Algorithm system

ArrestCell phones are more easily monitored than computers.

Because with a computer, you can still run antivirus and access system files.

But with a cell phone, forget about it.

If it’s a cell phone with a specially modified system, it’s completely impossible for you to escape monitoring.

Therefore, Lin Yuan was certain: if the other party, out of greed, went to apply for a new digital currency wallet address, they could only use a laptop.

And Lin Yuan didn’t believe that people like them would be allowed to bring their own laptops that were not within the scope of monitoring. Perhaps the network cameras installed in their homes were directly connected to The Other Shore of the Pacific.

So Lin Yuan took a gamble, betting that this ’nail’ living in Shanghai wouldn’t be able to resist the temptation to send a new wallet address to receive five thousand US dollars.

After all, this was a completely inconspicuous operation; who doesn’t have a bit of a lucky mindset? Monitoring cameras could capture you having an extra laptop, but they wouldn’t notice you occasionally visiting a certain webpage.

What Lin Yuan wanted was for the other party to go online.

This time, he won the bet.

However, this was not an extraordinary operation.

Because even if the other party didn’t use a computer to go online for a while, it was impossible for them to never use a computer to go online.

So, Lin Yuan merely shortened the time everyone had to wait for the rabbit.

—

The plot that followed was very cliché. After Zhang Yan located the MAC address, she immediately put on a bulletproof vest and tucked a retractable baton into her waistband.

”Old Mo, Building 15, 26th floor, the westernmost unit. Meet downstairs.” Zhang Yan notified Old Mo of the location via radio.

”What are you going to do? Stay in the car. You’re from cyber security; I’m responsible for the action.”

”Stop dawdling. Arrange for people to guard all exits. Act once personnel are in position.”

Lin Yuan heard their conversation on the channel. Zhang Yan insisted on taking action herself, which was in line with her character.

Lin Yuan originally didn’t want to get involved in the operation, but since Zhang Yan went, he couldn’t stay out of it.

When he met up with Zhang Yan, he was a bit stunned, because Zhang Yan’s collar revealed her bulletproof vest.

”Does it have to be this exaggerated?”

”Better safe than sorry. We didn’t prepare one for you, so don’t go up.”

Old Mo quickly arrived as well. He knew he couldn’t stop Zhang Yan. ”I’ll go in first later; you cooperate from outside. Don’t argue with me again, or I’ll call the director right now.”

Zhang Yan had no choice but to give up.

Before long, a voice came through the earpiece,

”North gate personnel in position.”

”South gate in position.”

...

A group of three, plus three others responsible for the action, a total of six people, took the elevator upstairs.

Two other people had already gone up the stairs ahead of them and were guarding the stairwell.

Old Mo, dressed as a cleaner, was the first to exit the elevator, pretending to clean the hallway, slowly ambling towards the westernmost side.

”There are two cameras at the door. I’ll pretend to wipe the glass and block the one facing the hallway. You all get the battering ram ready.”

”Received.”

”Listen for my command.”

Old Mo leisurely raised a mop, pretending to wipe the top of the hallway window, then seized the opportunity to block the camera.

”Go!”

As the word ”go” was uttered, Zhang Yan and the others immediately rushed out without any hesitation.

When Lin Yuan rushed over, he saw someone smash open the door with a battering ram, and then Zhang Yan, holding her retractable baton, was the first to charge in.

”What are you doing...”

In just a few seconds, Zhang Yan had the person pinned down.

Old Mo had no time to scold Zhang Yan now. He immediately turned to Lin Yuan and said, ”Cut off the entire house’s network, and quickly collect the data.”

The guy pinned to the ground looked innocent, but his mouth had been gagged. Zhang Yan, quick and agile, had already handcuffed him and handed him over to her companion.

”Senior brother, quickly check his laptop.”

Zhang Yan’s movements were too fast; the guy didn’t even have time to destroy the laptop, or even turn it off. Now, the laptop was sitting there, still powered on.

