[3 seconds...] [2 seconds...]
"Fuck!"
Milluki roared, his fat fingers leaving a blur across the keyboard. He stopped trying to terminate that damned protocol and instead pulled up the highest-level backdoor Illumi had left behind.
With brute force, he shoved a new overriding command directly into the satellite's underlying decision-making system.
[Command inserted: target area designated as 'Anvil S-class core asset.' Initiate highest-priority asset protection protocol!]
This was a fundamental rule Anvil Enterprises had built into all its weapons systems to prevent friendly fire-never attack important friendly facilities!
On the screen, the wildly flashing crimson countdown stopped dead at the last second.
[1 second.]
The number froze.
Immediately afterward, a new notification popped up.
[Logic conflict: strike target overlaps with protected target. System suspended pending manual adjudication. Estimated window: 30 seconds.]
"Run!"
Milluki practically sprang out of his chair. Every trace of color drained from his face, and his voice cracked.
"We can only stall it once! As soon as those bastards at headquarters catch on, they'll force the launch! Run!"
Bai Zhu snatched the silver Main Box off the floor, grabbed Milluki by the back of his collar with his other hand, and bolted.
Camilla abandoned all concern for appearances, clutching her damaged Replica Box as she hurried after them.
The three had barely escaped the server room when the shrill alarm of the satellite system locking on again sounded behind them.
They sprinted for their lives through the tunnel they had come down.
The instant they stumbled out of the Financial Center's underground exit-
A thick pillar of light descended silently from the sky.
It pierced straight through the entire building with pinpoint accuracy, striking the Core Furnace Server Room at the deepest underground level.
The ground beneath their feet