"Holy crap! I actually believed you and really thought I'd be safe after downloading Shield. I was such an idiot!" A young man playing a game cursed and hurled his phone onto the bed.
Everyone around the world who had been infected was furious. They had trusted Shield Software and downloaded its app, only to get infected anyway.
Meanwhile, those who had been infected before but paid the ransom were feeling pretty pleased. After a message popped up on their phones saying, "This IP has already paid the ransom," nothing else went wrong.
They hadn't expected the virus to make a comeback. And the virus's creator really had kept his word: those who had paid wouldn't be infected again, and sure enough, they weren't!
"Hahahaha!" They opened their social media feeds and started making fun of the people who had downloaded Shield but still got infected.
But they soon realized that everyone who had been infected had downloaded Shield.
What kind of plot twist was this? Was Shield Software actually the virus itself? Were they wolves in sheep's clothing?
This was huge news! Media outlets around the world, like sharks scenting blood, flocked to Shield Software's office building.
At that moment, the head of Shield Software was panicking too. Was the virus's creator out to get them? Only computers with Shield Software installed had been infected!
He had completely forgotten how he'd mocked the virus's creator at the press conference.
"Boss! The reporters have already rushed in. We can't stop them!" His secretary came running, flung open the boss's office door, and shouted.
"Hold them off!" the head of Shield Software roared, but it was already too late. The reporters had reached his office door.
He wouldn't dare lay a hand on them. They were all from Eagle Country's major media groups. If he hit them today, they'd be calling him every name under the sun tomorrow!
"Sir, what do you make of the fact that only devices with Shield Software installed were infected?"
"Sir, was the virus that infected hundreds of millions of computers around the world actually created by your company?"
"Did you have some kind of deal with the virus's creator, and did they retaliate after your recent negotiations fell through?"
"Sir—" Countless flashes went off as reporters fired questions at him and shoved microphones toward his mouth.
"Damn it! I don't know why either! Go ask the virus's creator!" Listening to the reporters accuse him, the head of Shield Software was so furious he nearly choked to death.
After shutting the door, the head of Shield Software sank into his chair in despair.
Before long, he'd probably be receiving a court summons and investigation notices from various government agencies.
It was over. He was finished, his company was finished, and his life was finished!
After a moment's thought, he picked up his phone and dialed a number back home.
"Yi, you might not get back the twenty million I invested in your company. Our company's finished, and so am I." As he spoke, a bitter tear trickled from the corner of his eye.
Only then did he remember the boastful things he'd said at the press conference. The other guy must have seen it and was taking revenge for his rude remarks.
If he could turn back time, he'd never have mocked the virus's creator.
Now not only had he lost his entire life's savings, but he'd also lost his nephew's savings along with it.
The company's bank accounts had been frozen as soon as the incident came to light, since the banks had also been among the hardest hit.
He couldn't even run off with the money now. The Federation Bureau of Investigation was probably already waiting outside his company.
Meanwhile, Tang Shizhe was beaming.
There was only one reason he could be so happy: Leiden Coin had skyrocketed!
Ever since the new Vampire virus appeared, rumors that Leiden Coin was about to rise had been spreading online.
The last time the Vampire virus appeared, Leiden Coin had jumped from five hundred RMB to sixty thousand!
Now that this supervirus had resurfaced, the Leiden Coins designated for ransom payments were bound to surge again.
Nobody was stupid. With the previous price spike right before their eyes, no one could resist the temptation.
Whether they were rich or broke, everyone who was paying attention to the situation poured their money into Leiden Coin.
They knew Leiden Coin could crash at any moment, but they were all gambling. They were betting they wouldn't be the ones left holding the bag, and that someone else would buy their coins at an even higher price!
People were greedy. Just two hours after the new virus appeared, Leiden Coin had already surpassed its previous record, with the price racing toward one hundred thousand RMB!
By then, not many people were choosing to buy Leiden Coin to recover their computers. Only people from large companies were willing to pay such a steep price.
After all, one percent of a Leiden Coin was now worth a thousand RMB, or more than a hundred U.S. dollars!
But the price kept climbing. Leiden Coin soared all the way to twenty thousand U.S. dollars apiece. Just think about that!
Tang Shizhe had sold off all his Leiden Coin while the market was still rising. The dark money alone had earned him a full 1.8 billion RMB, or 300 million U.S. dollars.
And the clean money he could spend freely had also grown in value with Leiden Coin, reaching a full 40 million U.S. dollars, or 240 million RMB!
"I'm rich!" Tang Shizhe excitedly kissed his phone.
His mobile banking app showed a balance of 40,000,000! Seven whole zeroes!
Even after taxes, he'd still take home 192 million!
"Buy, buy, buy! From now on, if I see something I like, I'm buying it! I'm buying everything!" Tang Shizhe shouted excitedly, raising both hands.
"Boss, ransom payments have dwindled to almost nothing. Should we release the removal tool?" Tang Yi turned and asked Tang Shizhe.
"Wait twelve hours before releasing it. If we do it now, it'll be too soon and might raise suspicion!" Tang Shizhe waved a hand.
Ding ding ding ding ding ding. A simple ringtone suddenly sounded.
"Hello, who's this?" Tang Shizhe answered politely.
"It's me, Long Yi, the boss who rented you the factory." A somewhat weak voice came from the other end.
"Boss Long, why did you change your number?" Tang Shizhe scratched his head, wondering what Long Yi wanted.
"Well, my investment failed, and now I'm drowning in debt. I'm not using my old number anymore."
"I'm calling to let you know that I might have to sell the factory soon. I'll pay you the contract's termination fee. I wanted to give you a heads-up so you'd have time to pack your things." Long Yi's voice was low.
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