Chapter 579: Chapter 579: Lure the Snake out of Its Hole
Xu Xiangbei, still simmering with anger, asked Shan Mingzhi, "Regardless of whether the Midnight News’ server is in America or wherever, how secure is the firewall? Is there a way to completely hack it?"
Shan Mingzhi confidently replied, "President Xu, don’t worry, as long as it’s connected to the internet, even if it’s placed in the highest security data center in North America, I can still hack it."
Hearing that the Midnight News’ server could be hacked, Xu Xiangbei felt a rush of vengeful pleasure, "Good job, I’ll give you a bonus when I get back to the company. Also, can you find Wu Xinwen through the server? I want to know where he got the information from."
Shan Mingzhi clicked his tongue, "At most, I can find out where the server’s IP is. If you want to find a specific person, it’s best to use mobile phone location; you can’t just rely on the server’s IP."
Xu Xiangbei said in distress, "That brat Wu Xinwen has done too many bad things, he’s afraid of being found by others, so no one knows his phone number. It’s very difficult to find him."
Shan Mingzhi’s small eyes darted around as he came up with an idea, laughing slyly, "President Xu, if I hack his website, he’ll definitely be anxious. Without my technology, all the data on his website would be useless, and he wouldn’t earn any money. Why don’t we bait him like fishing and lure the snake out of its hole, what do you say?"
"Let’s go with your plan, kid."
At the Earth Sea Feida KTV, Wu Xinwen was dancing with a beauty, his hands occasionally wandering over her chest and thighs when suddenly his phone rang.
It was his American friend Andrew calling, "Your website has been hacked. We can’t recover the data; the hacker wants you to pay a million before he unlocks it."
Wu Xinwen’s blood rushed to his head, and he turned off the speaker.
Over the years, he’d been coming home late, uploading all the photos and videos secretly taken of celebrities in the dead of night onto that server. Those photos and videos were the weapons used to blackmail celebrities into submission.
Anyone who wants to buy those photos and videos has to pay a hefty sum.
He lost interest in dancing with the beauty, stuffed a few hundred bills into her clothes, and chased her away.
He drained his beer and tore open his shirt buttons, shouting in frustration, "How could this happen? Didn’t you say the server was at yours and not even the FBI could break it? That’s my hard work of more than ten years."
"The FBI certainly doesn’t have the tech to breach my server, but this hacker used an algorithm I’ve never seen. If you want this data, you have to pay them a million. They even left you an address to take the cash to; they won’t accept any electronic payments. It’s obvious they know electronic transactions are easily traced, so they only accept cash."
"Damn bastards, who dares to be so arrogant? Give me the address. I want to see who dares to take money from me, Wu Xinwen."
Andrew gave him the time and address for payment: No. 512, Scum Alley, Earth Sea City, at midnight.
Wu Xinwen crumpled up the paper, grinding his teeth in hatred. Scum Alley was a place scheduled for demolition, but the demolition funds were short, and it hadn’t been torn down for years.
So cunning, Scum Alley has complex routes, all old houses awaiting demolition, now a hideout for some thieves. If the police come, they’ll disappear in the blink of an eye into the alleys, making it easy to escape.
He never realized this was all a setup by Xu Xiangbei and Shan Mingzhi, posing as extortion for his money, but really planning to catch him like a turtle in a jar.
He made a call to his friend Big Guy, putting on a pitiful act, "Big Guy, my good brother, I’m being blackmailed, you have to help your brother out."
Big Guy is a thug with a dozen or so underlings, usually helping people keep an eye on things and making a living by collecting protection fees. He’s known Wu Xinwen for many years.
It’s not out of brotherly love but because Wu Xinwen knew he had done too many bad things and was afraid of being beaten up, so he specifically paid Big Guy to protect him.
Big Guy was playing mahjong in a game room, smoking with his feet up. He had two large gold teeth, which were replacements after losing teeth in fights before.
Recognizing Wu Xinwen’s voice, Big Guy grinned broadly, "Well, Brother Xinwen, who’s got the nerve to blackmail you? Don’t worry, with the bond we’ve built over the years, I’ll bring guys and help you take him down."
Wu Xinwen was thrilled, "Good brother, real brother, get some strong and bold guys now, meet me at Scum Alley at midnight, I want to drag out the one extorting me."
Big Guy played a tile, chuckling evilly, "Sure, Brother Xinwen, I’ll find men for you right now, but the price is the same as before, two hundred for just being there, four hundred for those who engage. Sound good?"
Wu Xinwen showed a look of disgust, hating people asking him for money, "So expensive, Big Guy, we’re old friends, give me a discount, will you?"
Big Guy knew Wu Xinwen was stingy, chuckling, "Since Brother Xinwen says so, because we’re brothers, but my guys need to eat too. I’ll give you half price, a hundred for just being there, three hundred for engagement, how about that? Am I a good brother or what?"
Wu Xinwen looked contemptuous—originally it was just a hundred for being there and three hundred for engagement. Big Guy obviously wanted to hike prices, then pretended to cut them. Shameless.
However, he needed Big Guy’s help, so he feigned gratitude, "Big Guy, my good brother, I knew you’d help. Okay, I’ll take your price. Where shall I wait for you?"
"At midnight, I’ll be waiting with the guys at the entrance of Scum Alley, see you there."
At midnight, more than a dozen burly men holding steel pipes gathered at the entrance of Scum Alley, led by Big Guy, wearing flip-flops and smoking. His bald head shone brightly under the streetlamp.
A white Mercedes drove up slowly, and Wu Xinwen poked his head out of the window, laughing at Big Guy, "Big Guy, good brother."
"Hehe, Brother Xinwen, I brought the men, fifteen in total. They’re all from the martial arts team, skilled in combat. Not just fighting—even standing before them, they’d scare off their opponents."
On the surface, Wu Xinwen gave a thumbs-up, "Not bad, all strong and mighty guys, you’ll back me up today."
Inwardly he cursed, wondering what martial arts team they came from, laborers found somewhere, all looked strong but unsure if they had guts—bet they’d all run if a fight started.
Wu Xinwen parked at the alley entrance, leading Big Guy and more than a dozen burly men toward No. 512 Scum Alley.
At No. 512 Scum Alley, Xu Xiangbei was playing on his phone inside, hearing the sound of chaotic footsteps as a group of hulking men surged into the courtyard like a tide.
Xu Xiangbei glanced at the leading figure, dressed in a suit, wearing a high-end silk shirt underneath, and gold-rimmed glasses, looking like an intellectual, was probably the one who made money by exposing people’s privacy, Wu Xinwen.
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