BOOM!


    The stadium trembled under the force of a massive explosion, sending vibrations through the entire structure that every person present could feel. At the epicenter was Kevin Walker, a teenage prodigy renowned for his ir for the dramatic. The crowd, which numbered 80,000 strong, burst into a frenzy of cheers and apuse, electrifying the atmosphere in a way that felt almost tangible.


    “Wow! A master! A real master!” one spectator eximed, his voice filled with unbridled excitement.


    “A genius! A true genius! He really pulled it off this time!”


    Through his Bluetooth earpiece, Lin Xian heard VV’s excitement, which was so loud it almost burst his eardrum.


    Gritting his teeth, Lin Xian whispered sharply, “Why are you shouting so loud?”


    “That was so cool! Really cool! A genius! A true genius! Lin Xian, I want to y too! You should do something like thatter! I’ve even thought of the lines for you—”


    “Shut up and focus,” Lin Xian interrupted, his voice low and urgent. He nced around, wary of prying ears. “VV, have you figured out how to stop Kevin Walker from attacking the SkyNet system?”“Rx, I had it all nned out yesterday,” VV replied, his tone now moreposed. “I’ll use the same strategy as Kevin Walker. Fight fire with fire! He cornered us, leaving no gaps. I realized then how to counter this arrogant genius. That’s why I brought you to America—”


    “ording to the World Hacking Contest rules, all attacks must originate from thepetition site. So, Kevin Walker must issue hismands from here, from theputer right across from us. Isn’t it simple?”


    “He trapped us, not letting us out… So, I’ll trap America, not letting him out! Hismand signals can’t leave America, so how can he attack the Inte Security Great Wall?”


    “Don’t worry about being discovered. I’ve covered our tracks well. I’ve infiltrated America’s major power andwork systems. When we enter the free demonstration phase and Kevin starts his hack, I’ll disrupt the power or thework at crucial transmission points across America. Hismands will remain trapped here, unable to escape!”


    Assured by VV’s cunning n, Lin Xian turned his attention back to the teenage genius, who had now returned to his seat amid a thunderous ovation.


    VV’s approach was not straightforward like typical programming; it was more akin to human chess, trapping your adversary physically to counter their virtual constraints.


    Lin Xian smiled wryly, recalling inte memes about cutthroat business tactics and invincible hackers who simply cut power to solve problems.


    VV, adept in navigating the nuances of the World Hacking Contest, knew that intercepting Kevin Walker directly was forbidden; it wouldpromise their stealth. However, being in close proximity to Walker meant they could monitor and potentially disrupt his operations without detection.


    Kevin, known for his mboyance and pride, was unlikely to engage in covert actions that could sully his public image. Outside thepetition, subterfuge might be fair game, but within the confines of this arena, he would abide by the rules, especially given his spectacr entry.


    VV’s strategy was brilliant in its simplicity and effectiveness, keeping Lin Xian out of the direct spotlight. Any system failures on the American side would appear unconnected to Lin Xian, presenting him merely as an observer—a subtle yer in a high-stakes game.


    “Nice n,” Lin Xian murmured, genuinely impressed. “If the earlier version of you was VV in its infancy, now you’re surely VV in your prime. You’ve grown stronger.”


    VV chuckled mischievously, “Muahaha… Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west, never underestimate a young hacker’s potential!”


    Lin Xian sighed, a hint of amusement in his tone, “Learn something proper, VV. Drop those cheesy lines.”


    The 2023 World Hacking Contest proceeded without a hitch. Competitors demonstrated their skills by exposing vulnerabilities in systems like Android, Apple, Microsoft, and even Google. The breaches were prepared ahead of time, allowing for swift execution and immediate results.


    Apuse and des were plentiful, with sponsors rewarding the hackers who followed the rules by disclosing the exploits they used, helping thepanies fortify their defenses.


    As the contest drew to a close, it was evident that the X Team and the American Team were the frontrunners. Unlike others who were there for the prize money and acim, these national teams brought their best talent, setting them apart from the rest.


