Ying Chen looked at the staff member speaking.
"The files Lin Zhiping doesn't have the authority to access, you do?"
"If you are just trying to stall me, then your plan might have gone awry!"
With that, Ying Chen stomped his foot on the ground.
Instantly, a foot-deep imprint appeared on the ground.
Accompanied by flying gravel, Ying Chen, like a fighter jet entering supersonic cruise, instantly pierced the air, broke the sound barrier, and arrived before the staff member!
*Slap!*
Ying Chen grabbed the staff member by the throat and pinned him against the wall.
"I was... telling the truth... I didn't lie to you..."
"Although I also don't have the authority... I am proficient in hacking... I can crack the file lock..."
*Bang!*
After hearing the staff member's explanation, Ying Chen released his grip.
The staff member slid down the wall to the ground, a deep look of apprehension in his eyes.
Just one second more, and he would have died at Ying Chen's hands!
"Lead the way."
Ying Chen said the two words coldly.
The staff member quickly got up from the ground and led the way towards the archives.
As they walked, he kept explaining, fearing Ying Chen might misunderstand.
"The Feng Dun Bureau's archives are located in an underground vault. The entire vault is designed like a safe, built from an integrated alloy. The exterior of the safe is wrapped in thick concrete, not only to resist natural disasters like fire and water but also to withstand the destruction of weapons of mass destruction."
"Even if the entire East Region branch turned into ruins, the archives would remain undamaged."
"So we often joke that the most fortified place in the East Region branch, on the surface, is the Heaven-grade prison. In reality, it's the archives. As long as a prisoner is locked in the archives, no matter how powerful they are, they can never escape."
Ying Chen cast a subtle glance at the staff member.
The staff member immediately shivered and waved his hands, "Don't misunderstand, I absolutely didn't mean what you think!"
"Actually, it's just jokes among colleagues. How dare we actually lock prisoners in the archives! The archives store a large amount of classified information. If we did that, all that information would be ruined..."
Seeing that Ying Chen didn't seem angry, the staff member breathed a sigh of relief and continued, "The archives are divided into four levels of security: C, B, A, and S. The files and documents you want fall into the S-level category."
"Only the Director has the authority to access S-level files. Forget about viewing them, others don't even have a chance to enter the area where S-level files are stored. So, the moment Lin Zhiping agreed to trade with you, he was already prepared to turn on you."
"Originally, I couldn't enter the S-level area either, but I'm an old timer at the East Region branch and was involved in building the bottom-level network of the branch. Therefore, I can try to hack into the S-level area's access control and open it..."
"However, this process will take some time, so please be patient. Please don't think I'm playing any tricks and strike me down with a single palm!"
The staff member was truly afraid of Ying Chen's tendency to kill without a second thought.
He gave Ying Chen a preemptive warning.
Ying Chen looked at the staff member noncommittally.
At this moment, the two finally arrived at the entrance of the archives.
"Xiang Bo, open the door. I need to get some files from the archives."
The staff member stood at the door and said.
This archive had a dual internal and external access control system.
Only after the first access control was opened could one access the different security access controls for various confidentiality levels.
"Oh." An old man with white hair appeared at the window. After taking a glance outside, he hesitantly opened the outer door.
The staff member introduced, "This is Xiang Bo. He used to be an operative for the Feng Dun Bureau in his early years. Later, as he got older, he retired and now guards the archives."
"Xiang Bo is a bit eccentric. I heard that when he was an operative, his work performance wasn't great, and he was often ostracized. His colleagues from the same period either became regional leaders or held senior positions, while he could only end up as a gatekeeper. I guess it's fate!"
The staff member sighed and walked into the archives.
Ying Chen merely glanced at Xiang Bo indifferently and, without a word, also stepped into the archives.
Upon entering the archives, they saw four separate small rooms inside.
They were labeled with the letters C/B/A/S respectively.
As the letters progressed, the defensive measures also increased accordingly.
If one tried to force their way in without authorization, not only would the access control not open, but it would also trigger an alarm and activate countermeasures.
In such a confined space, large-caliber bullets would rain down, leaving no room to dodge.
It was almost certain death.
Therefore, even the confident staff member couldn't help but swallow.
He was scared.
However, thinking of Ying Chen, who killed without batting an eye, standing beside him, he braced himself and stepped forward.
"Xiang Bo, you're not needed here anymore. You can go back to sleep."
The staff member dismissed Xiang Bo and cautiously took out a handheld computer, connecting it to a port next to the S-level archives.
"This is a reserved port for maintenance and performance testing. Through this, I should be able to enter the defense network and disable the access control."
"Please wait a moment, I'll try."
Saying that, the staff member began to operate.
Ying Chen remained silent.
These things were unfamiliar to him, and he was too lazy to understand them, nor did he need to.
He only needed to see the results.
If the access control was disabled, the staff member would live;
If the access control could not be disabled, the staff member would die.
It was that simple.
Time ticked by second by second.
The staff member was sweating profusely.
It was evident that this task was extremely difficult.
After a full half hour, the staff member's eyes suddenly lit up, and he exclaimed, "Got it!"
The next second, he hit Enter with a 'pop'.
The lights in the archives instantly dimmed, as the main power supply was cut off.
Then, with the roar of a backup generator, the lights returned to normal.
In that brief moment, the staff member successfully simulated an authorization signal, tricked the defense system, and disabled the S-level archives' access control!
*Rumble...*
The S-level archives' gate slid open to the left and right. Just by looking at the thickness of the gate, it was clear that its ability to withstand missile attacks was no exaggeration.
"It's open, it's open!"
The staff member jumped up excitedly from the ground and shouted.
"The archives are open. Can you keep your promise and spare the rest of the branch personnel?"
The staff member turned to Ying Chen and asked.
Ying Chen glanced into the S-level archives. Rows of files were neatly arranged, marked with different types.
The information Ying Chen wanted was in the first row of file cabinets just inside the entrance.
"Get it." Ying Chen commanded.
The staff member hesitated for a moment, then stepped inside.
Just as the staff member was about to retrieve the files, a stern shout echoed from behind him.
"Stop!"
"Unauthorized entry into a confidential area, have you forgotten Article Nine of the Confidentiality Regulations?"
"Furthermore, you are suspected of colluding with outsiders and stealing organizational secrets! Regardless of your reasons, you have committed a grave offense."
"Withdraw immediately, and I can still spare your life! Otherwise, you and he will both die in the archives!"
The person speaking was none other than Xiang Bo!
Xiang Bo, who had been listless and dispirited moments ago, now seemed like a different person. His hair stood on end, his expression was sharp.
He exuded a powerful pressure that, even from a distance, made it difficult to breathe and stiffened the body.
The staff member looked at Xiang Bo, his face changing greatly, "Xiang Bo, you... are you the cleaner of the Feng Dun Bureau?"