[Issue 56] [Results] What's The Password Returns!

[Shedinja 1,488]

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was not a challenge for the faint of heart, yet several of you still managed to persevere.

 

 

 

A round of applause to those that passed this mission with flying colors.

 

 

 

1st (40,000): @ExplosionsEverywhere

 

2nd (30,000): @N.o.6.o.d.y

 

3rd (20,000): @Therider

 

4th (10,000):

 

(The prizes had to be reduced in size a little since the maximum amounts allowed for Newspaper contest prizes were accidentally exceeded)

 

 

Excellent work, cadets. Rewards will be given out on Monday, 5th September. See you all at the next mission briefing. 

 

 

 

v v [Answer below] v v

 

In the beginning, you're granted only a series of what seems to be junk characters. However, anyone with experience in coding or with decent pattern following skills would have uncovered a common reoccurance throughout the paragraph. Essentially, the "jumbled mess" is actually basic HTML characters without proper semicolon stringing.

 

 

 

So, in essenece:

 

&dagger&Eta&Euml&mdash&Pi&Eacute&chi&tau&mdash&scaron&tau&isin&rho&mdash&icirc&sect&mdash&Eta

&iuml&ETH&ETH&Eacute&prod&mdash&scaron&oplus&Mu&notin&psi&Eta&eacute&real&ecirc&mdash&lceil

&ntilde&mdash&dagger&Eta&Xi&mdash&fnof&rceil&Gamma&sect&tau&mdash&Rho&Tau&mdash&oslash&fnof

&mdash&Mu&isin&Mu&Oslash&real&Yacute&mdash&aacute&lfloor&scaron&ocirc&mdash&real&isin&Mu&notin

&Mu&beta&euro&real&mdash&Tau&Eta&equiv&mdash&Pi&Uacute&Mu&Beta&notin&real&mdash&iota&sect&mdash

&dagger&omega&Theta&mdash&sect&uArr&chi&mdash&dagger&Eta&real&euro&isin

 

...should have been properly transformed to...

 

†ΗË—ΠÉχτ—šτ∈ρ—î

§—ΗïÐÐÉ∏—š⊕Μ∉ψΗ

éℜê—⌈ñ—†ΗΞ—ƒ⌉Γ

§τ—ΡΤ—øƒ—Μ∈ΜØℜÝ

—á⌊šô—ℜ∈Μ∉Μβ€ℜ

—ΤΗ≡—ΠÚΜΒ∉ℜ—ι§—

†ωΘ—§⇑χ—†Ηℜ€∈

 

...of which is then translated, is revealed to state:

 

†ΗË—ΠÉχτ—šτ∈ρ—ΗïÐÐÉ∏—š⊕Μ∉ψΗéℜê—⌈ñ—†ΗΞ—ƒ⌉Γ§τ—ΡΤ—øƒ—Μ∈ΜØℜÝ—á⌊šô—ℜ∈Μ∉Μβ€ℜ—ΤΗ≡—ΠÚΜΒ∉ℜ—ι§—†ωΘ—§⇑χ—†Ηℜ€∈

 

 

 

In a cleaner format, this would be read as:

 

"The next step is hidden somewhere in the first pt of Memory also remember the number is two six three"

 

 

 

Knowing this, your best lead forward would be to search @tweezers's first chapter of the story Memory. After a bit of digging, you'll find a hyperlink buried in the word Colonel. Following it should take you directly to an image link.

 

 

 

With this link, you're first greeted by a bright red line of text stating to "READ BETWEEN THE LINES", with a screenshot of the main topic washed out in the background. If you take the advice literally and return to the main topic to check between the two (hr) lines, you'll be directed to this page.

 

 

 

Upon entry, an equation is writen out.

 

"x = + 58000. Simplify into terms of Warrant Officer."

 

Now, before diving straight into Warrant Officer labeling, it would be pertinent to learn that Warrant Officer 3 consists of exactly 98000 experience points, according to this image from the Tanki Wiki. Add 98000 to 58000, and you get 156000 experience points, equaling the exact number of points required to reach Warrant Officer 5.

