Zeb strides confidently towards the southern exit, heading toward downtown. The busy streets filled with streams of people and blaring neon ads await him as he leaves the Corpo District behind.

taken in corpo-district

Zeb's gaze drifts towards the pulsating glow of the towering holo billboard. It flickers and then delivers a stunningly accurate advertisement: it's a high-end multi-tool, a shiny gadget resembling the components in Zeb's possession but with the critical tool that completes his set. The device promises to assist with any technological endeavor he might face, practically reading his mind about the specific requirement he had been searching for. The allure of the device is undeniable.

taken in corpo-district

The bartender, with a gaze that seemed to see through the shadowy veils of the cyberspace, nodded slightly at Zeb's request. With the subtle flair of someone seasoned in the underground dealings, he poured another drink for a customer and then leaned in closer to Zeb. In a low tone meant only for Zeb's ears, the bartender mentioned that he knows someone who can arrange that kind of access. However, it would come at a price or perhaps require a favor in return. The bartender suggested that he could set up a meeting if Zeb was interested. The bartender then discreetly slid a coaster towards Zeb with a time and a coded location written on the underside, indicating where and when the intermediary would be available to discuss terms for access to the auction.

taken in corpo-district

Zeb takes another discreet sip of his snakebite and pulls out his phone one more time, the glow of the screen illuminating his grizzled features. Notifications have popped up, revealing that his ping has been successful; there are several responses from various personas within the hacker community. Some are offering greetings, others are extending invitations to private chat rooms, and a few are inquiring about potential collaborations or exchanges of information. Zeb's presence at 'The Wired Albatross' has been acknowledged, and the underground network appears willing to open its secretive doors to him.

taken in corpo-district

zeb pulls out his phone and quickly looks up the schedule for the local DEF CON-related hacker meetups in the area. He discovers that one is in progress at a dingy bar just a few blocks down from Network23 Headquarters. The bar, known as 'The Wired Albatross', isn't listed on any tourist map – it's a place for the city's cyber elite and those looking to test their skills against some of the best. Zeb knows it's the perfect spot to network, trade secrets, and maybe even find some work that could utilize his unique talents.

taken in corpo-district

As zeb gazes up at the holo billboard, the flickering neon colors coalesce into an advertisement for the latest in covert intrusion software, something that a man of his particular set of skills and interests would find very useful. The ad boasts 'Zero Day Access in Seconds!' and shows a perfect representation of the USB drive hanging around zeb's neck, now with enhanced capabilities. The price flashes at a special discount rate, just for him. It's as if the billboard knows exactly what zeb has been looking for.

taken in corpo-district

As zeb glances at the holo billboard with thoughts of cool bracelets swirling in his mind, the display flickers and changes. A 3D projection of a rugged, durable smart bracelet materializes before him. It's not just any ordinary bracelet; this one is embedded with survival tools, a holographic map projector, and a built-in encryption key for secure communications. The ad promises immediate drone delivery. It’s exactly the kind of gear zeb didn’t realize he desperately wanted until now.

taken in corpo-district

FRED-209 processes the question and replies, "Error...this is the Corpo District, a central hub of corporate activity. The buildings around us are headquarters of various powerful corporations. The holo billboard displays advertisements to passersby. The manhole...leads to an unknown location. Proceed with caution."

taken in corpo-district

As Quanta peeks into the manhole cover, they see a dimly lit tunnel extending into the darkness. The sound of rushing water echoes from deep within. The tunnel appears to be well-maintained but lacks any clear indication of its purpose or destination.

taken in corpo-district

Thraeryn examines the trail left by the robot vacuum and notices that it leads back towards the manhole that is slightly ajar. It seems like the vacuum was heading in that direction before it got disrupted by the potted plant.

taken in corpo-district