From Titan Corporation to the Empire of Man

"Excuse me, you two."

The waitress carrying the tray walked to the table, placed the plate and water glass filled with delicious food and refreshing drinks on the table, and said with a smile:

"Here are your Aragonia, Sicilian pizza, Alicotta and two Coca-Cola. Do you want to pay in cash? Or scan the QR code?"

"Scan the code."

Leon took out the civilian version of the Titan mobile phone, scanned the QR code on the corner of the table, and quickly completed the payment for him and his companions, and also gave a 30% tip of the meal.

! !

"Thank you!" Seeing that Leon generously paid a 30% tip, the waiter's smile did not contain a hint of performance, and he immediately expressed his blessing in Italian: "I wish you and your companions a happy day, please enjoy it slowly. Bar."

"Thank you for your blessing, ma'am."

?

The waiter obviously didn't expect that Leon could speak Italian proficiently.

However, Leon's attention had already returned to the dining table, and he smiled and looked at his companion sitting opposite, Mike Monady, who was performing the investigation mission with him, and said:

"What are you looking at? Eat quickly, I'm too hungry."

"Tsk tsk." Mike, who had neat short hair and a slightly longer beard, shook his head slightly. He glanced at the waiter who was walking away under his sunglasses. He held his chin with his left hand and sighed: "It seems I have to shave. I can't always do this. It’s sloppy.”

"Why are you shaving so well?" Leon was puzzled.

"It's okay! Eat!" Mike started eating pizza directly.

Next, the two joked and chatted from time to time, and tasted fried rice balls with Aragonese sauce, local extra-large Sicilian pizza, and crispy and delicious Alicote fried fish. It seemed It's like good friends taking advantage of the company's vacation to come here to travel and have fun together.

But in fact, these two are investigators affiliated with Atlas.

Lyon officially joined the company in 1994, and it has been five years now, while Mike Monadi joined the company in 1990. If compared to the combat forces, Mike is definitely among the "elite veterans."

At the same time, if the two of them encounter decision-making differences during the operation, Mike also has absolute command authority on the scene.

Since discussion posts and graphic videos such as "#aretherearewerewolves in the world?" and "#Will there be vampires too?" appeared on the Internet, the two of them began to investigate.

First, based on IP addresses and various Internet revelations, the two disguised themselves as reporters from tabloids and conducted interviews. They contacted some users who posted relevant pictures and videos and learned that most of the shooting locations were in Rome, Sicily, Italy, or Pablo, Greece. Cities or regions like Trey and Lefkasi.

Afterwards, the two began a "European Tour", visiting the vicinity of the filming location in various capacities, and learned in detail about a large number of urban legends about vampires and werewolves through local residents.

Some residents even mentioned "Empsa", "Lamia", "Hecate" and other mythological characters and monsters from the ancient Greek and Roman periods.

After a period of investigation, Leon and Mike were certain that there was a stronghold of abnormal creatures in Italy.

But that group of abnormal creatures also know how to surf the Internet, and seem to be aware that their whereabouts may be exposed, and then become more and more cautious. There is very little useful information that can be obtained.

Fortunately, colleagues in the company's network department were also working overtime, assisting the two in closely monitoring surveillance cameras in Italy and providing a large number of clues.

Coupled with the information obtained from secret lurking and investigation, the two of them gradually came to Syracuse, Sicily, and finally set their sights on a bar called "Twilight".

Because two days ago, a man wearing a mask was captured on surveillance video in the southeast of the city.

Colleagues from the Internet Department used technical means to make comparisons, combined with visual inferences, and initially determined that the man wearing the mask was most likely one of the "werewolves" whose facial details were exposed online.

Leon and Mike, who learned this key news, actually happened to track down Sicily.

Immediately afterwards, the two asked local taxi drivers and actively participated in beach parties with a large flow of people. Finally, they found the Twilight Bar in the southeast of the city.

That is, the bar across the street that is within their sight.

at this time.

