Qin Xuezhong hesitated for just a moment before accepting it without guilt.
The reason was simple: a luxury hotel worth more than 5 billion credit points, right? It was just a matter of reciprocity.
Moreover, the Sky Manor floated entirely in the air and was surrounded by a tight security system, so she didn't have to worry about her residence being exposed.
Having been in Creek Valley City for so long, it was the first time she felt that she had a home of her own.
Her previous small room in the slum district and the luxury apartment in Wangwan, while both nice, had countless connections to the original owner.
She still didn't understand why the original owner had prepared a safe house. Was she hiding from internal enemies within the Fifth Consortium, or was there a greater danger in this world?
At this moment, she had no clarity on any of it; she could only focus on resolving her current matters before thinking about the future.
After dismissing Qin Huaigui, she received news from Yu Zhezhong.
The interrogation of the hacker had begun.
Even after being locked up for an entire night, the hacker looked tired but still wore a relaxed expression, seemingly unconcerned about facing any danger.
Before the Phantom Organization's interrogator could say anything, the hacker took the initiative to say, "We're all sensible people here; you understand that my clients contact me anonymously, so you won't find any information from me. Name your price—how much for me to walk free?"
Hearing this, the others didn't react much at first. This was a typical villain's line—"I'm caught, and I did commit a crime, but we're all bad people here, so let's negotiate a price for my release."
The interrogator showed no urgency, saying, "No rush; we just got started."
The Phantom Organization had identified this person's real and online identities immediately. He was a notorious hacker who had committed several major crimes in Creek Valley City and was almost a legend.
Not only was he skilled, but his methods were also particularly extreme, often using explosives to cover up evidence and traces, earning him a terrible reputation.
He usually kept a low profile but hadn't expected to be caught by Qin Xuezhong today.
Upon hearing the interrogator say, "just got started," the hacker's expression changed slightly, and he concealed his worries with an impatient tone. "Bro, we're all just trying to make a living. Why push it to this extreme?"
"Ha ha," the interrogator was unmoved. "Don't worry, I haven't had a chance to play for a while. Last time I captured a Fifth Sufeng, I couldn't touch him, but you? That's different."
As he spoke, the interrogator pulled out a briefcase from beside him. When he opened it, it was filled with various sharp tools, all meticulously cleaned and gleaming coldly.
The hacker started to squirm.
"Hey! Let's talk first! Let's talk first! Don't rush to get violent!" He twisted in his seat and shouted, "Aren't you guys from Phantom supposed to be the good guys?! How can you do this?! It damages your reputation! Is there anyone? Come check it out!"
The interrogator remained silent, simply picking up a syringe filled with a clear liquid.
"Hey, hey, hey, don't jump to that! I'll tell you everything!" the hacker screamed.
The interrogator smiled slightly. "Of course, you'll tell me everything. You know, I'll make your mind break several times before confirming your answers again. Don't tell me you didn't know that?"
The hacker seemed to finally lose his composure, shouting, "Who the hell are you? Just a little dog from the Security Department? Only those perverts would use such interrogation methods!"
Qin Xuezhong curiously asked Yu Zhezhong, "What's a little dog from the Security Department?"
She only knew that the interrogator used to be from the Internal Affairs.
Yu Zhezhong explained, "They're senior interrogators from the Internal Affairs. They have a very cruel interrogation process. If you don't know, maybe it's better if you don't watch."
"Um," Xiao Qin hesitated for a moment but still curiously asked, "What are they about to inject?"
"If I'm not mistaken, it should be a neural signal amplifier."
"Amplifier? What's that for?"
Yu Zhezhong paused, speaking in a peculiar tone. "It makes a person's nerves ten times more sensitive; even a light cut from a small knife will hurt as if it's broken…"
His tone sounded reminiscent.
Before Qin Xuezhong could express her astonishment, Yu Zhezhong added, "The amplifier also has another effect: it keeps a person alert, so even if it's painful, they won't lose consciousness."
Xiao Qin's eyes widened.
Clearly, the hacker had guessed what was in the syringe and realized what he was about to endure.
He cried out in despair, "You filthy dogs! Wasn't it your dirty work that created the Phantom Organization?! You say you maintain peace, but you're secretly doing dirty deeds!"
This outburst caused the interrogator to pause.
The hacker was surprised to see the interrogator's expression change to one of displeasure.
Feeling reckless since he was about to be tortured anyway, the hacker decided to let loose.
"What's up? Did I hit the nail on the head again? You dogs can't change your nature! You'll always resort to this kind of thing!"
The interrogator, who had been smiling, now wore a completely serious expression.
He stepped forward, delivering a heavy slap to the hacker's face.
Even Qin Xuezhong, who didn't understand interrogation, frowned.
—From her experience with films, a skilled interrogator would never lose their composure like that.
If the interrogator couldn't remain calm, how could they control the person being interrogated and uncover clues and information?
What was wrong with him?
The hacker was momentarily stunned before he burst out laughing. "What? Can't take it? Didn't expect the little dog to have PTSD, oh no, I mean…"
Before he could finish, the interrogator slapped him again.
