The news that prominent scientists across the country had inexplicably died en masse caused quite a stir at home and left foreign intelligence agencies baffled as well.
Most of these people had been high-priority targets for intelligence agencies around the world. They held vast amounts of information on Zhonghua's technology and were normally under tight military protection, with spies constantly watching them and probing for information.
Yet people of this caliber had all been declared dead within a short period and vanished from public view. Naturally, the agencies grew suspicious and mobilized their intelligence resources to investigate...
But during their investigations, they were astonished to discover that Zhonghua's state security agents also seemed thoroughly provoked. Anyone who dug into the matter found themselves relentlessly watched, as though the agents were determined to get to the bottom of it.
In simplified terms, the exchanges between the two sides went something like this...
A spy asked a bystander, "Just out of curiosity, did something really happen to all those people? Could it be some secret military operation? Where are the bodies? Have they been cremated?"
A state security agent's ears perked up. "Hmm? Why are you asking about this?"
The spy remained calm. "Oh, I'm just curious. The whole thing is so fishy. Who would believe there isn't more to it? I'm hardly the only person who's curious."
State security: "Oh? You sound awfully sure. Do you know something about what really happened?"
The spy looked innocent. "Huh? I... I don't know anything! I'm just a curious bystander!"
State security: "Heh, I don't believe so many important scientists could all meet with disaster within a few short days, either. We suspect they must have fallen victim to hostile foreign agents!
"Since you know the inside story, come with us. We'll treat you