Unconventional security

"As for the tax evasion at the East African Bridge, if I say I can't find it, then no one can."

Duke spoke again, pulling Chen Yun out of his joyful mood.

However, Chen Bei felt that the other person was more likely bragging.

If it's really as he says, then it makes no sense that Hope Tower would use this as an interview assessment.

We can't expect Tatum to team up with Duke to set him up, can we?

That would be utter nonsense.

"So?" Chen Bei probed, "Does Director Du want me to beg you?"

"No," Duke shook his head, "I want you to make a deal with me."

He reached into his suit jacket pocket, pulled out a USB drive, and placed it next to the metal box.

"All the evidence, methods, fund flows, and names of those involved in the East African Bridge tax evasion are here."

"Take this back and give it to Ye Zhixue. She has completed her interview and can enter Hope Tower."

"In exchange, all you need to do is bring Miao Yun over to me. Bringing someone over shouldn't be difficult, right?"

Chen Bei glanced at the USB drive on the table, then looked at Duke and said, "Director Du, I don't think you have that ability."

"I think Hope Tower as a whole is more reliable than relying on your individual abilities."

Chen Bei's words were neither too harsh nor too mild, but the meaning was very clear.

No matter how big Duke is, can it be bigger than the Tower of Hope?

The fact that the tax evasion issue at the East African Bridge was used as an interview question shows that those on the Tower of Hope had been keeping an eye on it for a long time.

If a Commerce Director says, "If we can't find it, no one can," even a three-year-old wouldn't believe it.

Duke, far from being annoyed, laughed instead.

"Director Chen, you're right, the Hope Tower is indeed bigger than me."

"But do you know why Hope Tower used this as an interview question?"

Chen Bei didn't respond, and Duke continued, "Because this tax investigation needs to be done by someone, but it can't be done by Hope Tower's own people. Those four foreign parliamentarians have people in Hope Tower."

Chen Bei raised an eyebrow.

"Half of the tax revenue from the East African Bridge goes into the pockets of certain people at Hope Tower. If Hope Tower's own people investigate, and eventually the investigation leads back to themselves, how can the work be done?"

"So they outsourced it."

Duke put down his glass and gestured to Chen Bei.

"Let an outsider, a complete novice with no connections, investigate. If they find the answer, it's a pleasant surprise. If they don't, there's no loss."

Chen Bei understood. "So you mean even if I take this USB drive back and give it to Ye Zhixue, she might not pass the interview?"

"I'll definitely pass," Duke laughed. "But what happens after I pass?"

He paused, then continued.

"She entered the Hope Tower, and what she found was what the Hope Tower wanted her to find; the people she met were what the Hope Tower wanted her to meet; the information she obtained was filtered by the Hope Tower."

"Do you think this way you'll be able to find the truth about the Earth's core?"

Chen Bei fell silent.

Duke is right. Hope Tower is not a charity; it is the territory of the Supreme Human Council. If Ye Zhixue goes in as an interviewee, what she will likely encounter will mostly be superficial.

The truly valuable information is all in the pockets of those congressmen.

That being said, the two are not the same in terms of scale.

Hopefully, the Tower possesses a wealth of information about the Earth's core, and even some superficial details can make Chen Bei and his group extremely satisfied.

"So?" Chen Bei asked, "Are you saying that cooperating with you is my only option?"

"No." Duke shook his head. "You can choose not to cooperate with me, take this USB drive back, hand it in, go into the tower, and investigate what you want to investigate."

"and then?"

"Then you will find that what you have found is what others want you to find. You think you have found the entrance to the Earth's core, but it is actually a trap that others have dug. You think you are close to the truth, but it is actually a scheme that others have set up."

He leaned back in his chair, his gaze distant and unfocused.

"Chief Chen, you've walked all the way from the lower district, haven't you seen enough potholes?"

Chen Bei remained silent.

Starting with Wang Tao's case, he was mostly in a passive position.

Zhou Lehu leads to Ye Zhixue, Ye Zhixue leads to Dr. Zhou, Dr. Zhou leads to District 9, Songming leads to Cao Chengxiu, Cao Chengxiu leads to Miao Yun, Miao Yun leads to Shen Qianshan, and Shen Qianshan leads to Duke.

The problem is that he had no choice but to do it, and he had already begun to sink deeper into the mire.

Duke clearly knows Hope Tower better than him, so there's only one explanation for his statement... Hope Tower contains false information and fake data.

In a government service hall, employees might be seeing fake data, which is simply...

"Do you think I'm exaggerating?" Duke's voice interrupted his thoughts.

Chen Bei looked up at him. Duke leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping lightly on the table.

"Director Chen, do you know why humans have been digging for over four hundred years and still haven't reached the Earth's core?"

Humans have long since ventured into space, satellites are everywhere, and communications can be rebuilt using special materials dug from underground. But what about the Earth's core?

It took more than 400 years of digging to reach 20,000 meters.

What is the radius of the Earth? More than 6,300 kilometers!

20,000 meters, where are we?

Chen Bei looked at him, waiting for him to explain, but the latter spoke first.

"Don't look at me like that. I don't know either. Only Miao Yun knows about this."

"Over the years, in the exploration and development of the Earth's core in Shangcheng District, only Miao Yun's case detected suspected signs of life activity."

"Even that photo you just saw was taken with the best camera from 5,000 meters away. Any lower and the camera wouldn't be able to withstand the high underground temperatures."

After hearing his explanation, Chen Bei asked, "So Miao Yun became a cyborg in order to go to the Earth's core?"

Duke nodded in agreement: "To dedicate oneself to science is noble."

"But she ran away as soon as she came out of the Earth's core, and turned to the androids for refuge. No one knows what she's up to, but that doesn't stop us from wanting to use her."

"She's far more valuable than you."

Chen Bei stood up, took a breath, and said, "Let me think about it. Miao Yun is in District 9. If I agree to your request, then this trip to District 1 will have been for nothing."

Duke showed no displeasure upon hearing this, and simply took out a bank card from his pocket and handed it over.

"Whatever you want, as long as you agree. The interview questions probably won't change anytime soon. You can bring people over anytime, and I'll give you the evidence."

"This card contains 30 million city-state coins. Stay in the upper city and have a good time for a few days. Goodbye."

Chen Bei did not refuse, took the bank card and turned to leave.

After Chen Bei got off the elevator, Duke downed his glass of red wine in one gulp and looked down at the entire city.

"Little sister, where else can you run to...? As long as you come back, I can finally get rid of my puppet status..."

Chen Bei walked out of the East Africa Bridge Business Office and stepped onto the bridge surface that gleamed with a faint light.

The night breeze was cool.

The holographic light pillars on both sides of the bridge cast a cold white light, illuminating the surroundings in a stark white light.

He walked quickly with his head down, still processing the information he had just received.

"Director Chen."

A voice suddenly came from ahead.

Chen Bei suddenly stopped and looked up.

At the bridgehead, next to the holographic boundary marker, stood a person.

His gray hair, gold-rimmed glasses, and white lab coat fluttered slightly in the night breeze.

Shen Qianshan.