Arvin clearly saw the number 3 transforming into a 2. Seeing this a frown appeared on his face…

'What does that mean?' Arvin asked Loki.

​​

{The number 2 is a term used to define quantity.} Loki said.

'…'

{You have studied math right? Why are you asking this question?} Loki asked.

'I am asking why the number 3 turned into 2?' Arvin asked while gnashing his teeth.

{Oh that... I don't know. Maybe this has a timer on it or something like that… you know if you forgot to close it on time then it would close itself automatically.} Loki said.

'That makes sense…' Arvin said.

Then to confirm the hypothesis of Loki, Arvin waited another minute to see if the number changes again. Arvin needed to confirm that this was actually the number represented. And he couldn't be more right about anything else. The number 2 on the safe didn't change into 1 even after two minutes passed by.

If Loki's hypothesis was indeed right then this number should have been the timer. But seeing that number didn't change, Arvin became very confused. What was happening? What could have that number meant?

'Loki? Do you have any idea as to what might this number represent?' Arvin asked.

{Not a clue.} Loki said.

'Then what should I do then?' Arvin asked.

{How should I know that? I am not your mom. Think about it yourself.} Loki said.

…

Loki was useless to Arvin at the moment. So he ignored him and then started thinking ahead. What could have been the reason for the number to change? Arvin then started recalling everything that he had done since he opened the tile of the vault. He had not done anything major. It was then Arvin has an idea.

He had only slammed his hands on the adjacent tile thus breaking it completely…

Could this mean that this number represents or is related to the fact that he broke a tile? In this situation, this was the most logical explanation that he could think of. That is why to confirm his hypothesis, Arvin slammed another one of the tiles adjacent to the vault. And sure enough the number 2 changed into number 1.

Seeing this Loki started speaking…

{Maybe it is like a thief-proof system. If you try to remove the vault from the ground then the number changes.} Loki asked.

'Yes… And maybes these numbers acted as a baseball strike. Three strikes and you are out.' Arvin said.

{Maybe. That could be a feasible explanation.} Loki said.

'So the question is what happens when it the zero marker?' Arvin asked.

{That is a question that has troubling NASA scientists for years.} Loki said.

'…'

{Use your head dumba*s. What would happen if you have zero lives left in a Mario game. YOU DIE… GAME OVER.} Loki said.

If Arvin could not take out the vault then the only thing left to do was to try to guess the pin of the vault. Arvin didn't know Aria's family enough to guess the password. If he hits the zero and then it somehow activates a thief alarm of some sort then the whole stealing things from this house would be over in jiffy. So Arvin left the vault as it is. He just could not risk it.

Arvin then went on to sort the books from the library. After an hour or so he was finally done. Then he moved towards the other rooms to see whether there was something else that he could steal…

Arvin had seen the intricate rune formation that was engraved on the ceiling of Aria's room. If some intruder casually walks into the room without any permission then he/she would have incinerated into oblivion. That is why Arvin ventured through the rest of the house while being transformed into a fly. Arvin went from room to room to see whether there was something else worth stealing in this slaughterhouse.

And it was very appropriate to call it a slaughterhouse. From time to time Arvin would found bodies of servants and maids. They have been cut opened such the entrails of these being are put on a show. Those black-cloaked knew what they were doing as they have set the scene in the house in such a way that it looks like that this looks like a robbery.

Everything had been plundered clean by those men. There was nothing valuable left for Arvin to loot. So after searching the whole house, Arvin was not able to find anything noteworthy. Then finally the time arrived when he had to leave. But before leaving Arvin had a hunch that he had to follow.

Arvin started searching for anything valuable that he could steal. While he was also thinking about what could be the passcode of the safe. He literally didn't know anything about this family so guessing the passcode was an impossible task. But it was then he remembered it. The set of those books.

Hypothetically speaking if he was the one that owned the safe then he would have to make sure that no one would be able to find the way to access the safe. That could explain why the books were all dusty. As somebody didn't want safe to be found. So no one was allowed to enter the room.

Then the books. That library was so dusty while those books have a very little amount of dust on them. The owner of that safe must have been an insanely stupid man not to notice that. But still, he didn't do anything about it. He also left the books in such a manner that anyone would find them...

But what if those books were left intentionally that way? After all to access the vault you need to touch the ring with the mark on the wooden board. And that could be accessed by removing one book. But all the other books were also randomly arranged. What if that was done deliberately? What if the arrangements of those volumes were supposed to be something more?

Arvin had no idea what that safe must have stored inside it. Nor he had any idea about the passcode. But for now, he was thinking maybe the random order of the volumes maybe is the passcode of the safe. It is a very far-fetched idea. But he still wanted to try it once…

….

Fennec Foxes were the bunch that lived in groups. They are a warrior race. So since the old times, the fennec foxes chose their leaders based on strength. The mightiest and strongest warrior becomes the leader of the group. When the leadership of the fennec fox is recognized by members of their tribe than the hair color of the leader changes from yellowish blond to black.

Fennec foxes with black color represented that they had been chosen as the leaders of the tribe. So any fennec fox with black hair is subject to respect and awe from all the fennec foxes. In the old times, the fennec foxes used to live in tribes. But with time they started establishing cities. But choosing process of their leader remained the same. The strongest fennec fox in the whole city is crowned as the leader as well as the city lord.

Gracie is the city lord of Nekota city. She is a strong peak level-1 acolyte as well as a warrior well versed in hand-to-hand combat. She is a respected figure in the whole Nekota city. People respect her for being a valiant and good-natured ruler. According to the common folks she has always have been the leader which does not discriminate between any fennec foxes. She sees everyone as equals and punishes any evildoers.

But the reality of Gracie is quite opposite. She is a self-centered woman who does anything that could bring her profit. If punishing some evil fennec foxes helped her to gain the trust of her people then she would punish them brutally. And as far as rich evil fennec foxes were concerned, they gave enough protection money, and resources to her that she leaves as they are. She hardly interferes in the matters regarding them. And Aria's parents Stuart and Martha were some of her biggest contributors.

Today she literally butchered the golden egg-laying goose with her order…

Right now Gracie was sitting with the two cloaked men in her mansion. Gracie was sitting on a sofa by the fireplace while the black-cloaked men were standing behind her. Gracie was looking into the fire and contemplating her next move. Then she turned around and started speaking to the black-cloaked men…

"Was that jewel fake?" She asked.

"Yes, mistress. The jewel was really red quartz just like that old man said." One of the cloaked men said.

"So I killed them for no reason at all… One of you go and contact Lord Viserys. Send them the books and data that we collected. And one of you go back to those rich mother f*ckers house. Check everything again. Just to be sure…" Lord Gracie said.