Chapter 744 A lead
[ACCESS POINT DETECTED. ESTABLISHING CONNECTION.]
The process was completed after some moments, and the response from the system was instantaneous.
Erik felt a slight buzz in his mind, a telltale sign the supercomputer was interfacing with an external system. He waited.
[CONNECTION ESTABLISHED. LIVE FEED INCOMING.]
Erik's mind was filled with a succession of images resembling scenes from a movie unfolding on a screen.
The feed provided him with a view of the apartment building's interior.
Indeed, the place was fortified with a security system, just as he had suspected. There were cameras placed throughout the building, their lenses capturing every angle, every corner.
His view encompassed the lobby, the hallways, and the elevator, giving him a comprehensive perspective of the surroundings. The entire place was kept under constant surveillance at all times.
<Check for cameras inside the woman's apartment. >
[PROCESS STARTED. SCANNING FOR TARGET APARTMENT.]
The images in Erik's mind shifted, the view moving upwards as the supercomputer worked to show the woman's apartment.
[TARGET APARTMENT LOCATED. SCANNING FOR SURVEILLANCE DEVICES.]
The feed flickers apartment.
[TARGET APARTMENT LOCATED. SCANNING FOR SURVEILLANCE DEVICES.]
The feed flickered again, this time focusing on the woman's apartment. The view was from outside the door, but Erik could see the high-tech security pad next to it, its screen glowing with a soft blue light.
[SURVEILLANCE DEVICES INSIDE THE APARTMENT DETECTED. ESTABLISHING CONNECTION TO CAMERAS.]
Erik felt another buzz in his mind as the supercomputer interfaced with the cameras.
The feed shifted again, this time showing him various angles of the woman's apartment.
Adorned with modern art pieces and plush furniture, the living room was both spacious and elegant.
The kitchen was sleek and high-tech, with state-of-the-art appliances glistening under the overhead lights.
The bedroom was a sanctuary of comfort and luxury, with a king-sized bed and floor-to-ceiling windows offering a breathtaking view of the city.
But what caught Erik's attention was the absence of life. The apartment was empty. It was devoid of any signs of recent activity. The woman was not there, and it looked like she hadn't been in a while.
[APARTMENT IS CURRENTLY UNOCCUPIED.]
The supercomputer's mechanical voice resonated in Erik's mind, its tone devoid of any emotional inflection.
"Damn it."
Erik hoped to find the woman at home and avoid useless searches through the city that could lead the mercenaries to find him. But the apartment's emptiness threw a wrench in his plans.
<Scan for anything we could use to track her down. >
There had to be something in the apartment. Even if the woman hadn't been there for a while, maybe she left a device connected to her accounts, from which he could infer her general location.
<I need to at least narrow down the area. >
[STARTING SCAN.]
The images in Erik's mind changed, the supercomputer shifting its focus from the overall view of the apartment to specific items. It scanned the living room, the kitchen, and the bedroom, each time coming up empty.
In the end, the feed focused on a small device sitting on a table by the window.
A tablet-like device sat on a table by the window, but it was turned off, the screen dark and unresponsive.
[DEVICE DETECTED. CURRENT STATE: INACTIVE. MANUAL INTERVENTION REQUIRED FOR ACTIVATION.]
A bitter laugh escaped Erik's lips. "Better than nothing, I suppose."
That was just what he needed to start the day at the right pace.
<Why does everything have to start the wrong way? >
Erik sighed. It wasn't like he could avoid that. At least he knew the system could deactivate the surveillance system and no one would be able to see him.
Still cloaked in his Chameleon Veil, Erik approached the towering apartment building.
His footsteps were silent, his form almost indistinguishable from the surroundings.
He slipped past the security cameras unnoticed, their lenses capturing nothing but empty space.
He made his way to the elevator, his movements swift and precise. The elevator sprang to life when Erik pressed the button, and after a brief wait, he arrived on the right floor.
<System: access the apartment security systems and unlock the door. >
[ACCESSING APARTMENT SECURITY SYSTEMS... DOOR UNLOCKED.]
A soft click echoed through the hallway as the door unlocked. Erik approached it cautiously. The last thing he wanted was for someone finding out he was there.
With caution, he nuzzled the door open, ensuring that no noise would be made to potentially alert the neighbors.
With a gentle swing, the door opened and exposed the woman's apartment, which was adorned with luxury and elegance.
As Erik stepped inside the room, he immediately began scanning every corner with his eyes. His gaze landed on the device.
<Found you. >
Erik picked it up and pressed the power button, but the screen remained dark.
<Just what I needed…>
He then started rummaging through the apartment for the charger. After having gone through a series of drawer he found one. He connected the cable to the device and started charging it.
The device hummed to life, a small light blinking on its side. Erik set it down on the table, watching as the light blinked faster and faster.
After what felt like an eternity, the device finally powered on, its screen glowing with life.
However, after the device turned on, it required a password.
<Seriously… System, unlock this fucking thing. >
[ACCESSING DEVICE... SECURITY PROTOCOLS BYPASSED.]
The screen flickered, then cleared to reveal the device's home screen. Erik could see several messaging apps, their icons bright and colorful against the dark background.
<Scan messages for recent activity. >
[SCANNING MESSAGES... RECENT ACTIVITY DETECTED.]
The messages were thoroughly sorted by the supercomputer, which boasted an unparalleled processing speed.
Following a brief pause, it conveyed the results of its investigation.
[TARGET IS CURRENTLY MEETING A FRIEND AT ASTERION BOULEVARD, CAELORA CITY.]
Erik's face slowly lit up with a smile. This was what he needed. He had a location, a lead to follow. His mission was back on track. "Perfect," he said to himself, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.
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