46: Chapter 46: Trial Operation Begins, Hidden Undercurrents! Preparations for Reunion Rekindle Old Dreams, Foreshadowing of Crisis.

The early winter sunlight pierced through the clouds like fragmented gold, illuminating the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Ji Province Nuclear Fusion Power Station's Main Control Room. The light reflected off the holographic projection screens, making the data streams appear even clearer. Dressed in a crisp black uniform, Mu Li stood before the main console of the Intelligent Operation and Scheduling System. He lightly touched the cool screen with his fingertip, emitting a soft blue light as he initiated the system's trial run command. With a faint beep, the data streams on the screen began to scroll at high speed. Red represented energy demand, while blue represented energy output. The two curves synchronized in real-time with the energy demand data and power grid load dynamics of the pilot areas. After careful screening, the first batch of pilots covered only three old residential communities, two new residential communities, one Grade-A Hospital, and two manufacturing enterprises. The core scheduling parameters were not fully open, and only basic scheduling functions were enabled, marking the official entry of the Ji Province Nuclear Fusion Power Station's Intelligent Operation and Scheduling System into its trial run phase.

"Engineer Mu, the system has successfully integrated the data from the first batch of pilot users. Data synchronization has been completed via a quantum encrypted channel. The current energy output scheduling error is controlled within 0.5%, far below the 1% threshold preset for the trial run, fully meeting the trial run standards." Lin Wei stared intently at the core parameters on the screen, her fingers moving rapidly across the keyboard to pull up detailed scheduling logs, her voice carrying a hint of irrepressible excitement.

Mu Li nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping across the real-time data curves of the different user groups like a hawk. The power consumption curve for the old residential communities was stable, the fluctuations for the smart devices in the new communities were orderly, and the hospital's power usage remained highly consistent. "Closely monitor the power supply stability for the hospital and the old residential communities, especially the electricity used for heating equipment in the older areas. The temperature has dropped sharply, and heating power is a vital livelihood necessity. It is also a key monitoring target during the trial run. Additionally, have the technical staff export an operation log every hour and use the system's built-in vulnerability scanning tools to check for potential system flaws. We cannot afford any complacency."

"Understood! We have already arranged for three shifts of technical staff to be on duty 24 hours a day, with six people per shift. They are respectively responsible for data monitoring, vulnerability scanning, and emergency response to ensure any anomalies are addressed immediately," Lin Wei responded, then turned to issue orders to the technical team, her voice clear and firm.

Zhao Kai and Zhou Yaqi stood side-by-side at another console, their heads close together as they cross-checked the energy consumption data of industrial users line by line. Seeing Mu Li approach, Zhao Kai stepped forward quickly to report, "Engineer Mu, the real-time energy consumption data for the two pilot manufacturing enterprises has been synchronized with the system, with data transmission latency controlled within 0.1 seconds. The system just automatically adjusted the energy output based on their production load fluctuations by 3.2%. The enterprises reported a significant improvement in power supply stability, and the risk of production line shutdowns has decreased considerably. However, there is a situation I need to report. The head of one of the high-tech enterprises approached me privately, looking very cautious. He said that recently, unidentified individuals have been asking them about the project's scheduling parameters and core technical details. They were wearing suits and claimed to be from an 'Energy Industry Research Institute.' They were very polite, but the questions they asked were all very sensitive, such as scheduling response times and energy consumption thresholds for core equipment. Furthermore, they did not disclose their specific identities or organization."

Mu Li's brow furrowed instantly, a sharp, cold light flashing in his eyes. The system immediately provided feedback in his mind: "System energy reserves are strongly correlated with the host's vital signs and environmental energy. Previous continuous high-intensity cracking of overseas intrusions and analysis of core technical parameters, combined with the host's recent late nights preparing for the trial run, have caused vital signs to fluctuate and energy to be consumed too quickly. This is why there is an energy alert, not a sudden failure. Current energy reserves are at 3.5%, which can still provide basic warnings." He quickly composed himself and turned to Zhang Hongyuan beside him, instructing in a low voice, "Given the high confidentiality of the project, the scheduling parameters and core technology are national secrets and must not be leaked. You will lead the formation of a Special Confidentiality Group. Together with the R&D team, complete a second round of quantum encryption for core data by the end of today. Set multiple access permissions for sensitive parameters. At the same time, coordinate with the Jingshi Public Security Bureau through the China Security Bureau to report the situation in detail. Ask for their assistance in investigating the backgrounds of these unidentified individuals to prevent any leakage of sensitive information."

