“If only all those government employees had your efficiency…” Bai Zhen muttered.

“Then I’d work myself to death,” Wang Ning said.

Bai Zhen suddenly remembered that Old Wang was also a government employee, a section-level cadre of modest rank. However, Bai Zhen had always considered Old Wang to be the quintessential example of wasting taxpayers’ money and holding the country back. He often said it was because of people like Old Wang that Northern Jiangsu’s development lagged behind Southern Jiangsu.

Old Wang retorted that Nanjing wasn’t even considered Northern Jiangsu.

“There’s still a lot of work we haven’t had time to start. Two weeks was too short,” Fan Jiang Shu slowly pushed the hard drive on the coffee table toward Bai Zhen. “But we couldn’t resist Teacher Zhao’s repeated requests to return the radio station quickly, so we had to bring it back.”

“Not being able to contact for such a long time carried significant risks,” Bai Zhen said. “It would have been better if you’d returned it earlier.”

“Old Bai, you’re talking like someone who doesn’t bear any responsibility. Do you know how much pressure I was under? This huge operation wasn’t just up to me – I have leaders above me, and those leaders have their leaders. Do you know how much effort it took to convince them? So many people wanted to take this radio station for research – who stopped them?” Zhao Bowen angrily slapped the table, his tone intense. “Every decision we make could affect the fate of all humanity. Every internal reference and report I write is on record. If history proves me wrong, I’ll be humanity’s sinner. Do you understand?”

“I understand,” Bai Zhen said.

“You don’t understand shit,” Zhao Bowen said.

“Stop cursing, damn it,” Wang Ning reminded them. “You two big shots need to mind the setting.”

“Ahem.” Fan Jiang Shu cleared his throat. “Everyone, please stop arguing. Teacher Zhao truly deserves great credit. Without his leadership and full support, the project wouldn’t have progressed this quickly.”

“Our next focus is analyzing the cause of the Black Moon’s arrival and the manifestation of the apocalyptic disaster. This is the prerequisite for all subsequent actions. Only by understanding what will happen in the future can we prescribe the right treatment and find solutions. We now have a dedicated team analyzing BG4MSR’s teacher’s drafts and notes. Meanwhile, your side needs to get BG4MSR to the secret chamber as soon as possible to retrieve the data records,” Che Di Shu said. “The underground chamber beneath Purple Tower is called Base One, and the one under Mochou Lake is Base Two. The two bases back each other up – she only needs to find one of them to retrieve all the information.”

“Are both bases finished?” Bai Zhen asked.

Che Di Shu paused, then nodded.

“They’re finished. The construction team has been working overtime for the past two weeks, entering the tunnel after the subway stops at 11 PM and withdrawing before 6 AM. They just installed the security doors yesterday.”

“How secure is it?” Wang Ning asked.

“We made it as secure as possible within our capabilities,” this question was answered by Chuan Shan Shu. Bai Zhen and Wang Ning both guessed he was the project manager, given his appearance and name both suggested someone in civil engineering. “Triple protection – against nuclear, chemical, and biological threats. The base shell is one-meter-thick reinforced concrete. We poured in 260 tons of cement. It’s extremely solid – even bombs couldn’t break it. We also added special anti-seepage layers to ensure it won’t leak for fifty years.”

“There’s only one entrance tunnel, which can only fit one person at a time. The security door is vault-grade – 30-centimeter solid steel plate with voice recognition. Once closed, only one person in the world can open it,” Chuan Shan Shu continued. “From any perspective, it’s the world’s most secure time capsule. We believe both Base One and Base Two will last without issues for twenty years.”

“No one else can open it?” Bai Zhen asked, looking at the people sitting before him. “Including…”

“Including us,” Chuan Shan Shu nodded.

“Extraordinary,” Wang Ning clapped.

“How big has this operation become?” Bai Zhen asked.

“I can only tell you what I know. There are currently four expert groups – one in Nanjing, one in Hangzhou, one in Sichuan, and one in Beijing. The nation’s elite are all in these four groups, with the Nanjing group being the most important. Teacher Zhao is the deputy leader of the Nanjing group,” Che Di Shu said. “And Bai and Wang, you two are also deputy leaders.”

“Me?”

Wang Ning and Bai Zhen spoke in unison, equally surprised.

“Both of you,” Che Di Shu nodded. “You are the core members of the entire task force. We hope you can ensure the work progresses without errors.”

“We guarantee to complete the mission,” Bai Zhen sat up straight.

“Who’s the leader?” Wang Ning asked casually.

“The leaders of all four groups are concurrent positions held by the top city officials in each location,” Che Di Shu answered. “To ensure maximum resource support.”

Bai Zhen and Wang Ning were shocked by the high-level arrangement.

“Because this is no child’s play,” Zhao Bowen let out a long sigh. “This is a war, old friends, and it’s about to begin.”

Bai Yang carefully positioned the Icom 725 radio back in its exact original place, with its four feet precisely aligned with the impressions on the bookshelf. Bai Yang strived to restore it to its original state, as did Zhao Bowen. From its appearance, Bai Yang couldn’t tell if it had been taken away for detailed analysis under microscopes. Although people had scrutinized every detail of this radio three times over, they were equally meticulous in restoring it, getting every detail right down to the number of turns on each screw.

After half a month, touching the familiar Icom 725 radio again, Bai Yang fell into a daze.

He had thought it wouldn’t return.

Its return was as unexpected as its departure.

Bai Yang slowly restored it to its familiar setup, connecting the power supply, attaching the hand microphone, connecting the antenna tuner, and putting on the headphones, unhurried and methodical. Strangely, he didn’t feel anxious. He knew he hadn’t contacted that girl for half a month – perhaps she wouldn’t be on the frequency tonight, perhaps BG4MSR had given up looking for him during these many days, perhaps that girl no longer believed he would appear again. He hadn’t even thought about what to say when the moment came. What should he say?

Long time no see?

How have you been?

Are you well?

Bai Yang’s mind was completely blank.

With a soft “click,” Bai Yang pressed the power button. The Icom 725’s yellow LCD screen lit up, showing 28.350 MHz. Endless static filled his headphones.

Bai Yang then turned the frequency knob, and the numbers on the LCD screen jumped accordingly.

28.325 MHz.

28.320 MHz.

28.100 MHz.

25.425 MHz.

The frequency drew closer bit by bit. In the invisible electromagnetic world, Bai Yang traveled a long journey, step by step, approaching that girl.

15.420 MHz.

14.875 MHz.

14.300 MHz.

He was at the doorstep.

Bai Yang gathered his courage to raise his hand and knock. He made one final turn of the dial, and the frequency jumped.

14.255 MHz.

He was back.

The moment he opened the door, he heard the girl’s soft sobbing echoing in the room:

“Are you still there? If you’re still there, please don’t ignore me… please… save me, please, save me…”