<h4>Chapter 557 Prehemtive search</h4>


    Erik''s fingers flew across his phone''s sleek screen as he keyed in "Blenheim Close." A torrent of information filled his disy, various links offering glimpses into this seemingly ordinary street name.


    Tapping on the most relevant link, he looked at an aerial view of a street on a digital map, snaking through a bustling part of the city like a vital artery.


    Blenheim Close was a street of dichotomies. There were seemingly ordinary and new buildings, nestled among some that looked at least 200 years old. Large warehouses dominated the street, their sprawling rooftops visible from above.


    These structures were industrial titans, with broad entrances for heavy trucks and exhaust vents hinting at temperature-sensitive operations.


    While some of these warehouses showed their age with rusted exteriors and peeling paint, they stood as enduring monuments to the city''s industrial past.


    Nestled among these industrial giants were more enigmatic buildings. Unlike the expansive warehouses, these structures werepact, rising vertically with brick or concrete walls.


    Their sparse windows lent them an aura of secrecy, suggesting businesses that operated away from the public eye.


    Erik zoomed in further, scanning for business names or signs that might offer a clue. A few familiar names in logistics and manufacturing appeared, but what really piqued his interest was an unmarked building sandwiched between two warehouses. Its anonymity amidst a street of businesses struck him as odd.


    He scrolled through reviews andments from locals. While some griped about daytime traffic and noise, others noted how the street took on an eerie quiet at night, broken only by the asional mechanical hum of something unknown. A sense of concern began to coil within Erik.


    An idea flickered to life in his mind. "Can you connect to the cameras on Blenheim Close?" he asked, directing his question to the biological supeputer.


    [ATTEMPTING TO CONNECT TO SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS IN THE VICINITY OF BLENHEIM CLOSE THROUGH INTERNET.]


    Almost instantly, Erik''s perspective shifted. The digital map dissolved, reced by a live feed from an overhead street camera. The angle offered a clear view of the front of the mysterious, unmarked building, which stood unassumingly among itsrger neighbors.


    People meandered along the sidewalk, absorbed in their daily routines. Yet, Erik''s focus was riveted on a group gathering near the entrance of the unnamed building.


    Their behavior was cautious, their nces furtive, and their whispered conversations suggested something ndestine was afoot. Their clothes were deliberately nondescript, but their bodynguage spoke volumes.


    What really caught Erik''s eye, however, was a peculiar ritual each person performed before entering the building. They would step forward until their faces were just inches from the door.


    Their heads tilted slightly as if engaging with something at eye level. Erik couldn''t see any devices but noticed a soft glow where their eyes met the door. It was fleeting but enough to utch the door and grant them entry.


    Erik''s instincts were on high alert. "That''s got to be some kind of retina or facial recognition system," he thought aloud. The level of security hinted that whatever—or whoever—was inside was important.


    Eager to dig deeper, he queried, "Can you locate any cameras inside the building or other viewpoints that might offer a clearer picture?"


    [SEARCHING FOR INTERNAL CAMERAS.]


    For a brief moment, everything froze. Then, the view shifted to a camera inside the building just past the entrance. The footage was grainy, and the angle less than ideal, but Erik could still make out the details of the interior.


    The entrance opened into a spacious hallway, its walls punctuated by doors. The group he''d observed outside was scattered, each heading toward a different door.


    Their movements were purposeful, indicating a familiarity with the ce. The interior was stark—no decorations, signage, just cold, calcted functionality. It felt more like a covert facility than a regr building.


    Erik''s pulse quickened as another figure entered the frame. This woman was different, radiating an aura of authority. She exchanged brief words with one of the earlier arrivals before venturing deeper into the building.


    Erik leaned in, hoping to catch some audible conversation, but the feed was video-only. "Well, that''s a dead end," he muttered in frustration.


    His viewpoint began to shift rapidly, like flipping through TV channels. Each room seemed ordinary—men sitting around, chatting, sipping what appeared to be beer or whiskey. Nothing stood out until his perspective shifted to a well-lit office.


    This room was a stark contrast to the others. Plush carpets, elegant drapes, and mahogany furniture filled the space. Expensive artwork and trophies adorned the walls, signaling power and wealth.


    Behind a grand desk cluttered with papers and a sleek, modernputer sat a figure Erik instantly recognized: the third man from the video he''d seen earlier. The man was deeply absorbed in his work, scanning documents intensely.


    The presence of this man in such a luxurious office, along with the vaguely familiar symbols around the room, made it click for Erik. "The Silver Serpents," he whispered, his voice tinged with dread and realization.


    The unfolding scene was like a jigsaw puzzleing together. Uncle Benjamin''s ties to Doran, and now this office, were pieces falling into ce. But what was the bigger picture? What roles did Uncle Benjamin and Doran y in all this?


    Right at that moment, the man seated behind the desk looked up, and it appeared his eyes could see right through the camera. Erik had the fleeting impression that he had been seen briefly.


    The man''s attention was then diverted when there was a knock on the door, and he sat back in his chair while indicating for the guest to enter.


    The rapid beating of Erik''s heart was apparent. With each fresh piece of information revealed, the stakes became higher, and the web of mystery grew. He knew he needed to proceed cautiously, yet he could not simply abandon the situation.


    Uncle Benjamin''s involvement brought a whole new level of intensity and personalization to the situation. Erik had a ravenous need for answers, and he was getting closer and closer to obtaining them.