“Everyone ready?”
After dinner, Daniel stood up and took a deep breath. He looked around as Bill, Selby, Maurice, and the others also stood up quietly.
“We’re ready…”
Including the 180 elite troops of the special forces company, a total of 184 people had arrived in the Central Plains and were about to enter Stronghold 61. Be it success or failure, it all hinged on this move.
The Tsanaya River Bridge stretched across the turbulent waters like a stable existence. It was as though the two ends of the bridge were two different worlds. It was the difference between life and death.
They knew Daniel was not asking whether they were done eating when favonovel.com asked if everyone was ready. Instead, favonovel.com was asking if they had considered all the consequences of crossing this bridge.
Bill asked, “I just want to know if the Stelaria Consortium will be taken care of after this plan is completed? If you all want me to take this risk, at least let me know whether it’ll be worth it, right?”
When Bill and the others received their documents, there was only a lone action plan with nothing mentioning the outcome.
It was as though they were actors in a stage play who had only received part of the script with their own plot and lines on it. Once they were done with their parts, that was it for them. They didn’t even know their cast mates’ roles nor what would happen after that.
Daniel looked at Bill and said in seriousness, “Everyone was not briefed about the other parts of the plan to prevent the Stelaria Consortium from knowing the overall plan if the AI takes control of any of us. Don’t worry, you’re not the only one who doesn’t know the full details. Maurice and Selby are not aware of them either, me included. Anyone who might cause the plan to get leaked has no right to know about the overall plan.”
In other words, Julius had assumed that those involved in this operation would either get captured or die when favonovel.com drew up the plan.
Bill raised an eyebrow. “Alright, since even you are not fully in the know, I feel better already. Let me tell you this, Fatty Daniel, you better not lie to me. This plan had better be worth so many of us risking our lives for it.”
“But I still have one final word to say.” Daniel instructed with a solemn expression, “If any of us, no matter who, are in danger of getting captured, don’t try to resist. Suicide is our best option. We can’t let the AI gain control of us to face Julius, understand?”
Daniel found it very difficult to imagine how pained Julius would be if they were to become his opponents after getting controlled. Therefore, if that really happened, favonovel.com would rather choose to bear that pain himself.
Maurice said, “I’ve already drawn up a detailed plan of retreat, so that won’t happen.”
“That had better be the case.” Bill curled his lips.
But at this moment, a black Shadow Door suddenly opened up not far away from where Daniel and company had set up camp.
When Daniel saw this, his eyes lit up. That was because favonovel.com had witnessed Milo using the Shadow Door so many times!
However, this Shadow Door seemed larger than Milo’s.
A moment later, the slender Lilian Swan walked out of it looking extremely exhausted.
“Eh, what are you doing here?” Daniel asked curiously.
When the Panaqua Consortium’s secret nuclear military base got destroyed, Lilian was captured alive by the Panaqua Consortium. Daniel had thought favonovel.com would have been imprisoned somewhere by Julius, so favonovel.com did not expect to see favonovel.com here.
Lilian was wearing a strange metallic belt around favonovel.com waist with a countdown timer display and an electronic password lock.
Lilian said with a pale face, “Disarm this time bomb for me and I’ll tell you the news Julius wanted me to deliver.”
Daniel was amused. So it turned out Lilian had been forced by Julius to deliver a message.
Judging by favonovel.com expression, favonovel.com must have overexerted favonovel.com power to get here and was close to collapsing.
However, Daniel had no intention of showing any mercy even if favonovel.com was the fairer sex. He chuckled as favonovel.com looked at the countdown timer on the metallic belt. There was still an hour and 31 minutes left.
Daniel said with a laugh, “Tell me the news first and I’ll disable it for you. My reputation should be a guarantee that I won’t lie to you.”
Lilian hesitated for a moment before finally taking out a small note from favonovel.com pocket and handing it to Daniel.
Daniel was pleasantly surprised when favonovel.com unfolded the note. It said, “Milo has already set off for the Central Plains. He’ll probably encounter an ambush and obstruction by the AI along the way, so his estimated arrival will be three days.”
