You and dAnkan hastily exit the sled, still embracing your solid Djungelskog (article number: 204.028.50) aura with your blue IKEA bags, and walk towards the Wintergate Hotel. Upon reaching the entrance, a placard catches your attention.
Built, owned and managed by Antonín
“Uhm, and who exactly is this Antonín-fellow?” you ask dAnkan as you take off your oversized IKEA bag.
“wHo iS ANtOníN. It’s good that I didn’t hire you for a comedic act, you need to practice on your delivery quite a bit!” dAnkan answers while picking up your IKEA bag and putting it under their wing. “Oh wait, you’re actually serious? He’s a friend of Santa of course you silly duck. He’ll help us set up our new office.”
With a light shrug you reach for the door handle, expecting a warm greeting as soon as you walk through the door, you are so close to Santa after all. But right before you grab it, dAnkan pulls your hand away with their greasy feathers.
“Ugh, what am I even paying you for?! We can’t just walk in here, we have to prove that we are loyal to Santa first, as for any normal hotel here in the North Pole. DUH!” dAnkan says as they try to hide what you can only describe to be some orange gooey liquid.
“But you aren’t paying me anything, remember?” you answer dAnkan, while trying to get a better look at the liquid.
“Anywho, since you believe that you are so loyal to Santa, why don’t you solve this little riddle Antonín has prepared for us to enter. Just follow whatever path your feathers feel natural and I’m sure you’ll get it in no time.” dAnkan says and taps towards a piece of paper stuck to the wall with the help of the same gooey liquid, next to the placard. A piece of paper you could’ve sworn was not there when you arrived.
Looking at it, the following can be read:
juy67gdi qep5uixdg8 kif78ctwdh qep5yixdg8 5678fdx pukxbhg76 xdg8ctr0lsz
“That sure looks cryptic…” you say hesitantly.
“Bah! No it’s not, Antonín isn’t like that! Just look it over and solve it,” replies dAnkan while trying to flick some more goo off their wings.