If the intelligence agent is not qualified to mobilize all kinds of transportation vehicles deployed by the company locally, why should he take a taxi?
"..." But Leon looked very serious, which really confused Shirley. She didn't know what to say or how to ask.
"You'll know later, come with me."
Leon, who saw Shirley's confusion, did not explain, but walked towards the taxi holding the suitcase.
"Okay...sir." Shirley followed Leon.
As soon as the two approached, the taxi driver with a beard and a turban got out of the car.
The driver first opened the trunk, then walked towards Lyon and Shirley, laughing boldly with a Middle Eastern emphasis:
"Oh~! Dear friends, welcome to Mars City! Come! Beautiful girl, let me help you!"
After saying that, the driver enthusiastically helped Shirley take the suitcase, put the trolley away and put it in the trunk.
After putting it away, the driver was ready to help Leon again.
But Leon chuckled and shook his head to indicate that he would come, and then put his luggage in the trunk.
The next three people get on the bus.
The driver started the engine, put his left hand on the steering wheel, and leaned his right elbow on the armrest box. He smiled at Leon sitting in the passenger seat and Shirley sitting in the back seat and asked with a smile:
"This must be your first time on Mars."
"Yes." Leon looked out the window at the city, pretending to be very yearning, and said to the driver:
"My brother and sister saved some money and took advantage of the discount to buy air tickets that can travel to all the colonies in the solar system, ready to experience the local environment for ourselves."
"Oh~!" The driver suddenly realized: "You two are colonists who responded to the call. I guessed it right."
"That's right, after all, the benefits provided are too tempting, and the competitive pressure on earth is too great, haha..." Leon scratched the back of his head and said with a smile.
"I understand." The driver nodded repeatedly and gave a "sincere" recommendation:
"In this case, I suggest you two go to the Natalie Hotel in District 13. The room is spacious and the surrounding environment is very good. Mention my name to the landlady and I will get a discount.
I heard that there are many apartments for sale nearby. If you eventually choose to settle on Mars, you may be able to choose your favorite residence in advance."
"Thank you very much. To be honest, we have no clue. Let's go to Natalie Hotel!" Leon also thanked "sincerely".
"okay!"
The driver who got the affirmative answer became even more excited, turned on his watch, and drove everyone away from the street, heading towards Area 13 at the western end of the dome.
"Boy, let me tell you, this is District 2, there are duty-free shops everywhere, and there is a food court..."
The taxi travels on the spacious streets, and every time it passes a landmark building or enters a new neighborhood, the driver will introduce it.
Leon was also chatty and chatted, asking about the characteristics of each neighborhood, or asking if there had been any big news in the colony recently.
“…”
Shirley, who was sitting in the back seat, looked at Leon, who was chatting happily with the driver, and couldn't help but open her mouth slightly and her eyes slightly widened to express her current surprise.
Because Leon seemed to be chatting, he actually had a general understanding of the current situation in Mars City. By the way, he also asked the driver what kind of people there were in each block and what matters worth noting.
Shirley had no idea that she could gain so much from taking a taxi. What she saw before her was something Minos never taught her.
Otherwise, Leon would be hailed as a legend by all the company's intelligence officers.
The number of vehicles in the central dome city was far less than that of major cities on the earth, and the traffic was smooth. Therefore, within half an hour, the driver took the two of them to District 13 at the end of the west.
Looking out the car window, Shirley felt "cheated".
Because District 13 is not as good an environment as the driver said. On the contrary, it is mostly compact apartment buildings, one next to another.
Even the green belts beside the streets are not as abundant as in other areas, and there are many people gathering on the sidewalks.
Even as a newbie, Shirley judged that the people gathered in the crowd should be local gang members, which indirectly showed that the security in District 13 was not good.
At this time, the vehicle stopped in front of a low-rise building that looked like a motel.
The holographic billboard on the side of the building shows a bunny-eared girl with pink light and the slogan "Natalie welcomes all foreigners".
Park the car.
"Boy, there are thirty-four credits in total. Seeing as we are so compatible, let's give it thirty!"
The driver still looked hospitable and switched the meter number to thirty, completely ignoring the true appearance of Area 13.
“Thank you so much!”
Leon did the same thing. He took out his mobile phone, which was only slightly thicker than a bank card, put it on the magnetic screen of the meter, and happily paid thirty credits.
"Refreshing! Young man, if you have anything to do in the future, just ask me, haha!"
The driver laughed heartily and got out of the car again to help Leon and Shirley get their luggage. He even helped carry the luggage into the hotel lobby before saying goodbye to the two of them.
Immediately afterwards, the two came to the front desk.
I got two single rooms from the proprietress who was too plump and spoke with a Russian accent, and checked into this Natalie hotel.
Shortly after.
After packing their luggage, the two people left the hotel and headed to the nearest hotel. Shirley couldn't help but admire Leon:
"Sir, I didn't expect that just by taking a taxi, you obtained information about the Mars colony, and by the way, you also gained a potential informant."
"Yes, it seems you have learned the essence of taking a taxi." Leon nodded.
More than ten years of taxi-hailing experience not only taught Leon how to bargain, but also allowed him to discover that the gossip information possessed by taxi drivers is often more reliable than that of the local police station, making him very suitable for developing a local intelligence network.
For example, just now, the driver received a commission from the hotel proprietress for soliciting customers, and Leon obtained local intelligence, a win-win situation.
"So sir, did you voluntarily give up the transportation convenience provided by the company?" Shirley asked curiously.
Hear the words.
Leon's face showed fleeting embarrassment, but he quickly recovered and nodded, seemingly not denying it, and changed the subject:
"After dinner, I will introduce to you which professions are suitable for use as identity disguises for intelligence agents. My recommendation is the colonial peace officer, that is, a police officer, but this needs to be considered by yourself.
Take a rest tonight and adjust the time difference between Mars and Earth. Then you will submit a transportation application to the company tomorrow.
You are about to become an official intelligence agent. It is time for you to know what kind of people are stationed on Phobos. If Mars encounters high-risk abnormal creatures in the future, they will be your backing.
After that, I will take you to Deimos, which is the boundary between UEG and UNSC, and is also an important dock and defense line in the solar system."