Chapter 14: The Temporary Alliance Begins to Function

  Lily Tang's "corpse" slowly dissipated, as if she'd never existed. The scorch mark left on the corridor floor was the only evidence, silently recounting the tragedy that had just occurred.

  The remaining eight people stood at the car connection, the atmosphere heavy as lead. Pierre Chan's sudden death and Lily Tang's accidental tragic death were like two cold wedges, shattering the last vestiges of wishful thinking.

  Samuel Jones's proposal met no further direct opposition. The desire to survive overrode everything.

  "First," Samuel's voice was still hoarse but had recovered some of a commander's composure, "we need to consolidate current information. Mr. Schmidt, you previously mentioned the 'buffer zone,' and your monitoring data—please share them. We need to know everything."

  Leon Schmidt looked at everyone, seeming to weigh things, finally nodding. He walked back to his compartment that resembled a small command center, indicating others could enter to a limited extent. In the cramped space, various instrument screens flickered, data streams scrolling rapidly.

  "This is the train navigation data I've been able to capture," Leon pointed at a main screen displaying complex coordinates and velocity information. "We've long since deviated from the scheduled route to Ottawa. Current heading points to a virtual coordinate unmarked on any public map—the system internally identifies it as 'Buffer Zone 7'."

  "Function of the buffer zone?" Charles immediately asked.

  "Official explanation is for isolating and inspecting high-risk data packages, preventing virus or malicious consciousness spread." Leon pulled up some obscure technical documents. "But according to fragmented commands I've intercepted, this 'Buffer Zone 7' is more like a... incinerator. The commands contain multiple references to 'forced deconstruction,' 'deep purification,' and 'resource recovery' code."

  Resource recovery. These words sent chills through everyone.

  "Who has authority to initiate this?" Kenneth Ryder asked.

  "Authority level is very high, coming from deep within the system, bypassing Stardroop PLUS's normal supervisory modules." Leon's expression was grim. "I suspect it's the work of the railway company internally, or even deeper governmental intelligence agencies. Their target..." he looked at Charles, "is very likely Mr. Du, or some technology being developed by his boss Marcus Wong. The rest of us are just collateral damage caught up in this, or... witnesses who need to be silenced."

  Charles felt a wave of cold. Black Cat's warning, the boss's disappearance, tracking by various parties... it all seemed to connect.

  "What about the killers?" Irina Petrova was more concerned with immediate threats. "Two attack sources—what specific characteristics?"

  Leon switched screens, displaying two different energy signature waveforms. "Source A—technical style very seasoned, concise, efficient, like military or top intelligence agency methods. Source B..." He paused, the waveform appearing more... wild and destructive. "...more creative, even somewhat chaotic, but extremely destructive, full of a certain... malicious playfulness. They occasionally coordinate, but most of the time seem to operate independently."

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  Two killers with vastly different styles. This explained the differences in attack patterns.

  "Can you pinpoint specific individuals?" Carmen Ortiz asked.

  "Cannot precisely locate. Their signal disguises are excellent, and they seem able to use the car environment itself for concealment and reflection." Leon shook his head. "But I can confirm they're among us. And they may not entirely trust each other either." He pointed at several small conflict traces on the waveform graph.

  Internal discord among killers? This might be an exploitable point.

  "What about that door?" Charles pointed toward the equipment room door at the car's rear that had electrocuted Lily. "What's in there?"

  Leon's expression became somewhat strange: "That door's defense level is very high, far exceeding other parts of the train. My equipment cannot penetrate scan. But... during the brief malfunction after Lily triggered the defense, I captured an extremely faint signal leaking from inside that differed from the train system."

  "What was it?" Samuel pressed.

  "Very much like... an encrypted, confined consciousness signal source. Very weak, but definitely present." Leon's revelation was shocking.

  A confined consciousness signal source? A terrible speculation formed in Charles's mind—Marcus Wong! The boss's consciousness hadn't been completely transmitted to the destination, nor had it completely vanished, but had been intercepted and confined somewhere deep in the system? Could it be behind that door?

  This speculation made his heartbeat accelerate.

  "We must open that door." Charles spoke without thinking.

  Everyone looked at him.

  "That's very dangerous! Lily is the example!" Kenneth warned.

  "But what if there really are clues to escape inside, or... other trapped people?" Charles insisted. He didn't directly mention his boss's name, but his eyes were extraordinarily determined.

  Samuel pondered for a moment, looking at Leon and Anya: "Is it possible to open it safely?"

  Leon and Anya exchanged glances.

  "Defense mechanisms have trigger intervals and pattern regularity." Anya analyzed the data recorded on Leon's equipment. "Theoretically, if we can precisely calculate the gaps in the current pulses and apply a reverse energy buffer, we might gain a few seconds of safety window."

  "But it requires extremely precise synchronization, and someone needs to operate the door lock." Leon added. "The lock is a combination of physical mechanism and electronic lock, requires manual cracking."

  High risk, high reward. Behind the door might be answers, or might be a tomb.

  "We need to formulate a thorough plan." Samuel finally made the decision. "Dr. Sharma, Mr. Schmidt, you're responsible for calculating the safety window and providing energy buffer. Kenneth, you have the best skills, you're responsible for cracking the door lock. Irina, Carmen, you're responsible for security, preventing killer interference. Mr. Du, you..." He looked at Charles. "You're responsible for decision-making. If your boss really is inside, you're the person who understands the situation best."

  Charles nodded heavily.

  Sophia Rossi, listening from the side, suddenly chuckled: "Wow, finally some real action? What do you need me to do? Cheer from the sidelines?"

  Samuel looked at her coldly: "Ms. Rossi, you remain our key subject of observation. Until you clear your suspicion, please stay within our sight and make no unnecessary moves. Otherwise..." He didn't continue, but the threatening implication was obvious.

  Sophia pouted but said nothing more.

  The fragile alliance began to function. Survival instinct and the desire to uncover truth temporarily bound the eight people together.

  Anya and Leon began rapidly calculating and adjusting equipment. Kenneth checked tools he might use for lockpicking. Irina and Carmen selected advantageous positions, vigilantly watching other passengers—including each other. Samuel coordinated everything. Charles waited tensely.

  The train still raced onward.

  That deadly door's faint consciousness signal, like a siren's song, lured them toward unknown dangers.

  And would the killers in the shadows allow them to attempt opening Pandora's box?