72: The legacy of a tyrant

"Reno, you're in charge of security. Take your men and seal off all warehouses and databases. Not even a fly is allowed to get out."

"Lao Mo, take your technical team and handle the appraisal of the value and condition of all equipment and electronic assets."

"Aileen." Chen Feng turned his gaze toward a quiet and capable-looking middle-aged woman wearing glasses. "You were the previous archivist. I am now appointing you as the Administrative Director, responsible for the registration and cataloging of all documents and materials."

"Yes!" the three responded in unison.

In the command room, a temporary asset inventory team was quickly formed. Chen Feng issued his final command: "Leave no inch of ground unchecked, no scrap of paper lost. I want the most accurate report possible."

The first stop for the inventory was Bachm's private warehouse.

When the heavy alloy door was forced open, everyone gasped at the sight before them.

It was less of a warehouse and more like a museum of greed.

The shelves were piled high with high-energy nutritional pastes and specialized medicines that should have been distributed to the miners. In the corners, various sentimental trinkets that miners had traded their lives for were discarded carelessly—worn-out amulets, holographic family photos, and even handmade toys for children. Most glaringly, there were crates of luxury goods and fine wines labeled with High-dimensional civilizations.

"Animal!" Reno looked at the medicines that could have saved countless brothers, trembling with rage as he punched the wall. "Damn it, this is the 'Chief Manager' we served with our lives!"

Aileen registered the items in silence, but her trembling fingertips betrayed her inner fury. This blatant greed was more effective than any speech at fueling hatred for the old order and acceptance of the new one.

Meanwhile, the inventory of the main database was also underway.

"Boss, come look at this!" Lao Mo's voice came through the communicator, carrying a hint of suppressed excitement.

When Chen Feng arrived, Lao Mo was pointing at a series of encrypted files on the main screen.

"Bachm's private accounts are a complete mess. But we followed the clues and found these..."

On the screen, shocking slush funds were decrypted and displayed—records of withheld miner wages, kickbacks to superior officials, and even several reports of mining disasters disguised as accidents to defraud pension funds.

"All good stuff." Chen Feng's eyes were cold. "Aileen, encrypt and archive all of these, and keep them separately. In the future, these will be the shells we fire at Giant Star Mining."

"Understood."

The final stop for the inventory was Bachm's office.

While clearing out a private safe disguised as a wall, one of Reno's men discovered an evidence bag discarded carelessly in a corner.

"Chief, look at this."

Reno took the bag; inside was a uniquely shaped black chip with no markings on its surface. He immediately realized it wasn't simple and quickly reported it to Chen Feng.

"Boss, this was found in Bachm's safe."

Chen Feng took the chip. The cold texture and the precision craftsmanship, far exceeding Ashen Earth Star's industrial level, made his heart stir.

"Lao Mo, can you crack it?"

Lao Mo took the chip and connected it to a high-privilege analyzer. A few minutes later, he shook his head with a solemn expression.

"Boss, no. The encryption level of this chip is unlike anything I've ever seen. With the equipment we have in the mining area, we can't even analyze its encryption algorithm, let alone crack it."

While everyone was lost in thought, a sudden, rapid alarm rang out.

"Report! Mr. Chen!" A Technician responsible for surveying geological stability rushed in, his face full of excitement and disbelief. "Directly beneath the collapse zone in Area C, our deep geological sensors have detected a small-scale but... but mineral reaction with energy readings off the charts!"

Chen Feng immediately took Reno and Lao Mo to the edge of the Area C collapse site.

Looking down at the bottomless ruins that resembled the mouth of a giant beast, Lao Mo pointed excitedly at the data tablet in his hand, his voice trembling.

"Yes! This is it! There's nothing wrong with the sensors! Boss, this... this is very likely the legendary High-purity associated mineral vein! The energy and value it contains might be higher than the total output of our entire Mining Area No. 7 over decades of excavation!"

Reno was also speechless from the news. The treasure Bachm had desired until his death actually existed, and it was right beneath his own grave.

Night fell.

Only Chen Feng remained in the command room.

He sat quietly on what was once Bachm's throne. On the table before him lay two items.

On the left was the mysterious chip that current technology simply could not crack.

On the right was the geological map of the mineral vein marking staggering wealth.

These two items were the greatest legacy left by that tyrant, and the keys to determining the future fate of Hanhai Trade.

They were an opportunity, but also a challenge.

He slowly opened the Interstellar Exchange interface, the eerie blue light reflecting on his calm face.

Conventional methods had reached their limit.

Now, it was time to use his greatest trump card to untie the knot before him.