Jake took the datapad Sarah handed him and began memorizing its contents. His eyes flicked over the screen with practiced efficiency, absorbing the information at an impressive rate.
Absorbing a relatively thin document in three days wasn't challenging for him. However, during Sarah's allotted study time, the surrounding area was far from peaceful.
Neither Sarah nor Jake left the dilapidated building, but they could sense the impending storm brewing outside their temporary sanctuary.
After Eli had delivered the tracking nanochip, he naturally found himself close to the sector's boss, reaping the rewards of his loyalty. But loyalty in the Reclamation Zone was a double-edged sword, and Eli was about to learn that lesson the hard way.
Sarah's absorption nanochip was only a moderately powerful green-class chip, and having just been used, it wouldn't offer Eli much protection. Sarah didn't know the exact casualty count, but judging by the chaos caused by the power shift, it was severe.
As far as Sarah was concerned, whoever was in charge of this sector deserved whatever fate befell them. The Reclamation Zone had never been kind to her, and she felt no remorse for the upheaval she had set in motion.
Sarah had anticipated the turmoil that would follow the boss's demise. The three-day window she'd given was her estimate of how long it would take for the chaos to reach their hideout.
The Reclamation Zone was no stranger to upheaval, and locals were adept at handling such situations. When the time came, the ordinary residents would seek new opportunities elsewhere, and Sarah planned to blend in with them.
However, events unfolded faster than Sarah had predicted. By noon on the second day, she noticed people packing up to leave.
Sarah's brow furrowed in confusion as she peered through a crack in the boarded-up window. The streets below were a hive of activity, with residents hastily stuffing belongings into makeshift bags and carts.
The residents of this sector were generally more stable compared to other parts of the Reclamation Zone. Human nature dictated that people wouldn't abandon their homes until absolutely necessary, even in a place as precarious as the Reclamation Zone.
Sarah glanced at Jake, who was still absorbed in the datapad. "Time's up," she said, her voice tight with urgency. "We need to move."
Jake looked up, his eyes sharp and alert. "How's the memorization going?" Sarah countered, wanting to ensure their escape plan was still viable.
"Much of it is common knowledge. It shouldn't be a problem," Jake replied, his confidence unwavering.
Sarah fell silent for a moment, her mind racing. The notes she'd given him contained what she considered key points. Were they really just common knowledge in the outside world?
It made sense, she supposed. The nanoswarm coordinator position only required a basic education, so the exam couldn't be too complex.
Still, Sarah wasn't entirely convinced by Jake's confidence. She couldn't afford any surprises. If Jake failed the exam, she'd be forced to stay behind with him to find another opportunity. The nanocollar around her neck was a constant reminder of the stakes involved.
She pulled out another datapad from the backpack. This one contained several past exam papers from the NOVA PRIME Reclamation Company.
Sarah handed Jake the nanoswarm coordinator exam and asked him to try it. "No need to rush," she said, her tone belying her words. "We can wait for the last wave to leave. Complete this exam while I go gather some information."
She adjusted the synthetic hair on her head, transforming her appearance once again. The clothes she wore were borrowed from Jake, neat and presentable, a far cry from her usual mismatched attire.
Despite being men's clothing, Sarah, now officially male according to her ID, didn't mind. Her goal was simply to not be recognized as a Reclamation Zone resident.
The long synthetic hair, inconvenient for daily life in the Zone, was part of this disguise. Sarah had several such disguises. On the way to this hideout, she had switched to a slightly disheveled male wig.
The high, long ponytail made her appear taller, but the key to her disguise was the special nanocosmetic she'd applied to her face.
Sarah had deliberately aimed for a more masculine appearance, altering her eyebrows, eyes, and lip shape to the point where she was barely recognizable as her former self.
With her expertise in nanochips and devices, she could have made even more drastic changes. However, considering the risk of equipment malfunction or detection upon entering the Reclamation Company, the purely physical disguise seemed more prudent.
The nanocollar conveniently hid her lack of an Adam's apple, and Sarah had instructed Jake to modify its appearance to look more decorative.
Jake had complied with Sarah's request, his fingers dancing over the collar's surface as he manipulated its nanites.
This time, Sarah paid close attention and clearly felt the fluctuation of a nanite field that wasn't her own. It seemed this type of nanochip, like her absorption chip, was operated using a nanite field.
For Sarah, this meant it wasn't entirely beyond her control. Her mind began to race with possibilities, but she pushed those thoughts aside for now. There would be time for experimentation later.
Sarah silently continued to gather information, her senses on high alert as she prepared to venture out into the chaos of the Reclamation Zone.
She had already updated the photo on her citizen nanoprint. Unlike at the hideout where she had concealed the wristband, Sarah now deliberately displayed it.