"Received! I'll arrange it immediately!" Zhang Hongyuan did not dally. The relaxed look on his face vanished instantly as he quickly took out an encrypted communicator to contact the liaison at the China Security Bureau to push the work forward.

Mu Li's gaze returned to the screen, a hint of concern rising in his heart. Combining the traces of Overseas Forces' activities previously warned about by the system with the multiple network intrusions encountered before, this technical probing was definitely no coincidence. The "Dark Web Phantom's" actions were shifting from stealthy network intrusions to more direct offline infiltration. All-around precautions had to be taken in advance. He immediately added, "Have the security personnel of the operations team increase the patrol density around the pilot areas, especially near the hospital and enterprises. Increase the frequency of night patrols to once every half hour, focusing on the movement of strangers. At the same time, remind our partner enterprises through their liaisons that all technical inquiries must be handled uniformly by the Special Confidentiality Group. Public information can only be provided after a non-disclosure agreement is signed. No sensitive information should be disclosed privately. If any suspicious circumstances are found, contact us immediately."

At ten o'clock in the morning, the system trial run progressed steadily. Power supply in all pilot areas remained stable, and the scheduling error was consistently controlled within 0.5%. Mu Li returned to his temporary office. Just as he sat down to take a sip of warm water, he remembered the class reunion next month. He opened his phone and scrolled through the chat records of his university class group. The class monitor, Li Zhe, had already finalized the schedule for the reunion, which was packed with activities ranging from a group dinner and campus strolls to a basketball game. Li Zhe had even sent him a private message asking if he needed a room reserved.

Mu Li's fingertips tapped quickly on the screen as he replied, "No need to reserve accommodation. I'll arrive in Jing City a day early and stay at a hotel near the school. It'll be convenient to meet up with everyone and walk around the campus the next day." He then took a yellowed old photo album from a drawer. The cover featured a group photo of his university class, with slightly worn edges. Inside were dozens of photos from his university days: scenes of staying up late in the lab to tackle problems, cheers from winning a basketball championship, and the bittersweet moments of graduation. He had specifically brought it from home, intending to relive those youthful memories with his classmates during the reunion.

"Engineer Mu, are these photos from your university days?" Zhang Hongyuan knocked and entered to deliver some documents. His gaze inadvertently landed on the photo album, and he couldn't help but ask with curiosity.

"Yes, it's my ten-year graduation reunion next month. I pulled them out to take a look and reminisce about my youth." Mu Li smiled and closed the album, a hint of warmth flashing in his eyes before he returned to his serious demeanor. "By the way, how is the work of the confidentiality group progressing? Are the core data encryption and reporting work moving along smoothly?"

"The R&D team is performing a second round of quantum encryption on the core data, using a dual protection of 'Dynamic Keys + Physical Isolation.' The personnel authorization list is also being compiled and is expected to be completed by this afternoon. The Jingshi Public Security Bureau has accepted our report. They stated they will immediately assign dedicated personnel to assist in checking suspicious individuals and vehicles around the pilot areas, with a focus on recent movements of outsiders." Zhang Hongyuan handed over a document, his tone becoming grave. "Additionally, our security monitoring system just intercepted an anonymous email. The sender used a temporary overseas email address, making it impossible to trace the source. The email only contained a surreptitiously taken photo of the construction site. The shooting angle was very concealed; it seems to have been taken from an abandoned factory on the outskirts of the construction site. The timestamp shows three o'clock yesterday morning—exactly during the critical period of installation preparations for the core equipment maintenance robots. The photographer likely observed us for some time."

Mu Li's expression turned solemn instantly. He took the document and scrutinized the photo. The focus of the photo was the core equipment area, where the installation positions of the smart robots were clearly visible. One could even see a corner of the installation blueprints in a staff member's hand. His fingertips rubbed the edge of the document as he said in a low voice, "The email address source can't be traced? Are there any unusual marks on the photo, like watermarks or hidden codes?"

"Technical staff have conducted a comprehensive check. The email was registered temporarily on the dark web, and the registration information is all forged, making it untraceable. The photo is just a simple shot of the construction site without any extra markings. However, combined with the previous technical probing incidents, this is highly likely a test by the 'Dark Web Phantom' to figure out our construction progress and core equipment layout." Zhang Hongyuan's tone was serious. "I have already instructed the security team to increase patrol density at the construction site. The core equipment area is now under a two-person, two-post watch, equipped with Infrared Detectors and Metal Detectors. Unauthorized personnel are strictly prohibited from approaching."

