Chapter 11: Dust and Shadows

  Location: Science Castle, Library Archive Server Interface Area, Rear Logistics Passage

  Time: First day after receiving Black Cat's new guidance

  Black Cat's suggestion that "the breakthrough lies in the 'person' not the 'database'" made Thunderhawk change his strategy. Directly assaulting the data fortress would be foolish—he needed a more ingenious approach. He thought of Verdandi. As a fellow scientist in Science Castle with considerable prestige, she might be able to access traces Dr. Yang left behind in informal academic exchanges.

  He found Verdandi in the library, where she was reviewing neural mapping data. This time, he chose to ask for help more directly, though still wrapped in a reasonable pretext.

  "The incident with Dr. Yang has given me some new concerns about researcher safety," Thunderhawk sat down beside her, lowering his voice. "I'm wondering, if a researcher were to have an accident... would their research data, especially preliminary ideas or drafts not yet formally submitted, have reliable backup or sharing channels? To prevent complete loss."

  Verdandi looked up from her screen, studying Thunderhawk thoughtfully. She seemed to see through the deeper intent behind his question, but didn't call him out. "Formal data all has central server backup. But some scientists... especially those with active minds like Alex, are accustomed to exchanging ideas on small-scale encrypted collaboration platforms before things are fully formed. More like an academic salon-style discussion."

  "Can these platforms be accessed within Science Castle?"

  "Limited access. Requires specific internal node permissions, and... they're not officially encouraged." She said meaningfully. "Director Graham considers them a security risk." She quickly operated her data pad a few times, sending an encrypted access key and a set of node coordinates to Thunderhawk's private channel. "This is an abandoned node entrance, used by some young researchers before. Supposedly unstable. Maybe you can find some old discussion logs. Be careful, Thunderhawk—these gray areas might actually have stricter surveillance."

  This was undoubtedly risky assistance. Thunderhawk nodded solemnly. "Thank you. Just to improve security preparedness."

  Meanwhile, the pressure Valeria had applied began to take effect. Within Science Castle, a tense atmosphere spread among lower-level employees. During his patrol, Thunderhawk noticed that John Liu from the IT department—the sharp, curious young man who had shown such keen interest at the data theft scene—seemed particularly anxious. He appeared to be avoiding eye contact with security personnel, walking with his head down, fingers constantly rubbing against his pant legs.

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  During a routine check of surveillance cameras in the rear logistics passage, Thunderhawk "happened upon" Liu in a secluded corner. Liu jumped, nearly dropping his data pad.

  "Mr. Liu, you don't look well," Thunderhawk said calmly.

  "It's... it's nothing! Just system maintenance pressure lately!" Liu spoke quickly, eyes darting.

  "Is it because of the police investigation? I heard they're checking permission logs." Thunderhawk deliberately threw out a vague topic as a probe.

  Liu's face instantly paled. "It's none of my business! I don't know anything!" He practically shouted, then roughly pushed past Thunderhawk and hurried away down the passage. His overreaction clearly indicated a guilty conscience. The "dust" Black Cat mentioned might refer to lower-level personnel like Liu who knew some inside information but weren't cautious enough. Valeria's pressure might have caused some to panic, initiating cleanup of these unstable factors.

  That evening, Thunderhawk attempted to use the key Verdandi provided to access that abandoned collaboration platform node. The process was difficult—the node kept cutting in and out, triggering multiple low-level security alerts that were promptly neutralized by Black Cat's pre-installed disguise programs. In the intermittent data stream, Thunderhawk only captured some incomplete fragments—discussion records from several months ago between Dr. Yang and several colleagues (IDs all anonymized):

  "...the model's convergence point isn't naturally formed, there are obvious guiding parameters..."

  "...if variable X isn't random noise but an injected guidance signal, then the entire transmission prediction will..."

  "...this violates research ethics baseline, but those above consider it 'necessary efficiency'..."

  "...the data source's legitimacy is questionable, I cannot..." (record cuts off here)

  These fragmented pieces of information aligned shockingly with Verdandi's speculation! "All things are connected." Energy, permissions, death, data... all these seemingly isolated incidents had an invisible thread connecting them beneath the surface. He had touched the edge of that web. Dr. Yang's research indeed involved "guiding" rather than simply predicting virus transmission, and his moral concerns about it might have been what brought fatal disaster upon him.

  Just as Thunderhawk tried to download more data, the node connection completely severed, returning a simulated hardware failure error code. Almost simultaneously, Black Cat sent an emergency alert:

  "Access reverse-traced! High-level alert triggered! Cleanup program initiated, target: 'dust'. Disconnect immediately, clear local cache!"

  Thunderhawk executed immediately, breaking out in a cold sweat. He had just finished clearing traces when urgent footsteps and security personnel communications sounded in the corridor outside his quarters. They seemed to be conducting a surprise "security sweep," but were specifically checking network interfaces in several areas, including the one outside Thunderhawk's quarters.

  Science Castle's internal "cleanup program" had been activated. "Dust" like John Liu, and any behavior attempting to probe secrets, had become targets for elimination. Thunderhawk felt himself walking on an increasingly narrow tightrope, with abysses on both sides.