Chapter 131 Suspicious Persons

In the afternoon in the Gobi Desert, the sun was so scorching it could bake the oil right out of a person.

Captain Zhou was leading two team members, driving an off-road vehicle on a patrol around the perimeter of the construction site. This was a fixed route taken four times a day—circling along the temporary fence to check for any abnormalities.

"This damn weather is enough to kill a man," the driver complained, wiping away sweat. "Captain Zhou, can't we finish the round quickly and go back to enjoy the air conditioning?"

Captain Zhou glared at him. "Air conditioning? You'll have plenty of time for that if something goes wrong. Drive slower and keep your eyes peeled."

The off-road vehicle moved slowly along the bumpy gravel road, kicking up a trail of yellow sand. Outside the window was the unchanging landscape of the Gobi Desert—sand dunes, gravel, and the occasional clump of Camel Thorn, slightly distorted in the heat haze.

"Wait."

Captain Zhou suddenly sat up straight, staring at a black dot in the distance.

"What is it, Captain Zhou?" The team member followed his gaze but saw nothing.

"Over there, at two o'clock. It looks like someone is there." Captain Zhou picked up his binoculars. "Stop the car, kill the engine."

The off-road vehicle came to a slow stop. Once the engine sound died away, the Gobi Desert fell into a deathly silence. Captain Zhou adjusted the focus and observed carefully through the binoculars.

There was indeed someone there.

A figure was crouching behind a sand dune, holding something and gesturing toward the ground. They were too far away to see exactly what he was doing, but his movements were strange—he didn't look like he was resting; it looked more like he was... measuring something?

"Captain Zhou, should we go take a look?" the team member asked in a low voice.

Captain Zhou lowered the binoculars and pondered for a few seconds. "You two, circle around from the left. I'll flank from the right. Leave the car here; don't alert the target."

The two team members exchanged a glance and silently got out of the car.

Ten minutes later, Captain Zhou and his three men appeared around that sand dune from three directions simultaneously.

The crouching man stood up abruptly, a look of panic on his face. He was in his forties, wearing grey overalls and a straw hat. He held a device that looked like a GPS in his hand, and a canvas bag sat at his feet.

"Don't move!" Captain Zhou stepped forward quickly, his hand resting on the walkie-talkie at his waist. "Who are you? What are you doing here?"

The man raised his hands, a forced smile on his face. "Comrade, don't misunderstand. I'm with the Geological Survey Team. I'm just taking samples here."

"Geological Survey Team?" Captain Zhou sized him up. "Where's your identification?"

The man hurriedly fumbled through his pockets and pulled out a laminated work ID. Captain Zhou took it and looked closely—it was from a certain Geological Prospecting Institute. The name was Impester, his position was technician, and the photo was indeed him.

"When did your survey team arrive? Which area are you working in? Who's the person in charge?" Captain Zhou fired off a series of questions.

Imposter scratched his head. "We've been here for three days, working in Area 3, about thirty kilometers away. I came out to take samples, wandered a bit too far, got lost, and ended up here."

Captain Zhou stared into his eyes. "Lost? You managed to get lost right next to our construction site?"

Imposter looked innocent. "I really am lost. This Gobi Desert all looks the same; I lost my sense of direction while walking. I just wanted to rest for a bit before heading back when you guys showed up."

Captain Zhou didn't say anything. He walked over to where the man had been crouching and looked around. There were several shallow marks on the ground, as if something had been poked into it. There were also a few cigarette butts nearby.

He bent down to pick up a cigarette butt and checked the brand—it was a foreign brand of cigarette.

"You smoke these?" Captain Zhou held the cigarette butt in front of Imposter.

Imposter's expression flickered before he gave a forced laugh. "Uh... someone else gave it to me. I don't smoke myself. Really, I'm just here for sampling."

Captain Zhou didn't press further. He took out his phone and took several photos—the man's face, the work ID, the marks on the ground, and the location of the cigarette butts. Then he took out a notebook and recorded his name, workplace, and ID number.

"Fine, you can go." Captain Zhou put away his notebook. "Head west for thirty kilometers to find your survey team. Don't get lost again. If you show up near our site next time, it won't be as simple as a few questions."

Imposter nodded repeatedly, packed his things, and walked quickly toward the west. After walking several dozen meters, he glanced back and met Captain Zhou's gaze. He quickly turned his head and walked even faster.

"Captain Zhou, we're just letting him go like that?" one team member asked, somewhat unwillingly.

Captain Zhou watched the man's receding back and shook his head. "We have no evidence; we can't hold him. But there's something wrong with him."

"What's wrong?"

"A member of a Geological Survey Team smoking foreign cigarettes? And claiming someone else gave them to him?" Captain Zhou sneered. "In this middle of nowhere, who's giving him foreign cigarettes? Besides, if he were really lost, he should have been happy to see us, not so scared his face turned pale."

The team member suddenly understood. "So what do we do?"

Captain Zhou got into the car and took out his phone. "Report to Captain Zhao, and then... investigate."

Half an hour later, Zhao Gang sat in his office with the photos and records sent by Captain Zhou spread out before him.

He zoomed in on the photo of the work ID for the man named Imposter and studied it for a long time. The ID looked quite legitimate, with an embossed seal, a photo, and the unit's official stamp. But Zhao Gang felt something was off—it was too new. If it were a work ID frequently used in the field, the corners would at least be worn, but this ID was as brand new as if it had just been made.

He dialed a number. "Old Zhou, send me that person's information. I'll have someone look into it."

Ten minutes later, the reply came.

