As the train was going at full throttle toward the eastern district. Erik leaned against the window of the sky train, his eyes glued to the view outside. As the vehicle sped towards the eastern district, passing through the vast, tall skyscrapers that characterized New Alexandria, he watched the scenery change.
The once towering skyscrapers gave way to smaller buildings: from three to four stories, to even six and seven-story buildings in some cases, and ended up to the not-so-small villas and mansions that could be seen from afar. The change in scenery made Erik wonder about the stark contrast between the rich and poor neighborhoods in the city, and he couldn't help but ponder on the issues of inequality and social justice in which this nation basked in.
Of course, from there, Erik could also see the other parts of the city; the average person's housing was simply made up of four- or five-story buildings and was not that large compared to the rich men's and women's houses.
Erik could, however, also see the destruction the thaids had wrought, particularly in this area of the city where they had entered. Buildings that had fallen down and neighborhoods that had been left empty were everywhere, showing that the city had been in chaos for the past few days. Cars were upturned, and buildings were destroyed. Only the wealthy people's houses were still safe, thanks to the many defenses placed around them.
But even amidst the destruction, life had returned to a semblance of normalcy. People bustled about on the streets below, going about their daily lives as if the chaos had never happened, avoiding the places where it was clear there were still humans, and thaid remains to stain the ground. Many companies worked hard to clean the city, but there were so many places in those awful conditions that they weren't enough to erase the thaids' remnants from the pavements.
Even though the companies worked hard to erase those stains, the people's memories of the terrible attack stayed with them like permanent ink. This made them feel uneasy and scared every day. Rich people kept fortifying their homes, while poor people worked hard to rebuild what they had lost.
Erik's attention was drawn to the mansions and villas that dot the landscape as the train neared the wealthiest part of the eastern district. They stood in stark contrast to the small, average people's houses he had seen earlier. The streets were lined with trees and manicured lawns, and the air smelled of freshly cut grass.
Erik couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy at the sight. He had grown up in a small apartment with barely anything to eat. His life has been challenging, while all these owners' lives have been as easy as possible. Take Achim, for example: born into a wealthy family with many connections, look, and opportunities. However, despite all that, he wasn't a great fighter. Sure, he was above the average person his age, thanks to all the money his father spent on his training and education, but he was still much weaker than the average Red Palace student.
<It's true… People can't properly use the opportunities they are given…> Erik thought.
After a short while, the train stopped at the station, and Erik stepped off. Despite essentially being in another world, he remained focused now that he was on the ground again.
After he got off the train, the awakener observed that no member of the Crystal Cross gang was there, probably because they didn't want to mess up with the city's higher-ups. He then walked down the platform towards the elevator, but as he did so, he observed his surroundings, searching for potential threats nearby. It was better to be safe than sorry.
The train station was bustling with people, but there was a sense of calm in the air, unlike the chaos of the city center. He could see the usual shops scattered around the station, but they were more high-end than those in the other districts. He quickly arrived at the elevator and waited for it to arrive.
The walls were decorated with beautiful murals depicting the history of the city. The floor was made of polished marble, and the ceiling was high with intricate designs etched into it. As he stepped into the elevator, he couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the station's grandeur.
When the elevator arrived, Erik stepped in and pressed the button for the ground floor. As the machine descended, he couldn't stop thinking about what he would find in front of Achim's house.
Then he quickly left the station and started walking toward the guy's house, following his map app through the biological supercomputer.
Erik quickly stepped into the wealthiest neighborhood of the eastern district. His eyes constantly scanning the area for any sign of danger. The mansions and villas were grand, with sprawling gardens and swimming pools. It was a world away from the cramped apartments and crowded streets of the rest of the city. The streets were quiet, with only the occasional car flying above.
Erik walked with measured and controlled steps down the clean streets of the wealthy neighborhood. The villas and mansions towered above him, casting long shadows in the sun despite the star almost down the horizon. Although the beauty of the surroundings was a lot, the atmosphere was tense and ominous, and Erik couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched. That was true, as many cameras were currently looking at him. Still, he couldn't turn them all off since they were probably tied to defensive systems and alarms that would make all the guards stationed around to investigate the matter, putting him at risk of being found out. However, he had to do something.
