134: Chapter 134 Caught in the Net

Beneath the deep sea, a massive black submarine cruised steadily.

In the temporary holding area inside the cabin, victims wrapped in thermal blankets were crowded together. Some were sobbing softly, while others stared blankly at the metal walls; the air was thick with the scent of disinfectant and sweat.

Marcus walked through the crowd expressionlessly, his heavy tactical boots making a dull thud against the steel floor. Several timid girls huddled together in fear, not daring to look at the fully armed black man.

He walked straight to the command room and pushed the door open.

Chen Feng was leaning back in his chair, watching a replay of the Tyrant T-501's combat data on the large screen.

“Boss, the headcount is complete,” Marcus stood firm and reported. “A total of 163 survivors. Among them are 42 adults and 121 minors.”

Chen Feng didn't take his eyes off the screen as he asked casually, “Have their identities been verified?”

“Verified. Some have families and were lured to the island by Epstein's people using various means; others are orphans kidnapped by international human traffickers since childhood, and they don't even know their original names.”

Chen Feng picked up the black coffee on the table and took a sip. “Handle it according to the original plan. For those with families, give them five hundred thousand dollars each in hush money and send people to return them to their hometowns.”

Marcus hesitated for a moment. “What if they talk? After all, they saw the USS in action.”

Chen Feng smiled and turned to look at Sarah, who was standing beside him.

Sarah took off her sunglasses and said in a cold tone, “They can complain to the media and the police about Epstein's perverted actions all they want. But if anyone dares to mention a single word about those BOWs, or reveals the existence of Umbrella...”

She paused, her gaze turning fierce. “Regrettably, I'll have to pay them a personal visit.”

“As for those orphans,” Chen Feng put down his coffee cup, “sending them to orphanages would just mean being exploited again by those hypocritical politicians. It's better to keep them at Umbrella. Send the minors to our subsidiary schools, and the adults will stay for job training.”

“Understood, I'll make the arrangements.” Marcus turned and left.

The submarine's engine let out a low hum as it headed back toward Los Angeles at full speed.

...

Meanwhile, on the Caribbean Sea.

A luxury speedboat was racing at full throttle, tearing toward the high seas like a mad dog.

Epstein slumped on the speedboat's sofa. The boat was jolting violently, and he didn't even notice that seawater had soaked his crotch.

“Damn Chen Feng! Damn Umbrella!” Epstein slammed the glass beside him onto the deck, shattering it into pieces. “When I get back, I'm going to kill you all!”

He still thought the biological weapons Umbrella sold him had malfunctioned and gone out of control; he hadn't even considered that Chen Feng had intentionally set him up.

“Boss, we're about to enter the high seas!” the bodyguard driving the boat shouted.

Epstein had just breathed a sigh of relief when a sudden change occurred.

Three blindingly bright searchlights suddenly beamed from three directions, locking onto the speedboat. The intense light made it impossible for Epstein to open his eyes.

“Vessel ahead, stop and cut your engines immediately! Put your hands behind your heads and lie flat on the deck! This is the Federal Coast Guard!”

The sound of a loudspeaker boomed across the sea. Two heavy patrol boats and a circling helicopter had already completed the encirclement.

The bodyguard on the speedboat instinctively reached for the gun at his waist.

“Rat-tat-tat-tat—!”

A burst of heavy machine-gun fire swept across the water directly in front of the speedboat, kicking up two-meter-high plumes of water. The bodyguard shuddered in fear and quickly raised his hands above his head.

The speedboat was forced to cut its engine. Several fully armed FBI agents rushed up the boarding plank, their dark gun muzzles pointing directly at Epstein's head.

The lead agent, Smith, yanked Epstein up and pinned his hands behind his back.

“What are you doing? Do you know who I am!” Epstein twisted his body frantically and shouted, “I've played golf with your director! I know powerful senators! Let me go, I want to call my lawyer!”

Smith didn't buy any of it. He pulled out handcuffs and snapped them on him, sneering, “Mr. Epstein, we received a very detailed anonymous report. You are suspected of human trafficking, illegal detention, and several other federal felonies. You are under arrest. Save your words for the judge.”

“It's a frame-up! All a frame-up!” Epstein was still being stubborn.

Just then, a strange blue-violet light suddenly lit up the horizon.

Everyone turned to look in unison.

A few nautical miles away, Eden Island was currently spewing pillars of fire into the sky. It wasn't an ordinary fire; high-temperature thermite was frantically consuming everything. The entire mountain peak was collapsing, and the violent explosions were still deafening even from this distance.

