The door emits a soft hiss as it opens, splitting the circle with the symbol in half: one part slides to the left, the other to the right.
"28 digits, a combination seemingly impossible for anyone to guess, but not for me.
With my immense luck and a good dose of audacity, all I need to do is press the buttons randomly, certain that the result will always be the right one.
No need for logic or precision, just blind faith in destiny.
'Well,' I murmur, as the door slowly opens before me with a mechanical hiss. One panel slides to the left and the other to the right, splitting the symbol in half.
The air inside is cool and faintly scented with wax and ancient stone. 'Time to start the heist.'
I move confidently, without hesitation, through the empty halls. The museum is completely deserted, as silent as an abandoned temple, yet full of promises.
No guards, no alarms, at least for now. No living soul seems intent on stopping me.
******
Now I find myself inside the ventilation duct, a narrow and suffocating passage that allows me to bypass the security cameras scattered throughout the building.
It's strange they didn't even install a camera at the main entrance. I guess they were either too confident in their 28-digit security code or just wanted to save on costs.
'Maybe both,' I whisper to myself as I stop to peer through the duct's grating. Below me, illuminated by a faint beam of light, is tonight's prize: an extraordinary gem, a rare blue sapphire.
Its perfectly spherical shape is slightly flattened at the top. It rests delicately on a red velvet cushion, inside a bulletproof glass display case, seemingly impossible to break.
By my assessment, it could easily withstand a grenade explosion from Earth, though I have no idea of the standard explosive power in this world.
The cameras in the room are positioned with surgical precision: three devices that rotate on a 180-degree arc, covering every angle of the treasure.
However, after careful study, I've identified a weakness: an interval of exactly 3 seconds during which none of the cameras focus on the blue sapphire. It's a narrow margin, but enough.
With millimeter precision, I pull a small pen from my pocket. Not just any pen, but a device capable of emitting a concentrated heat beam, a sort of laser pen. It looks like something straight out of a sci-fi movie, and in fact, it's one of the most incredible objects I own.
Like many other things, I found it among the trash, in a pile of items most people would discard without a second thought. It was broken, but I used my 'special' method to fix it: I slammed it hard on the ground. Incredibly, it started working again.
I point the laser at the glass of the display case, holding my breath. I keep the beam active for 2.7 seconds, exactly the time needed before the cameras turn back.
I calmly repeat the operation until I create a perfect circle in the thick layer of glass.
'Perfect,' I murmur with a satisfied smile, as I also cut through the ventilation grate with the laser and gently move it aside. Now, all that's left is to descend.
'23:59,' I whisper, casting a quick glance at my watch. It's time. Without hesitation, I let myself drop from the duct, landing lightly on the display case. The glass beneath me emits a slight creak, but holds.
With extreme care, I reach out and grab the cut piece of glass, lifting it and gently placing it on the cushion.
My finger barely brushes the fabric before it touches the gem. It's cold to the touch, but its smooth and perfect surface radiates a strange energy.
I slip my hand through the hole and grasp the sapphire. Slowly, I rise, savoring the moment of triumph.
But suddenly, the cameras rotate and focus on me. A shrill sound fills the air, making the walls vibrate. The security alarm has been triggered.