46: Chapter 46 Top Secret Contractor: Died in an Accident?

Morning in New York, always accompanied by the sound of sirens and the aroma of coffee.

But today, at the intersection of Franklin Avenue and 4th Street, the sirens were particularly piercing.

A black Cadillac SUV had crashed into an overpass pier; the front was completely crushed, and black smoke was billowing from under the hood.

The ground was covered in shattered glass and leaking engine oil, mixed with dark red bloodstains.

Outside the police tape, onlookers were holding up their phones, livestreaming the scene.

Chen Mo pulled his patrol car over to the side of the road, holding a half-eaten sandwich in his hand, and slowly ducked under the police tape.

"What's the situation?" he asked a patrol officer, his words muffled.

"This guy was driving too fast, probably a brake failure."

The patrol officer shrugged and pointed to the deformed driver's cab, "Dead on the spot. His ID shows he's a Department of Defense contractor named Alex Weber."

Upon hearing the words "Department of Defense," Chen Mo's chewing paused for 0.1 seconds.

He swallowed his sandwich and brushed the crumbs off his hands, "Those big shots again. Alright, I'll go take a look, finish the report quickly, and call it a day. I've got a date tonight."

Chen Mo acted like a slippery cop who just wanted to get off work early, but with every step he took toward the wreckage, he precisely trod within the blind spots of the surveillance cameras.

Although this was difficult in a modern city with no blind spots, he tried his best to make his back appear completely unguarded.

He arrived beside the driver's cab.

The deceased, Alex Weber, was covered in blood, his neck twisted at an eerie angle.

Chen Mo put on latex gloves and pretended to check the items on the deceased.

[Primary Investigative Intuition] told him that the car's brake pads showed signs of deliberate sabotage, and the technique was highly professional; the cuts were so smooth they looked like they were done in one go.

This was a cleanup.

"Ouroboros" cleaning house? Or was it some other faction?

Chen Mo didn't care who had done it; what he cared about was what was inside this "Department of Defense contractor's" brain.

He reached out and gently pressed his hand against the carotid artery of the deceased, which still held some warmth.

"Although you died in a gruesome way, I will make good use of your Legacy."

He recited silently in his heart.

The system interface instantly exploded onto his retina.

[Extraction Successful!]

[Obtained Skill: Advanced Engineering (Green)]

(Description: You are proficient in civil engineering structures, underground fortification construction, and calculating demolition points for load-bearing walls.

Give you a blueprint, and you can build the sturdiest fortress, or turn it into ruins with the minimum amount of explosives.)

[Obtained Memory Fragment: The Underground Labyrinth of the Potomac River]

A massive stream of information instantly impacted Chen Mo's brain.

He saw it.

Countless blueprints, concrete strength grades, the layout of ventilation ducts...

This was an upgrade and renovation plan. The location was exactly the coordinate he had previously obtained—the No. 3 underground stronghold by the Potomac River.

Memory images flickered:

"Alex, you must complete the reinforcement of the nest by next month. Those samples are becoming increasingly unstable."

A man in a white lab coat was roaring.

"But the sewage system for Project 734 hasn't..."

"Do it! Otherwise, you'll be filling the concrete pillars yourself!"

Chen Mo's pupils contracted slightly.

This stronghold was not just a hideout; it was a laboratory, or even a... prison.

"Hey! What are you doing?"

A sharp shout came from behind him.

Chen Mo immediately withdrew his hand and turned around, putting on an impatient expression.

Two men in black suits and sunglasses strode over.

He didn't need a system prompt; with that unique arrogance and deadpan expression, Chen Mo could smell the federal stench on them from two hundred meters away.

CIA? Or NSA?

"New York Police Department, investigation in progress." Chen Mo pointed to the police badge on his chest, "This guy damaged public property, and I need to confirm if he was driving under the influence."

"This case belongs to us now." The leading man in the black suit coldly produced his ID—Department of Homeland Security, "Leave the scene immediately, Officer."

Chen Mo glanced at the ID, a look of relief appearing on his face.

"Great!" He let out an exaggerated sigh of relief, took off his gloves, and casually tossed them into a trash bag.

"I was just worrying about how to write this report. Since you're taking over, this pile of scrap metal is all yours."

As he spoke, he turned and walked away without a hint of reluctance, even whistling a tune.

The two agents exchanged a glance, a flicker of contempt flashing in their eyes.

This was Robert Chen from the files, a D+ grade loser who was good for nothing except shirking responsibility and making money.

Chen Mo sat back in his patrol car and started the engine.

In the rearview mirror, the agents were covering the body with a black cloth.

They thought they had sealed away the secret, not knowing that the core classified information was already stored in this "useless cop's" brain.

"Advanced Engineering..."

Chen Mo gripped the steering wheel, his mind already beginning to construct a 3D model of that underground stronghold.

Where the ventilation ducts were, where the load-bearing pillars were, where the server room was...

And even where to plant explosives to make the entire underground structure collapse like building blocks.

"Looks like I'll need to take a vacation to Washington."

He stepped on the gas, and the patrol car merged into the traffic.

The traffic surveillance camera overhead swiveled to follow his vehicle, flickering with a red light.

Chen Mo knew that behind it, countless eyes were watching him.

Let them watch.

See clearly how I stir up these muddy waters right under your noses.