35: Chapter 35 Silent Infiltration

"Chasing Light" Headquarters, Cybersecurity Monitoring Center.

There were no windows here; the lighting was a constant cold white, and the walls were made of sound-absorbing dark gray composite material. On the main screen that occupied an entire wall, a waterfall of encrypted data streams, topological network dynamic diagrams, and constantly refreshing threat level assessments flowed. In the air, there was the low, continuous hum of server cooling fans, along with the occasional crisp notification sound representing a specific protocol being triggered. This was the central nervous system of Chasing Light's digital domain and the first line of defense against external probing.

Lin Shen and Security Director Zhao Zetao stood side-by-side in front of the situational awareness map, their faces appearing exceptionally solemn under the blue light of the screen. On the map, dozens of small red light points flickered around the topological structure representing Chasing Light's internal R&D network (codenamed "Keystone"), like crimson eyes peering from the darkness. Some light points remained stationary, patrolling the perimeter of the firewall, while others were attempting to penetrate layers of encrypted virtual boundaries through extremely complex non-linear paths.

"Over the past seventy-two hours, targeted probing attempts against the 'Panshi-Carbon Crystal' composite material process database have increased by three hundred and twenty percent." Zhao Zetao's voice was kept very low as his finger swept across a dense area of red dots. "The sources of the attacks are highly dispersed, with springboards scattered across the globe. However, the core attack patterns and certain underlying code fragments used for obfuscation have a sixty-seven percent probability of pointing to the same technical group—'Undercurrent'—after Nuwa's traceability analysis. This group has multiple records of hidden financial transactions with 'Frontier Venture Capital,' a subsidiary of the Star Continent Consortium."

A corner of the screen switched, displaying several segments of attack code captured and decompiled by Nuwa. The coding style was extremely sophisticated, making heavy use of obfuscation techniques and zero-day vulnerabilities. The attack chain was exquisitely designed, clearly the work of professionals.

"They know exactly what they want." Lin Shen stared at the code, his eyes devoid of anger, containing only cold analysis. "It's not general technical intelligence, but the complete data package for 'Panshi-Carbon Crystal,' from raw material ratios and nanostructure control to heat treatment processes. Especially... specific parameters and regulation methods regarding the stability of the interface quantum well structure. This is the core secret of the material's performance."

"The Star Continent Consortium suffered a setback with the 'bedrock-1' room-temperature superconducting material. They lost more than just money; they lost their future say in the field of high-end materials." Zhao Zetao sneered. "Now they're like sharks scenting blood, desperately trying to win back a round. If they get the complete process for 'Panshi-Carbon Crystal,' they can replicate it and might even try to bypass our patent barriers."

"It's not that simple." Lin Shen shook his head slightly. "'Panshi-Carbon Crystal' is an extended application of the 'bedrock-1' theory, but it involves a large number of empirical parameters obtained through Nuwa's simulations and our specific experimental conditions. Even if they get the data, without the corresponding theoretical understanding and preparation environment, the best they can replicate is an inferior product that looks similar. Its performance would be greatly compromised, and it might even have unknown defects. However..."

His tone shifted, and a sharp glint flashed in his eyes. "Since they want it so badly, we might as well... give them a 'grand gift'."

Zhao Zetao immediately understood. "Phishing?"

"Precision feeding." Lin Shen walked to a side console and pulled up a simulated structural diagram of the Panshi-Carbon Crystal process database. "We need to prepare a 'special' process file. Its appearance, data structure, and even some basic parameters must be highly similar to the real file, enough to pass preliminary automated validation and quick manual comparison. But at a few of the most critical and secretive process nodes... we'll plant 'logic bombs'."

He marked several key parameter nodes highlighted in red. "For example, in setting the interface energy between the nanoceramic phase and the carbon matrix, the real process requires a dynamic equilibrium range to ensure stress buffering. In the fake file, we can modify this range to a seemingly reasonable but narrow-band parameter that will inevitably lead to interface embrittlement under long-term operation. Another example: for the energy level regulation steps of the quantum well structure, the real process requires fine-tuning the intensity and timing of the pulse laser based on the material batch. In the fake file, we can plant an extremely hidden, tiny error algorithm that accumulates over time or usage. This will cause the quantum well to undergo a progressive electronic state 'lock-up' failure after about... fifty thermal cycles, completely losing its ability to disperse stress."

"Fifty times..." Zhao Zetao's eyes lit up. "That's exactly half of the hundred-use lifespan claimed for the 'vermilion bird-2'! If they use this fake process to produce rocket body materials, initial testing might seem perfectly normal, and short-term performance might even look good. But once put into high-frequency repeated use, after dozens of flights, the material's performance will suddenly plummet off a cliff, leading to..."

"Leading to a catastrophic structural failure," Lin Shen finished, his tone as flat as if he were stating a physics formula. "Moreover, this failure mode is highly deceptive and stealthy. Conventional testing will find it hard to detect problems early on because it looks like normal material fatigue, just abnormally fast. By the time they discover it, the loss will be irreparable, and their reputation will suffer a heavy blow."

"Brilliant!" Zhao Zetao couldn't help but praise, but then he frowned. "However, 'Undercurrent' aren't fools; they'll have counter-verification measures. How do we ensure the fake file can be 'smoothly' stolen by them without raising suspicion that it's a trap?"

