Chapter 1761 - 2063: Tentative Contact (1)
Arriving at the base control room, as soon as he entered, Hu Fei’s urgent voice came from beside the computer desk: "Everyone, immediately cut off the main line and shut down the external network."
Following Hu Fei’s command, the technicians in the control room quickly got busy. Ling Chen stepped forward, looked around, and noticed that many technicians’ computer screens displayed the icon of a venomous snake.
"Fatty, what’s going on?" he asked.
"Someone is attacking our firewall through the external network." Hu Fei said gravely: "Those guys are really skilled. They managed to infiltrate our internal system in just over ten minutes, and I had no choice but to shut down the external network to minimize the damage."
Ling Chen was shocked upon hearing this. The base’s network defense was always set up by Hu Fei personally and was extremely formidable. Not even a dozen top hackers attacking together could easily break through the firewall. However, the opponent infiltrated the system in just over ten minutes, which demonstrated their prowess.
"Do you know who did it?" Ling Chen asked.
Hu Fei pointed to the icon on the computer screen and said: "This is the virus they implanted in our system. Who do you think it might be?"
"Snake... could it be Netherworld Snake?"
"That’s right! It’s them." Hu Fei affirmed Ling Chen’s suspicion.
Ling Chen asked in confusion: "Why would people from Netherworld Snake want to infiltrate our system?"
"It might be related to the information you gave me last time." Hu Fei said: "When you attacked the Netherworld Snake’s base a while back, didn’t you bring a copied set of information from inside? These past few days, I’ve been organizing that information, and as soon as I opened a folder, the firewall was immediately attacked from outside. The virus they implanted was a destructive kind; once infected by it, the data stored in the computer’s mainframe would automatically delete in a very short time. Fortunately, I reacted quickly, severing the network connection of this mainframe in time, so the virus didn’t fully implant successfully, only deleting some unimportant data, while all the important data was preserved."
Ling Chen nodded. Hu Fei’s computer was connected to the entire base’s server, where all the data was stored. If all the data on the server were deleted, it would be a huge loss.
"What file were you opening earlier?"
Hu Fei brought up a folder on the computer. The folder wasn’t labeled, only had a code spelled out using two English letters—SG. Inside the folder were all documents, and Hu Fei randomly clicked on one, which read ’Brain Development Experiment.’ Ling Chen browsed through it word by word and found that the document recorded a brain development experiment.
Regarding this experiment, Bai Zhangqiu had mentioned it to him before. According to Bai Zhangqiu, the higher the degree of brain development, the more significant the bodily changes. Essentially, it’s a scientific method to promote human evolution. Back when he was at the Zhu Family, he and Ling Gengqiu discussed this topic.
After reading the document, Ling Chen finally understood why the people from Netherworld Snake were so eager to delete it. It contained detailed records of the entire experimental process. Regardless of who gets hold of this document, they could replicate the experiment process based on these records. Hu Fei stroked his chin, speaking with interest: "This experiment is quite intriguing. I’ve heard people talk about it before but didn’t expect someone actually succeeded. Hey! Are you interested?"
Upon hearing Hu Fei’s inquiry, Ling Chen retorted: "What, are you interested?"
"Of course! Such an experiment is definitely interesting; since this document details it so comprehensively, why not replicate their experimental process? What do you think?" Pausing briefly, Hu Fei continued: "Why not let me be the first test subject? I’m very curious about what it feels like to have brain development at forty percent."
"I think you’re crazy." Ling Chen said irritably: "Is this the kind of experiment you can just conduct? Be careful not to lose your life over it. Alright, enough talk about this, quickly rebuild the firewall. Netherworld Snake didn’t succeed this time, we can’t guarantee they won’t make another move. Oh! There’s one more thing, help me find Bai Zhangqiu’s whereabouts. If he’s still alive, ensure his safety."
Last time at Dragon Tiger Hall, he had already let Bai Zhangqiu and other researchers go; Bai Zhangqiu had confessed all the lab secrets, so if the people from Netherworld Snake found out, they definitely wouldn’t let him off. Thus, Bai Zhangqiu didn’t return to Netherworld Snake but instead escaped with his family, whereabouts unknown. Ling Chen’s biggest worry is that Netherworld Snake would seek revenge on him. After all, Bai Zhangqiu counts as having betrayed Netherworld Snake.
After dealing with the base’s matters, Ling Chen looked at the time—it was almost evening. He then drove back to the hotel where Nanrong Wanqing and Jiang Yue’e lived. Arriving at the hotel lobby, Ling Chen found a seat and sat down, pondering how to invite Nanrong Wanqing for a meeting.
Currently, Nanrong Wanqing hates him deeply, viewing him as an unfaithful playboy who only plays with women. Getting Nanrong Wanqing to agree to meet alone is truly challenging.
After thinking for a while, an idea suddenly occurred to Ling Chen.
More than half an hour later, he drove to East Sea City’s night market. He casually ate some food to fill his stomach, then found a café beside the night market, sitting at a window seat, gazing at the road outside, quietly waiting.
By eight o’clock in the evening, a taxi stopped at the roadside entrance of the night market. The car door opened, and Nanrong Wanqing stepped out. Tonight, she wore relatively ordinary clothes: jeans paired with a pink and white jacket, her long, beautiful hair tied behind her back, holding a delicate handbag, standing at the roadside, looking around as if waiting for someone.
Ling Chen finished his coffee and stood up, walking out of the café. At this time, Nanrong Wanqing took out her phone, dialed a number, and, though no one knew what she said over the phone, her face showed slight disapproval. Then, she waved at a taxi not far away. Seeing this, Ling Chen didn’t delay and walked straight up to greet her, "Wanqing, how coincidental, didn’t expect to meet you here."
Seeing him approach, Nanrong Wanqing’s eyebrows immediately furrowed, her feet slowly stepped back, her face like frost as she said, "I don’t know you, please stay away from me."
Hearing this, Ling Chen gave a bitter smile, then stopped his steps, looking at her, "What are you doing here?"
"None of your business." Nanrong Wanqing coldly replied, then started walking toward the taxi by the roadside. Seeing her about to leave, Ling Chen naturally wouldn’t let her walk away and hurriedly caught up with her.