Chapter 141: A One-Month Business Trip

Xiao He Ren's intelligence tore open the thick curtain shrouding the Prometheus Foundation, allowing Qin Feng to glimpse the monstrous, vast shadow beneath its iceberg—a malevolent organization centered on live experiments and the search for Pandora's Box, regarding human lives as worthless, its threat far exceeding any previous business rival or underground force.

The chip decryption was being conducted by the Shield's top technical team under absolute security, requiring time. But the coordinates of several secret outposts mentioned in Xiao He Ren's testimony, along with the confirmation that Chuangsheng Technology served as the Foundation's White Glove, had already pointed Qin Feng toward his next move.

Passive defense, waiting for the enemy to strike? That was not Qin Feng's style.

Now that he had seen the enemy's true face, launching a preemptive strike and striking straight at the heart of the enemy was the only choice!

He needed to temporarily leave Luocheng, the public stage, slip into the shadows, personally verify these intelligence reports, and seek an opportunity to deliver a fatal blow to the Prometheus Foundation.

Yet his current status was unique; every move he made was under close watch. A prolonged, unexplained disappearance would inevitably spark speculation from all sides—and possibly alert the snake.

He needed a plausible excuse.

After a brief pause, Qin Feng made his decision.

He summoned Chen Ming.

"Arrange it. Issue a public statement that I will travel to the South Pacific for a one-month business inspection and project negotiations, focusing on new energy and marine resource development," Qin Feng ordered, his tone leaving no room for dissent. "The itinerary is classified. Reject all media interviews and external contact."

"A one-month business trip?" Chen Ming was surprised. At this critical moment, why would the Boss leave for so long?

"Yes." Qin Feng offered no further explanation. "Daily operations are your responsibility, along with the management team. Report major decisions to me via encrypted channels. Increase protection for Dr. Su by threefold. Without my direct order, neither she nor Ailin may leave the research institute. Also, notify Lei Zhan. He must select his ten most elite personnel and prepare to accompany me."

Seeing Qin Feng's grave expression, Chen Ming knew something major was afoot and dared not ask further. He immediately replied: "Yes, Boss Qin! I'll arrange it right away!"

The news was quickly released through official channels. Instantly, the industry buzzed with speculation: Was Qin Feng's prolonged "business trip" linked to Chuangsheng Technology's recent provocations, or was the Qin Feng System preparing a new major move in the South Pacific?

No one knew it was merely a carefully laid smoke screen.

That night, Qin Feng did not board any public flight. Instead, under the protection of Lei Zhan and ten elite Shield operatives, he quietly boarded the "Voyager" research vessel—after emergency repairs and system reset, its condition had been largely restored.

The "Voyager" sailed away from the Port like a ghost of the Deep Sea, vanishing into the boundless night. Its destination was not some tropical island or commercial hub in the South Pacific—but the secret location marked "Hydra," a suspected Foundation maritime outpost deep in the Public Sea, as provided by Xiao He Ren.

Inside the cabin, Qin Feng stared at the target coordinates steadily approaching on the main screen, his eyes cold.

This time, he was not going for a business inspection.

He was going… to hunt.

"Navigator, report the latest status of the Hydra outpost," Qin Feng ordered the AI.

"Based on recent satellite imagery and passive sonar monitoring, the target area contains a large artificial structure with clear signs of activity and high-intensity counter-detection capabilities. Energy readings are anomalous, showing weak similarity to the chaotic energy that previously attacked our vessel, though at significantly lower intensity," the Navigator reported calmly.

So there was something wrong! Qin Feng's gaze sharpened. This Hydra outpost was likely connected to the chaotic opposing force in the Deep Sea—perhaps a forward base for the Foundation's related research or exploitation.

"Maintain stealth. Close in for reconnaissance. I need more detailed intelligence," Qin Feng ordered.

"Command confirmed."

The "Voyager" activated its highest-grade optical camouflage and full-spectrum silence, becoming an invisible shadow gliding toward the sea area concealing unknown dangers.

The voyage was long. During this time, Qin Feng remotely managed company affairs via encrypted satellite links, monitored Su Jin's counterattacks against Chuangsheng Technology's academic provocations (her rebuttal paper had been submitted and caused a major stir in academic circles), and kept constant watch on the chip decryption progress.

Ten days later, the "Voyager" finally reached the edge of the target sea area.

Through footage transmitted by a high-precision submersible, a breathtaking sight appeared before Qin Feng—

It was not the simple offshore platform or vessel he had imagined, but a… massive, complex structure resembling the lair of a deep-sea monster! Partly suspended beneath the sea surface, partly exposed above, its architecture was intricate, radiating a twisted, non-human geometric beauty. Its materials shimmered with a dark metallic luster, utterly alien to the surrounding seawater. Around it, several peculiar, aggressively designed escort vessels patrolled.

"Detecting high-intensity biological signals and energy responses… internal structure cannot be fully penetrated by scans… unknown force field shielding detected…" the Navigator continuously reported.

This Hydra outpost was far larger and more dangerous than anticipated!

Qin Feng stared at the nightmare-like structure on screen, his expression grave—but beneath it burned a rising tide of battle-lust.

This was it!

"Develop an infiltration plan," Qin Feng ordered both Lei Zhan and the Navigator. "We must get inside, retrieve the experimental data, confirm the Foundation's crimes, and if possible… destroy it!"

A secret war against the Prometheus Foundation's hidden outpost quietly began in this unknown corner of the Public Sea.

And Qin Feng would personally lead the Shield's elite, like a surgeon's scalpel, cutting straight into the heart of this tumor!

A one-month business trip?

No.

This was the beginning of a decapitation strike.