Ultimate Firepower
Chapter 222 - 210: Who is the Fish?

Chapter 222: Chapter 210: Who is the Fish?

I had always known that the Dark Web was not as fair as it seemed, and of course, the Dark Web never boasted about being particularly just, it only continuously upheld the reputation of the platform.

Those who took jobs from the Dark Web could always expect to receive payment upon completion.

For clients, as long as you posted a job and provided the upfront fee, you would definitely find someone to do the work for you, though the quality of the work couldn’t be guaranteed, it was certain that once they said the job was done, it really was done.

The Dark Web platform itself assumed any risks; it was as simple as that.

However, the Dark Web never claimed any association with Andic Group or the CIA.

It naturally occurred to Gao Yi that the Dark Web should operate independently, and even including Luca and Sean, who had been involved with the Dark Web for a long time, everyone believed it functioned independently.

It must have connections with the CIA or similar entities, which was unavoidable for any Dark Web of any era, but direct technical support from the national level of the United States was a different story.

It was the difference between an amateur troupe and the national team, worlds apart.

The significance of Li Jie’s discovery was immense; firstly, Gao Yi and his team realized that any mobile phone that had accessed the Dark Web must be under surveillance.

They initially thought accessing the Dark Web would lead to their location being pinpointed, now they knew that even after logging out, and vowing never to return, it made no difference.

Whether the Dark Web conducted real-time location monitoring depended largely on how important the individual was to the platform.

Gao Yi used a new phone, new number, and registered a new Mercenary Group account, so even if his phone could be monitored by the Dark Web, there was no guarantee they would keep a watch on him.

Luca had lost the phone connected to his Garden account and registered a new Sky Garden account on a new phone. Now if the Dark Web targeted Sky Garden, they would keep tabs on him relentlessly, leaving him no escape.

Gao Yi was not versed in these mobile functionalities and intricacies. Li Jie knew a bit, and there were surely many aspects they hadn’t considered or understood yet, but that was okay, fundamental precautions would suffice.

How to safeguard against this? Since the surveillance was conducted through the operating system, using a phone without an operating system, discarding smartphones, and switching to devices incapable of connecting to the internet would do.

But that was a matter for later. Now, the priority was to lay an ambush.

"Retrieve all the phones that have contacted Iron Rooster and get rid of them—phones and numbers alike."

Gao Yi said this while using his own phone to call Martin. His phone was an FBI model reputed to have particularly strong security features.

He needed to check if his phone could be monitored.

Once the call connected, Martin answered with a muffled voice, "Hello, what is it?"

"We’ve found out that the Dark Web can monitor every phone that has logged into it. They seemingly achieve this through backdoors reserved in the system. This means that the NSA or the Department of Homeland Security could likely be providing technical support to the Dark Web."

Martin was silent for a moment, then sighed, "It’s just a suspicion that can’t be confirmed, because the Dark Web rarely lets its users discover such things. And since you’ve discovered this, it means you must die. Furthermore, the fact that someone backs the Dark Web doesn’t surprise me at all—both the FBI and CIA use the Dark Web, so isn’t that quite normal?"

Gao Yi spoke quietly, "I just want to know if this phone you’ve given me could be monitored by the Dark Web. If it can, we’re in trouble, and you’re in danger too."

"It can’t. Rest assured, we use the highest secrecy rating in our communications. The highest secrecy rating involves a completely different operating system combined with dual-line communication through base stations and satellites. Basically, your phone is more like a satellite phone, so it definitely can’t be traced. As for eavesdropping... well, that can’t be helped, but they can’t determine your incoming call number because every communication is automatically encrypted."

Martin might have looked unimpressive and held a low position, but he could produce significant results—such was the difference from being outside the system.

"Okay, I got it, thanks."

After hanging up with Martin, Gao Yi called Luca.

He couldn’t call Luca’s cellphone anymore, but he could use a satellite phone.

Satellite phones that absolutely couldn’t access the internet, only allowed calls and texts, were no different from mobile phones twenty years ago. Now, their value in this situation had increased significantly.

Luca answered the call, and Gao Yi said in a grave voice, "Your phone has been monitored. Since you logged into the Dark Web, your phone has become a tracker, regardless of whether you’re logged into the Dark Web or not. So, destroy all your phones now and discard them."

Luca quickly realized what was happening and gasped, "They intentionally let me go, to watch me, but also allowed me to discover I was being watched. Does that mean I’m the bait and you all are the fish they’ve hooked?"

