Tokyo people don't talk about Wude

Chapter 438, Section 435: "Alter"

Tonight, Tokyo is destined to be a night of revelry and sleepless nights.

The entire city was engulfed in war, with battles raging through the streets and alleys. However, on a side unknown to most, a group of soldiers were also fighting their own battle.

For example, Chen Han, and the "information technology and cybersecurity experts" he and Kagari Otoko secretly gathered, are currently fighting on the invisible cyber front.

They are launching a full-scale attack on the network systems of the Wano Country government, military, and KJ organization, disrupting command, stealing intelligence, and blocking communications... These seemingly insignificant tasks are actually the most crucial part of the entire operation.

Inside the Shattered Dreams organization's base, Chen Han's hands flew between the keyboard and mouse, his bloodshot eyes fixed on the screen, refusing to blink even when his eyeballs were dry and about to burst.

A coffee cup tipped over beside him, spilling its already cold coffee. But after making sure it didn't spill on the computer case or keyboard, he immediately continued working.

Previously, under Kagari Otonashi's arrangement, he and several trusted experts jointly developed a system called "Alter"—a targeted virus specifically created based on the underlying code of the [Gensokyo Website] and combined with the data she stole from the [Izanami Core].

The "Alter" system has only one function: to hack into the Izanami Core, crack it, and temporarily seize control of it.

Kagari Yaon always places all her hopes on one person and one plan. If Kurenai Jin fails to defeat Shinazugin Ryujin before midnight, "Alter" will be her last trump card.

Now, with the enemy embroiled in a fierce battle, it's the perfect time to use the "Alter" system to infiltrate. However, Chen Han has encountered new difficulties.

Although the "Alter" system has been developed, this is the first time it has been put into actual combat. After all, once such a highly targeted virus is exposed, it will definitely arouse the enemy's vigilance, so it must be well hidden before the decisive battle.

When something is first put into practical use, it will inevitably encounter many difficulties. It's like fumbling for a light switch in the dark in a huge, unfamiliar room—extremely difficult.

Despite Xiao Jing's assistance, Chen Han still felt that the road ahead was long and uncertain.

"Xiao Zuo, how's it going on your end?" Chen Han asked irritably. He couldn't remember how many times he had asked that question tonight.

"Yes, I'm sorry, but it still won't work." Xiao Jing's face was almost pressed against the screen, her bangs soaked with sweat, looking just like a student rushing to finish homework on the last night of summer vacation.

"Sigh, let's try a different route!" Chen Han sighed and continued rewriting the code, helplessly facing one error pop-up after another.

Chen Han didn't think highly of Xiao Jing to begin with. After all, she was just a high school student. Although she had some talent in computers, how many "top-tier high school students" were there in the world?
Chen Han already admires her for taking the step that many others wouldn't, coming to the front lines to help.

It was almost 11 p.m. – only one hour left before the ceremony began.

Although Chen Han hoped that Hong Zhongjin would win, he had more faith in Kagari Otonashi's judgment.

Ryuma Shinsei has been plotting for decades, and defeating him will not be easy; one must be 200% prepared.

So all he could do was keep fighting desperately, just like countless others in Tokyo, just like that monster disguised as a miniature Kyushu creature fighting desperately on the Tokyo Tower.

Sudden--

[Click-clack!]

The clock struck 11 p.m.

For some reason, Chen Han felt a strange palpitation welling up inside him.

"What...what did you do?" His fingers paused subconsciously.

He suppressed the strange feeling and continued working, when he received an urgent message from his teammates over the communication channel:
Massive cases of discomfort and fainting have occurred among protesters in Tokyo.

"What's going on?" Chen Han immediately switched to the view of the reconnaissance drone over the city.

What came into view were images of people collapsing in droves on the streets of Tokyo. Protesters and military police stopped fighting at the same time; some vomited against walls, some fainted on the spot, but they no longer had the will to fight.

[Mass incidents of dizziness and fainting have occurred among protesters in Tokyo.] He then switched the camera to his own "infantry" and "rangers"—the situation was exactly the same. Headaches, chest tightness, and weakness. Even the enemy was no exception, so both sides inexplicably ceased fire.

