Sixth floor, Electronic Information Department.
It housed the computer network used to fight crime—a massive search engine and database that assisted detectives with investigations and could uncover anyone's whereabouts in the shortest possible time.
As long as someone had appeared in the City Prism—that was, on street cameras—they could be found here with minimal trouble.
Alex entered the Electronic Information Department and saw its director standing with his arms folded, looking at one of his subordinate's computer screens.
The director of the Electronic Information Department, Hans Lucas, was tall and lean. He wore a grayish-blue plaid shirt with slacks, looking exceedingly plain and exactly like a programmer. But he was not someone to be underestimated.
When Hans Lucas saw Alex enter the department, his brow relaxed. He approached with a smile and said, "Need the Information Department's help, junior?"
Earlier, Jenson had brought Alex to meet this director. Alex had also learned that Hans Lucas was his senior from Central City University.
At the same time, Hans Lucas was an official member of the twenty-fourth class of the First Brotherhood.
America had countless fraternities. Nearly every university had no fewer than dozens of different kinds, gathering students who liked parties, brewing alcohol, smoking marijuana, and using fraternity names as an excuse to party wildly.
There were also associations with strong professional focuses, deep backgrounds, and networks of elite talent.
For example, the DKE Fraternity founded at Yale was a nationwide lifelong organization, often home to the children of the wealthy and influential. Its members even included five American presidents, such as Bush Jr...
Then there were groups like the Pythagorean Brotherhood, Metropolis University's elite fraternity, Gotham University's Free Brotherhood, and so on. Each fraternity gathered around different goals.
The First Brotherhood was a famous fraternity in Central City. When it was first founded, its purpose was simply to resist the crushing pressure of outside capital, prevent local talent from leaving, and serve Central City. Every class recruited the most outstanding young talents from Central City University. Its official members were almost all exceptional talents or children from powerful and wealthy families, united in mutual support, striving to advance, innovate, and grow stronger.
It had later gradually developed into a local behemoth in Central City, an iconic fraternity association.
After more than a century of development, the First Brotherhood in Central City had built a vast network of talented people, controlling numerous resources, connections, and fortunes.
After many young people graduated, the association became a web of connections spanning all of Central City, giving members advantages in finding jobs, fighting lawsuits, and more. Its members included dozens of Central City's top tycoons, councilors, mayors, and others.
No official member of the First Brotherhood could be underestimated.
Alex was also a member of the First Brotherhood. During his time at Central City University, he had served as president of the school's First Brotherhood.
For Alex to be parachuted directly into the position of First Grade Inspector, Director Mark's favor alone had not been enough. There was also his private status as an official member of Central City's First Brotherhood, as well as his record as the fraternity's campus president.
"That's right, Senior Hans. Help me find someone—Danton Black. He should be a nuclear physics expert under Stagg Industries. I want to know his movements over the past year."
Alex nodded as he replied.
Hans immediately arranged for his subordinates to begin searching for information on Danton Black.
The entire Electronic Information Department possessed a massive search engine and database. Assisting detectives in locating criminal targets was hardly a new task for them. Finding one person was effortless.
Very soon, while Hans and Alex reminisced about their wild days at Central City University and compared the differences between their respective eras, Hans's subordinate found Danton Black's information.
Alex and Hans immediately stopped talking and looked toward the screen.
"Danton Black, 1.83 meters tall, 85 kilograms, graduated from Cambridge in 1973..."
"Danton Black is a nuclear physicist employed by Stagg Industries, assisting Martin Stein with nuclear experiments. Half a year ago, an experimental startup at the nuclear power plant where he worked failed and caused an explosion. Martin Stein disappeared. Danton suffered minor injuries and spent three months in the hospital. Due to a transfer by Stagg Industries, he was reassigned to the Central City branch of Stagg Industries one month ago."
"Sir, I also found a police report entered into the state police system. Before the nuclear power plant explosion, Martin Stein reported Danton Black to the police for stealing blueprints and selling experimental equipment. Stagg Industries later withdrew the charges."
"Good. Have you found his location in Central City? I want footage of his entry and exit, as well as his current location."
Hans asked beside Alex, "Junior, do you suspect he's the Multiplicity?"
Alex nodded. "There are suspicious points. I still need to investigate."
"Sir, we found Danton Black's whereabouts. He is currently staying at No. 78 Leighton District in Lower City, at the three-star Leighton Club. Before that, three days ago, he was staying at a bare-bones guesthouse in the slums."
"I also found information that he was fired. He was dismissed by Stagg Industries half a month ago and thrown out of the dormitory arranged by Stagg Industries. His credit card has been maxed out, and he owes Wells Fargo Bank three hundred thousand dollars."
"Bring up the entry and exit footage, as well as every City Prism recording involving him."
Alex lowered his head and stared through his glasses at the screen. From Danton Black entering Central City in shabby clothes, to being thrown out by Stagg Industries half a month ago and wandering the streets in a destitute state with nowhere to go, driven into a corner, and then to three days ago, when he appeared at the Leighton Club's front desk in stylish clothes and booked a five-hundred-dollar-a-day VIP room.
The guy was not completely stupid. After obtaining more than 3.5 million dollars, he had not become overly inflated. At least he knew how to hide himself and had not gone to a five-star hotel to rent a presidential suite and lie around enjoying himself.
Of course, that was all.
"Alex, this..." Hans stood beside him, his pupils slightly widening as he stared at Alex's calm face.
With his experience, he fully understood that Danton Black's height, weight, education, abilities, and changes in circumstances all perfectly matched the Multiplicity criminal.
This... was the Multiplicity!
For three days, the police had continuously deployed personnel and gathered clues. Their Electronic Information Department had also kept watch on the surveillance feeds, checking Wells Fargo Bank's recordings hundreds of times, yet they had found nothing.
Alex had found the real culprit as soon as he started work?
That was rather impressive.
"Hans, lend me a laptop and a few data cables."
Alex gave a slight nod, confirming Hans's question. Danton Black was the Multiplicity.
Hans snapped out of his daze. The Electronic Information Department existed to assist detectives in solving crimes. Without the slightest hesitation, Hans took out a brand-new Apple laptop and several data cables.
"Alex, should we gather the police and surround him?" Hans asked, handing over the Apple laptop and the cables.
"No, Hans. Making a big show of it will only alarm him. Within ten meters, I can take him down with one punch."
Alex smiled in thanks, took the black backpack Hans handed him, packed the laptop inside, and headed out.
Hans watched Alex's retreating figure leave. After pondering for a moment, he turned and returned to his office.
Only a few minutes later, Al Swan arrived at the Information Department.
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