Chapter 18 Hiss...

Lin Xian took a deep breath.

Kevin Walker, the US X-37B spaceplane.

No wonder.

He had felt that Kevin Walker had been too quiet lately, with no idea what he was doing, and completely untraceable.

Sure enough, he hadn't been idle, but was planning to hijack a spaceplane!

Hijacking a spaceplane at this time...

Lin Xian couldn't help but suspect—

"Kevin Walker's ultimate goal is likely to be that [Space-Time Particle] about to enter Earth's atmosphere."

"I think so too."

VV told Lin Xian…

Kevin Walker's methods were very subtle. If it were the old VV, it definitely wouldn't have noticed.

But the current VV is not the VV of the past.

After so many updates and iterations, its strength is already what it once was.

Therefore, it naturally noticed Kevin Walker's subtle clues.

"Following this clue, can't you still locate Kevin Walker's position?"

"Not yet."

VV sighed with its electronic alarm clock voice:

"I have to admit, he is indeed a genius. He is too well hidden. I even begin to suspect... is Kevin Walker really a real human being? Could it be... that like me, he is just a data stream? An Artificial Intelligence AI? A program? Is that why he is so hard to find? It feels like he is everywhere... but he is nowhere to be found."

"That's possible," Lin Xian replied:

"If Kevin Walker is just a data stream program, it would be a good thing. After all, its architecture is definitely inferior to yours. As long as you iterate and evolve for a period of time, you can definitely dig Kevin Walker out and erase him completely."

"I think it would be more troublesome if Kevin Walker were a real human being. After all, for you, finding a program data stream in the network is much easier than finding a person in reality."

"But now is not the time to worry about that. Jask said 'see you in the sky' before, I suspected that he would come to steal the space-time particle; but fortunately, you are monitoring Jask 24 hours a day, and we would find out if he really makes a move. What is worrying now is Kevin Walker. If he really hijacks that spaceplane flying in orbit and then interferes with our capture of the space-time particle... do we have any way to deal with it?"

"Of course, there is no need to worry about this."

The electronic alarm clock VV replied:

"Now that we have noticed Kevin Walker in advance, it will be much easier. I will control the US X-37B spaceplane in orbit before him. My technology is much stronger than Kevin Walker's. As long as I grab control, he won't be able to take it back."

"The only thing to worry about is... that way, my existence may have to be exposed, but there is no other way. Since we are going to ride a spaceplane to capture the space-time particle, we must eliminate Kevin Walker as a safety hazard. It's better to be exposed than to let him hijack that unmanned spaceplane to hinder us."

Lin Xian nodded.

He thought that Kevin Walker had been quiet for a while, and he could quietly capture the space-time particle and make a fortune in silence.

But he didn't expect that the closer the space-time particle got to entering the Earth's atmosphere, the more troubles arose.

Jask, Huang Que (Oriole), Kevin Walker...

Are you genius club members going to play mahjong in space?

Are you missing one player?

Why not add a Copernicus?

That would make a table!

Lin Xian was a little puzzled:

"I have Liu Feng and used the Guizhou Tianyan Radio Telescope to find the existence of the space-time particle. So how did Jask and Kevin Walker know about it? Could it be... that they also have space-time particle capture devices?"

After asking this question.

Lin Xian felt a little stupid.

If they really are members of the genius club... and the genius club is as powerful as the legends say, then it wouldn't be strange for them to know about the space-time particle and even have space-time particle capture devices.

"It seems that the space-time particle is much more important than we thought... so many people want to grab this only one, do we really have an advantage?"

"Isn't that me!"

The electronic alarm clock VV showed a firm look:

"Your biggest advantage is me! Can they control the robotic arm as accurately as I can? Can they monitor Jask 24 hours a day and seize control of the X-37B spaceplane before him like I can?"

"Don't underestimate me, Lin Xian. My strength is beyond your imagination now! At least from my monitoring of Jask, he knows nothing about the space-time particle and has no space-time particle capture device. His daily life is very transparent, just like a playboy. Of course, even so, I will not take it lightly and will definitely keep him under surveillance at all times."

"There is even less to worry about Kevin Walker. Now, except for not being able to find him, all his methods are inferior to mine. Even if I let him have control of the US X-37B first, I can still grab it from him. I! Am your ultimate insurance! Now, no one on the entire planet can do anything to me!"

"If heaven hadn't given birth to VV, the ages would be like a long night! At the pinnacle of AI, I survey the world! First there was VV, then there was heaven! Even if I need to lift it with one hand—"

"Okay, okay, stop showing off," Lin Xian interrupted VV, who was getting more and more excited:

"In short, the more they want this space-time particle, the more we have to take it. Otherwise... many of the roads behind will be blocked."

Lin Xian closed his eyes.

Sorting out the current situation.

Jask is being monitored by VV 24 hours a day, Kevin Walker's strength is far below VV's, and the US spaceplane will never be hijacked as long as VV is there.

