110: Chapter 110 The Perilous Dark Web! A Snack Street Hides Dangers, A Clever Ambush is Led in a Desperate Situation (2)

When mentioning the work of the Technical Team, Zhang Hongyuan's tone softened a little, carrying a trace of gratification: "The members of the Technical Team have not rested; they have been continuously monitoring the encrypted signal from that abandoned signal tower. They have tried various decoding methods and cracked it countless times. Although they still haven't been able to completely decrypt this encrypted signal or obtain the specific content inside, they have made an important discovery."

He paused for a moment and continued: "The Technical Team detected that this encrypted signal strengthens punctually at 7:30 PM every night, lasting for about ten minutes before returning to its previous intensity; the pattern is very obvious. They speculate that this time slot is when the other party conducts fixed signal communication to transmit intelligence and confirm instructions. Moreover, the content of the communication must be very important for them to specifically choose this fixed time and increase the signal strength to ensure smooth communication without interference. In addition, the Technical Team has also conducted a comprehensive inspection of all electronic equipment, office areas, meeting rooms, dormitories, and even some hidden corners at the project site, checking for bugs, monitoring equipment, signal jammers, etc., one by one to ensure that no suspicious equipment has been installed by the other party, avoiding our trap plan being discovered by the other party and avoiding the failure of the operation."

"Very good, well done." Mu Li nodded, feeling more confident, with a trace of imperceptible gratification appearing on his face: "Go and notify the Technical Team now to focus on monitoring the signal from the abandoned signal tower tomorrow night. Keep a close watch on the signal changes throughout the whole process. Once you detect an abnormal strengthening of the signal or any other unusual signal fluctuations, notify me and the on-site security personnel and plainclothes law enforcement officers immediately. This is likely because the other party has discovered my whereabouts and is sending a signal to their accomplices to notify them to prepare for action, which is also one of the best opportunities for us to close the net."

"Understood, I will go to notify the Technical Team now and keep an eye on them personally to ensure that no oversights occur." Zhang Hongyuan replied respectfully, turning to leave the office to convey Engineer Mu's instructions.

"Wait, Engineer Zhang." Mu Li suddenly called out to him, his tone rigorous and his gaze heavy: "There is one more thing you must arrange well, and there cannot be any mistakes. You are to have Lin Wei be responsible for the comprehensive work of the Main Control Room tomorrow night, taking full charge of all matters such as surveillance, signal monitoring, and emergency dispatching in the Main Control Room. Once any abnormal situation occurs at the project site, whether it is a security issue or a malfunction in equipment operation, have her handle it properly at the first opportunity and report it to me immediately. It must not be delayed, nor concealed."

He paused and added: "In addition, the energy storage equipment area and the Core Laboratory are the top priorities of our project; they are where the core secrets lie and are also the places the other party is most likely to covet and sabotage. Tomorrow night, the security level for these two areas must be raised to the highest, with double the patrol personnel added, implementing twenty-four-hour uninterrupted patrols, patrolling once every ten minutes, focusing on checking hidden corners, and at the same time arranging for technical personnel to be on duty throughout, closely monitoring the operation of the equipment to prevent the other party from making a feint—targeting me on the surface, while secretly sending people to sabotage the energy storage equipment and steal the secrets of the Core Laboratory. You must ensure the absolute safety of the project's core facilities."

"Alright, Engineer Mu, I have written it all down and will definitely make the arrangements well, check personally, and ensure there are no oversights." Zhang Hongyuan replied solemnly, nodded again, and turned to walk quickly out of the office, his footsteps hurried, not daring to delay in the slightest.

Silence returned to the office, leaving only the sound of the wind wailing through the mountain forest outside the window and Mu Li's slightly heavy breathing. Mu Li walked to the desk again, his gaze falling back on the map and investigation reports on the table, his eyes becoming more determined and also more heavy. He knew that the operation tomorrow night was not only related to whether they could catch the members of the "Dark Web Phantom" and obtain conclusive evidence, but also related to the safety of the entire nuclear fusion power station project, the life safety of all project members, and even the country's energy security. He had to be careful and cautious, planning strategies, and could not have even a trace of error; even a tiny oversight could lead to the failure of the operation and result in irreversible consequences.

He leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath, trying to calm the waves in his heart, but his mind began to rapidly simulate the various situations that might occur tomorrow night: If the other party was just testing and did not act immediately, how should he respond to avoid revealing his identity while still luring them to take the initiative to attack? If the other party saw through his ruse and acted directly to kidnap or coerce him, how should he maneuver to buy time for the security personnel and plainclothes law enforcement officers? If the other party had multiple accomplices lurking in various corners of the snack street and launched an attack simultaneously, how should the security personnel and plainclothes law enforcement officers coordinate their actions to round them all up while ensuring his safety and the safety of innocent people around? If the other party made a feint, keeping him occupied while sending people to sabotage the project's core facilities, could Lin Wei and the on-site duty personnel respond in time and hold the defensive line?

One question after another surfaced in his mind, surging like a tide, but he calmed down one by one, thought carefully, and came up with corresponding response plans; he had even made full preparations for some extreme emergency situations. He knew that only by taking precautions could he calmly respond and hold the initiative when danger arrived.

I do not know how much time had passed, but the sky outside the window gradually turned a fish-belly white, the eastern horizon was dyed with a faint orange-red, the night gradually faded, and a new day began. Mu Li slowly opened his eyes and rubbed his somewhat sore eyes, which were filled with bloodshot veins; he had clearly not slept all night. The long-term high tension and mental exertion made him look a bit tired, but his gaze remained clear and firm, and the tension and anxiety in his heart were gradually replaced by determination and fighting spirit.

He stood up, stretched, and loosened his stiff neck and shoulders, then walked to the window and pushed it open. The morning breeze, carrying the fresh air of the mountains, rushed towards him, bringing with it the fragrance of grass and trees, dispelling some of the fatigue and oppression. The distant mountain forest was shrouded in morning mist, like a fairyland, and the lights at the project site gradually went out, replaced by the faint light of the early morning. More and more project members got up one after another, headed to their respective posts, and started a new day of busy work.

Mu Li walked out of the office and went straight to the Main Control Room. The Main Control Room was a scene of busyness; the members of the Technical Team were still working intensely, with obvious fatigue on everyone's faces and bloodshot eyes. Some were rubbing their sore eyes, some were picking up the hot water on the table and taking a few gulps, but there was not the slightest slackness. Their fingers were tapping rapidly on the keyboards, their gazes were tightly fixed on the screens in front of them, closely monitoring the signal changes of the abandoned signal tower and the surveillance situation in various areas of the project, not daring to be distracted in the slightest.

Seeing Mu Li come in, Lin Wei immediately stopped her work and walked over quickly, with a trace of worry on her face, and said with concern: "Engineer Mu, you haven't rested all night? Looking at the bloodshot veins in your eyes, you must be exhausted. Do you want to go eat something first and then rest for a while? If you collapse, the project will be in trouble."

"No need, I'm fine." Mu Li shook his head, a gentle smile appearing on his face, and said in a relaxed tone, trying to put Lin Wei at ease. Then, his gaze swept over the various screens in the Main Control Room, carefully checking the various data and surveillance images on them, and his tone became rigorous again: "How is the monitoring situation of the Technical Team? Are there any abnormal fluctuations in the signal of the abandoned signal tower? Is the surveillance in all areas of the project normal?"

"Everything is normal, Engineer Mu." Lin Wei replied respectfully, her tone firm: "The signal from the abandoned signal tower is still the same as before, the pattern is very obvious, strengthening punctually at 7:30 PM every night, lasting for about ten minutes, and there have been no abnormal fluctuations. The surveillance in all areas of the project is also operating normally, with no malfunctions, and the security personnel are all patrolling normally, with no suspicious personnel or suspicious situations discovered."

As she spoke, she picked up a cup of warm coffee from her side and handed it to Mu Li, her tone still concerned: "Engineer Mu, drink some coffee to refresh yourself. This is something I just brewed, and the temperature is just right. Manager Zhang has already arranged breakfast in the cafeteria, and it's all things you like to eat. It won't be too late to come back and keep watching after you finish breakfast; we are watching here, and there won't be any problems."

