Chapter 215: The Infiltration of the Confluence

"The problem is here." Chen Guang called up an enlarged image.

"Crystal unit #47 shows abnormal write traces in its storage unit."

"On the surface it looks like factory test data, but after Torch Dragon decoded it, we discovered it actually contains another layer of instruction set."

Feng Yan stood behind him: "What instruction?"

"A backdoor program." Chen Guang pulled up the code.

"Once activated, it will monitor the mechanical arm's position data, load information, and operation logs, and transmit via the crystal unit's wireless communication module."

"This module originally only had short-range maintenance functions, but now it encrypts the data and sends it out."

"Who is the recipient? Have you found out?"

"The recipient is a relay server overseas, but after several hops." Chen You marked out the trace route.

"It ultimately points to…… a research institute on Europa, which is basically a publicly known cover organization of the Confluence."

The lab fell silent for a few seconds.

"Huaxin Microelectronics." Feng Yan repeated the name, "How much have they supplied us?"

"In the past six months, they have already supplied us with 2,400 identical crystal units, used in the 'Heavenly Clerk' mechanical arms, some construction robots, and even the auxiliary computing nodes of 'Torch Dragon'." Chen Guang pulled up a list, "All batches could be problematic."

"But why only discover it now?"

"Because this backdoor is very concealed." Chen Guang pointed at the code.

"It only activates under specific conditions: only when the crystal unit's temperature reaches above 65 degrees and it operates continuously for over seventy-two hours will it trigger, and this condition can only be met in the extreme working conditions simulating space construction."

"Our previous tests were all on the ground, with temperature well controlled, so it didn't trigger."

Feng Yan understood: "The mechanical arms on Heavenly Works have already been operating continuously for over seventy-two hours."

"Yes." Chen Guang nodded.

"Half an hour ago, Torch Dragon, during routine data screening, discovered that in the control logs sent back from Heavenly Works, three per thousand of the data packets had abnormal timestamps."

"Following the trail, we found this."

"How much data was leaked?"

Chen You gave the statistics: "The backdoor was active for less than ten minutes before Torch Dragon detected the anomaly."

"Preliminary estimates indicate the leaked data includes the seventy-two-hour work logs of twelve mechanical arms, some structural stress data, and……" He paused.

"And also the preliminary layout plan of Heavenly Works."

Feng Yan's eyes narrowed.

"But the leaked layout plan is already the version from three days ago." Chen Guang added.

"Moreover, after detecting the anomaly, I have already had Torch Dragon implant a reverse-tracking program."

"Although that backdoor is still running, the data being sent out is now exactly what we want them to see."

"Using their own scheme against them." Feng Yan understood.

"Right." Chen Guang pushed up his glasses.

"I have already prepared a 'gift' containing the 'design flaw' of the Penglai Dragon Bone Module; if they design their attack plan based on this flaw……"

"……they will fall into our trap." Feng Yan picked up the thread.

"Well done. Keep monitoring, don't startle the snake."

"What about the supplier side?"

"Normal ordering, normal receipt." Feng Yan said.

"But after all crystal units are warehoused, they are first sent to you for processing. Also, notify the procurement department to prepare to find alternative suppliers, everything must be done secretly."

Chen Guang nodded, about to continue operating, when the lab door was pushed open.

Wang Hao rushed in, face full of excitement:

"Brother Feng! Guangzi! Guess what? The Giant Spirit God Mechanical Arm just completed its first autonomous lifting operation!"

"A forty-two-ton module, docking precision zero point five millimeters! The whole process only took……"

Seeing their expressions, he paused: "……What's with your faces? Isn't something wrong?"

Feng Yan glanced at Chen Guang, Chen Guang glanced at the backdoor code on the screen.

Wang Hao leaned over to look, instantly exploded with profanity: "Damn! They actually planted a Trojan in the crystal units? Which supplier is so bold? I'll bring people to tear down their factory!"

Feng Yan restrained him: "We can't tear it down yet; we want to use this backdoor to catch a bigger fish."

Wang Hao stared for a moment, then his eyes lit up: "Phishing? I'm familiar with that! Is there anything I need to do?"

"Just keep an eye on Heavenly Works construction." Feng Yan said.

"But you need to cooperate with Chen Guang, feeding more data into that backdoor that we want it to transmit."

"For example, Penglai's construction schedule and test timetable can be appropriately adjusted."

"Understood! I'm an expert at phishing and forgery!" Wang Hao cracked his knuckles.

"I'll guarantee they get a perfect piece of false intelligence!"

Chen Guang's face expressionless: "You said the same thing last time when you painted the missile rainbow-colored."

"That was art! This time it's different!"

Feng Yan ignored their bickering, looking out the window.

The morning sun was just right; people came and went in the research institute, engineers hurried past holding blueprints, and the test field echoed with the roar of mecha engines.

Everything looked perfectly normal.

But in the darkness, eyes were watching. Hands were reaching in.

He took out his phone and sent an encrypted message to Lei Jindong: "The Confluence has already begun infiltration; they left a backdoor on the crystal units."

"We are preparing to turn their own scheme against them; we need your side to cooperate, and after they obtain the information, appropriately help them verify its authenticity."

The reply came quickly: "Received. Already arranged."

Turn off the phone, Feng Yan looked back at Chen Guang: "Can we change the activation condition of that backdoor?"

"Sure." Chen You highlighted the code segment.

"I can adjust the trigger threshold so it activates when we want, and only transmit the data we intend to give."

"Alright." Feng Yan said.

"When Tiangong finishes the first‑stage construction, and more Penglai modules go to the heavens… at that time, we'll present them with a grand gift."

He paused: "A gift large enough to make them believe, yet large enough to cause them to err."

In the laboratory, the code on the screen kept scrolling.

Four thousand kilometers away, in an underground research facility on Europa, the technology director of the Confluence Organization stared at the freshly received encrypted data packet, a smile curling his lips.

"The Longguo people really fell for it," he said to his assistant.

"Keep monitoring; after all their Penglai dragon bones have been launched… we'll make our move."

He still didn't know that what he had obtained was actually a meticulously prepared poisoned bait.

He also didn't know that the door he opened led to a trap.

At two p. m., Zhou Ming arrived punctually at the mech testing field.

Li Yang was already waiting on site, with a brand‑new mech parked beside him.

It wasn't the latest model Bian‑an‑3S, but a smaller experimental version.

"This is the prototype of the Yutian lightweight aerospace mech," Li Yang introduced.

"It's designed specifically for Penglai shipborne defense; try piloting it, especially its maneuverability in micro‑gravity environments."

Zhou Ming's eyes lit up: "Aerospace mech? Does that mean I can fly?"

"It's only a ground test; right now we can only simulate," Li Yang pointed to the holographic projection area at the center of the test field.

"There it will generate a virtual space environment, with zero‑gravity simulation, debris obstacles, and simulated enemy aircraft."

Without a word, Zhou Ming dove into the cockpit.

Meanwhile, in the crystal‑chip inspection lab next door, Chen Guang had just finished processing the second batch of chips.

He stared at the monitoring screen, which displayed a screenshot of the Confluence Organization's internal network obtained by reverse‑penetrating through the backdoor program.

In the footage, several technicians were analyzing the layout diagram of Tiangong, marking possible weak points in Penglai.

Chen Guang adjusted his glasses, and on his side's screen, quietly raised the defense level of those weak points threefold.

Thus, the bait is set.

Fishing, begin!