Villain? No, I'll catch up with the protagonist after passing the civil service exam.

Lu Jingyan hung up the confidential hotline, and the black armored SUV did not return to the municipal branch.

Zhao Tiezhu floored the accelerator, and the SUV sped into the Provincial Public Security Bureau compound with its highest-level siren blaring.

The entire special investigation team assembled overnight at the provincial department's highest-level command center.

On the huge circular screen, the red dot representing the "counterfeit system" is no longer limited to Jinghai City, but is spreading like a terrifying electronic plague to the surrounding three provinces of East China.

In the center of the screen, the holographic video link with Minister Zhou of the Ministry of Public Security has been established.

The iron-fisted leader's face was ashen at that moment, and he held a red-headed document stamped with the national emblem and seal in his hand.

"The situation at the Beijing banquet is escalating. Local police resources are no longer sufficient to handle this exponential surge in tech crime."

Minister Zhou's voice echoed in the hall, exuding an unquestionable authority.

"Half an hour ago, the ministry convened an emergency standing committee meeting. These so-called 'chosen ones' are nothing but thugs brainwashed by inferior nanochips."

"But if we allow these 100,000 rioters to run rampant in society, the dignity of modern rule of law will be utterly trampled!"

Lu Jingyan stood tall and straight, his deep eyes fixed on the screen: "Please give the order, sir. As long as they are on Chinese soil, the special investigation team has the ability to dig out all the junk from their brains."

"Great! That's exactly what I wanted to hear!"

Minister Zhou suddenly stood up and displayed the official document in front of the camera.

"With the approval of the Supreme Committee of the Ministry of Public Security, Special Decree No. 001 has been officially issued!"

"Given that the chaotic situation of 'everyone having their own system' has seriously endangered national public security, effective immediately, the former Jinghai City Cross-Regional Major Crimes Special Investigation Team has been officially upgraded to a national-level directly subordinate agency!"

"The new organization is named—the National Joint Brigade for the Seizure of Illegal Public Entities!"

Upon hearing this hardcore new name, Zhao Tiezhu was so excited that he slapped his thigh, almost knocking his sidearm off.

"Wow, the nationwide confiscation brigade! That name alone sounds incredibly powerful!"

Minister Zhou's gaze was sharp as he stared directly at Lu Jingyan through the screen.

"Comrade Lu Jingyan, the Ministry has officially appointed you as the Chief Captain of the Seizure Brigade, giving you full authority over this 'Clean Internet, Fox Hunt' special operation!"

"From now on, you can directly mobilize local armed police and special police resources across any provincial or municipal boundaries."

"Take full responsibility for the forced confiscation and physical destruction of all 'fake systems' scattered among the public!"

"Yes, sir! Mission accomplished!" Lu Jingyan raised his hand and gave a standard, sharp police salute.

The video call ended, and the air in the lobby seemed to ignite.

A small team that leveled up by defeating monsters in the local area instantly transformed into the core force that dominates the operation of the state apparatus.

The overwhelming sense of pressure from this grand narrative made Su Xiaoxiao's cheeks flush with excitement.

"Boss! We're now imperial envoys with the sword of authority! What's the first step?"

Lu Jingyan walked to the control panel, placed his hands on the cold metal tabletop, and curled a cruel sneer at the corner of his mouth.

"The first step is to give these idiots who are immersed in their protagonist dreams a basic education on the law."

He turned to Su Xiaoxiao: "Connect to the top channels of the National Radio and Television Station and all mainstream social media platforms across the internet."

"I will issue a top-level arrest warrant in the name of the Ministry of Public Security."

Five minutes later.

The screens on all major video websites, live streaming platforms, and news apps across the internet were simultaneously forced to redirect.

Lu Jingyan, dressed in a sharp, dark-colored high-ranking police uniform, appeared on the screens of hundreds of millions of netizens across the country with a stern expression.

"Dear citizens, I am Lu Jingyan, the captain of the National Joint Brigade for the Seizure of Illegal Public Entities."

His voice was deep and calm, yet carried a powerful, penetrating authority that seemed to pierce the soul.

"Recently, some criminals have used miniature drones to spread unknown nanomechanical chips over a large area across the country."

"This chip can penetrate into the human brain, release microcurrents, and give people a severe hallucination of having a so-called 'system cheat code'."

On the right side of the screen, microscopic images of the wafers taken by Qin Mingyue overnight are displayed simultaneously.

The cold, hard scientific evidence instantly shattered the veil of mystery surrounding the "system."

"On behalf of the authorities, I hereby issue an ultimatum to all chip-infected individuals."

Lu Jingyan's eyes were sharp as knives, as if he could see through the screen to the thugs hiding in the shadows.

"The Notice on Voluntary Surrender of Unknown Electronic Implants (Systems) within a Time Limit has been officially issued."

