Chapter 10: The Library's Halo

  Location: Science Castle, Temporary Interrogation Room, Library Lounge

  Time: Second day after Thunderhawk's visit to Dr. Yang

  Constable Valeria Mendoza's investigation indeed hit an invisible wall. When she formally requested Chaldea Tech to review Dr. Yang's detailed research materials to assess whether his work content had potential connections to Old Chen's motives, she was met with Viktor Graham's firm yet polite refusal.

  "Constable Mendoza," Graham said in the temporarily arranged meeting, expression cold and hard, "Dr. Yang's research belongs to Project Noah's highest classification, directly related to the global strategy against the 'Devourer' virus. Its security level far exceeds local police authority. Unless you have a Supreme Court warrant, I cannot cooperate."

  "Director, I understand confidentiality agreements. But this is a murder investigation! The deceased's motive might be hidden in these materials!" Valeria argued forcefully.

  "Motive?" Graham leaned forward slightly, bringing oppressive presence. "The motive is already quite clear—a father mentally deranged by grief over losing his son, mistakenly projecting hatred onto an innocent scientist. This is a tragedy, but also an isolated tragedy. Your in-depth investigation is disrupting Science Castle's core work, which could delay vaccine research and cause broader loss of life. Can you bear that responsibility?"

  Graham skillfully shifted the topic from "truth" to "responsibility," using grand pretexts to pressure Valeria. Valeria's face turned ashen; she knew the other party was using procedural loopholes and clearance barriers to obstruct her, but she was temporarily helpless. Official channels seemed impassable.

  Meanwhile, Thunderhawk found an opportunity to converse again with Verdandi Lee. This time in a quiet lounge area of the library, sunlight streaming through the enormous observation window, casting warm halos on her coffee cup. Thunderhawk didn't directly mention Dr. Yang or Old Chen, but used a more roundabout approach.

  "I've been thinking about what Old Chen said during the attack," Thunderhawk gazed at the false scenery outside, tone calm. "He called scientists 'murderers.' Beyond personal grudges, is there a possibility that he, or people like him, believed certain scientific research itself... was dangerous? Even more dangerous than the virus?"

  Verdandi's hand holding the coffee cup paused slightly. She fell silent for a moment before slowly speaking, her voice carrying a scientist's characteristic caution: "Logically speaking, any technology has two sides. Fire can warm, but also burn cities. The 'Devourer' virus itself, if traced to its roots, its underlying theory also originates from seemingly harmless neural network research." She looked up, gazing deeply at Thunderhawk. "Are you suspecting that Dr. Yang's research might have touched upon some... dangerous domain?"

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  Thunderhawk didn't answer directly but asked instead: "From your professional perspective, what's the most dangerous possibility of mathematical models combating viruses?"

  Verdandi's brow furrowed as she fell into thought. "Mathematical models themselves are tools. But if this tool... is used not just to predict the virus, but to 'simulate' or even 'guide' viral evolution? Or, it's researching not how to 'cure' but how to... 'exploit' certain cognitive characteristics?" Her speech slowed, as if she herself felt uneasy about this deduction. "But these are baseless assumptions, and would require enormous computing power and extremely unethical experimental support..." Her words stopped abruptly, seemingly realizing she'd said something beyond boundaries.

  Simulate, guide, exploit. These words were like keys, opening a door in Thunderhawk's mind. He thought of that "Cornerstone" area with its alarming power consumption. Could what was running there be not just vaccine research, but a massive... simulation system about the virus or consciousness itself?

  "Thank you for your insight," Thunderhawk said sincerely. "This provides another perspective for consideration."

  Verdandi looked at him, eyes complex: "Thunderhawk, are you just doing security work? Sometimes I feel you're searching for something." Her intuition manifested again.

  "Perhaps everyone in this fog is searching for something." Thunderhawk gave an ambiguous response. But the other party didn't show displeasure at this answer.

  That evening, Thunderhawk integrated information fragments from the day's exchange with Verdandi, while also indirectly extracting from other colleagues the progress of Valeria's investigation. Valeria's obstruction conversely confirmed the importance of Dr. Yang's research. Verdandi's speculation provided a chilling possible explanation for the "Cornerstone" area's massive energy consumption.

  He attempted again to contact Black Cat, this time transmitting more specific information: "Investigation direction confirmed: Dr. Yang's research content crucial, possibly involving virus simulation/guidance. Authority barriers extremely high. 'Cornerstone' area energy consumption possibly related. Police investigation obstructed."

  Black Cat's reply came quickly, still a segment of cold synthesized audio:

  "Authority barriers expected. Alternative approach: Target researcher (Yang) mental state questionable, his cyberbrain activity possibly disrupted. Focus on his recent academic exchange logs, informal data backups. Breakthrough might be in 'people' not 'databases'. Also: Police pressure has triggered internal cleaning procedures. Some 'dust' might be swept out. Stay alert."

  Black Cat pointed the direction again: approach from Dr. Yang himself, especially traces he might have left that weren't fully monitored. Also warning that though Valeria's investigation was obstructed, it had already made those hiding in the shadows begin moving.

  Science Castle was like a precision instrument—external force intervention (Valeria) and internal probing (Thunderhawk) were making its internal gears accelerate, and certain previously hidden friction and malfunctions were about to be exposed.