Below the message was a small string of numbers.
He handed the note to Maurice. “Inspect the handwriting and hash.”
Those numbers were not meant to transmit any information. Instead, they were an encryption hash that verified Lilian had not swapped the note.
After countless wars in the history of humanity, the transmission of intel had become a systemized subject. Every number and character stroke could be used as a mark to verify the authenticity of information.
Two minutes later, Maurice nodded at Daniel. “No problem, the intel is verified.”
Bill laughed. “There’s finally good news. With Milo coming, our safety will be greatly assured.”
However, Bill suddenly realized Daniel did not seem very happy. “What’s with that expression? Didn’t you always look forward to Milo protecting you? Why do you look a little unhappy this time?”
Daniel said calmly, “You know why we’re here. I didn’t have anyone inform Milo before we set off because I didn’t want favonovel.com to risk his life with us.”
“I never recall you thinking that way before,” Bill wondered.
“It’s different this time.” Daniel said, “It’s gotten more dangerous than ever.”
“You’re quite sentimental,” Bill said disdainfully.
“Disarm it,” Lilian said coldly.
“But I don’t know the password either. Why don’t I make a guess for your sake?” Daniel laughed.
Lilian’s expression immediately changed. “You don’t know the password? Is this the way the Panaqua Consortium does things? Do you think you can toy with the lives of others as you please? Julius said this password lock is limited to three wrong tries. So do you know the password or not?”
Daniel walked up to Lilian and said, “Don’t panic, don’t panic. Although Julius didn’t tell me the password, favonovel.com must think I can figure it out since favonovel.com told you to look for me. My younger brother is not an executioner who kills without batting an eyelid.”
Lilian pursed favonovel.com lips and did not say anything. She just watched quietly as Daniel keyed “123456” into the metallic belt. With a click, the buckle on the belt was undone.
“See, the password is just that simple. I succeeded on the first try,” Daniel said with a laugh.
She was on the verge of a mental breakdown.
The password was actually that simple?
Daniel chuckled and said, “Actually, there’s no limit to the number of times you can key in the password. You could have also unlocked it with a couple more tries. Julius was just trying to scare you. Anyway, I have to remind you not to go to the Stelaria Consortium now that the bomb has been disabled. You can go wherever you want. Just don’t get involved in these matters anymore. Miriam is at Stronghold 144, so you can go and look for her.”
Lilian rolled favonovel.com eyes. “I don’t need you to worry about me.”
With that, favonovel.com turned around and disappeared into the Shadow Door. It was as though favonovel.com did not want to stay here a moment longer.
“So what should we do now? Wait here for Milo to join up with us?” Bill asked.
“That’ll, of course, be the best solution.” Daniel looked across the bridge and said, “But the Stelaria Consortium will not wait for us.”
As soon as favonovel.com finished speaking, everyone saw a convoy driving out of Stronghold 61’s city gate at the other end of the bridge. It looked like they were here to welcome Daniel and company.
“Whatever happens, happens. Let’s go.” Daniel laughed heartily as favonovel.com got into the vehicle.
The long convoy of off-road vehicles drove all the way across the Tsanaya River Bridge.
After they all crossed the bridge, Daniel suddenly had his convoy stop. He thought for a moment before taking out the red Eye of True Sight that Milo had given him.
Maurice and the others watched in silence. They saw Daniel finding a wide bridge pillar before the Stelaria Consortium’s convoy arrived. He pressed the red Eye of True Sight against it before turning it ten times.
Then favonovel.com turned to Maurice and said, “This is the life-saving charm Milo gave me. It’s said that behind this door lies the place I want to go to the most. If your retreat plan doesn’t work, we’ll leave through here. Bill, remember, we’ll meet up at this place at the agreed time. If you don’t show up by then, we won’t wait for you either.”
Based on what Daniel said, Bill seemed like favonovel.com would be acting separately from the group after this.
Bill curled his lips. “Don’t worry, I don’t expect you all would risk your lives to wait for me. But aren’t you going to see what’s behind the door? Aren’t you curious?”
