While scenes of "Palace Intrigue" were unfolding in the female dormitory, the atmosphere in the conference room at the other end of the base was as heavy as an ice cellar.
Wu Tianlong sat in front of the computer, his fingers rapidly tapping on the keyboard.
Lines of code and information flashed across the screen.
His face grew increasingly grim, and a fine layer of sweat even beaded on his forehead.
Lu Mingyu, Li Xiaoniu, and Zhou Chenguang stood behind him, their expressions equally serious.
"Captain, the situation is not optimistic."
Wu Tianlong stopped his movements and turned to look at Lu Mingyu.
"I just thoroughly checked several major dark web platforms globally."
"I found fourteen bounty missions related to our J-35A test this time."
He took a deep breath and delivered news that made everyone present's heart sink.
"All fourteen of these missions are now showing as 'accepted'."
Lu Mingyu's pupils suddenly contracted.
He knew better than anyone what this meant.
"All accepted?"
"The completion and acceptance rates for dark web missions have always been low."
"Nearly sixty percent of missions go untouched for years, rotting in the database."
"For all of them to be accepted in such a short time, it can only mean one thing."
Lu Mingyu's voice was cold and clear:
"The publishers went all out, offering prices that those desperadoes couldn't refuse."
Wu Tianlong nodded and pulled up the detailed information for the first mission.
"The earliest bounty mission was published twenty days ago."
"The publisher's information is unknown and has the highest level of encryption."
"The mission requires bringing back core technical data related to the J-35A."
"The bounty amount is fifty million US dollars."
"After the mission was published, it was accepted by three top international mercenary organizations working together in less than half an hour."
Hearing this number, even Li Xiaoniu and Zhou Chenguang, who were accustomed to grand spectacles, couldn't help but gasp.
"Fifty million US dollars! Just for a piece of technical data?"
"This is too big a move; there must be national-level power operating behind it."
Wu Tianlong ignored their exclamations and continued reporting.
"The second bounty mission was published seven days ago."
"The publisher's IP address shows in the Maple Leaf Empire."
"But this is likely a cover; the information is probably fake."
"The mission requirement is simple: destroy the J-35A prototype for this test at all costs."
"The bounty amount is five million US dollars."
"This mission was accepted by eight different organizations, mostly lunatics specializing in destruction and chaos."
"The third, published five days ago, also has an unknown publisher."
"The mission requires bringing back the J-35A prototype intact and ensuring the core technical parts are undamaged."
"The bounty amount is twenty million US dollars, accepted by five organizations."
"The fourth, and the newest one, was just published three days ago."
Wu Tianlong pressed the last enter key on the keyboard.
A regional map appeared on the screen.
"We tracked the exact location of this mission's publisher IP."
"Myanmar, Mandalay region."
Lu Mingyu's eyes instantly sharpened.
"Mandalay... that's 'Viper's' territory."
"Exactly." Wu Tianlong's face was extremely grim.
"Our Megakaryocyte Special Operations Group has had several confrontations with 'Viper' before."
"Those guys are entrenched in the Golden Triangle, making a living from drugs and arms dealing."
"The local environment is extremely complex, allowing them to remain arrogant until now."
"The publisher this time is most likely 'Viper'."
Lu Mingyu pondered for a moment, then spoke coldly.
"But they are just a bunch of desperadoes; even if they get our technology, they can't produce or imitate it."
"Someone must be directing them from behind."
Li Xiaoniu looked at the blinking red dot on the screen, appearing somewhat impatient.
"Tianlong, stop holding back."
"What the hell is this mission published by 'Viper'?"
Wu Tianlong did not speak, simply fully revealed the mission's detailed content, displaying it before everyone.
The mission content was unexpectedly simple and direct, even carrying a flamboyant arrogance.
"Recruitment Order: All aspiring individuals are welcome to join our 'Viper' organization to jointly complete a great mission."
"Mission Objective: Seize the core key technology of Xia Nation's latest fighter jet, the J-35A."
"Upon successful completion of the mission, all participants will share a massive bonus of twenty-five million US dollars."
At this point, the atmosphere in the conference room had already dropped to freezing point.
However, when they saw the additional mission, an uncontrollable surge of anger erupted from the depths of everyone's hearts.
"Additional Mission: During the operation, find a way to capture alive the special forces members of Xia Nation responsible for security."
"For each member captured alive, an individual or team will receive an additional two million US dollars reward."
"Bang!"
Li Xiaoniu slammed his fist on the table, his eyes bloodshot.
"These bastards!"
"What do they take us for? Prey?"
Zhou Chenguang's expression was even colder, like a block of ice that had not melted for ten thousand years.
He stared at the text on the screen, asking word by word:
"Why are they targeting us?"
"Destroying the plane, stealing technology, I can understand all that."
"But specifically offering a bounty to capture us alive, this doesn't seem to be just for money."
Lu Mingyu's gaze shifted from the screen, sweeping over his angry team members.
His voice remained steady.
But the killing intent contained within it seemed to lower the temperature of the entire room by several degrees.
"He's retaliating."
Lu Mingyu slowly began to explain:
"The leader of 'Viper', also nicknamed 'Viper', is an extremely vengeful guy."
"Since the establishment of our Megakaryocyte Special Operations Group, we have clashed with the 'Viper' organization five times in total."
"The first time, we raided one of their drug production factories on the border, killing one of his capable subordinates."
"The second time, we rescued eight of our citizens who had been kidnapped from their hands."
"In that battle, we killed twenty-seven of their people, including two elders who had started with him."
"The third, fourth, fifth..."
Lu Mingyu's eyes deepened.
"Every confrontation, we made him suffer heavy losses."
"More than a dozen of his so-called 'brothers' and high-ranking organization members have died at our hands, one after another."
"To him, our Megakaryocyte Special Operations Group is the culprit that caused him to fall from being a hegemon of the Golden Triangle to needing to lie low."
"So, he not only wants the J-35A technology to please his new patron."
"What he wants even more is our lives."
"He wants to use our blood to wash away his humiliation and re-establish the prestige of his 'Viper' name."
After listening to Lu Mingyu's explanation, the anger of Li Xiaoniu, Zhou Chenguang, and the others gradually subsided.
It was replaced by a more calm and deadly fighting spirit.
It turned out this was not just a security mission, but a life-and-death showdown between old enemies.
"Captain, the location for this test flight has been set at the Yunnan South Air Force Base."
A team member pointed at the map, speaking with concern:
"That place is too close to the Myanmar border, less than two hundred kilometers in a straight line."
"For those desperadoes, this distance is almost equivalent to being undefended."
"Can we suggest to the higher-ups to change the test flight location?"
"Move it to a safer base inland, which would at least eliminate most of the infiltration risks."