Back home, Jiang is practically bouncing with excitement as soon as I close the door. "Look, look!" he says, tapping his wristband. A glowing hologram blooms in the middle of our living room, painting the walls with blue and red lights.
It's a full map of the nation. Lines and dots flash like fireflies, some pulsing brighter than others.
"These are all the places they think I might be," he explains, pointing at a cluster of red zones. "But guess what? They're still stupid. No one even close to here."
I cross my arms, stepping closer. "Hmm… maybe stupid, but not blind." My eyes trace the city we live in, where a dense web of orange and yellow markers sprawls like veins. "See this?" I point sharply at the glowing mesh. "Their data in this city is brilliant. Look at the way they're narrowing patterns—traffic cams, energy signatures, even purchase histories. They're not guessing anymore. They're hunting."
Jiang's grin falters. "So… bad?"