Mu Li took the coffee, the warm touch spreading from his fingertips to his whole body, dispelling some of the morning chill and the fatigue of the night. He took a sip, the rich aroma of the coffee diffusing in his mouth, and his spirits felt much better instantly. He looked at Lin Wei, a trace of gratitude in his eyes: "Alright, thank you, Lin Wei. I'll leave this to you all; if there is any situation, whether it's regarding the signal or monitoring, you must report it to me at the first opportunity. It must not be delayed."

"Rest assured, Engineer Mu, we will definitely do it." Lin Wei replied solemnly, turned back to her post, and continued to immerse herself in the intense work.

There were already quite a few project members eating breakfast in the cafeteria, and the air was filled with the fragrance of soy milk, fried dough sticks, and steamed buns, appearing very lively. Everyone was eating breakfast in a hurry, eating while exchanging work matters in low voices, with focus and fatigue on everyone's faces, but also revealing a sense of resilience—for the smooth progress of the project, and to guard this land well, everyone was working silently and striving hard.

Seeing Mu Li come in, everyone stopped what they were doing and took the initiative to greet him, their tone respectful and cordial: "Engineer Mu, you're here!" "Engineer Mu, come over and sit, there's a seat here!" "Engineer Mu, you haven't rested all night, thank you for your hard work!"

Mu Li responded to everyone's greetings with a smile, a gentle smile appearing on his face, without the slightest air of superiority. He found a seat by the window, sat down, and ordered a simple breakfast—a bowl of soy milk, a few steamed buns, and a fried dough stick. As he slowly ate his breakfast, he observed the people around him calmly, looking at everyone's tired yet firm faces, and secretly made up his mind: no matter how great the price, no matter how great the danger he encountered, he would guard this project well, guard these comrades-in-arms well, not fail the trust and expectations of everyone, and not fail the heavy trust of the country.

After breakfast, Mu Li did not rest in the slightest; he immediately got up and headed to the energy storage equipment area. The security personnel in the energy storage equipment area were conducting their daily patrols; they were wearing uniform security uniforms, standing tall and straight, with solemn expressions, holding batons and flashlights in their hands, their gazes vigilantly scanning the surrounding environment, not letting go of any hidden corners. Seeing Mu Li come in, the security personnel stopped one after another, saluted him, and greeted him, their tone respectful: "Hello, Engineer Mu!"

Mu Li nodded, signaling them to continue their work, and then walked into the energy storage equipment area, carefully checking the operation of each piece of energy storage equipment, reaching out to touch the shell of the equipment to feel its temperature, and checking various data on the equipment. From time to time, he would stop and ask the technical personnel on duty about the operating status and daily maintenance of the equipment, as well as the patrol arrangements and prevention and control measures of the security personnel. Confirming that the energy storage equipment was operating normally, all data was within the normal range, and security measures were in place without any oversights, he left with peace of mind to go to the next area for inspection.

For the rest of the day, Mu Li, as usual, devoted himself wholeheartedly to the work of the project without the slightest slackness. First, he worked with the members of the Technical Team to optimize the firewall protection logic of the project, investigate network security risks, and ensure that the project's core data would not be stolen. Subsequently, he went to the project construction site with the members of the construction team to check the construction progress, view the construction quality, and instruct the construction personnel to pay attention to safety and strictly follow the construction standards, without any carelessness. Afterwards, he and Zhang Hongyuan combed through the project's safety protection system again, checked the layout of various deployment points, confirmed the division of labor between security personnel and plainclothes law enforcement officers, repeatedly rehearsed the operation process for tomorrow night, and investigated possible oversights in the operation, ensuring that the operation would be foolproof.

On the surface, he was no different from usual; he remained steady, rigorous, and handled various matters of the project methodically, with a gentle smile always on his face, showing no signs of anything unusual. But only he himself knew that his nerves were tightly stretched, like a drawn bowstring, and he did not dare to relax for a moment. In his heart, he was always thinking about the operation tomorrow night and the safety of the project; every decision and every arrangement had been carefully thought out, and he did not dare to be careless in the slightest. He knew that if a problem occurred, it would affect the overall deployment of the entire project. He could not relax, nor could he allow himself to relax; he had to be alert at all times and keep a clear head at all times in order to remain invincible.