Chapter 552: The Past Won’t Hurt You; You’re the Only One Who Hurts Yourself (Part 2)

Chapter 552 -370: The Past Won’t Hurt You; You’re the Only One Who Hurts Yourself (Part 2)

Old Ghost sighed. “With her around, this city is like a glass box to the Dome Group. No corner can remain hidden.”

“If she’s invincible in the online world, what about in the real world?” Wu Liangchen suddenly asked.

Old Ghost shook his head with a wry smile. “You’re not wrong. Butterfly’s real-world capabilities are indeed her weakness. The problem is, almost no one knows her true identity. She rarely makes public appearances, spending most of her time inside the data center. That place is the heart of the Alliance Government’s territory, and it’s guarded like a fortress.”

Wu Liangchen listened in silence, his fingers drumming unconsciously on the tabletop.

Old Ghost seemed to see right through him and shook his head. “Mr. Wu, I know what you’re thinking. But that path… it’s too difficult.”

Wu Liangchen smiled. “That’s exactly why I have to try it. But don’t worry, I won’t go in blind.”

Hearing Wu Liangchen’s words, Old Ghost finally seemed relieved. He turned and left.

After he left, Wu Liangchen immediately powered on his personal terminal and connected to a pre-arranged channel.

Soon, a cold, encrypted voice came from the other end. “What is it?”

The speaker was Old K.

Wu Liangchen didn’t answer directly, asking instead, “Is this line secure?”

“Relax. I built this comms channel myself. Not even Butterfly could hope to tap into it,” Old K said with considerable pride.

“Good. I’m going after Butterfly,” Wu Liangchen said, getting straight to the point.

The line went silent. After a good ten seconds, Old K’s voice came through again. “Are you sure?”

“Of course!”

“Look, on account of our last two jobs going so well, I have to warn you: that dame Butterfly is in a league of her own. I fancy myself a major player in the online world, but I’m still a step below her. If you’re serious about going after her, calling it a suicide mission would be an understatement.”

“I understand. That’s why I need all the intel you have on her,” Wu Liangchen said calmly.

“Alright. You’ve got guts, kid. I’ll send you the intel on her in a bit. Good luck.” With that, Old K terminated the channel.

Soon, an encrypted data packet arrived, sent to Wu Liangchen via a specialized network path.

For the next while, Wu Liangchen shut himself in his room, meticulously studying the intel from Old K, along with all the information the Starfire Organization had gathered on the core zone and the data center.

His mind raced, connecting clues, analyzing data, and running simulations. A bold, yet meticulous plan began to take shape.

“Old Ghost, I need a new identity. One that can get me into the core zone,” Wu Liangchen said, having sought out Old Ghost.

While difficult for the Starfire Organization, it wasn’t impossible. Old Ghost activated some of the organization’s deepest sleeper assets. Soon, they had prepared a complete identity for Wu Liangchen: a mid-level tech supervisor who had been working at an out-of-town branch and was now being transferred back to a position in the headquarters’ core zone. The resume was spotless, and there was even a complete file for him in the Alliance Government’s official database. It was as real as it gets.

Wu Liangchen stood before the mirror and began to meticulously apply his disguise. He reshaped his eyebrows, altered his skin tone, and even softened the look in his eyes. His naturally sharp aura was skillfully concealed, replaced by the persona of a middle-aged man who seemed somewhat awkward, yet carried the distinct touch of arrogance common among technicians.

Just as he had finished his preparations and was about to infiltrate the core zone alone, Old Ghost appeared before him with someone in tow.

It was Chi Lian.

But Wu Liangchen almost didn’t recognize the Chi Lian standing before him.

Her trademark, fiery red short hair had been dyed a subdued black, falling softly beside her ears. Her smoky eye makeup was gone, revealing a pale but delicately featured face, completely free of cosmetics.

The shiny stud on her nose was also gone. She wore a simple cotton dress that, while still outlining her stunning figure, lacked its usual flamboyant wildness. Instead, she had the gentle air of a homemaker.

If it weren’t for the stubborn glint still present in her eyes, Wu Liangchen would have thought he was looking at a completely different person.

“What’s this…?” Wu Liangchen hesitated, slightly taken aback.