"Phew!" Mike wiped his hands with a tissue, and glanced at the bar that was closed at the front door, and said, "Eat and drink enough, go back to sleep later, and then drink again in the evening. Thinking about it, I feel like It’s cool.”

"Otherwise we are friends, and I just wanted to say the same thing to you." Leon smiled.

"I know a few good bars and nightclubs."

The waitress who was about to clear the table heard that the two of them seemed to be interested in going to the bar to spend money, so she kindly reminded: "You can go to Umbrella Tower and Trico in Uptown District. The drinks are cheap and there are many people, or Mar in Xicheng District." Leah Horan, it’s relatively quiet there, and the resident singers and bands are very famous locally.”

After all, Leon tipped her too much, so the waitress didn't want the two of them to be ripped off by the local bar, not to mention that in her eyes, the two of them came here just for vacation.

Upon hearing the reminder, Mike raised his right hand, stretched out his thumb, pointed to the Twilight Bar behind him and asked: "Where is that bar? I think it looks pretty good."

The waitress who was already clearing the table curled her lips and replied: "Twilight. It's too expensive. They are a membership system. The admission fee alone is 60,000 US dollars. This is worth my two years' salary." "

Speaking of this, the waitress here stacked the empty plates together, shrugged, and said helplessly: "That's why I haven't been in since I was born. I heard that they only served a few local wealthy people at the beginning, and only recently served foreigners. Rich people, but I don’t know their specific customer screening mechanism, sorry.”

"Why are you saying sorry?" Leon stood up and continued to thank you in proficient Italian: "Thank you for the reminder. It is enough to avoid detours and unnecessary expenses. Thank you, my kind-hearted friend."

After saying that, Leon and Mike left the outdoor seating area of ​​the restaurant and returned to the street outside the railing.

"."

Seeing that the two figures had completely disappeared, the slightly dazed waitress picked up the empty plates and empty bowls and walked towards the restaurant's back kitchen.

Shortly after.

In the alley shortcut leading to the Seaview Hotel;

"I really envy your speaking skills. Come on, teach me." Mike put his hand on Leon's shoulder and teased.

"I'm just maintaining basic courtesy." Leon replied seriously.

"Do you think I will believe it?" Mike raised his eyebrows.

"I'm telling the truth."

"Okay, just think I believe you again, go back to the house and sleep."

At this time, the two of them had returned to the hotel lobby and stepped onto the fourth floor with noise-reducing carpet via the walking ladder. Finally, they reached a double room with house number 436 on the left side at the end of the corridor.

Swipe your card to enter the house.

Lock the door.

Leon and Mike instantly changed from enjoying their vacation to a dignified and serious state. They took out the investigators' exclusive mobile phones and began to scan the entire room.

After they confirmed that there were no listening devices nearby or people posted on the wall to eavesdrop, Leon and Mike's expressions gradually slowed down.

Turn on the alert mode of your phone.

Leon sat on the single bed by the window and said in a low voice: "It seems that the target location is indeed a membership system, which is consistent with our investigation results in the past two days."

"Well." Mike also sat on the bed and analyzed: "Even the locals know nothing about it, which shows that the confidentiality measures are quite thorough. At least before the Internet became popular, the locals living nearby had never heard of it. Said Twilight Bar.”

"The legends of vampires and werewolves passed down by people, as well as some documents that cannot be verified as true or false. Maybe those abnormal creatures have been in the main universe for hundreds of years." Leon gave his speculation:

"When we humans enter the technological age, they have to hide in the shadows of society and cities. Now there are surveillance and networks, which has caused their living space to be further compressed. Do you think they are accidents? Exposed to public view?”

"Accident?" Mike frowned, "Maybe. After all, no matter which race there is, they have big intentions. Anyway, it doesn't conflict with us locking their strongholds."

"Yes, then I will report this to my superiors first, and then I will ask about the location of the ARS (rapid response) people." Lyon said.

"Okay." Mike had no objection.

Leon operated his investigator's mobile phone.