Lin Yuan didn’t have time to look at the person. He rushed forward in one stride and immediately checked the laptop’s MAC address.

”That’s right, it’s this address.”

As soon as he said this, the guy who was being held down stopped struggling.

Because he knew everything was over.

There wouldn’t be two laptops in this world with the same MAC address, just as there wouldn’t be two people with the same ID number.

”Quickly collect the data. Any device here might have security protection enabled, and it’s very likely that moving it from here will trigger automatic data deletion based on its location.” Old Mo, at a glance, was clearly an experienced veteran.

Lin Yuan immediately began to search the laptop.

The browser’s history indeed contained a link for an online bitcoin wallet address application. It seemed this guy had indeed been hooked by Lin Yuan just now.

Lin Yuan then discovered a large number of hidden encrypted folders.

In fact, this laptop looked very ordinary at first glance. Someone unfamiliar with it might have thought those encrypted folders were a certain otaku’s private collection...

”They’re all encrypted. You’ll probably need your technical department to decrypt them.”

Zhang Yan immediately pulled the person up, ”What’s the password?”

The ’nail’ shook his head, clearly unwilling to answer.

Zhang Yan sneered, ”Old Mo, close the door, draw the curtains.”

Then Lin Yuan saw another side of Zhang Yan, but the others present seemed to be accustomed to it.

After Zhang Yan’s thorough ’education’, Old Mo said to the ’nail’ indifferently, ”Last time I’ll ask you: confess and be lenient, or resist to the end? You’ve committed a capital crime. You decide whether you want to live.”

Although there were no visible injuries on the ’nail’, his expression was extremely pained. Although he was a head taller than Zhang Yan, with Zhang Yan gripping his arms, he looked like a rabbit in the talons of an eagle.

”Your only chance is to help us get this data now.” Old Mo stepped forward and greeted the other party warmly again.

The ’nail’ still didn’t speak. Zhang Yan made a move to continue, but Old Mo stopped her, turning to glance at Lin Yuan. Zhang Yan then understood and threw the ’nail’ to Old Mo. After that, Old Mo took the ’nail’ into a room.

Listening to the muffled groans coming from the room, Lin Yuan was somewhat stunned.

Zhang Yan said lightly, ”This is an international incident; we have to use some methods. This laptop might automatically format itself if moved.”

Before long, the ’nail’ was dragged out of the room by Old Mo, then pressed into the chair in front of the laptop.

”Trade the password for your life.”

Seeing this scene, a thought popped into Lin Yuan’s mind: struggle is cruel.

The ’nail’ finally spoke the password. He also noticed Lin Yuan’s presence.

”You...” Because Lin Yuan had sent his profile picture when he sent his real-name information earlier, he was clearly recognized now. ”How could you be...”

As the hard drive was unlocked, Lin Yuan immediately inserted a USB drive to copy the data.

This laptop’s hard drive would be taken away, but before that, the data would also be copied. In the past, hard drives even had self-destruct formatting mechanisms.

While the data was copying, Lin Yuan’s gaze swept around.

The furnishings here were very ordinary, a typical family home style. There were various photos of a family of three on the walls and tables.

”You have a wife and son?”

Old Mo said indifferently, ”Looks like a big fish.”

Lin Yuan was very confused.

Zhang Yan explained, ”This kind of person has clearly been undercover for many years. Look how old his son is.”

The ’nail’, hearing their conversation, trembled his lips, ”My... my wife and son don’t know anything.”

”Heh~~, now you’re worried about your family.”

When Lin Yuan heard it was a ’big fish’, he was secretly pleased at first. But then, seeing the child’s smile in the photo, he felt a pang of discomfort.

”Why did you do this?”

The ’nail’ averted his gaze, ”More than ten years ago, when I was still studying, I fell into their trap and couldn’t get out.”

Lin Yuan understood. Was this perhaps a case of being unable to get off the tiger’s back?