ryethenovel Chapter 8 Nakamura's Cousin
Chapter 8 Nakamura's Cousin
Recent records made him gasp: "Starting three months ago, the energy output of the array's core began to fluctuate regularly. Every Wednesday and Saturday at 2 AM, a large amount of energy is forcibly diverted to seven external nodes. The diversion rate has reached as high as 30%!"
"Are the coordinates of the external nodes recorded?" Editor-in-Chief Qin asked anxiously.
Li Shancheng continued flipping through the pages: "These coordinates... correspond to seven landmark buildings in Kyoto City, including the Innovation Building!"
"It really was them!" Xu Qingqing exclaimed. "Hanshan Technology is stealing the energy from the array's core!"
"That's not all." Li Shancheng's face grew increasingly pale. "The logs show that due to the continuous diversion of energy, the self-repair ability of the array's core has decreased by 40%. If this continues, the Wen Shu array's core will completely fail within three months at most. At that time, all the auxiliary array points will collapse, and the entire metaphysical balance of Kyoto City will be disrupted..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but both Editor-in-Chief Qin and Xu Qingqing understood the seriousness of the consequences.
"We need evidence, publicly available evidence," Editor-in-Chief Qin said in a deep voice. "Logs alone are not enough; we also need physical evidence to prove that Hanshan Technology is illegally using the array's energy."
"Those surveillance devices are evidence," Xu Qingqing said. "If we could get a sample, we could analyze the runes and residual energy on it..."
Suddenly, the hall began to shake. It wasn't an earthquake, but some kind of energy surge.
"Someone has triggered the outer perimeter security!" Editor-in-Chief Qin's expression changed drastically. "They've discovered us!"
The Book of Light took flight again, its pages flipping rapidly, projecting a live image into the center of the hall—on the ground, outside the library, three people dressed in black were breaking through the protective barrier. One of them held a magical artifact emitting red light, each impact causing the barrier to shake violently.
"They're from Hanshan Technology!" Xu Qingqing recognized one of them. "That tall guy is the one who was monitoring us yesterday!"
"What are they planning to do? A full-scale attack on the secret vault?" Li Shancheng asked.
"It's not a direct assault, it's interference," Editor-in-Chief Qin quickly analyzed. "They know the vault has powerful defenses, and a direct assault is impossible. But they can create energy interference to trap us here, or... trigger the vault's automatic defense mechanism, causing the array's core to mistakenly identify us as intruders."
The tremors in the hall grew stronger, and the gems on the dome began to shimmer erratically.
"We must return immediately," Editor-in-Chief Qin decided. "Shancheng, remember the key points of the log. Xu Qingqing, prepare for battle; we may encounter an ambush after we go out."
They quickly retraced their steps. The runic light within the passage became unstable, flickering intermittently. As they approached the exit, they heard the sound of collapsing rocks ahead.
"The passage has been destroyed!" Xu Qingqing shouted.
A huge rock blocked the way, and light and shadows of people could be seen through the cracks in the ground.
"Go out from above." Editor-in-Chief Qin formed hand seals, preparing to forcibly open the top of the passage.
Just then, a thought flashed through Li Shancheng's mind. He remembered a scene from a mural—ancient cultivators used specific combinations of runes to pass through obstacles in a short time.
Without time to think, he stretched out his finger and quickly drew three runes in the air. The runes combined and spun in the air before imprinting themselves on the stone in front of him. Ripples spread across the stone's surface, making it resemble the surface of water.
"A wall-penetrating talisman? And a combination of them!" Editor-in-Chief Qin exclaimed in surprise. "Quick, while the effect is still active, get through!"
The three quickly passed through the illusory stones and returned to the courtyard of Qingyun Alley. The moment they emerged, the passage behind them completely collapsed, and the ground returned to its original state.
Under the night sky, Qingyun Lane was quiet, as if nothing had happened.
But they knew the calm was merely a facade. Hanshan Technology had dropped its pretense, and the conflict between the two sides had moved from the shadows to the open. And the information Li Shancheng possessed might be the key to saving the Wen Shu formation's core.
The sound of police sirens came from afar, not towards Qingyun Lane, but from the direction of the library.
"They deliberately triggered the alarm to divert attention," Editor-in-Chief Qin sneered. "It's clever, but also dangerous. Once the regular police get involved, things will become complicated."
"What do we do now?" Li Shancheng asked, still holding a copy of the diary he had brought from the secret vault—the Book of Light had torn off a page before he left and handed it to him in physical form.
Editor-in-Chief Qin looked at the glowing page, a resolute glint in his eyes: "Tomorrow, we'll go to the library and expose Hanshan Technology's surveillance equipment in front of the librarian. But before that, we need more evidence to ensure the chain of evidence is complete."
"I can infiltrate Hanshan Technology and get equipment samples," Xu Qingqing suggested.
"Too dangerous," Editor-in-Chief Qin shook his head. "They're definitely on high alert right now. We need another way..."
Li Shancheng suddenly realized something: "The surveillance system in the Chuangzhi Building was installed by Hanshan Technology itself, right? If they can monitor others, could we... monitor them in reverse?"
Editor-in-Chief Qin and Xu Qingqing both looked at him, their eyes shining with admiration.
"An eye for an eye," Editor-in-Chief Qin laughed. "Good idea. But to achieve this, we need an expert who is proficient in electronic technology and rune combination."
"I know someone," Xu Qingqing said. "My cousin. He runs an electronics repair shop in Nakamura. On the surface, he repairs mobile phones and computers, but he actually specializes in 'technological metaphysics.' He can help."
Is it reliable?
"Absolutely reliable, he's one of ours."
Editor-in-Chief Qin nodded: "Contact him first thing tomorrow morning. Everyone should get a good rest tonight; we probably won't have time to sleep for the next few days."
Back in his dorm, Li Shancheng lay on his bed, but couldn't fall asleep. Everything that had happened that day replayed in his mind: the battle in the garage, drawing talismans in mid-air, the earth vein passage, the Wen Shu secret vault... Each experience was reshaping his understanding of the world.
He took out the copy of the journal; the paper glowed faintly in the darkness. The text on it recorded detailed data on the erosion of the array's core, each number shockingly alarming.
Outside the window, the lights of Kyoto City burned all night. Beneath the surface of this city, an unseen war was raging. And he, a mere college student just three days ago, had inexplicably become a key figure in this war.
My phone vibrated; it was a message from my mother: "Shancheng, are you settling into your new job? Take care of yourself, don't overwork yourself."
Looking at this ordinary yet heartwarming message, Li Shancheng felt a mix of emotions. He wanted to tell his mother the truth, but he knew he couldn't. Some paths, once embarked upon, can only be walked alone.
He replied, "It's fine, Mom. You too, take care of yourself."
Li Shancheng put down his phone and closed his eyes. Tomorrow, they would take the initiative, no longer playing defense. Whatever the outcome, he would not back down.
Because once you know something, you take on a responsibility.
Responsibility is the beginning of growth.