As Gabriel left the pavilion, he contacted his networks of local authorities who cooperated with Germany's external protection branch. Every major nation had a joint safety bureau that specialized in assisting its own citizens abroad.
Japan had one. Germany had one. The United States had one. Their jobs overlapped in certain areas, especially when it came to syndicates that crossed borders and human trafficking networks that exploited tourists and migrants alike.
Gabriel coordinated with Japan's metropolitan task force that handled foreign crime incidents, and through them, the German Overseas Safety Commission received updates in real time.
They were already aware of several missing German nationals who had vanished in the same region.
Meanwhile, Julius was standing in line with Anneliese at an anime convention, holding a bag filled with snacks shaped like cat paws and a plastic sword he never intended to buy.