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"Print out the photos in duplicate. Give one copy to the confidentiality team to analyze the shooting angle and potential observation points; give the other to the security personnel and have them focus on checking for suspicious traces around the shooting location to see if they can find clues like fingerprints or cigarette butts," Mu Li said in a deep voice. "In addition, notify the technical team to conduct another comprehensive reinforcement of the system security module, especially for the data transmission channels. Add dynamic verification codes and behavior recognition functions. Once any abnormal access behavior is detected, immediately disconnect automatically and lock the account. We must ensure nothing goes wrong."

At noon, Mu Li went to the staff canteen for lunch. Just as he sat down, he saw Zhou Yaqi sitting with several technicians, engaged in a heated discussion about system security. Seeing Mu Li approach, Zhou Yaqi immediately stood up to offer her seat. "Engineer Mu, while checking for system vulnerabilities, we discovered a tiny program backdoor hidden in the underlying code of the data acquisition module. It looks like it was manually implanted. The permission level is very low, so it won't affect system operations for now, nor has it stolen any data, but since we cannot rule out the possibility of it being exploited later, we are tracing its source."

"It was likely implanted about a week ago, which coincides perfectly with the timeline of the first cyber intrusion by Overseas Forces. It is highly probable that it was a backdoor left behind during that intrusion," a technician added, their tone tinged with self-reproach. "Our previous vulnerability scans were not thorough enough, and we failed to detect this deeply hidden backdoor."

Mu Li put down his tray and said calmly, "No need to blame yourselves. The opponent's technical methods are very covert; being able to detect it is progress. While patching it, continue the tracing work. Use our anti-tracking system to see if we can find more clues and follow the trail to find the mastermind. In addition, incorporating the security protection plan previously provided by the system, add a Physical Isolation layer in the core data storage area. Use independent servers to store sensitive data and do not connect them to the external network to prevent cyberattacks from directly reaching core parameters."

Just as he finished speaking, Mu Li's encrypted communicator suddenly rang, conveying the anxious voice of the construction team leader. "Engineer Mu, it's bad! A connection part of a scaffold at the construction site was manually loosened. It was discovered during a safety inspection just now. The fallen part was less than three meters away from the construction area. Fortunately, the construction workers happened to be changing shifts and resting, so there were no casualties!"

Mu Li's eyes sharpened instantly, and his aura turned icy. "This is not a coincidence; it is deliberate sabotage." He immediately rose to head to the site. On the way, he contacted the Jingshi Public Security Bureau, reporting in detail the series of abnormal situations, including the scaffold sabotage, the program backdoor, and technical probing, and requested an investigation. "The offline operatives of the 'Dark Web Phantom' have already acted. Their goal is clear: to disrupt the project's progress and steal core technology. From now on, we must focus on preventing attacks targeting core equipment and personnel safety. We cannot afford any laxity."

After arriving at the construction site, Mu Li carefully examined the loosened connection part and discovered that the fixing bolts had been unscrewed with a tool. The marks were fresh, and there were faint metal scratches left behind. Staff from the Public Security General Administration had also arrived and were collecting fingerprints and evidence from the scene. "Engineer Mu, the preliminary judgment is that this was done by an insider or someone familiar with the site layout. The saboteur is very knowledgeable about the construction process and safety inspection times, choosing to act during the early morning hours when no one was around," the head of the Public Security General Administration reported.

After the on-site inspection, Mu Li made the following deployment: "Fully activate the intelligent safety risk early warning system in the construction area. Install vibration sensors and infrared surveillance on key parts such as scaffolding and hoisting equipment for 24-hour real-time monitoring. The security team will increase personnel by 20, divided into 5 groups, to conduct all-around patrols of the construction site, implementing a model that combines 'fixed-point guarding + mobile patrolling.' Zhang Hongyuan, coordinate with the China Security Bureau to apply for the dispatch of professional security personnel to be stationed on-site, equipped with advanced security equipment, with a focus on protecting the core equipment area and the personal safety of technical personnel."

