The Scattered Targets

Both Henry and John Garrett overestimated the human capacity to tolerate fear.

In ancient warfare involving bows, arrows, swords, and spears, if one side suffered more than 30% casualties, it could lead to a collapse in morale and desertion.

Modern society hasn't progressed much. In the same group, more than half the people die from accidents. Who can still sit still in their original position? Who can survive in such an environment?

The deaths of a few people earlier had already caused enough panic among these Russia. The people at Cyber Technology, and John Garrett's contacts in Toronto, tried their best to appease them, using jobs and monetary subsidies to keep them under control.

When more than half the people are dead, no amount of persuasion from others will work. Even if it's proven that there's no murderer behind this,

It was just a series of coincidences that made them even more panicked.

Don't think Westerners aren't superstitious. The Eternity war between Angel and demons is something even those who don't Bible have heard of. So this group of people, who thought they had finally escaped Russia, ran away again.

In their minds, since they were already in North America, and in an era where the United States Dream still captivated the world, they figured they wouldn't starve even without Cyber Technology's salary.

No matter how John Garrett's men threatened or bribed them, the Russia left without hesitation.

Moreover, they dispersed.

Among the many possibilities, Henry Brown is certainly a suspect.

Even when the Deadman first appeared, some speculated that an alien was responsible, that he was there for revenge. However, there was no evidence. All signs pointed to accidental deaths.

Now that they're leaving, they certainly won't stay together, giving Henry Brown the opportunity to deal with them all at once.

Of the remaining people, a widely accepted mainstream idea is that so many died because they made a mistake.

That's because they were too relaxed, assuming the alien wouldn't retaliate, and therefore overly focused.

In that case, they just need to separate. Escape to that place the aliens don't know about, and their safety will be guaranteed. The magnificent United States Dream awaits them in the not-too-distant future.

Just before John Garrett flew back to Toronto from Eastern Europe, he and his men went to great lengths to gather intelligence.

And the people brought from that chaotic land have already scattered like birds and beasts.

The contact in Toronto was trying to find the person while keeping it from their superiors.

Among these people were quite a few highly educated individuals from the prestigious universities of the old Red Empire. They hadn't even created any value for the "Death Warrior Project" project before they scattered. Wouldn't John Garrett, the boss, be furious?

This situation was also unexpected for Henry, but it was also reasonable. He could understand it and didn't seem too anxious.

First, remove the surveillance equipment that was no longer useful from these people's original residences. Only leave the cameras monitoring the entrance from the outside to record who comes to "visit." These people may be Snake S.H.I.E.L.D. personnel to watch out for in the future.

The Russia ' vehicles were already under surveillance, so there was no need to urgently deploy additional surveillance and tracking measures. Unless they changed vehicles, these people would remain under Henry's control.

Although the previous observations and intelligence were no longer valid, people are prone to making mistakes when they panic. This meant that Henry could wait for more opportunities.

Like hunting, the patient and calm one is the hunter, while the impetuous and rash one can only be the prey.

However, one family, Xiaobian, had left by train, and the group needed to deal with them first because of their tracking devices.

Only one item remains on the to-do list.

It was impossible to determine when it would be lost or become invalid. So, in order not to lose track of the family, Henry disregarded the warnings given by S.H.I.E.L.D.. and secretly followed them.

They were traveling on the International Express train that ran from Toronto through Sarnia and Port Huron, ending in Chicago. The journey was 808 kilometers long and took an average of about eleven hours.

Inspections are required when crossing borders, but because the track specifications have followed US standards from the beginning, there is no need to change trains.

Before the formal establishment of the European Union, border checks at the US-Canada border were probably the most lax in the world. Most of the time, immigration officers would just board the train and make a show of it.

Since the other party is on the train, why not stage a derailment?

Well, putting aside the fact that it would have too wide an impact, it wasn't necessarily possible to accurately handle his own to-do list. So Henry quickly abandoned this option.

However, Henry soon saw an opportunity.

In the 1990s, the anti-smoking movement had just begun to gain popularity worldwide. However, it was still in the advocacy stage, and there was no comprehensive ban on smoking in public places.

To keep up with this trend and to demonstrate their advanced health awareness, many public places with enclosed spaces have set up smoking and non-smoking areas, separating smokers from non-smokers.

This international train traveling between Toronto and Chicago has, of course, also followed this trend.

Considering that families would prefer to sit together, the train is not divided into smoking and non-smoking carriages, so that heavy smokers have to endure it, or their families have to endure secondhand smoke.

Instead, a separate smoking area was set up, allowing heavy smokers to mingle with other smokers, since no one would be suffocated by the smoke.

This International Express train stops at nineteen stations along its route. The only emergency medical service available is the train conductor's first-aid kit. (AED)

Forget about first aid equipment like that in this day and age; having a few bandages and a triangular bandage is considered a complete set of equipment.

Toronto winters bring snow, and even though the trains are heated, the windows in the smoking areas are left open to let in the cold wind from outside.

Therefore, people who come to the smoking area to satisfy their cravings are almost always fully equipped with protective gear.

Henry was wearing a thick overcoat, a woolen hat that almost covered his eyes, and a fluffy wool scarf.

I slowed down a few steps from my to-do list and went into the smoking area on the train.

Upon entering the smoking area, Henry took off his wool gloves, rubbed his hands together like most people, and then breathed on them. "This damn weather."

The heavy smokers in the smoking area were all men, and they would chat occasionally without any hesitation. Henry's complaints were perfectly normal.

He had just finished a cigarette, but didn't leave immediately. Based on his previous behavior, he would linger in the smoky smoking area for a while to clear his mind.

Henry casually walked up to him, opened a pack of Marlboro he'd just bought at the station, and popped one into his mouth. He then fumbled around in his pocket, muttering in Russian, "Damn it, where's my lighter?"