The First Order

1224 Down in the abyss

“Everyone ready?”

After dinner, Luo Lan stood up and took a deep breath.

He looked around as Zhou Qi, Third Brother Qing, Xu Man, and the others also stood up quietly. “We’re ready.”

Including the 180 elite troops of the special forces company, a total of 184 people had arrived in the Central Plains and were about to enter Stronghold 61. Be it success or failure, it all hinged on this move.

The Qianling River Bridge stretched across the turbulent waters like a stable existence. It was as though the two ends of the bridge were two different worlds.

It was the difference between life and death.

They knew Luo Lan was not asking whether they were done eating when he asked if everyone was ready.

Instead, he was asking if they had considered all the consequences of crossing this bridge.

Zhou Qi asked, “I just want to know if the Wang Consortium will be taken care of after this plan is completed? If you all want me to take this risk, at least let me know whether it’ll be worth it, right?”

When Zhou Qi and the others received their documents, there was only a lone action plan with nothing mentioning the outcome.

It was as though they were actors in a stage play who had only received part of the script with their own plot and lines on it. Once they were done with their parts, that was it for them.

They didn’t even know their cast mates’ roles nor what would happen after that.

Luo Lan looked at Zhou Qi and said in seriousness, “Everyone was not briefed about the other parts of the plan to prevent the Wang Consortium from knowing the overall plan if the AI takes control of any of us. Don’t worry, you’re not the only one who doesn’t know the full details. Xu Man and Qing Shen are not aware of them either, me included. Anyone who might cause the plan to get leaked has no right to know about the overall plan.”

In other words, Qing Zhen had assumed that those involved in this operation would either get captured or die when he drew up the plan.

Zhou Qi raised an eyebrow. “Alright, since even you are not fully in the know, I feel better already. Let me tell you this, Fatty Luo, you better not lie to me. This plan had better be worth so many of us risking our lives for it.”

“But I still have one final word to say.” Luo Lan instructed with a solemn expression, “If any of us, no matter who, are in danger of getting captured, don’t try to resist. Suicide is our best option. We can’t let the AI gain control of us to face Qing Zhen, understand?”

Luo Lan found it very difficult to imagine how pained Qing Zhen would be if they were to become his opponents after getting controlled. Therefore, if that really happened, he would rather choose to bear that pain himself.

Xu Man said, “I’ve already drawn up a detailed plan of retreat, so that won’t happen.”

“That had better be the case.” Zhou Qi curled his lips.

But at this moment, a black Shadow Door suddenly opened up not far away from where Luo Lan and company had set up camp.

When Luo Lan saw this, his eyes lit up. That was because he had witnessed Ren Xiaosu using the Shadow Door so many times!

However, this Shadow Door seemed larger than Ren Xiaosu’s.

A moment later, the slender Luo Xinyu walked out of it looking extremely exhausted.

“Eh, what are you doing here?” Luo Lan asked curiously.

When the Qing Consortium’s secret nuclear military base got destroyed, Luo Xinyu was captured alive by the Qing Consortium.

Luo Lan had thought she would have been imprisoned somewhere by Qing Zhen, so he did not expect to see her here.

Luo Xinyu was wearing a strange metallic belt around her waist with a countdown timer display and an electronic password lock.

Luo Xinyu said with a pale face, “Disarm this time bomb for me and I’ll tell you the news Qing Zhen wanted me to deliver.”

Luo Lan was amused. So it turned out Luo Xinyu had been forced by Qing Zhen to deliver a message.

Judging by her expression, she must have overexerted her power to get here and was close to collapsing.

However, Luo Lan had no intention of showing any mercy even if she was the fairer sex. He chuckled as he looked at the countdown timer on the metallic belt. There was still an hour and 31 minutes left.

Luo Lan said with a laugh, “Tell me the news first and I’ll disable it for you. My reputation should be a guarantee that I won’t lie to you.”

Luo Xinyu hesitated for a moment before finally taking out a small note from her pocket and handing it to Luo Lan.

Luo Lan was pleasantly surprised when he unfolded the note. It said: “Ren Xiaosu has already set off for the Central Plains. He’ll probably encounter an ambush and obstruction by the AI along the way, so his estimated arrival will be three days.”

