Courtyard Houses: From Families of Martyrs and Orphans to Giants of the Times

[Countdown to self-destruction at Aoyama Base: 29 minutes and 52 seconds]

The bright red numbers kept jumping around.

It hangs on the system panel like a death warrant.

Lin Jian'an's pupils contracted slightly.

He guessed that the professor would have a backup plan.

But I never expected it to be so ruthless.

Initiate base self-destruction directly.

To know.

This is more than just a building.

The entire Qingshan base stores a large amount of technical data, equipment, and personnel files.

Once it explodes.

Many clues will disappear completely.

At this time.

The other end of the corridor.

The professor remained calm.

It was as if he wasn't the one who initiated the self-destruction.

"Isn't that surprising?"

The professor smiled faintly.

Lin Jian'an looked at him.

"To be buried with the base I've built up over many years."

Is it worth it?

The professor shook his head upon hearing this.

You still don't understand.

"What really matters is never the base."

"It's people."

"As long as the core members are still around."

"The plan can then continue."

talking.

He slowly walked towards the window.

Looking out at the brightly lit base.

"Lin Jian'an".

Do you know what I admire most about you?

"What?"

"vision."

"That's what the professor said."

"Many people in this country only see what's in front of them."

"Only you are looking at the future."

"So I've always felt that..."

"If you join us."

"He will become the best successor."

Upon hearing this...

Lin Jian'an laughed out loud.

"Inheriting an industrial espionage organization?"

The professor shook his head seriously.

"No."

"Inherited technology".

"Inherit the opportunity to change the world."

"Don't you think it's a pity?"

"Based on your abilities."

"They could have stood even higher."

"To acquire more resources."

"It can even determine the direction of an era."

The corridor fell silent.

The sound of alarms could be faintly heard in the distance.

But Lin Jian'an's face remained completely expressionless.

"so what?"

"For these reasons."

"So that means they can steal technology?"

"So you can destroy other people's achievements?"

"Could this really wipe out decades of hard work by countless researchers?"

The professor remained silent for a moment.

Then he sighed.

"really."

"You're still the same as them."

Lin Jian'an shook his head.

"I'm not like them."

"You've gone astray."

The air grew quiet.

Neither of them spoke again.

The system countdown continues.

[28 minutes 41 seconds]

Just then.

Zhao Changhe rushed forward.

"Jian'an!"

"The database has been taken control!"

"But a large number of explosive devices were discovered!"

"What's going on?"

Lin Jian'an said directly:

"The base has initiated self-destruction."

Zhao Changhe's expression changed drastically.

"What?"

"How much longer?"

"Less than half an hour."

Upon hearing this number...

Zhao Changhe's face turned black.

The entire Qingshan base covers a vast area.

All bombs were defused in half an hour.

That's simply unrealistic.

And just then...

The professor suddenly smiled.

"Don't bother."

"It can't be removed."

"The entire system is a linked structure."

"Once started."

"Nobody can stop it."

Gu Changfeng just caught up.

Hearing this, I almost rushed over and punched him.

"Old man!"

"You're really crazy!"

The professor, however, didn't care at all.

She simply watched Lin Jian'an quietly.

They seemed to be waiting for his reaction.

Lin Jian'an had already opened the system at that moment.

[Testing facility self-destruct procedure]

[Under cracking...]

[Estimated time: 11 minutes]

See here.

Lin Jian'an immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

Fortunately.

There is a way.

However, he didn't show it on the surface.

They're just stalling for time.

"professor."

"I'm very curious."

"What exactly are you after?"

Upon hearing this question...

The professor actually stopped walking.

There was a long silence.

He opened his mouth slowly.

"What's the point?"

"It's actually very simple."

"When I was young."

"I'm the same as you."

"I believe technology can change a country."

"Believe that scientific research will create the future."

"And then?"

The professor smiled.

His smile, however, carried a hint of bitterness.

"Later I discovered..."

"Many things don't yield results simply through effort."

"Some people abandon technology for profit."

"Some people suppress talented individuals for the sake of power."

"Some people would rather the project rot."

"I also don't want others to succeed."

"From that time onwards."

"I understand now."

