47: Chapter 47 The Aftermath of Breaking the Code! Reunion in an Old Place Rekindles Memories, While a Secret Sentinel Lurks, Hiding Danger (1)

The lights in the Main Control Room seemed exceptionally piercing in the silence of three in the morning. The cold white light spilled emotionlessly onto screens filled with scrolling green code. Amidst the interplay of light and shadow, it precisely reflected Mu Li's focused and exhausted profile. Faint red veins traced the corners of his eyes, and his gaze was fixed like a hawk's on the data stream flickering in the corner of the screen. His fingertips flew and leaped across the keyboard, the crisp sound of keystrokes echoing repeatedly in the empty Main Control Room, every rise and fall carrying the urgency of burning one's bridges. His knuckles had turned slightly pale from prolonged tension and exertion, the muscles beneath the protruding joints long since sore and stiff. A dull pain from the repeated pressure of the keys lingered in his fingertips, and a numbing sensation spread from his wrists to his forearms. Yet, he dared not pause for a second—the core material data was vital to the progress of the entire fusion project. Once leaked, not only would the initial investment go to waste, but the national energy strategic layout would also suffer. This responsibility allowed him no room to breathe. He knew clearly that the probes from the "Dark Web Phantom" had never stopped; this intrusion felt more like a precursor to a storm. The opponent was mapping out every vein of the defense line, and he had to be faster and more precise than them.

Just ten minutes ago, a tentative intrusion by Overseas Forces targeting the project's material management system was successfully intercepted. A batch of material transport scheduling data labeled "Core Secret" was preserved intact—this was another precise action by the "Dark Web Phantom" following their technical scouting and the scaffolding sabotage. The target was aimed directly at the project's supply chain, a weak link. The methods used were even more concealed and tricky than the previous two times, clearly testing the limits of the defense line in an attempt to find a fatal breakthrough. Mu Li's hand gripping the mouse tightened involuntarily, his thumb repeatedly stroking the cold plastic casing. The thin layer of sweat on his palm made the touch increasingly slippery. A sense of gravity and vigilance flashed through his heart: the opponent's patience was wearing thin, yet their methods were becoming more seasoned. It was highly likely they had deployed more core technical forces, and subsequent actions would only become more aggressive. He could even imagine the sinister gaze of the anonymous operator on the other side of the screen. This silent technical gamble had long since left no room for retreat. Behind him was the lifeblood of the entire project team and the core interests of the nation; he could only win, he could not lose.

"Engineer Mu, the source of the intrusion has been locked! It's a temporary virtual server set up overseas. The IP address went through a full twelve layers of jumps, winding around like opening a blind box. We exhausted ourselves just to track it down. The relevant data has already been synchronized and reported to the security department!" Xiao Zhou, the technician responsible for network monitoring, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. His voice still carried a lingering breathlessness, his tone filled with the relief of having survived a disaster. He ruffled his messy hair, the red veins in his eyes even more prominent than Mu Li's, his eye sockets deep-set. Clearly, he too had been on high-intensity duty for days without closing his eyes. "This time was too close. The opponent used ordinary logistics data to package a malicious worm virus. The attack method was more than one level more concealed than before. If it had been discovered ten minutes later, the transport routes, time nodes, and even the information of the escort personnel for the core materials would have been completely leaked. The subsequent construction progress would definitely have been seriously delayed, and they might have even found an opening to sabotage the materials. The consequences are unthinkable!"

Mu Li slowly withdrew his gaze and stiffly moved his neck, his cervical spine making a faint "crack" sound that broke the brief silence. He nodded gently, his fingertips subconsciously pressing against his swollen and tight temples, the force increasing involuntarily. Three consecutive days of high-intensity duty with less than four hours of sleep each day had already overextended his body. His old chronic headache had flared up as expected, his temples throbbing with pain as if countless fine needles were repeatedly piercing them. The dull pain spread along the nerves to the top of his head, even making his eye sockets ache. Fatigue surged like a tide, and he could barely keep his eyelids open, yet the string in his heart remained taut—Xiao Zhou only saw the surface crisis, but did not know that the technical shield they relied on was already nearing its limit after days of high-intensity confrontation. He leaned back wearily in his chair, slowly closed his eyes, and habitually called out to the system in his mind, his voice carrying a raspiness and dependence he hadn't noticed himself: "System, help me analyze the technical characteristics of this intrusion and see if there's a connection with the previous two probes." He had long since regarded the system as a comrade-in-arms. This dependence was hidden in his instincts, yet it also made him secretly vigilant; relying too much on external force was, after all, not a long-term solution.

