The Debtor System: Starting with a debt of 1 billion

Chapter 52 Firewall Trap

"Damn it! This isn't an invasion, it's a diversionary tactic!"

Acha's fingers flew across the holographic keyboard, but the data stream on the screen poured down like an out-of-control waterfall, with densely packed red error codes piled up together.

"He's manipulating my tracking program!" Acha's voice shrill with terror. "Lin Mo, hurry to Suya's side! 'The Butcher's' real target isn't intelligence, it's cutting off the internet!"

Lin Mo's heart sank, and the terrifying conclusion flashed through his mind: "He wants to cut off the life support system?"

"No, it's even more insidious!" Acha pulled up the base's energy topology map. A glaring red line stretched from the network nodes to the underground fusion reactor. "He planted a logic bomb in the core code. Whenever my firewall program tries to trace back, the bomb will detonate, triggering the physical lock-up of the main control valve. The entire base will switch to backup power within three seconds, but there's a 0.5-second delay in the backup power's activation..."

Lin Mo's face instantly turned ashen.

0.5 seconds.

For ordinary people, this is just a blink of an eye.

However, for Suya, who relies on extracorporeal circulation and neuroleptics to sustain her life, a 0.5-second power outage is enough to cause permanent brain damage due to lack of oxygen, or even cardiac arrest.

"He's betting we're desperate to save her." Lin Mo turned and rushed towards the medical pod, simultaneously growling into the communicator, "Can it be dismantled?"

"It's too late! The bomb's code is quantum encrypted; it will take me at least ten minutes to crack it, but the countdown is only... two minutes!" Acha's voice was choked with sobs. "Lin Mo, the only way is to manually disconnect the reactor from the main control system, but that requires someone to enter the radiation shielding layer and manually close the isolation gate! The radiation dose there is currently lethal!"

"Tell me the location." Lin Mo didn't stop for a moment; he had already rushed to the door of the medical pod.

"Sector B7, at the bottom of the reactor. Lin Mo, are you insane? Going in means certain death!"

"If she dies, I can't live either."

Lin Mo didn't give Acha another chance to persuade him. He cut off the communication, unleashed the full power of his muscles, and sprinted toward the deepest restricted area of ​​the base.

The alarm blared mournfully throughout the corridor, and the red warning lights illuminated the passageway like a pool of blood. As the countdown progressed, the base's lights began to flicker, as if a colossal beast were breathing painfully.

Meanwhile, inside the elegant medical pod, the monitor emitted a rapid "beep" sound. The fluctuations in the main power supply had already affected the life support system, and the blood oxygen saturation curve began to fluctuate wildly.

Suya writhed restlessly in her unconscious state, and the moisture condensing on her breathing mask thinned out.

"Hold on..." Lin Mo silently chanted in his heart. His lungs felt like they were on fire, but he dared not stop.

Finally, the heavy, sealed door came into view. We had arrived at Section B7.

Lin Mo entered the emergency access password, and the door slowly opened, releasing a wave of scorching heat mixed with a nauseating metallic smell. At the end of the corridor behind the door was the fusion reactor struggling on the verge of going berserk.

On the reactor control console screen, a huge countdown timer was coldly ticking:

【00:00:30】

Without the slightest hesitation, Lin Mo rushed into the control room and flung open the physical isolation gate leading to the reactor core. A blinding blue light (Cherenkov radiation) instantly filled his vision—the light of death.

He had to manually turn the 500-kilogram mechanical valve within ten seconds to cut off the power supply to the main control system.

Lin Mo gripped the scorching metal wheel with both hands, his bones creaking under the strain. Although the genetic lock granted him superhuman strength, his body still had its limits.

【00:00:15】

Sweat evaporated instantly, and a burning pain shot through his skin. Radiation was eroding his cells.

"ah--!"

Lin Mo let out a low, beast-like growl, his feet stomping so hard they created two deep dents in the radiation-proof floor. With a heavy metallic clang, the valve finally turned its final rotation.

【00:00:05】

Sizzle—!

All the lights went out instantly, plunging the base into absolute darkness.

Immediately afterwards, the emergency lights came on with a faint green glow, and the backup generator began to roar.

In the control room, Acha slumped in her chair, panting heavily. On the screen, the countdown for the logic bomb stopped at 00:00:01, then turned into a string of gibberish.

"Lin Mo? Lin Mo! Are you still there?" Acha called out, her voice trembling.

The communication channel was deathly silent, save for the sound of heavy breathing.

A few seconds later, that familiar voice finally came, weak, but with a hint of amusement: "Don't cry... I'm still alive."

Acha covered her mouth, tears welling up in her eyes.

In Zone B7, Lin Mo leaned against the scorching wall and slowly slid down to the floor. His skin had begun to redden and blister, a precursor to acute radiation sickness.

But he doesn't care.

He looked up at the surveillance camera, a mocking smile playing on his lips.

"Butcher, your trap has been broken."