Zoe's public identity was that of an assistant to her father, Professor Mogwin. She first traveled by car to the Imperial Academy of Sciences. The moment she entered its gates, she felt more than a dozen covert gazes settle on her at once.
Zoe swept a sharp gaze back at them, and the Marley Security Bureau agents stationed in the corners all looked away.
After passing through layer upon layer of security screening and repeated document checks, Zoe entered the laboratory building.
"Damned Security Bureau flies," Zoe muttered viciously. She strode into Professor Mogwin's laboratory, where more than a dozen researchers in white coats stood around an assortment of colorful bottles and jars. Nearby, several live test subjects were letting out agonized screams.
One of the researchers, a brown-haired man with a square face and a white coat, briefly paused what he was doing.
Zoe frowned slightly. As she passed a balding old man holding a magnifying glass, she said softly, "Mr. Hilbert, I need to organize some important documents for my father. No one is to disturb me for the next three hours."
"As you wish, miss," Hilbert replied.
Zoe hurried past everyone and entered Professor Mogwin's office.
Zoe quickly parted the closed blackout curtains just enough to inspect the surroundings outside, then locked the office door. She swiftly pulled twelve books on biology and physics from the nearby bookcase. Behind them sat a poetry collection titled Flowers of Evil.
It appeared to be an ordinary poetry collection, but in reality, it contained rendezvous locations and mission instructions left by an agent code-named Angel.
"The spring breeze still blows in Brittany. The ants of New Lanka have begun to move. After the rain, only soil remains."
Having confirmed that the rendezvous was at the Brittany branch, Zoe quickly closed