Below the message was a small string of numbers.

He handed the note to Xu Man. “Inspect the handwriting and hash.”

Those numbers were not meant to transmit any information. Instead, they were an encryption hash that verified Luo Xinyu had not swapped the note.

After countless wars in the history of humanity, the transmission of intel had become a systemized subject.

Every number and character stroke could be used as a mark to verify the authenticity of information.

Two minutes later, Xu Man nodded at Luo Lan. “No problem, the intel is verified.”

Zhou Qi laughed. “There’s finally good news. With Ren Xiaosu coming, our safety will be greatly assured.”

However, Zhou Qi suddenly realized Luo Lan did not seem very happy. “What’s with that expression? Didn’t you always look forward to Ren Xiaosu protecting you? Why do you look a little unhappy this time?”

Luo Lan said calmly, “You know why we’re here. I didn’t have anyone inform Ren Xiaosu before we set off because I didn’t want him to risk his life with us.”

“I never recall you thinking that way before,” Zhou Qi wondered.

“It’s different this time.” Luo Lan said, “It’s gotten more dangerous than ever.”

“You’re quite sentimental,” Zhou Qi said disdainfully.

“Disarm it,” Luo Xinyu said coldly.

“But I don’t know the password either. Why don’t I make a guess for your sake?” Luo Lan laughed.

Luo Xinyu’s expression immediately changed. “You don’t know the password? Is this the way the Qing Consortium does things? Do you think you can toy with the lives of others as you please? Qing Zhen said this password lock is limited to three wrong tries. So do you know the password or not?”

Luo Lan walked up to Luo Xinyu and said, “Don’t panic, don’t panic. Although Qing Zhen didn’t tell me the password, he must think I can figure it out since he told you to look for me. My younger brother is not an executioner who kills without batting an eyelid.”

Luo Xinyu pursed her lips and did not say anything. She just watched quietly as Luo Lan keyed “123456” into the metallic belt. With a click, the buckle on the belt was undone.

“See, the password is just that simple. I succeeded on the first try,” Luo Lan said with a laugh.

She was on the verge of a mental breakdown. The password was actually that simple?

Luo Lan chuckled and said, “Actually, there’s no limit to the number of times you can key in the password. You could have also unlocked it with a couple more tries. Qing Zhen was just trying to scare you. Anyway, I have to remind you not to go to the Wang Consortium now that the bomb has been disabled. You can go wherever you want. Just don’t get involved in these matters anymore. Yang Xiaojin is at Stronghold 144, so you can go and look for her.”

Luo Xinyu rolled her eyes. “I don’t need you to worry about me.” With that, she turned around and disappeared into the Shadow Door. It was as though she did not want to stay here a moment longer.

“So what should we do now? Wait here for Ren Xiaosu to join up with us?” Zhou Qi asked.

“That’ll, of course, be the best solution.” Luo Lan looked across the bridge and said, “But the Wang Consortium will not wait for us.”

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone saw a convoy driving out of Stronghold 61’s city gate at the other end of the bridge. It looked like they were here to welcome Luo Lan and company.

“Whatever happens, happens. Let’s go.” Luo Lan laughed heartily as he got into the vehicle.

The long convoy of off-road vehicles drove all the way across the Qianling River Bridge.

After they all crossed the bridge, Luo Lan suddenly had his convoy stop. He thought for a moment before taking out the red Eye of True Sight that Ren Xiaosu had given him.

Xu Man and the others watched in silence. They saw Luo Lan finding a wide bridge pillar before the Wang Consortium’s convoy arrived. He pressed the red Eye of True Sight against it before turning it ten times.

Then he turned to Xu Man and said, “This is the life-saving charm Ren Xiaosu gave me. It’s said that behind this door lies the place I want to go to the most. If your retreat plan doesn’t work, we’ll leave through here. Zhou Qi, remember, we’ll meet up at this place at the agreed time. If you don’t show up by then, we won’t wait for you either.”

Based on what Luo Lan said, Zhou Qi seemed like he would be acting separately from the group after this.

Zhou Qi curled his lips. “Don’t worry, I don’t expect you all would risk your lives to wait for me. But aren’t you going to see what’s behind the door? Aren’t you curious?”

