Chapter Four: The Whole World Lined Up to Fool Him

"Three hundred and eighty. You still owe me for last month's scooter repair." Only then did he recognize the mechanic usually hidden behind oversized goggles. Lin paid from his private account. The Protocol did nothing. "Good," A-Yao said. "You can still distinguish a transaction from aid." The screen turned red. [ROUND FIVE AID FUND: USD 10,000.] [NEW ADVISORY: CANDIDATE RANKING HAS BEEN EXTERNALLY CORRUPTED.] [TIME REMAINING: 09:59] Every phone outside received a GLOBAL AUTHENTIC NEED RANKING. Number one was a bankrupt executive who had never contacted Lin and was preparing to jump into the sea at Harbor Four. The profile bore Zero Trust's seal. Lin fastened his helmet. "Gu prepared someone who wouldn't come looking for me."