The Dark Web or Andic Group aimed to capture everyone in one sweep.

Gao Yi and his team wanted to go fishing, but while he was still in the thinking and initiating phase, Andic Group was already ready to pull in the nets.

"Yes, we are the fish being hooked. After you destroyed your phone and moved closer to us, Andic was fishing for us, and we were fishing for Andic. We may indeed be fish, but whether the fish will die or the net will break is not yet certain."

After hanging up the phone, Gao Yi took a deep breath and said, "I believe that the enemy has not acted because they could not confirm our identities, so as soon as Iron Rooster arrives, the enemy should appear too."

"It’s not like that."

Li Jie thought for a moment and said, "If the assassin monitoring Iron Rooster is just bait meant to lure us out, and this plan is interlinked at every step, Iron Rooster is still at the core. Hence, no matter what we do here, the enemy only needs to watch Iron Rooster, so we should let Iron Rooster get away and not come here."

Feng Biao said anxiously, "You’re wrong. Andic’s goal was to lure us out, and now we’re hooked. Why mess around with Iron Rooster when they can just take us down directly?"

"But how can Andic Group confirm whether we are small fish or big fish? Closing the net directly might expose them, so Andic just needs to keep an eye on Iron Rooster and strike when he meets with us, wouldn’t that be safe?"

"But even small fish might meet with Iron Rooster."

Li Jie and Feng Biao argued. They didn’t quarrel, but both had their own opinions, and from Gao Yi’s perspective, both made sense.

"Stop arguing. Iron Rooster is already on his way. Let’s see if the enemy follows. If we can fight, we fight; if not, we run. As long as the enemy doesn’t pinpoint us, we can escape easily."

Either way, it’s still about improvising the old plan without a schedule.

The National Intelligence Bureau still had a few people left, their role was simply to continue acting as bait. If the Andic Group really sent someone to kill, at least they would see people are still in the vineyard and not instantly realize they had been deceived.

Feng Biao whispered into the walkie-talkie, "Look, let’s see if the enemy arrives before Iron Rooster or follows him."

Li Jie whispered back, "I think it’s most likely they’ll send a few people over to keep an eye on us, just like they monitored Iron Rooster."

As it turned out, Li Jie was right.

Feng Biao suddenly said, "Suspicious target spotted, coming down the main road, on a motorcycle, heading toward the vineyard."

Feng Biao’s position was on a hill’s highest point, well-hidden in the bushes with an excellent field of view, overlooking the surroundings.

The highway was obscured by trees and shrubs, making it hard to see the road itself, but as soon as vehicles left the highway and turned into the small road leading to the vineyard, Feng Biao could spot them immediately.

The vehicle headed straight for the mansion without stopping or slowing down.

Gao Yi suddenly said, "This isn’t right. If it’s surveillance, they wouldn’t expose themselves so easily, and if it’s an attack, there wouldn’t be just one vehicle. To me, this feels like throwing a stone to ask the way. The enemy isn’t sure of our value, so they send a few people to take a look, meaning those coming are likely uninformed, ordinary people."

Throwing a stone to ask the way indicated that the person using this tactic had enough backup plans to handle the aftermath, like sweeping us in one net.

Feng Biao urgently said, "Isn’t this just a small troop reconnaissance? The enemy surely has a highly mobile large force waiting behind. They might not arrive now, but they definitely have the capability to arrive quickly, possibly even by helicopter."

With his extensive battlefield experience, Feng Biao’s assessment was absolutely solid. Although this wasn’t a war, the situation was quite similar, and the development indeed confirmed what Feng Biao had predicted.

The vehicle stopped at the entrance of the mansion, and then two men got out. Without hesitation, they went straight into the mansion.

There was a gate at the mansion, and it was closed, but by saying they went straight in, it means these two men simply climbed over the not-so-high railing gate.

With no attempt at concealment, it was a straightforward intrusion, clearly with hostile intentions, a probe.

Feng Biao spoke into the walkie-talkie, "This is flushing out the snakes, it depends on our reaction now. To fight or not? If we fight, the enemy’s large force will definitely come; if not, I don’t know what the consequences might be, but Iron Rooster certainly won’t be able to escape."

Luca was definitely being monitored, and he was alone now, truly unable to escape.

Taking action here carried risks, potentially drawing a large force, and likely, as Feng Biao said, arriving by helicopter.

It was up to Gao Yi to decide now, whether to bring the danger to them or leave Luca to face it.

Gao Yi made a decision.

"Fight!"