Chapter 21

Miao Weizhen's order was like an invisible spider web, instantly covering the entire port.

The sudden energy shortage triggered a wider panic, but the defenders led by Han Zhong maintained basic order with an iron fist. The port fell into an eerie, stormy silence.

After obtaining the highest authority, Susie quickly tracked down the source of the logic bomb - a timed-triggered backdoor hidden in the core algorithm of energy scheduling. The triggering condition was "in-depth verification of energy access records of personnel with authority level three and above."

"This guy is an expert! And he knows the port system inside out!" Susie's fingers danced across the screen. "He must be at the port, operating it remotely!"

At the same time, Wen Ling followed Miao Weizhen and led a team of absolutely loyal soldiers to the port energy control center. The scenes along the way made Wen Ling feel heavy in his heart.

The door of the control center was wide open, and several technicians on duty inside were panicked.

Miao Weizhen's gaze was like a cold scanner, sweeping across every face, finally settling on an old man standing in front of the main console, his back hunched.

It was Hack, the old engineer whom Wen Ling had helped before and provided key information.

"Engineer Hake," Miao Weizhen's voice was calm, yet filled with immense pressure. "Explain the abnormal fluctuations in array number three and the source of the logic bomb."

Huck's body shuddered, and he slowly turned around. His expression was no longer filled with fear and humility, but now a twisted mixture of despair, guilt, and a hint of madness. "Minister... Minister... The system is under attack. I..."

"Attack?" Miao Weizhen took a step forward, the overwhelming pressure making the air around him almost freeze. "Or are you executing the final 'clean-up' instructions you received from 'above'?"

The color drained from Huck's face at the word "above."

Wen Ling was shocked... It was related to his uncle. He finally had to face this speculation that he was most reluctant to face.

Huck's previous approach and provision of information were most likely a test and disguise.

"I... I was forced to do this! They captured my grandson!" Huck cried out in despair, tears streaming down his face. "They promised me that if I could accomplish this, they would release him and send us away..."

"So, for your grandson, you're willing to take thousands of people from the entire port with you?" Wen Ling couldn't help but ask harshly, his heart filled with anger at being deceived and a deep sorrow. He had once sincerely wanted to help this old man.

"I don't want to... I don't want to..." Huck murmured, his spirit almost collapsed.

"You don't need to think about it." Miao Weizhen lost his patience. He suddenly grabbed Huck's wrist and forced his personal terminal onto the unlocker. At the same time, his other hand entered complex instructions into the console.

In an instant, the encrypted and hidden data stream on the main screen that was being transmitted outward was intercepted and deciphered. The content was exactly the port defense map and Wen Ling's real-time location.

Wen Ling's pupils dilated, and she felt a sense of horror that made her hair stand on end.

"Clean up the house." Miao Weizhen ordered coldly.

There was a brief exchange of gunfire outside the window, and the accomplice that Huck was trying to contact was eliminated in an instant.

Huck was completely paralyzed.

However, at this moment——

There was a violent and unusual vibration coming from the ground of the port. It was not an explosion, but more like the roar of some huge mechanical structure being activated.

"What's going on?" Wen Ling asked sternly.

Susie's terrified voice rang out, "Minister! Your Highness! The logic bomb is a cover! Hack's real goal is to activate the underground 'Old Era Gravitational Anchor Point,' an ancient device used to stabilize asteroids. Once overloaded, it will generate a strong gravitational field, and the entire port structure will be torn apart and collapsed by its own weight within tens of minutes."

This is the real killer move, to completely bury everyone and the evidence!

A dead silence fell over the command center. Despair spread.

Wen Ling looked at Miao Weizhen, but found that there was no surprise on the other's face, only a cold understanding of "as expected".

"Susie, give me the core coordinates of the 'anchor point' control." Miao Weizhen's voice was cruelly calm. "General Han, organize all personnel to establish an anti-phase energy buffer field at the seventh support pillar in Area C."

"That requires microsecond-level control and enormous energy! We can't do it!" someone shouted in despair.

"We can." Miao Weizhen said firmly, his eyes looking deeply at Wen Ling.

When they looked at each other for a moment, Wen Ling's expression changed slightly: "...What can I do?"

"Your Highness, we need you and me to go down to the mines again. We need to manually restart and overload the 'anchor point', using its explosive energy to reversely stimulate the buffer field. This is the only way."

He explained quickly, his tone leaving no room for doubt:

"The Anchor's control core is locked with multiple encryptions and linked to the port's identification system. Simultaneous biometric verification by at least two individuals with the highest level of authority is required to initiate a manual override. My ministerial authority, combined with your Royal Bloodline Key, is the only combination that meets these requirements."

He paused, his eyes swept across the crowd sharply, and finally returned to Wen Ling's face, saying the words that sounded like a sentence of fate:

"Furthermore, once the overload procedure is activated, the core area will be completely sealed. Manually calibrating the direction of the energy burst and directing it to the buffer field must be completed internally. This is still... a one-way mission."

Wen Ling understood instantly. He was once again caught up in Miao Weizhen's calculations, but this time, they contained the only way to save everyone. He felt no anger, only a sense of calm as the dust had settled.

He took a deep breath, suppressing all his chaotic emotions, and only pure determination remained in his deep green eyes.

"lead the way."

Without a moment's delay, the two, under the mournful gaze of the crowd, once again charged towards the all-consuming dark underworld. The ultimate fate of Huangquan Rust Port would be judged deep within the earth's core.