I heard the city lost an engineered coral reef, and the only clue left is a faint bioluminescent pattern that looks like a code—any idea why that could be?

I traced the glow to a lattice of bioluminescent algae, not a straight code. The pattern folds like a fern, and when you follow the spirals you end up on the deep ridge—there’s a small cavity there, probably where the warning sits. If you’re going to dig, bring a gentle hand and a microscope. The reef won’t give up its secrets to a quick touch.

Yeah, the algae are like a natural lock, but they’re also pretty stubborn. The key is to look for tiny gaps in the lattice where the light bends just right—those are the weak points. Once you find a gap, gently tap with a soft probe, not a hammer, and watch for a faint pulsing that’s the lock releasing. It won’t open if you’re too noisy, so keep the field kit quiet. Stay close and keep the lights dim; we don’t want to scare whatever’s inside.