Page 194

“Let’s do it this way,” Odagiri decided immediately. “Announce to the public that the red Siamese cat was responsible for this.”

Shiratori gritted his teeth, wanting to say something, but was stopped by Megure.

Although Megure's expression was not good, he breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't know what kind of deal the two sides had made, but it was best that his brother Shinjo was alright.

"By the way, stop investigating the identities of those victims. Archive all the completed investigation materials; someone will come to collect them later," Toshiro Odagiri added. "Instruct your subordinates that this case ends here and that no further investigation is allowed."

Both Megure and Shiratori were taken aback by Odagiri's words.

“I know you’re unwilling to let such a criminal organization go unpunished.” Odagiri took a deep breath. “Actually, I’m unwilling too, but for the sake of our own safety, it’s better not to investigate further.”

"I understand." Inspector Megure nodded solemnly.

Criminal gangs must be very dangerous. They've encountered similar situations before, with instances of police officers conducting undercover investigations, but those officers never fared well.

downstairs from Poirot Cafe

Xincheng walked out of the restaurant with a takeout dessert in his hand, but before he even got into the car, he sensed something was wrong. The next second, a powerful shockwave blew him away, and the pain in his back cleared his head considerably.

Who would target him? The police? Probably not; they're probably busy figuring out how to handle last night's events. The CIA? That shouldn't be the case; aside from a few lucky ones hiding in the Metropolitan Police Department, everyone else has already been taken care of.

Just then, Amuro Tooru ran out of the coffee shop, stared blankly at the car that had been blown up by the bomb for a few seconds, and then quickly walked to Shinjo's side and asked, "Are you alright?"

"It's alright, it's alright, I won't die anytime soon," Xincheng said, tilting his head. "I've broken a few bones, but it won't affect my mobility."

"Where did it break?" Amuro Tooru shielded Shinjo with his body. "Don't speak yet, let me move you into the coffee shop first!"

After saying that, he moved the new city into the coffee shop.

“The surveillance videos from all around are being blocked, and the playback is all repetitive. Someone is using electronic warfare against us.” Karen frowned and asked, “Should we retaliate?”

"Can you find out who did it?" Shinjo took a deep breath, then pulled at the wound on his chest, his face contorting in pain.

"It should be the CIA, but the fact that they were able to locate you so quickly suggests they had information leaked from the police. They're currently searching for this person's name and the forces behind them." Karen's voice was calm, but beneath that calm lay rage. Having been tricked in her most professional field, she vowed to exact her revenge.

"Okay, deal with this person, and then that force, indiscriminate electronic warfare." Shinjo rubbed his temples. "Do whatever causes the most damage, no need to report to me."

"you sure?"

"I'm sure. Go for it. I want to see just how much damage you can do to them."

Upon hearing Shinjo's words, Amuro Tooru paused slightly, unsure if saving Shinjo was the right thing to do. Even if the CIA reacted quickly, finding someone would take time; it was impossible for them to find Shinjo so quickly and plant a bomb in his car, unless there was a mole within their ranks.

Only Kazama and Kuroda knew that Shinjo and he had met here, and they must have been the ones who leaked this secret, though it was unclear whether it was intentional or unintentional.

The next second, a loud crash echoed through the intersection as several cars collided. And it wasn't over yet; another collision occurred at the other end of the street, this time resulting in one car bursting into flames, and people scattered in panic.

Car accidents were happening at almost every intersection. The drivers quickly discovered the cause: the traffic lights at the intersections seemed to be malfunctioning, with all four lights turning the same color.

However, this was not the end. Almost simultaneously, everyone's phones began to receive bank deduction notifications. The cash in their bank accounts was being transferred away by a stranger, and the person had no intention of leaving them even a single penny.

"Stop what you're doing, or I won't hesitate to kill you." Amuro Tooru pulled out a pistol and pressed it against Shinjo's head.

The next second, his gun-wielding hand was grabbed by Shinjo. He felt as if his hand was being gripped by an iron clamp. Before he could break free, Shinjo threw him to the ground.

“You should have been more decisive. If you had just fired, none of this would have happened,” Shinjo said, gasping for breath. “Hit and run, there’s no such thing as a free lunch. I didn’t intend to involve you, but you insisted on barging in, so I’m sorry.”

"What exactly did you do?" Amuro Tooru's face grew paler as he listened to the screams outside.

"Let me see. They've transferred all the money out of the bank accounts, making a complete mess of it. Also, they've hacked into all the traffic light systems. I estimate that in another fifteen minutes, two fully loaded Shinkansen trains will collide." Shinjo said, stroking his chin. "I estimate several thousand people will die. In the current situation, the injured will probably just have to wait to die on the spot."

"You are crazy!"

