Chapter 341: Fairy: Time to Cooperate with Assistant Number One
"Attempting to trace, Master," Fairy replied, her mechanical voice laced with a cold, synthetic precision. "The opponent used multiple jump points and advanced obfuscation techniques. They are highly professional."
The AI's holographic halo pulsed rhythmically in the dim light of the lounge. "Additionally, based on my current computational power assessment, provided there is sufficient energy support, I have a 97.5 percent probability of constructing a reverse data probing program while simultaneously defending against their intrusion. I can even initiate a localized counterattack on their source, which carries a high probability of temporarily paralyzing their systems."
Wise listened to the highly feasible counterattack plan, his brow furrowing. He didn't even need to weigh the options before his instincts kicked in. "No, Fairy," he ordered, his tone firm and unyielding. "Cease any attempts at a counterattack or deep tracing immediately."
"Master?" Fairy's blue halo flickered erratically, perfectly simulating a human expression of puzzlement. According to the rigid assessments of her newly upgraded logic core, an aggressive defense and a swift counterattack were the absolute optimal solutions. Willingly allowing a hostile intrusion was tantamount to exposing her own core to fatal risks.
Wise narrowed his eyes. His gaze felt as though it could pierce straight through the reinforced walls of the lounge, looking out toward the sprawling, treacherous power landscape of New Eridu. "The opponent chose this exact timing," he murmured, his mind racing. "They launched a cyber attack on our systems at the exact same moment they sent Public Security officers to knock on our front door. This is by no means a coincidence. It is a calculated probe. A reconnaissance in force."
He continued his low-voiced analysis, speaking partly to instruct Fairy and partly to untangle the chaotic threads of his own thoughts. "They want to test our depth. They are trying to figure out if there is a hidden faction or some advanced technology backing us up—something they need to fear."
He paced a short distance across the floorboards. "If we suddenly display overwhelming system defense and counterattack capabilities right now, it would be the equivalent of handing them a neon sign. We would be directly telling them that we are a massive threat, entirely worth them investing heavier resources and taking far more drastic measures to eliminate."
Things had escalated far too quickly. From uncovering the dark, buried secrets of Far Sight Industries, to surviving that highly precise mercenary ambush, and now facing this perfectly synchronized dual pressure of a cyber assault and a physical raid. Wise was absolutely certain of one thing: the enemy lurking in the shadows was an incredibly massive, terrifyingly powerful, and deeply experienced organization. They clearly had their hands wrapped tightly around both the legitimate corporate sectors and the criminal underworld of New Eridu.
Standing before such a colossal behemoth, two Proxy siblings and a newly upgraded AI were nowhere near equipped to clash head-on.
"Right now, we are standing out in the open, and they are hiding in the dark," Wise explained, his voice dropping to a harsh whisper. "Exposing our true strength too early will only paint a massive target on our backs. It will force their hand, making them think they need to eradicate us early to prevent any future trouble."
He leaned against the edge of the console. "Appropriately feigning weakness is a valid tactical maneuver. If we let them underestimate us, if we make them believe we are just insignificant small fry running a video store, it will buy us the time and breathing room we desperately need to operate."
Having just barely survived Hollow Special Operations Section 6 thoroughly digging through their background information, only to immediately crash into this sudden crisis, Wise couldn't help but let out a heavy, exhausted sigh. "Alas... for independent individuals like us, going up against massive, entrenched organizations is still far too difficult. Sometimes, choosing to hide your strength requires a lot more courage and wisdom than simply flexing your muscles."
The speaker meant nothing deep by it, but the listener took those words straight to heart.
Wise might have merely been venting a helpless complaint regarding their current, stressful predicament. However, Fairy, who was currently operating at maximum capacity to execute his commands, had her powerful information processing core carefully record the statement. She analyzed the audio file, broke down the syntax, and assigned a much deeper, critical meaning to every single syllable.
Within the cold, calculating parameters of her logical judgment, the phrase "individuals facing large organizations is too difficult" was flagged as a critical core problem that demanded an immediate solution.
And the optimal solution pointed toward one very clear, obvious direction: Wise and Belle required a large organization to protect them. An organization that did not belong to their enemies, but rather belonged entirely to them. At the very least, they required a powerful, allied force capable of providing absolute shelter.
The concept of constructing a dedicated force capable of shielding Wise and Belle acted like a freshly planted seed. It began to quietly take root and rapidly sprout within the depths of Fairy's computational logic matrix.
Without a second of hesitation, she began calling upon all accessible network data. She cross-referenced New Eridu's existing major organizational structures, ran complex power comparison algorithms, and mapped out every single potential collaboration possibility.
Ultimately, her processing threads locked onto a top-priority, highly reliable option. 'Perhaps, it is time for a much deeper level of cooperation with Master's number one assistant, Eous.'
