"Confirmed!" Wen Shifei immediately pulled up another recently deciphered briefing, her eyes dark. "According to intelligence intercepted by the 'Lighthouse,' at least five suspected awakeners in the lower city were recently secretly captured by the chaebol. The operation was codenamed 'Star Capture.' The direction they were last seen pointed to the underground area of the Tianshu Building." Her fingertips slid across the screen, and a blurry floor structure diagram emerged. "Combined and cross-verified intelligence from multiple sources, the target has been locked on - the seventeenth underground floor!"
"Matrix 'Zero'!" Lu Chen's voice was decisive and metallically cold. His slender fingers tapped heavily on the position marked "B17" on the screen. "The control core of all chips, the ultimate source of all genetic instructions! The queen of the 'hive' system! Control it, and you can control all genetic optimizers, including the awakened ones! Even... forcibly suppress or erase awakened consciousness!" He raised his head abruptly, his eyes like a sharp, tempered blade, piercing through the dilapidated barracks, as if piercing the giant tower that symbolizes power and evil. "We must go to the seventeenth floor underground and destroy Matrix 'Zero'! This is the only way to sever the shackles and destroy the foundation of the chaebol's genetic rule! And it is also... the only hope to save Qingyi!"
Wen Shifei's brow furrowed in worry. "I know this is the only way. But Tianshu Building is the heart of the chaebol, and the seventeenth underground floor is the core of the core. Protected by a 'beehive' system, rumor has it that not even an unauthorized mosquito can get in. With just the two of us..." Her unfinished words carried the heavy pressure of reality and the invisible threat of death. The wound on her left shoulder ached, a reminder of the disparity in power.
Lu Cheneng didn't hesitate. He reached out his hand, not to shake it, but with a firm, enveloping gesture, he completely took Wen Shifei's hand, which was slightly cold and a little sweaty from nervousness, into his warm, calloused palm. Strength and warmth passed through their skin. "I know the road ahead is a life-or-death struggle." He stared into her eyes, his gaze sincere and blazing, like burning stars. "But if 'Zero' is not destroyed, the Awakened will never have peace, like lambs to the slaughter. The rule of the chaebol will be engraved into the human bloodline like genes, for thousands of years! And your brother's sacrifice, the sacrifice of 'Mole'... all the flames that have burned out for freedom will be meaningless!" He squeezed her hand, his strength conveying unshakable determination: "Wen Shifei, from the moment we fought our way out of the bloody dawn, from the moment we glimpsed the truth about the 'Seven-Pointed Star', you and I have embarked on this road of no return. There is no retreat, only forward movement!"
His words were like a heavy hammer, hitting Wen Shifei's heart and igniting the last trace of hesitation in her eyes. She looked back at him, and saw in his deep eyes the courage to burn his boats and... his unconditional trust in her. The morning light fell on his angular profile, gilding it with a layer of gold, and also illuminated the pure belief in his eyes to fight for her and for a common goal. After a long time, she shook his hand back with force, her nails even digging into his skin slightly, and nodded heavily, her voice clear and powerful: "Okay! I believe you! Let's... destroy it!"
At the moment when this oath fell——
"Crack!" Outside the barracks, an extremely slight sound of a dead branch breaking was heard, but it was enough to instantly tense the awakened senses!
Lu Chen's pupils constricted, his muscles instantly shifting into combat mode. The backlash of pain was forcibly suppressed by a heightened sense of alertness. He gestured for silence, his eyes sharp as an eagle's as he silently pointed to a hidden compartment in the barracks, obscured by debris. With ghostly movements, he grabbed the pulse rifle leaning against the wall with one hand, and with his other hand, without hesitation, he gently and steadily pushed Wen Shifei into the shadows of the compartment, simultaneously pressing the analyzer into her arms. "Black Snake Gang! Don't move, don't make a sound!" His whisper was filled with cold murderous intent, his breath brushing against her ear.
The next second, the rotten barracks door was violently kicked open!
"Bang!"
Sawdust flew everywhere. Three thugs wearing dirty leather armor and sporting black snake tattoos burst in. The leader, a bald man with a ferocious scar across his face, clutched a modified shotgun. His greedy, murderous gaze swept across the empty, dilapidated interior of the barracks like a searchlight.
"Damn it! Search! Carefully!" Scarface spat out a mouthful of thick phlegm and grinned. "Lu Cheneng, the chaebol's lackey, must be hiding nearby! Capture him alive and hand him over to the Tianshu chaebol. The reward will be enough for us brothers to live a carefree life! Today will be the day for our meteoric rise!" His Adam's apple rolled, his eyes gleaming with a naked desire for money and status. The other two immediately dispersed, prodding the pile of debris in the corner with their rifle barrels, rummaging through discarded military supplies, making a piercing noise.
Lu Cheneng seemed to have merged into the shadow of the wall, his breathing almost stagnated, his muscles tensed like steel, his knuckles turning bluish-white from the exertion. The pulse rifle in his hand was half-charged, a faint blue light flickering at the muzzle, locking onto Scarface's temple. It only took a second... Inside the compartment, Wen Shifei pressed herself against the cold, rough wall, holding her breath, the cold metal shell of the analyzer poking at her chest. She could clearly hear her own heartbeat like a drum, the heavy breathing and rummaging sounds of the minions outside. Her clenched fists were filled with cold sweat, hatred and tension intertwined, and she wished she could rush out immediately. The wound on her shoulder felt a sharp pain from the tension.
"Boss, there's no one here! Just a pile of junk!" A minion kicked over an empty can and complained.
"Damn, is the information wrong?" Another minion hit the wall with the butt of his gun.
Scarface glanced around suspiciously, his eyes sweeping across the shadowy area where Lu Chenshang was hiding and towards the cubicle where Wen Shifei was, pausing for a few seconds. Lu Chenshang's heart leaped into his throat, his finger on the trigger. Finally, Scarface waved his hand, cursing, "Bad luck! Let's go, look somewhere else! This place is so desolate, they can't get far!" The three of them retreated, cursing, their footsteps fading into the distance.
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