CHAPTER 51: CHAPTER 43: JAILBREAK FLASH DRIVE

"I’m giving you a nice little gift as a welcoming present for becoming colleagues," At the end of lunch, Mo Xixi tossed Xia You a small USB drive, "For the work you can’t finish in the office and don’t want to stay overtime, this jailbroken USB drive allows you to copy data and take it home."

All data in the Rand Military District is protected by anti-copying measures, and the computer’s USB ports are disabled. When Mo Xixi stood up, she greeted a few familiar colleagues, and when she turned back, the jailbroken USB drive was gone.

It seems Xia You is still a naive person. It’s rare in Rand Military District to make a friend who is so unguarded. Mo Xixi’s smile brightened even more.

After parting ways with Mo Xixi, Xia You once again walked to the front of Lin Yi’s office. The corridor was empty, and Lin Yi seemed to have gone out for lunch and had not yet returned.

The door was ajar, and after Xia You pushed it open and walked in, she stood in the office for a while before pulling out the jailbroken USB drive.

The game icon on the military computer mockingly stared back at her, taunting her about becoming a thief. Countless nights spent hitting keyboard keys in a stuffy room studying for certifications became just shattering bubbles surfacing into harsh reality. Xia You knew it was difficult to stand out in this gray building through hard work or keeping a low profile.

"In Rand, there are only two ways to get promoted: one is like Major Lin who comes from a prestigious military family, his father being a pillar of the military region. The other is by real combat, like the other youthful officers who started from the bottom and encountered patrons," Mo Xixi’s words during lunch were less about sighing, and more about giving Xia You a heads-up.

In the office, the solar-powered computer was still in standby mode. Xia You’s fingers touched her chest as she whispered softly: "Are you satisfied now?" Xia You remembered last night, Xia Yun’s tearful eyes, and Xiao Maiqi’s figure sprawled on the bed, feeling as if a butterfly in her chest began to flutter its wings.

(Money can make a ghost grind a millstone, and you know well what this game can bring you.) Little Eight was pleased that Xia You caught on so quickly.

The jailbroken USB drive was connected to the computer, and the black and white "Military Road" game was copied onto the USB drive within ten seconds. Xia You didn’t plan to negotiate about salary with Lin Yi.

The USB port showed slight traces of being used for plugging and unplugging the drive. During the time Xia You was eating, someone else had performed the same action on this computer. Lin Yi noticed the newly arrived military computer and the black and red icon on the desktop.

Disapproving looks from his father, Lu Xun’s unruly figure, and those surrounding people who were somewhat contentious about his military rank, Lin Yi opened his drawer and took out a jailbroken USB drive. When he was acting as his father’s personal secretary, he would work flawlessly by staying all night at the National Security Department, tirelessly refining the data. This USB drive was a gift from his older brother who was often chastised by their father for being unorthodox. Since his brother left and he started working independently, Lin Yi had never used this kind of USB drive again. It only took a few seconds to copy "Military Road".

All of this was done without anyone noticing. When Lin Yi returned to the office, Xia You was looking at a photograph hanging on the wall. Each military personnel’s office had a photograph of the highest commander of the army as a sign of respect. The photo depicted Marshal Ren of Hua Country, an aged man with frosty temples.

"Marshal Ren hasn’t appeared in public for a long time," Lin Yi walked to his desk, powered on the computer, his keystrokes as calm yet forceful as his first impression suggested.

"Since you haven’t received formal military training, you will be sent to Longzhi Military Academy for military training over the next month. During this period, in addition to passing the training, you must also gather some information." Lin Yi paused for a moment. A brief pause can easily create additional pressure.

Longzhi Military Academy is one of the top three military academies in Hua Country, known for its strict military discipline, with many high-ranking officers originating from there. For Xia You, this was both an excellent opportunity and a harsh challenge.

"I have a request as well," Xia You turned around as she spoke, her lips pressed tightly together while she looked straight at Lin Yi. "From what I’ve understood, soldiers from Longzhi Academy immediately receive a Sergeant’s military rank upon graduation, and I seek the same treatment." In the face of pressure, one could either bend or break the one imposing it. Was she bargaining with him? Lin Yi’s index finger tapped lightly on the desk as he returned her gaze, one of the few who dared to look him in the eye and negotiate calmly.

Lin Yi’s eyebrows raised, the rhythm of his fingers tapping on the desk quickened. His fingers were slender, as if playing a piano piece. Xia You was sharper than he had anticipated; most new recruits would have immediately accepted the news without hesitation.

Longzhi wasn’t as renowned as most of Hua Country’s prestigious institutions, and Xia You shouldn’t have known about the training location beforehand, let alone bargained with him about it. It was Mo Xixi who had informed Xia You about Longzhi. "Alright, but before that, you have to remember a sentence I tell you. If you can relay this sentence in full to that person, then I’ll agree to your terms," Lin Yi also wanted to see how the person he chose would react in front of that other individual, whether he would make the same decision to recruit as Lin Yi did.

"Deal," Xia You agreed quickly after hearing this, although her mind harbored some doubts.

"I’ll give you three days to prepare, after which you can report to Longzhi Academy once your enrollment papers are ready," Lin Yi passed some information on Longzhi Academy to Xia You and reminded her that Mo Xixi would be the contact person for this military training.

Thus ended Xia You’s first day at the National Security Department. She exited the large doors of the department. The military bus hadn’t arrived yet; Xia You slid her hands into her pockets, where the jailbroken USB drive still lay.