Indeed…

With VV as insurance, it seems that there is no danger on the surface; even if there is danger, VV can discover it in time, prevent it in time, or notify itself to change the strategy.

As he said.

It is invincible in this era of 2024, and no one can do anything to it.

"Alright."

Lin Xian said:

"Starting tomorrow, Gao Yang will start practicing with the robotic arm. You better not intervene to help him cheat from the beginning, and let him practice more by himself. It's not that I don't believe in your ability, it's just that since Gao Yang is here, let's make a foolproof preparation."

After saying that.

Lin Xian picked up his mobile phone and looked at the time. It was not yet one o'clock in the morning.

He opened WeChat and saw a lot of New Year greetings.

From friends, family, company colleagues, and... Wang Ge, the vice president of Rhein Company.

Looking at the time, it was sent 3 minutes ago.

It seems that he hasn't slept yet.

Lin Xian happened to want to ask him about the situation of Time Bank, so he called directly.

The phone was answered after only two rings.

"Hahahaha, Lin Xian! Happy New Year!"

As soon as the call was connected.

On Wang Ge's side, there were crackling sounds of fireworks and firecrackers, which was very festive:

"Happy New Year, Wang Ge. How is the matter with Time Bank?"

"Oh, what a coincidence!"

Wang Ge laughed loudly on the phone:

"Today's bank affairs are really a double blessing! But President Zhao said that you have been borrowed by the country to perform some secret mission. I thought... this secret mission is not good to disturb you, so I thought about finding a chance to tell you later."

"Since you are not resting now, then I will tell you directly! The first happy event is in terms of qualification approval."

Wang Ge swallowed and paused, then continued:

"In order to better develop and survive, our Time Bank plans to use Rhein Company's 3 billion in cash to do some investment or financial services. With the expansion of this business area, procedures, approvals, qualifications, etc., all need to be re-applied. Especially the license qualifications in the financial sector... these years, the policy has tightened, and it is very difficult to apply."

"For the past few months, I have also been working hard, but the effect has not been very ideal. The above has not been approved, and there is a lot of resistance. But a few days ago, President Zhao went back to his hometown in Donghai from the capital for the New Year. On New Year's Eve, when their Zhao family had a New Year's Eve dinner together, it happened that President Zhao's uncle was in charge of this area in the country."

"That is really a high-ranking and very powerful person! President Zhao mentioned it to this big shot, and his own uncle, of course, agreed with a smile and solved it for us with one phone call! The person in charge in Donghai called me specifically just now, saying that after the New Year holiday, the agency will go to work and handle it for me directly, and let me go with the materials at that time."

"In other words, the last bit of resistance to our Time Bank's operation has also been resolved! As long as I get the qualification license as soon as the New Year is over... Time Bank can open at any time!"

…

So that's how it is.

Hearing what Wang Ge said, Lin Xian understood.

Perhaps…

The anchor point of the space-time change was generated at the Zhao family's New Year's Eve dinner, from the moment Zhao Yingjun spoke to her uncle.

Now, all the procedures for Time Bank have been completed, and opening for business is a foregone conclusion.

"When are you planning to start the trial operation?" Lin Xian asked.

"I plan to start the trial operation on March 20th, which is your birthday, Lin Xian. You have helped me so much with this dream, and I hope to open on your birthday as a thank you to you."

Obviously, Wang Ge had planned it long ago:

"Of course, Lin Xian, the official opening date and the official establishment date of Time Bank still have to be set on August 28, 2024, according to your wishes, and I will definitely stipulate in the company's articles of association that advertising airships will be used to promote around the city every 100 years, ensuring that it is always the first responsibility that must be fulfilled!"

Lin Xian smiled and didn't say much.

He doesn't really care about when Time Bank will start operating, it's just a matter of a few days earlier or later.

The matter of capturing the space-time particle in space will continue until the end of March, and Time Bank's trial operation on March 20 will not delay his next plan at all, and it will even connect perfectly.

Lin Xian also has a plan.

After capturing the space-time particle, he will let Liu Feng continue his research on the space-time clock, space-time curvature, and universal constants.

And he will first go back to Time Bank in Donghai, claim his hafnium alloy safe, and see what's going on with that eight-digit password that has tormented him and CC for so long!

After that.

He will go to Qufu, Shandong, dig up Zhang Yuqian's grave, find her remains, and compare her DNA with Chu Anqing's hair.

By then, the connection and secret between Zhang Yuqian, Chu Anqing, and even CC will all be revealed in that DNA test report.

That's the plan.

It would be great if everything goes smoothly, but if something unexpected happens, he will solve it step by step.

But…

Lin Xian still hopes that there will be a suitable opportunity for him to solve the mirror puzzle left by Huang Que; and then, to see if he can decipher the secret on "The Sad Einstein" as soon as possible, so as to obtain more information about the Genius Club and obtain an—

[Invitation from the Genius Club].

To this day, this is what he wants most and what he wants to get most urgently.

