Chapter 229: Vacuum Core Area

As the U.S. Military was repositioning its troops, Du Qiu was also busy.

“Star Ocean, have our people arrived in Las Vegas yet?”

“Yes, they have arrived. Your doppelganger is wandering around the usual place. However, I haven’t found Gilt through the surveillance system of Las Vegas.”

“No rush, time hasn’t run out yet; he should appear. By the way, did you manage to connect to those old satellite networks of the U.S. Military?”

“Don’t even start. Although the infiltrator managed to connect, as soon as I entered, there was absolutely no trace of that little guy in the entire network. The central system server is an old-fashioned supercomputer, which probably isn’t the dwelling place for the little guy.”

Du Qiu raised his eyebrows in surprise, “Then you haven’t found any other exits or connecting points in this network?”

“I’ve checked all the fixed connecting points; there’s no trace of the little guy at all. This guy is too cautious; he must have used some kind of temporary connection mechanism,” Star Ocean said, with a hint of frustration in her tone.

Du Qiu chuckled inwardly and said, “It seems it is very wary of you; that’s why it’s so cautious about connecting to any network. This suggests that it might be in a very isolated small network. The United States is so large, there are too many such small local area networks; it’s very hard to search one by one.”

“Sir, I hope we can utilize the carbon nanobots that are currently infiltrating the nuclear bomb base in Area 51; I suspect that the little guy might be in the core area.”

Du Qiu frowned and said, “Didn’t you mention that the core area is a vacuum and that there are no humans as a medium to help the carbon nanobots infiltrate? How would they penetrate?”

The core area of Area 51 had already been discovered by the carbon nanobots, but they never had the chance to infiltrate, mainly because the core area seemed to be in a vacuum. At least the peripheral area the carbon nanobots came in contact with was a vacuum for 10 meters, which deprived the carbon nanobots of energy to pass through.

Du Qiu’s carbon nanobots were created to use carbon as a source of energy for replenishment and reproduction. Normally, a single carbon nanobot, without external help for movement, could only move no more than 10 meters with all its energy.

Du Qiu figured that as long as there was air on Earth, there would naturally be carbon elements, and carbon nanobots could easily obtain carbon elements from the air, thus having the energy to move and replicate.

However, in several previous infiltration attempts, Star Ocean commanded the carbon nanobots to approach the core area from various directions, but they failed to exceed 10 meters each time.

This surely meant that the core area must be a vacuum zone, which is why there was no human traffic in and out of the core area.

Du Qiu didn’t believe that anyone would have foreseen the emergence of carbon nanobots and thus used a vacuum zone for counter-infiltration.

“Sir, what I mean is to mobilize a batch of carbon nanobots to replicate in large numbers on the periphery and then infiltrate from 360 degrees through the air and underground. I think at least this should find the network line leading to the core area.”

Du Qiu realized and said, “So, you want to find the network cables and then use the infiltrator for connection, which would then help you enter the core area through the network?”

“Yes, otherwise, we find a metal protective layer at the top or bottom of the core area, put in metal nanobots, dig an opening, let the air in, and then the carbon nanobots can enter.”

Du Qiu said, “What are you waiting for then? Get started right away.”

Star Ocean explained, “Previously, a nuclear base was discovered nearby, and all of the carbon nanobots in Area 51 have been deployed there. All the rest here have exhausted their energy. You previously ordered that finding a nuclear base is the first priority for carbon nanobots, so I need your approval to call over the carbon nanobots from there.”

Du Qiu was taken aback and asked, “Is there still time? This little guy is thinking of launching a nuclear strike against us.”

General Curtis, as a key surveillance target, had already been surrounded by lurking II and carbon nanobots. His communication with the Almighty had just been transmitted back to the base, and Du Qiu knew that in just over 8 hours, the U.S. Navy’s Marlin-class strategic nuclear submarine would launch a nuclear strike against the industrial park here in the Tanga Federation.

Now, the industrial park in the Tanga Federation is not only home to Dream Technology but also to a large number of supporting companies and other factories.

These are the fruits of full-scale investment promotion since Mu Weini took office last year, with many companies from China running to set up factories here because the place not only has preferential policies but also very cheap electricity.

This was because Du Qiu assisted Mu Weini in building many solar power stations in the Tanga Federation, allowing for a large amount of cheap power.

Du Qiu certainly couldn’t let the U.S. military succeed in a nuclear strike.

The team had previously dispatched a large number of intelligent mechanical fish to locate the Marlin, ready to destroy it upon launch of the nuclear missile.

As for the nuclear missile, once it enters space, natural space-based weapons would intercept it.

