After Xu Mengyao left, Chief Manager Li immediately called Xu Guofeng.
"Chairman Xu, the President just had me install a file on the server. She said it's a defense system."
"I'm worried she might have been deceived... The President isn't particularly knowledgeable about network security."
Chief Manager Li explained.
Xu Guofeng's face showed surprise. "Chief Manager Li, security is paramount. You did the right thing. Let me ask Mengyao first before I respond."
Xu Guofeng immediately called Xu Mengyao.
*You can't just install anything on the server.*
*It's easier to breach a fortress from within!*
"Mengyao, Chief Manager Li just called me—" Xu Guofeng explained what had happened.
On the other end, Xu Mengyao replied, "Dad, I'm not that foolish. Your son-in-law wrote the file."
Xu Guofeng paused.
"Lin Chen wrote it?"
"Lin Chen's hacking skills are that advanced?"
Xu Mengyao replied, "He said it was 'average.'"
Xu Guofeng chuckled. "Perfect. Lin Chen's 'average' is probably top-tier globally. To him, anything less than world-class is just average!"
Xu Mengyao giggled. "Dad, you know him so well."
"Of course I do. His 'slightly familiar,' 'average,' and 'advanced' levels all align with this standard."
"I'll speak to Chief Manager Li shortly. It's his duty, so don't criticize him for this."
After hanging up, Xu Guofeng quickly called Chief Manager Li.
"Chief Manager Li, the defense system is real, and its capabilities are likely excellent."
"If there's another intrusion, don't panic. Respond calmly and rationally," Xu Guofeng said in a serious tone.
Chief Manager Li sighed in relief. "Chairman Xu, that's good to hear. Chairman Xu, I wasn't questioning the President, I just—"
"No need to explain. You're doing your job. Focus on that and don't worry about anything else."
"Understood, Chairman Xu."
***
It was daytime in China, but night had fallen somewhere abroad.
Mitchell woke up.
He usually slept during the day and worked at night, when his mind was most active.
"Teacher, we have a mission. The reward is one million US dollars. Are you interested?"
After logging into his computer, Mitchell saw a message from one of his apprentices.
He had many apprentices online, all skilled but still far from his own level.
His apprentices were valuable, allowing him to access more missions. Their safe return after the attempt also indicated that the target's technical capabilities were relatively weak.
"One million US dollars?"
"You actually got a mission of this caliber?" Mitchell replied, surprised.
His apprentices were significantly less skilled than him, usually taking on ordinary missions with modest rewards. A million-dollar payout was exceptionally high.
"Teacher, we got lucky and took this one. We tried an attack once but failed. Fortunately, we didn't run into any trouble."
"The target's defenses are solid, but their counterattack capabilities are mediocre."
The person Mitchell had contacted quickly sent him a message.
Mitchell pondered.
The million-dollar price tag gave him a sense of danger.
He usually avoided high-paying jobs.
But he'd lost a lot of money at the casino a few days ago and was tight on cash. He needed to earn more.
"Are you sure it's safe?"
"Teacher, it should be safe. The client is a legitimate company, not one of the top-tier tech giants. None of us have been compromised."
"Send me the mission details... I want seventy percent if we succeed."
Mitchell decided to take the job after all.
With his skills, he should be able to escape as long as he didn't run into one of the top thirty hackers.
The top thirty usually didn't bother with someone like him.
Many of them worked for governments, top internet companies, or financial institutions like banks.
There were plenty of places worldwide that needed elite hackers.
"China... Xu Group." Mitchell quickly investigated.
The Xu Group possessed considerable assets, but in China, there were many companies far more powerful than it.
*There are only a few companies in all of China I truly fear. They probably aren't hiding within the Xu Group.*
Mitchell thought to himself.
"Proceed with the operation."
"I'll strike at the opportune moment."
Though he didn't believe the threat was significant, Mitchell still cautiously sent his apprentice to take the lead.
*When there's trouble, the apprentice takes the fall!*
His own success in evading capture for forty years was a testament to his caution.
"Understood, Teacher."
"With your guidance, we're bound to succeed."
Mitchell's apprentice and his subordinates moved swiftly.
Undercurrents of malicious activity surged toward the Xu Group across the network.
*Wooo—*
Their attack immediately triggered the alarm system.
The Xu Group's cybersecurity department swiftly mounted a defense.
Mitchell watched silently from the shadows.
With his skills, as long as he didn't intervene, even those more skilled than him would struggle to locate him.
"Their defenses are decent."
"This level of network defense is what you'd expect from a company of this caliber," Mitchell thought to himself.
"You all withdraw first!"
Mitchell sent a message to his apprentice.
"Retreat!"
His apprentice and subordinates rapidly withdrew. Mitchell watched from the shadows, noting that no one pursued them.
"Safe!"
A faint smile appeared on Mitchell's face.
He messaged his apprentice to continue the operation while he secretly launched his intrusion.
At the Xu Group, someone said, "Chief Manager, why did they retreat only to attack again? Something feels off."
Another replied, "I agree. I suspect there's a hidden player—'Old Six'—pulling the strings. They might be testing for any hidden experts we have."
Chief Manager Li's expression turned grave.
"Don't overthink it," he said in a low voice. "Do everything you can to prevent the enemy from breaking through!"
They worked with lightning speed, their fingers flying across keyboards. Data streams flashed rapidly across their screens.
Five minutes passed.
A faint smile spread across Mitchell's face. He had breached their defenses.
*Beep! Beep!*
Lin Chen's phone suddenly rang. The call came from a network number.
This phone was special; ordinary numbers couldn't reach him. He had set it up himself.
Lin Chen didn't answer.
There was no need to answer. The fact that this number was calling meant someone was attempting to infiltrate the Xu Group.
"They attacked yesterday, and they're back today."
"They're really bold."
Lin Chen muttered to himself.
"Qianqian, why don't you do some homework by yourself for a while?"
"If you don't feel like doing homework, you can play with your toys instead."
Lin Chen kissed Lin Xiaoqian.
The girl nodded obediently. "Daddy, I'll do my homework. I think it's fun, hehe."
"Alright."
"I'll come check it later."
Lin Chen quickly went to his study and opened his computer.
Having previously explored the Xu Group's servers, he now navigated them with ease.
Mitchell was still trapped in his honeypot system. It would take him a while to realize he'd been tricked.
"Not bad, for a Grandmaster-level attacker."
"But you're no match for me."
Lin Chen mused.
The intruder's skill level was only Grandmaster-tier, while his own hacking skills were now Great Grandmaster-tier.
-----------------------
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