With the efficient collaboration within the Ghost Organization, combined with the resources of the Security Department and the mainframe computing power, the virus causing massive brain seizures was quickly analyzed.
Kais had initially guessed that this was a combination of some kind of mental illness and a viral program. He was partly right.
The final analysis result revealed that this virus resembled a person's memory, fused with a viral program. The Security Department invoked some early memory analysis software to sift through the chaotic code and unearthed a word: a name.
Fifth Shufeng.
A lot had happened in the past two days; although many were related to the Fifth family, people were starting to forget that the origin of all the issues was the daughter of Fifth Shufeng, the deceased Fifth Niyi.
If it were an ordinary person, whether they were the instigator or the victim, a direct summons would suffice. But this was Fifth Shufeng. He was one of the current leaders of the Fifth family, wielding countless powers, wealth, and secrets. Undoubtedly, he had caused many deaths, and there were countless enemies wishing for his demise.
Normally, those who interacted with him included the head of the Security Department, the Speaker of the Federation, the President… Even the regional head of Creek Valley City would need an appointment to meet him.
Now, there was no other way; they could only submit applications layer by layer, hoping to secure a meeting with him to "discuss the case at your convenience." It felt very humble.
---
The Ghost Organization received the news immediately. Qin Xuezhong also saw the discussions among the tech enthusiasts who were focusing on Fifth Shufeng while continuing to analyze the internal structure of the virus.
However, Qin felt anxious. Just this virus had caused her sleepless nights for two days! She had only been here for a few days! Her plan to slack off was completely derailed!
Watching everyone eagerly discussing technical issues in Block Zero, she couldn't contain her frustration—was this really the time to debate tech? By the time they deciphered this virus, countless people would suffer, and she would be dragged into even more troubles!
She needed to act decisively and end this mess quickly! Fifth Shufeng could wait; they should just capture him, interrogate him, and if that didn't work, resort to torture. If worse came to worst, they could continue to kidnap! How many people were in the Fifth family board? They could kidnap them all, and she refused to believe they wouldn't find the truth! After all, no one would discover her!
With determination, she highlighted a block:
[Kidnap Fifth Shufeng, Force the Truth About the Virus]
[Please quickly discuss an executable plan, including details on the kidnapping, confinement, and interrogation. Move swiftly.]
At the same time, she carefully screened the participants—only those connected to the Fifth family could not see this block.
She added a note:
[This block is visible to select individuals only. Any leaks will bear consequences.]
Most people in the black space were drawn to it. Everyone was suddenly tense.
—The Ghost Leader… this move was even more outrageous than the last.
Were they really going to kidnap Fifth Shufeng?
Forget his identity; just the visible and hidden bodyguards around him likely numbered in the hundreds.
He was arguably one of the safest people in Creek Valley City.
But… with the Ghost's technological prowess, maybe… it wasn't impossible?
As they contemplated achieving this seemingly impossible feat, the group began discussing with renewed vigor.
---
That evening.
Baystream Park Music Hall.
Tonight, a concert featuring a renowned guzheng performer, famous throughout Eastern Continent, would take place here.
It was said that his music could resonate with the chips implanted in the brain, enchanting listeners.
Thus, a significant portion of Creek Valley City's notable figures gathered here.
At that moment, on the broad, clean internal driveway, a convoy consisting of several luxury cars and numerous armored vehicles gradually came to a halt.
The pitch-black vehicle bodies bore an inconspicuous emblem—the surname of the Fifth family.
In emergencies or significant events, this emblem would emit bright light.
As it was the end of the workday, many people crowded the distant road, glancing this way, pondering the rumors surrounding the Fifth family.
Some even bragged about having seen the emblem light up somewhere, feeling as if they had witnessed history.
Suddenly, everyone's eyes widened.
The emblems on the vehicles lit up.
Although no one knew why, everyone understood that something significant was about to happen.
Snipers on the surrounding buildings grew tense, scanning the vicinity; nearby security experts searched for suspicious data in the electromagnetic signals in the air; other vehicles' bodyguards threw out a series of automatic, expanding bulletproof barriers, raising their various weapons to prepare for action.
In an instant, a fortified barrier surrounded the central vehicle.
Yet, everything remained quiet, and no issues were detected.
Just as the scene was enveloped in silence, a series of muffled explosions erupted.
Around a certain luxury vehicle, cracks appeared neatly in the ground, and the entire car fell into a hole.
Under normal circumstances, this type of luxury vehicle could even function as a small spacecraft for near-Earth travel.
Even if a massive hole formed beneath it, it could instantly activate its flight engine and float upwards.
However, the vigilant bodyguard captain noticed that several titanium claw-like appendages extended from the cracks, firmly grasping the vehicle, as if a creature from the abyss was dragging the entire car downwards.
