Chapter Thirty-Seven: Aftershocks in Tokyo
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Time: The third day after the crisis was contained
Location: Tokyo New Energy Subcenter
The crisis at the Tokyo subcenter had been temporarily brought under control, but Xu Yunchuan felt no sense of relief. The defense system of the Zero-Carbon City had once again revealed its vulnerability in the battle. The Abyss Consortium’s conspiracy still hung over them like a sword suspended above their heads, ready to fall at any moment.
Inside the command hall, the technical team remained hard at work, urgently processing the residual data streams in an attempt to uncover further clues.
Zhao Ming’s voice came through the video link. “Yunchuan, I’ve just finished analyzing the data flow from the attack on the Tokyo subcenter. There’s something very strange.”
Xu Yunchuan frowned. “What is it?”
Zhao Ming projected a holographic image of the data stream. Dense, tangled lines crisscrossed the display in such dizzying complexity that they were almost impossible to follow.
“In the final stage of the attack, they suddenly stopped infiltrating the central core server. Instead, they redirected a massive volume of data to an unknown node.”
Shen Qingwan’s brows drew tightly together. “Redirected it? What were they trying to conceal?”
Zhao Ming drew a deep breath, his expression grave. “The location of this node may well be the true core of the Abyss Consortium. And the node they sent the data to… is in Hong Kong.”
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A New Target
Time: That night
Location: Aboard a private jet bound for Hong Kong
The aircraft flew steadily through the night sky. The cabin lights were soft, yet an atmosphere of tension lingered in the air.
Shen Qingwan studied the documents in her hands and said quietly, “Hong Kong is one of the world’s major financial and technological hubs. If the Abyss Consortium really has hidden its core there, then its ambitions are far greater than we imagined.”
Zhao Ming’s voice came through her earpiece. “According to the reverse trace of the data, the node is concealed beneath Victoria Harbour Financial Center, in the underground data storage facility of a luxury commercial tower.”
“An underground data center beneath a commercial building?” Xu Yunchuan narrowed his eyes. “They certainly know how to hide themselves.”
“But that also proves how crucial this node is to them. Otherwise, they would never have buried it so deeply,” Zhao Ming added.
“This time, we have to destroy their core node completely. Otherwise, they’ll return before long,” Xu Yunchuan said, his gaze resolute.
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Victoria Harbour Financial Center
Under Hong Kong’s night sky, Victoria Harbour remained ablaze with lights, its neon signs flickering brilliantly. Victoria Harbour Financial Center, situated in the heart of the city, appeared unusually quiet, yet an ominous pressure seemed to hang over it.
Xu Yunchuan, Shen Qingwan, and the tactical team, dressed in black combat gear, slipped quietly into the building’s underground parking garage.
Zhao Ming issued instructions through their earpieces. “According to the surveillance feed, the data storage facility is on Basement Level Three. The elevators and passageways are protected by security systems, but I’ve blocked the primary cameras. You have a ten-minute window.”
“Move!” Xu Yunchuan ordered coldly.
The tactical team crossed the parking garage swiftly and reached a reinforced metal door. In the background, Zhao Ming’s unlocking program raced through its procedures.
“The lock is open. Get inside!”
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The metal door opened slowly, revealing a long underground passage. The lights were dim, and the silence surrounding them was unsettling.
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The Data Center
Inside the underground data center, rows of servers stood in perfect formation. Massive cooling units rumbled continuously, and the temperature was low enough to send shivers through the body.
Zhao Ming’s voice came through their earpieces. “Yunchuan, this is the Abyss Consortium’s central data hub. Every attack command, financial transfer, and piece of technical intelligence is stored here.”
Shen Qingwan hurried to the main console and inserted the portable device Zhao Ming had provided into the interface.
“Zhao Ming, we’re connected. Begin copying the data!”
“It’s underway, but this data center is equipped with a self-destruct defense mechanism. The moment the system detects the core data being copied, it will erase everything within ten minutes.”
“Speed it up!” Xu Yunchuan said.
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The Enemy Attacks
The data-copying progress bar advanced sluggishly, while hurried footsteps and the sound of weapons being cocked echoed from the distance.
“They’ve found us!” Shen Qingwan drew her pistol and quickly took cover.
The tactical team formed a defensive perimeter. Gunfire erupted inside the data center, muzzle flashes weaving through the darkness as the air filled with the acrid smell of gunpowder.
“Zhao Ming, how much longer?” Xu Yunchuan shouted.
“Five minutes!”
“We have to hold the line!”
The enemy’s firepower intensified. More and more soldiers poured into the data center.
“Xu Yunchuan, they’re trying to sever the connection to the main console!” Shen Qingwan shouted.
“Stop them!”
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The Shadow of Kane
Just as the battle reached its fiercest point, a familiar figure suddenly appeared on the main screen—Kane.
“Xu Yunchuan, you manage to find us every time. But do you really think you can destroy us?”
Xu Yunchuan gave a cold laugh. “Kane, this is your last chance.”
Kane clapped his hands softly, an eerie smile spreading across his face. “Very well. But you’ve forgotten—I never fight a battle without preparation.”
A red countdown suddenly appeared on the screen:
00:05:00
“Self-destruct sequence activated. Evacuate immediately.”
The icy electronic voice reverberated through the hall.
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A Desperate Choice
“Zhao Ming, how much longer until the copy is complete?” Xu Yunchuan’s voice was low.
“Three minutes at most!”
“We can’t leave. The data has to come with us!”
Gunfire continued to echo through the facility as enemy troops kept pouring in.
Shen Qingwan stared at the countdown and clenched her teeth. “Zhao Ming, can you remotely force the self-destruct sequence to stop?”
“I’m trying! But their defense system is far too complex!”
“Hold on!” Xu Yunchuan said through gritted teeth.
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The Countdown Reaches Zero
Ten seconds remained. At last, the data-copying progress bar reached the end.
“Data copy complete!” Zhao Ming shouted.
“Everyone, evacuate!”
The tactical team withdrew swiftly toward the exit, with Shen Qingwan and Xu Yunchuan close behind.
00:00:01
A tremendous explosion erupted beneath them. The entire data center was engulfed in flames, and a massive shock wave surged upward from underground, making the building tremble faintly above the surface.
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The Last Hope
At the command center, Zhao Ming studied the data transmitted back to them, a trace of relief appearing on his face.
“Yunchuan, we did it. This data is enough to completely dismantle the Abyss Consortium’s technological core.”
Xu Yunchuan leaned back in his chair and released a long breath.
Shen Qingwan watched the screen and said softly, “But they still exist. This war isn’t over.”
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The darkness of night had passed, but dawn remained far away. The shadow of the Abyss Consortium had yet to fade completely, and an even greater storm was already gathering.