The key is that if the artificial intelligence is not found before this, it must be determined whether it is the Almighty.

If the Almighty utilizes more strategic nuclear submarines after the Marlin fails, considering the number of strategic nuclear submarines owned by the United States, it would be very difficult to destroy them all.

Fortunately, Du Qiu had already built quite a few space-based weapons previously but had no way to send them into space; after all, commercial launches also have to go through a country’s inspection.

But the Wing-Loong fighter was timely developed, and Star Ocean has already deployed a large number of space-based weapons to the orbit of Earth. They have also entered into a level one combat readiness state.

“Sir, there is enough time. With the replication speed of the carbon nanobots, and by mobilizing some lurking IIs to help transport them to the appropriate positions, this infiltration task should be completed quickly.”

Du Qiu nodded and said, “Go ahead and execute it. To prevent the little guy from being the Almighty, we should also be ready with our Bright Sword plan. If the Almighty wants to attack at all costs using the U.S. military’s force, I will cripple the United States.”

In the United States, Las Vegas.

As night fell, the neon lights of the entire city began to flicker non-stop, and another sleepless night began in a city designed to maximize gambling instincts.

Not far from the Megawin Casino, on a street, a person was walking back and forth, seemingly anxiously waiting for something.

This was a high-fidelity robot appearing in the image of Qiu Mu, whom Du Qiu had previously impersonated. From time to time, it looked at its wristwatch.

In fact, he had been pacing here for three days, and today was the last day of the time Gilt had set.

Suddenly, a battered Mitsubishi light truck pulled up to the curb, “Hello, are you Qiu?” asked a chubby white uncle poking his head out from the driver’s seat.

Qiu Mu promptly replied, “I am.”

“Get in the car quickly; someone wants to see you,” said the chubby uncle.

Without hesitation, Qiu Mu opened the door and sat in the passenger seat.

The Mitsubishi light truck rumbled forward.

“Are you Gilt’s friend?” Qiu Mu asked.

“No, of course not. I’m his landlord. This guy owes me several months’ rent, and I haven’t been able to find him. Are you his friend?”

“I am.”

“Great, can you pay his outstanding rent for him? It’s 15,000 dollars in total!”

“Are you taking me to see Gilt?”

“Of course.”

“Then, since you’re going to see Gilt, you can directly ask him for it.”

Upon hearing this, the chubby uncle’s face darkened and he pulled the car to the side of the road, saying, “I’m sorry, but I can’t take you to see Gilt.”

“Why? Just because I refuse to pay the 15,000 dollars?” Qiu Mu asked in surprise.

“Don’t ask why, just get out quickly.”

“Alright, I can pay the 15,000 dollars, but I don’t have that much cash on me. How about I transfer it to you?” Qiu Mu said helplessly.

The chubby uncle watched Qiu Mu, reported his account number, and Qiu Mu, with a resigned expression, put on smart glasses and transferred 15,000 dollars to the account via online banking.

The sound of a text message indicating the money had arrived came from the mobile phone propped on the dashboard, and the chubby uncle’s face lit up with a radiant smile. “Hmm, you really are Gilt’s friend! Although Gilt likes to be behind on rent, he is quite a decent person.”

“How come you see Gilt often but don’t ask for the rent yourself?”

The chubby uncle chuckled and said, “I can’t even see the guy once a year. After he rented my room, he hardly ever comes by. He always says he’s coming back from a win at the casino. Just because he owes me rent I know he hasn’t gambled away his limbs, which is fortunate enough. He even dares say he was once the child of fortune and won tens of millions at the Megawin Casino. Don’t you think he’s silly? If it wasn’t for the time he promptly took me to the hospital and saved my life, I’d have kicked him out long ago.”

“Why didn’t Gilt come to see me himself?” Qiu Mu asked in surprise.

The chubby uncle sighed and said, “He’s about to die. One night last week, he suddenly showed up at my place with at least two gunshot wounds and wouldn’t let me call the cops or take him to the hospital. I could only ask a nearby vet to help him remove the bullets. He’s still lying in the house, in and out of consciousness, and I don’t know if he’ll make it. When he asked me to come get you, it was when he just woke up. But he wasn’t wrong. You’re indeed a generous person and also a good friend of his. He said anyone unwilling to cover his rent isn’t his friend and there’s no need for a pickup.”

By the time the chubby uncle brought Qiu Mu to a row of bungalows at the bottom of a small hill on the outskirts of the north, Qiu Mu got out of the car and looked around.

Enclosed with a fence, the property had a large yard. It seemed somewhat desolate in the surrounding area. The chubby uncle was pretty adamant about collecting rent, indeed.