138: Chapter 138 The Ultimate Decision: Turning Darkness into Light
Beijing, West Mountain, Underground Command Center, Top Secret Meeting Room.
There were no windows here, only soft white cold light illuminating the massive surrounding electronic screens and a heavy solid wood long table. The air was thick with a solemnity that even sandalwood could not suppress, along with the barely audible hum of a top-tier air purification system.
A few people sat around the long table, all core representatives of Dragon Country's power and wisdom. Presiding over the meeting was Elder Li, the old man who had issued the 'Deep Blue Watch' command after the success of the 'Golden Crow' fusion. To his left was a military representative, a sturdy elder with three stars on his shoulders; to his right was Elder Chen, responsible for technology and security, his brow furrowed; in addition, there were heads of key departments such as intelligence and diplomacy.
At this moment, two key pieces of information were being played simultaneously on the holographic projections in front of everyone:
One was a compiled and analyzed real-time feed of the 'hunt' in the logistics park, clearly showing the God's-eye view from the 'hummingbird' drone network and the 'Ghost's' futile, trapped struggles. Beside the footage, an analysis report provided by 'fuxi' scrolled and updated continuously, detailing the physical evidence chain collected from 'Ghost' and concluding with a high degree of correlation to several previous incidents.
The other was a fragment of a top-priority encrypted command from abroad, intercepted through special channels and preliminarily decrypted by 'fuxi'. Its content was filled with cold, cruel phrases such as 'confirm Patriot X at all costs,' 'clearance or seizure priority: Extinction,' and 'all asymmetric means available.'
The atmosphere in the meeting room was heavier than the mountain rock outside.
"The situation is already very clear." Elder Li's voice broke the silence, aged yet authoritative. He pointed to the first screen. "Comrade Lin Mo and his guardian team, relying on cutting-edge technology beyond our imagination, have successfully countered and locked onto this top agent codenamed 'Ghost'. Capturing him is only a matter of time, perhaps even tonight."
He paused, his finger moving to the second command fragment, his tone suddenly turning cold: "But that's not the problem. The problem is that the opposition, or rather the forces behind them, are no longer satisfied with intelligence reconnaissance and conventional sabotage. The kindergarten incident was their probe, and also their declaration—to obtain or destroy Patriot X, they will trample over all human bottom lines, not hesitating to involve innocent civilians, even children."
"They're desperate," the three-starred military elder snorted, his voice like a resonant bell. "'Golden Crow', 'Mozi', 'fuxi'... every card we play is like a stab to their hearts. They're afraid, afraid of being completely left behind, which is why they're so frantic and unscrupulous! This 'Ghost' is just a mad dog released to scout the path and bite people!"
Elder Chen adjusted his glasses, his tone worried: "Elder Li, General, the more serious issue is that Comrade Lin Mo used the 'hummingbird' drones to rescue the hostages. Although the operation was successful and caused no collateral damage, with 'Ghost's' professional background, he will inevitably link such far-beyond-conventional technical means directly to the existence of Patriot X. Comrade Lin Mo's identity is essentially in a semi-exposed state. The opponent's next move will only be more direct and reckless."
"We can't keep Comrade Lin Mo hidden in a mobile fortress or some underground base forever," the head of the intelligence department added. "He is a living, thinking person with work to do and emotions, not a weapon that can be locked in a safe. A long-term isolated, high-tension environment is itself a detriment to his personal physical and mental health and his creative abilities. Furthermore, since the opponent could launch a kindergarten attack, they might find other ways to indirectly pressure or harm those related to him."
The representative from the diplomatic department also spoke with a heavy tone: "Regarding international public opinion, although we successfully suppressed the rumors of the kindergarten incident, the opponent's bottomless behavior pattern puts us on the defensive. Hiding in the shadows, they can freely fabricate rumors, slander, and incite. If we always keep Comrade Lin Mo in a state of complete secrecy, we will lack the most persuasive 'reassurance' and 'flag' in many international confrontations and public opinion wars."
The problems were laid out one by one: the risk of Lin Mo's identity being exposed was rising sharply; the opponent's actions had no bottom line; long-term secrecy constrained Lin Mo's personal development and the country's long-term interests; and more proactive bargaining chips were needed in public opinion and international maneuvering.
The meeting room fell into silence again, with only the red dot of 'Ghost' still moving futilely on the screen and the piercing text of the foreign command flashing silently.
After a long while, Elder Li slowly raised his head, his gaze sharp as a torch as it swept across everyone present: "Comrades, we have been thinking about how to better 'protect' Comrade Lin Mo. That's not wrong. But perhaps, it's time for a change in thinking."
He leaned forward slightly, hands pressed on the table, his voice not loud but carrying immense weight:
"The best protection, sometimes, is not hiding, but letting the sunlight in."
"Since the opponent is already about to touch the truth, since the value of Comrade Lin Mo's identity can no longer be completely hidden, and since his own will and our national interests both demand a more proactive and brighter future..."
"Then why should we continue playing this passive game of 'hide and seek'?"
Elder Li's gaze became incredibly sharp: "We should, and must, turn passivity into initiative, and move from shadow to light!"
"From shadow to light?" The military elder raised an eyebrow.
"Yes!" Elder Li said decisively. "Instead of letting the opponent use dirty tricks to slowly pressure, probe, and harm the innocent, which might end in exposure anyway, we should choose the timing, the occasion, and the method ourselves to present Comrade Lin Mo—the true identity and contributions of Patriot X—righteously before the people of the whole country, and even the whole world!"
Elder Chen took a deep breath: "Elder Li, you mean... let Comrade Lin Mo make a public appearance?"
