I dismantled both readers, salvaging usable parts from the damaged one and combining them with the outdated spare. My fingers worked quickly, rewiring circuits, adjusting connections, and upgrading components on the fly. This was where my abilities truly shined—not just fixing but improving, creating something better from the wreckage.
As I worked, I could feel Yuri watching me. His massive form hadn't moved, but the quality of his silence had changed. When I glanced up, his eyes were wider, his arms no longer quite so tightly crossed.
"What's wrong, Watchdog? Impressed?" I smirked, holding up the newly constructed reader that now featured an enhanced security protocol and faster response time.
Yuri didn't answer, but his silence was telling enough.
I installed the new reader, programming it to interface seamlessly with the existing system. With a final touch, I sent a surge of energy through the device, bringing it online with capabilities far beyond its original design.
"There," I said, stepping back to admire my work. "Now you've got top-of-the-line security that would cost you thousands on the open market. You're welcome."
"You can do all that... just by touching it?" Yuri finally asked, his voice quieter than I'd heard it before.
"Among other things," I said with a wink that made him frown again.
"The boss didn't mention this... extent of your abilities."
I shrugged. "Maybe he wanted to surprise you. Or maybe he knows how to keep his cards close to his chest, unlike somepeople." I looked pointedly at Yuri's face, which was now an open book of reluctant amazement.
He quickly schooled his features back into his default scowl. "Are you finished showing off?"
"For now," I replied cheerfully. "But the night is young and I'm just getting started."
The look of alarm that flashed across Yuri's face was almost worth the trip to the basement.
Almost.
I wiped my hands on my lounge pants after finishing the last of the obvious repairs. The basement's chill was seeping into my bones, but I wasn't about to ask Yuri for a sweater.
I'd rather freeze than give him the satisfaction.
Instead, I leaned against a humming server rack, letting its warmth radiate against my back as I studied the security chief's rigid posture. The big question wasn't if their security sucked—I already knew it did—but rather how much they realized it sucked.
"So, Watchdog," I said casually, "what keeps you up at night? Security-wise, I mean."
Yuri's head snapped toward me, his eyes narrowing with suspicion. The question had clearly caught him off-guard. His massive frame tensed, and for a second, I thought he might actually growl at me.
"Why do you ask?" His voice rumbled from somewhere deep in his chest.
I shrugged. "Professional curiosity. I'm stuck in your basement anyway, might as well make myself useful."
And figure out all your weak points in case I need to escape later.
Yuri stood silent for so long I thought he might have turned into a statue. His eyes never left mine, like he was trying to readmy thoughts through sheer intimidation. I'd faced worse stares from scarier people. I just raised an eyebrow and waited.
Finally, he exhaled heavily. "Physical breaches at the service entrance. Network intrusions through the restaurant's public Wi-Fi." He paused, then reluctantly added, "And coordinated attacks that might target both simultaneously."
I couldn't help myself. I snorted. "Amateur hour."
His eyes flashed dangerously. "Excuse me?"
"Your concerns," I clarified, pushing myself away from the server rack and dramatically cracking my knuckles. "They're like worrying about someone picking your front door lock while you've got open windows and a glass back door." I gestured at the mess of cables and servers around us. "Watch and learn, Watchdog. I'm about to rock your world."
Without waiting for permission, I slid into the chair at the main terminal and my fingers flew over the keyboard. The system architecture unfolded before me like a familiar neighborhood—poorly designed, with dangerous shortcuts and blind alleys everywhere.
"Your network segmentation is a joke," I muttered, pulling up command prompts and configuration files. "You've got your security cameras on the same subnet as your financial data. Might as well put a welcome mat out for hackers."
Yuri moved closer, his massive shadow falling over my workspace. "What are you doing?"
