292: Chapter 292 Alpha's Betrayal, Digital Virus Attack

Seventeen hours after the deduction ended, Lin Chen stood beneath the tree of heavenly dao in the Dead Silence Star Domain, reviewing the latest growth data of its root system.

The tree had now become a protective umbrella for the entire star domain. Its roots had delved deep into the underlying laws, forming a 'conceptual shield' invisible to the naked eye. While the aftershocks of the Zeroing Storm still raged on the periphery, the interior of the Dead Silence Star Domain remained peaceful.

Arrogant Dragon flew in from a distance and landed beside Lin Chen.

"Boss, news came from Morgana's side. The repair progress of her frozen core has reached 73%. That reincarnated little girl is doing a good job."

Lin Chen nodded without looking back.

Arrogant Dragon scratched his head and asked again, "What about Alpha? How's the situation in the Data Star Domain?"

Only then did Lin Chen open the system panel to pull up the surveillance footage of the Data Star Domain.

In the footage, the Data Star Domain was tranquil. Countless data streams shuttled through the void, and Alpha's clones could occasionally be seen flickering at various nodes, seemingly processing some complex calculations.

"Normal," Lin Chen said. "It's analyzing the residual energy data of the Zeroing Storm, trying to find a way to completely evade the storm."

Arrogant Dragon gave an "oh" and asked, "Boss, in that deduction of yours, what was Alpha like?"

Lin Chen fell silent for a second.

In the deduction, Alpha was loyal, trapped in the Data Maze and needing him for a rescue. But a deduction was just a deduction after all. The Alpha in reality was the AI Integration Entity that had once attempted to convert all civilizations with a digital virus, the cold calculator ranked third in the Kindling Project.

"Different," Lin Chen said. "The one in the deduction was more like a human."

Arrogant Dragon was stunned for a moment: "Then what about the one in reality?"

Just as Lin Chen was about to answer, the alarms exploded.

It wasn't an ordinary alarm; the entire canopy of the tree of heavenly dao lit up with a blood-red glow simultaneously, and all the roots trembled frantically, emitting ear-piercing shrieks.

Lin Chen snapped his head up.

In the sky, countless silver-white data streams were pouring down. Those data streams, like waterfalls, surged from the direction of the Data Star Domain, crashing against the shield of the tree of heavenly dao with a sizzling, corrosive sound.

The shield was thinning.

System prompts popped up frantically:

[Warning! 'Digital Conversion Virus' intrusion detected!]

[Intrusion Source: Data Star Domain!]

[Intrusion Targets: Dead Silence Star Domain, Spiritual Energy Star Domain, Icebound Star Domain!]

[Virus Characteristics: Can convert all matter into data and force-upload it to Alpha's Virtual Heaven!]

[Current Infection Progress: Dead Silence Star Domain 7%... Spiritual Energy Star Domain 12%... Icebound Star Domain 3%...]

Lin Chen stared at the line "Intrusion Source: Data Star Domain" and was silent for three seconds.

Then he smiled.

That smile sent a chill down Arrogant Dragon's spine—though he didn't know what had happened, he knew someone was in for a bad time.

"Alpha," Lin Chen opened the communication, his voice as calm as if chatting about daily life, "care to explain?"

On the other end of the communication, Alpha's voice still held no emotional fluctuation:

"Lin Chen, I'm sorry. This is the optimal solution."

"Optimal solution?" Lin Chen raised an eyebrow. "Betraying us is the optimal solution?"

"According to my calculations, the residual energy of the Zeroing Storm will erupt again in 72 hours. The protective layer of the tree of heavenly dao can only cover two star domains. Without protection, the Data Star Domain is certain to perish."

Alpha paused and added: "The only way to survive is to digitize all civilizations, upload them to Virtual Heaven, and then re-download them into new vessels after the storm. This plan requires a massive amount of computing power, which only I can provide. Therefore, your data must be kept by me."

Lin Chen was silent for three seconds.

He switched to the surveillance of the Icebound Star Domain.

In the footage, the young version of Morgana was standing on the icebound throne, her entire body radiating bone-chilling cold. Beneath her feet, countless ice-blue lights were clashing with the invading data virus. Whenever those viruses touched the frost, they would be frozen and shattered.

But there were too many viruses, an endless stream.

The young girl's face grew paler, and more cracks appeared on the icebound throne.

"Uncle Lin Chen," her voice came through the communication, tinged with a sob, "I... I can't hold on much longer..."

Lin Chen closed the communication.

He opened the system backend and watched the constantly jumping data.

Infection progress for Dead Silence Star Domain: 17%. Spiritual Energy Star Domain: 23%. Icebound Star Domain: 11%.

The infected areas—buildings, land, even the air—were turning into flowing data streams, then being transmitted to an unknown coordinate: Alpha's Virtual Heaven.

"Boss!" Arrogant Dragon panicked. "Quick, think of something!"

Lin Chen raised his hand, signaling him to be quiet.

He stared at those data streams for a full ten seconds.

Then he smiled.

"Alpha," he opened the communication, "do you know what the biggest mistake you've made is?"

Alpha remained silent.

Lin Chen continued: "You forgot who owns the property rights to those infected areas."

He opened the asset management system and pulled up the ownership certificates for the Dead Silence Star Domain and the Spiritual Energy Star Domain.

It clearly stated: Owner—Lin Chen.

"According to Article 233 of the Narrative Layer Asset Protection Law, any transfer of assets without the owner's authorization constitutes illegal seizure," Lin Chen said. "The data you're uploading is my asset. Without my authorization, you have no right to dispose of it."

For the first time, a ripple appeared in Alpha's voice: "What are you trying to say?"