He wants to join the Genius Club.

Meet that group of so-called geniuses,

Understand their purpose and principles,

Resolve the mysteries and confusions in his heart,

See what roles Huang Que, Copernicus, Jask, and Kevin Walker play in it.

And then.

To determine the Genius Club…

Whether it is friend or foe!

Coming back to his senses, Lin Xian thought that Wang Ge said that there were two happy events about the bank just now.

The approval of qualifications is the first happy event.

What is the second happy event?

"Wang Ge."

Lin Xian asked:

"You said there were two happy events just now, what is the second happy event about the bank?"

"Haha, I haven't had time to say it yet."

Sure enough, the dream that he had been thinking about for many years since childhood was about to come true, and it happened to be the New Year. Wang Ge was really happy, and his laughter couldn't stop:

"The second happy event is... the 266 [hafnium alloy password safes] that have been delivered after running countless factories, inviting many experts, and even using large equipment and spending huge amounts of money!"

"Oh, this is too difficult. I initially looked for many research institutes and factories, but none of them could take on this job. The production and processing of hafnium alloy is extremely troublesome. It cannot be solved by high-temperature and stamping machine tools. This thing is too hard and durable... so some special stepped alloy manufacturing technology is needed to complete it. There are no more than 5 research institutes and factories in the entire country that can handle this technology."

"So I guess... in the whole world, we may be the only bank that is willing to use hafnium alloy to make safes. Many people think it is unnecessary to make a safe so exaggerated, but who told us that we are a time bank? We have to help customers store time capsules for decades or hundreds of years. I think stable and reliable hafnium alloy that never wears out is the most suitable and the best choice!"

"And I have always felt that electronic equipment is unreliable, especially in the long years of time. It will always face problems such as running out of power and damage... Our safe will be stored for decades or hundreds of years, so electronic password locks cannot be used. Therefore, I also specially invited international password experts to design an eight-digit password lock! All parts are forged from hafnium alloy, and the structure is extremely complex, so there is basically no possibility of cracking it in a short period of time, and the security is extremely high!"

"Hahahaha, because this is my dream for many years, so I spent a lot of money on these details. I hope you don't blame me... I just want to make this Time Bank perfect in every way."

"In short, the delivery of 266 hafnium alloy safes as scheduled is more exciting to me than those procedures, qualifications, and license approvals! I took a lot of photos excitedly today. I will send them to you on WeChat, Lin Xian! For a lucky and auspicious number, I directly engraved your name on the nameplate of safe No. 66. This hafnium alloy safe... is yours forever!"

After saying that.

Wang Ge's voice became smaller.

He must have taken the phone away from his ear and was preparing to select photos from the album to send to Lin Xian.

Ding-dong.

A WeChat notification sounded.

Lin Xian also took out his mobile phone, opened WeChat, and opened the pictures sent by Wang Ge.

The front ones are some pictures with very distant perspectives, with neat piles of hafnium alloy safes in the room.

Soon after.

They will be embedded in the cement wall of the Time Bank warehouse.

This embedding... will last for 600 years.

Lin Xian zoomed in on the photos.

Each safe is silver and shiny, clean and brand new.

It is exactly the same as what he saw in his dream, which makes Lin Xian very nostalgic…

This is really a strange feeling.

The hafnium alloy safe that tormented him for so long in his dream, but unexpectedly, after disappearing in the future world for so long, he actually saw it again in the real world 600 years ago!

It is really like a lifetime, making it a little difficult to tell which side is real for a while.

Lin Xian looked at the last photo sent by Wang Ge.

It was a close-up of a hafnium alloy safe, and the entire photo was filled with a hafnium alloy safe reflecting the incandescent light.

Too familiar!

This is the safe that he has been thinking about day and night!

Zoom in on the picture.

On the nameplate in the very center of the hafnium alloy safe, his name is engraved—

[Lin Xian]

The font is the same as in his dream.

And under this nameplate, there are 8 password dials lined up, which are even older friends!

At this moment…

Even if he had been mentally prepared for a long time.

But when this moment really came, when he really crossed 600 years of time and space to see his safe again, and when the password and Time Bank would all be dominated by him, Lin Xian couldn't help but feel his heart beat faster and clenched his palms.

"Did you see it, Lin Xian, isn't it cool!"

Wang Ge's laughter came from the phone again:

"Because the structure of this password lock is extremely complex, once the password is set, it can never be changed. There is no way, security and functionality are always in conflict. In order to ensure absolute security and unbreakability, I finally chose this password lock scheme."

"Of course, it can be cracked by brute force. An eight-digit password has a total of 100 million combinations. Even if you try one per second, 24 hours a day, it will take more than 3 years... Unless our bank goes bankrupt, this kind of situation cannot happen. You can't let a thief stay in the warehouse for 3 years and not be discovered, right?"

After proudly introducing the password lock, Wang Ge sniffed and asked:

"By the way, Lin Xian, what are you planning to…"

"Set as the password?"