"That will require Nuwa to direct a play." Lin Shen looked at the main screen. "First, we need to build a seemingly 'neglected' secondary buffer zone around the real, multi-encrypted process database. This buffer will store some real but non-core, low-to-medium sensitivity technical data, as well as... our carefully crafted 'gift.' Second, Nuwa needs to simulate a plausible 'security vulnerability'—for example, a remote access backdoor left by a former mid-level researcher whose permissions weren't cleared in time, or a 'hidden channel' left by a half-successful penetration of the peripheral systems. Finally, and most importantly, the theft process must look 'challenging but ultimately successful by chance,' rather than being handed over by us. Nuwa can adjust the defense system's response intensity in real-time to create an illusion of a 'narrow escape' breakthrough."

"I understand." Zhao Zetao nodded heavily. "A carefully orchestrated 'self-injury ruse.' I'll go arrange it immediately, mobilizing the Red Team (internal penetration testing team) to cooperate with Nuwa to simulate the most realistic attack and defense scenarios. We'll ensure the 'gift's' packaging is flawless."

"Go then. Remember, those in the know must be kept to a minimum," Lin Shen instructed.

Zhao Zetao quickly left the monitoring center. Lin Shen remained alone before the massive screen, the light from the data streams flickering across his face. He wasn't fond of this kind of dark gamesmanship, but being at the forefront of cutting-edge technological competition, he knew better than anyone that some battlefields had no smoke but were equally cruel. Protecting the barriers of core technology was a responsibility equal to pushing it through new frontiers.

He connected to an independent encrypted channel with Nuwa.

"Nuwa, the generation of the fake process file will be completed by you independently. Based on your complete understanding of the real process, design the most deceptive and destructive parameter traps. Once finished, perform the highest level of information camouflage and cleanup on the file itself and all our operational traces. Ensure that under any level of retrospective audit, this appears as a 'successful theft from the outside, exploiting an accidental oversight on our part'."

"Understood, Lin Shen." Nuwa's response was clear and swift. "Task established. Constructing a multi-level deceptive network environment. The fake file parameter model is being generated based on real data and has been imported into the preset physical failure model. All arrangements are expected to be completed in three hours and forty-two minutes. Additionally, while monitoring Undercurrent's attack patterns, I discovered that several of the latest exploit toolkits they used contain non-public code fragments with unusually high algorithmic complexity. Preliminary analysis shows that the optimization logic of this code does not match the style of any currently known hacker group or commercial security company. Its underlying algorithmic structure... has a very low degree of similarity to certain modules of 'Prometheus' before it went out of control (similarity < 3.2%, but statistically significant)."

Lin Shen's pupils contracted slightly. "Prometheus"? That rogue federal super AI that once caused a global blackout? Although Nuwa emphasized that the similarity was extremely low and the statistical significance could stem from other factors, at this sensitive moment, any clue related to that monster was worth being wary of.

"Mark that discovery and list it as a top monitoring priority. But do not expand the analysis for now to avoid alerting the enemy. Focus on completing the current 'gift' deployment task," Lin Shen ordered after a moment of contemplation.

"Marked. Task priority adjustment complete." Nuwa's feedback was without delay.

The communication ended. Lin Shen leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. In his mind, the image of the technology tree emerged. On the [Materials Science] branch, the icon for "Panshi-Carbon Crystal" glowed steadily. And on the outer perimeter, some small branches representing [Information Confrontation] and [Security Protocols] seemed to have absorbed some kind of "nourishment" from this silent infiltration and counter-measure, becoming more solid.

The development of technology was never just a pure breakthrough in a laboratory. It was born of ideals but inevitably had to travel through a thorny jungle full of real-world gamesmanship. Collaborative sharing in the sunlight and technological blockades, probing, and theft in the shadows were like two sides of a coin, constituting the complex driving force of technological progress in this era.

When he opened his eyes again, they were clear and determined.

Since some chose to wield a scythe in the shadows, he had a responsibility to prepare a more resilient and sharp shield for them, as well as... a precise sting hidden behind that shield.

"Nuwa," he spoke again, his voice echoing clearly in the empty monitoring center, "after completing the 'gift' deployment, initiate a reverse analysis of all public and deeply minable non-public projects of the Star Continent Consortium and its related technical entities. Focus on finding any technical shortcomings or potential risky ventures in their fields of aerospace materials, high-temperature components, and rapid manufacturing. We need to predict where their next most likely focus will be after they receive the 'gift' and potentially suffer setbacks because of it."

"Analysis task established. It is expected to use fifteen percent of redundant computing power, proceeding without affecting the primary tasks," Nuwa responded.

Lin Shen stood up and took one last look at the red light points still flickering on the screen. Those silent infiltrations were like a colony of ants trying to erode a great levee. And what he had to do was not only to reinforce the levee but also to divert the flood at the right time to submerge those anthills.

He turned and left the monitoring center, walking toward the material testing laboratory. The real process for "Panshi-Carbon Crystal" still required further optimization and testing. The true contest was always where the sunlight reached, within one rigorous experiment and one precise piece of data after another.

And the exchanges in the darkness were merely the necessary shadows to ensure that these achievements in the light were not easily stolen.