Chapter Five: A Thirty-Million-Yuan Ticket

Lin focused on the end of the waveform. Every call ended with a twelve-digit check code. Ten digits belonged to the Clocktower. The last two represented the doors Lin Yao had drawn: one yellow and one blue. “The Clocktower is not calling the ship,” he said. “Someone trapped in the underwater node is using its key to call for help.” The waveform jumped again and became damaged text. “LM-01, do not bring Zero.” A second message immediately followed. “LM-02 is waiting for you.” The same source told him not to bring Zero and implied that Zero might be Lin Yao. Lin closed the probability tree. This time, no model would choose whom he believed.