Old Ghost explained, “Security in the core zone is already extremely tight. And with tensions so high right now, the scrutiny they put single adult men through has become almost paranoid.”

“In contrast, a target with family in tow is more likely to pass through inspection. Your new identity has a legal, registered wife on file. So, Chi Lian will accompany you into the core zone as your wife.”

After hearing this, Wu Liangchen said nothing, sinking into silence.

Seeing his silence, Old Ghost asked, “Mr. Wu, do you have any reservations?”

Wu Liangchen glanced at Chi Lian. Her head was bowed, her hands nervously wringing the hem of her dress. She was like a completely different person from her usual bold, fiery self.

“Once we’re in the core zone, my primary objective is Butterfly. When the operation starts, I won’t be able to get distracted,” Wu Liangchen’s voice was calm. “She’ll be in extreme danger.”

Before Old Ghost could speak, Chi Lian snapped her head up. Her gaze was clear and resolute, all traces of her earlier hesitation gone, replaced by a do-or-die determination.

“Mr. Wu, you don’t need to worry about me! From the day I joined Starfire, I’ve been prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice!”

As she spoke, her eyes shone like stars, as if a fire burned within them.

At this, Old Ghost sighed as well. “Mr. Wu, I know you’re right. Do you think I don’t know the risks of this mission? But do you have any idea how many girls at the base were fighting for this opportunity the moment you proposed your plan?”

“They’re all good kids, and I can’t bear to watch them go to their deaths. But overthrowing tyranny isn’t a dinner party; it requires bloodshed and sacrifice. The current situation requires a female operative to go with you. It’s the plan with the highest chance of success.”

By the end, the rims of Old Ghost’s eyes had turned red.

Wu Liangchen looked at Old Ghost, then at Chi Lian. Finally, he gave a slow nod.

“Get ready. We leave as soon as possible.”

A brilliant smile instantly bloomed across Chi Lian’s face.

—————–

「Three days later」 A long line snaked its way toward the core zone checkpoint.

Wu Liangchen stood in the queue, dressed in a well-fitted gray technician’s uniform. A pair of ordinary black-framed glasses rested on his nose. The eyes behind the lenses had lost their usual sharpness, replaced by a perfectly calibrated mildness and the characteristic awkwardness of a tech specialist.

He was slightly hunched, carrying a worn briefcase, looking no different from the corporate drones around him just trying to get by.

At his side, Chi Lian was like a frightened little rabbit, clinging tightly to his arm. She played the part of a timid housewife, new to the big city and somewhat intimidated by it all, to perfection.

Only Wu Liangchen could feel the slight tremor in the fingertips clutching his arm. Her palm, he suspected, was already slick with sweat.

“Don’t be nervous. Just like we rehearsed,” Wu Liangchen said without looking away from the front, his voice low enough for only the two of them to hear. His tone was calm, carrying a reassuring strength.

Chi Lian gave an almost imperceptible nod, took a deep breath, and forced down the pounding in her chest.

The line crawled forward. Every person had to pass through several strictly monitored checkpoints: identity chip scans, iris comparisons, fingerprint verifications, and even a full-body scan from a machine that emitted a faint blue glow.

Finally, it was their turn.

“Name. ID number,” a guard said, his expression blank, his eyes sweeping over them like X-rays.

“Li Ming. ID number TKY73982,” Wu Liangchen said, pushing up his glasses. His voice was slightly hoarse, tinged with the awkwardness common among tech staff.

“This is my wife, Wang Shufen. Her ID is… uh, let me see…” He fumbled in his pocket, pulled out a crumpled duplicate ID card, and handed it over.

The guard took the ID card and swiped it through a special reader, which emitted a soft BEEP.

Detailed profiles for both of them popped up on the screen, a perfect match for their current appearances—right down to the forged marriage registration date.

“Heads up. Look here,” the guard said, motioning toward the iris scanner.

Wu Liangchen and Chi Lian complied in turn. A green beam of light swept across their eyes. A moment later, an electronic voice announced, “Verification successful.”

“Alright, move along,” the guard said, waving them through.

Wu Liangchen breathed an inward sigh of relief and began to lead Chi Lian forward.

But just then, something unexpected happened.

“Wait!”