Eunuch, do you really know these martial arts?

Outside the deep isolation interrogation room of Xuanwu Base.

The groundbreaking discovery about isotope labeling brought by the technical lead was like a bright light piercing through layers of fog.

Within a radius of fifty kilometers, in the Mariana Trench, with an average depth of over eight thousand meters and an extremely complex environment, it remains a huge challenge.

But compared to the previous aimless search within a radius of 500 kilometers, this is already a leap forward.

Inside the command center, there was a slightly excited atmosphere due to this discovery.

After Jiang Nian proposed that even bolder plan, things calmed down again, turning into deeper reflection and weighing of options.

"Lure the snake out of its hole, and use a two-pronged approach."

Bai Yongxu walked to the huge electronic nautical chart and stared at the dark blue area that had been remarked and whose area had been greatly reduced.

“By exploiting information asymmetry, we can create anxiety, force them into panic, and thus expose more details, even creating new opportunities for us to ambush them.”

He turned around, his gaze sharp as he looked at Jiang Nian: "The risk lies in whether the smokescreen we release will be enough to convince them?"

"What if they misjudge the situation and remain inactive, or what if they see through our intentions and turn the tables on us, setting a trap for us instead?"

"Every plan carries risks."

Jiang Nian spoke calmly, but his eyes were as firm as a rock.

"The key lies in the control of details and the grasp of timing."

"With the Butcher captured, the organization must be in a state of panic. Their obsession with the key and their focus on the Void are their biggest weakness and our best point of attack."

He walked to the control panel and pulled up the performance data for Mermaid One.

“The merfolk can not only simulate zero physiological signals, but we can also program it to simulate unstable bioelectric peaks, disguised as natural fluctuations in the key itself before the resonance cycle approaches.”

"This fluctuation, combined with intelligence about the fragmented information revealed by the butcher, is enough to cause serious misjudgments in the organization's internal assessment system."

General Zhao stroked his chin and pondered, "Making them believe that not only might their location be exposed, but the condition of the key has also changed in ways they didn't expect, disrupting their timetable, could indeed force them to make irrational decisions."

"Either act ahead of time at any cost, or strengthen defenses, and either way, you will leave a trace."

“That’s right.” Jiang Nian nodded. “We need to control the channels and the amount of information leakage.”

“Use the remaining contact points that may not have been completely severed from the previous line between Charles and Lin Wanxing to transmit this information in fragments.”

"If it's too easy, it will arouse suspicion."

Bai Yongxu pondered for a long time before finally slamming his fist into his palm.

"Let's do it! Let's follow this approach!"

"Technical department, immediately upgrade the program on Mermaid One to simulate abnormal key fluctuations. The parameters should be as close as possible to the life field resonance amplitude and fundamental frequency mentioned in Han Dong's confession!"

"The intelligence department is in charge of information dissemination!"

He looked at Jiang Nian and General Zhao: "The operations department should re-plan the reconnaissance strategy based on the new 50-kilometer radius, and at the same time formulate multiple contingency plans."

"Once the organization is activated, we must be able to seize the opportunity and deliver a fatal blow, or at least obtain more precise coordinates!"

The massive machine started running at high speed again.

Mermaid One was sent back to the laboratory, where engineers worked overnight to load a new biosignal simulation module onto it.

Intelligence experts meticulously designed a convoluted information leakage chain to ensure that information about the butcher could be transmitted in a subtle and elusive manner.

Meanwhile, the interrogation of the butcher did not stop.

Despite professional psychological tactics and limited drug assistance, the Butcher still did not reveal the specific coordinates of the Ruins or the core secrets of the Sleeper.

However, during moments of mental confusion and lapse in will, some scattered information about the organization's internal communication rules, the code names of some peripheral outposts, and the characteristics of deep-sea combat equipment was still revealed.

This information was quickly organized and analyzed.

This, corroborated by existing intelligence, further enriched the base's understanding of the organizational structure and technological capabilities.

Three days later, everything was ready.

"The information has been released as planned."

The intelligence chief reported, "Through three different levels of indirect channels, it is expected that they will be captured by the organization's surveillance system in the next 24 to 48 hours."

"The Mermaid One is in a stable state. The abnormal fluctuation sequence has been initiated. The simulated signal will be radiated outward at an extremely low intensity through a special amplifier on Hope Star."

