31: Public opinion reversed

The Demon City (Shanghai), Seventh Bureau.

Chen Tao stood in front of a massive electronic whiteboard, plastered with photos and clues, all perfectly connected by complex lines.

[Ghost receives 2 billion intelligence deposit] > [Xinghai Group registered capital 2 billion] > [Verlander technological suppression] > Bai Qianqian call records > [Verlander core data subjected to global public execution].

The office was filled with the smell of smoke, and the ashtray was nearly overflowing with cigarette butts.

Chen Tao’s brow was furrowed into a knot; he casually took a stick of longevity water from the drawer, mixed it into his thermos, shook it twice, and took two large gulps.

"Two billion. Is that really a coincidence?"

"Is this deliberately sending us a message... Ghost, what exactly do you want to do?"

Chen Tao was almost certain that Xinghai Group had intricate connections with Ghost, and might even be one of the crucial pieces Ghost was positioning on the front stage.

So, when this chess piece faced a survival crisis due to Verlander's technological suppression, what would the person behind the board do?

The answer had already been presented to the entire world in the most shocking manner.

"Short selling?"

"It certainly isn't that simple; it was probably just done on the fly."

Chen Tao rested his chin on his hand, his brain rapidly starting to work.

He felt that Ghost helping Xinghai out of trouble was only superficial.

At a deeper level, it was Ghost announcing to everyone attempting unfair competition using technological hegemony.

I have the ability to instantly strip away the core advantages you rely on for survival.

The rules are set by me.

Chen Tao felt a chill rise up his spine.

This Ghost, he was not just a hacker with divine technical skills, but an order reconstructor possessing extremely strong strategic vision and a desire for control.

He was using his own methods to forcibly intervene in, and even reshape, the rules of the game in certain fields.

"Verlander might just be an unlucky fool who happened to stick his head out and walk right into the muzzle..."

Chen Tao extinguished his cigarette butt, his expression becoming extremely serious.

He realized that Ghost’s emergence was no longer a simple cybersecurity incident, but an unknown variable capable of affecting the international business landscape, and perhaps even deeper strategic balances.

The official attitude towards Ghost had to become much more cautious.

"This is no longer within the scope of my intervention."

He picked up the internal encrypted phone and issued instructions in a deep voice.

"Prepare an analysis report of the highest encryption level and submit it to the superiors."

"Understood, Director."

North America.

In a hidden hall, the light and shadows were soft.

A few seemingly simple sofas were made of wood that was already a priceless rarity.

A handful of people were scattered among them, dressed simply, yet carrying an invisible weight that made the air feel stagnant.

They were the embodiment of power, requiring no words.

In the shadows at the back, a line of advisors and assistants stood with hands lowered.

One of them, capable of commanding the winds and clouds in the outside world, was the heir to a certain consortium.

But in front of these people, he kept his gaze humbly lowered, daring not to make any eye contact with those in front.

An elderly silver-haired man lightly tapped the armrest with his fingertip.

"What is the deal with the Verlander incident?"

The head of security stepped forward.

"Gentlemen, after repeated verification, there is no trace of external intrusion on Verlander's servers."

The Chief Advisor bowed and replied.

"There is over a 90% probability that Ghost is a massive hacker organization with a base of over ten thousand people. The fact that it was done so cleanly suggests only one explanation: Verlander’s senior management was infiltrated."

This conclusion slightly eased the expressions of the powerful figures.

They preferred to believe it was a powerful opponent rather than a divine miracle.

If it were true, as rumored online, that Ghost already possessed the ability to sweep the financial markets, this action would not have been solely aimed at Verlander.

"What is the motive?"

Another elderly man, gripping a cane, spoke with narrowed eyes.

"There is over a 95% probability that it is highly related to Verlander's actions targeting Xinghai Group."

"There is over a 99% probability that Ghost has a close connection or an employment relationship with Xinghai."

"Clean up the internal structure, and use all resources to clarify the association."

"Find someone to suppress the panic."

Beside the elderly man seated in the center, a girl who looked fifteen or sixteen, wearing a qipao and having an Asian appearance, stood up and approached the Chief Advisor with a document in her hand.

"This is a copy of the Dawn Project."

The Chief Advisor’s heart stirred—had they finally brought out this trump card? The meeting concluded, and the powerful figures departed silently.

Verlander’s crisis public relations campaign was textbook-level.

Within 48 hours of the data leak incident causing global shock, a highly anticipated press conference was urgently convened.

Under the spotlight, Verlander’s newly appointed Vice President announced with a mournful expression.

"Following an urgent internal investigation, it has been determined that this core technology leak was caused by the former company Vice President Charles, who stole and sold the data for personal gain using his high-level access."

"This individual has been dismissed and handed over to judicial authorities, and the company will fully cooperate with the investigation to pursue legal responsibility."

The spokesperson very cleverly defined the Ghost incident as a problem of internal corruption.

Immediately afterward, the main event of the press conference began.

Verlander took this opportunity to formally announce the R&D project named [Dawn].

The large screen displayed detailed data charts and some clinical image data that had been blurred.

The spokesperson stated that this was a major breakthrough achieved by Verlander in tackling the field of alzheimers disease treatment.

Phase II clinical trial data showed that the new drug could significantly slow the rate of cognitive function deterioration in early to mid-stage patients, with effects far exceeding any existing therapy.

As soon as the press conference ended.

A large number of analysis posts and popular science videos appeared on the internet.

Ghost, who had previously been called a god, was now portrayed as a large hacker organization that meticulously planned, bribed insiders, and engaged in mystification.

It was speculated that Xinghai was the true financial backer of the Ghost organization.

Such actions—attacking competitors through improper means, creating social panic, and disrupting commercial order—were severely condemned.

Furthermore, there was vigorous promotion and deification of Verlander and [Dawn].

