Did You Destroy the World Today?
Chapter 3: Really Can't Eat Anymore

"So you're saying the entire human world only has one hour left?"

"That's why you're hijacking the aerospace launch base to escape on a spaceship?"

Before Skull Head could finish speaking, Lin Xu interrupted:

"No."

"The apocalypse is just a cover. I actually just want to steal their flight control program data."

As these words fell, a "just as I thought" glimmer appeared in Skull Head's eyes.

"I knew it!"

"There aren't that many doomsday preppers in this world. This is what a real businessman would do!"

"Then let's not waste time. We'll go in fast, grab what we need, and get out!"

"Drone reconnaissance complete. Security positions confirmed. Let's move!"

Skull Head raised his hand to issue the command, and Lin Xu followed closely behind as they exited the vehicle.

The exact same attack procedure: power cut off, radio jamming established. With Lin Xu's guidance, the team quickly entered the main control room at the back of the factory building.

This time, however, both Lin Xu and Skull Head seemed much more relaxed.

After closing the main control room door, Skull Head watched Lin Xu operate the systems with interest before asking the same question again:

"So you're actually an inside man?"

"You know this place like the back of your hand - all the passwords, even passing biometric recognition."

"Tsk...you even have main console access."

"Seriously, if you really wanted to steal classified data, why not just sneak in when nobody's around?"

"...Good question."

Lin Xu's fingers kept tapping on the keyboard as he replied:

"Maybe I need to balance the books?"

"You know how it is - some things are hard to explain if they disappear quietly, but if they're taken by force in a big operation, no one can complain."

"...All you capitalists deserve to die."

Skull Head clicked his tongue.

"To be fair, you're a capitalist too."

"Your net worth exceeds 100 million. With that much money, instead of retiring, you're still out here fighting on the front lines. You're a real oddball."

"You don't understand. I'm just a mercenary who does this for fun."

Skull Head spread his hands nonchalantly. Lin Xu chuckled:

"If your wife wasn't an alarm clock who lives for fun, you probably wouldn't be a mercenary who does this for fun either, right?"

Silence.

Only the clacking of keyboard keys remained in the control room.

"She's not...she just enjoys the finer things in life, likes to have fun."

"She loves me, she's never—wait, how do you know?!"

"Did you investigate me? Who the hell are you?"

Lin Xu gave Skull Head a sympathetic look. The other mercenary team members in the control room instinctively glanced at Skull Head too, but quickly averted their eyes.

"You told me yourself."

Lin Xu didn't even look up.

In this world, he actually had no memory of "investigating the mercenary team" or "hiring the mercenary team." His memories began from the second the one-hour countdown started.

But during many previous repetitions, he had indeed heard Skull Head talk about his wife.

And the sympathy in the other team members' eyes said it all.

Poor bastard.

"I told you?? When did I ever tell you this?"

Skull Head raised his gun, aiming it at Lin Xu.

"Does it matter?"

Lin Xu glanced at his watch—45 minutes remaining.

He had found the flight control program code, but it wasn't what he was looking for.

What appeared on screen now was flight control for a series of mature products. Not only was the volume too large to memorize in such a short time, even if he could, it wouldn't be much use for his current project.

What he needed was the code for Tianqiong Technology's first outer space test rocket from 20 years ago.

"Doesn't it matter? I would never badmouth my own wife in front of outsiders! Whatever mistakes she's made are between us!"

"You have to tell me how you know this! I need to know!"

"Jesus..."

Lin Xu was stunned.

He'd never encountered this situation in previous iterations.

Damn, you're really a romantic at heart, aren't you?

"Talk!"

Skull Head kept pressing, but just then, an explosion sounded outside.

"Boom!"

"Hold off the people outside for 40 minutes, then I'll tell you!"

"40 minutes??"

Skull Head was dumbfounded.

"What the hell are you stealing that takes 40 minutes?!"

"In 40 minutes they could flood this place and drown us all!"

"Can't be helped. That's the mission—just delay them as much as you can. I'll work fast!"

"...Fine!"

Skull Head gritted his teeth and agreed.

Though he was unhappy with Lin Xu's comments about his wife, a job was a job—that was professional ethics.

The isolation door opened, and gunfire erupted immediately.

Lin Xu quickly searched the system for the target information. Twenty years of development meant the database was staggeringly large.

Fortunately, the company's archiving was excellent. After a few minutes, he finally spotted the folder named in that familiar format among the massive database.

"Test Vessel-003 Main Project Shared Files."

This was it!

Lin Xu eagerly opened the file. Upon finding the flight control code, his eyes scanned rapidly across the lines.

"Wait, are you seriously trying to memorize all this?!"

Skull Head, having emptied a magazine, turned to look at Lin Xu. Lin Xu raised a hand:

"Shut up! I'm thinking!"

He really was thinking—thinking how to memorize the most crucial parts as quickly as possible.

"We can't hold much longer!"

"Two minutes! I'm calling for backup to cover our retreat!"

Skull Head's voice was hoarse, but Lin Xu remained focused.

He quickly scanned the relatively small amount of code and finally found those few critical lines.

So the solution was this simple.

Just a few additional self-check loops added to the PID algorithm.

This thing...even if he didn't copy it, someone in the team would probably figure it out in another month or two.

Lin Xu checked the time—35 minutes remaining.

Since we're here, might as well look at more!

He immediately opened another file dated 2030 titled "Star Voyager 1 Reusable Rocket Project Package."

This time, he didn't scrutinize details but rapidly scanned the overall project design.

Propulsion, engines, core module, flight control, return system, fuel, communications...

The complex design unfolded before his eyes, and Lin Xu became completely absorbed.

But just then—

"BOOM!"

A tremendous explosion rocked the room.

Lin Xu was thrown back by the blast wave while Skull Head slammed hard onto the ground nearby.

Blood gushed from his nose and mouth as his life rapidly faded.

"You...really..."

"I'm just an ordinary guy!"

Lin Xu hurriedly answered.

"No...I wanted to ask..."

"Did you...sleep with my wife?!"

Lin Xu was at a loss for words.

He grabbed a nearby rifle and pressed it against his own head.

The next moment.

"Bang!"

.......

Lin Xu opened his eyes once more.

Shaking his dizzy head, he struggled to his computer and input everything he'd memorized.

When he ran the simulation again, the program finally executed smoothly.

It's really solved!

Lin Xu let out a long breath.

So is this the bracelet's true purpose??

He paused briefly, thinking, then suddenly grabbed his mouse and created a new folder on his computer.

Star Voyager 1 Reusable Rocket Project Package.

Then he began building the project framework.

Though lacking details, if he could access Tianqiong Tech's headquarters from 20 years in the future...

He might be able to recreate this thing ahead of schedule!

Wouldn't that be a game changer?

Lin Xu nodded in satisfaction, then dialed Jiang Xingye's number.

"Hello, team leader."

"Problem solved."

"Yes, not complicated but needed some luck."

"I'll update it right away."

"What? Late night snack?"

"Forget it, I really can't eat anymore..."