 

According to this, then

 

x =

 

Or, simply put,

 

x = 5

 

 

 

That's fantastic that you've found x, but one slight problem remains. The aforementioned page also asks you to then solve for y. So where might that be?

 

 

 

After a bit of digging, you may or may not come across the "READ BETWEEN THE LINES" page again. However, look a bit closer: not everything is the same. With some cross inspection, it becomes clear that some phrases and numbers do not match between the two. Upon closer inspection of the code, it becomes apparent that this is not the same, either.

 

 

 

After translation of

 

&euro&Eta&isin&iquest&kappa&mdash&dagger&Eta&egrave&mdash&otimes&Nu&lfloor&yen&mdash&weierp

&Oslash&scaron&Tau&mdash&theta&fnof&mdash&dagger&Eta&exist&mdash&thorn&ouml&kappa&isin&Mu&oplus

&alefsym&mdash&Ntilde&uacute&Mu&szlig&notin&reg&mdash&fnof&real&curren&Mu&mdash&beta&Xi&fnof

&Theta&real&epsilon&mdash&tau&curren&mdash&rho&real&oslash&sube&epsilon&equiv&ETH&mdash&reg

&Eacute&Mu&Xi&Mu&THORN&ecirc&real&mdash&dagger&loz&mdash&reg&epsilon&Delta&ETH&mdash&THORN

&egrave&Tau&omega&Epsilon&cong&prod&mdash&tau&Eta&isin&mdash&int&perp&eta&notin&scaron

 

...to the suitable format of...

 

€Η∈¿κ—†Ηè—⊗Ν⌊¥

—℘ØšΤ—θƒ—†Η∃—

þöκ∈Μ⊕ℵ—ÑúΜß∉®

—ƒℜ¤Μ—βΞƒΘℜε—τ¤

—ρℜø⊆ε≡З®ÉΜΞΜÞ

êℜ—†◊—®εΔЗÞèΤ

ωΕ≅∏—τΗ∈—∫⊥η∉š

 

...then the following message is uncovered:

 

€Η∈¿κ—†Ηè—⊗Ν⌊¥—℘ØšΤ—θƒ—†Η∃—þöκ∈Μ⊕ℵ—ÑúΜß∉®—ƒℜ¤Μ—βΞƒΘℜε—τ¤—ρℜø⊆ε≡З®ÉΜΞΜÞêℜ—†◊—®εΔЗÞèΤωΕ≅∏—τΗ∈—∫⊥η∉š

 

 

 

In a clearer format, it would appear as:

 

"Check the only post of the Pokemon number from before to proceed remember to read between the lines"

 

 

 

The last section is there to serve as a reminder to those who did not discover the (hr) secret first.

 

 

 

After confirming the Pokemon number previously referenced was @Zigzagoon, a.k.a 263, their post would have the following script:

 

 

 

 

 

Alright, so you figured out my number was 263.

 

You're not too far away from the answer, it seems. You've only a few more steps to go before you're out of the woods.

 

Since you've gotten so good at translating HTML, let's see you give this a try.

 

d43/[pdyo,h/pth(r-shift);e85kyv0j(r-shift)EJSYDYJR{SDDEPTFGOMS:WIRDYOPM/[mh

 

Have a good time.    ^_^ 

 

d = s

 

 

 

 

 

As hinted above, the line above is another code. This time, however, it has nothing to do with correlations to cyberspace organization systems, but something more abstract: the position of keys on the keyboard. d = s, in essence, is the key to translating this segment. Since 'd' is one space right from 's', one can assume that the entire character list is coded this way. (The (r-shift) segments support this line of thought.

 

After some painstaking translation, one can conclude that the above is decipherable as

 

https://s32.postimg.io/lw74jtc9h/WHATSTHEPASSWORDFINALQUESTION.png

 

 

 

Typing that link into the URL bar will give you a readily apparent final question segment, with an equation listed out.

