bioinnovel Chapter 450 [3 Chapters Combined] Amora: An Interesting Man
Chapter 450 [3 Chapters Combined] Amora: An Interesting Man
The man was wearing a light yellow hard hat with the brim pulled low, obscuring most of his face. He wore a slightly oversized black jacket and dark cargo pants, and inconspicuous sneakers.
His overall attire made him look like an ordinary employee belonging to a maintenance department within the building, a stark contrast to the well-dressed, authoritative business tycoons in the conference room—they seemed completely unrelated.
So much so that, against the backdrop of bustling city skyscrapers, this figure appears remarkably ordinary, with nothing particularly outstanding about it.
Compared to the figure wearing a baseball cap who left the meeting room earlier, they are completely unrelated!
However, drawing on his extensive experience over the years in the Major Crimes Unit and District 13, dealing with all sorts of cunning adversaries, Inspector Black keenly sensed that something was amiss.
This seemingly ordinary figure moves in a way that feels deliberately calculated and "unnatural."
Whenever his figure is about to move from the edge of one monitored area into the next, there is always an extremely brief, almost imperceptible pause.
This pause is very subtle; it could be just a slight change in the rhythm of your steps or a tiny turn of your head, as if you are confirming something.
More importantly, when the technical team reconstructed the person's complete movement trajectory based on all the captured fragments, with the help of artificial intelligence and high-tech equipment, and projected it onto the three-dimensional building structure model, an astonishing truth quietly emerged before everyone's eyes.
This person was clearly very familiar with the building's internal structure, especially the coverage areas and blind spots of each surveillance camera, as well as the weak points in the connection between different cameras' fields of view! He even knew the best locations to install surveillance cameras when an outsider broke into the building!
So much so that from the moment this figure first appeared in a logistics corridor on surveillance footage, his route was by no means a straight line with a clear objective.
On the contrary, his route was circuitous and tortuous, and in some places it even seemed as if he was unfamiliar with the internal structure of the building, confused and accidentally took a long detour.
However, if we analyze this route with the goal of avoiding continuous surveillance, we can see how ingenious the other party's intentions are!
This route cleverly connects several weak points in the surveillance coverage—blind spots, shadowy areas next to ventilation duct maintenance openings, and logistics passages and near cargo elevator shafts where personnel flow is significantly reduced compared to the normal route.
It was through these brief pauses at the edge of the surveillance footage for confirmation, and the subsequent subtle changes in direction, that he successfully broke through the numerous surveillance checkpoints and key areas of focus that the technical team agents had pre-set before the operation, based on conventional logic such as "fastest evacuation route" and "most likely hiding place".
This figure, whose presence was already extremely low due to his ordinary attire and high degree of integration with the environment, completely "slipped" off the list of key monitoring personnel prepared before the operation, successfully avoiding the attention of the technical team agents when screening suspicious persons during the operation!
If it weren't for the intense unease she felt after the operation, which drove her to order a follow-up investigation and, upon discovering something, specifically instruct the technical team to use the only figure leaving the conference room as an anchor point to estimate the approximate time window required for them to disguise themselves and leave the building. Then, to trace back the origins of all individuals who left the building during that time period, verifying their routes after entering the building one by one…
This seemingly ordinary "repairman" may very well disappear silently into the crowd, like a drop of water flowing into the ocean!
Even so, the investigation process was extremely difficult.
The person's entry pass was clearly forged or fraudulent. Furthermore, the route he chose perfectly avoided most of the official entrances that required card swiping or identity verification.
Even when he last appeared in the vicinity of the building, in the surveillance footage accidentally captured by a miniature hidden camera disguised as a street lamp circuit box, he still did not completely let his guard down.
In the video, he appears to have relaxed somewhat, perhaps because he has already left the main building area and entered a relatively open back alley.
The deliberate, slightly hunched "repairman" gait has changed.
His shoulders opened up, his steps became lighter and more powerful, and his whole demeanor underwent a subtle but noticeable change, transitioning from an "unremarkable worker" to a more capable and alert state.
Even so, just before he was about to completely exit the back alley and merge into the main street's flow of people, he still demonstrated impressive counter-surveillance skills.
He appeared casual, but in reality, he was very professional, quickly scanning left and right. His gaze swept over the windows of buildings on both sides of the alley, parked vehicles, and the shadows deep in the alley... and all other places that could potentially accommodate a follower hiding. His ears seemed to be twitching slightly, listening for any unusual sounds.