Engineer Zhou's report.

After completing initial repairs, the Hope Star hospital ship did not return directly to port, but instead sailed to an area in international waters far from the main shipping lanes, escorted by the Sharp Sword Squad.

Claiming to be conducting equipment testing and staff rest, it actually became a mobile decoy platform.

In the base command center, everyone's eyes were focused on several monitoring screens.

Satellite remote sensing images representing the target sea area, real-time data streams from the underwater listening array, and situational awareness maps of the area surrounding Hope Star.

Waiting is agonizing.

Time passed slowly in the tension of silence and anticipation.

During the first 24 hours, the target sea area was calm and the listening array only captured the natural sounds of marine life and the faint noise of merchant ships in the distance.

"What if they didn't receive the message? Or do they simply not believe it?"

One of the younger staff officers couldn't help but mutter to himself.

"patience."

Bai Yongxu's voice was calm and steady, "The organization isn't stupid; they need time to verify and assess. The more critical the situation, the more cautious they will be."

Jiang Nian sat to the side, eyes closed, concentrating as if an old monk were in deep meditation.

However, his consciousness was highly focused, not extending outward, but repeatedly deducing various possible situations and corresponding coping strategies in his mind.

Thirty-six hours after the information was released, a turning point finally appeared!
"Report! An unusual active sonar signal has been detected by the underwater listening array in target area B7!"

"Short and high frequency, not a frequency band commonly used by commercial or research vessels! The signal characteristics are similar to those of the previously recorded Kraken-class submarines, but even more covert!"

The sonar analyst's voice carried a suppressed excitement.

coming!

The spirits of everyone in the command center were lifted.

"Can you locate the source of the signal?"

General Zhao asked urgently.

"The signal duration is too short to pinpoint the location accurately!"

"But we can confirm that the approximate location is at the edge of the fifty-kilometer radius we have defined, near the steep slope area of ​​the Parisivira Basin!"

"Continue monitoring! Mobilize all resources and keep a close watch on that area!" Bai Yongxu ordered.

Over the next few hours, the sea surface resembled a lake with pebbles thrown in, creating more and more ripples.

The abnormal sonar signal appeared twice more.

Its location has shifted slightly, but it has never deviated from a radius of fifty kilometers.

Satellite remote sensing image analysis also reported detecting an extremely faint heat source anomaly on the sea surface in that area. Although it dissipated quickly, its direction was very clear when combined with underwater anomalous sonar.

"They are conducting reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance."

Jiang Nian opened his eyes, his gaze sharp. "This is to confirm whether we have really strengthened our surveillance of the area, and also to test our reaction."

"It seems our bait worked."

A cold glint flashed in Bai Yongxu's eyes. "They can't sit still anymore."

Sure enough, in the next half day...

The base's electronic warfare department detected a sudden, several-fold increase in encrypted communication traffic in and around the target sea area.

Although the content remains undeciphered, the density of the signals and the complexity of their sources indicate that multiple units are being mobilized and coordinated.

"They are adjusting their deployment."

The intelligence officer analyzed, "Judging from the change in communication patterns, it seems that some units are retreating to the core area, while new signal sources are appearing on the periphery."

“Contract the core and strengthen perimeter vigilance.” Jiang Nian said thoughtfully, “This is a defensive posture.”

"They may have judged that we have not yet obtained the precise coordinates, but that we have already posed a serious threat, so they prioritize ensuring the safety of the Guixu entity."

"So, they probably won't come out to steal the keys so easily?"

General Zhao frowned.

“Not necessarily,” Jiang Nian shook his head. “It depends on the extent to which they misjudged the key’s status.”

"If they believe that the abnormal fluctuations of the key will irreversibly affect the operation of the Ruins, or if they worry that we will crack the secret faster than them once the key falls into our hands, then the possibility of taking a risky attack still exists."

As if to confirm Jiang Nian's judgment, about twelve hours after the abnormal surge in communication traffic, the high seas area where Hope Star was located welcomed an uninvited guest.

"Hope Star Report! Unidentified underwater target detected approaching at high speed! Number one!"

"Twenty nautical miles away! Extremely fast! Far exceeding the speed of a siren!" Hope Star's sonar operator issued an emergency alert.

