempyr.
He deactivated the card and looked at the page in his hand. Besides the small note to his father that read, "For Edward Grant. Whatever they said I did, I deny completely. Visit soon. Nero Grant."
The note was meant to look like something he wrote after getting arrested for killing Herbert - in case that happened. If it didn't happen, then it was just meant to look like a random joke. The point was, the note was simple enough not to receive enough scrutiny to be destroyed.
"Here, take this," Nero said, handing the note to Gabriel. "When we get out, find a way to get that to my father one way or another."
While Gabriel read the simple note, Nero pulled out the second, empty paper and activated Luminalink once more. This time, however, instead of transmitting an image of himself speaking, he began recording the appearance of the vault door, with special attention to the puzzle. After making sure that he got everything he needed, he handed the second piece of paper to Gabriel as well.
"No matter what happens, make sure this is safe. Don't lose it," Nero said, and then ripped Luminalink. It was a little premature, but he always knew that bringing Luminalink with him meant that before returning he would have to destroy it. After all, his father was technically not allowed to produce this at all. He also couldn't have any proof that he was secretly transmitting any information.
"Gabe, what kind of oath do we need to make to make sure no one can force us to divulge information about this place?"
"It's not complicated. All we need to do is make an oath that without both of us coming to an agreement, neither of us will divulge information about this vault. Later, even if the army interrogates us, barring any unexpected situations, they won't be able to get anything regarding this place without raising flags."
"Isn't that a pretty big loophole that anyone can exploit?" Nero asked, shocked by how simple it seemed. "It is, which is exactly why it's not so easy to get your hand on an oath card without official sanction - especially an unranked one!"
Nero nodded.
"In that case, once we leave, do you think you can get your hands on the Fair Weather card once we turn them in? Even if they work on dispelling the fog?"
Upon mention of the fog, Gabriel was startled. He quickly realised what Nero was insinuating, and if the Fair Weather card could really push the fog away, then the Sages could finally explore the fog! So much unexplored land will suddenly become open to them!
"It's completely impossible. Unless the cards become very common, I doubt we'll ever get a chance to even see them ever again."
Nero frowned, and then made some adjustments to his plan. It might seem like the solution was easy. All they'd need to do was swear yet another oath about keeping the card a secret, but it was far from simple.
There was no proof of the existence of this vault, nor did anyone know to look for it. But once the Fair Weather card was revealed, Nero was certain they'd be questioned about it thoroughly. There was also the option of just not revealing Fair Weather at all, but if he needed to use it in the fog to fight the tentacle monster or the dark berserkers, then it would be revealed eventually.
Fair Weather was a very important card to get his hands on because it literally was the key to returning to the basement once they surpassed the Neophyte realm. Which meant that if they didn't have one, the chances of getting their hands on whatever this vault hid was basically null.
"I'll think of a solution. In the meantime, we need to swear the oath, and we need to bring Carin Johnson into the vault and hide him. We can't risk his body being taken away in the future for tests and experiments. We have to be quick about this, and we can't let the others see us either."
Nero then explained a bit of the plan he was beginning to develop with Gabriel, who also frowned. It was incredibly risky, and had great chances of failure. But it wasn't like he had a better plan to suggest either.
The two swore their oath and promptly exited the vault room, closing the door behind them. Now all they had to do was smuggle the ancient corpse into the vault and finalise their plans for how to accidentally lose some cards under strenuous circumstances. It was completely believable. Who didn't accidentally lose a card here and there in a fight?