Chapter Sixty-Four: The Frenzied Assault

No one knew how long Zhu Lan had been unconscious before he slowly awoke. As he opened his eyes and saw the familiar room around him, Zhu Lan sighed and shook his head, easing the pain that lingered in his mind.

Turning, he noticed the still-warm tea on the table. Smiling softly, he poured himself a cup, gently blew on the steam, and took a delicate sip.

Click—

The door opened and Kong Yan stepped inside.

Seeing her, Zhu Lan knew the operation had succeeded.

"Was it successful?" Although he was nearly certain, Zhu Lan couldn't help but ask for reassurance.

"The Red Queen has been restarted," Kong Yan replied. "The previous program has been completely deleted, and the new intelligence is adapting. It will take quite some time."

"And the data—none of it was lost?"

"The nanobots only infected her program. The hard drive was untouched, so all the data is intact. You can rest easy, sir."

Zhu Lan nodded in satisfaction. "Where is she now?"

"She's been transferred to the control center. Qite is currently connecting her to the Azure Base control system. However, there are some differences in the circuits that need to be adjusted, which should take about one hundred and seventy-nine hours."

Zhu Lan understood. After all, the Azure Base's control system had been designed by Kong Yan and Qite, both from different worlds, each with their own unique perspectives, while the Red Queen was from yet another world. Despite all being forms of artificial intelligence, their circuit structures were fundamentally different. For the Red Queen to connect, the original circuits needed to be modified to match her primary connections; only then could she truly take control of the Azure Base system.

Relaxing, Zhu Lan leaned back on the bed, tea in hand, and took another sip. "You can go now. None of my tasks have been delayed, have they?"

"You still have four hours, sir. The car is already waiting outside."

He nodded.

Kong Yan, seeing this, simply bowed respectfully and withdrew.

Zhu Lan let out a sigh.

What he feared most about artificial intelligence was the possibility of a scenario straight out of a film.

Whether it was Qite, Kong Yan, or now the newly awakened Red Queen, Zhu Lan had always set five major laws for them all.

Based on Asimov’s three laws, he had added two more: the first, that under any circumstances, his word was the highest command; the second, that if he died, whether by accident or other reasons, all intelligent systems would initiate self-destruction.

The first law was reasonable, but the second was, perhaps, a touch too selfish.

Since obtaining the Imagination System, Zhu Lan had always worried about his own mortality. Unfortunately, all he had was a basic version—no hope for immortality, only technological progress. Unless he found a more advanced system within the Imagination Galaxy, there was no possibility. But the Imagination Galaxy’s location was unknown, perhaps unimaginably far from the Milky Way—without even a target, how could he search for it?

He doubted, but also hoped, he would one day find the Imagination Galaxy. That was why, from the very beginning, he had dedicated himself to advancing space technology, all for this seemingly far-fetched dream.

The universe was dangerous, and so were intelligent systems. Zhu Lan feared that if he died unexpectedly, what he left behind might bring about unforeseen disasters—not that he distrusted people, but human vices were simply too deep-rooted to ignore.

He had always pondered how to prevent the rebellion of intelligent systems so often depicted in movies. Beyond adding more laws, he had no better solution. And if things ever did unfold as they did in those films, he would have no way of knowing.

The Red Queen’s birth only served to heighten his old anxieties.

"Sigh, I really don’t know if what I’m doing is right or wrong." Zhu Lan gazed at the green tea, its fragrant steam curling into the air and filling the room.

An hour later, Zhu Lan changed his clothes and stepped out of his room.

"Let’s go," he said to Kong Yan, who was waiting. They headed downstairs.

Outside the small building, a sleek, unmarked black sedan awaited. The car’s design was almost futuristic, with flowing geometric lines and, on its hood, a silver dragon standing proudly. The license plate was especially striking: Qiong 99999.

This car had been a gift from the state—a national leader’s limousine, the famed Red Flag brand. It had arrived only two days before, complete with license plates. Zhu Lan had simply accepted it—his first real car.

He got in; Kong Yan joined him.

"Drive," Zhu Lan ordered.

"Yes, sir!" replied Connor, his driver—who also served as a bodyguard of sorts. Though not a retired soldier, Connor had spent eight years as a mercenary overseas, three of them protecting wealthy clients. He was highly vigilant and experienced.

