章 8: Winning by Wits

I cleared my throat and said, "If the security at Century Tower isn't too tight, we should be able to sneak up easily, especially through the mall entrance. Plenty of people probably wander up to the higher floors by accident. Or, we can pretend to be food delivery workers if need be. Lana, honestly, you could just stroll in like you own the place and ride the elevator straight up—no one's going to question it."

Everyone glanced at Lana, then nodded in agreement, taking in her sharp gray suit and impressive figure. "But without knowing the specifics or what exactly we're capturing, I can only suggest that everyone stays flexible and adapts as things unfold," I continued. "And don't worry too much about real-world rules—when it's time to cause a distraction or use your powers, don't hold back."

"Oh, by the way, Lana, what's your power? And Janice's?" I asked.

Lana's lips curled into a sly smile, and she wiggled her finger at me. Before I could react, my collar tightened, and I was yanked forward a step. It caught me so off guard that my heart nearly leapt out of my chest.

'Wait…real telekinesis?', "I heard your power's somewhat similar to mine?"

I shrugged sheepishly. "It's more like gravitational push and pull—not quite as smooth or direct as true telekinesis."

I quickly shifted my attention to Janice, pretending not to notice the smug look on Lana's face.

For once, Janice looked excited rather than quiet and reserved. "I can control shadows. I can hide in any shaded area and even move from one shadow to another—as long as the two aren't too far apart. Haven't tested the range yet, though."

My jaw practically dropped. 'Talk about an assassin's ultimate skill—stealth, tracking, escape, ambush, theft…all rolled into one.'

Danny and I stared at her in shock, while Danny blurted, "Whoa! Janice, that's incredible. You hit the jackpot."

Trying to keep my composure, I asked a key question. "Okay, but let's say you slip into my shadow and I move to another location. Could you just stay hidden there like a stowaway? And…could you bring items with you?"

If she could do that, this mission would be child's play for her. Janice gave Lana a look of admiration. "Lana asked me the same question. We tried it out, and it works. I can even bring a small bag with me and retrieve items from another shadow."

"Holy…!" I couldn't help but swear, 'Forget growth or potential—Janice's ability is already miles beyond mine in sheer utility.'

"With your power, this mission will be a breeze. Why are we even strategizing? Just sneak up there and grab the flag. Danny and I, though, will need a real game plan."

———

Dressed in a plain blue jacket and gray cap with a mop in one hand and a bucket in the other, I walked into Oriental Pearl Tower and headed straight for the elevators.

The grand lobby was mostly empty, with just a few suited office workers lounging on sofas. The receptionist glanced at me once, then lost interest—probably because my disguise was working too well.

I pressed the elevator button and waited. Just then, I heard the click-clack of heels and turned to see a stunning woman approaching.

She wore a fitted black vest and tailored jacket over a crisp white blouse, hugging her curves in all the right places. Her wavy, wine-colored hair framed a face that looked like it was plucked straight from a magazine.

As our eyes met, I quickly averted my gaze.

The elevator dinged open, and we stepped inside. I hit the button for the 44th floor, waited for the doors to close, then glanced over at Danny.

She grinned, unable to hold back her excitement. "How's this outfit? Think I pulled it off?"

I chuckled, looking her over. "Honestly? You nailed it. If I didn't know better, I'd never believe you were a high school student. You're giving 'corporate professional' vibes."

Danny scratched her cheek, looking both proud and bashful—a mix that made her even more captivating.

'I am sure, she'll attract attention, but not so much that anyone will question her cover. Playing the role of an office worker is definitely more convincing than a janitor.'

"Alright, let's go over the plan one last time. First, find Mr. Wilson and say you're here for an interview. Try to ask a male staff member for directions if you can—they'll be more lenient with a pretty girl like you. If HR doesn't buy it, they'll probably just ask you to leave. But if you do reach the manager, casually mention you're interested in learning more about the company. Got a resume with you? Leave it with them—it'll look professional and buy you some time."

Danny nodded, softly repeating some of my instructions under her breath.

"After they ask you to leave, don't rush off. This part is crucial: stick around for a bit. If they're firm about escorting you out, try asking if you can at least take a quick tour of the top floor or wait until they disperse and then sneak back. I'll be hunting for the flag at the same time."

Just as the elevator neared the 44th floor, I gave her one final boost of confidence. "Your main goal is to gain access to the executive suite without raising suspicions. If we come up empty-handed, we'll have to improvise. Don't worry—I've got your back. You've got this."

She gave me a bright smile, her previous nervousness replaced with resolve.

'Wow, that smile really is killer. If I'm struggling to keep my focus, our plan should work just fine', As the doors opened, we exchanged nods and walked out together.

The office was sleek and modern, with bright lighting, glass walls, and plenty of polished wood accents.

Past two sets of glass doors, a spacious reception area bustled with activity, with hallways branching off to the workspaces beyond. Danny approached the receptionist and said, "Hi, I have a 4:30 appointment with Mr. Wilson."

The receptionist responded politely, "And your name, please?"

While they chatted, I slipped past and entered the office area undisturbed.

Dressed as a janitor, I barely drew a second glance from anyone. Walking through the maze of cubicles, I reached the lounge area where three employees were chatting, and took a moment to quietly observe the surroundings.

After a quick sweep, I mopped a small section of the floor, then moved on.

The office was well-organized, but as I made my way through, I didn't spot anything that resembled a flag. After a thorough check of one side of the floor, I noticed Danny being led into one of the manager's offices by a man in a suit. So far, Plan A seemed to be going well.

But she could only get into a couple of rooms like this, and there were at least twenty offices on this floor. The odds of finding the flag this way were slim. I'd have to create an opportunity to search the entire floor.

I walked over to the west end of the floor, which provided a bird's-eye view of the main workspace, cubicles, and corridors. To my left were more offices, break rooms, and restrooms, while to my right, towering windows stretched along the wall, offering a panoramic view of the city.

I randomly selected an office, knocked, and entered.

A man looked up from his desk, slightly annoyed. "Come back later. I'm busy right now."

I gave a quick apology, scanned the room, and stepped back out, 'Nothing. Still no sign of anything similar to a flag.'

I glanced at my phone,'6:20 PM. We have only forty minutes left until the cut-off, and I am not sure what will happen if we ran out of time.'

I crossed over to the southern side of the floor, mirroring the setup on the other side: cubicles, restrooms, and more offices.

The walls were adorned with clocks and plaques. Whatever we were supposed to find, it was likely to be eye-catching, maybe even valuable. But if it wasn't a literal flag, figuring out what we were looking for might be part of the test itself.

I chewed on my thumbnail, frustrated. I'd hoped to slip through this challenge subtly and outsmart the system. But the vague instructions and tight timeline made me wonder if brute force might be necessary, 'Could it be that the test's designer anticipated this and wanted us to use our abilities?'

After knocking on and entering two more offices, I knew it was time to make a bolder move. I quickly pulled out my phone and sent Danny a message: "Plan C—time to stir things up."

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