Searching for someone in northern Myanmar, and you call that earning tuition fees?

The air inside the medical pod felt somewhat stagnant.

The elderly man sitting opposite Su Ming had heavy gold stars on his epaulets, carrying an undeniable weight. His codename was "Chess Player," a senior advisor in the Dragon Kingdom's military strategic department. His eyes, which had seen countless people, were now trying to see through the soul of the young university student before him.

"Su Ming, male, 18 years old, a freshman in the Finance Department of Jiangnan University. An orphan, raised by a retired veteran." The old man tapped his fingers lightly on the tablet on the table, his voice unhurried.

Su Ming leaned against the headboard, his face still pale, but his eyes were as calm as a deep pool: "Boss, I just want to earn some tuition fees. The job description says 'maritime search and rescue,' but it doesn't say there's a destroyer on the other side."

"Earn tuition fees?" The old man chuckled, his lips twitching. "For a neighborhood charity of five thousand dollars, you might help someone find a cat. But this time it's a ten million dollar reward, and you sent the 'Sea Eagle' to the bottom of the sea for that money? Do you know what that means?"

"That means the fish in that area will be very plentiful these next few days," Su Ming blurted out.

The old man paused for a moment, then burst into hearty laughter: "Good lad! You've got guts!"

The laughter ceased, and the old man leaned forward abruptly, the surrounding air seeming to freeze, an oppressive atmosphere washing over him: "But I need an explanation. Deep-sea blind diving, physical explosions, flexible connections for modified engines... these are technologies that a finance student shouldn't know. Nor can an ordinary retired veteran teach them."

Su Ming remained silent for a moment. He knew this was a hurdle he had to overcome.

"My grandfather was a carpenter and a scout. But he was also... a thoughtful person," Su Ming said, half-jokingly.

"He left me some notes and contact information for some of his old friends."

"An old friend?" The old man keenly caught the key phrase.

Su Ming nodded, his fingers, hidden under the sheet, silently typing out a rhythmic code. It was his self-made miniature transmitter; the signal was being transmitted through the background of an app, transforming into a data stream encrypted through seven layers of intermediaries, precisely knocking on the door of the military network center.

A few seconds later, an urgent report from the Information Security Department came through the old man's communication headset: "Report! A very strong encrypted data stream has been detected attempting to shake hands with us; the IP address is constantly changing...it resembles some kind of ancient military communication code!"

The old man's expression suddenly changed.

Su Ming spoke up at the opportune moment: "Some things are 'backup plans' left by my grandfather's generation. I'm just the executor. Leaders, some technologies have been circulating among the people to fill the gaps where the authorities can't intervene at crucial moments."

This is a perfect lie.

A non-existent "mysterious patriotic organization" coupled with the vague filter of "grandfather's old comrade-in-arms" is enough to explain all the inconsistencies in Su Ming's character.

The old man stared at Su Ming for a long time, and finally, the scrutiny in his eyes turned into appreciation.

"What a clever 'backup plan' from the common people." The old man stood up, his tone much gentler.

"The nation respects the secrets of every patriot. As long as your heart is patriotic, your secrets are the nation's secrets."

Su Ming secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He had passed this hurdle.

"Here's what you wanted." Su Ming pointed to the black hard drive on the bedside table, "The core data of the deep-sea drilling rig."

Just as the old man was about to reach for it, Su Ming pressed down on the hard drive.

"There's also a bonus," Su Ming said, surprising everyone. "While I was cracking the hard drive's encryption key, I also cleaned up some 'junk' inside. I found a list."

"A list?"

"A list of brokers who have infiltrated our country's scientific research system and have financial dealings with the 'Black Octopus' organization. No more, no less, thirty-seven people, the highest-ranking being..."

Su Ming gave a name.

In that instant, the old man's hand holding the tablet suddenly froze, as if suppressed anger was burning within him.

"Do you realize the significance of this list?"

"I know." Su Ming pushed the hard drive over. "That's why I'm giving it to you. Consider this my 'part-time' gift to the country as my first assignment."

The old man gave Su Ming a deep look, straightened his collar, and then solemnly raised his hand to give Su Ming, who was lying on the hospital bed, a standard military salute.

"Comrade Su Ming, on behalf of the country, thank you."

"Furthermore," the old man lowered his hand, resuming his inscrutable demeanor, "regarding your identity, although the internet is in an uproar, the authorities will keep it ambiguous. We will declare you a 'specially appointed technical advisor' who participated in a secret military exercise. As for the ten million bounty..."

The old man paused, then revealed a sly smile: "The Ministry of Finance has already given special approval. This is what you deserve, your 'consultant fee'."