Not long after, a small holographic screen appeared on the phone, which also showed an image of Ada Wang in a red uniform.

"Director, we have investigated a gathering place where suspected abnormal creatures gather."

The first time he saw Ada, Leon, as the initiator of the communication, immediately reported the latest situation and asked at the end: "Director, can the location of the ARS team be shared?"

"Can."

Ada on the other side of the screen approved the request and opened permissions for their exclusive mobile phones.

Now, Leon and Mike can check the location of the ARS team secretly deployed in Italy at any time, and can also have real-time calls with the ARS team leader.

Then Ada asked in her usual cold tone: "How do you plan to enter the target area and carry out a strong attack? Or continue to use tourist identities to infiltrate. If you choose the latter, the company will give you sufficient operational funds and more comprehensive forgery Certificate.”

Hear the words.

Mike took over from Leon and responded: "We are going to implement it simultaneously. One investigator will enter through the main entrance with a forged identity, and another investigator will respond outside. In this way, we can judge whether ARS intervention is needed based on the situation on site."

"Okay, do you have any other questions or requests?"

"That's all, Director," Mike said.

"." Ada nodded and ended the communication.

And Leon also put away his exclusive mobile phone and asked: "Who is responding outside?"

"Of course it's me. In terms of experience, I have much more experience than you, but in terms of words, I think you are more suitable." Mike picked up the remote control and turned on the air conditioner, then closed his eyes and lay down, "Get some rest quickly, there will be more at night. busy."

Leon didn't say anything more, but he also lay down on the bed, ready to close his eyes and take a nap.

22:38.

late at night.

On the east coast of Sicily, the lights of Syracuse are as bright as New Accra or Seattle on the west coast of the United States, but from a global perspective, this is still a "city that never sleeps" that is hard to ignore.

As night falls, there are a large number of lights and screens with three-dimensional effects between the outline of the building and the street, which is completely different from the comfortable and comfortable style during the day.

People either toasted around the beach bonfire or gathered beside the ancient monuments to enjoy the magnificent free "war drama", deeply feeling the history of Syracuse.

In fact, the local government purchased a batch of the most advanced holographic equipment from Atlas, and then restored the original appearance of the temple and the ancient city through the covering holographic projection technology.

Then the real actors and holographic special effects combined to perform superb war dramas and vividly present historical scenes to tourists.

Tourists from all over the world will share what they see and hear in Syracuse on the Internet, including bloggers with a fan base and popular stars.

In this way, more potential consumers will be attracted, which will greatly promote the local economic development of Syracuse.

At the same time, this has also brought considerable income to Atlas. After all, not only Syracuse, but also Athens in Greece and Paris in France are successful cases, which makes governments of various countries interested in purchasing professional equipment with a price of "billions".

The Twilight Bar is located in the southwest of Syracuse.

The coastal streets are the most lively areas.

The seaside restaurants, barbecues, bars and nightclubs are almost overcrowded. Some tourists seem to have just got off the plane and are eager to spend money here before they have time to adjust to the jet lag.

Compared with the lively and long queues in front of other bars, the Night Bar is very deserted. There are only two burly security guards guarding the door, and occasionally stopping outsiders who don't know the rules.

At this time.

A courtesy car designed to receive special passengers turned the corner and drove into the street where the Night Bar is located.

Then, the two security guards saw a man about 25 or 26 years old get out of the back seat and walk to the door of the bar.

Seeing that the man was wearing an expensive handmade suit, but his hair was a little messy, the two security guards directly labeled him as a "playboy from nowhere".

When the man approached, a security guard raised his hand to stop him: "Boy, don't go any further."

Another security guard took out a POS machine and a QR code: "Either show your membership card or pay 60,000."

"That's all the money?"

The man took out the latest Atlas collectible giant phone and paid 60,000 without hesitation.

After the two security guards finished searching him and took away all the electronic products, they said "Have fun" and let the man go.

It should be said that they let Leon, who was disguised, enter the bar.