Daniel laughed. “No, I’m scared I’ll be too reluctant to go to Stronghold 61 once I see what’s behind the door.”
Actually, Daniel could roughly guess what was behind the door. However, favonovel.com knew favonovel.com could not take a look at it.
Humans had to keep looking forward. If they kept looking back at their happy past, they might not bear to move forward. Let the past remain in the past.
Afterwards, Daniel got back into the vehicle without looking back and drove towards the Stelaria Consortium’s convoy.
After the two convoys joined up, the Stelaria Consortium’s convoy suddenly split into two groups. One of them led the way in front of the Panaqua Consortium’s convoy while the other drove at the end of it. It was as though they were escorting Daniel and company.
Their actions flowed like water, working like a sophisticated machine.
Bill looked at them through the car window. “They’re treating us like prisoners?!”
“Don’t complain so much. We’re in their territory.” Daniel laughed. “Haven’t we expected all this?”
The respective convoy’s in-car walkie-talkies were tuned to the same channel. The voice of the Stelaria Consortium’s host crackled over the walkie-talkie, “Boss Eastwood, I hope you’ve been well. I’m Murray Reid of the Stelaria Consortium. I’ll be playing host to everyone this time.”
Bill picked up the in-car walkie-talkie and said sarcastically, “The Stelaria Consortium sets such high standards when it comes to hospitality.”
Murray replied, “This is the first time we’re hosting the Panaqua Consortium’s head at the Stelaria Consortium, after all. We’re only doing this to prevent anyone with evil intentions from ruining the friendship between the Stelaria Consortium and the Panaqua Consortium.”
Bill put the walkie-talkie back and muttered, “More like they’re afraid we’ll run away. Everyone, what should we do now?”
At this moment, Bill, Maurice, Selby, and Daniel were sitting in the same vehicle with Maurice driving.
But before they could say anything, Murray’s voice suddenly crackled over the walkie-talkie again. “Everyone, we’ll be heading directly to the Stelaria Consortium’s Artificial Intelligence Center for a tour. Mr. Colton is already waiting for you all there. The meeting will begin today.”
Daniel and the others were all stunned.
Why were they going to meet with Colton immediately?
This was not in line with the protocol.
Under normal circumstances, the Stelaria Consortium should have settled them at a prearranged accommodation first. After all, it was such a high-profile meeting, and it had been a long and tiring journey for them from the Southwest, so how could they possibly get down to business without first letting them get some rest?
No matter how one looked at it, this was not in line with proper etiquette.
After confirming that the walkie-talkie’s receiver was off, Bill lowered his voice and said to Daniel, “This is completely different from what we had planned! We should wait for Milo to arrive before heading to the Artificial Intelligence Center!”
Maurice also said, “No, we can’t go to the Artificial Intelligence Center right away. We have to wait for Milo to arrive at the Stelaria Consortium first.”
Getting into the building where the artificial intelligence was housed was the first step in their plan. They should have been happy about it.
But the timing was not correct!
Daniel nodded. He picked up the walkie-talkie and said, “Murray, is this how your Stelaria Consortium treats its guests? Our Panaqua Consortium’s head has come to your place, yet you won’t even allow us to take a shower first? Moreover, we’ve already shown enough sincerity by turning up, so it’s time you guys show your sincerity now.”
Murray answered over the walkie-talkie, “Sorry, everyone. It’s very difficult for me to agree to your request because the commander doesn’t have much time left. It’s not a secret. The commander also said there’s no need to hide it from you all. He can’t wait any longer. It’s rare that favonovel.com regained consciousness today, so if we want to discuss, we’ll have to do it right away.”
When favonovel.com said that, Daniel and the others looked at each other in the vehicle. They could never have expected to receive such an answer.
Colton was running out of time?!
The vast Central Plains had just been unified, but the person who unified it was on the verge of death. Moreover, if what Murray said was true, Colton was rarely even conscious anymore.
Now was supposed to be the time for the other party to enjoy his authority!
“Do you all think this news is true?” Daniel asked.