    Many teams opted out of the free demonstration phase, knowing their chances against Kevin Walker were slim. It was smarter to save their exploits for another day, where the bnce between earning a living and avoiding jail was less precarious.


    Lin Xian checked the scoreboard—America was slightly ahead, leading thepetition.


    Despite the mounting pressure, his teammates were supportive. “Stay rxed. Everyone knows you’re up against Kevin Walker in the fifth slot, but we can’t just forfeit—that would be ridiculous. Just go up there and do your thing; no pressure.”


    “The real battle isn’t here,” another teammate added. “It’s in protecting the Inte Security Great Wall. Preventing Kevin Walker from breaching the SkyNet system—that’s our true victory. This championship is just a title.”


    Lin Xian nodded, exchanging high-fives with the senior members. His focus wasn’t on winning the contest but on safeguarding the system. As long as they protected the SkyNet system, they would have achieved their true goal.


    The team leader drew lots for the presentation order—America would go first, followed by X Team. Kevin Walker would take the stage first, then it would be Lin Xian’s turn.


    “VV, get ready,” Lin Xian whispered as the moment drew near.


    “Don’t worry, Lin Xian, everything’s set. When he sends hismands, key nodes hundreds of kilometers away will experience brief power orwork disruptions. It’s subtle but effective enough to ensure hismands fail,” VV assured him confidently.


    Lin Xian looked up, watching as Kevin Walker confidently approached the stage. The crowd was supposed to be quiet ording to the rules, but the cheers from 80,000 spectators were unstoppable. Kevin thrived under the spotlight, his hand poised above the Enter key.


    In the National Security Command Room, the tech team was on high alert. “Is the attack here?” one asked anxiously.


    “Yes! But it’s weaker than expected. We can handle this!” another responded, a note of relief in his voice. They had braced for a more formidable assault, but it seemed Kevin Walker’s real focus was elsewhere, and even that was less powerful than anticipated.


    Back in the stadium, the once jubnt crowd fell silent. News of a breach into the SkyNet system was expected, but it didn’te. Kevin, usuallyposed and in control, was visibly flustered, frantically typing at his console.


    Lin Xian pressed his earpiece, “VV, what’s happening?”


    “We’ve blocked 99.56% of his attackmands, but a few slipped through. No system is perfect; various factors can affect the timing. One of our devices even failed due to old age… I had to cut power to the entire city,” VV exined calmly, though there was a hint of frustration in his voice.


    “If I were intercepting directly on-site, I could’ve blocked everything, but we needed to remain hidden. Kevin Walker’s strategy was more sophisticated than I anticipated…”


    “But don’t worry, the fewmands that got through are manageable by their security team. The free demonstration phase has a time limit, so Kevin Walker is out of options,” VV added, his voice carrying a mix of amusement and relief.


    “Lin Xian, congrattions! You’re about to win the World Hacking Contest! He won’t score any points, and your Te hack will us 17 points, putting X Team in the lead!” VV cheered.


    Lin Xian was about to respond when suddenly, across the stage, Kevin pulled out a USB drive, plugged it into hisputer, and executed something unexpected.


    VV had secured the perimeter of the American inte; no signals were supposed to escape. What was Kevin up to now?


    Then, remembering Kevin’s theatrical entrance and the logo of the Genius Club pointing skyward, Lin Xian realized toote what was happening…


    The stadium screens lit up with an announcement: Beidou Satellite RD12142658 Hacked!


    A thunderous apuse and cheers broke out, even louder than before. Although Kevin hadn’t prated the SkyNet system, he had achieved something even more spectacr—he had hacked a satellite in the opponent’s navigation system, an unprecedented feat in the contest’s history.


    ording to the rules, hacking a national satellite was a major coup, worth 80 points—a move that secured victory for the American team.


    The venue erupted with chants of “Kevin! Kevin! Kevin!”


    “Sorry, Lin Xian,” VV’s voice came through, tinged with disappointment. “I always feared being too conspicuous, so I didn’t extend our reach too far… Surrounding the American inte border was as much as I dared. By the time I realized he’d use Starlink satellites to bypass terrestrialworks and hack the Beidou satellite from space, it was toote.”