The mechanical voice that used to be available at his beck and call hesitated for two seconds this time before sounding. Moreover, there was a clear sense of weakness in the voice, like a radio about to run out of power, wrapped in fine static and conveying a sense of powerlessness: [Analyzing intrusion technical characteristics... Feature extraction complete... There is a 37% technical homology with the previous two tentative intrusions. The core encryption algorithm contains similar logical vulnerabilities. It is speculated to be different batches of operations from the 'Dark Web Phantom' organization. Warning: Current system energy reserve is 3.2%, which is below the 5% safety threshold. It is recommended to reduce non-essential function calls and prioritize entering energy recovery mode.]

Mu Li was startled. When he opened his eyes, the fatigue was instantly replaced by astonishment and panic, and even his breathing skipped a beat. This was the first time the system had actively issued an energy warning since it bound with him three years ago. It was like a comrade-in-arms suddenly declaring exhaustion, leaving him instantly in a passive position. He frowned deeply, his brow furrowing into a deep ' river' shape, his thin lips tightly pursed, and his heart pounding wildly—without the high-intensity assistance of the system, how long could their defense line hold against the rounds of attacks from the "Dark Web Phantom"? He asked urgently in his mind: "Why did the energy reserve drop so quickly? Wasn't the previous energy recovery efficiency stable at 0.001% per hour?" Anxiety coiled around his heart like vines, fearing both a system failure and the project being exposed to even greater risks because of it.

[This encryption logic analysis consumed 1.8% energy, which is 3 times the consumption of a regular function call. Recently, the intrusion frequency of the 'Dark Web Phantom' organization has increased. The system has participated in 5 consecutive high-intensity encryption crackings and intrusion interceptions within 72 hours. The energy consumption rate far exceeds the recovery rate. Supplementary explanation: The system's energy source is directly related to the stability of the host's vital signs and the intensity of environmental energy radiation. Currently, the host is working at continuous high intensity, with heart rate fluctuations exceeding the normal range by 15% and blood pressure slightly elevated, resulting in a 30% decrease in vital-sign-related energy recovery efficiency. The project site's environmental energy radiation is at a baseline level, with no additional energy supplement sources.]

The moment the mechanical voice faded, a wave of slight dizziness suddenly hit him. The screen in front of him jolted, and the dense strings of code instantly became a blurred double image, like a tangled mess. Mu Li's heart tightened, and he quickly reached out to firmly grip the cold edge of the desk, his knuckles turning blue-white from the force, his fingertips pressing deep into the desk's grain. After taking several deep breaths of the cold air carrying the scent of machine heat dissipation, the heavy feeling in his chest eased slightly, and he managed to steady himself. He smiled bitterly to himself, full of self-blame and helplessness: it turned out that his days of overexertion had not only worn down his body but also indirectly cut off the system's "energy supply." He had personally weakened his strongest support. In this predicament of being attacked from both sides, with his only technical aid on the verge of going offline, he had to quickly adjust his state. He couldn't let fatigue and anxiety crush him—even if he were the only one left, he had to hold the project's security line. This was his duty, and more importantly, his promise to the team and the nation.

"Engineer Mu, are you okay? Your face is terrifyingly pale, and your lips are turning blue. Are you too tired?" Xiao Zhou noticed his body sway and quickly put down his work to walk over. He handed over a bottle of room-temperature water, the bottle still carrying the warmth of his palm, his eyes filled with concern. "How about you go to the lounge and lie down for half an hour? We'll keep an eye on things here. For the subsequent protection reinforcement work, we'll proceed according to the plan you set before. Firewall configuration and data backup—not a single step will be missed. I guarantee no mistakes!"

"I'm fine, probably just a bit of low blood sugar." Mu Li waved his hand, took the water, unscrewed the cap, and took two large gulps. The warm liquid slowly flowed through his dry throat, bringing a faint sense of warmth and slightly easing the dull pain in his head and the fatigue in his body. He forced himself to perk up, suppressing the anxiety and unease in his heart. His gaze returned to the screen, becoming steady and sharp once more—even if the system failed, he still had his team and the security measures deployed in advance. He couldn't let his subordinates see his panic; morale must not falter. Only his voice couldn't hide a hint of raspiness: "Organize the technical report for this intrusion, highlighting the homologous features and encryption algorithm vulnerabilities, and send it to me first thing tomorrow morning. Additionally, add three layers of firewall filtering to the material management system and enable a dynamic IP interception mechanism, updating the interception list every ten minutes. We must not give the opponent another chance to exploit an opening." Every word was powerful, both instructing his subordinates and bolstering his own spirits.