"These are... symptoms of poisoning? Did they release poison gas?" Chen Han blurted out instinctively, his face changing drastically: "Are they crazy? They won't even spare their own people?"

Just then, Kagari Otonashi's calm voice came through: "It shouldn't be poison gas. They don't have the ability to release a poison that could cover the entire Tokyo."

"What's going on?" Chen Han's lips twitched. "It can't be that the sacrifice was started ahead of schedule, can it?"

“Perhaps… that’s it.” Kagari Otonashi’s voice deepened a bit: “You’re right. I can sense that he did indeed activate the Izanami Core ahead of schedule. Although it only extracted a very small portion of the souls of everyone in Tokyo, it was enough to cause temporary side effects to those whose souls were extracted.”

"What?!" Chen Han couldn't help but slam his fist on the table. "What do you mean by that?! Didn't you swear that the sacrificial ceremony could only begin after midnight?!"

"Please calm down, Mr. Chen." Kagari Oto's tone was tinged with helplessness: "I can assure you, this is absolutely unexpected and definitely not the result I wanted."

"Damn it, don't apologize at a time like this!" Chen Han became increasingly agitated as he listened: "Stop talking nonsense and tell me what happened? Why did it turn out like this!"

"Perhaps factors such as climate and celestial phenomena have changed recently, allowing Ryujin of the Undying Intouchables to initiate the sacrifice ahead of schedule," Kagari Oto explained calmly.

"You are safe and sound because the base has a soul signal shielding device, just like the shelter that Ryuma Undeadin built for his core confidants."

"So, does that mean we're doomed?" Chen Han broke out in a cold sweat, his fingers going limp. "Kagaya Otonashi, how can you be so calm! I haven't even connected to 'Alter' yet, is there any other solution?!"

"I have a way. Or rather, the situation wasn't as bad as it seemed." — Kagari Yaon

"Based on my observation, even if he could initiate the sacrifice in advance, there are still great limitations. It seems that he only sacrificed about 4-8% of the souls of most people in the Tokyo area."

"To officially begin the nationwide memorial service, we still need to wait until exactly midnight. In other words, we still have a chance!"

Before she could finish speaking, a thunderous roar suddenly came through the communicator.

Chen Han looked at another drone screen, his pupils contracting sharply:
At the top of Tokyo Tower, a magnificent sword aura, seemingly divine, soared into the sky, traversing the heavens!

"What the hell is this?!" Chen Han was so frightened that he couldn't speak coherently, and Xiao Jing next to him immediately covered her mouth and screamed.

If this supernatural spectacle, comparable to Hollywood special effects, had happened anywhere else, Chen Han would have simply assumed it was a large film crew shooting a movie.

The fact that it could happen at the top of Tokyo Tower, where the Red Ember was located, sent a chill down Chen Han's spine.

However, Tokyo Tower was blocked from sending signals, and no one knew what was happening inside the tower.

The thought of the current chaotic and extremely unfavorable situation made Chen Han feel a headache and heartache.

Fortunately, the next moment, Kagari Otonashi's words came like a shot of adrenaline:
"This sacrifice may seem like a crisis, but it is also an opportunity. Ryujin Shinazugin has exposed a fatal flaw."

Kagari Yoru quickly transmitted some information to the base's computer:
"After he initiated the sacrifice, I used reverse engineering and finally found some clues. With these clues, we can quickly infiltrate 'Alter'."

Chen Han quickly browsed the scrolling information, an idea suddenly struck him, his eyes lit up instantly, and he frantically started typing on the keyboard again.

Ten minutes later, drenched in sweat, he slammed his fist on the keyboard and shouted excitedly:
"Haha! There's always a way out! I've found it! I've finally found it!"

"Uncle Chen?" Xiao Jing leaned closer, only to see a series of error messages on the screen disappear quickly, and the code information proceeded smoothly and quickly!
"Just five minutes, no, two minutes! Watch me take them down!"

Hope rises again.

Just as Chen Han was beaming with joy, a hurried voice came through the communication channel from Hillis:
[Oh no! I saw what happened at Tokyo Tower, Red Jin lost!]

(End of this chapter)