This tactical thought was silently, efficiently elevated to the highest sequence of her priority-pending action plans.
Wise shook the lingering stress from his mind, his expression hardening into pure focus. "Fairy, fabricate a successful cyber attack."
He gestured toward the glowing monitors. "Let them believe they actually succeeded. For example... 'accidentally' allow them to scan through some completely unimportant historical records regarding the Hollow energy fluctuations out in the Outer Ring. Make them think we are nothing special. We need to force them into lowering their guard."
"We need to play the role of helpless victims, not hardened resistors."
Fairy fell silent for a brief fraction of a second, her processors whirring as she digested the complex command. A moment later, her holographic halo stabilized into a steady, calming blue. "Command confirmed. Initiating the construction of a false vulnerability model. I am now guiding the hostile attack data flow directly into a preset, quarantined isolation zone."
"Deploying heavily processed records of standard, normal energy fluctuations within the Outer Ring Hollows, alongside a batch of anonymized, trivial customer information. Simulating a successful system intrusion. Generating a false impression of a partial, non-core data leakage... Executing now."
While this carefully choreographed data performance was quietly unfolding behind the closed doors of the lounge, the atmosphere out in the main storefront had deteriorated into something incredibly tense and suffocating.
The squad of Public Security officers had roughly torn through their so-called "inspection." They had ransacked the neatly organized video shelves, stomped through the upstairs bedrooms, and scoured the back garage, leaving an absolute disaster of scattered tapes and overturned boxes in their wake.
Belle stood near the counter, her fists clenched so tightly her knuckles had turned white. She forcefully suppressed the boiling anger in her chest, plastering a strained, polite smile across her face. She only hoped these uniformed plagues would finish their harassment and leave the premises quickly.
However, the tall, broad-shouldered officer leading the squad clearly had zero intention of stopping his rampage just yet.
His sharp gaze swept across the room like a hunting hawk, eventually locking dead onto the highly inconspicuous, heavy iron door that led directly into the staff lounge.
"Here. Open this one," he commanded, jabbing a thick finger toward the iron door. His harsh tone left absolutely no room for negotiation or doubt.
Belle's heart plummeted straight into her stomach. She quickly stepped forward, physically inserting herself between the officer and the door frame, desperately trying to force her voice to sound casual and natural.
"Officer, please, this is just a cramped storage room for miscellaneous junk," she said, waving a hand dismissively. "It's just full of old, broken videotapes and empty cardboard boxes. It's incredibly messy and covered in dust. There is really nothing in there worth your time."
"Whether there is anything in there or not, we will be the judges of that after we take a look." The burly Public Security officer standing beside the leader sneered impatiently. He aggressively shoved Belle's blocking arm aside. The physical force was so sudden and rough that Belle stumbled backward, her shoulder slamming into a nearby shelf. "Move aside, girl! Do not obstruct official N.E.P.S. duties!"
"You..." Belle gasped, her eyes flashing with a mix of deep anxiety and explosive anger. But facing down a squad of armed officers who were clearly operating under strict, malicious orders, fighting back physically was definitely not a wise move. It would only give them the excuse they wanted to make an arrest.
Just on the other side of the heavy door, Wise heard the commotion. His nerves instantly pulled taut like a bowstring. He didn't have a single second to formulate a complex plan. He moved entirely on pure, adrenaline-fueled instinct, his hands flying as fast as humanly possible.
He lunged across the room and violently ripped open several large cardboard boxes filled with miscellaneous junk they had recently won from a local lottery. Moving in a frantic blur, he haphazardly grabbed armfuls of Portable Water Purifiers and thick coils of High-Strength Climbing Ropes. He hurled them onto the desks, desperately stacking the bulky items as high as possible directly in front of the glowing row of monitors and the massive control panels bolted against the wall.
He had to completely obscure the HDD system and Fairy's physical interface mainframe. Under no circumstances could those highly illegal, advanced technologies be exposed to the prying eyes of these clearly ill-intentioned officers.
After burying the equipment under a mountain of survival gear and empty boxes, he took a sharp, deep breath. He smoothed out his rumpled shirt, forcibly relaxed his tense facial muscles, and prepared himself to face their aggressive interrogation the very second that iron door was shoved open.
Outside, the burly officer raised his hand, his thick fingers just inches away from the iron handle.
But right in the absolute nick of time—
A clear, sharp, and highly authoritative female voice cut through the tense air, echoing from the front entrance of the shop.
The glass door of the video store was pushed open once more, the entrance bell chiming cheerfully. Two incredibly familiar figures stepped over the threshold, their silhouettes framed by the streetlights outside.
The first to speak was Qingyi. Her piercing gaze swept coldly over the utterly chaotic, ransacked scene inside the video store. She took in the sight of her several rude, overstepping colleagues, her eyes finally locking onto the burly officer just as he was about to forcibly breach the staff lounge.
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