C24 Hacker Technology(last part)

"Hacking technology?" Fei Liang's eyes sparkled upon hearing the topic of Mao Ningyu's lecture.

Although Mao Ningyu had merely mentioned computer technology, it was evident that the subject matter transcended typical computer skills. Fei Liang had a keen interest in hacking; he had initially enrolled in political science before switching to information science, and he considered his technical abilities to be quite impressive.

"Don't get too smug, Mr. Fei. Your skills don't hold a candle to Ximen Shuanger's, let alone Mao Ningyu's," Meier chimed in, interrupting Fei Liang's reverie.

"Ximen Shuanger and Mao Ningyu? Are their hacking skills that formidable?" Fei Liang inquired, intrigued by Meier's comment.

"Mao Ningyu is decent, rated at AA, but Ximen Shuanger is on another level—she's reached Grade S, nearly SS," Meier informed him.

"Grade SS?" Fei Liang was curious. "What does that entail?"

"Hacking skills on Earth are ranked from SSS down to B: SSS, SS, S, AAA, AA, A, AB, and B. No single hacker has achieved the pinnacle of SSS; that level of havoc is only wrought by collective hacker attacks. Even the lowest, AB, signifies passing the national level 2 computer exam. With Ximen Shuanger's S-level expertise, she could easily breach the defenses of small to medium-sized banks."

"You're at Grade A, maybe AA if we're stretching it," Meier assessed, shaking her head slightly.

Fei Liang was at a loss for words.

"However, it's a different story when I step in," Meier boasted, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "I can effortlessly access your so-called national secrets without leaving a trace. Mr. Fei, you're in need of money, aren't you? How about I discreetly funnel a hefty sum into your account?"

Fei Liang's heart skipped a beat at the offer, but after weighing the pros and cons, he firmly declined, "Let's not. I believe with the Spirit Bead, earning enough money should be easy. There's no need for such actions. I can't risk compromising my integrity."

"Hehe, I always knew you were steadfast in your beliefs, Mr. Fei," Meier said with a giggle, a glint of mischief in her eyes.

"You were testing me, weren't you?" Fei Liang had an epiphany.

"Not entirely. But if you ever need it, Mr. Fei, Meier can arrange for a substantial amount of funds to be transferred into your account," Meier offered, batting her eyelashes.

"No, thank you!" Fei Liang responded with conviction.

"By the way, Mr. Fei, I've noticed something odd about Ximen Shuanger's soul," Meier said, deftly shifting the conversation.

"Ximen Shuanger's soul is abnormal? I thought the soul was the same as consciousness?" Fei Liang inquired, his curiosity piqued by his experiences in the Spirit Bead Space.

"No, that's not it at all," Meier corrected him, shaking her head. "Consciousness is just one aspect of the soul. Take, for instance, the mountains and plants that nature brings forth; all beings have souls, but inanimate objects like mountains and plants lack consciousness, and their soul power is significantly weaker. Regarding Ximen Shuanger, I sense a formidable, unnerving power within her, but for some reason, it's being suppressed."

"Really? Could this be related to the seal on Earth?" Fei Liang mused, furrowing his brow.

"I'm not sure," Meier admitted with a shrug.

"Well, no matter. 'Where there's a will, there's a way,' as they say. With my current limited strength, knowing the truth might only hasten my demise. Right now, I need to focus on building my power," Fei Liang concluded, shifting his mindset after much contemplation.

"Fei Liang, what are you daydreaming about? Impressive, huh? Now, solve this problem for me, or you might just find yourself retaking this course!" Mao Ningyu snapped, having had enough of Fei Liang's inattentiveness since the start of her lecture.

"Oh, right," Fei Liang muttered, snapping back to reality and reluctantly approaching the stage.

"If you can hack into this website, you'll pass," Mao Ningyu said, the corners of her mouth curling into a subtle smile as she pointed to a lengthy URL on the computer screen.

"Hmph, that'll teach you to pay attention in class. Even I can't crack this website, but I've made sure Ximen Shuanger is ready. It should be no problem," Mao Ningyu mused to herself.

"Meier, what's this website?" Fei Liang inquired, his gaze fixed on the lengthy URL. Something about it set off his instincts; this was no ordinary site.

"Mr. Fei, it's the secret IP address for the Cleansing Society in R Country," Meier responded.

"The Cleansing Society? It's bound to be filled with secrets. Think you can crack it?" Excitement sparked in Fei Liang's eyes as he processed Meier's information. This could be it—the trove of evidence of wartime atrocities committed by the Japanese, along with other heinous acts they've kept hidden.

"It's a walk in the park," boasted Meier, her pride evident. "Remember, I'm linked to a level 14 advanced intelligence from a high-tier civilization." She paused, then added, "However, I wouldn't advise you to act just yet. The risk is too great, and with your current capabilities, Mr. Fei, you're not equipped to handle the fallout if we're detected."

"You have a point," Fei Liang conceded with a nod. "I'll start with a preliminary probe using my own computing skills. If they catch on, Meier, you'll need to cover our tracks."

"Rest assured, Mr. Fei," Meier replied with unwavering confidence.

"Fei Liang!" Mao Ningyu's voice rose sharply. "What's with the delay? Get on with it!"

"Right," Fei Liang sighed, settling down at his computer. His fingers flew across the keyboard, typing rapidly.

"This kid's got some chops," Mao Ningyu observed quietly, impressed by Fei Liang's swift movements.

Meanwhile, in an underground facility near the Shigure Tendo District in the Eastern Capital of R Country...

"Tanaka-kun, it looks like our server is under attack," a plump Japanese man reported to his lean colleague in their native tongue.

"Miyamoto-san, 'looks like' is an understatement—it's a full-on assault," the slender man retorted.

"This small fry thinks he can infiltrate the website of our Great Sun Empire's shrine? Pure fantasy! But let's have some fun—pull him out into the open and see who this little fish is," a middle-aged man with a tuft of mustache below his nose scoffed disdainfully.

"Yoshida's absolutely right—long live the Great Sun Empire!" someone chimed in.

"Yo, long live the Great Sun Empire!" Miyamoto exclaimed with enthusiasm.

"We almost had that scoundrel. Damn, we're being blocked by a master, and the scoundrel got away!" Tanaguchi's plump face twisted in fury.

"A master?" Yoshida's expression turned grim.

"Yes, at least an SS-tier, almost reaching SSS-tier. Far stronger than me!" Tanaguchi answered. He even suspected that the individual might already possess SSS-tier strength, but the thought seemed so outlandish that he kept it to himself.

"Really?" Yoshida's demeanor remained unchanged, his thoughts inscrutable.

Meanwhile, in a computer lab at Heavenly Sea University in Hua Country's Heavenly Sea City, Fei Liang was sweating profusely.

"I can't break through," Fei Liang admitted with a sigh. His skills weren't yet up to the task of hacking such a server. Had it not been for Meier erasing their tracks, he might well have been compromised by now.

"If you can't hack it, then focus on the lecture and stop daydreaming. Let's head back," Mao Ningyu scolded, her face stern.

"She must have been the one to step in," Mao Ningyu mused, realizing that an expert had helped Fei Liang erase his digital footprint.

"Okay," Fei Liang nodded and returned to his seat, his mind already plotting the best time to swipe the Pure Body Club's files.

Mao Ningyu let out a frustrated sigh as she watched Fei Liang settle back into his seat, his attention clearly elsewhere. She was irate, her face flushed with annoyance. Fei Liang was blatantly ignoring her advice.

Ningyu was furious, and the repercussions could be severe. Unfortunately, it seemed that Fei Liang, in his own world, had yet to grasp the gravity of the situation.