He continued until he was sure that no one was following him and that there were no suspicious stares in his field of vision.
He then lowered his head again, pulled the brim of his helmet down further, quickened his pace, and swiftly merged into the growing flow of commuters on the streets at night.
After a few turns, it disappeared into the crowd in front of a convenience store, and no further video footage could be found.
However, even after successfully identifying this "repairman" as the sole survivor of the operation and roughly confirming the direction he left in and the last neighborhood he appeared in, Sheriff Black's unease and doubts remained unresolved. Instead, they spread even more intensely, like ink seeping into water.
After all, based on this person's previous demonstration inside the building—his profound understanding of the surveillance system, his meticulous planning of his routes, and his extraordinary ability to blend into the environment and counter-surveillance—…
Blake had no idea whether the final image of leaving the back alley and merging into the main street was another carefully planned "illusion" to mislead the tracking direction!
"Damn it!"
Blake lightly slammed his fist on the control panel, the metal surface emitting a dull thud. The technicians in the carriage fell silent.
The joy of previous success has vanished, replaced by heavy pressure and a chilling sense of urgency.
There was definitely a vulnerability!
A man with bizarre methods, who may be the real mastermind behind the attack, calmly escaped from their meticulously laid trap!
This not only means that the seemingly successful arrest operation may have a very questionable effect—it may have just "alarmed the enemy"—but also that Sheriff Blake's seemingly impulsive and unconventional actions may have been within the mastermind's expectations all along!
What they've captured now is nothing more than a group of "discarded pawns" pushed out to draw fire!
This also means that the real threat is far from over!
Who was the escapee?
Is he Amora's partner, another prisoner who escaped from Asgard?
Or is it another piece, deeply manipulated by Amora's magic?
Did he take any crucial intelligence with him when he left? Where is he now? Is the real "killer move" already in his possession, or has it been passed on through him?
Countless questions and terrible possibilities churned in Blake's mind.
But he forced himself to calm down.
Now is not the time for regret; remedial measures must be taken immediately to minimize the risk as much as possible.
He took a deep breath, picked up the encrypted communicator, and began typing steadily and rapidly on the virtual keyboard. Using concise language, he sent his speculations and concerns, along with a preliminary operational report, to Riley, Peter, and Tony, the three parties involved.
This serves as a reminder that they should not easily trust any "Spider-Man" who approaches them without verifying the other person's identity!
As the message was sent, Sheriff Black let out a heavy sigh, leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and rubbed his throbbing temples.
Exhaustion washed over me like a tidal wave, but the pressure of responsibility was even heavier.
He opened his eyes, his gaze sharp and resolute once more.
The value of top-tier support lies not only in its strong logistical support, but also in its rapid response, early warning capabilities, and remedial measures in the event of unexpected loopholes in the plan.
"Given the cautious nature this guy has shown, if he wants to impersonate 'Spider-Man' and continue his assassination plan after losing the financial support of these abandoned pawns, he will definitely choose a new base and prepare the relevant materials himself."
Blake's voice rang out in the slightly cramped mobile command vehicle, not loud, but clearly penetrating the subtle hum of the equipment and the tapping of keyboards. There was not a trace of panic or frustration after a plan was thwarted; it was his signature calm and collected demeanor. It even carried a rock-solid sense of security that could quickly reassure his subordinates.
He stood in front of the holographic projection of a 3D New York map, his hands resting on the edge of the control panel, his body slightly leaning forward, his gaze sweeping intently over the possible escape routes that the artificial intelligence was precisely calculating, centered on the block where the escapees last disappeared.
"Pass on my orders."
After a brief silence, he continued issuing instructions. His pace was moderate, ensuring that each command was accurately recorded and executed.
"Immediately dispatch Team A and Team B to the alley where the target last disappeared."
"Team A is responsible for conducting a discreet on-site investigation. Be careful to remain stealthy and avoid alerting anyone or leaving any traces."
"The focus of the investigation is on the possible hidden passages in this area, and whether there are any unusual activity patterns of specific vehicles that periodically appear and disappear in the vicinity."
"Team B is responsible for investigating the area where the target last disappeared, with a radius of three kilometers. The focus should be on checking all public transportation nodes in that area, anyone who has appeared there, anyone of similar build to the target, and their exact whereabouts."
He paused, then traced several key circles on the holographic map with his fingertip.