<System, deactivate all the cameras that will frame my face.> Erik was still wearing his mask, so there was no risk he would be recognized. However, reducing the odds was essential. The idea was only to deactivate some of the cameras so that, at best, the guards would think of a faulty device or some minor problems.
[UNDERSTOOD. START SCANNING THE AREA. TRIANGULATING. CONNECTING. DO YOU WANT TO TURN OFF NOTIFICATIONS?]
<Only the ones relative to the connection, disconnection, and deactivations of the devices.>
[UNDERSTOOD. TASK COMPLETE.]
As he walked, it didn't take much time for Erik's thoughts to wander to the immense wealth and power that lay hidden behind the high walls and guarded gates around him, and he was aware his target was hidden somewhere in this area, among all the wealth and luxury, and he was headed there.
The awakener kept his head up, and his eyes peeled for any signs of danger, but Erik remained calm and focused despite everything. He knew that he had to keep his wits if he wanted to gather the information he needed. He carefully walked past each mansion, taking note of any details that could prove useful in his future endeavor.
The young man kept walking until he finally found himself at the foot of the mansion he had been searching for, Achim's house.
Erik continued walking down the street while his eyes were fixed on the huge villa at the end of the road. Towering metal fences with barbed wire coiling along the top encircled the mansion. The security cameras mounted on the walls swiveled, scanning the area for potential threats. Erik could see the automatic weapons strewn across the perimeter, their barrels pointing at anyone approaching uninvited.
Erik could see the sprawling garden beyond the fence as he got closer. It was immaculately maintained, with rows of neatly trimmed hedges and fountains spraying water into the air. There were even peacocks strutting about, their iridescent feathers glinting in the setting sun.
<Truly a show of opulence,> the young man thought.
But as beautiful as the garden was, it was clear that its primary purpose was to serve as a barrier. The garden was too big to walk through, and the fences and cameras ensured no one could get in without being invited. More defenses were probably placed in the ground, as in the Red Palace. Erik knew that he had to be careful not to enter their aim.
He couldn't afford to be recognized by the cameras, or else he would have risked alerting the security guards or, worse, Achim. At the same time, he couldn't turn off the surveillance system through the biological supercomputer, as that would alert the guards too. He continued to walk down the street, trying to keep his movements casual as he carefully observed the villa. However, he could connect to the cameras inside to see what was happening.
<System, connect to the surveillance cameras, and find all the people inside.>
[UNDERSTOOD, CONNECTING TO THE VILLA'S SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM. COMPLETED]
Multiple images appeared on the screen, displaying the different parts of the mansion. He carefully observed the live feed from the cameras and noticed that there were more guards inside than he had anticipated. He also saw Achim's father talking to someone on the phone in the study room. His mother was getting ready in her dressing room, probably for some fancy dinner they would attend later, while many butlers were doing their work. However, there was no sign of Achim.
Erik furrowed his eyebrows and continued to scan through the cameras in the villa. He searched through the ones showing the interior rooms, even the ones showing the garden, hoping to catch a glimpse of the guy who helped Nathaniel.
But, to Erik's disappointment, there was no trace of the guy. He searched through every corner of the garden, but all he saw were the lush greenery, exotic plants, and a few mansions while circling the place.
Frustrated, Erik leaned back on a wall and pondered his next move. He couldn't afford to leave empty-handed, but he also couldn't risk getting caught. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and tried to think of any other way to get something out of this trip.
<System, can you scan this place's defenses, cameras, and rooms? I want a complete map of the place.>
[ANSWER: YES. DO YOU WISH ME TO DO IT RIGHT NOW?]
<Indeed.>
[PROCESS STARTING. 3…2…1… PROCESS COMPLETE. SENDING INFORMATION TO THE BRAIN THROUGH THE BRAIN INFORMATION INJECTOR.]
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