NOVEL NEXT Chapter 302: Obtained and Departed
"Now, they are exactly what I need. I can use these planted viruses to attack Gold Mountain's power grid. We'll only know the precise timing after dark, but the window of opportunity will be at least 450 seconds. This is because I've already scoped out Gold Mountain's official firewall. By the time they even realize they're under a cyberattack, it will take them at least 450 seconds to neutralize the viruses I've spread across the globe. All set!"
Situ Jing turned and pointed at the monitor.
"See these rows of blue squares? They represent the remote viruses. If the officials find and neutralize one, it'll turn black. My console is hidden at the very end of the chain. If even my square turns black before you're out, we're finished."
Xia Liang nodded, not overly concerned, and casually procured a small computer from his personal storage.
If worse comes to worst, I'll just step in myself.
If he weren't afraid of revealing too much, Xia Liang would have handled the whole thing himself.
「Gold Mountain City, 1:15 a.m.」
A coastal city famous throughout Blue Star, steeped in history, was suddenly plunged into darkness.
The skyscrapers, brilliantly lit only moments before, were all extinguished.
On streets devoid of traffic lights and street lamps, chain-reaction car crashes occurred one after another. Countless high beams spun wildly as vehicles flipped and rolled. Factories ground to a halt and malls shut down.
For the average citizen, it was a sudden, unforeseen disaster. Shops were smashed and looted. Pedestrians were brazenly extorted by thugs who would draw knives or guns without hesitation; after all, the security cameras were useless. Amid the chaos, the sounds of screams and shouts were punctuated by the incessant blare of car horns, which echoed throughout Gold Mountain City.
Two streets away from the research institute, a Ford Business vehicle was parked inconspicuously by the curb.
"Xiao Jing, do you think Sister Qianqian and Brother Xia can succeed? That place is a real dragon's den and tiger's lair."
Explosive mumbled while chewing bubblegum and checking his demolition charges.
"Don't be a jinx. You've heard about Sister Qianqian's strength, haven't you? A year ago, she took on the entire Seventh Special Warfare and beat those haughty bastards so bad they couldn't tell which way was north."
Situ Jing kept his eyes glued to the blue squares on the monitor.
"Besides, your Brother Xia is a pro, isn't he? The way he assembled those firearms earlier was anything but ordinary."
Explosive chuckled.
"True. But if they fail, we're all done for. To think we used to joke about Stick not getting a publicly funded vacation. Now look at him, all cozy while recuperating in the Imperial Capital."
While the two were chatting to ease their tension, another man and woman had already become phantoms of the night.
Gliding over the perimeter wall with the agility of swallows, they slipped directly into the first floor through an open window.
The inside of the research building was in complete mayhem. Some people were shouting that twenty years of research records had just been wiped out, while others were cursing about missing the opening game of the professional NBA season.
"A place like this definitely has a backup power source. We need to take it out before they can get it online," Xia Liang whispered.
Xiao Qianxi hesitated for a moment.
"The researchers here might not be involved in this incident. Isn't it a bit wrong to kill them directly?"
"What's it to me? This Master's life is the most important thing. Besides, they aren't our countrymen; the blood flowing through their veins isn't even the same color."
"Your answer is very satisfactory."
A smile suddenly touched the corners of Xiao Qianxi's lips; she had just been testing him.
The two split up to carry out their tasks.
Xia Liang was responsible for disabling the backup power, while Xiao Qianxi went to find the traitor and the blueprints.
Taking advantage of the exceptional chaos inside the building, Xia Liang knocked out a security guard, slipped on the man's jacket, and blended into the frantic crowd.
In the generator room.
Xia Liang pressed the muzzle of a pistol to the back of a middle-aged white man's head.
"What's your position here?"
"Who are you! Do you know where this is—MMPH!"
Before the man could ramble on, Xia Liang shot off two of his fingers with his silenced pistol. The cacophony outside was more than enough to cover the sound. Immediately after firing, Xia Liang jammed the hot barrel into the man's mouth.
Scream and you die.
"What's your position?"
"J-Just a regular researcher... MMPH..."
Xia Liang shot off two more fingers, leaving only a thumb on the man's left hand.
"A regular researcher who just happens to carry a satellite phone at all times? You're not being honest, and I hate dishonest people."
The man was on the verge of a complete breakdown. He finally answered in a hoarse, pain-filled voice.
"I am the research director here."
Only then did Xia Liang nod in satisfaction.
"Did you recently acquire a very important set of blueprints, along with a professor from Dragon Country?"
"I don't know about that... I really don't! The dean handles those matters. I'm only in charge of the research."
The man's face was white as a sheet from the pain, but he didn't dare cry out for help. He just hoped the damned Dongfang man in front of him would leave quickly so security could find him and riddle him with bullets.
"What use are you if you don't know anything? I'll ask you one last question. If I'm satisfied with the answer, I'll spare your life."
Xia Liang spun the man around to face him.
"Am I handsome?"
"Handsome! You're the most handsome man I've ever seen!" the director answered without a flicker of hesitation.
BANG.
A bullet erupted through his forehead.
The man collapsed in a growing pool of his own blood.
You knew too much.
After locating the main electrical control panel, Xia Liang didn't bother with the switches and simply emptied a magazine into it.
Time is of the essence. I have to race against the clock.
"Director, the electrician is here! Let's get him to restore the power!" a security guard called out as he walked in.
He never finished his sentence. A bloody hole appeared between his eyes.
Xia Liang stepped over the corpse and headed out.
With the power out, the elevators were useless. While most of the security personnel were focused on controlling the entrances and exits, the stairwells had also become a top priority.