22: Chapter 22 The Protection of National Power
Lin Mo set down the special ceramic tube in his hand and frowned slightly. Over the past few days, he had a faint feeling that something was off about his surroundings.
That stinging sensation of being watched still existed, but its nature seemed to have changed. Before, it was malice coming from dark corners, but now it felt more like... a silent vigil. The uncle selling pancakes downstairs had been replaced by a fresh face; he was quick with his movements, but his eyes would inadvertently sweep past Lin Mo's window. Old Li, who had been repairing bicycles at the alley entrance for over a decade, now had several electronic devices at his stall that Lin Mo couldn't name. Even when returning home late at night, he could feel gazes from the shadows that were quieter than the night itself—scrutinizing, yet devoid of killing intent.
Even more obvious were his channels for acquiring materials. Several specific specifications of metals and components that he previously had to struggle to find or even use points to exchange for could now "coincidentally" be found in a newly opened, seemingly ordinary online shop. The prices were reasonable, and the shipping speed was incredibly fast. Once could be called luck, but several times in a row was definitely no coincidence.
"They're here," Lin Mo understood in his heart. That "Officer Long" who played chess, and the power he represented, had already shown their attitude toward him through practical actions—not arrest and control, but protection and support.
It was a subtle feeling. He was like a rare species placed in a specific terrarium; the guardians outside the tank carefully maintained the environment, ensuring his safety while trying their best not to disturb his natural growth.
He didn't call them out, nor did he try to track or verify them. Since the other party chose this gentle approach, he was naturally happy to cooperate. He devoted more energy to his studies, using system points to exchange for subsequent knowledge of [Basic Energy Core Theory] and began researching the life support subsystem in the [Near-Earth Orbit Space Station Module].
This afternoon, following the information from the "coincidentally" discovered online shop, he ordered a batch of high-purity rare earth oxides for his experiments. In less than two hours, the doorbell rang.
The person who came wasn't a common courier, but a capable young man wearing the uniform of a niche logistics company. When he verified Lin Mo's identity, his eyes were as sharp as an eagle's. His movements in handing over the package were clean and efficient, bearing obvious military traces.
"Mr. Lin, your package. Please sign for it." The young man's voice was steady, yet carried an unquestionable gravity.
Lin Mo took the heavy cardboard box. His fingertips brushed against an almost imperceptible miniature electronic seal at the tape closure. The moment he took the box, the faint light on the seal quietly went out.
"Thank you," Lin Mo nodded in acknowledgment.
"You're welcome." The young man gave a professional smile, turned, and left. His steps were steady, and his back quickly disappeared into the stairwell.
Lin Mo closed the door and looked at the box in his hand, his mind clear. This wasn't logistics; this was clearly an armed escort. There were likely more than just the materials he ordered inside; perhaps there were some "additional" little gadgets to ensure the package's absolute safety. It was clear just how much resources the state machine had mobilized for this one small order of his.
He opened the package, and inside were indeed the materials he needed, of extremely high quality and rigorously packaged. At the bottom of the materials lay a trial version of the latest Chinese translation of the journal "Frontier Materials Science," which had not yet been widely released on the market.
Lin Mo picked up the journal and flipped through a few pages. Many of the viewpoints inside corroborated the system's knowledge. There were even a few places marked very subtly with pencil, pointing exactly to several difficulties he was currently encountering in his research.
This wasn't surveillance; this was guidance, a silent communication, telling him: "We are following your direction and providing you with all the help we can."
Lin Mo leaned back in his chair and looked at the blue sky outside the window, his heart filled with mixed emotions. There was the warmth of being valued, but also a heavy sense of pressure. He knew the burden on his shoulders had become heavier. This protection required him to repay it with more results.
Meanwhile, inside a camouflaged command vehicle on the outskirts of the urban village, Long Zhantian was listening to a report.
"The target has safely received the 'supplies' and showed no abnormal reaction. Perimeter monitoring shows no suspicious personnel approaching."
"The suspicious individual who tried to approach Lin Mo's residence for sales (actually scouting) has been invited for tea by the 'Community Mediation Group,' and their background is being checked."
"Several key intersections leading to his rental house have been included in the 'Smart Traffic' pilot scope, and real-time flow analysis is running normally."
Long Zhantian nodded slightly. This protective net was being woven tighter and smarter. His strategy was clear: loose on the outside, tight on the inside. Let Lin Mo live in a seemingly ordinary environment while isolating all potential risks invisibly.
"Maintain the alert level. Unless it involves personal safety, never intervene in his life or work," Long Zhantian emphasized again. "What we want to be is the soil and the sunlight, not a shackle."
He looked at the light dot representing Lin Mo's rental house on the screen, his gaze deep. National power had quietly taken its place, transforming into an invisible shield to guard this spark that might illuminate the entire nation's future.
As for Lin Mo, after a brief adjustment, he had once again immersed himself in the ocean of knowledge.