Opening the passage that had just been blasted away and melted by lasers didn't take much effort.
Qin Xuezhong directly adjusted a few maintenance drones equipped with laser cutters and easily sliced through the melted metal.
She then climbed into the pre-prepared mecha, adjusting it to the exoskeleton mode and putting it on.
With a light push of her legs, the thrusters on the exoskeleton activated, and she soared into the air.
Though she had never used this before and hadn't even seen it in the training simulator, Yu Zhezhong must have used it frequently. Once she adjusted, her body instinctively controlled the thrusters, propelling her toward the platform where Tang Kede was located.
To avoid any accidents, Qin Xuezhong also commanded a group of small drones to hover around her, ready to respond to any potential threats.
Soon, she flew into the laboratory where Tang Kede was.
All along the way, bodyguards lay sprawled out, not only immobilized in their combat armor but also completely covered in low-temperature gel, a double assurance to prevent any clever individual from breaking free.
The laboratory was eerily silent.
Everyone else had been knocked out, and only Tang Kede remained, his face streaked with tears and mucus from the various anti-explosion sprays, making muffled noises of discomfort on the floor.
Qin Xuezhong entered and found a safe position to stand. She then waved her hand, directing the mecha to lift Tang Kede up.
Tang Kede realized his predicament was dire.
However, being a significant figure who had stirred the Federation for decades, he quickly thought of persuasive words despite his humiliating treatment and discomfort.
Ning Yi had already informed him that the head of the Phantom Organization, the culprit behind the first virus experiment's destruction, was none other than Qin Xuezhong, who once served as a technical director in the Idle People's Dream.
He didn't know why Qin Xuezhong possessed such formidable hacking skills after being ousted, but he understood one thing: someone capable of such swift intrusion and analysis had to have an exceptionally developed brain.
After entering the core room, he had used his hidden level 10 authority to have the mainframe find a suitable vessel for him.
He never expected that the mainframe would find Qin Xuezhong.
Not only could she eliminate an unknown threat, but she also presented him with excellent material.
He just hadn't anticipated that Qin Xuezhong could disrupt his perfect plan to such an extent.
However, Tang Kede was still a cunning old fox.
He keenly sensed that Qin Xuezhong seemed unfamiliar with the mainframe, and possibly even with him.
If she possessed such terrifying hacking abilities, why hadn't she taken control of those drones as soon as she entered the shaft?
It was likely that Qin Xuezhong didn't understand how the mainframe operated.
Furthermore, those familiar with Tang Kede knew he had little combat ability.
In his view, learning to fight or use firearms would disrupt his thoughts and affect his great research.
So, since all the bodyguards and countermeasures had been incapacitated, why would she use such extreme methods to press him down?
All these indications suggested that Qin Xuezhong seemed like an inexperienced, unaware young person who didn't even know how terrifying her own power was.
Tang Kede couldn't help but deduce Qin Xuezhong's state with reasonable accuracy from these details.
He felt a bit more relaxed inside.
Young people were easy to manipulate.
A little conversation, understanding Qin Xuezhong's preferences, might give him the chance to turn the tables.
In the short time it took for Qin Xuezhong to approach, Tang Kede had thought through so many details and even gained some confidence.
This was the confidence of a passionate researcher.
Everything that happens has a process and a reason; everyone has motives and thoughts. By peeling away layer by layer, one could gain control.
Everything in the world has its logic.
---
Although Qin Xuezhong had told Yu Zhezhong that she was going to have a chat with Professor Tang, when she actually stood before him, she hesitated.
It wasn't because this man had just tried to kill her, but rather because she suddenly recalled the rows of dissected brains discovered during the Phantom Organization's first attack on the transport convoy.
In a normal, kind society, someone like Tang Kede would be publicly tried, nailed to the pillar of historical shame, and executed.
But here… she wasn't sure.
According to the mainframe, Tang Kede's research on consciousness transfer had made new breakthroughs.
Once this news reached the corporations and those in power, she could be 100% certain that they would secretly protect Tang Kede, allowing him to continue his research.
Not for any other reason, but for the sake of immortality.
As for how many people would die, how many experiments would be conducted, and how many would silently perish in the process… to those who controlled this world, it was utterly insignificant.
At this moment, Qin Xuezhong realized she faced a monumental choice.
Seeing Qin Xuezhong just staring at him without saying a word, Tang Kede took the initiative to speak.
"Ms. Qin, please hear me out…"
As soon as he opened his mouth, Qin Xuezhong raised her gun and switched it to damage mode.
Tang Kede's eyes widened.
He felt the murderous intent and realized that death was looming before him.
He could only ask, "W-why?"
Qin Xuezhong was incredibly nervous, her mind blank, and she had no intention of answering that question.