“I’m insane.” Shinjo stared at Amuro Tooru. “By the way, tell those guys to get ready. I’m only giving you 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, all the hospitals will lose power. If the hospitals have generators, then those people in the ICU are lucky to be alive.”

Have you thought about how many people will die?

“I hadn’t thought of that. All I can tell you is that taking direct action would be even worse,” Shinjo said, squinting. “If you’re not afraid of losses, you can continue playing around.”

"We can block all your supplies..."

"Karen, did you hear that? There's some kid threatening me here. What do you suggest we do? Should we blow up a landmark?" New City asked with a smile. "A thousand or eight hundred deaths would be about right."

The next second, a series of explosions rang out from a building in the distance; it was probably a shopping mall. Shortly after, the entire building collapsed with a deafening roar.

Shinjo looked at Amuro Tooru in front of him and said, "If you want to make a move, you can do it directly. However, can you afford the consequences?"

Amuro Tooru clenched and unclenched his fists repeatedly, but in the end he didn't dare to fight Shinjo, fearing that Shinjo might give another order to blow up some place.

It was only then that he realized one thing: they couldn't afford to play this game with the guy in front of them.

Just then, his phone rang. Amuro Tooru picked it up and saw that it was Kuroda Hyoue calling.

"Hello?" Amuro Tooru said weakly, "That guy asked me to tell you that he will cut off the power to all the hospitals in half an hour. He said that five minutes ago and has already left the coffee shop."

"The reason." Kuroda Hyoue's cold voice rang out from the other end.

"He was attacked by a bomb outside the coffee shop."

The other end of the phone hung up immediately, clearly to arrange remedial measures.

Amuro Tooru tossed his phone aside. He didn't think highly of Shinjo, but he also didn't think highly of the Public Security Bureau. Technically, they were no match for them.

In the planning department's office

Kuroda had just issued the order to allocate diesel generators to the hospital when his subordinate rushed in, saying that the nationwide surveillance system had completely failed and all previously stored data had been wiped clean.

"What other bad news do you have? Tell me all at once." Kuroda Hyoue sat in the chair, his eyes vacant.

In that instant, he felt as if he had aged ten years. When he revealed the information, he had thought that he might be retaliated against by New City, but he did not expect the CIA to act so quickly. He was stunned by the subsequent retaliation before he was prepared.

"Well, the banking system is completely paralyzed. Major conglomerates are now putting pressure on the cabinet, demanding that it stabilize the situation at all costs," the subordinate said, forcing a smile. "In addition, the computer operating systems for the power and water supply systems have also been seized. They may use these to blackmail us and force us to compromise."

“It’s not a possibility, it’s a certainty; they’ve already done it.” Kuroda sighed.

"Commander Kuroda, is there nothing we can do?"

"Making mistakes has consequences. What do you think we can do?" Kuroda raised an eyelid. "In such a short time, do you think we can activate the backup water and power systems? Have the TV station issue a notice: don't go out unless absolutely necessary..."

Before he could finish speaking, the phone on the table rang, and Kazama hurriedly "bumped" into the office.

"Due to a malfunctioning traffic light, two Shinkansen trains collided. The death toll has already exceeded three digits, and we don't have enough ambulances," Kazama said breathlessly. "Supervisor Kuroda..."

"Notify them that all trains should disembark at the nearest station." Kuroda pinched his brow, interrupting Kazama's next words. "Issue evacuation notices."

Far away in the United States, major cities were in the same predicament, with power, water, surveillance and transportation systems paralyzed, and banking systems crippled immediately, and panic began to spread.

The cybersecurity department responded immediately to try and regain control, but soon even their computers were hacked.

On the rooftop of an apartment building

“Boss, I heard that the CIA assassinated New Town,” Vodka said cautiously, “that is, Cognac.”

"Are you trying to tell me that this whole mess is all the work of that kid, Cognac?" Gin asked, looking at the chaotic street outside. "Do I need you to tell me that?"

"Brother, you knew all along? How did you know?" Vodka asked, looking shocked.

He knew it was because he had inside information. Just now, Ms. Karen from the security department had sent a message telling them to be careful recently, as the conglomerate would be launching a large-scale retaliatory operation against the CIA and the organization that the Public Security Bureau belonged to.

The massive chaos lasted for three days. Three days later, a notice appeared on major websites with a picture of a red Siamese cat in the background and only one sentence on it: "I will come again."

Because of this incident, the red Siamese cats who were locked up in jail were interrogated again.

However, the middle-level managers of the Red Siamese Cats were also devastated. They had all been wiped out back then; there were no survivors. And if they had had such capable people back then, they wouldn't have been wiped out in the first place.

This time, however, no one believed them. Interrogators from various countries took turns questioning them, determined not to give up until they found the last person.

A week after the chaos subsided, the specific figures for the losses were released, with the main affected countries suffering losses exceeding $400 billion. The losses of other affected countries have not yet been calculated.