Luo Lan laughed. “No, I’m scared I’ll be too reluctant to go to Stronghold 61 once I see what’s behind the door.”

Actually, Luo Lan could roughly guess what was behind the door. However, he knew he could not take a look at it.

Humans had to keep looking forward. If they kept looking back at their happy past, they might not bear to move forward.

Let the past remain in the past.

Afterwards, Luo Lan got back into the vehicle without looking back and drove towards the Wang Consortium’s convoy.

After the two convoys joined up, the Wang Consortium’s convoy suddenly split into two groups. One of them led the way in front of the Qing Consortium’s convoy while the other drove at the end of it. It was as though they were escorting Luo Lan and company.

Their actions flowed like water, working like a sophisticated machine.

Zhou Qi looked at them through the car window. “They’re treating us like prisoners?!”

“Don’t complain so much. We’re in their territory.” Luo Lan laughed. “Haven’t we expected all this?”

The respective convoy’s in-car walkie-talkies were tuned to the same channel. The voice of the Wang Consortium’s host crackled over the walkie-talkie, “Boss Luo, I hope you’ve been well. I’m Wang Run of the Wang Consortium. I’ll be playing host to everyone this time.”

Zhou Qi picked up the in-car walkie-talkie and said sarcastically, “The Wang Consortium sets such high standards when it comes to hospitality.”

Wang Run replied, “This is the first time we’re hosting the Qing Consortium’s head at the Wang Consortium, after all. We’re only doing this to prevent anyone with evil intentions from ruining the friendship between the Wang Consortium and the Qing Consortium.”

Zhou Qi put the walkie-talkie back and muttered, “More like they’re afraid we’ll run away. Everyone, what should we do now?”

At this moment, Zhou Qi, Xu Man, Third Brother Qing, and Luo Lan were sitting in the same vehicle with Xu Man driving.

But before they could say anything, Wang Run’s voice suddenly crackled over the walkie-talkie again. “Everyone, we’ll be heading directly to the Wang Consortium’s Artificial Intelligence Center for a tour. Mr. Wang Shengzhi is already waiting for you all there. The meeting will begin today.”

Luo Lan and the others were all stunned. Why were they going to meet with Wang Shengzhi immediately? This was not in line with the protocol.

Under normal circumstances, the Wang Consortium should have settled them at a prearranged accommodation first. After all, it was such a high-profile meeting, and it had been a long and tiring journey for them from the Southwest, so how could they possibly get down to business without first letting them get some rest?

No matter how one looked at it, this was not in line with proper etiquette.

After confirming that the walkie-talkie’s receiver was off, Zhou Qi lowered his voice and said to Luo Lan, “This is completely different from what we had planned! We should wait for Ren Xiaosu to arrive before heading to the Artificial Intelligence Center!”

Xu Man also said, “No, we can’t go to the Artificial Intelligence Center right away. We have to wait for Ren Xiaosu to arrive at the Wang Consortium first.”

Getting into the building where the artificial intelligence was housed was the first step in their plan. They should have been happy about it.

But the timing was not correct!

Luo Lan nodded. He picked up the walkie-talkie and said, “Wang Run, is this how your Wang Consortium treats its guests? Our Qing Consortium’s head has come to your place, yet you won’t even allow us to take a shower first? Moreover, we’ve already shown enough sincerity by turning up, so it’s time you guys show your sincerity now.”

Wang Run answered over the walkie-talkie, “Sorry, everyone. It’s very difficult for me to agree to your request because the commander doesn’t have much time left. It’s not a secret. The commander also said there’s no need to hide it from you all. He can’t wait any longer. It’s rare that he regained consciousness today, so if we want to discuss, we’ll have to do it right away.”

When he said that, Luo Lan and the others looked at each other in the vehicle. They could never have expected to receive such an answer.

Wang Shengzhi was running out of time?!

The vast Central Plains had just been unified, but the person who unified it was on the verge of death. Moreover, if what Wang Run said was true, Wang Shengzhi was rarely even conscious anymore.

Now was supposed to be the time for the other party to enjoy his authority!

“Do you all think this news is true?” Luo Lan asked.