The interrogator's expression was strange, almost reverent, as he spoke softly. It seemed he was not only addressing the hacker but also all the Phantom Organization members watching the interrogation.
"Do you know why I joined the Internal Affairs?"
This question immediately piqued everyone's curiosity.
"Creek Valley City was very corrupt, and I was very naïve back then. I thought I could start from the Internal Affairs, cleanse the Security Department, revitalize the federal government, and dissolve the consortium's control over this world…"
The interrogator played with the syringe in his hand, chuckling self-deprecatingly. "Naive, right? But ideals can give people endless strength. I learned quickly and was promoted."
"But… the higher you climb, the more you realize that Creek Valley City, and even the entire federation, had long become stagnant. The more capable people are, the more they're used by those with even greater abilities. Realizing ideals? Changing the federation? It's simply impossible."
The hacker mocked, "So you think you're useless now?"
The interrogator ignored him entirely.
This behavior only made the hacker more uneasy.
"Until the Phantom appeared." The interrogator's voice rose sharply, causing everyone to shudder.
"The Phantom disregards all forces, cares not for any rules, and only does what is right, saving this city and protecting everyone's safety… that's what I've always wanted to do!"
"No matter what the Phantom's ultimate purpose is, I'm willing to dedicate my life to this organization and cause because it has brought real change to this world. Even if the final outcome is destruction, it's still better than continuing to rot like this!"
Qin Xuezhong was completely stunned.
She truly hadn't expected that this black space, established merely for convenience, would be elevated to such a height by its members.
At that moment, most of the members watching the interrogation were excitedly in agreement.
[Well said!]
[Exactly what I think!]
[The interrogator is my life's spokesperson!]
[What excitement! What should I do!]
Xiao Qin felt that if the atmosphere got any more exaggerated, it might turn into a scene of fervent preaching.
After the interrogator finished his speech, he fixed a piercing gaze on the hacker. "The reason I slapped you twice is that you're too shallow—a little destructive thief who doesn't understand our cause at all."
He smirked coldly.
Because of that speech, the hacker's expression clearly wavered. Just as he was about to speak, the interrogator cut him off again.
"No, you're just a little bug, a bug with some information in your head that I need. So shout all you want; I just need to crack your skull open to get what I want."
With that, the interrogator pressed down on the hacker's neck and stabbed a needle into his modified metal nerves.
At first, the hacker struggled in fear, but soon, he let out a long sigh.
The interrogator stared into his eyes and said, "Do you know what the biggest problem with being a bad guy is? There's always someone worse than you."
Then, the interrogator suddenly yanked the syringe out.
The hacker screamed in agony.
Under the amplifier's effect, the pain from the injection felt almost like severe burns.
Just from this, the hacker seemed to collapse entirely.
"I'll tell you everything! I'll tell you everything!" he shouted. "This client has always been contacted through an intermediary; he should have detailed information! His citizen number is 2139831827QU, and he usually operates out of the Liu Ting office in the slum district! But the payments come through a separate account; the anonymous chip is in my workspace—you'll definitely find it! That's all I know! Let me go! Let me go!"
The interrogator grinned wickedly. "No rush; this is a great start."
"Please! I have more to give you! I've set up a lot of explosives in Creek Valley City; I can give you all the coordinates!"
The hacker realized that these people were too fanatical; escaping today seemed nearly impossible.
He shouted, "Phantom! Phantom! Do you want the locations? I'll give you everything! Just let me go!"
Hearing this, the interrogator hesitated, uncertain whether the Phantom actually needed such things.
Xiao Qin felt a surge of anger—not just towards the hacker, but also towards the others.
For her, the most concerning part was that this man didn't care about other people's lives at all.
He was willing to blow up a building to cover his tracks, burying everyone inside? How many innocent lives would be lost like that?
And now, he shamelessly used that as a bargaining chip to try to strike a deal with her?
Qin Xuezhong directly tapped into the interrogation room's audio and said, "What do you think we are?"
Both the hacker and the interrogator froze.
The hacker was bewildered—what was she talking about while he was trying to make a deal?
The interrogator, on the other hand, was ecstatic—Phantom wouldn't compromise for such wickedness!
He stood obediently to the side, with a look of reverence, like a priest waiting for divine judgment.
"Phantom doesn't negotiate. If we want something, we'll take it ourselves."
On impulse, Xiao Qin said this.
Then, she directly connected to the hacker's chip and, using her consciousness void ability, invaded his mind.
The others were oblivious to what was happening.
All they saw was the hacker daze for a moment, then let out a scream of despair.
Under the amplifier's tenfold sensitivity, the already excruciating experience of mind invasion became the most painful punishment imaginable.
The hacker was completely unable to think; all his senses were reduced to endless pain.
Seeing this scene, not only the interrogator nearby but also everyone in the black space watching, held their breath.
They suddenly realized that today, Phantom was targeting an enemy.
If they did something wrong or acted against the Phantom Organization, would they be the ones sitting there in the hot seat?