On the bustling city streets, Tham walked along the pavement with a changed feeling.
His new clothes allowed him to blend into the crowd easily; he no longer had to hide from people's gazes.
The scent of the flea market still lingered in his nose, but his mind was focused on the mission ahead: gathering information about biological warfare.
Tham stopped in front of a large digital advertising screen displaying news and various advertisements. For a moment, he almost muttered to himself, "Information is a weapon," but he held back.
Analyzing potential data sources was the most crucial first step.
The world of 2025 was vastly different from his collapsed world. There, information was scarce, but here, it was overwhelmingly abundant.
He systematically reviewed the options in his head:
* Public Library: A traditional and reliable source, but the information might be outdated and not detailed enough for what he was looking for.
* Internet Cafe/Public Data Center: This was likely the fastest and most diverse channel for accessing information, but he wasn't skilled enough yet in using the systems of this era, and crucially, it required money.
* Bookstores/Newspaper Stands: He might find related books or magazines, but they probably wouldn't be as in-depth as required.
* Field Sources/Insiders: This was the most dangerous and difficult method right now, as he was a stranger with no connections.
Tham decided that the best option for now was to find a "public data center" or an "internet cafe."
He believed his information-seeking skills, even those honed in a collapsed world, could still be adapted to this one
.
The $50 he had wasn't much. He had to use it as wisely as possible for this mission:
* Food: Essential to maintain his physical condition.
* Internet/Data Access Fees: This was the core of the mission.
* Travel Costs: Might be necessary if data sources were far away.
* Additional Equipment (if needed): Such as a flash drive or small storage device.
Tham decided he would spend most of his money on data access and try to save as much as possible on food.
He looked for small convenience stores or cheap roadside food stalls.
"Damn it, things are really expensive," he thought. Even though they might be cheap for others, he was poor now, so everything seemed expensive.
He walked along the street again, this time his eyes focused on various shop signs or buildings that looked like public data centers.
Amidst the neon lights and bright advertisements, he saw a small sign that read "CyberNest Hub" with a logo of a bird in a nest surrounded by cables. It looked much more modern than he had imagined, but it seemed suitable.
Stepping into CyberNest Hub, Tham felt like he had entered another world.
Soft blue lights illuminated the spacious hall, filled with people sitting in front of computer screens.
Some wore headphones and were talking through microphones, some were typing quickly, and others were playing games.
He walked to the counter, where a young employee smiled at him.
"Hello, interested in our services?" the employee asked.
"I want to find information..." Tham replied, unsure how to begin.
"We have computers for rent," the employee explained.
"It's charged hourly, or you can get a package."
Tham glanced at the service rates on the screen. Computer rental was $5 per hour. Not as expensive as he had thought.
"One hour, please," Tham said, handing over $5.
The employee smiled and gave him a temporary membership card. "Table 12."
Tham walked to table number 12. The computer in front of him was much more modern than anything he had ever seen.
The large touchscreen and glowing keyboard looked unfamiliar. He slowly placed his hands on the keyboard, feeling the cool plastic.
Diving into the World of Data
When the screen lit up, Tham saw a main screen with many program icons.
He spent a moment understanding how the system worked before carefully typing his search query:
"Biological warfare + 2025"
The search results appeared quickly: news websites, academic articles, and various forums.
Tham felt excited but had to control himself. He needed to distinguish accurate information from false data.
He quickly read the headlines and summaries of each website:
* "Secret Report: The 'Siren-27' Outbreak in 2023 - A Covert Biological War?"
* "Scientists Warn: Increased Risk of Biological Weapons Amidst Global Conflicts"
* "Analyzing the Long-Term Impact of the 'Siren Event' on Ecosystems and Humanity"
The terms "Siren-27" and "Siren Event" caught his eye especially.
They seemed to be the main topics related to what he wanted to find. He decided to delve deeper into this information.
Tham began reading reports and articles in detail.
He gathered information about the pathogen, its spread, symptoms, government responses, and global impacts.
Key information discovered:
* Siren-27: A new type of virus that emerged in 2023. It spreads rapidly through air and bodily fluids. Most infected individuals show severe flu-like symptoms, but in some cases, severe neurological symptoms and aggressive behavior occur, similar to... the "zombies" he was familiar with.
* Unclear Origin: Most information indicated that the origin of the pathogen remained a mystery. Some suggested it was a lab accident, others a biological weapon deliberately released.
* Global Government Response: Most governments tried to control the outbreak with quarantine measures, city lockdowns, and antiviral drug development, but they couldn't completely stop its spread.
* Social Impact: It caused widespread panic, distrust in governments, and severe social divisions, leading to chaos and the collapse of some areas.
* Censored Information: Tham noticed that some information was deleted or inaccessible, indicating that certain data was being hidden.
Tham began to piece the story together more clearly.
The world he came from did not collapse due to natural disaster, but was a consequence of biological warfare caused by this "Siren-27" pathogen.
As he was intensely searching for information, a small light blinked in the corner of the screen, displaying the message "10 minutes remaining." He glanced at the clock on the screen; it was the time left in the hour he had rented.
Problems:
* Limited Time: One hour was not enough to gather all the information needed.
* Censored Information: Some crucial data was inaccessible.
* Additional Evidence: He still needed evidence to confirm that Siren-27 was the beginning of his future collapsed world and its connection to the "mastermind" he needed to find.
Opportunities:
* Tham's Skills: His electronic and repair skills were still valuable.
* Small Funds: He still had $45 remaining.
* Old Electronics Shops: The flea market was still a good source for raw materials and might offer a way to earn extra income.
Tham quickly memorized the important information he had obtained.
He remembered that in the collapsed world, there were certain devices that could "hack" into concealed information.
Although it was a very basic technology compared to this era, the principles might still apply.
When his time ran out, Tham stood up from the chair with determination.
He left CyberNest Hub with the information he had gathered and a new plan in mind.
* Build a Hacking Device: He would return to the flea market again to look for electronic components that could be used to build a "simple hacking device" or "signal jammer" that could help him access censored information.
* Earn Additional Income: He would use his skills to repair or modify old electronic devices to sell to shop owners at the flea market, ensuring he had enough money for computer rental and food.
* Delve Deeper into Siren-27 Data: Once he had the device, he would return to CyberNest Hub or other data sources to delve deeper into information about Siren-27, especially data concerning its creators or those who released the pathogen.
As Tham walked down the street at night, the lights from the skyscrapers illuminated the sky.
He felt the pressure of the mission ahead, but also a small hope in his heart.
He was not an ordinary person, and his ingrained skills were his most powerful weapon in this new world.
Building a hacking device would not be easy, especially with such different technologies.
He would need deep knowledge and understanding of the fundamental principles of electronics, as well as the ability to adapt to the parts available in this era.
Furthermore, hacking into censored information could be risky. He didn't know what security systems were in place, and if caught, it could be life-threatening.
How will Tham return to the flea market and make the most of his remaining $45?
Will he be able to find the necessary components and successfully build the device he needs?
And what exactly is the hidden information about the biological war?