The nanoprint served as a deterrent to the Reclamation Zone residents. Citizens with official nanoprints were outsiders, and normal people rarely ended up living in the Reclamation Zone. Most outsiders here were dangerous criminals.
Zone residents generally avoided provoking these individuals, even those who appeared harmless. Many dangerous individuals didn't wear their nature on their sleeve, so Sarah's current appearance offered her a measure of safety, at least in the short term.
As Sarah stepped out of the dilapidated building, several busy individuals instantly turned wary eyes toward her. The air was thick with tension, and Sarah could almost taste the fear and desperation.
Sarah knew how newcomers typically reacted in such situations. She feigned surprise, then hesitantly approached a woman who appeared to be the least threatening among those packing outside.
"Ma'am," Sarah asked in a clear, gender-neutral voice, "is it no longer safe to stay here?"
The woman looked up at Sarah with unfriendly eyes, noting her clean appearance with a frown. "You're new here? Pack up and leave with the rest of us."
Her tone was brusque, impatient, and devoid of any desire to explain further.
Sarah was slightly taken aback. She knew the nature of Reclamation Zone residents well. If this woman had feigned kindness and concern, it would have been a sign of ill intent. This 'take it or leave it' attitude actually indicated that the woman was genuinely trying to help.
Of course, it could also be a matter of safety in numbers during turbulent times.
Still, since when had Reclamation Zone residents become so helpful? Sarah was puzzled, but she couldn't just accept the answer and leave.
Her main purpose for coming out was to familiarize herself with the crowd, not to genuinely seek help.
"I see everyone's moving," Sarah pressed, her voice tinged with carefully manufactured nervousness. "Has the trouble spread to this area?"
The woman rolled her eyes, clearly finding Sarah annoying. As she continued packing, she replied impatiently, "They're saying the Flying Serpent boss's downfall was caused by that merchant. Now that merchant's fled, there's no point in staying in West Sector Two."
Sarah was surprised by this information. The 'merchant' the woman referred to was actually Sarah herself. She hadn't realized she was considered so important here.
Sarah's first thought was that her disguise might have been compromised, but she quickly dismissed the idea. If her disguise couldn't fool ordinary Reclamation Zone residents, she had no hope of deceiving the Reclamation Company.
"Where are we heading next?" Sarah asked, feigning anxiety for the third time.
"Sector Three," the woman replied, her patience completely exhausted. She turned away without another word, hefting a heavy bag onto her shoulder.
Sarah wore a sheepish expression, but internally, she was calm. Her mind was already racing, analyzing this new information and adjusting her plans accordingly.
Sector Three was where their target, the Reclamation Company, was located. It was relatively peaceful compared to the rest of the Reclamation Zone.
After all, the Zone existed primarily because of the Reclamation Company's presence, giving it a special status.
Sarah had access to several hideouts in the Zone. She had chosen this one for its proximity to West Sector Three, making it easier to break away from the main group and head towards the Reclamation Company.
Everything was going according to Sarah's plan, except for one surprising detail: the residents' readiness to leave upon hearing of her departure.
Why? Sarah couldn't understand it. But she couldn't voice this question to the locals now.
Having familiarized herself with the crowd and ensured she could blend in, Sarah returned to the hideout. Jake had already completed most of the exam in the time it took her to return.
The efficiency was partly due to the multiple-choice format of the nanoswarm coordinator exam.
Sarah quickly scanned the completed exam and calculated the score.
96 points.
The nanoswarm coordinator job was mentally taxing and poorly paid. As far as Sarah knew, a score of 80 was usually sufficient to pass.
Jake's score was more than adequate.
"Let's go," Sarah said, storing the exam paper along with several now-useless notepads under the floorboards of the hideout.
These were the last heavy items in her backpack.
The materials she had originally brought had been processed into nanoink for chip creation, stored in her pocket. The nanite vials had been consumed, and as for food, in this nanochip-dominated era, materials science was highly advanced. Nutrient solutions to satisfy hunger were not scarce even in the Reclamation Zone, so Sarah hadn't bothered to bring any. Now, only one type of item remained in Sarah's backpack.
Money.
Not just what she had brought from her previous residence.
Jake watched as Sarah pried two sealed stacks of currency chips from beneath the floorboards, unsure of how to react.
When it came to hiding things, Sarah never failed to impress.
"What should I do when we're out there?" Jake asked Sarah, his voice low and tense.
Sarah's answer was prompt and decisive.
"Just keep quiet and follow my lead."
Jake nodded, his expression unreadable. As they prepared to step out into the chaos of the Reclamation Zone, Sarah felt a surge of adrenaline. This was it. Their chance to escape this hellhole and start anew. Whatever came next, she was ready.
With a deep breath, Sarah opened the door, and they stepped out into the unknown.