Arresting people along the Internet cable

When Dean Li learned that Lin Yuan had already grasped the MAC address of a mole embedded in a certain OCR system, his heart, which had been dormant, stirred once more.

If not for the indispensable affairs of the institute, he truly wished to follow Lin Yuan to Shanghai to apprehend the person.

"Xiao Lin, it's my fault for not being upfront enough. Look, you're even helping your master think about getting a promotion. But because you failed your final exams, your master was too timid and didn't dare to get you that spot, fearing this and that."

Originally, that spot for X was almost a sure thing, and Dean Li had no intention of going back on his word. But Lin Yuan unfortunately failed two subjects in his final exams, which made things difficult.

"I'll figure something out for you right away," Dean Li was instantly moved by Lin Yuan; after all, Lin Yuan was thinking about his long-cherished wish for a promotion.

"I'll shamelessly try to find a way for you; this matter will definitely be resolved."

"Master, there's no rush for this. I've already thought it through. After I return from Shanghai, if I can catch a big fish this time, not only will your promotion hopes be realized, but I'll also get some auxiliary credit, and everything will be easier to handle then."

Dean Li thought for a moment, "You've thought it through thoroughly. But don't worry, whether the Shanghai trip succeeds or not, your master will secure that spot for you."

Lin Yuan was actually no longer very concerned about the spot.

At 24, he was at an age where values could easily change. He used to think that getting the spot was a cool thing, and for him, it meant an additional path in the future.

But after witnessing Dean Li's obsession and Director Wang's questionable actions, he suddenly felt: perhaps staying inside wasn't necessarily a good thing.

Most importantly, Lin Yuan now had money. He had insight into Good Group's intentions and took the opportunity to earn several million. After becoming wealthy, he became much more composed and calm. He could also consider problems more comprehensively.

Therefore, for Lin Yuan at this moment, the purpose of the Shanghai trip was twofold.

Firstly, it was to help Old Li and fulfill his master-disciple bond with him. Secondly, it was to maintain the connection with Zhang Yan; he still needed to establish a certain persona to continue maintaining a sibling-like relationship with Zhang Yan.

Oh, Lin Yuan actually had a third reason he didn't really want to mention—he still wanted to contribute to society.

Although making contributions wasn't his primary goal, digging deep into his heart, he still harbored a bit of ambition to benefit the world. However, under Good Group's suppression and his inability to resist, this ambition had faded significantly.

But once there was an opportunity, these thoughts still couldn't help but surface in Lin Yuan's mind.

—

That MAC address was eventually traced to a certain residential complex.

Zhang Yan still understood network-related technical reconnaissance methods; after all, she had undergone systematic training, so she possessed basic professional skills.

With the cooperation of local comrades, Zhang Yan obtained a dispatch command vehicle.

This was an ordinary-looking SUV; those who didn't know would think it was just an old, worn-out fuel car about to be decommissioned. However, the network monitoring equipment inside the car had already wirelessly accessed the main network of this residential complex.

Zhang Yan stared at the instrument screen in the car, wearing a headset, "Senior Brother, chat with him and induce him to use his computer."

As long as the other party used their computer, that computer would access the network and then send out network requests. And network requests would include the MAC address.

Zhang Yan had already accessed the main network of the residential complex and was monitoring it.

"Alright, watch my performance."

Lin Yuan also put on a headset, but he wasn't in the car, mainly because he couldn't produce identification, so overtly he could only be given the identity of a whistleblower.

Old Mo also came along this time, disguised as a cleaner, wandering around the residential complex, ready to make a move and apprehend the person at any time.

Due to the unpleasant experience of being seen through by Lin Yuan last time (of course, Old Mo thought he had been seen through by Lin Yuan), Old Mo specially applied a full set of facial prosthetics for himself, fearing another mishap this time.

What should Lin Yuan chat about with the other party? This was a problem.

Chatting could be done with just a phone, but that MAC address belonged to a computer's network card. This was likely because the other party was cautious and didn't use their phone to access the external network.

After all, the permissions granted to phones are far less than those of personal PCs, and they are also easily monitored by the underlying security mechanisms of mobile operating systems.

Therefore, Lin Yuan needed to guide the other party to use that computer to go online.

[Hello, the demand document you sent me earlier seems to have some issues. There's a screenshot that's not very clear. Would you mind taking a look?]

[I don't see any problems.] After a long time, the other party finally replied.

[Would you mind opening it on your computer and taking a closer look? It might be distorted on a phone.]

[How do you know I'm looking at it on my phone? [Smiling face]]

Of course, Lin Yuan knew that important information would definitely be processed on a Windows-based computer. After all, the Windows system is open, so open that it's full of vulnerabilities and constantly needs patching.

But a computer used for important matters would certainly not be used casually for daily tasks; daily communication would definitely be done on a phone.