Major global information platforms were flooded with emotional copywriting titled [Gospel for Humanity], [Dawn of Conquering the Century Problem], and [Fighting for All of Humanity's Hope].

The articles detailed the massive investment and countless failures humanity had experienced in the field of alzheimers disease.

They went to great lengths to emphasize and praise the epoch-making significance of this breakthrough.

Verlander was successfully molded into a heroic enterprise that bore the hopes of humanity and suffered malicious attacks.

This combination of moves yielded immediate results.

The reaction of the capital market was the most genuine: Verlander’s stock price not only halted its sharp decline but, stimulated by [Dawn], soared all the way up, quickly recovering lost ground and surging to three times its historical peak volume.

A large amount of international capital that had originally been observing rushed in frantically, highly optimistic about the monopolistic profits this star drug would generate in the future market.

Even the domestic public opinion sphere completely reversed course in an instant.

Dragon Country, the live stream room of the well-known finance blogger [Truth Seeker].

In front of the camera, the blogger, known for his outspokenness, had a serious expression, and the background board displayed a striking headline.

"Ghost or Demon? The Conspiracy and Truth Behind the Verlander Data Theft."

"family members, good evening."

"Today we are going to talk about a major event concerning morality, and even the future of all humanity!"

The blogger surnamed Wang got straight to the point, elevating the incident directly to a height concerning all humanity.

"In the past two days, the term Ghost has been very popular; many people have hailed him as a so-called digital vigilante, cheering him on."

"But today, I am going to take a risk and pour cold water on everyone, tearing open this layer of hypocrisy."

The blogger surnamed Wang switched the background PPT, displaying the detailed information about [Dawn] from the Verlander press conference.

"Everyone look, this is a major breakthrough in the treatment of alzheimers disease."

The blogger surnamed Wang paused, glanced at the frantically scrolling barrage of comments, and continued his introduction.

"This is the dawn that can bring true hope to tens of millions of families worldwide affected by senile dementia."

"To conquer this century-old problem, humanity has invested no less than a trillion in funds and experienced countless failures."

"Today, critical progress has finally been achieved by Verlander."

"This is a great achievement worthy of being recorded in history!"

Next, the background board changed.

Ghost’s logo and the Xinghai Group logo were tied together.

"Ghost is not some digital vigilante; it used the most despicable means to steal Verlander's core technology and spread panic globally."

"Why would Ghost do this? Everyone is guessing it’s related to Xinghai."

"Yes, that's what I think too."

"Verlander restricted Xinghai Group's technological misuse, and as a result, it suffered this kind of retaliation, with its stock price nearly plummeting to rock bottom."

"This is like a rogue who can’t beat his opponent; instead of working hard himself, he steals and publicly releases the formula the other party was using to save people."

"This is absolutely shameless and disgraceful."

"Whether treating neurological tinnitus is important or conquering alzheimers disease is important, I don't think I need to elaborate, do I?"

"Verlander is working for the well-being of all humanity, while Xinghai and Ghost are stabbing them in the back and destroying commercial order. Should we support and tolerate such despicable enterprises earning the hard-earned money of ordinary people?"

The live stream comments instantly exploded.

Many viewers who were originally just watching the excitement began to subtly change their attitude under the guidance of the blogger surnamed Wang's highly inflammatory rhetoric.

[Holy cow, listening to Teacher Wang, it really seems to make sense.]

[My grandma has gotten lost countless times due to senile dementia; it is truly agonizing. If Verlander can really conquer it, they are our family's savior.]

[Support Verlander, boycott Xinghai: Oppose hacker behavior.]

[I was almost led astray by a bunch of idiots; turns out Ghost is so hateful.]

[Xinghai get out of Dragon Country! I'm never buying longevity water again. I'm so angry.]

Many viewers whose families suffered from alzheimers disease felt even more deeply empathetic, immediately viewing Verlander as their only hope... naturally, they felt intense hatred for Xinghai and Ghost for destroying that hope.

Simultaneously, a large amount of similar content began appearing on Dragon Country's mainstream information platforms.

In an instant, Xinghai transformed from a sympathetic, morally upright enterprise facing technological suppression into an industry disruptor condemned by thousands.

The internet was filled with condemnation; some even called for a boycott of all Xinghai products and demanded that relevant departments intervene and investigate.

Xinghai's official website and social media accounts were instantly drowned in overwhelming angry comments.

If Xinghai had already been listed, its stock price would definitely have plummeted completely.

Star Tower.

He Ming sat upright in his office chair, his attention focused on Verlander's continuously soaring stock price.

Regarding the online public opinion, jarvis implemented the highest level of comment control.

This included paid trolls, influencers looking to capitalize on the traffic, and those who enjoyed stirring up trouble...

He Ming's solution was very direct.

For the paid trolls, he found their information and packaged all their past historical illegal records into data to be uniformly sent to the local relevant departments.

As for the influencers who jumped on the bandwagon to gain traffic, He Ming ordered jarvis to directly clear the followers from all media information platforms they personally owned.

As for those who personally entered the fray because watching the excitement wasn't enough, their accounts were banned.

For a time, wailing filled the internet, especially among the major influencers whose followers were cleared; they felt like hanging themselves on the spot.

Millions, even tens of millions, of accounts became blank slates overnight, and subsequent short videos they posted were forcibly restricted by jarvis.

Star Tower, He Ming leaned by the window, continuing to scroll through short videos.

The public opinion targeting Xinghai had clearly decreased significantly; at the very least, those self-media accounts with large followings no longer dared to carelessly enter the discussion.

Although there were still a few rotten fish and shrimp left, these people could no longer stir up any trouble; instead, they were flamed by tens of millions of accounts simultaneously controlled by jarvis until they couldn't function normally.