Chapter 12 State Intervention

At two in the morning, Lin Mo was startled awake by his phone ringing.

The screen showed Wang Zhenguo's number. Lin Mo's heart tightened, and he quickly answered.

"Xiao Lin, get dressed. Someone will pick you up in fifteen minutes." Wang Zhenguo's voice was calm, but Lin Mo could hear the gravity in it.

"Teacher, what happened?"

"The report has been submitted. People from above have arrived." Wang Zhenguo paused. "Don't bring anything; just come yourself."

The call ended. Lin Mo sat on the bed, staring at his phone for a few seconds before jumping up to start dressing. He grabbed his jacket and glanced at the backpack on the desk—inside was a backup piece of the blue material. After a moment's hesitation, he stuffed it into his pocket.

As he headed downstairs, he saw two black sedans already parked at the dormitory entrance. The headlights were off, but the engines were still running, with faint white smoke drifting from the exhaust pipes into the night.

A figure stepped out of the first car and walked toward him. It was a woman, about forty years old, with short hair and wearing a dark trench coat. Her pace was quick and steady, each step carrying an unquestionable aura.

"Lin Mo?" she asked.

"It's me."

"Get in." She stepped aside and opened the rear door.

Lin Mo climbed into the car. Wang Zhenguo was already sitting inside; he nodded to Lin Mo without speaking. The woman sat in the passenger seat and said to the driver, "Let's go."

The car drove out of the campus and merged into the empty late-night streets. Through the window, Lin Mo saw the second car following them, maintaining a fixed distance.

"Xiao Lin," Wang Zhenguo spoke, "this is Comrade Fang Lin, the Deputy Director of the Science and Technology Security Bureau."

Lin Mo was stunned for a moment. Science and Technology Security Bureau? He had never heard of this department.

Fang Lin turned her head from the passenger seat and nodded to him. The light in the car was dim, but Lin Mo could still see her face—sharp features, sharp eyes, and no unnecessary expression on her lips.

"Dr. Lin," her voice was steady, "are your materials and experimental records with Professor Wang?"

"Yes."

"Does anyone else know?"

Lin Mo thought for a moment and said, "Academician Zhang, Academician Liu. And... a visiting scholar named George. He asked me some questions, but I didn't say anything."

Fang Lin's brow twitched slightly. She took out a tablet from her side, swiped a few times, and asked, "George White?"

"Yes."

"What did he ask you?"

Lin Mo briefly recounted the details of those few encounters. Fang Lin listened without comment, only nodding and noting something on her tablet.

The car continued on. Looking out the window, Lin Mo realized he didn't recognize where they were. They had already left the city, and the surroundings were becoming increasingly desolate, with only the occasional streetlight passing by.

"Where... are we going?" he couldn't help but ask.

"A safe place," Fang Lin said. "Starting tonight, you won't be able to return to school for the time being."

Lin Mo's heart tightened. He looked at Wang Zhenguo, but his teacher just stared silently out the window.

The car drove for nearly another hour before finally stopping in front of a massive iron gate. There was a guard post with armed soldiers. Fang Lin rolled down the window and handed out an ID card. After checking it, the soldier saluted, and the iron gate slowly opened.

As the car entered, Lin Mo saw a cluster of scattered buildings. There were low-rise buildings, broad plazas, and some equipment he couldn't name. The lighting was dim, and everything seemed quiet and mysterious.

The car stopped in front of a three-story building. Fang Lin got out, and Lin Mo and Wang Zhenguo followed. A night breeze blew, carrying a hint of chill. Only then did Lin Mo notice that they were surrounded by mountains, with dark shadows of ridges rolling in the distance.

"Please follow me," Fang Lin said.

They entered the building, walked through a corridor, and finally entered a conference room. The room wasn't large but was fully equipped, with a large screen on the wall and several computers on the table.

"Sit." Fang Lin pointed to a chair and sat down opposite him.

She opened a folder on the table and pulled out a document. Lin Mo saw that it was the report Wang Zhenguo had written, covered with several red official seals.

"Dr. Lin," Fang Lin looked up, "your discovery has already caught the attention of the highest levels. I've come tonight under orders to understand the situation and take responsibility for your safety."

Lin Mo nodded, not knowing what to say.

"There are a few questions I need you to answer truthfully." Fang Lin's gaze was calm, but Lin Mo felt an invisible pressure.

"First, are you certain this material can achieve superconductivity at minus twenty degrees?"

"Certain. I've performed eleven experiments and succeeded ten times. Academician Zhang and Academician Liu have also verified it on-site."

Fang Lin made a note on her tablet. "Second, how do you confirm the originality of this technology? Is it possible that someone abroad is already researching a similar direction?"

Lin Mo had thought about this question many times. He shook his head. "I've checked all public literature and found no overlap. This formula and process are entirely new."

Fang Lin looked at him, silent for a few seconds. In those seconds, Lin Mo felt as if he were being scanned by an X-ray.

"Third," Fang Lin said, "are you willing to hand over your discovery to the state?"

The question was too direct. Lin Mo was stunned for a moment and looked at Wang Zhenguo. His teacher gave a slight nod.

"I am willing," Lin Mo said.

A hint of relaxation finally appeared on Fang Lin's face—it might have been a smile, but in such an environment, Lin Mo couldn't be sure.

"Good." She closed the folder. "From now on, you cannot leave this place for the time being. You cannot contact your family, friends, or classmates. Professor Wang will stay with you for a while until we have fully assessed the situation before making further arrangements."

A complex mix of emotions welled up in Lin Mo's heart. He knew it was necessary, but hearing that he "could not leave" still gave him a sense of being imprisoned.

"Teacher," he looked at Wang Zhenguo, "you too..."

"I'll stay with you," Wang Zhenguo said. "It just so happens that I want to use the equipment here to properly study your material."

Fang Lin stood up, walked to the window, pulled back a corner of the curtain, and looked out. Then she turned back to Lin Mo and said:

"Dr. Lin, you might not know yet how important the thing in your hands is. But I can tell you that starting tonight, many people will want to find you, and many will want to get your technology. My mission is to ensure those people never find you."

She paused, a hint of coldness entering her tone:

"And as for that George White, we've already started investigating him. If there's something wrong with him, he'll regret coming to China."

Looking at this woman, Lin Mo suddenly felt a strange sense of security. He didn't know what the future held, but at least for now, he was no longer alone.

Outside, the horizon began to whiten. A new day was about to begin.