CIATB Chapter 330 Sitwell: I feel like I've been set up!
Chapter 330 Sitwell: I feel like I've been set up!
In the real world, inside the CEO's office at the top of Stark Industries.
The smug smile on Sitwell's face, before it could fully bloom, froze, twisted, and finally turned into unbelievable horror.
One second ago, the laptop screen in front of him seemed to have been imbued with an evil life. A waterfall of dark green code cascaded wildly around Dr. Zola's data-human avatar. The speed was so fast that just watching it made the atmosphere inexplicably heated.
The laptop's cooling fan was emitting a desperate, strained hiss. As the laptop overheated, Jarvis's alarm, which had been constantly echoing throughout the office, grew increasingly faint.
All of this clearly indicates that Dr. Zola's consciousness clone is making great strides in Stark Industries' core database, and victory is in sight.
So much so that Sitwell was already fantasizing about the enormous reward he would receive when he returned to Alexander Pierce with Jarvis's data backup!
However, the next second——
"Buzz—Click—!"
A dull yet extremely impactful thud suddenly erupted from inside the laptop, as if some precision component had snapped under extreme load!
Immediately afterwards, the unstoppable torrent of dark green data seemed to have crashed into an invisible wall of sighs, and its momentum abruptly halted!
Even Dr. Zola's maniacal data avatar, which was laughing uncontrollably, was completely shattered without warning in that instant!
These bizarre phenomena caused Sitwell to suffer a sudden cardiac arrest on the spot!
After that, he watched helplessly as the green tide that should have represented victory was not simply blocked on the screen...
Instead, it was smashed to pieces by something much larger and more tyrannical!
Countless dark green code fragments seemed to be splashing deep within the screen.
The once smooth waterfall became fragmented, flickering wildly, mixed with a large amount of unrecognizable gibberish and glaring red error messages, a veritable data version of a bloody mess!
The screen brightness fluctuated wildly, making Sitwell's bald forehead and eyes behind his glasses appear unevenly lit.
That face, which always carried a hint of feigned composure, was now nothing but paleness and astonishment.
"No...this can't be...this is Dr. Zola's legacy..."
Even at this moment, no one with no knowledge of hacking could see that Dr. Zola's consciousness clone was doomed. Sitwell couldn't help but mutter to himself, his voice dry and trembling.
He even unconsciously leaned down and got closer to the screen, as if he could see the brutal massacre on the data level and find the "culprit" that caused this change.
Then, he saw an even stranger scene.
Amidst the chaotic flow of green data, the outline of a... gigantic hand made of pure blue energy seemed to be vaguely coalescing.
That blue was cold and pure, carrying a chilling sense of authority.
Immediately afterwards, the image on the screen distorted and shook violently, much like the shaky footage of a camera after being violently struck.
I don't know if it was auditory hallucinations caused by excessive tension...
At that moment, Sitwell seemed to "hear" a sharp, highly insulting slap that echoed in his ears!
Following the slap, the buzzing of the laptop sounded to Sitwell like the unwilling wails of Dr. Zola's consciousness clone.
On the screen, the dark green data stream representing Zola's consciousness dimmed and shrank at a visible speed, becoming intermittent, like a candle flickering in the wind.
Instead, a stable, deep, and oppressive blue began to dominate.
It even slowly outlines a blurry, human-shaped silhouette in the center of the screen!
Finally, the screen went dark and then came back to light...
The laptop, which had been subjected to severe damage, managed to break free from the forced intrusion and enter the normal boot-up process within just a few breaths!
"Well!"
This bizarre scene caused Sitwell to let out a short, startled gasp. His neck instinctively recoiled, as if a slap from the cyber world had landed on his face from afar.
"What the hell?! What is this thing?!"
Ignoring the attention of the rest of the squad, Sitwell's voice suddenly rose eight octaves, filled with fear.
According to the intelligence he gathered, Stark Industries' defense system had never encountered such a terrifying and highly efficient mysterious entity!
This is definitely not Jarvis!
Jarvis's defense model is an elegant and efficient algorithmic barrier...
Absolutely not this kind of brutal and savage crushing that is full of anthropomorphic humiliation!
This is no longer a failed invasion; this is a complete massacre! It is a higher-dimensional being toying with and destroying ants!
In a daze, Sitwell seemed to see a data life form version of Black Spider-Man wreaking havoc inside his computer!
Thinking of this, a suffocating silence suddenly descended upon the office.
The faint indicator light at the USB port went out the moment the laptop entered the normal boot process.
The device that carried Hydra's important "legacy" was now cold and lifeless.
Sitwell stood frozen in place, his right hand still unconsciously suspended in mid-air, maintaining the subtle posture he had been preparing to celebrate his victory.
Cold sweat trickled down his smooth back of the head like a stream, soaking his shirt collar and bringing a cool, sticky feeling.
The eyes behind the glasses were wide open, the pupils contracting in shock and fear.
He opened his mouth, but no sound came out; only his heavy, disordered breathing was particularly clear in the excessively quiet office.
It failed...
Not only did it fail...
Dr. Zola's consciousness clone... was... devoured?
Was it attacked by an unknown, terrifying blue data entity?
What kind of monster is hidden in Stark Industries' database?
Could it be that Tony Stark had already foreseen their objective...?
They had even discovered the existence of Hydra long ago!
So you deliberately created a weakness, just waiting for them to foolishly walk right into your trap and get themselves killed?!
If so...
He would probably be trapped like a fish in a barrel by now...
Is there any need to escape?
Is it possible to escape?
Amidst his racing thoughts, the immense fear brought on by Dihua's mind gripped Sitwell's heart, making him completely oblivious to the consequences of mission failure.
He turned around abruptly, warily surveying the futuristic office, as if the blue ghost lurked in every shadow.
Having discovered Tony Stark's "true intentions," he now only felt that this place was incredibly strange and dangerous!