Room 100

Inside the dimly lit room 99, Lexus and the others found themselves confronted with an apparent dead end. Confusion and frustration began to bubble within them as they scanned the room for any signs of a hidden path. It was then that Oriana, quick-thinking and resourceful, remembered the stolen copy of the mansion's blueprints she had acquired from James.

With a mix of hope and trepidation, Oriana carefully studied the blueprints, tracing her fingers along the intricate lines and markings. "I don't know why, but based on the blueprints, room 99 is supposed to be the last room," she murmured, her voice tinged with uncertainty. Lexus, his mind racing, nodded in agreement. There had to be something they were missing.

As the seconds ticked away, Lexus's gaze drifted downward, his eyes fixating on the pattern of tiles that covered the floor. Something clicked within him. With newfound determination, he began counting the tiles, his finger tracing a deliberate path along their edges.

Silence hung heavy in the air as Lexus reached the ninth tile. With a resolute stomp of his foot, a hollow sound reverberated through the room, resonating with the promise of hidden secrets. Milky Cow, ever ready for action, wasted no time. Gripping a crowbar tightly in his hands, he pried the tile from its place, revealing a small opening that led downward into darkness.

"No way! There's an underground passage here?" Milky Cow exclaimed, a mixture of awe and excitement in his voice. Lexus's eyes gleamed with satisfaction, a glimmer of his cunning and intuition shining through.

Oriana, her mind racing with possibilities, recalled an earlier revelation. "Wait, Lexus! September 9, 2009... Wednesday 999. Room 99," she exclaimed, her voice filled with realization. Lexus nodded, a knowing smile spreading across his face. The pieces were falling into place.

With a sense of urgency and a shared determination, the group gathered their courage and prepared to descend into the depths of the hidden passage. A chill ran down their spines as they stepped onto the first stair, each footfall echoing with a mixture of apprehension and anticipation.

Finally, after what felt like an arduous journey, they reached the end of the tunnel, estimating it to be about 200 meters away from the mansion.

The room that greeted them was reminiscent of the CCTV room they had come to know, but darkness shrouded their view, making it difficult to identify its contents. Using their flashlights to pierce the gloom, Lexus, Oriana, Milky Cow, and Robin found themselves in a state of shock as their beams illuminated old monitor screens and outdated computers.

Lexus's voice cut through the tension, urging everyone to stay alert. They could sense an eerie presence lingering in the air, a cold breeze laden with a malevolent aura. The underground lights flickered to life, one by one, casting an ominous glow throughout the chamber. As the main room's lights blazed into existence, their worst fears were confirmed—they had been under surveillance all along.

"We were being monitored this whole time?" Lexus's voice quivered with a mix of disbelief and anger. The realization hit him hard, and memories of Chief Melton John's uncanny knowledge of the mansion's past events flooded his mind. Oriana, her voice filled with urgency, interrupted his thoughts, referencing a journal they had encountered earlier.

"Lexus, do you remember in the journal? Don Pitr-" Before Oriana could finish her sentence, Lexus's eyes blazed with fury and determination. He knew the truth now, the real identity of Chief Melton. His voice dripped with contempt as he began to utter the name, but before he could reveal it, a chilling laughter reverberated through the chamber, sending shivers down their spines.

"Hahahahaha, hahahahahaha, hahahahaha," Chief Melton John emerged from the shadows, his presence exuding malice and amusement. "It was fun, isn't it, Mr. Tristan?" he taunted, his voice laced with an unhinged delight. The face of Lexus's former chief stared back at him, igniting a fire within his eyes, fueled by a burning rage.

Lexus vividly recalled the day he first encountered Chief Melton within the mysterious confines of the Bendeta Mansion. It was a pivotal moment that set the stage for their intertwined destinies. As they stood face to face, Melton's eyes gleamed with a mix of curiosity and intrigue.

"Welcome, Lexus," Melton greeted him, his voice carrying an air of authority. "Don Bendeta himself has entrusted us with a crucial task: to guard the secret treasure hidden within this mansion."

Lexus's eyes widened at the mention of the treasure. "What kind of treasure are we talking about here?"

Melton leaned in, his voice dropping to a hushed tone. "Legends say it's a treasure of unimaginable wealth, filled with ancient artifacts and priceless jewels. Don Bendeta's ancestors amassed this fortune, and it's our duty to protect it at all costs."

Lexus couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement and intrigue. "Why me? Why was I chosen for this assignment?"

Melton's gaze bore into Lexus, a hint of admiration in his eyes. "Your reputation precedes you, Lexus. Your track record of solving complex murder cases during your training has earned you the trust of Don Bendeta himself. He believes you have the sharp instincts and keen perception needed to be the eyes and ears of our security team."

As Lexus absorbed Melton's words, a sense of purpose washed over him. Little did he know that this assignment would lead him down a path filled with danger, deception, and the shocking revelation of his true connection to the mansion's secrets.

As the tense standoff continued, Milky Cow, Oriana, and Robin kept their guns trained on Chief Melton. Milky Cow's voice shook with worry as he demanded answers, "What did you do to Gunner? How is he?"

Melton chuckled dismissively, his smile dripping with condescension. "Whoa, whoa, hey there, easy! Big man, your friend Gunner is in the hospital. He's safe... for now."

Lexus's voice cut through the room, his tone laced with concern and suspicion. "Of course, Gunner is now a hostage. This psycho might have planted an explosive device in Gunner's room or, worse, he might be planning to kill everyone at the hospital!"

Melton casually patted Lexus on the shoulder, his amusement evident. "Hahahaha, wow! Wow, wow! I'm the one who's supposed to say that, Lexus."

Oriana's shotgun remained steady, her face etched with determination. "If you so much as lay a finger on Lexus, I'll blow your brains out!"

Melton raised his hands, feigning surrender. "Oh? Hahaha, so the girlfriend seems overprotective, huh?"

His tone shifted, growing serious as he revealed a shocking truth. "To tell you the truth, I let you all go yesterday. I allowed you to find the first AL-Machina and destroy it."

Lexus and the others were stunned by Melton's revelation. Lexus's voice trembled as he asked, "There's another AL-Machina?"

Before Melton could respond, Oriana's instincts kicked in. She sensed imminent danger and pulled the trigger of her shotgun. "Bang!" Melton's head snapped back, blood splattering the room. Reacting swiftly, Oriana aimed her shot at Melton's stomach and fired again. "Bang!" Melton's body was sent flying, crashing against the wall.

Lexus and the others stood in shock, processing Oriana's swift and decisive actions.

As the room fell into a stunned silence, the group's attention shifted to Melton's motionless body. Suddenly, to their horror, the body began to move in an unnatural manner. Their eyes widened in disbelief as Melton's broken form slowly stood upright.

Oriana's voice quivered with shock, her words barely escaping her lips, "What? He's..."

Melton's disguise started to crumble, revealing a grotesque sight of metal parts and exposed wires underneath. The false flesh was torn away, exposing the inner workings of a humanoid robot. A new robotic head emerged from the shattered remains of his neck, its eyes glowing with an eerie light that mirrored the other dolls in the mansion.

The realization hit them like a punch to the gut, leaving them breathless. Lexus's voice was filled with a mixture of fear and disbelief as he uttered the words, "What kind of devil are you?"

The revelation of Melton's true nature left them standing in the presence of an unimaginable threat. The battle for survival had just taken an unexpected turn, and they knew that they were now facing a formidable enemy unlike anything they had encountered before.