"Sharp Sword Squad, Level One Combat Readiness! Mermaid One, move to the designated defensive position!"

The ghost's voice came through the communicator, calm and swift.

The atmosphere in the command center instantly became tense.

What's coming this time?
On the sonar screen, the dot of light representing the unidentified underwater target followed an almost straight trajectory, ignoring the complex ocean currents, like an underwater arrow aimed directly at the star of hope!

Its speed was so great that even the conventional torpedoes equipped by Hope Star and Sharp Sword Squad had difficulty effectively intercepting it.

"It's not a submarine! It's even smaller! It looks like a large underwater assault vehicle!"

Sonar analysts quickly make judgments based on echo characteristics.

"Prepare for boarding action or special attacks!" Bai Yongxu said in a deep voice.

Just as the unidentified underwater target approached Hope Star at about five nautical miles, it suddenly slowed down without warning and then surfaced!

"It's rising! About three nautical miles to the port side of Hope Star!"

Searchlights and night vision equipment immediately locked onto that area of ​​the sea.

A sleek and streamlined vehicle emerged from the rolling waves.

Its surface has no obvious portholes or weapon ports, and is as smooth as a creature's carapace.

The hatch slid open silently, and a figure leaped out, landing lightly on the narrow back of the vehicle.

The man was also wearing a black, form-fitting diving suit, but it was completely different from the bulky armor worn by the previous commandos.

This outfit seemed like a second skin to him, outlining his sharp and explosive lines.

His face was covered by a half-mask, revealing only a pair of eyes that gleamed coldly in the night.

He carried no seemingly bulky weapons, but simply stood there quietly, his gaze piercing through the darkness, fixed precisely on the direction of the Star of Hope.

An invisible yet tangible pressure, even across nautical miles and a screen, subtly reached the hearts of everyone in the command center.

"A master... with strength exceeding that of a grandmaster!"

Jiang Nian slowly stood up, his eyes becoming extremely solemn.

He sensed a threat from this person that was different from the purely physical threat posed by the butcher.

It is a more restrained, more refined, dangerous aura that seems to blend itself into the environment.

Their strength is probably no less than mine, and may even be stronger!
"Hope Star, don't fire first! Let's see what he's up to!"

Bai Yongxu immediately gave the order, as he also sensed that the newcomers were unusual.

The man in black stood on the sea for a moment, seemingly observing and sensing.

Then, he raised his hand and made a strange gesture in the direction of the Star of Hope.

Pinch your right thumb, index finger, and middle finger together and flick them gently.

There was no sound, no light or shadow.

But the instant he made that move, on Hope Star, the indicator lights on Mermaid 1, which was tightly protected in the core cabin, suddenly began to flash violently and chaotically.

The internal processor issued an overload warning beep!

"The merfolk are experiencing unknown interference! The analog signal is malfunctioning!"

Engineer Zhou shouted in a hoarse voice over the communication channel.

Almost simultaneously, the man in black on the sea seemed to have confirmed something, tilted his head slightly, and through his mask, seemed to let out a silent, cold laugh.

He didn't linger. Leaning back, he slid silently into the arrow-shaped vehicle as if merging into water.

The hatch closed, and the vehicle instantly submerged, disappearing into the deep sea at an even faster speed than it had come. The sonar signal rapidly weakened, and it quickly broke free of the lock.

From appearance to disappearance, it only took two or three minutes.

There was no fierce exchange of fire, no verbal sparring.

But this brief contact sent a chill down the spines of everyone in the base command center.

"What...what did he just do?"

General Zhao stared at the now calm screen and asked in a deep voice.

"He seems to have remotely interfered with and even probed the status of Mermaid One in a way that we cannot understand."

The technical lead turned pale. "The merman's analog signal almost collapsed. If we hadn't known beforehand that it was a bionic entity, we probably would have really thought there was a serious problem with the key."

Jiang Nian walked to the control panel and pulled up all the data records from when the man in black appeared.

"He may possess some unique perception or interference ability."

Jiang Nian slowly said, "He confirmed that the key's condition was abnormal, but it seems he didn't completely see through the merman's disguise? Or perhaps he believed that this abnormality was one of the key's inherent characteristics?"

This is a crucial question. (End of Chapter)