"All so-called 'systems' are defined by the state as illegal and prohibited electronic devices that are extremely dangerous."

"You are given 48 hours to turn yourself in to the nearest public security bureau and undergo a free chip removal procedure."

"Those who voluntarily surrender will not be held accountable by the state. Those who refuse to surrender after the deadline, or even attempt to use the system to resist law enforcement..."

Lu Jingyan leaned forward slightly, his tone extremely cold.

"All such weapons will be confiscated on the spot and punished to the fullest extent of the law, as a crime of illegal possession of deadly weapons and endangering national security!"

This hard-hitting declaration of war video, which lasts less than three minutes, exploded like a nuclear bomb on the internet.

The official characterization completely stripped the "chosen one" of its sacredness.

Ordinary netizens suddenly realized what was happening and flooded the comment section with their support.

"So all those 'dragon kings' and 'super-rich' on the streets are mentally ill people with microchips implanted in their brains!"

"Captain Lu's announcement was so cool! What a crappy system! It's just a pile of electronic junk in front of the state apparatus!"

"I support the government confiscating these items! Yesterday, some idiot claiming to be from the Sword Immortal System scratched my car window with a tree branch; he must be arrested!"

However, in the dark corners where the sun doesn't reach.

Those hosts who genuinely experienced physical enhancement or "withdrew" virtual currency from the system were gripped by extreme panic and anger.

They've long been accustomed to the pleasure of getting something for nothing, so how could they possibly be willing to go back to being an ordinary person who's good for nothing?

Late at night, in an encrypted anonymous forum hidden deep in the dark web.

Data flows are surging wildly, and thousands of system hosts are secretly connecting here.

A high-level host with the ID "Dark Night Asura" posted an arrogant pinned post.

"Brothers! Don't let that cop Lu Jingyan fool you!"

"What rubbish about nanochips! This is clearly a gift of spiritual revival! We've been chosen by heaven to reshape the world order!"

"The authorities are just jealous of our power and want to harvest us like weeds!"

The comments below quickly piled up to tens of thousands of pages, and the public was outraged.

"That's right! My 'Ancient Martial Arts System' has already allowed me to reach the peak of Internal Strength, enough to penetrate steel plates. What am I afraid of!"

"My 'god-level hacking system' has paralyzed half the city's traffic lights. Who does the police think they are?"

"At worst, we'll all rebel! With 100,000 men joining forces, even if each of us just spits, we can drown that so-called 'confiscation brigade'!"

These lawless individuals, completely consumed by desire, unleash their contempt for modern rule of law under the protection of the dark web.

They even started organizing offline rallies in an attempt to band together against the impending large-scale crackdown.

The provincial department's first command center was brightly lit.

Su Xiaoxiao looked at the dark web chat logs automatically intercepted on the tactical tablet and sneered.

"Boss, it seems like your announcement didn't scare them at all."

She handed the tablet to Lu Jingyan, pointing to the arrogant comments on the screen.

"These self-righteous fake protagonists not only have no intention of handing over the system, but they've also started forming groups on the dark web."

"They even formed a so-called 'Chosen Ones' Revenge Alliance,' threatening to teach our police a lesson."

Zhao Tiezhu leaned over and took a look, then snorted angrily.

"Trying to show us what's what? These bastards probably haven't seen the red-hot color of a Gatling gun barrel before!"

"Boss, since they won't listen to reason and are forced to take the punishment, shouldn't we just go and deliver the goodwill to their homes according to the list?"

Lu Jingyan took the tablet, his long, slender fingers tracing the arrogant posts.

His deep black eyes reflected the cold, eerie blue light of the screen, making him look like a grim reaper gazing into the abyss.

"The Chosen Ones' Avengers? A bunch of rabble with man-made garbage in their heads, do they even deserve to call themselves the Chosen Ones?"

He casually tossed the tablet onto the table, making a crisp thud.

"Since they believe that the law does not punish the masses and that banding together can help them fight against the state apparatus."

"Then let's grant their wish."

Lu Jingyan turned around and took a new high-frequency EMP assault rifle, completely black, from the weapon rack.

The sound of guns being cocked echoed like a death knell in the quiet command center.

"Su Xiaoxiao, immediately locate the ringleader known as 'Dark Night Asura' via his dark web IP address."

A cruel, rule-of-law smile curled at the corners of Lu Jingyan's lips.

"Once the deadline for the notice expires at 8 a.m. tomorrow, Tiezhu, take the brothers and come with me to check the water meters door-to-door."

Zhao Tiezhu grinned excitedly and raised the heavy hammer in his hand.

"Boss, what if they hide inside and refuse to open the door?"

Lu Jingyan straightened his tie and strode towards the command center gate.

His voice, accompanied by steady footsteps, drifted back from afar.

"Not opening the door?"

"Then let's use tear gas and battering rams to teach them how to be law-abiding citizens."