“It should be.” Third Brother Qing said calmly, “Otherwise, since we’ve been placed under the watch of the Wang Consortium, there shouldn’t be a need for him to be so anxious or lie to us.”

Zhou Qi said, “Then why don’t we just drag it out until he is dead? Once Wang Shengzhi dies, the Wang Consortium will immediately fall into chaos. At that time, the Qing Consortium won’t even need to make a move to deal with the Wang Consortium. It will simply collapse on its own.”

Luo Lan glanced at Zhou Qi. “We’re not dealing with the Wang Consortium this time.”

Rather, it was the artificial intelligence, Zero, who they were after.

A long time ago, Qing Zhen told Xu Man that most people saw the Wang Consortium and the artificial intelligence as one whole entity. However, in Qing Zhen’s eyes, the artificial intelligence and the Wang Consortium were not one and the same.

In his opinion, the artificial intelligence was far more dangerous than the Wang Consortium.

This time, they were here to destroy the artificial intelligence’s server bank in the subterranean river. If they wanted to complete this step, they would first have to get access to the Artificial Intelligence Center.

But once they entered that building, there would be no turning back.

Zhou Qi said, “I suggest we wait a little longer until Ren Xiaosu arrives.”

Luo Lan analyzed, “We can’t wait any longer. If Wang Shengzhi suddenly dies, will we get another chance to get into the Artificial Intelligence Center? I’m afraid not.”

“So be it then.” Zhou Qi said, “We can always find another opportunity in the future.”

“No.” Luo Lan said firmly, “This is the most important step in Qing Zhen’s plan, so we have to pull it off. Qing Zhen has said more than once that we’re in a race against time.”

Next to them, Third Brother Qing suddenly asked, “Even if you die running this race?”

Luo Lan stared intently at Third Brother Qing and said, “It’s too late for regrets.”

“I’m not regretful.” Third Brother Qing shrugged. “If even you dare to go, what’s there for me to be afraid of?”

Luo Lan turned around and looked at the others. “Xu Man, Zhou Qi, have we left out anything in our plan? No, we didn’t. Are we gonna give up on what we’ve been planning for such a long time just because we suddenly found out that Ren Xiaosu will be coming? We can’t wait any longer for Ren Xiaosu.”

“Are you worried that you’ll implicate Ren Xiaosu and put him in danger?” Third Brother Qing said softly, “Actually, what we’re doing now also helps the Northwest.”

Luo Lan laughed. “That’s not it. Why would I care so much at this time? Besides, we’re not weak either, so there’s no reason for us to always expect others to save us, right?”

The truly strong-willed would never need anyone to be their savior. They would be prepared to face death.

Zhou Qi asked softly, “Have you thought it through? Even if we pull it off, Qing Zhen’s subsequent plan might still fail. If we die here, we will have died in vain.”

When Zhou Qi asked this, it was as though he had returned to that snowy night when he accompanied Qing Zhen up Mt. Ginkgo.

“Yes, I’ve thought it through.” Luo Lan looked out the window and said, “The Qing Consortium’s 1,374 secret agents have remained isolated from the world for five years and haven’t gone back to see their families once. Their sacrifices were all for that moment of success. We mustn’t let Qing Zhen’s meticulous planning go to waste, nor must the hard work of these secret agents be wasted. This opportunity we’ve worked so hard for can’t be for nothing.”

Luo Lan suddenly laughed. “With so much pressure, I suddenly feel like I’m also a hero now.”

…

After the convoy entered the stronghold, Xu Man suddenly said, “I keep getting the feeling that something is not right about this Stronghold 61. There’s dozens of vehicles in our convoy, but when we passed by, very few pedestrians stopped to take a look at us.”

This was actually very illogical. In a normal situation, everyone would stop in their tracks to see what the deal was with the convoy.

“It’s a little strange, but we can’t care so much right now.” Luo Lan said, “Let’s get ready.”

Ten minutes later, when the convoy passed over the Jing River Bridge in Stronghold 61, Luo Lan’s convoy suddenly came to a halt. This action forced the Wang Consortium’s vehicles to come to an emergency stop as well.

Luo Lan jumped out of the vehicle with a swagger. The soldiers of the special forces company also got out of their vehicles and set up a lockdown zone around the vehicle.

