The luxury district's emptiness was unsettling. Jacques observed the high-end storefronts, their once-vibrant displays now gathering dust behind reinforced glass. What was supposed to be a busy center of wealth resembled a museum frozen in time. Security systems, usually buzzing with energy, were lifeless. The absence of patrol mechs, which typically is at every corner, suggested either a withdrawal or something more.
Jacques noticed streets littered with abandoned vehicles—each one marked by open doors and untouched driverless modules. The scene hinted at an evacuation. Shopping bags remained scattered on the sidewalks, contents spilled as if mid-air. A holographic billboard flickered against the darkening sky, promoting the latest body implants in an endless loop.
