Chapter 56: About Observation

The crowd dispersed, and Donald approached with a grin, punching Owen in the chest, "You must have been a street racer in Los Angeles."

Owen, with a chuckle, brushed off Donald's fist and playfully jabbed him in the stomach, "Joking? I was a cop before, and I honed my skills chasing street racers like you."

"Yeah, right..."

"Believe it or not, anyway, let's not dwell on that. How about we go into town for a drink?"

"Of course, but you're buying since you just beat Katherine..."

Owen rolled his eyes, "Fine."

Suddenly, Donald shouted to the dispersing crowd, "Hey guys, Owen's treating us to drinks in town, anyone interested should come along~~~"

Owen didn't mind being set up by Donald. Katherine and a few others who usually got along well shamelessly expressed their eager acceptance of the generous offer.

Forty minutes later, they were at Aurora Bar, the only bar they could find nearby. More of a rural tavern than a bar, but Owen and the others didn't care; they were just there for the drinks.

As they entered, Donald, with his typical Texan volume, called out, "Bartender, bring out your best liquor, we're here to celebrate..."

The bar, somewhat quiet before, livened up with their arrival. Owen might be the best driver, but when it came to drinking, ten Owens couldn't match Donald. Owen suspected Donald was discharged from the military for his drinking prowess; he could handle any type of alcohol and mix them without issue.

After several rounds of fiery drinks, Owen felt overwhelmed. Carlos called right on time, giving Owen an excuse to step outside.

Ever since learning Owen was here, Carlos had called every night, especially eager after hearing about Owen's lessons, fantasizing about dominating the course and exuding charisma. He was convinced his driving skills were superior to Owen's.

---

The next day, early morning

When the alarm woke Owen, his head felt like it was about to explode. He had only fragmented memories of how he got back last night.

One was Donald using his credit card to pay the bill; another was Donald carrying him to the car's back seat, hitting his head in the process. Beyond that, Owen remembered nothing.

Twenty minutes later, Owen entered the classroom with a headache, a hangover symptom.

Several others looked equally dispirited, apparently also victims of Donald's antics. Only Donald, the culprit, looked unaffected, winking at Owen from his seat.

Instructor Morrie appeared at the door, this time accompanied by a figure in a black hood, silencing the previously lively classroom. Everyone was curious about the hooded figure.

"Today, we'll start training on tracking and counter-tracking. You're in luck. The person behind me, 'X,' is not your instructor but an active agent who has successfully completed many missions. He might share some of his experiences with you."

The students were visibly excited at the prospect of learning from an active agent. Owen, too, listened intently to Mr. X's forthcoming speech.

"Alright, Morrie asked me to share some of my field experiences, so I won't refuse. I started here as well, a classmate of your instructor Morrie. Consider this a tradition."

Mr. X finally spoke, his voice distinct with a noticeable Austrian accent.

"Let's start with tracking. You've had basic training, and the first rule of tracking is to correctly identify your target. Identifying someone doesn't necessarily mean seeing their face. In fact, with the advancement in facial disguise technology, facial features are often the least reliable.

I won't go into makeup techniques, but you know how skilled Hollywood makeup artists are at transforming a man into a woman.

Moreover, as far as I know, the CIA's tech department has developed a 3D printing technology that can create a silicone mask with 99% similarity from a frontal photo, complete with customized eyebrows and hair. Unless you touch it, you wouldn't notice any discrepancy even up close."

X's statement stirred excitement among the students, including Owen, who was familiar with such masks from movies but surprised to hear such technology was already in development, possibly becoming widespread in a few years.

Seeing he had everyone's attention, X continued, "Identifying someone can be based on various factors. You won't always see their face, so silhouette, build, gait, habitual movements, even distinctive physical markers like scars or birthmarks, can help identify a person...

Before discussing tracking techniques, let's talk about observation. A good agent, upon entering an unfamiliar environment, should first observe.

For example, entering a café, you should note all exits immediately for quick departure in case of emergencies.

You should also remember the appearance of most people in the café. A skilled agent might even memorize the models and license plates of visible cars outside."

As the students listened intently, X added, "Observation can help you anticipate danger. Once seated, identify positions that could pose threats and potential cover. If you need a weapon, consider where you could find one. Kitchens usually have knives, and in dining settings, forks or chopsticks can serve as temporary weapons. If there's a truck outside, it might contain a gun since truckers often carry one for protection on long hauls.

Going into more detail, if you notice someone's shifty gaze, it could indicate trouble, a bad mood, or perhaps they're ogling an attractive person..."

Laughter followed X's comments, even Morrie couldn't help but smile. X continued with his Austrian accent, "Judging isn't limited to eye movements. Observing the creases on their clothing can indicate concealed weapons, gun calluses on their hands can reveal if they're a threat, and knowing their dominant hand can hint at where they hide their weapon. In a conflict, disabling their dominant hand can halve their combat effectiveness..."