There should only be 3 screws, one below the gear stick gaitor, and one either side on the lower dash sections. I'm not sure what lock you're talking about, but on mine you can remove the centre console with ease, with the stick and gaitor still attached. Undo screws, slide back and lift.
I feel your pain on the mouldy carpets, my passenger door membrane is torn and over the past 2 months its collected a small pond with its very own wildlife in the rear passenger footwell

I used a cup and spoon to scoop the majority of the water out, and I will steam clean the carpet - I cba removing the carpets again (not the first time this has happened).
This was a good time for me...


Which leads to nice and clean and dry

but the carpets took about 4/5 days to air dry!

Easiest way to do it is to just stick a dehumidifier and a heater in the car for about 20 hours and you'll probably fine you'll clear the whole lot without the need to remove the carpets