Chapter Four: The Lightweight Servers

mirrored glass. Hengyuan’s underground data center was sealed. Three black cabinets stood with their feet buried in reinforced concrete. Han’s assistant, Qin Man, insisted they held “only public research.” Each repetition pulled her employee badge lower against her chest. Qiao squatted by the wall with an unlit cigarette. “Underground rules are simple. You tell me why freight is heavy, I find a buyer for the secret. Don’t ask whether the buyer saves a life or ends one.” “That isn’t a rule,” Xu said. “It’s an excuse.” Lin studied the cracks instead of touching the cabinets. Server Three exerted the least pressure now but had made the deepest depression. It had once been heavier, then shed weight.