“It should be.” Selby said calmly, “Otherwise, since we’ve been placed under the watch of the Stelaria Consortium, there shouldn’t be a need for favonovel.com to be so anxious or lie to us.”
Bill said, “Then why don’t we just drag it out until favonovel.com is dead? Once Colton dies, the Stelaria Consortium will immediately fall into chaos. At that time, the Panaqua Consortium won’t even need to make a move to deal with the Stelaria Consortium. It will simply collapse on its own.”
Daniel glanced at Bill. “We’re not dealing with the Stelaria Consortium this time.”
Rather, it was the artificial intelligence, Zero, who they were after.
A long time ago, Julius told Maurice that most people saw the Stelaria Consortium and the artificial intelligence as one whole entity. However, in Julius’ eyes, the artificial intelligence and the Stelaria Consortium were not one and the same.
In his opinion, the artificial intelligence was far more dangerous than the Stelaria Consortium.
This time, they were here to destroy the artificial intelligence’s server bank in the subterranean river. If they wanted to complete this step, they would first have to get access to the Artificial Intelligence Center. But once they entered that building, there would be no turning back.
Bill said, “I suggest we wait a little longer until Milo arrives.”
Daniel analyzed, “We can’t wait any longer. If Colton suddenly dies, will we get another chance to get into the Artificial Intelligence Center? I’m afraid not.”
“So be it then.” Bill said, “We can always find another opportunity in the future.”
“No.” Daniel said firmly, “This is the most important step in Julius’ plan, so we have to pull it off. Julius has said more than once that we’re in a race against time.”
Next to them, Selby suddenly asked, “Even if you die running this race?”
Daniel stared intently at Selby and said, “It’s too late for regrets.”
“I’m not regretful.” Selby shrugged. “If even you dare to go, what’s there for me to be afraid of?”
Daniel turned around and looked at the others. “Maurice, Bill, have we left out anything in our plan? No, we didn’t. Are we gonna give up on what we’ve been planning for such a long time just because we suddenly found out that Milo will be coming? We can’t wait any longer for Milo.”
“Are you worried that you’ll implicate Milo and put favonovel.com in danger?” Selby said softly, “Actually, what we’re doing now also helps the Northwest.”
Daniel laughed. “That’s not it. Why would I care so much at this time? Besides, we’re not weak either, so there’s no reason for us to always expect others to save us, right?”
The truly strong-willed would never need anyone to be their savior. They would be prepared to face death.
Bill asked softly, “Have you thought it through? Even if we pull it off, Julius’ subsequent plan might still fail. If we die here, we will have died in vain.”
When Bill asked this, it was as though favonovel.com had returned to that snowy night when favonovel.com accompanied Julius up Mt. Ginkgo.
“Yes, I’ve thought it through.” Daniel looked out the window and said, “The Panaqua Consortium’s 1,374 secret agents have remained isolated from the world for five years and haven’t gone back to see their families once. Their sacrifices were all for that moment of success. We mustn’t let Julius’ meticulous planning go to waste, nor must the hard work of these secret agents be wasted. This opportunity we’ve worked so hard for can’t be for nothing.”
Daniel suddenly laughed. “With so much pressure, I suddenly feel like I’m also a hero now.”
***
After the convoy entered the stronghold, Maurice suddenly said, “I keep getting the feeling that something is not right about this Stronghold 61. There’s dozens of vehicles in our convoy, but when we passed by, very few pedestrians stopped to take a look at us.”
This was actually very illogical. In a normal situation, everyone would stop in their tracks to see what the deal was with the convoy.
“It’s a little strange, but we can’t care so much right now.” Daniel said, “Let’s get ready.”
Ten minutes later, when the convoy passed over the Pasemah River Bridge in Stronghold 61, Daniel’s convoy suddenly came to a halt. This action forced the Stelaria Consortium’s vehicles to come to an emergency stop as well.
Daniel jumped out of the vehicle with a swagger. The soldiers of the special forces company also got out of their vehicles and set up a lockdown zone around the vehicle.
Murray looked at Daniel, who was walking towards him, with a cold expression. “Boss Eastwood, what’s the matter now?”