 

"3x + 7 = 14 - y, solve for y using only integers. Answers with a variable in them will not be accepted. - 20 < y < 20; Did you read between the lines?"

 

The last segment, once again, is a hint towards the previous x equation, which is vital for simplifying the problem.

 

 

 

So, plugging in x to the equation, we're met with a simple algebra problem:

 

3(5) + 7 = 14 - y

 

15 + 7 = 14 - y

 

22 = 14 - y

 

22 + y = 14

 

y = - 8

 

 

 

Since - 20 < - 8 < 20, we know this is an answer that fits all of the criteria. If you've submitted this, pat yourself on the back. You and I both know who you are.

 

 

.

[Ninja 10,468]

Woooow, I seriously underestimated this.

[opidude 437]

mindblown :x

[DESTROYER_13 1,019]

NICE this was very cool.

[Blackdrakon30 2,943]

x_x

 

This was absurdly complex. I managed to get something very similar to the first line of the puzzle without using HTML solving, but I got no further. 

[falcosenna1 8,320]

Thanks for explaining the whole path to the password. I didn't make it till the end, and in all honesty, I did not even get past the beginning. :P Congratulations to the winners. :D

Edited September 3, 2016 by falcosenna1

[Cyborg 3,189]

That was something incredible :o

[x-manwini4 1]

NICE!!!

Congrats to those who won

[SHOAIB.ZAFAR 402]

:o

[sre123 595]

Congratulations guys!

[Legends_Live_Forever 332]

Completely mindblown. If I thought it was pretty hard, I would have spent a lot more time on it, but I didn't. Instead I had to say & for the answer. I'm such a nub.

 

 

 

Btw, congrats to all who won!!

Edited September 5, 2016 by Legends_Live_Forever

[M-axis 589]

Oh wow....that was COMPLICATED!!

[Jack_Fehran 34]

A way too amazing complicated huh  :huh:

[DESTROYER_13 1,019]

 

 

 

 

.

 

 

 

 

 

Close enough.

[bc200214_777 582]

NOO I got stuck on the d = s part and I gave up ;-; I didn't realize it would be soo abstract ;-; I wish I had thought of moving the characters ;-;

[bc200214_777 582]

But just curious, when did the 4th place winner submit his answer? How much time after the post was posted? o_O Also, how much time did the first place winner take? (Also, how many people submitted the correct answer?  :ph34r: )

Edited September 5, 2016 by bc200214_777

[DESTROYER_13 1,019]

NOO I got stuck on the d = s part and I gave up ;-; I didn't realize it would be soo abstract ;-; I wish I had thought of moving the characters ;-;

There is a chance I would have got that, if I got to there.

 

I watch CoolRiddles, it has a murder mystery video with something like that.

[kydapoot 570]

Wow I feel dumb right now. I googled the string and something about a mouse came up. MOUSE IS THE PASSWORD nah just kidding but my goodness thats crazy.

[BlueDragon_tamki 3,204]

That's too hard to understand :wacko:

[TriNitroToIuene 4,765]

 

 

 

 

Close enough.

There's a reason he's called Shedinja... :mellow:

[Flexoo 6,980]

^ wow Shed, you look good on that pic.

[DESTROYER_13 1,019]

There's a reason he's called Shedinja... :mellow:

Uhhh...Because he chose that name on 2nd December 2014?

[DESTROYER_13 1,019]

^ wow Shed, you look good on that pic.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No no no, the top one is @Shedinja. The bottom one is his good looking brother.

Edited September 9, 2016 by DESTROYER_13

[lost8302 5]

Wow, just wow.

 

*snipes computer  :mellow:

[DESTROYER_13 1,019]

Wow, just wow.

 

*snipes computer  :mellow:

The real question is:

 

 

Snipes with a Shaft, or Railgun? :ph34r:   .

 

Edited December 14, 2016 by DESTROYER_13