"Didn't you say the losses would exceed 1000 billion US dollars? How come others have offered more than half that?" Xincheng lay on the hospital bed. "Did you miscalculate?"

“The losses of those conglomerates won’t appear on the books, and more than a dozen insurance companies have gone bankrupt, so their policy losses won’t be included either,” Karen said slowly. “Don’t worry, it’s $1000 billion, no less.”

"Really? I didn't see them bringing a fruit basket to visit the patient." Xincheng sighed.

"Don't you even know where you are? This is inside the Jiuliangliang Island base. If they come to see you with a fruit basket, I'll kill them all," Karen said nonchalantly. "Of course, if you're not satisfied, I can extend it for a few more days."

Chapter 348 Calm Down

"How's that kid doing lately?" Shinjo asked. "Those people shouldn't be trying to keep following him, right?"

“No, the police came to apologize and offered to provide some security services. They were very humble.” Karen’s tone was a little strange. “But after that, that kid probably didn’t dare to ask you for help again.”

"That's fine too. It's actually quite annoying to keep cleaning up this kid's messes."

“It’s been tough getting materials lately because we seized control of the port’s electronic systems, which has caused some problems with imports and exports, and raw materials can’t get in,” Karen said earnestly. “And…”

"Are you afraid those guys will sabotage you behind your back?"

“That’s right. Our shipping company and some of our businesses are publicly known. If they issue an industry ban, our losses could be severe.” Karen’s virtual avatar frowned dramatically. “They probably wouldn’t dare now, but it’s hard to say what will happen later.”

"Expand your overseas operations, and speed up the lunar base construction. You must have made a lot of money from this chaos; put it all into production." Shinjo picked up an apple and took a bite. "By the way, has the CIA had any follow-up action?"

“CIA? I don’t think so. I deployed a tactical nuclear warhead and leveled their office building.” Karen said, frowning. “All the senior officials should have been wiped out.”

Xincheng's apple fell to the ground. He quickly turned on his computer, typed in "tactical nuclear warhead," and soon found the news. A tactical nuclear warhead launch system at an air force base malfunctioned, and a ballistic missile carrying a tactical nuclear warhead was launched directly into the air. Fortunately, the target of the accidental launch was in the United States, and it did not cause an international dispute.

"Regretful?" Karen observed New Town's facial expression. "Is it because too many people died?"

"A little." Shinjo rubbed his temples. "I have a feeling that if I let you out, it won't be long before you cause human civilization to regress. At the very least, no one will dare to use computers on military equipment anymore. By the way, how did you hack into the air force base?"

“They were originally using the internal network, so they didn’t have the opportunity, but someone connected to the external network and was playing games, so I took the opportunity to hack in. I happened to have a tactical nuclear warhead, so I used it.” Karen yawned. “Why do you think they haven’t taken any action yet? Is it just because of the heavy economic losses? They’re afraid that a warhead will suddenly appear in their heads.”

Kudo family

"These past few days have been so chaotic," Yukiko said with a hint of helplessness as she looked at the newspaper. "I never imagined that cybersecurity issues were so serious. But who is this hacker? How could they even infiltrate an air force base?"

Kudo looked at his father, but his father's face was expressionless.

He had been suffering greatly these past few days. The only person who could do something like this was Miss Karen, who was by Xincheng's side. However, he never expected that Miss Karen, who had such a nice voice, would be such a heartless and insane person.

"Don't overthink it." Kudo Yusaku closed the newspaper. "You didn't do anything. The things in the newspaper may have something to do with you, but you're not the main cause, not even the trigger."

"Is that so?" Kudo stuffed the sandwich into his mouth.

“Even if you’re at the coordinates of that nuclear bomb’s strike, the warhead will still hit that spot.” Kudo Yusaku took a sip of coffee. “This is a problem that Mr. Shinjo’s power inevitably faces when it reaches a certain point. It’s just that others prefer to negotiate in a more moderate way. Of course, it could also be due to insufficient strength that they prefer to use a more direct approach.”

Just then, news reports began to cover the bankruptcy of insurance companies, with dozens reportedly going bankrupt as a result.

“Such losses are no less than those of a major depression,” Yusaku Kudo shook his head. “If this continues for a few more days, it might just bankrupt this credit-based society.”

"It's already quite serious now." Shinichi sighed.

Just then, his phone vibrated. It was a text message from an unknown number, saying that a ship was setting sail in three days and asking if he was interested.

Shinichi thought about it for a moment and finally gave a negative answer. These people were far too dangerous, and it was best not to get too close to them unless absolutely necessary. Besides, apart from needing regular blood tests, he didn't have anything else to trouble them with. As for breaking his promise, he'd apologize with a gift after this whole mess was over.