Technology does not belong to the state.

"Technology belongs to those who master it."

The corridor fell silent.

Zhao Changhe's face was very grim.

Gu Changfeng also fell silent.

Because we have to admit it.

Some of the phenomena the professor mentioned do indeed exist.

Available in the next second.

Lin Jian'an laughed.

"So that's how you ended up like this?"

The professor frowned.

"What do you mean?"

Lin Jian'an slowly said:

"Because I have seen darkness."

"So you turned into darkness yourself?"

"Because I've been let down."

"So you're going to let down even more people?"

"Isn't this logic ridiculous?"

The professor's expression changed slightly.

Lin Jian'an continued:

"You say technology belongs to those who master it."

"Then why did so many experts in Project Sky risk their lives to send the data back?"

Why do so many people dedicate decades to working in laboratories?

Why has the country's industry been able to develop step by step to where it is today?

One sentence after another.

Like a heavy hammer.

The professor's composure gradually disappeared.

Because of these issues.

He couldn't answer.

And just then...

The system is 80% complete.

[Cracking Progress: 80%]

Estimated completion time: 2 minutes

almost.

Lin Jian'an secretly calculated in his mind.

at the same time.

The chaos continues throughout the base.

A large amount of data was moved out.

Members of the Deep Sea Project have been apprehended one after another.

The situation has completely turned in favor of the investigation team.

But just then...

The professor suddenly smiled.

"You win."

This statement came very suddenly.

Everyone was stunned.

Gu Changfeng subconsciously said:

"It's good that you know."

however.

The professor slowly took out a black remote control from his pocket.

The air froze instantly.

Zhao Changhe's expression changed drastically.

"Don't move!"

All gun barrels were raised simultaneously.

The professor, however, didn't care at all.

She simply watched Lin Jian'an quietly.

"I lost."

"But don't be too happy yet."

"Some things."

"It's not over just because you catch me."

Done.

My finger slowly rested on the button.

This moment.

The system suddenly started issuing alarms rapidly.

【warning】

Level 2 self-destruct mechanism detected.

[Danger Level Increased]

[If started]

The base will explode in 3 minutes.

Lin Jian'an's heart sank.

Oh shit!

That old man still has a trick up his sleeve!

And this time...

There wasn't enough time to crack it.

Thinking about this...

Lin Jian'an shouted directly:

"Stop him!"

It can teach you to move faster.

next second.

The finger has already been pressed down.

drop--

A soft sound.

The entire control building suddenly began to shake.

The red alert instantly turned into a glaring blood red.

[Final Destruction Procedure Initiated]

[Countdown: 180 seconds]

boom!

Everyone's expression changed at the same time.

Three minutes!

Only three minutes!

Gu Changfeng cursed out loud.

Holy crap!

The veins on Zhao Changhe's forehead bulged.

"Evacuate with everyone!"

"quick!"

And just then...

The professor suddenly laughed.

He laughed with unprecedented ease.

It felt as if all burdens had finally been lifted.

"Lin Jian'an".

"let me see."

"Can you actually create a miracle?"

Done.

He actually turned around and walked straight into the depths of the control room.

They did not run away.

There was no resistance.

It's like they're preparing to be buried along with the base.

Looking at his back.

Lin Jian'an's eyes turned completely cold.

at the same time.

The system also provided a final message.

[Discovering the Ultimate Control Core]

Location: Basement level of the control room

[If takeover is completed within 5 minutes]

[Can terminate the explosion procedure]

Success rate: 73%

See here.

Lin Jian'an did not hesitate.

They rushed straight into the underground passage.

Zhao Changhe grabbed him.

"What are you doing?"

Lin Jian'an turned around.

grin.

"Go and shut down the bomb."

Gu Changfeng became anxious.

"Three minutes left!"

"Too late!"

Lin Jian'an had already rushed into the stairwell.

The sound came from afar.

"Others don't have time."

"I might not!"

at the same time.

The system countdown kept ticking.

[177 seconds]

[176 seconds]

[175 seconds]

......

The entire Qingshan base.

The final moments have officially begun.

And the key to determining victory or defeat.

The ultimate control core is located at the deepest part of the underground.