Upon hearing this, the investigator pressed the elevator call button, glanced at Ziegler, and after saying, "Alright, Ms. Ziegler," fell silent once more.
This left Ziegler, who had entered the panoramic elevator with him, unsure of how to continue the conversation, so she too remained quiet.
The dawn light streamed through the windows, revealing a breathtaking coastline in the distance, and as they drew closer, the meticulously planned streets and neighborhoods came into view.
Among the many high-rise buildings, only the Atlas Corporation's Akra Branch Tower in the city center stood out as a truly iconic landmark.
The streets below were bustling with traffic, with most vehicles being the latest models. Pedestrians in sharp business attire hurried to their respective workplaces, moving in a rhythm that seemed to define the city's pace.
The city's main thoroughfares showcased an efficient transportation network, with high-speed trains zooming between skyscrapers, while subway entrances and exits were strategically scattered across several main roads.
Sidewalks, intersections, and even traffic signs were integrated with holographic technology, ensuring smoother interactions between vehicles and pedestrians, significantly reducing the likelihood of traffic congestion, and alleviating the transportation pressure of the city's population. This created a convenient and livable urban environment for the residents.
Not long ago, news anchors were discussing how Atlas would popularize virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies within the next two years. However, in Akra, these technologies had already become a regular part of city life.
The arrival of Atlas had brought about a dramatic transformation to this city, which had previously been unremarkable in terms of public safety, economy, and other areas.
It wasn't just Akra—every city where Atlas had established a presence was quietly yet rapidly developing.
At this moment, the bustling scenery vanished as the panoramic elevator descended into the underground parking garage.
The doors slid open.
Leaving the elevator, Ziegler followed the investigator named Valentine into a black SUV.
The hum of the engine reverberated through the parking garage as the vehicle started, activating the dashboard display, some holographic indicators, and the car's AI, which had a feminine but emotionless voice as it reported:
"Welcome back, Agent Jill Valentine. In your assigned vehicle, 36 systems are showing green, and 1 system is showing yellow. The yellow system is the vehicle's emergency suspension device, which could not be fully diagnosed by the vehicle's self-scan. It is recommended that Agent Valentine have the vehicle serviced at the company's designated facility.
"Now scanning the identity of the front passenger...
"Scan complete. Front passenger Angela Ziegler Cage has temporary riding privileges, which will expire in three hours.
"A friendly reminder: Please negotiate an extension with the vehicle owner, Agent Valentine, before the expiration, or leave the vehicle voluntarily. Otherwise, the vehicle will take measures to remove you.
"Lastly, the temperature in Akra City is 27°C, with a humidity of 68%. The weather is clear, making it ideal for travel. Have a pleasant day."
As the AI finished its report, the view outside the windows had already changed from the underground garage to the street above, where they were now waiting at a red light.
Ziegler, meanwhile, sat with her mouth slightly agape, unable to contain her astonishment.
She knew the company was focused on cutting-edge technology and that it was "far ahead" in fields like electronics, but she hadn't expected to be so impressed by something as simple as the investigator's assigned vehicle.
Emergency suspension device? Could it really mean what it says—an emergency suspension or even a flight device?
Magnetic levitation? Although she wasn't an expert in engineering, she knew that magnetic levitation was still in the experimental stage due to high costs, complexity, safety issues, and material limitations. Yet, the company had managed to apply this technology to the vehicles used by its investigators, indirectly indicating that the company had even more advanced high-tech products.
At this moment, taking advantage of the red light, Jill reached out her right hand and lightly touched the dashboard, bringing up a holographic screen in front of Ziegler, and sternly reminded her:
"Angela Ziegler Cage, please carefully review the terms of the confidentiality agreement. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me directly. But understand that once you sign the confidentiality agreement, you will be strictly bound by its terms for the rest of your life. Any consequences of violating these terms will be solely your responsibility."
"Alright."
After hearing Jill's cautionary words, Ziegler curbed her curiosity and focused on reading the confidentiality agreement on the holographic screen.
The more she read, the more she frowned.
The terms included:
"Before going to the other side of the 'Gate,' you must submit an application to your immediate superior and may not discuss this matter with anyone until the application is approved."
"If you witness any anomalies, report them immediately to the nearest company armed unit. Do not conceal them, and do not discuss them with anyone."
Faced with these puzzling terms, Ziegler began to seriously consider whether to sign the confidentiality agreement, especially since the consequences of violating the terms were explicitly marked with the word "death."
However, as a top student, she knew that to gain a better research environment and turn her ideas into reality, the best way was to join the company's core team.
Her salary would see a significant increase, and the benefits extended to her entire family were hard to resist.
More importantly, nine years ago, her father had been discharged from the military due to injury, requiring a large amount of medication for rehabilitation. However, the well-known service attitude of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) included cumbersome administrative procedures that led staff to treat soldiers with coldness and indifference, along with the government constantly diverting VA's resources and funds to other unrelated matters. As a result, her father did not receive the proper care in time, and wounds that should have healed began to show signs of infection and necrosis.
Fortunately, her mother had been a loyal customer of Atlas and had purchased a family health insurance plan with an annual premium of $1,400 and a coverage limit of $150,000.
Later, her father was sent to a private Atlas hospital, and young Ziegler had initially expected the hospital to delay treatment with complicated procedures or other excuses. To her surprise, the hospital swiftly provided treatment and covered the medical expenses after verifying his identity and confirming his condition.
As a result, even before she graduated or started working for the company, Ziegler had developed a certain "loyalty" to Atlas.
So when faced with the only opportunity to join the core team, she hesitated only briefly before signing her name on the holographic screen.
Jill, who had been observing her movements while driving, saw Ziegler sign the confidentiality agreement, then reached out with her right hand again to touch the dashboard, bringing up more files on the holographic screen, and said:
"Welcome to the real Atlas, Ms. Ziegler."
—
Meanwhile, during their journey to the facility.
"Beep—Beep—!"
In a large facility deep underground in the compound, a shrill alarm blared, followed by a broadcast announcement: "All D-class subjects, please proceed to the isolation area of the facility and await further instructions."
It seemed that another round of experimental trials was about to commence for the disposable human test subjects "purchased" by Atlas from the prison.
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Read Ahead
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