Since arriving in this world, she had witnessed technology beyond her imagination, and she had no idea if Tang Kede had any last-ditch efforts to fight back.
In most movies and dramas, at the last moment, the villain tends to ramble on, and the protagonist hesitates, giving them more time to react, often leading to a reversal.
She didn't want that to happen.
Instinctively, she said the only thought that popped into her head: "Because you wouldn't let me slack off."
Tang Kede was dumbfounded. What kind of ridiculous reason was that?
Qin Xuezhong could sense that Yu Zhezhong in her mind was equally confused.
She didn't elaborate further and simply pulled the trigger.
In Tang Kede's incredulous gaze, a bullet pierced through his forehead.
Qin Xuezhong's hand trembled slightly.
This was the first time she had executed someone who offered no resistance.
Physiologically, her body was signaling her; had she been in her own body, she would likely be breathing rapidly, feeling tense, and wanting to vomit.
But Yu Zhezhong's body did not respond this way.
This body remained stable, with even the rhythm of breathing unchanged.
Qin Xuezhong felt as though she was watching an intense drama that had nothing to do with her, only complicated emotions swirling inside her heart.
She steadied herself and ordered the drones to incinerate Tang Kede's body, including the chip, fearing that this man could somehow rise again.
The drones faithfully executed her command.
Several micro incinerators shot out, their sharp tips drilling into the corpse, releasing temperatures of up to 2500 degrees, along with the smell of burning flesh. Soon, this man, who had influenced the Federation and countless lives, quietly vanished, leaving behind nothing but a shapeless pile of charred remains.
At that moment, Qin Xuezhong finally let out a sigh of relief.
"You… just killed him like that?" Yu Zhezhong's voice was filled with shock.
"Otherwise?"
Qin Xuezhong didn't know how to explain, so she simply replied.
—Otherwise, would she wait for him to spew a bunch of relationships and reasons, find an opportunity to counterattack, and continue to harm this world?
Yu Zhezhong was initially surprised but soon felt a wave of joy.
Tang Kede was one of the puppeteers controlling this world.
And he was unfortunately one of those being controlled.
Perhaps his experience with the secret puppet plan was also part of Tang Kede's machinations.
Qin Xuezhong ignored Yu Zhezhong and calmly said, "Mainframe, can you now stop the virus from spreading and eliminate its effects?"
The mainframe immediately replied, "Yes, I have developed new firewalls and antivirus programs based on Professor Tang Kede's materials and the procedures you used to eliminate the effects. Should I execute them now?"
"Execute," Qin Xuezhong commanded.
"Understood. All firewalls and antivirus programs have been sent to the security control rooms of various districts and cities. They will go online in 3 seconds… Online, starting to take effect."
The mainframe's voice was calm and steady, without any unnecessary emotions.
Combined with the laboratory's silence, Qin Xuezhong had no idea what was happening outside.
In Creek Valley City and several major cities in the Federation, the once-mad cyborgs and machines suddenly froze in place, and the deranged people regained their senses.
Those who had escaped from the brink of destruction began to cheer.
What Qin Xuezhong didn't know was that the antivirus program and firewalls developed by the mainframe were based on her consciousness void, which meant some of the key codes and overall style were almost identical to the program released by the Phantom Organization last time.
While ordinary people were celebrating the stabilization of the situation, the name "Phantom" spread rapidly, first in Creek Valley City and then throughout the Federation.
Qin Xuezhong didn't stay in the laboratory long and returned to Yu Zhezhong's room.
Just then, the mainframe asked her, "Do you wish to be teleported back?"
But Yu Zhezhong in her mind was silent.
During their communication, she had learned that her consciousness void seemed capable of combating or healing Yu Zhezhong's brain disease.
So she entered the consciousness void and asked, "Do you want to come with me?"
Yu Zhezhong's voice was somewhat subdued, "I… don't know who you are, but my existence is a big trouble, and it will bring you even greater trouble."
Qin Xuezhong smiled slightly.
She sensed Yu Zhezhong's goodwill and his eagerness to leave.
"Then let's go. No matter how big the trouble is, there's a solution," she said. "Look at Tang Kede."
After hesitating for a while, Yu Zhezhong finally said, "Okay, thank you."
Qin Xuezhong then asked the mainframe, "Can I take Yu Zhezhong with me? Without others knowing?"
"Of course, please wait a moment." The mainframe paused for two seconds, "Identity concealment has been completed. A shuttle has been prepared for you, and it can transport you back to Creek Valley City at any time."
"Great, let's go then."
Above her head, a hidden helipad saw a shuttle that wasn't registered with the security department slowly descend, bathed in the bright light of the capital district.