Hojo's Note

You find Hojo’s note on the floor of the first room to the left upon entering the Shinra Mansion. It reads:

"I must get rid of all those that stand in the way of my research. Even that one from the Turks. I scientifically altered him, and put him to sleep in the basement. If you want to find him, then search the area. But… this is merely a game I thought of. It is not necessary for you to participate if you don’t want to."

On a second paper, Hojo gives clues to unlocking Vincent:

"Move the dial on the safe carefully, but quickly. You have 20 seconds. You can not go past the numbers while turning. The 4 hints for the numbers are..."

Dial (1)

"The lid of the box with the most oxygen."

Dial (2)

"Behind the Ivory's short of tea and ray."

Dial (3)

"The creek in the floor near the chair on the second floor... then go to the left five steps, up nine steps, left two steps, and up six steps."

Invisible option

The fourth row has been written in invisible ink... Dial (4) is "Right 97"

The first clue leads Cloud to a circular room on the second floor. The room is filled with pots and long dead plants. In the middle of the room there is a treasure chest. Written on the back of the lid is the first number:

(1) Right 36

The second clue leads Cloud to the grand piano in the dining room on the first floor. A key is missing and written there is the second number:

(2) Left 10

The third clue directs Cloud to the chair in first room on the right of the hallway on the right side of the second floor. Counting his steps as the clue dictates, Cloud finds the third number written on the floor in the hallway outside the room:

(3) Right 59


Armed with the combination, Cloud and the others are able to open the safe in a room on the left wing of the second floor. After a boss fight, they acquire the key that will open the basement room where Vincent has been locked away.