"In addition, immediately arrange for personnel to investigate all vehicle rental shops in this area, especially those that support short-term rentals and have simple procedures."
"At the same time, in addition to major hotel chains, we also need to investigate informal short-term rental accommodations, hotels, and apartments. We need to retrieve recent transaction records and surveillance footage and cross-reference them. We need to identify individuals who are not local residents of New York City, or who have forged or stolen other people's identity information, and who stay indoors for extended periods of time, deliberately avoiding contact with others. We need to list them all as key monitoring targets."
"Technical team, based on this, I need you to build a dynamic database and update the comparison results in real time."
"Also, contact our informants immediately and investigate whether any of the recently emerged or suddenly changing individuals among the illegal mercenaries, freelance information brokers, and clandestine groups that specialize in 'dirty work' in the underworld."
"Pay special attention to those known for their 'perfect disguise,' 'counter-surveillance,' 'silent infiltration,' and 'rapid production of specific items.' Report any related movements of theirs, no matter how subtle."
"At the same time, pay close attention to recent unusual purchasing records in New York and the surrounding area from all chemical stores, specialty fiber suppliers, polymer materials laboratories—including university labs and private institutions—and even large hardware stores and online e-commerce platforms, regarding the following materials: high-tensile polymer raw materials, specialty adhesive base components, high-strength synthetic fiber filaments, micro gas propellant canisters, and specialty silica gel that can be used to manufacture biomimetic adsorption materials, or components such as micro electromagnetic chucks."
"Once an abnormal purchase volume is detected, or an order with an unclear purchaser identity is placed, all such orders will be marked for tracing and correlation analysis."
He straightened up and looked around at each member in the carriage who was ready to go.
"Remember, we're looking for a professional undercover agent. Any carelessness could allow him to exploit the situation, so we must be extremely vigilant!"
"Let's get started!"
"Yes, sir!"
At the command, the atmosphere inside the command vehicle was instantly ignited, yet it was also a highly orderly and exhilarating frenzy.
The technical team is like the core of a sophisticated instrument, with each module instantly synchronizing to its maximum speed.
The halo on the holographic map expanded again, and the data stream cascaded down the different screens like a golden waterfall.
Before long, the previously silent communication channel was filled with clear and concise confirmation sounds and the transmission of various instructions.
Everyone knows that time is of the essence.
The "repairman" who disappeared into the crowd may be changing his appearance in some safe corner, or taking stock of the resources at hand, or even having already begun his next move.
Therefore, the new net that District 13 is currently weaving must be faster and have a finer mesh than its opponent's, in order to apprehend him before he completely escapes!
However, just as District 13 was working feverishly, mobilizing all resources and weaving an even more intricate net to track down the mysterious "repairman"...
Unbeknownst to Sheriff Blake, another gaze, filled with malice and calculation, had already crossed the barrier of space and quietly locked onto his figure.
In a secluded dwelling somewhere in New York, bathed in dim light and filled with exotic incense, the Asgardian witch Amora reclines on an extremely luxurious, dark-colored chaise lounge.
She toyed with a wisp of magical light between her fingertips, within which fragmented images flickered and shimmered.
That was a blurry image of District 13 agents escorting Roger and other business tycoons into a police car.
And even earlier, on the top floor of the building, there was Sheriff Blake, who stood calmly in front of the broken window, directing the operation that had completely disrupted her plans.
After scrutinizing Sheriff Blake's face for a moment, her bright red lips pressed into a slightly displeased line.
Roger's pawns were originally carefully selected by her as perfect tools to stir up conflict and strife on Earth.
They are greedy enough, arrogant enough, and easily controlled enough.
In this way, by using the capital and conspiracies of mortals as cover, she can remain safely behind the scenes, enjoy a good show directed by herself, and ultimately reap the rewards of disrupting the order of the earth and weakening the power of the guardians to some extent.
But now, before these pawns could officially begin the chaos, they were interrupted by the human sheriff named Blake.
"District 13... Black..."
Amora murmured the two names, her voice echoing in the empty room with a hint of cold amusement.
Thanks to the intelligence provided by Roger and his group of energy tycoons who had infiltrated the ruling class through monetary transactions...
Amora noticed the existence of this organization not long after arriving on Earth.
But initially, due to the Asgardians' common arrogance, she merely regarded District Thirteen as a special branch among the many bloated bureaucratic systems on Earth.
Perhaps because of the ties between District 13 and Spider-Man, dealing with them might be a bit troublesome, but it's not enough to threaten her plans.
