The sleek metal callbox stands guard.

The sleek metal callbox stands guard.

This has to be Reno's pied-a-terre. He's one of the only people in Portofiro who could afford this kind of luxury.

Consider the sphere.

It's black and round.

Lean closer.

The sleek surface reflects and distorts your features. It's too opaque to see what's beneath.

Barely audible: a mechanical hum.

A camera!

Wave at it.

It does not wave back.

You lean away from the sphere.

Blow a kiss.

The camera does not blow a kiss back.

Make a socially conscious face.

No one sees it happen, but it is there.

Alright. (Go back.)

The device shows no sign of registering your presence.

Poke the dolphin.

It's pleasantly squishy.

Press the call button.

You press the call button, and the familiar chime begins to play.

"Private residence. Please state your business."

"Excuse me, who lives here?"

"If you have to ask, you have no business here. Bye."

The indicator light dims.

Such majestic buildings always have multiple points of access -- better look around.

Maybe it's worth taking another look at the cleaners' tuk-tuk.

One door closes, another opens -- there must be another way in.

"Hello. I'm with the cleaners."

"They're already up here. Have been for a while."

Something whirs inside the black sphere. A camera points at you.

"I'm the specialist. Did they not tell you I was coming?"

"Specialist... I do like the sound of that."

"Alright, come on up."

The door chimes once and opens.

"I'm just the replacement, one of our crew called in sick."

"Yes, a sick cleaner would definitely pose a problem... one would wonder if they could even be called a 'cleaner' at all."

Say nothing.

"Okay, get in here before you're even later."

"Hi. It's me again."

"What is it now?"

"Still not Reno?"

"I'm afraid not."

"Are you Reno?"

"No."

The camera whirrs.

"Are you?"

"Obviously not."

"Then we are both 'not Reno'."

"Will you let me in if I say I am?"

"No."

"Any chance you'll let me in this time?"

"Do you typically struggle with people saying 'no' to you?"

"Yes."

"I still have no reason to let you in."

"No."

"Are you Reno?"

"I'm with the 'Limpadores Azuis'."

"You sure don't look like one of them."

"I'm here to pick up a book from Mr. Reno."

"I have business with Reno. Let me up."

"The business has concluded for now." A pause. "I mean. I have no idea about any business Mr. Reno might have."

Both of those things can't be true.

"Wait, which is it?"

"Neither. The only 'business' taking place is this right here, between you and me."

"You're lying."

"No, I simply misspoke."

"I don't believe you."

"Too bad for you, as I decide what the facts are here."

"My mistake, I must have the wrong building."

"You must."

"Neither. The only 'talks' taking place are these right here, between you and me."

Checks out. No discrepancies detected.

"I'm here about the secret treaties."

"The talks have yet to begin." A pause. "I'm not aware of any talks."

Talk your way in.

The steps to a successful infiltration based on make-believe are as follows:

1) Gather information.

What do I already know?

You tally it up in your head:

There are talks that are going to be hosted by Reno, the CEO of Renotel.

In front of whose callbox you stand.

A Senior EMTERR negotiator is stuck in the gutter.

Wearing his pink tie.

A Junior EMTERR negotiator is stuck on the Miracle Line.

A sordid affair.

Reno does exit papers.

Yana alleged as much.

There was a party here, Oskar and Reno went hard.

That's what the senior negotiator said himself.

Matters of mass culture are going to be discussed.

That's what the prisoner said.

Look around for anything you can use.

From the damp, cracked concrete, you can tell this part of the canal is prone to flooding. The only other notable thing you can see are cans of cat food overflowing from a nearby trash can.

That's everything. (Proceed.)

2) Establish credibility.

"I am here to meet Mr. Reno for some papers."

"I'm sorry, formal business has concluded," the voice crackles, deferential. "You'll need to leave a message if you want to contact Mr. Reno."

'No' is not an answer.

3) Follow cues.

"You don't understand. There is important paperwork for Mr. Reno -- we need his signature as soon as possible."

"You really should have called." A pause. "I'm not being difficult, mind, I'm just trying to follow instructions."

4) Make your promise.

"I swear you won't get in any kind of trouble for this."

"I can guarantee one thing: if you don't let me in, things are not going to go well for you."

"I'm coming up to see Reno now, and you don't want to be in my way."

"I have no intention of getting in your way, I'm just trying to follow instructions."

"It's a highly delicate situation. I don't want the wrong parties being made aware."

"The delicacy isn't lost on me. But my instructions were clear..."

"Were they aware that the behavior has escalated?"

"Escalated?" A pause. "I'd like to know more details, but my instructions were clear..."

"It's a surprise inspection. Are you surprised?"

"Somewhat."

"Then it's working as intended."

"I don't think Mr. Reno would want me discussing his private veterinary information with a stranger."

"Well, if it's a veterinary matter..."

"Hi, yeah, I was meant to be here yesterday but I'm late."

The lightest of crackles in the electronic box.

"I have a very strict list of people that can be let up."

A list you're meant to be on.

"I'm one of EMTERR's replacement negotiators. Let me up."

"I know where the senior negotiator is."

"Why are you looking to discuss this with Mr. Reno, and not with the rest of Mr. Metamoto's delegation?"

There's a delicate balance to be maintained here.

"I need to report the untoward behavior of a junior negotiator."

"The appropriate parties are already aware of the behavior of certain members of the delegation."

HAS HE NOT CONSIDERED THE INTERNATIONAL SHAME THIS COULD BRING?

"I'm from the flood protection council, we need to review the building's emergency preparedness plan."

A long pause. Then: "I haven't been informed about any inspections."

He's on the oüts. Not part of the in-crowd. What a löser, to not be told what everyone else already knows.

"Look: it's about the cat."

"What about the cat?"

His voice cracks. The intercom pops.

The steps to social engineering are as follows:

1) Make something up.

"Let me in. I'm Mr. Reno's life coach."

"I do not know of such a thing."

2) Create a sense of urgency.

"If you don't let me in, Mr. Reno might become untethered from his higher self."

"I highly doubt that 'Mr. Reno' has ever heard of such an occupation -- he is far too busy for such low concept activities."

3) Hope they buy it.

"Do you always do what Mr. Reno tells you to? You sound like a real tool, my friend."

"I thought you were Mr. Reno."

"I don't work for Mr. Reno." The voice sniffs.

"Mr. Reno is going to be very upset when he finds out how uncooperative you're being."

"Are you trying to obstruct justice? Because you're being very obstructive."

"I'll be more than happy to let you in just as soon as I see your warrant, ma'am."

"Yes, I am. I own this building. Let me up or you're fired."

"Mmm, no."

"This is the carabineros. A crime's been committed in this pied-a-terre."

"Do you have a warrant?"

"I'm Reno."

"No, you're not."

Let's come back later. (Leave.)

You step away from the callbox.

The indicator light flicks on, and a chime begins to play, before static crackles from the speaker.

This has to be Reno's pied-a-terre. He's one of the only people in Portofiro who can afford such material luxuries.

This must be Reno's place, the dolphin indicates as much.

The mysterious callbox is as you left it.

There's only one button on the sleek, metal callbox. Next to it, a small plaque embossed with a cheerful dolphin and a small glass sphere.

Quite expensive-looking.

Proper posh.