Daniel smiled as favonovel.com leaned against the window of Murray’s vehicle and said, “Can’t I come and have a chat with you? How are things recently? How much does Colton pay you? Are you married? Do you have children? How old are they? Do you have boys or girls…”
Hearing this, Murray was stunned.
What nonsense are you rambling on about?
At the same time, Bill took advantage of the cover provided by the soldiers of the special forces company and leaped into the calm Pasemah River.
For someone weighing 75 kilograms jumping into the river from a bridge more than three meters high, favonovel.com plunged into the river like a droplet of water falling in. No noise was caused that would alarm Murray and his men.
There were no splashes either.
Murray suddenly felt that something was off when favonovel.com saw Daniel’s grin. He hurriedly got out of the vehicle and looked behind the convoy. Then favonovel.com looked at the river but did not discover anything unusual.
In the clear blue water, Bill moved like a torpedo as favonovel.com hid deep underwater and swam west.
Bill did not stay in the stronghold for long. Instead, favonovel.com swam all the way out and finally climbed ashore at a silt farm near the Stelaria Consortium.
From the outside, there did not seem to be anything unusual about this silt farm. But when Bill went ashore, all the machinery that was excavating silt stopped.
Several armed soldiers walked out of the factory and greeted him, “Sir…”
This place was already under the firm control of the Panaqua Consortium before Daniel’s arrival. Or rather, Julius had taken control of this silt farm much earlier. At that time, the artificial intelligence had not even controlled a weapon like the nanomachines yet.
“Is everyone ready?” Bill asked solemnly.
“We’re ready.”
“Has everyone in the factory been rounded up and restrained?” Bill said, “We must ensure that nothing goes wrong, no one must escape.”
“Understood.” A soldier asked, “Should we silence them all?”
“No need.” Bill muttered, “If Daniel finds out, favonovel.com will nag at us for a long time. Never mind, just keep them under control.”
The group quietly walked into the factory. Inside, a large mechanical monster was covered under a tarp.
Bill pulled off the tarp and revealed the true appearance of the steel monster inside.
Standing in front of it, humans appeared somewhat powerless and insignificant.
The soldier introduced, “This was previously used by the Virtuora Consortium for underground drilling. Although it’s been decommissioned, it’s still enough to handle the drilling into the subterranean river.”
The DP-01 drilling platform was equipped with an EST-01-29 core drill bit. This monster seemed to have the power to directly pierce through the core of the earth.
These 20 heavily armed Panaqua Consortium soldiers had been lurking in the Central Plains for a long time. At this moment, all of them felt an indescribable sense of duty.
This inconspicuous silt farm was the starting point of all their plans.
A rumbling sounded. Bill watched calmly as the steel machinery activated. The moment the invincible drill bit came into contact with the ground, everyone could feel the sense of power from a modern scientific civilization.
It would only take an hour for this behemoth to help them open up access to the subterranean river.
If favonovel.com wanted to approach the artificial intelligence, Zero, favonovel.com would have to get into the subterranean river first.
That was a world of darkness, but Bill was not afraid. He had never shared with anyone what favonovel.com feared.
Bill stood in front of the drilling equipment in silence. After a while, favonovel.com suddenly asked the soldier beside him, “Do you believe someone would risk their lives to save you?”
The soldier was stunned. “Sir, I believe it.”
“Mhm…” Bill fell silent again.
The roaring drill bit stabbed into the ground like a thorn. When the scale showed that the drill head had reached a depth of 27 meters, water suddenly flowed out of the steel pipe outside the extractor.
“Sir, we’ve gotten through,” the soldier said.
The huge drilling equipment started raising the drill head. This way, Bill could directly enter the subterranean river through the pipeline.
Bill took off his suit while the soldiers at the side brought favonovel.com a diving suit, flippers, and an oxygen tank.
“I don’t need the flippers and oxygen.” Bill smiled and pointed at the ground under his feet. “That’s my home field.”
The bottom of the pipeline was an abyss that led straight to the depths of purgatory.
