That night, the police station's server experienced an abnormality. The previously stable system suddenly fluctuated violently, and all case-related data vanished without a trace. Worse still, a message was left in the system—an unmistakable provocation:
"All your efforts will ultimately amount to nothing. Dark Abyss sees everything you do."
The message hit Su Wanqing like a sledgehammer to the heart. She stood before the surveillance screens in the technical department, her face solemn as she stared at the data monitor. The once-clear case files and investigation materials had all disappeared as if erased by a dream—everything, gone.
"What's going on?" Lu Chenzhou arrived at the scene, frowning as he looked at the blank data grid on the screen.
"Hacker intrusion. Our database has been completely destroyed," Su Wanqing said, her voice low and tense. "These were cases related to 'Dark Abyss.' If the data gets leaked, the consequences will be unimaginable."
Lu Chenzhou was silent for a moment before turning to the head of the tech department. "Is it possible to recover the data?"
The man lowered his head, a trace of helplessness flashing in his eyes. "We're trying, but this attack was highly precise. The hacker seems to know every detail of our system. I'm afraid we won't be able to recover the data in a short time."
"Is there a backup?" Su Wanqing's voice grew more anxious.
"There is, but… the backups have also been tampered with. We're checking them now," the tech head replied nervously.
As time ticked by, Su Wanqing's heart sank lower and lower. She knew that a hacker capable of infiltrating the police system and deleting all case files had to be backed by a powerful and dangerous network. She couldn't help but recall previous clues about the "Dark Abyss" organization—this was no coincidence.
"We must trace the hacker immediately. Otherwise, everything we've worked for will vanish." Su Wanqing clenched the pen in her hand tightly as a thought suddenly flashed through her mind. She refused to let her days of investigation be erased so easily. That organization, "Dark Abyss," would not slip away from her pursuit.
In the following hours, the technical team worked closely with cybersecurity experts, trying to restore the system and analyze traces of the intrusion. Eventually, a technician discovered a small amount of residual data on the server. Though nearly devoid of clues, one file contained a strange string of code at the end.
"These codes…" The technician's voice rose slightly in pitch. "It looks like encryption, but not a method we commonly see. The structure is very unique—almost like… a self-protection mechanism."
"Self-protection?" Su Wanqing's heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean?"
"These codes are designed to destroy all data upon decryption—even erase traces left by the hacker," the technician explained gravely. "This isn't something a regular hacker would use. It's been meticulously crafted."
"Could this be the work of 'Dark Abyss' technicians?" Lu Chenzhou asked, frowning, beginning to grasp the complexity of the breach.
Su Wanqing nodded. "If this code really comes from their tech team, we must be even more cautious. 'Dark Abyss' isn't just any criminal organization—they're highly skilled in cyber warfare."
The technician quickly sent the code to the cybersecurity experts. A few minutes later, the experts responded: "We've managed to decrypt part of the code. It's complex, but we can still trace the source. This string can lead us to the hacker's location."
"Good. Start tracing immediately," Su Wanqing said, her eyes sharp and focused as if trying to pierce through every barrier.
Tracking the data wasn't easy. The hacker had clearly anticipated this and employed multiple relays to mask their trail. Every lead seemed like a dead end, carefully constructed to mislead. But Su Wanqing and Lu Chenzhou didn't give up. They followed every faint trace until they locked onto a network node in a suburban area.
"I've heard of this place before," Lu Chenzhou said, frowning slightly. "It's an abandoned industrial park, nearly uninhabited—perfect for illicit activities."
"The tech team from 'Dark Abyss' might be operating from there," Su Wanqing said without hesitation, immediately organizing a search team.
When they arrived at the abandoned park, what they saw was unexpected. The place was in complete disrepair, but in one corner stood a nondescript little warehouse with no markings. As the police arrived, the warehouse's surveillance cameras were instantly cut, and all signals disappeared.
"Go in and take a look," Lu Chenzhou commanded.
Inside, they found a seemingly ordinary computer—clearly used for hacking operations. The warehouse setup was crude, but on one table lay several circuit boards and what appeared to be standard hard drives. Upon closer inspection, it became clear these hard drives contained more than meets the eye. Su Wanqing quickly realized they might store crucial information.
"These drives are heavily encrypted," the technician said as he examined them, his mood tense. "If we can decrypt them, we may uncover more about 'Dark Abyss.'"
"We have to act fast," Su Wanqing said calmly. "We're no longer dealing with an ordinary hacker. Behind 'Dark Abyss' lies a vast and complex network. The information in these drives might be the key to cracking the case."
As they busied themselves inspecting the equipment and hard drives, footsteps echoed from outside the warehouse. A few plainclothes officers suddenly entered, stern expressions on their faces.
"Director Shen?" Lu Chenzhou turned and walked forward, instantly recognizing the man. "What brings you here?"
"I heard you found a lead on the hacker," Director Shen said, his eyes sharp. "What's your next move?"
"Keep digging," Su Wanqing answered firmly. "The threat from 'Dark Abyss' is growing. We can't stop now."
To her, the organization named "Dark Abyss" was no longer just a mystery—it might be the tip of an even greater crisis. Only by uncovering the truth behind the code and the clues could they pierce the fog surrounding them.
"This is only the beginning," Su Wanqing thought to herself. "We must give it everything we've got."