Chapter Two: Thirteen Milliseconds Before the Prophecy

During EMPTY TRAIN, no passengers disappeared; the human-recognition layer of the surveillance system was cleared. The fish in FISHFIRE carried illegally planted bioluminescent tags. Every event fulfilled its title exactly while choosing the cheapest possible interpretation. “The titles don't lie,” Gu Yan said. “We lie for them. Everyone imagines the supernatural first, and whoever runs this only has to manufacture a result that looks close enough.” “Who can run it?” “Someone with access to traffic, drainage, broadcasting, and public-opinion interfaces.” Ye Ning said the name: “CityScope.” Gu Yan looked up. CityScope had never been disclosed to the public. Even most Chengtu employees knew only its code name.