Chapter 388: Chapter 270: Compiling Black Absolute_2

The underground laboratory was severely damaged by Qi Ling’s drone before, but it has been completely cleared out, and new equipment is being transported in. It should be operational in a few days.

Su Mo specifically found a large room and purchased the best hardware as Qi Ling’s hacker room.

The various software required for the equipment was installed yesterday, and Qi Ling sat down, swinging her legs, "What a good thing, let me see."

Su Mo took out a chip storage device from his pocket, his expression becoming serious, "Qi Ling, I trust your skills, but I must remind you to hold this thing in high regard."

"This is a segment of virus source code. You have one task, which is to thoroughly research it so we can fully control and utilize it."

Qi Ling was playful when necessary and serious when required, nodding, "Don’t worry, I won’t neglect it."

She received the chip, inserted it into the computer, and then opened her own analysis software to begin analyzing the Black Extinction Virus source code.

Soon, complex program codes began to roll across the computer screen, resembling a digital storm.

Qi Ling quickly got into the zone, her slender fingers dancing rapidly across the keyboard as her eyes focused on the electronic flood.

The codes on the computer screen were dense, scrolling quickly, with various programming language characters and parameters flashing on the black background, forming an enormous and complex digital maze.

Su Mo didn’t understand technology, but he could recognize the basic colors; the screen’s constantly popping-up windows were glaring red, obviously indicating various errors.

The natural upward curve of Qi Ling’s lips disappeared at some point as she stared expressionlessly at the screen, her eyes mirroring the rolling codes, her thoughts rapidly analyzing and assessing the scene before continuing to operate.

The windows on the screen kept changing—sometimes they were red error messages, sometimes green success information. Qi Ling continuously corrected errors and added new instructions, as if engaged in a digital warfare.

Finally, with a glaring red light, the error windows flooded the screen, taking over everything.

Qi Ling’s eyes reflected the red-stained screen as she sat motionless.

After a long silence, she spoke, "The analysis failed."

Su Mo was mentally prepared for this result and asked softly, "What’s the situation exactly?"

Qi Ling thought for a moment and said, "Let me ask you a question first. If you can’t answer, just say you can’t, it’s okay."

Su Mo: "Okay, ask away."

Qi Ling: "This segment of virus source code, did you snatch it from the Black Domain Group?"

If you doubt a person, don’t use them; if you use them, don’t doubt them. Since Su Mo decided to hand over the Black Extinction Virus to Qi Ling, he naturally wouldn’t hold back, "Yes, how did you figure it out?"

Qi Ling explained, "These source codes show signs of recompilation; the outer layer’s writing style uses the Black Domain Group’s internal computer language, with a concise structure and strict logic. The author is a top-notch master."

Su Mo thought to himself: After all, An Churan was the officially recognized female lead and top hacker...

Qi Ling: "Can you still contact the author of this code?"

Su Mo shook his head, "No, she’s already dead."

Qi Ling rubbed her temples, "That’s a bit troubling... From this person’s language logic, it can be seen they were very familiar with the underlying architecture of the source code."

"If we compare this segment of source code to a treasure trove, she had opened a crack in the treasury’s door and was about to squeeze in, yet at this time, got murdered and robbed..."

Su Mo quickly interrupted, "Stop, stop, let me say, I’m not the one who killed her. I hadn’t even met her, and she was already dead."

Qi Ling muttered, "Oh... Anyway, this person must have had important information regarding the analysis stored in her mind, but she’s dead, and no documentation remains. This means I have to start from scratch."

"This virus’s underlying source code is in a language I’ve never encountered, which I suspect comes from past technologies, and it’s like a book of heaven to me."

"I can only continue trying and summarizing to find the language’s logic pattern, and then conduct deeper research."

Su Mo: "Can you estimate how long it might take?"

Qi Ling: "Right now, I can’t provide an exact time. Is it urgent? If it’s urgent, I can stay here twenty-four hours to finish the research as soon as possible."

Su Mo shook his head, "No rush, this is a long-term matter in my plan, no need for exaggeration."

"Moreover, Qi Ling, you need to understand, this isn’t Venus Eden Garden. I’m not using you as a tool, and neither should you see yourself as one."

"First, you are a person, then a hacker from the Edge. I hope you can help the team while also living your life well."

Qi Ling’s gaze became a bit dazed as she stared at Su Mo.

Suddenly, she opened her arms toward Su Mo.

Su Mo didn’t understand this gesture and froze for a moment, "What’s up?"

Qi Ling: "How about a hug~"

Su Mo smiled helplessly, "Are you having another bout of your needy skin syndrome?"

"Hmm~" Qi Ling hummed softly.

Su Mo hugged Qi Ling with a smile, "You’re just like the clingy little cat I used to have at home."

As Qi Ling was held in his arms, she trembled with contentment and rubbed her face gently against his chest.

After a while, Su Mo released her, "Alright, you get busy now, I have some matters to attend to."

"Hmm, you go ahead, I’ll continue examining the source code," Qi Ling said softly.

Su Mo went upstairs back to his office.

This time, the virus attack affected the entire city, and the initial adversarial stance caused quite a stir for the Edge.

Aside from various repairs, many intermediaries, employers, and fellow mercenaries closely cooperating with the Edge were inquiring about the situation, and Su Mo needed to contact them one by one to respond and maintain external relations.

The person most puzzled by this attack was undoubtedly Sikinkov.

This guy had really bad luck.

Last time when he was acting as City Council President, the wolf attack pierced the Rust Wall, and Raven’s Nest snuck in to cause the horrifying Xinghai Cinema hostage incident.

This time acting as City Council President again, he happened to encounter Qi Ling’s virus attack, with over a hundred social elite deaths, causing a citywide uproar.

This was pure bad luck.

In their private phone call, apart from cursing City Council President Amir for being a useless coward, Sikinkov mainly complained about unfair fate.

Su Mo could only accompany with an awkward smile all the way, not knowing what to say.

After all, the mastermind was hiding in their own home.

Dealing with matters until after four in the afternoon, a call came in. The person at the reception desk said, "Leader, there’s someone here from the border saying they hope to see you. His name is Hardy."

"Hardy?" Su Mo asked in confusion, "Which Hardy?"

The person on the phone said, "He said he’s from the Ashen Gang."

Upon hearing this, Su Mo’s eyes narrowed.

The Ashen Gang, recognized as the third leading group on the borderlands in recent years.

The Ashen Gang wasn’t as bloodthirsty and brutal as Raven’s Nest nor as fierce and domineering as the wolf attack; their influence style was relatively moderate.

Their main businesses are smuggling contraband, arms trade, money laundering, and other black industries. They have a great reputation in the borderlands and maintain good relationships with major forces.

If a single word were to describe them, it would be — stable.

The Ashen Gang’s development has always been solid and steady. It’s also one of the few borderland groups to persist since the Border Isolation Act was enacted in the Dawn 102nd Year, lasting 50 years to date.

Of course, in this harsh land of the borderlands, stability can secure a foothold, but striving upwards becomes difficult.

This is also why, despite having a solid foundation, the Ashen Gang could only remain third, lacking some of the sharpness needed to stand out.

But in the second half of this year, this old group finally came to prominence.

The plan of the Raven’s Nest for the Xinghai Cinema hostage incident failed, and they lost favor in the selection of the King of the Borderlands, falling from grace.

Other groups, due to some unknown reasons, didn’t support the wolf attack but all supported the Ashen Gang.

Eventually, this old third of the borderlands emerged, becoming the "King of the Borderlands" this year following Raven’s Nest.

Members of the Ashen Gang visiting at this time were unknown as to their intention...