Alongside Connor were twenty-six others, all first-rate mercenaries from abroad, some from private security firms like Blackwater. After previous incidents with the authorities, Zhu Lan had instructed Kong Yan to recruit some overseas Chinese. It wasn’t that he distrusted his own company’s security, but he feared potential complications. By integrating foreign mercenaries into the security system, he hoped to balance power dynamics within the company.

For domestic affairs, Zhu Lan still relied on retired Chinese soldiers, but when traveling, he preferred to bring a few of them along with more experienced mercenaries, whose combat knowledge was broader and who posed fewer complications.

"Is the venue ready?" Zhu Lan asked, eyes closed—uncertain if he was addressing Kong Yan or Connor.

"Manager Lan is already arranging things at the venue. The city government is fully supporting us. The armed police and regular police are handling security, with Navy Marines also present. The Navy has dispatched patrol boats to secure the coastal waters, and traffic police have imposed roadblocks on all routes to Phoenix Bay. Without an invitation, no one can get close."

"And the company?"

"Captain Yu is leading security at headquarters. Of our three hundred and sixty-seven guards, fifty-three are assisting at Phoenix Bay; the remaining three hundred and fourteen are divided into teams of ten, stationed throughout to prevent espionage. A military squad is also garrisoned at the company, ready to respond to any emergency. If needed, a helicopter can be overhead in five minutes."

Zhu Lan nodded in approval. "Tell Yu Dongming to be extra vigilant."

Kong Yan nodded silently.

Sighing, Zhu Lan gazed out the window as the car left Imagination Technology. At the gate, four black Mercedes closed in, forming a protective phalanx. Inside were eighteen guards and two military officers, all heavily armed.

Once they reached the northern outskirts and merged onto the ring highway, two police cars led the way and two special vehicles followed behind, carrying elite SWAT officers from the provincial capital.

Such an impressive security detail was necessary; intelligence indicated that many would try to infiltrate Imagination Technology today.

The hundred-million reward was enough to make people risk their lives, and a new bounty had just been posted: eighty million euros for capturing Zhu Lan alive.

That was far more tempting than the gene optimization serum.

The bounty had gone up only last night—undoubtedly because of Project 002, which had drawn all this attention.

The city, perched on the southern coast, was not far from Vietnam's shoreline. As it wasn't a major hub for illegal immigration, patrol forces were limited. Though no official statement had been made, Kong Yan had intercepted information that in the past half month, coastal patrols and naval inspectors had seized over 8,000 automatic rifles, more than 10,000 pistols, hundreds of rocket launchers, dozens of machine guns, and tens of thousands of grenades—all smuggled in by mercenaries, only to be confiscated by the well-prepared coast guard, navy, and maritime police.

Still, despite many arrests, some weapons inevitably slipped through.

Suddenly—a sharp whistle.

With his eyes closed, Zhu Lan was caught off guard as Kong Yan lunged, knocking him to the floor. The next moment, an explosion thundered nearby.

Kong Yan threw open the car door and hauled Zhu Lan out.

"Protect the boss!"

Rattling gunfire broke out—a storm of bullets.

Zhu Lan’s expression remained calm, even as the car was riddled with holes. He and Kong Yan crouched beside the vehicle, sheltering from the attack. Connor had already drawn his pistol, scanning vigilantly.

Looking ahead, a police car was engulfed in flames—those inside likely already lost.

"Don’t worry about me. Take them down!" Zhu Lan ordered, shooting a fierce glance at Connor.

With Kong Yan present, Zhu Lan had nothing to fear—not even a sniper’s bullet could get past her. And since their enemies likely wanted him alive, with Kong Yan—the ultimate bodyguard—by his side, capturing him would be a fool’s dream.

Connor glanced at Zhu Lan, saw his seriousness, and nodded. "Understood, sir. All hostiles are to be neutralized." He spoke into his collar, rolled into cover, and fired a few shots toward the distant assailants.

Gunfire echoed as Zhu Lan’s security team fought back. Though equipped only with handguns, these were all top-tier professionals who could wield pistols with the power and accuracy of rifles.

The attackers, though numerous and heavily armed, found themselves quickly suppressed by the SWAT team’s rifles. The special vehicles were bulletproof and surged forward, shielding Zhu Lan’s group from enemy fire.

Word of the attack reached central command instantly, but there were no reinforcements to send—multiple firefights had broken out across the city, and with just over four hundred police officers to cover the entire area, resources were stretched thin.

"Request military support immediately!" barked the Deputy Governor and Chief of Provincial Police, realizing the crisis was beyond their control. This was no time for pride—this was war.