7: Chapter 7 The Way of Concealment

Cold sweat slid down Lin Feng's spine, bringing a wave of icy tremors.

`>> Risk Assessment: Elevated.`

`>> ETA 18S...`

The intersecting warnings and countdowns in his field of vision felt like two blades pressed against his throat. The lethal pursuit from the system had not ceased, and his stunning performance in the hidden network had instantly attracted more technical attention from the darkness.

He was like an apprentice who had suddenly displayed extraordinary talent, with nowhere to hide under the watchful eyes of the master craftsmen.

He had to leave immediately! But where could he go? Returning to the hospital was equivalent to walking into a trap, and staying in the open grounds of the Old Port District would be a dead end once dawn broke.

`>> Suggestion: Acquire Secure Location. Prioritize Medical Attention. Obtain Digital Obscurity.`

The blue suggestion characters emerged calmly, listing his most urgent needs for survival. A safe house, treatment, digital obscurity... every single one required resources, and every single one required credits.

And right now, credits were the one thing he didn't lack, yet he lacked a safe way to use them most of all.

There were a full sixteen thousand eight hundred credits in that anonymous escrow account—a massive sum he had never imagined, enough to pay for Xiao Yu's treatment for several months. But this money was terrifyingly hot; any attempt to withdraw or use it could become a new tracking signal.

He needed a layer of camouflage, a shield.

Lin Feng endured the throbbing pain of his wound and his extreme mental exhaustion, sinking his consciousness once more into the information network known as the "Data Stream." This time, he blocked out all technical tasks and searched with all his might for services related to "anonymous transfers," "digital identity protection," and "asset concealment."

The information flow flickered, and countless entries offering privacy services emerged, each with different quotes and promised security levels.

`>> Filtering... Service: Privacy_Protection / Asset_Obfuscation.`

`>> Caution: Service Quality Varies. Verify Encryption Standards.`

The blue warning characters prompted him of the risks. In this field, technical strength was the only hard currency.

Lin Feng's heart sank. He had no time and no experience to slowly discern which service provider was the most reliable. A single wrong choice would not only lose him precious funds but could also directly expose his location.

Just as he was filled with anxiety, an entry with a concise style and clear technical parameters was quietly pinned to the top.

Its interface was exceptionally clean, without any exaggerated promotion, containing only a few lines of precise technical specifications:

**[Service Provided]: Advanced Anonymous Link (StealthNet Protocol). Basic Identity Masking Suite (including biometric blurring).**

**[Quote]: 5,000 Cr (Package Price).**

**[Requirement]: Only accepts clients with technical capability verification or specific risk backgrounds. Must provide proof of capability or risk level description (encrypted transmission).**

**[Remarks]: Focused on technology and privacy. Serious inquiries only.]**

Lin Feng's gaze was instantly captivated!

Requires technical capability verification or a risk description? This service provider was clearly not looking for ordinary users!

There was no time for hesitation. Lin Feng immediately accepted the service and, as requested, cautiously transmitted the performance logs of the efficient data processing he had just completed (obscuring specific task details) through an encrypted channel as proof of his technical capability.

`>> Sending: Technical_Proficiency_Verification (Partial).`

`>> ...`

`>> Verification Accepted.`

`>> Service Terms Confirmed. Proceed with Payment?`

The other party completed the verification quickly!

Lin Feng confirmed the payment. Five thousand credits were deducted from the escrow account.

`>> Payment Sent.`

`>> Receiving: StealthNet Protocol_Key.`

`>> Receiving: Basic_Identity_Obscurity_Kit (Including: Digital_ID_Mask, Biometric_Scrambler, Obfuscated_Funds_Transfer_Path)`

A brand new, more complex and sophisticated data package flooded into his consciousness. This package contained an advanced algorithm capable of distorting digital trails, a virtual digital mask overlaid on his biometrics, and several anonymous fund transfer paths implemented through complex routing.

`>> Executing: Obfuscated_Funds_Transfer.`

`>> Amount: 8,000 Cr. (To: [Redacted]_Public_Financial_Node, Account: ***712)`

`>> Routing: Via StealthNet... Complete. Obfuscation Active.`

He operated immediately, transferring eight thousand credits through the newly acquired anonymous path. This money would undergo multiple encrypted jumps and flow into an untraceable public financial node account.

Only after doing all this did Lin Feng breathe a slight sigh of relief. With this relatively "clean" money, he could at least find a place to hide and receive treatment.

He struggled to stand up, preparing to leave this dangerous dock immediately. He had to find a place to hide before dawn...

`>> Alert: Field_Agent 734. Location Updated.`

`>> ETA Revised: 02H 17M 33S.`

`>> Note: Agent 734 Employing Predictive_Scanning. Converging on Last_Known_Anomaly_Location (General_Hospital). Moving Outward.`

The information suddenly refreshing in his field of vision was like a clap of thunder exploding in his mind!

Agent 734's location had updated! The estimated arrival time was no longer nine hours later, but had changed to just over two hours! Furthermore, the opponent was using some kind of "predictive scanning" technology, starting from the hospital and searching outward in a radial pattern!

His time had been cut by more than half all at once!

Panic seized him instantly! Why the sudden acceleration?! Was it because his recent use of his ability to connect to the network and perform transfers had exposed location clues again? Or was it because his efficient data processing behavior had attracted attention from a higher level?

`>> Calculating Optimal Evasion Route...`

`>> Warning: Agent 734 Predictive_Scanning Algorithm: High_Probability (>78%) to Cover Old Port District within Next 90M.`

The blue characters coldly provided the worst-case prediction: based on Agent 734's search pattern, there was a more than 78% probability that the Old Port District would be covered within the next 90 minutes!

Lin Feng's scalp tingled instantly! He could almost feel an invisible net closing in rapidly, with himself right at the center!

Run! He had to run immediately!

He could no longer care about the intense pain and weakness of his body. Tightening his hood, he suddenly burst out from the shadows of the containers, desperately running back the way he came, away from the Old Port District and toward the deeper, more complex, and chaotic parts of the city!

With every step, a piercing pain shot through his ribs, and his lungs burned as if they were about to explode. The cold night wind scraped against his cheeks, and his vision went black in fits due to weakness and fear.

`>> ETA: 02H 10M 11S...`

`>> Agent 734 Proximity: Increasing.`

The countdown and proximity warnings flashed incessantly like a death warrant.

In his panic, he rushed into an even narrower alley filled with discarded electronic components. His foot tripped over an exposed fiber optic cable, and he lost his balance, falling heavily forward!

"Ugh!"

With a muffled groan, he fell awkwardly beside a massive, discarded server cabinet smelling of metallic rust, his arm sliced open.

Just as he was struggling to crawl up, a steady and rapid set of footsteps came from the other end of the alley!

A cold white beam of light suddenly shot out, locking onto him with precision!

Lin Feng's heart stopped, and despair instantly submerged him.

Found... was he found?!

He looked up in horror against the light.

However, the person standing at the exit of the alley was not an official agent with a uniform appearance as he had imagined.

Instead, it was a person wearing a dark windbreaker, with a lithe build and a pair of sophisticated tactical goggles on their face. The person held no weapons, but their calm, scrutinizing posture carried an even stronger sense of pressure.

The newcomer tilted their head slightly, and a complex Data Stream flashed across the tactical goggles. A calm, processed electronic voice that masked age and gender spoke:

"An efficient data processor."

"Your algorithm is very special."

"Interested in a chat?"