Looking at the message on the light-brain screen, Fu Songcheng’s mood wasn’t the least bit relaxed.
After his deal with Shen Ning, he could frequently enter and leave Source Star, but every move and every data access was under strict surveillance.
He could gather data within limited permissions, but touching Source Star’s core interests was restricted at every turn.
What he could accomplish was truly too limited.
He had to have a decoy to divert attention, pulling everyone’s eyes.
At this thought, he tilted his head slightly and looked at Yu Huaiting standing not far away.
These past few days, Yu Huaiting had been following him around nonstop, barely closing his eyes. Right now, the white-haired puppy’s hair was a mess, his expression hardly good—arms crossed, eyes closed, waiting for Fu Songcheng’s next instruction.
His breathing was even, but his taut muscles declared he could burst into murder at any moment.
Fu Songcheng looked at him, the corner of his mouth unable to suppress a faint curve. Worrying about this—completely unnecessary.
Yu Huaiting was absolutely up to the task.
Originally, Fu Songcheng’s plan had been: capture as many Source Star people as possible to use as bargaining chips, forcing the company behind Death Party to stop.
But now, according to Quan Heng’s intelligence, the best use for these Source Star people in his hands wasn’t the negotiating table.
Inside the instances: expose the truth, players holding large numbers of Source Star people hostage, triggering a livestream incident and player-to-player confrontation. Outside the instances: he’d infiltrate Source Star’s data center and find a way to delete all of Blue Star’s asset data.
The first batch of metaverse test subjects—the very targets he and Yu Huaiting had been forcibly kidnapping back to Blue Star like catching chicks these past four days—were mostly thrill-seeking rich kids and conglomerate heirs from Source Star.
These people held high social status on Source Star. Once their lives were threatened in the metaverse game, Source Star’s public opinion and crisis would be enough to draw everyone’s attention there.
“Huaiting.”
Fu Songcheng called softly.
Yu Huaiting opened his eyes with a soft nasal “Hm?”
“Continue.”
Yu Huaiting, without a moment’s hesitation, began using his skill to find the next target.
Still, Fu Songcheng himself knew clearly that the more Source Star players in hand, the better.
He couldn’t guarantee he’d find the original data’s storage location. He’d also consulted many of Source Star’s public papers and documents.
Source Star’s storage and research of massive data far exceeded Blue Star’s current technological level.
After all, the faster a civilization develops, the more redundant data and core resources need physical isolation for storage.
He had to destroy the data completely—from the hardware level.
…
As Fu Songcheng’s and Yu Huaiting’s high-frequency operations continued, Death Party’s livestream filled with curses.
The two, originally “observation subjects,” now had livestream feeds frequently showing empty shots, or mere afterimages.
[What’s going on? No sign of them again?]
[What on earth are they doing! Insane]
[Where’s the official side? Where the hell are they?!]
[Let me ask my friend who entered an instance what’s going on?]
[Holy crap, why can’t I reach her! @Death Party Official]
Only when someone in the two’s exclusive livestream suddenly mentioned that players who’d entered instances had gone missing did the officials realize—of the Source Star players who’d entered instances, more than half, though their vital signs were normal, had coordinates that hadn’t moved in a very, very long time.
Inside the instances, Fu Songcheng and Yu Huaiting continued seizing the time.
They dragged yet another knocked-out Source Star person and, coordinating with Bai Mu and Si Yi, sent them back to Blue Star.
“This is the hundred and ninth.”
Yu Huaiting shook out his hands. “The high-value targets in this area are cleared out.”
Fu Songcheng continued using the pocket watch, lowering the time flow rate so they could find more targets.
…
That night, Fu Songcheng appeared on Source Star on time.
Waiting for him was Shen Ning herself.
Her expression tonight was especially grim—she looked even angrier than when she’d entered the instance that afternoon.
Her eyes fixed dead on Fu Songcheng like a falcon’s.
Fu Songcheng quickly adjusted his state, putting back on the mild smile he habitually used when deceiving people in instances.
“President Shen, good evening. You’ve been quite free lately.”
Fu Songcheng said while very naturally straightening his collar.
Shen Ning didn’t pick up his thread, only speaking coldly: “Thanks to you.”
Shen Ning was also unusually different tonight. She walked ahead alone, taking him into the elevator down to the building’s basement level.
The door pushed open. Inside was only a bare metal table, a chair fixed to the floor, and a hibernation pod. No windows—all four walls were made of high-strength sound-absorbing material.
Shen Ning turned around. “The missing players on Source Star have something to do with you, don’t they.”
Fu Songcheng: As expected, couldn’t keep it hidden after all.
He’d bluffed his way past that afternoon, and by night it had been discovered.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, President Shen.”
Fu Songcheng’s smile didn’t change. He took two steps back toward the door behind him—this room made him uneasy. He stayed near the door, ready at any moment to sprint and flee.
“The coordinates of 50,431 players are currently showing anomalies—all frozen in the rest area. You’ve been running all over the rest area lately. Tell me you don’t know?”
Shen Ning spoke unhurriedly.
Fu Songcheng couldn’t refute it and could only look at Shen Ning in silence.
“Why won’t you accept the price I offered you.”
“Shen Ning, you don’t understand me.”
Fu Songcheng’s voice wasn’t loud. “Getting stronger, becoming number one—those are all your rankings, your evaluations. I don’t want to, and can’t possibly, stay in the instances forever as your plaything.”
“If you were just cold programs, I’d treat it as switching to another set of survival rules. But you’re human.”
“You’re the ones who, based on mood and whim, made me and my lover into Bitter Couple—the chief culprits. Play along with you, and I can even learn the next instance’s schedule in advance, smooth sailing all the way; cross you, and I’ll be targeted and sabotaged by rules, identities, and everything else.”
“Since learning there were masterminds behind it all, peaceful coexistence between us has been impossible.”
Though Fu Songcheng’s answer was accusing in every line, Shen Ning couldn’t bring herself to dislike it. Or rather, compared to the afternoon’s Fu Songcheng playing along with her, Shen Ning preferred the current him—vivid and alive.
Ambitious, rebellious.
“But the development and destruction of civilizations doesn’t shift according to individual will.”
Shen Ning’s tone wasn’t even angry—it was regretful.
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