At 4:00 PM, the program backdoor was patched. The tracing results showed a weak data link to an anonymous overseas server, further confirming the involvement of the 'Dark Web Phantom.' At the same time, news came from the Jingshi Public Security Bureau that the shooting location of the anonymous email had been locked to an abandoned factory on the outskirts of the construction site. Personnel found traces such as cigarette butts and mineral water bottles inside the factory and had brought them back for DNA testing and fingerprint comparison.

Mu Li returned to the Main Control Room. Looking at the Intelligent Operation and Scheduling System still running smoothly, he knew clearly that this battle, interwoven with light and shadow, had only just begun. He took out his phone and sent a message to his college roommate, Chen Feng: "Send me the specific address for the gathering. I'll arrive in Jing City a day early and will meet up with you all after I finish handling some matters."

Chen Feng replied quickly: "No problem! The gathering place is booked at 'Old Place Restaurant' near the school, the one we often went to during college. You remember it, right? The address is No. 88, XX Road, Haidian District, Jing City. The time is 6:00 PM on the 15th of next month. I'll save a seat for you in advance." He attached the detailed address, a navigation link, and the latest photos of the restaurant.

Looking at the message, a hint of warmth spread across Mu Li's lips. Youthful memories from college flooded his mind—working side-by-side in the laboratory, sweating on the basketball court, and late-night talks in the dormitory—temporarily diluting the tense atmosphere of his work. However, he did not let his guard down—the actions of the 'Dark Web Phantom' had already extended from the cyber realm to the physical, and they might even seize the opportunity while he was away from the project. He immediately decided to take two experienced professional security personnel with him to Jing City and to coordinate with the Jingshi Public Security Bureau in advance, informing them of his itinerary to ensure his personal safety during the gathering.

At 7:00 PM, the core data encryption work was successfully completed. The 10 professional security personnel sent by the China Security Bureau had also moved into the construction site, equipped with advanced security equipment and communication tools. Mu Li presided over an emergency meeting, briefing the core team on the recent abnormal situations: "All abnormal events point to the 'Dark Web Phantom' organization. According to the preliminary investigation by the Public Security General Administration, the scaffold saboteur is named Wang Qiang, a temporary worker at the construction site who has been bought off by the 'Dark Web Phantom.' There may be more covert attacks in the future. We must advance on two fronts—on one hand, ensure the smooth trial operation of the Intelligent Operation and Scheduling System, collect user feedback, and optimize scheduling parameters; on the other hand, cooperate with the security department to ferret out the forces behind the scenes, strengthen internal checks and external security, and safeguard the project's security."

After the meeting, Mu Li returned to his temporary dormitory and began packing for the class reunion. He carefully placed his college photo album and the paper-cut of Ji Province scenery, intended as a gift for his former homeroom teacher, into his backpack. The paper-cut was well-protected in a transparent folder to prevent damage. He also checked his portable encrypted communication device, danger warning device, and emergency self-defense tools to ensure everything was foolproof. "The system cannot provide high-intensity assistance for the time being. The upcoming security protection must rely on the team and pre-deployed security measures. There cannot be any negligence," he silently recited in his heart, his eyes firm and steady.

Just then, the system's voice sounded faintly in his mind: [Current system energy reserve is 3.5%, still in low-power mode, core functions not yet restored. Detected that the host has established multiple security protection mechanisms, effectively responding to offline infiltration and system security risks. Completed the plot node "Trial Operation Opening · Crisis Response," rewarded with 250,000 system points, energy recovery efficiency temporarily increased by 10% for 72 hours.]

Mu Li felt a surge of joy—although the system had not fully rebooted, the improvement in energy recovery efficiency gave him hope. As long as he maintained stable vital signs and reduced high-intensity consumption, the system energy would soon be restored. He lay on the bed, forcing himself to close his eyes and rest. Following the system's previous prompts, he adjusted his breathing rhythm, striving to stabilize his vital signs to create conditions for energy recovery.

Outside the window, the night deepened, and the lights of the construction site resembled scattered stars, illuminating the entire factory area. Mu Li knew that the smooth opening of the Intelligent Operation and Scheduling System was just the beginning. The threat of the 'Dark Web Phantom' had not yet been lifted, and the upcoming class reunion might also hide unknown risks. But he was fearless. As long as the team remained united and made preparations in advance, they would surely be able to resolve all crises, safeguard this project that carried the nation's energy hopes, and allow Controlled Nuclear Fusion Technology to stably serve the people's livelihood as soon as possible.