Chapter 680 - 651: The Hunt

[System time synchronizing...]

[Main server: Sigma-9 online...]

[Network surveillance deployment protocol: Omega-21 activated...]

[Target locked: Commencing experimental digital soul imprint loading...]

[Experiment code: Phantom Hunt]

[Executing attack.]

[Transmission path: Infiltration Protocol 0x0A12B9]

[Estimated completion time... unable to estimate.]

"It’s working!"

Jonathan sprang up, punching the air, his pale face flushed with excitement.

This was a joint corporate operation. They used the same channel, the same communications protocol, and equipment, sharing combat visuals in a chaotic signal-banning zone.

The battered armored floating pickup suddenly shot up and nosedived into the ruins, a scene of course monitored by the network surveillance.

Compared to other corporations, the network surveillance saw things in more detail:

Their collaboration with Arasaka was working!

The distinctive feature of the Black Wall in cyberspace was easy to identify: it would take over all signal devices, causing complex but extremely efficient resonance in currents and electromagnetic signals, transforming the attack area into a cyber wasteland—

completely destroying all devices there, thoroughly ejecting them from cyberspace.

This generally happened in an instant, but this time it was different: the Black Wall responded, but the attack efficiency was a bit low.

Beside him, Blais seemed struck by lightning, his mind blank: "How is this possible? I’ve tested with the Black Wall. He’s not supposed to be an AI! The entire action was recorded, and there was even a Dragon Hunter involved... why wasn’t there a Dragon Hunter in this operation?"

Jonathan smiled, clearly in a good mood: "Classified operation, Agent, but the efficiency seems a bit low...

We need more data. Now it’s your turn, Agent Blais. Gear up and bring Burger King back for us.

This will be a significant step towards cleansing cyberspace order..."

Meanwhile, online, the network surveillance was also communicating with its ally—

its ally with whom it had a deeper cooperation in this operation.

[Network Surveillance: Thank you for your support of the network surveillance work and your contribution to cyberspace security, Mr. Arasaka Saburo.]

[Arasaka Saburo: Spare me the pleasantries. I hope you can do as you say and lift the sanctions on the Arasaka Group.]

[Network Surveillance: I believe the European Union will consider your proposal. This is a significant discovery, after all. We can further research on how to make cyberspace orderly.]

[Network Surveillance: But as your messenger and the EU’s, I still want to remind you in advance: privately installing a lunar mass projector is a very serious violation.]

Arasaka Saburo abruptly closed the communication.

"Hypocritical savages."

He muttered to himself, beginning to ponder the issues so far:

For instance, since Military Technology used thermo-baric bombs, why not directly target the Blue Jewel nightclub?

The vehicle seemed to be heading to the ruins even before the Black Wall attack...

Why?

Fortunately, this time he used his trump card, a ninja—

This was the best chance to win everything and to uncover the secrets.

[Arasaka Saburo: Gorou-san, your time has come.]

...

The capital of New America, Washington.

President Miles quietly watched the situation unfold.

[Lark: The Black Wall... the Black Wall attacked him! What did the Network Surveillance do... is he really an AI?!]

Lark’s stunned voice echoed in the communication channel: That Burger King really is an AI?!

Miles put down his hand and began typing on the work terminal beside him:

[Miles: It’s too early to make that judgment now. Maybe they really made some progress in controlling the Black Wall... just like us.]

[Miles: But we need to press harder now. Riddle, you guys need to confirm they’re done for, and while you’re at it, get all the data from the Little Beidou project.]

[Miles: Lark, your opportunity has arrived. My promise holds. Retrieve the data inside, and we can make some upgrades for you.]

[Riddle: Let’s start the operation.]

...

Marvel World, Houston.

Dalio sat in his chair, feeling a mix of strange and excited:

[Dalio: Are you sure their firewall suddenly became very weak?]

[Jarvis: Yes, our success rate is increasing. If their network fluctuations continue, I believe we should reclaim internet control and fully execute the Insight Plan.]

[Jarvis: This will significantly increase our chances of long-term success.]

[Dalio: That’s great news... let’s prepare to launch the Insight Plan then.]

[Dalio: I’ll now open the satellites for you: Rocksen Group, Stark Industries, and the military...]

...

Zzz—

A terrifying noise bombarded Lille’s head, the world before him collapsing, making it impossible to discern what was happening!

Black and red phantoms dominated everything, resembling snakes, leopards, missiles, rice cookers, plugs, adult toys, bullets... twisting and whirling, attacking his brain and nerves.

Lille’s mind kept working through the pain, continuously issuing commands, longing to distinguish reality from cyberspace through equipment and logic as usual:

When he controlled his fingers to slide across the wall, touch, hearing, and vision would feedback; when his fingers slid across data in cyberspace, currents would directly stimulate the brain, bypassing sensors.

But this time it wasn’t working:

His biological eyes were blind, his prosthetics were in tatters, and his mind felt like it was in a storm—

"We can’t hold on!"

A strange metallic voice pierced his brain, one sounding like a familiar voice, Jonathan, or Brick?

Was this reality, or was the sound a monitor picked up while drifting in cyberspace?

Logic needs an axiom as a foundation, just as mathematics needs axioms. Without a baseline, he couldn’t distinguish reality from cyberspace...

"Lille!"

V’s voice suddenly stabbed into Lille’s brain, which was the axiom he needed!

Smack!

His head was slapped violently, snapping Lille back to clarity. Even though his mind was still in chaos and he couldn’t see the way forward, he knew that the data and information he received at the moment of that slap must come from a real-world touch!

It might not be right, but it was all he could do.

"Ugh... did we get in?"

V tore open Da Mai’s base, helping Lille up.

"I don’t know either, but we should be in. It’s so damn hot... staying here will roast us. We have to get down. Still know the way?"

Da Mai was also in a state of chaos. But fortunately, being the last AI Lille programmed, its core components had very good anti-attack designs, and the protection was physical.

Da Mai had already disconnected from the vehicle’s electronic control platform, becoming a manually operated AI...

But the car was heavily damaged, and the manual controls weren’t useful. It wasn’t likely to fly straight out either.

Cutting through the base, V could clearly see they were now stuck on the burning ruins, looking like the first floor’s beams of a building.

The way to the basement had been blasted wide open—

The door was deformed by the explosion, allowing just enough room to jump in.

But if they jumped wrong, they’d land on the nearby burning ruins, and just the sight of the melting concrete and steel made their feet feel hot.

"The temperature inside looks lower," V pointed at the door. "We just have to jump accurately."

Lille, being carried, was sorting through information when a sudden thought about their encounter in Atlanta crossed his mind, making him smile:

"Do you remember when we first met?"

He was also unable to stand then, just like now:

But back then, he still had a complete biological body. Now, he was all prosthetics.

V also had a combat jacket on, but her pants were a bit skimpy, still that skirt, looking odd.

However, when Lille first saw her, he also thought her clothing aesthetic was weird.

V rubbed her nose with a chuckle: "How could I forget?"

"Alright, let’s go in. When have you ever missed?"

"Got it, be ready—"

Bang!

V threw Lille and his wheelchair, grabbing it as they fell, slamming into the basement door and smashing it open.