Wang Run looked at Luo Lan, who was walking towards him, with a cold expression. “Boss Luo, what’s the matter now?”

Luo Lan smiled as he leaned against the window of Wang Run’s vehicle and said, “Can’t I come and have a chat with you? How are things recently? How much does Wang Shengzhi pay you? Are you married? Do you have children? How old are they? Do you have boys or girls…”

Wang Run was stunned. He thought to himself, ‘What nonsense are you rambling on about?’

At the same time, Zhou Qi took advantage of the cover provided by the soldiers of the special forces company and leaped into the calm Jing River.

For someone weighing 75 kilograms jumping into the river from a bridge more than three meters high, he plunged into the river like a droplet of water falling in. No noise was caused that would alarm Wang Run and his men.

There were no splashes either.

Wang Run suddenly felt that something was off when he saw Luo Lan’s grin. He hurriedly got out of the vehicle and looked behind the convoy. Then he looked at the river but did not discover anything unusual.

In the clear blue water, Zhou Qi moved like a torpedo as he hid deep underwater and swam west.

Zhou Qi did not stay in the stronghold for long. Instead, he swam all the way out and finally climbed ashore at a silt farm near the Wang Consortium.

From the outside, there did not seem to be anything unusual about this silt farm. But when Zhou Qi went ashore, all the machinery that was excavating silt stopped.

Several armed soldiers walked out of the factory and greeted him, “Sir.”

This place was already under the firm control of the Qing Consortium before Luo Lan’s arrival.

Or rather, Qing Zhen had taken control of this silt farm much earlier. At that time, the artificial intelligence had not even controlled a weapon like the nanomachines yet.

“Is everyone ready?” Zhou Qi asked solemnly.

“We’re ready.”

“Has everyone in the factory been rounded up and restrained?” Zhou Qi said, “We must ensure that nothing goes wrong, no one must escape.”

“Understood.” A soldier asked, “Should we silence them all?”

“No need.” Zhou Qi muttered, “If Luo Lan finds out, he will nag at us for a long time. Never mind, just keep them under control.”

The group quietly walked into the factory. Inside, a large mechanical monster was covered under a tarp.

Zhou Qi pulled off the tarp and revealed the true appearance of the steel monster inside.

Standing in front of it, humans appeared somewhat powerless and insignificant.

The soldier introduced, “This was previously used by the Kong Consortium for underground drilling. Although it’s been decommissioned, it’s still enough to handle the drilling into the subterranean river.”

The DP-01 drilling platform was equipped with an EST-01-29 core drill bit. This monster seemed to have the power to directly pierce through the core of the earth.

These 20 heavily armed Qing Consortium soldiers had been lurking in the Central Plains for a long time. At this moment, all of them felt an indescribable sense of duty.

This inconspicuous silt farm was the starting point of all their plans.

A rumbling sounded. Zhou Qi watched calmly as the steel machinery activated. The moment the invincible drill bit came into contact with the ground, everyone could feel the sense of power from a modern scientific civilization.

It would only take an hour for this behemoth to help them open up access to the subterranean river.

If he wanted to approach the artificial intelligence, Zero, he would have to get into the subterranean river first.

That was a world of darkness, but Zhou Qi was not afraid.

He had never shared with anyone what he feared.

Zhou Qi stood in front of the drilling equipment in silence. After a while, he suddenly asked the soldier beside him, “Do you believe someone would risk their lives to save you?”

The soldier was stunned. “Sir, I believe it.”

“Mhm.” Zhou Qi fell silent again.

The roaring drill bit stabbed into the ground like a thorn. When the scale showed that the drill head had reached a depth of 27 meters, water suddenly flowed out of the steel pipe outside the extractor.

“Sir, we’ve gotten through,” the soldier said.

The huge drilling equipment started raising the drill head. This way, Zhou Qi could directly enter the subterranean river through the pipeline.

Zhou Qi took off his suit while the soldiers at the side brought him a diving suit, flippers, and an oxygen tank.

“I don’t need the flippers and oxygen.” Zhou Qi smiled and pointed at the ground under his feet. “That’s my home field.”

The bottom of the pipeline was an abyss that led straight to the depths of purgatory.