Spy Wars: Strong Agents Who Are Ruthless and Talk Little

Chapter 277: Confidential Report Length to Numbers

Su Ming is a quiet, reserved young man, unassuming in appearance, of medium height, and always dressed simply, giving off the air of being easily overlooked. By day, he's an ordinary engineer at a tech company, performing seemingly menial yet essential tasks, drawing no special attention. Yet, beneath this calm exterior lies a dark secret—he's a spy, carrying out a highly covert mission.

That morning, Su Ming arrived at the office early as usual, made a cup of coffee, sat down at his desk, turned on his computer, and began working. His colleagues came in one after another, greeting each other, chatting about the weather and last night's TV series, while Su Ming simply listened quietly, occasionally chiming in. He kept a low profile and never engaged in in-depth conversations, thus minimizing the attention he drew.

His eyes scanned the code on the screen, his fingers mechanically tapping the keyboard, as if completely immersed in the world of programming. Yet, behind his focused work, his mind raced, pondering his real job. Tonight, he would receive crucial intelligence, and this mission was unlike any other, far more dangerous than he had imagined.

That evening, Su Ming left work early and, as usual, returned to his modest rented apartment. The room wasn't large, its furniture simple and functional. Everything was neatly arranged, devoid of any unnecessary decoration. This was a lifestyle he carefully maintained, every detail under his control, leaving no room for prying eyes.

After dinner, he sat by the window and opened his black notebook. This was his intelligence receiving device, specially modified to appear ordinary, but in fact it could receive encrypted information through a specific method. Today's message was a little different. His superior informed him in an encrypted message that a new contact would be joining the operation, and Su Ming needed to meet with him in the middle of the night.

Su Ming's hand gently stroked the screen of his laptop, a faint flicker of calmness and caution in his eyes. He understood that every new mission carried unforeseen risks, and this one was particularly so. His superiors' instructions were vague, stating only that this new contact possessed crucial intelligence that could alter the course of the current operation, but they didn't offer many details.

Time slipped by quietly. Su Ming stood by his apartment window, his eyes fixed on the nightscape outside with a calm, focused gaze. At two o'clock in the morning, he left his apartment promptly and walked along the empty streets. The night was thick, and the dim streetlights stretched his shadow. Wearing a dark windbreaker, his collar turned up and his hat pulled low, Su Ming blended into the silent night, as if he were just another ordinary pedestrian in the city.

Following his instructions, he arrived at a remote, abandoned factory, their scheduled meeting point. The air was thick with the musty smell of abandoned buildings, and the surroundings were quiet, with only the occasional gust of cold wind that made one shiver. Su Ming breathed softly, adjusting his mindset. Before every mission, he would calm himself down to prepare for any unexpected situation.

He stood quietly in a corner of the factory, waiting. Time ticked by, and the air was filled with an uneasy tension. Finally, a figure slowly approached from a distance. Their steps were light, almost silent, which instantly heightened Su Ming's vigilance. He quietly tightened his grip on the dagger in his pocket, his eyes keenly observing the other person's every move.

When the man got close enough, Su Ming remained silent, waiting for him to speak first. He was thin and dressed in a dark gray windbreaker. His face was hidden behind the brim of his hat and scarf, making it difficult to see his features. When he approached, he stopped in front of Su Ming and said in a low voice, "Nighthawk."

Su Ming gave a subtle nod, a secret signal between them. The other party continued, "The mission has begun. The target is changing, and new intelligence will be arriving. You must remain vigilant." As he spoke, the other party quietly handed over a small USB flash drive. Su Ming took it and quickly stuffed it into his pocket without further questioning. At this point, asking too many questions would only reveal his unease.

The other party hurried away, disappearing into the night. Su Ming remained calm and stood there until he was sure there was nothing unusual around him. Then he turned and left. He walked quickly, but he didn't seem panicked at all.

After returning to the apartment, Su Ming didn't check the USB drive immediately. Instead, he checked every corner of the house to confirm that there were no eavesdropping devices or surveillance cameras installed. After ensuring that it was safe, he sat down at the computer and inserted the USB drive.

An encrypted folder popped up on the screen. He expertly entered a complex password, and the folder slowly opened, revealing complex blueprints and a confidential report stretching thousands of words. Su Ming quickly scanned the information, mentally deducing the potential follow-up actions this intelligence might lead to. However, before he could delve into the analysis, a rapid ringing of his cell phone shattered the silence.

Su Ming frowned and answered the phone. On the other end of the line came his superior's brief and urgent voice: "The mission has changed. The target may have been exposed. You need to relocate immediately."

Su Ming's hands froze on the keyboard for a moment. The ringing of his phone seemed infinitely amplified in the silent night, carrying a sense of life-threatening urgency. His first reaction was not to answer the call, but to quickly scan his surroundings, his eyes as sharp as a hawk's. He knew that if the mission was truly exposed, the danger would not only lie in the intelligence itself, but also in every corner around him.

The voice on the phone quickly calmed his doubts. "Su Ming, the mission has changed. The target may be exposed. Relocate immediately." The words were brief and sounded like a routine announcement, but Su Ming knew that this was far from simple. Exposing the target meant that his identity might also be exposed on enemy radar. Any hesitation or misjudgment would lead to irreversible consequences.