181 The Banque (1/2)
Mie?
A voice exclaimed in surprise from among a group of executives at the headquarter of the NSA. If it was indeed another person, that would mean that there was another computer genius besides Bai Ling in Hua Nation – Mie.
BaiLing was burning with curiosity about the enigmatic Mie, who had repelled the massive cyberattacks launched by hostile foreign forces. She typed and asked, ”What's your real name?”
Xiao Luo smiled and replied, ”Is BaiLing your real name?”
He didn't say anything else and logged out of his browser after responding to Bai Ling.
”You rascal. How dare you drop out of our conversation like this.”
Determined, Bai Ling immediately keyed in several more codes, trying to trace Mie's IP address. But a firewall instantly appeared and blocked her access. This same firewall that was used to thwart the massive cyberattacks on the national internet gateway. She couldn't find any backdoors to force her way through his security measures.
”I can't believe I can't bypass the firewall!”
Pursing her lips, Bai Ling kept trying to get around the firewall when she realized that people from the NSA were spying on her activities. She typed a line of words in vexation: ”What are you looking at? Mind I don't infect all of your computers with a virus.”
Then, she wiped out her digital footprint and went offline immediately.
...
...
The group of executives at the NSA was amused by her antics. A middle-aged man, bespectacled and dressed in a business suit, spoke up first, ”This is obviously the temperament of a little girl. I bet you, BaiLing couldn't be more than 24 years of age.”
”Chief, we already know that. After two years of investigation, our agents' findings have determined that BaiLing is currently a student at Huaye University. Her real name is Bai Ling, and she's only 21 years old. I believe the two agents we sent out should confirm if she is the one involved in this battle.”
The person speaking was one of the six who were present in the room that day. The others smile derisively and couldn't help thinking to themselves how brazen the Chief was. He only made the statement about her age after their agents had already known BaiLing was a college girl. Wasn't he the wise man here.
ERRM…
The Chief motioned for everyone to get back to the topic of discussion and assumed a more serious expression, saying, ”BaiLing's ability has been long known to us all. She is definitely a computer genius and one of the best in our Hua Nation. Now Mie is a new find and appears to be someone even more proficient than BaiLing. Both of them are invaluable assets to us. We must locate these two talents. With them, those foreign aggressors would never be able to breach our defenses again.”
They all nodded in agreement.
”It seems to me that BaiLing is very interested in Mie. If we can confirm Bai Ling from Huaye University is BaiLing, I think we can possibly find Mie through her. She is the only one who is capable of finding Mie.” Another person said matter-of-factly.
He was merely making an assumption, yet no one disputed his opinion, as they would be in no position to trace Mieif even BaiLing couldn't do it.
...
...
Xiao Luo had not expected to attract the attention of the NSA. He only got involved after detecting some anomalies when he submitted an application form on the government website. But ended up getting involved in an internet battle and easily beat back a massive cyberattack launched by the foreign agents. Otherwise, he would never have got involved. After all, he honestly didn't want to be in the spotlight.
After passing the screening test of the police substation at Guangming District that afternoon, he waited for a few hours before he finally sat before the interviewers.
A cliched but ever-popular question was asked, ”Why do you want to be a policeman?”
The auxiliary police reserves were also addressed as police officers; however, their primary role was to provided assistance to the regular police force, and they would remain under the command and supervision of real police officers.
”To combat crime and protect justice!” Xiao Luo answered with a smile.
He did not believe that, of course. But these statements were necessary given his plan to get into the police force.
As Xiao Luo expected, the two policemen who were interviewing him exchanged looks, nodded, then made a checkmark on his form.