"Not a simple public appearance," Elder Li shook his head. "It will be a 'debut' of the highest specification, endorsed by the state. We want to announce to the world that Lin Mo is our Dragon Country's peerless national scholar, the core contributor to a series of major technological breakthroughs such as the Moon Base, controllable nuclear fusion, and the quantum network! He is our country's most precious treasure, a hero loved by all the people and protected at the highest level!"
He spoke faster and faster, his thinking becoming clearer: "Doing this has several major benefits: First, it completely shatters the opponent's logic of 'search and assassinate'—when the person is standing in the sunlight, how can you 'secretly assassinate' them? That would be an open declaration of war against a country and a nation! Second, it will greatly unify domestic morale, establish an unprecedented technological idol and national pride, and stimulate nationwide innovation enthusiasm. Third, it allows us to hold absolute discourse power and the moral high ground internationally; any slander or attack against Lin Mo will be regarded as a hostile act against Dragon Country. Fourth, and most importantly, it allows Comrade Lin Mo to step out from the shadow of being 'the protected one' and participate in the country's highest technological decision-making and the great cause of 'Civilization Guarding' with a more public and formal identity, exerting his irreplaceable leadership role!"
"Of course, risks exist," Elder Li did not shy away. "A public appearance means Comrade Lin Mo will change from an 'invisible target' to a 'visible flag,' which may attract more attention and even hostility, both overt and covert. Security pressure will shift from the secret front to public defense, presenting a huge challenge."
"But compared to continuing to hide, being passively beaten, and letting the opponent use despicable means to probe and harm the innocent, leaving the risk entirely in uncontrollable shadows..." Elder Li's gaze swept across the group, "I believe that proactively drawing the sword and placing the risk and the gambit on a stage of our choosing, dominated by our rules, is the superior choice. We have the ability, and the determination, to protect our national scholar!"
The meeting room was quiet again, with only the sound of heavy breathing and fingers tapping the table in thought.
The military elder was the first to slam the table: "I agree! Damn it, we should have done this long ago! Always hiding and tucking away makes those monsters and demons think we're afraid! Bringing Comrade Lin Mo out is showing our sharpest sword! I'd like to see who dares move? Just try it! I'll crush their claws along with the dog brain that reached out!"
Elder Chen pondered for a moment and also slowly nodded: "From the perspective of technological development and Lin Mo personally, long-term concealment indeed does more harm than good. Making his identity public and giving him the honor and platform he deserves will allow him to better utilize his talents. It's just... the security plan must be foolproof, and the contingency plans must account for any extreme situation."
The intelligence and diplomatic heads looked at each other, both seeing determination in the other's eyes.
"Seconded."
"Agreed. This will completely change the rules of the game."
Seeing that everyone had reached an agreement, Elder Li said solemnly: "Good! Since we are in agreement, I propose to immediately launch the 'Bright Dawn' project. Step one: Comrade Elder Chen will personally communicate with Comrade Lin Mo to seek his own opinion. This is the most basic respect for him. Step two: Comrade Long Zhantian will be responsible for producing a top-specification public appearance security plan and a subsequent long-term protection plan within seventy-two hours. Step three: The diplomatic and propaganda departments will begin preparing the corresponding public opinion groundwork and international announcements."
He stood up, his aged body seemingly containing infinite power: "Gentlemen, this will be one of the most courageous decisions our Dragon Country has made in the new era, facing challenges both internal and external. We want the world to see that we not only have the ability to create technology that leads the era, but also the courage and determination to guard the 'sparks' that create these technologies. Comrade Lin Mo will no longer just be Patriot X; he will become the symbol of our Dragon Country's spirit, wisdom, and strength!"
"Now, meeting adjourned. Execute immediately!"
The command was like a mountain, instantly spreading from this deepest underground secret room to every core department.
Shortly after, inside fortress-1, Lin Mo's personal quantum communication terminal received a top-priority video request from Elder Chen.
On the screen, Elder Chen's face was serious and solemn. He informed Lin Mo of the Supreme Command Headquarters' decision and the considerations of the Bright Dawn project in their entirety.
Lin Mo listened quietly, his face showing little surprise. From the moment he decided to no longer hide and used the drone network to counterattack, he had a premonition that things might head in this direction.
When Elder Chen finally asked for his opinion, Lin Mo fell silent for a moment.
He thought of the children's terrified tearful eyes, the 'Ghost's' pathetic struggle under the drone network, the approaching 'reaper' shadow in the system mission, and even more, his original intention when he first bound the system—to help the country rise and keep the fire of civilization burning long.
Hiding might provide temporary safety, but it could not end the threat, nor could it truly let him go all out to achieve greater goals.
He raised his head, looking at Elder Chen on the screen, his eyes clear and firm:
"Elder Chen, I agree."
"If my identity is destined to be unable to stay hidden forever, if standing in the sunlight allows me to work better, deters those bugs hiding in the dark, and gives our country more strength to deal with future challenges..."
"Then, I am willing to step to the forefront."
"I trust the country, I trust Director Long, and I trust that you can protect me. And I, too, will use everything I have to guard this country and its people."
His voice was not loud, but it carried a power of pressing forward with no turning back.
Looking at this young face about to shoulder an unprecedented burden, Elder Chen's eyes reddened slightly as he nodded heavily: "Good! Good child! The motherland and the people will always be your strongest backing!"
The communication ended.
Lin Mo leaned back in his chair and let out a long breath. From North Heaven Gate at this moment, his life trajectory would undergo a world-shaking change.
He was no longer just the Patriot X behind the scenes.
He would become Dragon Country's 'Lin Mo'.
A magnificent transformation concerning personal fate and national strategy set its tone here. Moving from shadow to light was both a risk and an opportunity; it was drawing the sword, and also a declaration.