    Kevin had exploited a loophole in SpaceX’s Starlink system, using over 20,000 satellites to ry signals rapidly and breach the Beidou satellite orbiting Earth.


    “I’m still not strong enough. For the first time… I wish I could grow up faster,” VV confessed, his tone somber.


    “It’s okay, VV,” Lin Xian reassured him. “We’re in a foreign country, and you performed excellently without blowing our cover. Like you said, in hacking, attacking is often easier than defending. I understand the challenges we faced.”


    “Besides, defending the Inte Security Great Wall and the SkyNet system is our real victory. Even though it might seem like a constion, we’ve actually won,” Lin Xian added, trying to lift VV’s spirits.


    The X Team members, smiling, exchanged high-fives in a celebratory gesture. An older team member patted Lin Xian’s shoulder reassuringly, “RD Beidou satellites are civilian-grade, don’t worry. Kevin Walker had to resort to this drastic measure after failing to breach the Inte Security Great Wall.”


    “He actually lost, ording to the contest rules. This Beidou satellite vulnerability now has to be disclosed to us. Military and civilian systems have oveps. Kevin’s victory in this contest means he’s handing us a critical security w for free!” the team leader added, also grinning.


    “Yes, breaching the Beidou satellite so quickly suggests a serious w. It’s better to know about it now than to discover our Beidou systempromisedter,” another member pointed out.


    Lin Xian looked around at his relieved teammates and felt reassured. These professionals were not overly concerned, so it couldn’t be a grave issue.


    While the Americans celebrated, believing they had secured a major victory by hacking a Beidou satellite, the X Team also felt victorious, having defended the Inte Security Great Wall and uncovered a significant w in their own system.


    This contest had turned out to be a win-win situation.


    The only apparent loser was Lin Xian, who was now stepping onto the stage.


    Kevin Walker’s sessful satellite hack had added 80 points to the American team’s score.


    Lin Xian’s uing Te hack was worth only 17 points.


    But losing was eptable. Winning the contest had never been their main goal.


    Losing a single match didn’t diminish Lin Xian’s resolve.


    The cheers gradually faded, and after about ten minutes, the host returned to the stage, announcing it was Lin Xian’s turn for the X Team’s free demonstration phase.


    At that moment, the 80,000-seat stadium fell eerily silent.


    No apuse.


    No cheers.


    No shouts.


    No support.


    Nothing.


    Lin Xian stood up from the preparation area and walked boldly towards the stage.


    Suddenly…


    “Boo——”


    A wave of disrespectful boos echoed through the stadium.


    “Boo——”


    In unison, the 80,000 American spectators booed Lin Xian!


    All around,


    Front and back,


    Left and right,


    Up and down,


    Full of boos!


    Lin Xian looked around.


    Surrounded by boos…


    The 80,000-seat stadium felt vast and empty.


    Boos could be so quiet, yet so loud.


    “Boo——”


    “Boo——”


    The relentless, uniform boos drowned Lin Xian…


    “Lin Xian ——— Go for it ———”


    Amidst the ceaseless boos, a clear and loud cheer broke through!


    Clear.


    Loud.


    Deafening amidst the boos of 80,000 people.


    Instantly.


    The stadium fell silent.


    Everyone stood or turned, searching for the source of the lone cheer.


    The 80,000-seat stadium was vast…


    Too vast to find anything.


    Everyone looked around, but the source of the cheer remained elusive.


    Whoosh!


    In the wind, a fabric unfurled.


    At the top of the New Jersey stadium, a square of red fluttered in the wind!


    The X Team’s red g!


    A bright red g of the X Team!


    All eyes, including Lin Xian’s, turned to the g—A petite but proud girl.


    She raised her hands high.


    Holding the fluttering red g above her head.


    Her fluffy ponytail swayed in the wind, but her slender figure stood firm in the night wind!


    “Lin Xian, Senior!” She shouted with all her might, looking at the man destined to lose on stage: “Go for it!!!!”


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