Chapter One: At Midnight, the Chips Spoke

Blood ran from his temple, but the broadcast announced that the ignition test had stopped. The chamber was venting safely. Old Zhou dragged him out. “How did you know?” Before he could answer, security director Feng Guotao arrived with guards. He looked at the broken pump with anger, not relief. “Who authorized you to bypass Cloud Control?” “Cloud Control suppressed the warning.” “The record says your illegal operation destroyed the pump.” Feng gestured to security. “A dismissed contractor trespassed and damaged company property.” Old Zhou protested. “He saved the entire facility!” Feng stepped close. “Sign an admission of error and we won’t pursue compensation. Refuse, and the pump, the shutdown, and the data breach all belong to you.”