It wasn't entirely surprising that Xiao Xun found it hard to believe, as the person before him bore no resemblance to the "Black Shark" who dominated the internet.
He sat in a wheelchair, his eyes vacant, his hair a messy tangle that looked like it hadn't been washed in years. Upon closer inspection, large flakes of dandruff clung to the tips of his hair.
Not just Xiao Xun, but anyone would struggle to associate such a person with the world's most elite hacker.
When Xiao Xun had arrived, he had imagined Black Shark to be an ordinary person, so ordinary that he'd disappear in a crowd. He had never expected him to be this peculiar.
Zhang Ming gestured towards the person in the wheelchair. "We only have twenty-four hours for interrogation. If we can't prove his identity within that time, we'll have to let him go."
Xiao Xun couldn't believe the person before him. "Did you really catch him at the address I gave you?"
Zhang Ming looked displeased by Xiao Xun's doubt. "Is there any reason for doubt? With our current technology, once we have the general direction you provided, it's as good as tracing the internet cable straight to the culprit. Moreover, when we knocked, he wouldn't open the door. After forcing our way in, his computer's main unit spontaneously combusted, making it impossible to recover any data. Doesn't that prove something!"
Xiao Xun propped up his chin, thinking for a moment, and then whispered a few words to Zhang Ming.
Zhang Ming's expression was laced with suspicion. "Asking him the way you suggested, do you think it will work?"
"Why wouldn't it? Any hacker has an inexplicable confidence in their own skills. Don't worry! Do as I say, and I guarantee he'll tell you everything."
Zhang Ming entered the interrogation room and sat in the interrogation chair, facing the person who looked like a survivor of a botched "Tang screening." He said to his colleague, "Stop asking. I don't think we'll get anything out of him. Even if he created that 'Black Armor Worm,' a virus that's utterly 'trash,' it's no big deal. Such a small virus can be eliminated by any free antivirus software on the market."
The person before him remained unmoved. Zhang Ming continued, "Calling this kind of virus a virus is an insult. It's really just a plug-in used to force advertisements and earn pocket money. Anyone with elementary school knowledge could make it."
The person began to frown. Zhang Ming noticed. "The moment we entered, the computer's motherboard caught fire. It must be a custom-built machine, a pile of random parts haphazardly assembled into a broken computer, with unstable voltage. Our bureau's computers have been running for years; have you ever heard of one catching fire?"
The person whose eyes had been vacant suddenly's eyes lit up. He sat up straighter, clasping his hands. "With you so-called cyber police, if no one reports you, you wouldn't even know that someone like me exists."
Seeing that the fish had taken the bait, Zhang Ming didn't rush. He sat there. "Someone like you? Who are you? Don't worry, we've received the most professional training. As long as there's no court verdict, we treat everyone equally."
Black Shark looked at Zhang Ming. "Kid, can you spare me a cigarette?"
Zhang Ming took out his cigarette case and placed it on the table. "No, because the person who reported you said you lost, and you don't deserve to smoke."
Black Shark nodded. "Indeed. The winner is king, the loser is a bandit. I admit defeat. It's just that he actually chose to call the police; that's too shameless."
The police officer next to Zhang Ming said, "Maintaining cyber security is every citizen's responsibility and obligation. I don't see anything wrong with that. On the other hand, you, profiting by creating computer and mobile viruses, are the one people despise."
Black Shark took a deep breath. "Can I see the person who reported me?"
"That's probably not possible. We need to protect the witness's safety."
Black Shark patted his wheelchair. "I'm just a 'poor soul' stuck in a wheelchair; I'm not as terrifying as you think."
Zhang Ming smiled. "Sir, I think you've misunderstood. I'm afraid our witness, the hacker codenamed Black Shark, might lose control and attack you, causing unnecessary consequences, which is why I don't want you two to meet. He's been wanting to meet you for a long time."
Black Shark was shocked. "You said his ID is Black Shark?"
Then he roared, "Black Shark is a renowned top hacker in the deep sea! How can a hacker like him be worthy of the name Black Shark? I thought it was some lunatic coming after me. Turns out it's a hacker. That makes sense; this is their way of proving their strength. If it really is him, then that's quite rare."
Hearing Black Shark's words, Zhang Ming became interested. "Who is this 'he' you're talking about?"
Black Shark snorted. "You, a mere cyber cop, are not worthy of knowing his name. He's a hacker who is my equal."
"Your equal, and also someone who creates rogue software?"
Black Shark was completely enraged. "It's one thing if you look down on me, but to dare look down on him! He's the only one in this world who dares to provoke 'Tuoluo'... If nothing unexpected happened, he should have already vanished from this world."
"Talking so much, isn't it just transplanting a 'Trojan horse,' then stealing valuable information, and extorting people like a 'thief'?"
Black Shark clasped his hands, surprisingly calming down. "Do you dare to give me a mobile phone? I can paralyze your entire police department's system in an instant."
Xiao Xun had anticipated that Black Shark would show off his skills and had asked Zhang Ming to specially prepare a mobile phone for him.
When Zhang Ming placed the SIM-card-less phone on Black Shark's lap, Black Shark was furious. He picked up the phone and threw it against a nearby wall. The "senior citizen's phone" with physical buttons hit the wall and then crashed heavily onto the floor, sustaining no damage. It was incredibly durable.
"You're pushing your luck too far."
Zhang Ming stood up and shrugged. "It's not that we're pushing our luck. You've been talking for ages, but you still haven't told us who you are."
Black Shark trembled with anger. "Then listen carefully. I am Shen Hai Hei Sha, one of the world's top ten hackers, and I participated in the 'Y2K' war. The worm virus I invented has destroyed over a thousand home computers. My viruses are the most difficult to kill, the most deeply hidden, the fastest spreading, and the smallest in memory footprint viruses in the world today. And..."
He emphasized, "They are top-tier viruses capable of infecting both computers and smartphones."
Facing such an arrogant Black Shark, Zhang Ming uttered two words: "Boasting."
Seeing Black Shark on the verge of spitting blood from anger, Zhang Ming added fuel to the fire with a sentence: "Not convinced? If you're not convinced, stand up!"
After Zhang Ming's interrogation, Black Shark basically spilled all his secrets, including extorting several large companies. It could be said that he confessed, but it was more like bragging.
After the interrogation, Zhang Ming asked Black Shark to sign and fingerprint. After he was taken into custody, Zhang Ming went to the adjacent room.
"You're still the one with the methods. He confessed everything."
Xiao Xun nodded. "I heard it all, but he didn't extort me."
"Hasn't he 'opened up' yet? Should I interrogate him again tonight?"
Facing Zhang Ming, Xiao Xun was afraid that Black Shark might say something fatal, so he shook his head. "He should have confessed everything. He even talked about the case that shocked the financial circles last year. Imprisoning him for life would be more than enough, let alone extorting our small company."
Xiao Xun even suspected Zhang Youwei, as he was the one who most wanted him out of his position. However, since Zhang Youwei couldn't even use "Qian Hai," how could he possibly have such a powerful virus?
Seeing Xiao Xun lost in thought, Zhang Ming gently patted his shoulder. "What are you thinking about?"
Xiao Xun snapped back to reality and looked at Zhang Ming. "Nothing. You've helped me so much, let me treat you to supper!"
"That's a kind offer, but you're the one who made a meritorious report. I'm already planning to apply for an Outstanding Citizen award for you from my superiors. I must treat you to this meal; don't refuse. I know you're a leader in a big company and don't lack money, but I can still afford to treat you to a meal; don't decline."