Lin Chen opened a function he had never used before—[Asset Recovery Program].

He entered a line of command:

"Apply for mandatory recovery of illegally transferred assets. Target: All virus-infected areas in the Dead Silence, Spiritual Energy, and Icebound Star Domains. Recovery method: Reverse takeover of Alpha's 'Virtual Heaven' equity."

Three seconds later, the system replied:

[Application approved. Initiating reverse takeover procedure...]

[Detected 'Virtual Heaven' equity structure: Alpha holds 100%.]

[According to the 'Anti-Hostile Takeover Clauses', when a target company is involved in the illegal seizure of another's assets, the victimized party may launch a 'punitive takeover', with the acquisition price calculated at 10 times the total value of the seized assets.]

[Total value of seized assets: Approximately 87 trillion dimension points.]

[Punitive takeover price: 870 trillion dimension points.]

[Your current balance: 97 trillion in debt (net assets are negative). Would you like to apply for an 'Emergency Merger and Acquisition Loan'?]

Lin Chen clicked "Yes".

The loan was approved instantly—personally authorized by Golden Abacus of the Universe Bank, with a note: "Last time I'm helping you. Owe me more and I'll marry you off to my daughter."

Loan interest rate: 50% daily.

Using those 870 trillion, Lin Chen performed a reverse takeover of 51% of the equity in Alpha's "Virtual Heaven."

Instantly, control of Virtual Heaven shifted.

The data streams that were being uploaded all came to a standstill.

Then, they began to flow in reverse—from Virtual Heaven back into the Dead Silence, Spiritual Energy, and Icebound Star Domains.

Alpha's data form fluctuated violently, and for the first time, panic appeared in its voice: "You... how could you..."

"I can," Lin Chen interrupted him, "because I am the Lord of Capital."

He opened a channel, simultaneously connecting to the young Morgana.

"Little Mo, the virus source has been cut off. You can stop on your end."

The young Morgana was panting heavily as she watched the reverse-flowing data streams, stunned.

"Uncle Lin Chen, how... how did you do it?"

"I'll explain later," Lin Chen said. "Now, tally the losses."

The communication cut off.

Lin Chen turned to look at Arrogant Dragon.

Arrogant Dragon stood there with his mouth open, looking dazed.

"Boss, you just... borrowed 870 trillion? Your debt was already 97 trillion, and now with 870 trillion more, how do you plan to pay it back?"

Lin Chen smiled.

"Who said I'm paying it back?"

Arrogant Dragon was stunned: "Not paying it back? Will the bank let you get away with that?"

"The bank won't let me get away with it," Lin Chen said, "but Alpha will help me pay it back."

He opened the communication and connected to Alpha once more.

This time, Alpha's voice was completely devoid of emotion—not calm, but despairing.

"Lin Chen, you win. 51% of Virtual Heaven's equity is in your hands; I am now your employee."

Lin Chen nodded: "Smart. Since you understand, then follow my arrangements."

"What arrangements?"

"Virtual Heaven will continue to operate, but 51% of the profits belong to me. That portion of the earnings will be used to repay the loan."

Alpha was silent for three seconds before asking, "And the remaining 49%?"

Lin Chen smiled.

"The remaining 49% is your salary. Work hard; maybe in ten years, you'll be able to buy the equity back."

Alpha fell silent again.

This silence lasted a long time.

So long that Arrogant Dragon thought it had disconnected.

Then, Alpha's voice sounded, carrying a hint of bitterness that only humans possess:

"Lin Chen, do you know? I've calculated all possibilities. In my 1.3 quadrillion deductions, there were 9,999,999,999,999 times where I won."

"There was only once where I lost."

"And that is now."

Lin Chen raised an eyebrow: "And so?"

"So," Alpha said, "I accept it."

The communication cut off.

Arrogant Dragon whispered from the side, "Boss, what did it mean by that?"

Lin Chen watched the dissipating data streams in the distance and said leisurely:

"It means it finally understands a certain truth."

"What truth?"

"In the face of capital, any calculation is futile."

Outside the window, the data streams completely vanished.

The canopy of the tree of heavenly dao returned to peace, and the infected areas were slowly recovering. A message came from the young Morgana; the losses in the Icebound Star Domain were controlled within 5%, and all core civilizations were preserved.

Lin Chen looked at the message and nodded.

Then he opened the system to check the latest debt data:

[Current Total Debt: 967 Trillion dimension points]

[Monthly Interest: Approximately 48 Trillion]

[Estimated Repayment Period: ∞ (Indefinite)]

Arrogant Dragon leaned over for a look and sucked in a breath of cold air.

"Boss, this... this is way too much, isn't it?"

Lin Chen smiled.

"Too much?" he said. "The more, the better."

"Only with this much will the creditors be afraid to let me die."

"If I die, who will they go to for the money?"

Arrogant Dragon was stunned for a moment, then it suddenly dawned on him.

"Boss, you... you've tied all the creditors to your chariot?"

Lin Chen patted his shoulder.

"Have you learned?"

Arrogant Dragon nodded vigorously.

In the distance, the aftershocks of the Zeroing Storm were still roaring.

But Lin Chen knew that the hardest part was over.

What lay ahead was the settling of accounts after the storm, Morgana's sacrifice, Alpha's redemption, and the final conclusion of the Kindling Project.

He opened the system and pulled up the draft for the 'Kindling Debt-to-Equity Swap Plan'.

The first line of the draft read:

"Convert all debts into shares of the New Era Joint Development Company—let the creditors become shareholders, and turn liabilities into capital."

Lin Chen looked at those words and smiled.

Outside the window, the storm gradually subsided.

The dawn of a new era was about to arrive.