[Isn't normal chatting usually done on a phone?]

[Your previous chatting habits weren't like this. You used to have a strong sense of boundaries, only simply posing questions and never offering suggestions on how to handle problems.]

Lin Yuan didn't expect the other party to be so sensitive.

He really used to have a strong sense of boundaries when chatting with the other party, never saying an extra word.

It seemed he really wasn't a professional; he had exposed himself in his communication habits as soon as he opened his mouth.

[[Question mark] I just want to finish the work quickly and get paid to go home for the New Year.]

[You're changing the subject. So far, the money you've earned from us is enough for you to live comfortably. Tell me, what situation have you encountered?]

Lin Yuan felt a little relieved; it seemed the other party was only suspicious of him for now.

[Nothing, just unclear requirements, so I'm asking.]

[But your previous habit, when encountering such problems, was always to proceed according to your own understanding and then make a note in the submitted document. What? Have you even changed your behavior habits?]

Lin Yuan had no idea about any "previous habits," because except for the first few freelance jobs, the rest were handed to Gu Xuan by Dean Li.

He didn't realize that his and Gu Xuan's work styles were different, and he was exposed immediately.

Although Gu Xuan had no direct contact with the other party, code, like calligraphy, can to some extent reveal the author's personality.

Lin Yuan never expected this, which made things awkward.

He immediately notified Zhang Yan through his headset, "It seems I've been exposed..."

Lin Yuan explained the situation to Zhang Yan, who looked speechless, "Senior Brother, you really are an amateur. If it really doesn't work, we'll just cordon off the complex and search it thoroughly."

"No," Old Mo, who was on the same channel, immediately stopped Zhang Yan's idea. "That would cause too much commotion, and it would be difficult for the director to explain to his superiors."

[Kid, what exactly are you doing?]

That mole was still chatting with Lin Yuan.

[Nothing, just chatting. Why do you seem so sensitive?]

[The questions you're asking make me feel like the previous code wasn't written by you.]

Lin Yuan simply laid his cards on the table, because arguing was useless in the face of facts, [It really wasn't written by me, I subcontracted it to someone else.]

[So you've been lying from the beginning? At first, you were so poor that you had to secretly use our equipment to mine. I don't believe you would have thought of outsourcing from the very beginning.]

Outsourcing, after all, means giving the work to someone else. If a person is very poor, they won't just think about earning the difference, but about earning all the money for the entire project.

[Tell me, kid, who exactly are you?]

[None of your business.]

[You wait for someone to collect your body.]

[I'm so scared! I'm right outside your door now, bringing people over to beat you.]

[Heh heh, we have your real-name information. You should be careful when walking on the street.]

Damn, Lin Yuan was threatened.

He had a sudden idea, [Delete my real-name information. To be honest, I've mined a lot of coins using your machines recently. I've earned enough money, and I'm not stupid enough to really be cannon fodder for you.

Brother, I also advise you to see clearly early.

Look at the Middle East, do cannon fodder have a good end there?

You delete my real-name information, or you can think of other ways. In short, you help me pass, and I'll transfer some digital currency to you. You're good, I'm good, everyone's good.]

The hand holding the phone on the other end hesitated a bit.

Don't look at how some people usually shout slogans loudly; when faced with such a test of money, even a ghost would tremble three times.

[Brother, I'm an IT student. I guess all your communication devices must have monitoring software installed, right? I've even thought it through for you: go apply for a new digital wallet address online, then send it to me. I'll transfer digital currency to you.

Then you delete all our chat records.

Don't worry, with the vast amount of WeChat chat records, no one can recover those few deleted ones.

You use the new wallet address to receive the money, secretly and without anyone knowing. Even if you get caught later, no one can touch that money.

Even if you're locked in the Mariana Trench, that money is yours.

Five thousand US dollars, to buy your forgiveness.]

Lin Yuan, as a potential recruitment target, would certainly not be the only one, so he didn't offer too high a price, lest the other party become suspicious.

The other party could completely use a work error as an excuse, saying that they ultimately found Lin Yuan to be of no value and not worth developing.

A work error would at most result in a reprimand, but five thousand US dollars was tangible.

The other party didn't reply again. Lin Yuan tried to open the other party's Moments and found that he could still see it, which meant he hadn't been blacklisted.

He knew: the other party was hesitating.

Lin Yuan didn't send anything else. He didn't even send the web link to apply for a digital currency wallet address.

Because for people like them, this was basic operation.

Silence~~

But silence would eventually be broken.

Lin Yuan finally received a message reply, "ad12dwug@49".

Ten seconds later, this message was recalled.

Lin Yuan's mouth twitched slightly. This kind of person was truly cautious, recalling the wallet address immediately after sending it to him.

Ten seconds was enough to tacitly copy that wallet address.

Soon, Zhang Yan's voice came through the headphones, "That MAC has appeared."