The Lion’s Den

Chapter 12: The Lion’s Den

When Luca stepped through the massive gates of Eon Industries, he felt a slight tension building within him. This place resembled more of a chaotic battlefield than a laboratory. The chemical scents filling his lungs and the heavy metallic air turned into an alarm ringing in his mind. This was exactly the chaotic environment Camille had warned him about. He had been here before, yet the scent still felt foreign.

Inside the laboratory, disorder reigned supreme. Scientists in white coats moved rapidly, data tables constantly changed, and mechanical sounds echoed from workstations, intensifying the chaos. The massive holographic screens on the walls displayed genetic codes and experiment reports. Flashes of red lights at intervals signaled failed experiments. A nerve-wracking hum lingered in the air; it felt like everyone here was racing against time.

"This isn't just a research facility… It's a battlefield." Luca thought with a sigh. He recalled Camille’s notes and pondered, "If I make a mistake here, it could cost someone their life."

Today was Luca’s first day here, and he had to act like an ordinary intern. However, his keen observation skills and sharp intelligence had already set him apart. His war against Magnus had officially begun… He had taken his first step into the lion’s den.

His eyes scanned the room for Camille, and he found her in the corner, speaking with other researchers. When Camille noticed him, she gave a slight nod, signaling him to come over, but before he could move, a scientist holding a tablet approached him. He was middle-aged, with a tired yet authoritative expression.

"Are you the new intern?"

Luca nodded. "Yes, I'm Luca."

The man furrowed his brows. "You've been assigned to Camille’s team, which means you must be pretty smart. You're lucky, but you also need to be careful. From now on, there’s a heavy burden on your shoulders, kid."

Luca caught the strange tone in the man's words. He didn’t yet understand why being on Camille’s team required caution, but that was exactly what he was here to find out.

When Camille led Luca to his workstation, the intense pressure of the environment briefly gave way to a familiar sense of comfort. Camille’s presence reassured him. Her eyes gleamed slightly as she examined him.

"It’s your first day, but I won’t go easy on you," Camille said with a smirk. "Are you ready, little princess?"

Luca, smiling slightly, gave a short nod. "I'm ready, my lady."

The experiment had begun. At first, he felt a slight stress, but his intelligence allowed him to adapt quickly. Under Camille’s supervision, they had to conduct a simple chemical analysis test, but what was simple for Luca seemed overwhelmingly complex for the others. His hands moved swiftly, calculating formulas almost instantly and mixing components with perfect precision.

While the other interns kept making mistakes, Luca’s experiment progressed flawlessly. Unbeknownst to herself, Camille found herself watching him, smiling slightly. She had known he was talented, but she couldn’t help but be surprised every time.

At one point, Luca noticed an error. A chemical reaction was starting to take an unexpected turn. His eyes swiftly analyzed the situation, and he intervened immediately, preventing the experiment from failing.

This sudden action caught the attention of the researchers around him. Some looked at him with curiosity, while Camille observed him with a faint smile.

"You keep surprising me, Luca." Camille murmured as she approached him.

Luca lowered his head slightly, but when their eyes met, for a moment, time seemed to stand still. There was something in Camille’s gaze—a hint of pride and… perhaps something else? Before Luca could analyze it, he averted his eyes and focused back on the experiment.

Meanwhile, from one of the lab’s shadowy corners, Aldric Veil’s gaze burned into Luca’s back. His eyes meticulously followed Luca’s every move. Known as the mad genius, Aldric’s intentions were impossible to decipher, but Luca instinctively felt that the man was testing him.

A few steps later, Aldric’s voice echoed. "Interesting… You’re new, but you work as if you’ve been here forever."

Luca turned to him, locking eyes for a moment. Aldric’s gaze was as sharp as a blade piercing through flesh. Then, suddenly, he laughed and shook his head. "Experiments usually follow the laws of logic."

Aldric tilted his head, crossing his arms with a faint smirk as he continued watching Luca. "But logic doesn’t always work here. You’ll learn that soon enough."

Luca stored Aldric’s words in a corner of his mind. Was this just an observation, or a warning? Only time would tell.

As the day progressed, Luca spent more time with Camille. He could see her passion for her work in every expression. While they worked together, there were small but meaningful glances exchanged—ones unnoticed by others. The faint scent of lavender whenever she leaned slightly closer was imprinted in Luca’s mind. It wasn’t just her intelligence that captivated him, but also the sincerity and depth within her. However, these moments were fleeting, as the cold reality of Eon Industries always pulled them back.

Amidst the intense pace of the lab, something began to catch Luca’s attention—Magnus frequently calling for Sarah. Normally, Sarah was composed and collected, but when speaking to Magnus, the tension on her face was hard to miss. Why would Magnus call someone who was merely Camille’s assistant four times in a single day? It made no sense.

While working with Camille, Luca subtly kept an eye on them. Magnus’s gaze was sharp and calculating. Sarah, whether she wanted to or not, seemed to be following his orders.

"Is this just a boss-employee relationship? Or is there something far deeper at play?"

Luca was so engrossed in his thoughts that he had disconnected from reality. Camille, noticing this, nudged him slightly and whispered, "Listen to me, Luca. If you make it this obvious, you'll ruin our entire chance. And... don’t put yourself in danger. Someone here cares about you, remember that."

Luca spent the rest of the day observing, but he still couldn’t decipher the connection between Sarah and Magnus. However, an unsettling feeling gnawed at him—something was off.

Towards the end of the day, Luca separated from Camille and headed toward the corridor where Sarah was. Once again, Magnus had summoned her, and her expression was colder than ever. The cheerful, talkative girl was gone. She listened to him with the discipline of a soldier following orders.

Luca couldn't suppress his suspicions any longer.

"There has to be a reason why Magnus keeps calling for Sarah so often..."

His thoughts were tangled, but one thing was certain: There was a secret here, and Luca was determined to uncover it. Understanding the Sarah-Magnus mystery might just be the key piece of the puzzle.