He knew clearly that the system could not provide high-intensity assistance for the time being. The upcoming security line could only rely on the team's hard strength and the security measures deployed in advance—the high-level security service package activated earlier was now fully in place. Ten professional security personnel were guarding core points in three shifts. The infrared early warning system could monitor the trajectories of suspicious persons in real-time and was linked with the data of the Huaguo Public Security General Administration for data sharing. Once an abnormality appeared, a rapid response could be made. This was his only current source of confidence. He had to believe in the team and force himself to stay calm. Before the system recovered, he would use experience and contingency plans to build a wall of brass and iron. Even if it required more energy, he had to protect this hard-won peace.

After handling the follow-up matters of the intrusion, the sky outside was already beginning to brighten. A faint streak of dawn appeared in the east, seeping through the gaps in the Main Control Room's blinds and diluting some of the coldness and oppression in the room. Mu Li simply washed his face with cold water. The icy water stimulated his nerves, making him a bit more alert. Water droplets slid down his jawline, dripping onto his dark work uniform and spreading into small wet marks. He picked up his already packed backpack. Inside were neatly arranged small gifts for his roommates and class teacher—a customized fountain pen for Chen Feng, professional books for Zhao Lei, handmade tea cakes for Sun Hao, and Ji Province specialty paper-cuts for Teacher Li. The heavy weight contained the anticipation of a ten-year reunion and his longing for a moment of peace. According to the plan, he was to arrive in Jing City a day early to meet with his three university roommates. This was the ten-year promise they had made after graduation, and it was the only chance for a breather he could look forward to amidst his high-pressure work. But even as he was about to head toward the joy of reunion, the string in his heart never fully relaxed. The shadow of the "Dark Web Phantom" followed him like a ghost. He could only silently pray that this reunion would stay away from danger, allowing him to briefly return to being the pure student he once was and letting his long-strained nerves relax slightly.

Before leaving, he specifically found the project's Vice President, Zhang Hongyuan, and repeatedly cautioned him. His tone carried an unquestionable solemnity, every word dripping with worry and concern: "While I am away, focus on the system's trial operation data and the progress of the security department's investigation, especially the capture of Wang Qiang (the scaffolding saboteur) and the search for the 'Dark Web Phantom' offline strongholds. If there is any abnormality, contact me immediately through the encrypted communication device. Not a single piece of information must be leaked, and no opening must be given to the opponent." He both longed to shed his heavy burden for the reunion and found it impossible to truly let go of the project's safety. This dilemma was hidden in his solemn instructions; only by repeating them could he feel slightly at ease.

"Engineer Mu, rest assured! I will definitely keep a close eye on project matters with 24-hour duty and won't let you get distracted." Zhang Hongyuan saw him to the door and handed him a neatly folded document, his eyes firm. "This is the security contact list provided by the Jingshi Public Security Bureau. The contacts are all trusted veterans, and there are emergency contact codes for direct contact in case of an emergency. The security team will also send two people to escort you throughout your trip, disguised as ordinary travelers to ensure your safety."

The high-speed train slowly pulled out of the station. The friction between the wheels and the rails made a rhythmic "clang-clang" sound. The scenery outside the window receded rapidly like flashing frames of old images, evoking some past memories. Mu Li leaned against the window and slowly closed his eyes, trying to let his strained nerves relax. Following the system's prompts, he deliberately adjusted his breathing rhythm to be long and slow, working hard to calm his fluctuating heart rate and stabilize his vital signs to improve energy recovery efficiency—he not only needed to recover his own state as soon as possible but also needed to help the system exit low-power mode early. In this gamble, he could not be without this comrade. The continuous tension had left him physically and mentally exhausted, and his consciousness gradually blurred. In a daze, he seemed to hear the system's faint prompt, carrying an imperceptible lightness, like a glimmer of light in the darkness: [Vital signs tending toward stability, energy recovery efficiency increased by 5%, current energy reserve 3.4%.] This slight increase eased his heart slightly and ignited a spark of hope.

Three hours later, the high-speed train arrived at Jingshi South Railway Station on time. As soon as he stepped out of the exit, the noisy voices, the bustling atmosphere of daily life, and the overlapping announcements rushed at him. Mu Li subconsciously tensed his nerves, his gaze scanning the surroundings like a searchlight, habitually checking for potential risks—even in a bustling city, even about to reunite with close friends, the threat of the "Dark Web Phantom" remained like a thorn in his heart, preventing him from truly relaxing. Soon, he saw Chen Feng holding a sign with the words "Mu Li" on it, waving on tiptoe amidst the bustling crowd—after many years, Chen Feng had shed his youthful brashness from university. He had gained a bit of weight, and his hairline was higher than before. His temperament had become much steadier, but the smile on his face was still as sunny as it was back then, carrying an unguarded warmth. This pure smile, like a beam of warm light, temporarily dispersed the gloom in his heart and made him feel a long-lost sense of security.