48: Chapter 48 An impending catastrophe

Actually, fixing this bug wouldn't take half an hour. The "code trap" Zhang Fan added last night had a backdoor; entering a specific key could deactivate it.

But he intentionally slowed down, saying "database connection is unstable" one moment and "insufficient permissions" the next, messing around for an hour before entering the core module.

Allen and Wei Xiang were as anxious as ants on a hot pan, but they didn't dare to rush him. Chang Yuan actually leaned over trying to peek, but was rebuffed by Zhang Fan saying, "This is my core algorithm, a trade secret."

Lawyer Wang didn't say a word throughout, just silently recorded the scene.

While pretending to debug the code, Zhang Fan quickly browsed through the new modules of Sky.

He had to admit that although the foundation was his "star path" project, the Blue Whale team had indeed added many ingenious designs: the dynamic weather system could affect character attributes, and the space station's energy cycle logic was more refined than his original conception.

These details made his eyes light up, and his fingers unconsciously noted down several key points on his laptop. He thought to himself: "When Singularity Technology makes sci-fi themes in the future, these logics can be referenced."

Time passed minute by minute, and cheers from the office area suddenly drifted in—"The leveling race has started! The number of online players has reached 300,000! It hasn't crashed!"

CEO Allen jumped up, and the operations director's excited voice came through his phone: "CEO Allen, the server is very stable! The streamers are all saying the smoothness exceeds expectations!"

He let out a long sigh of relief, and the look he gave Zhang Fan finally had a bit of warmth: "Brother Zhang, thanks to you."

Zhang Fan typed the last character and took off his headphones: "Done. I've stored the key on an encrypted USB drive; I'll give it to you after payment."

"Good, good, I'll arrange it immediately!" CEO Allen turned to Wei Xiang and said, "Old Wei, go keep an eye on the finance department and have the money transferred."

Wei Xiang nodded in agreement but dawdled without moving. After his phone rang twice, he suddenly said, "CEO Allen, the Chairman's car is almost at the airport; you need to go pick him up."

CEO Allen slapped his forehead: "I almost forgot!"

He grabbed his suit jacket. "Zhang Fan, the two of us will go pick up the Chairman first. Let Chang Yuan handle the money matter; there'll be absolutely no problem!"

Before he finished speaking, he had already strode out of the meeting room.

Zhang Fan looked at their departing backs and sneered inwardly.

Lawyer Wang put away his phone and said softly, "He's intentionally avoiding it."

"What's the rush?" Zhang Fan leaned back in his chair. "There's still one who hasn't left."

He looked at Chang Yuan, whose smile had long since vanished, replaced by the face of a petty man in power: "Zhang Fan, I'm afraid this money can't be given to you."

"Oh?" Zhang Fan raised an eyebrow. "You want to go back on your word?"

"What do you mean go back on our word?" Chang Yuan sneered. "An employee who was fired, taking it upon himself to leave a backdoor in the company's code—that's more like extortion! We're being generous by not calling the police to arrest you!"

"Did you forget what was said just now?"

"What did I forget?" Chang Yuan stiffened his neck. "Who can prove I promised you anything? It's just your word; who would believe you?"

He thought he could renege like this, but he didn't see that the red light on the voice recorder in Lawyer Wang's hand was still on, and the video saved in his phone's album clearly recorded every sentence of their conversation.

"Fair enough." Zhang Fan stood up and closed his laptop. "Wasting words on someone like you is indeed a waste of time."

As he and Lawyer Wang walked out, Chang Yuan spat behind them: "Pah! What a piece of work! You really think you're somebody?"

At the elevator, Lawyer Wang pushed up his glasses and said in a certain tone, "Don't worry, we have both audio and video recordings, plus me as a witness; they can't wiggle out of it. According to Article 274 of the Criminal Law, the crime of extortion requires the 'purpose of illegal possession,' but we have a clear contractual basis; this is a typical breach of contract."

"I know." Zhang Fan watched the elevator numbers count down. "I just didn't expect them to be so shamelessly roguish."

That evening, Zhang Fan treated Lawyer Wang and Gu Jingshen to dinner.

Gu Jingshen heard that Blue Whale wanted to renege on the debt and slammed the table, cursing, "Those grandsons! Do you want me to take some people and trash their office?"

"Don't be reckless." Lawyer Wang waved his hand with a smile. "No need for violence when the law can solve it. I've already organized the evidence and will send a lawyer's letter tomorrow. If they still don't pay, we'll sue directly; the success rate is 100%."

"Lawyer Wang is indeed reliable." Zhang Fan toasted him. "Thanks to you this time."

"CEO Tang instructed me to help you more." Lawyer Wang took a sip of wine. "By the way, if Singularity Technology wants to expand, remember to find us to be your legal counsel; I'll give you a friendly price."

The three of them chatted while eating, from Blue Whale's filth to the cooperation with Digital Power, and then to the studio's hiring plan. Gu Jingshen got tipsy and insisted on going to sing, then shouted about going for a foot massage at midnight, only dispersing in the early morning.

Zhang Fan returned to the old house in Yujing Garden. The house had been empty for over half a month and was covered in a thin layer of dust.

He opened the window to let in some air. The night breeze brought a chill, dispersing the alcohol's effect. Just as he was about to watch some short dramas, a system notification suddenly popped up in his mind:

[Today's Intel: Today at 12:00, Sky was officially released. Due to the layoffs hitting the 'main artery,' the server will completely collapse at 12:30, and player data will be irreversibly lost.]

Zhang Fan stared at that line of text and smiled.

It seemed the other party was determined not to give the money.

There would probably be a fierce battle tomorrow.

He yawned and turned off the light: "Forget it, sleep early."

Early the next morning, Zhang Fan called CEO Allen right after washing up. A mechanical female voice came from the receiver: "The number you have dialed is currently busy."

He frowned and called Wei Xiang, with the same result.

He dialed three times in a row, and it was always "currently busy."

An hour later, he called again, and the receiver suddenly jumped to: "The user you have dialed has enabled call restrictions."

Blacklisted? Zhang Fan raised an eyebrow and tried Wei Xiang's number again; same prompt.

Finally, he dialed Chang Yuan's number. Unexpectedly, it went through this time.

"Oh, isn't this the extortionist?" Chang Yuan's voice was thick with sarcasm. "What, no money to pay rent? Want to beg me for a handout?"

"When will the money be transferred?" Zhang Fan's voice was very calm.

"Transfer money?" Chang Yuan laughed. "Zhang Fan, are you stupid? Let me tell you, yesterday was just a lesson! Don't think you're something special just because you know some code. If you push us, we'll make it impossible for you to survive in Jiangcheng's game circle!"

"I've recorded everything you said."

"Record it then, who's afraid of who?" Chang Yuan's voice became even more arrogant. "Go ahead and sue if you have the guts! Let's see if the court believes a fired employee like you or a listed company like us!"

Zhang Fan didn't say anything more and hung up directly. He looked at the recording file on his phone, his gaze turning cold.

The sunlight outside was just right, shining on the draft of the lawyer's letter on the desk. The words "Blue Whale Games Co., Ltd." were gilded by the sun, yet they felt inexplicably cold.

He would see this fight through to the end.