Chapter 13: Echo Protocol

  Location: Science Castle, Near Central Hall, Thunderhawk's Quarters

  Time: First day after Dr. Cassandra Walker's appearance

  Dr. Cassandra Walker's arrival was like a new stone thrown into already rippling waters. She began her work with the efficiency of a "National Scientific Research Ethics Oversight Committee" special envoy that was eye-catching. During his patrol, Thunderhawk saw her several times, accompanied by an assistant, moving solemnly between the administrative area and medical center, conducting "preliminary interviews" with department heads. Her presence undoubtedly brought new pressure to Director Graham—pressure from an official external system.

  While passing through the central hall, Thunderhawk happened to see Dr. Walker conversing with Ryan Zhang—that senior systems engineer—in a rest area in the corner of the hall. Zhang looked even more nervous and anxious than usual, hands gripping a cup of water tightly, eyes lowered, barely daring to meet Dr. Walker's gaze. Dr. Walker maintained a businesslike manner, with a data pad spread before her, tone mild but carrying unquestionable prudence.

  "Engineer Zhang, thank you for taking the time. The committee is simply routinely understanding the operation of Science Castle's data security management system, particularly the protection procedures involving researcher privacy and sensitive data." Dr. Walker's voice carried clearly to Thunderhawk not far away.

  "Yes... yes, Doctor. Our system meets... meets the highest standards," Ryan Zhang's voice trembled slightly.

  "The highest standards also require strict human execution. Recent incidents, such as data theft and... unfortunate casualties, have they psychologically impacted the system maintenance team, potentially introducing operational risks? This is part of our ethics environment assessment." Dr. Walker's questions sounded very reasonable, yet like a soft knife gently probing Zhang's most vulnerable spots.

  Thunderhawk noticed Zhang's expression was extremely tense and fearful. Dr. Walker's questioning technique was superb—seemingly concerned about employee welfare, but actually possibly probing for weak points in the system, or... conveying some subtle warning or instruction to key figures like Zhang? Thunderhawk couldn't be certain, but he instinctively felt this conversation was far from what it appeared on the surface. This inspector was far more than someone going through the motions.

  Carrying this vigilance, Thunderhawk returned to his quarters and immediately began processing the clue John Liu had traded his life for. The log date and keywords etched on the fluorescent green plastic ball—"abnormal permission grant, Echo Protocol."

  Stolen novel; please report.

  Accessing logs from a specific date carried extremely high risk. He sought Black Cat's help again. This time, Black Cat's response was more cautious, providing a complex indirect access scheme based on temporary virtual nodes and log archive cache areas, like threading through a minefield.

  After several dangerous permission jumps and disguises, Thunderhawk finally located the security log slice from that date. Filtering out routine information from the vast sea of data records, several entries marked as "low priority/system auto-processing" caught his attention:

  "Timestamp: [three hours and forty-two minutes before Old Chen's attack] || Event: ID card (Serial: CN-7783-B, Holder: Chen Jianlong, Position: Maintenance Worker) temporarily elevated to 'Omega' level permissions. Authorization reason: Core cooling pipeline emergency maintenance (Authorization protocol: ECHO_PROTOCOL_7)."

  "Timestamp: [same period] || Event: ECHO_PROTOCOL_7 activated. Source terminal: [encrypted, identifier obscured, but geolocation points to: Security Director's office area]."

  "Timestamp: [one hour after Old Chen's attack] || Event: ID card (CN-7783-B) permissions restored to standard level."

  "Timestamp: [half hour before Old Chen's death] || Event: ECHO_PROTOCOL_7 related logs marked as 'archived', access permission set to 'highest classification'."

  The truth struck Thunderhawk like cold electric current!

  Old Chen's ultra-high permissions weren't obtained by him at all, but were granted through a backdoor program called "Echo Protocol"! The authorization time was just before the attack, with the source pointing directly to Graham's office area! Afterward, records related to this protocol were quickly cleaned up and sealed.

  This wasn't simple personal revenge, but a carefully planned conspiracy! Graham, or the forces he represented, deliberately gave Old Chen the key to open all doors, inducing or manipulating him to attack Dr. Yang? What was the purpose? To create chaos? To test security response? Or to... silence Dr. Yang, but because of Thunderhawk's intervention it failed, so they silenced Old Chen instead?

  "Echo Protocol"... the name itself was filled with the Babel organization's arrogant conceit of playing god and manipulating all beings.

  Black Cat's message came almost simultaneously, carrying a hint of cold approval:

  "ECHO_PROTOCOL... interesting naming. Fits certain organizations' melodramatic aesthetic. Log chain complete, forming logical closure. Congratulations, detective, you've found the first key piece of the puzzle. But this protocol can grant permissions and do much more. Science Castle's 'Cornerstone' is perhaps filled with countless such 'echoes'."

  Thunderhawk now held solid evidence proving Graham and his backing forces were directly related to Old Chen's death, and that Science Castle's system contained highly suspicious covert protocols for illegal operations. Once this evidence was handed to Valeria, it would be enough to create enormous waves.

  However, he also realized that this discovery alone might not be enough to unveil the entire truth of "Project Noah." Graham was merely an executor, and what that "Echo Protocol" could do was probably far more than granting an ID card permissions. Science Castle's core, that energy-consuming "Cornerstone" area, remained shrouded in fog.

  But at this moment, he held a chip capable of breaking the balance. He needed to decide how to use this chip—hand it directly to Valeria, or use it as bait to catch bigger fish?