The bodyguard captain's heart nearly stopped, and he shouted, "Explosive attack!"
He quickly released a grenade from his waist and threw it down. Behind him, dozens of grenades and various high-explosive weapons detonated in the hole, creating a fiery blaze.
He wasn't worried about the safety of the people inside the vehicle, as the Fifth family's special vehicles could withstand direct attacks from grenades and ship-borne laser weapons unscathed.
His action was merely to destroy the surrounding claws and potentially insane criminals lurking below.
As the flames surged, he ignored the scorching heat singeing his hair and secured his fast descent rope, jumping down with ten seasoned subordinates.
During the rapid descent, he observed that the area was filled with freshly excavated soil and a complete elevator track was laid out, meant to lower the entire vehicle steadily.
He even saw that there were small defensive systems designed to thwart remote attacks on both sides!
This indicated that their grenades hadn't even affected the devices below!
The bodyguard captain's heart sank like his falling speed.
This was a meticulously planned kidnapping event!
He remembered that there were several sections of old subway tunnels nearby, which had collapsed and become dead ends hundreds of years ago.
Could these criminals be planning to use those tunnels? How was that even possible?
Now he could only hope for the automatic defense systems of that vehicle.
As one of Fifth Shufeng's special vehicles, it boasted exaggerated defensive armor and was equipped with a full suite of automatic defense weapons. In a crisis, it would act like a small fortress.
Not to mention, there were four elite operatives inside, their skin modified to be bulletproof. In the trunk lay two of the most advanced combat androids, ready to wield their micro laser guns to vaporize anyone who dared stand in their way.
Yet none of that happened.
What awaited him was a surge of flames that nearly melted half of his battle mask.
Below was a newly excavated space and a shiny track. A track transport vehicle, equipped with a small engine from a spaceborne aircraft carrier, sped into the dark depths, disappearing in an instant.
He even noticed the remnants of low-temperature gel all around!
This combat-grade low-temperature gel could infiltrate various vehicles and weapons, then instantly solidify, causing paralysis.
The opponents must have known about the vehicle's formidable capabilities, which was why they resorted to such a ruthless approach to turn that dangerous fortress into a metal chunk and simply cart it away!
The most troublesome part was that within this low-temperature gel, no signals could be transmitted, making tracking impossible!
Realizing this, the bodyguard captain shouted, "Retreat! Immediate retreat!"
Because he understood that if it had been him carrying out this operation, he would have detonated the tunnel right at that moment!
As soon as he finished speaking, a series of dense explosions occurred, completely collapsing the passage.
Only the severely burned and terrified team remained, being pulled upward by the shockwave, spitting blood.
---
The car, entirely enveloped in gel, emerged from the underground track and entered the sewer system.
Through this complex and dense smuggling network, it disappeared without a trace.
After a short freight flight, flying around the skies, it boarded a smuggling cargo ship, drifting at sea for a while before finally stopping at an abandoned old port.
The aircraft and small cargo vessel, upon completing their missions, sank into the depths of the sea, destroying themselves.
The entire process unfolded without anyone ever appearing.
Finally, several cargo robots approached silently, utilizing the freshly laid temporary tracks to transport the massive metal block into a rust-covered warehouse.
Inside the warehouse, a figure clad in black combat armor, with a masked face, was waiting inside alone.
He skillfully eliminated signals, cut through the vehicle body, injected high-intensity tranquilizers, and bound everyone inside, even carefully disposing of all components in a nearby acid pool.
Then, he clapped his hands, illuminating the back wall of the warehouse.
It was a massive screen, dimly lit, casting a mysterious glow across the entire warehouse.
Next, he confirmed that everyone remained safely unconscious and restrained, dragging one of the elegantly dressed individuals out.
It was Fifth Shufeng.
He bound Fifth Shufeng to a chair facing the screen
, then injected him with a refreshing serum.
In less than ten seconds, Fifth Shufeng woke up.
As expected of one of the Fifth family's current leaders, even after experiencing such a terrifying kidnapping and finding himself in an unknown place, his expression remained calm.
He knew that such a significant incident would prompt both the Fifth family and the Security Department to search high and low throughout Creek Valley City for him.
And he, in turn, would need to buy as much time as possible.
He suppressed his headache, pursed his lips, and quietly stared at the screen in front of him, asking, "Who are you?"
"Hahahahahaha…"
A wild laughter echoed from the screen, accompanied by an electronic distortion that made it sound shrill and grating.
Then the voice suddenly turned sinister, the words dripping with malice and madness, infused with infinite anticipation.
Because this was their first time proclaiming their name to the outside world, the tone was profoundly serious:
"We are the Ghosts."
---