Up until now, the two consecutive failures were both related to District 13, which surprised Amora and forced her to abandon any wishful thinking and re-examine the organization with a more serious attitude.
Soon, Amora realized...
Although both are secret organizations, the rapidly rising District 13, unlike S.H.I.E.L.D., does not carry the heavy concerns of global strategic deployment and complex political considerations.
It is more like a sophisticated, efficient, and purposeful law enforcement machine.
In particular, Sheriff Black, as the direct leader, keenly sensed the "unnaturalness" behind Roger and others' abnormal behavior, and even quickly linked the true identity of the mastermind to Amora.
Such intelligence and meticulousness are rare among ordinary law enforcers.
This also made Amora, who always enjoyed manipulating people's hearts, suddenly become a little interested in the seemingly ordinary-looking Sheriff Black.
"An interesting mortal..."
As Amora muttered to herself, an assessment gleamed in her eyes.
Just as Sheriff Blake had guessed...
Amora was certainly annoyed and upset that her plans had been disrupted. But in reality, losing these few seemingly valuable pieces was actually insignificant to her.
No matter how much wealth they possessed, to Amora, who considered herself a god and possessed the ability to charm people, Roger and the others were no different from ordinary people; they were just consumables to be grabbed at will and discarded after use.
But the high level of efficiency that Blake and District 13, which he represents, are gradually demonstrating, has undoubtedly become a variable that she needs to take seriously in her subsequent plans.
That being the case...
So, should we use powerful magic to destroy the Thirteenth District headquarters directly?
After a brief moment of thought, Amora decisively abandoned the idea.
Putting aside the fact that I've already personally visited Amora in District 13 and know just how difficult it is to break through those densely packed defensive magic arrays that are spread throughout District 13...
If the commotion becomes too great, it will inevitably attract the wrath of the Black Spider-Man, or the attention of the Sorcerer Supreme and Asgard. This contradicts her main strategy of discreet infiltration and creating chaos by exploiting internal conflicts among mortals.
So, what about infiltration and control?
As this thought flashed through her mind, a smile, tinged with languor and disdain, appeared on Amora's stunning face.
In her eyes, this was not an adventure that required careful consideration, but rather a casual game with a predetermined ending, in which she only needed to follow the steps.
This is her best and favorite game.
By exploiting weaknesses in emotions and desires, like a master musician plucking the most delicate strings, they quietly bring seemingly powerful or important individuals or even institutions into their grasp.
Then, with great interest, he manipulates these puppets into turning against their chosen targets—often their former best friends, family, or beliefs. He watches them succumb to confusion, struggle, and pain, ultimately succumbing to despair or madness, becoming instinct-driven beasts, tearing each other apart until utter destruction…
Everything I did was just to make her smile...
For Amora, the unparalleled pleasure and spiritual satisfaction derived from luring radiant heroes, sages, and leaders down from their pedestals, watching them tarnish their own glory, step into the abyss of desire they dug themselves, and ultimately become her puppets, far surpasses the pleasure and spiritual satisfaction derived from simple physical destruction!
That is art, the highest form of conquest.
This also explains her deep disdain and contempt for the Titans who only knew how to kill. And why, even after a deal had been struck, she still leisurely planned a "new game," completely disregarding the terms of the contract.
Thinking of this, her gaze once again focused on Sheriff Blake's resolute yet slightly weary profile, illuminated by the misty light.
"A standard 'hero' template..." Amora parted her red lips slightly, scrutinizing Sheriff Black with a hint of amusement.
Calm and collected by nature, with a deep-seated sense of responsibility to protect others, and a strong moral compass that makes them difficult to sway by ordinary wealth or power...
She had seen many of this type in the Nine Realms; they were indeed more difficult to corrupt than greedy merchants or politicians. Several had even managed to forcibly break free of Amora's magical control through their own powerful willpower!
But what if Amora's methods of controlling them did not stem from forced magical manipulation, but rather from their willing and proactive cooperation?
Amora's smile deepened...
It was the composure of a apex predator, a keen insight into the prey's vitals.
In her view, Sheriff Black still possessed a fatal weakness that perhaps even he himself was not fully aware of, or that he deliberately suppressed, but which, in Amora's eyes, was as conspicuous as a beacon in the darkness...
That is, as an ordinary male, his latent pursuit and desire for "beauty" is deeply rooted in his biological instincts and the long-term construction of social culture!