"Captain Zhao, the Geological Prospecting Institute does have a technician named Imposter, but that man is fifty-eight years old and retiring next year. Also, the photo doesn't match—this Imposter is at least ten years younger than the one at their institute."

Zhao Gang's brow furrowed.

A fake ID. An impostor. Sneaking around the perimeter of the construction site.

When these three things were added together, there was only one explanation.

He picked up the phone and dialed Fang Lin's number.

"Director Fang, this is Zhao Gang."

On the other end of the line, Fang Lin's voice was as calm as ever. "Captain Zhao, what is it?"

Zhao Gang reported everything that had happened that afternoon in detail, finally saying, "I suspect this person is trouble, but I have no evidence, so I had to let him go. I'm sending the information to you now to see if your side can find anything."

Fang Lin was silent for a few seconds. "Send me the ID photo and the photo of the cigarette butts."

Zhao Gang tapped a few buttons and sent the photos over.

There were a few more seconds of silence. Then Fang Lin's voice became serious. "That cigarette butt is a special brand produced in Britain. It's not available on the market and is commonly used by intelligence personnel."

Zhao Gang's heart sank.

"Captain Zhao, you did the right thing. This person is definitely trouble, but if you arrested him now, you wouldn't get anything out of him. Letting him go was correct—you have to let out a long line to catch a big fish." Fang Lin paused. "I'll have someone look into his information immediately. Keep a close eye on your end; increase patrols around the perimeter, but don't alert them. If there's someone behind him, they'll definitely come back."

"Understood." Zhao Gang hung up the phone, leaned back in his chair, and let out a long breath.

Outside the window, the setting sun was sinking, dyeing the entire sky blood-red.

He suddenly remembered what Lin Mo had said: "This place will be impregnable."

But being impregnable wasn't something that could be achieved with just a perimeter wall.

At seven in the evening, Zhao Gang went to Lin Mo's Prefabricated Building.

Lin Mo was looking at the latest simulation data for the First Wall. Hearing the knock, he said "Come in" without looking up. Seeing it was Zhao Gang, he put down the materials in his hand. "Brother Zhao, what's up?"

Zhao Gang sat down opposite him and recounted the afternoon's events and Fang Lin's reply in full.

Lin Mo listened and remained silent for a long time.

"George's people?" he finally spoke.

"Most likely." Zhao Gang lit a cigarette. "Failing to turn Zhang Jianguo last time, they've changed their method—infiltrating from the perimeter. That Imposter was definitely here to scout the place. To see our security range, our patrol patterns, and any loopholes."

Lin Mo nodded. "What did Fang Lin say?"

"She told us to increase patrols but not to alert them. Let out a long line to catch a big fish." Zhao Gang exhaled a puff of smoke. "I think so too. Catching a scout now is useless. If we're going to catch someone, we catch the person behind him."

Lin Mo stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the deepening night outside.

"Brother Zhao, what do you think they're after?"

Zhao Gang was stunned for a moment. "What are they after? Our technology, obviously. Room-Temperature Superconductivity, Lithium Extraction from Seawater, and now Nuclear Fusion—which one of those isn't something they want?"

"It's more than that." Lin Mo shook his head. "If they just wanted the technology, there are plenty of ways—subversion, bribery, theft. But they chose sabotage—this shows that what they want isn't to obtain it, but to ensure we don't have it."

Zhao Gang fell silent.

Lin Mo turned around and looked at him. "Brother Zhao, from now on, you are fully responsible for the security of the construction site's perimeter. Tell me whatever resources you need. If Fang Lin gets any intelligence, I'll notify you immediately."

Zhao Gang stood up and gave a sharp salute. "Understood. President Lin, don't worry. As long as I'm here, not even a fly will get in."

Lin Mo smiled and patted his shoulder. "I trust you."

Zhao Gang turned to leave, then stopped and looked back. "By the way, regarding that Imposter, our people are following him to see where he goes. The person behind him will show their face sooner or later."

Lin Mo nodded.

The door closed, and the Prefabricated Building became quiet again.

Lin Mo returned to his desk, looking at the dense data, but he couldn't focus.

He remembered a sentence from the system: 'The higher you climb the technology tree, the more people will be watching you.'

Indeed, people were watching during Room-Temperature Superconductivity; people were watching during Lithium Extraction from Seawater; and now that Nuclear Fusion construction had begun, there would only be more eyes on them.

Some wanted to learn, some wanted to steal, some wanted to rob.

And some wanted to destroy.

Outside the window, the Gobi night wind blew, kicking up fine sand that tapped against the glass with a soft rustling sound, like countless feet quietly approaching in the darkness.

Lin Mo closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

Whatever is coming will come.

But before it arrives, I must do what needs to be done even better.

Three days later, Fang Lin's call reached Zhao Gang's phone.

"It's been cleared up." Her voice was as calm as ever. "That Imposter's real name is Li Moumou. He has a criminal record and was sentenced five years ago for illegal surveying. He hasn't had a steady job since his release, but twenty thousand yuan was recently deposited into his account. The source of the transfer can't be traced; it was likely a cash deposit."

Zhao Gang's hand tightened on the phone. "Where is he now?"

"He's disappeared," Fang Lin said. "Your people followed him to the roadside thirty kilometers away. He got into a black off-road vehicle with a fake license plate and drove west. You didn't pursue?"

"No," Zhao Gang said. "As you said, let out a long line."

"Good call." Fang Lin paused. "But the line has been cast. When the fish bites the hook depends on you."

Hanging up the phone, Zhao Gang stood on high ground, overlooking the bustling construction site below.

Machines roared, vehicles shuttled back and forth, and people moved to and fro.

He clenched his fist.

Come on then.

I'm waiting.