Smith's eyes widened, and the walkie-talkie in his hand almost fell onto the deck. The incoming heatwave made him feel as if he were facing a volcano about to erupt.

“My God... what on earth happened on that island?”

Epstein also slumped on the deck, his face blank with shock. His underground paradise, his cash cow, the capital he used to manipulate countless powerful figures—all gone.

Smith reacted quickly, immediately pressing his earpiece to call headquarters: “Emergency! A massive explosion and fire have occurred on the target island! Send helicopters and fireboats for support immediately! Repeat, requesting emergency support!”

A few hours later, a large number of firefighters and search and rescue personnel landed on the island.

But they were faced with only vitrified rock and thick layers of white ash. Forget survivors, they couldn't even find a single intact bone fragment. This fire was so clean it made one's scalp tingle.

...

The next morning. Washington, FBI Headquarters.

Inside the Director's office, the atmosphere was so oppressive it felt like it could be wrung out.

The Director sat behind his large desk, staring fixedly at the computer screen. The screen was playing several unspeakable videos, accompanied by extremely detailed bank transfer records, overseas shell company structures, and flight information.

The male protagonists in the videos included Wall Street tycoons, Hollywood stars who had won Oscars, and even several powerful politicians who frequently spoke of morality on television.

The Director felt his tie choking him. He yanked it loose, his forehead covered in fine beads of cold sweat.

“This stuff... who sent it?” his voice was dry as he asked Smith, who was standing before him.

“I don't know. It was left at the front desk early this morning. No fingerprints, no hair, and the surveillance outside the building didn't capture anyone,” Smith reported truthfully.

The Director leaned back in his chair, his mind racing. Once this list was exposed, the entire federal political scene would face an unprecedented earthquake. He absolutely could not take this risk; there were even old superiors who had promoted him on it. If it blew up, he would be buried with them.

“Listen, Smith,” the Director lowered his voice, his tone stern. “Classify this file as Top Secret. Pull the network cables. Give the original to me; I will personally lock it in the underground vault. Tell everyone who has come into contact with this package: if anyone dares to leak a single word, I will personally send them to see God!”

Just as Smith was about to nod in agreement, the office door was burst open.

The Director's secretary rushed in frantically, not even knocking, having even lost one of her high heels while running.

“Director! Something big has happened!”

“Get out! Who let you in? Don't you know the rules!” The Director was already frustrated and shouted while slamming the table.

The secretary didn't care about being scolded; she grabbed the remote on the desk and turned on the television on the wall.

The TV was broadcasting a CNN breaking news live report.

The host looked shocked, not even looking at the teleprompter, reading directly from the paper script in her hand: “Just now, this station and over a hundred mainstream media outlets worldwide simultaneously received an anonymous email. The content of the email reveals the horrifying actions of billionaire Jeffrey Poestan on his private island...”

The screen changed, displaying part of the list and blurred video screenshots.

The Director's vision went dark, and he slumped into his chair, his strength completely gone.

“It's over... it's all over.”

...

Umbrella Headquarters, top-floor office.

Chen Feng sat comfortably in his executive chair, watching the multi-screen TV on the wall. Every channel was frantically reporting on the Eden Island incident. Epstein's client list had become the hottest topic in the world, and countless netizens were celebrating on social media.

The phone on the desk rang; it was Weber.

“You really are a madman.” As soon as the call connected, Weber's highly recognizable voice came through, his tone carrying a rare hint of emotion. “You've blown the lid off. Now those people in Washington are all going crazy, searching everywhere for whoever leaked the list.”

Chen Feng took a sip of coffee and said in a relaxed tone, “What, are you scared?”

“I'm almost ninety years old, and besides, I've never been there. I have nothing to fear,” Weber snorted coldly. “But by doing this, you've essentially offended every powerful person. Once they trace it back to you, you'll die a miserable death.”

“They won't find anything.”

Chen Feng put down his cup, his voice turning cold. “Mr. Weber, you don't need to worry about that now. You just need to prepare your bags and harvest those high-quality assets that are plummeting because of the scandal.”

Weber was silent for two seconds, keenly grasping the point: “What do you want?”

“The remaining shares of United Shield Health Insurance, and control over those medical device companies on the list. Take them all while their stock prices are halved and their executives are being arrested. I want to see the Umbrella logo hanging on their buildings by next month.”

“What an appetite... I see. I'll arrange for the funds to enter the market.”

The call ended.

Chen Feng leaned back in his chair.

In his mind, the system's prompt sounded clearly.

[Ding! Hidden mission 'Collapse of Eden' completed.]

[Mission Evaluation: Perfect.]

[Reward: 100,000 R&D Points. Current total R&D Points: 478,000.]