[HSRGSS] Chapter 84: Using the Mastermind as Bait to Catch the Mastermind?

Because Herta insisted on having him pick her up, Lucian teleported back and forth twice and brought Herta straight to Belobog from Herta Space Station.

Herta simply could not be bothered to travel that far herself, since with Lucian's spatial abilities, he could just zip over, making things unbelievably convenient.

"Here it is—the super-intelligent network security system I made just for you." Herta handed Lucian a chip that looked small and delicate, full of high-tech vibes. "Just use any main control device as the core, and it'll work."

Not wasting time, Lucian immediately plugged it into a device in the Qlipoth Fort, and in that instant, it connected to every network on the entire planet.

Of course, at the moment, the only network on the planet was Belobog.

"Now, if anyone tries to hack Belobog's network, they'll be intercepted, and an alarm will go off."

Herta straightened up with confidence, her expression making it clear she wanted Lucian to praise her.

"Yeah, not bad. Now I don't have to worry about the Stellaron Hunters coming to steal."

Lucian pretended to feel reassured, but secretly, he was already using his phone to send Silver Wolf's virus program to his own network.

Just like when he hacked into the main account of the IPC before, Lucian used Absolute Hit to launch the virus, hitting the terminal of the super-intelligent network security system.

"Duh, when this genius gets involved, it's obviously just that easy."

Herta spoke leisurely while stretching her body.

"Besides, with me here, the Stellaron Hunters wouldn't dare to show—"

WEE-OOO-WEE-OOO-WEE-OOO—

Suddenly, the devices around them all sounded an alarm, interrupting Herta's words.

[Warning! Virus detected! Network is under attack!]

Herta froze instantly.

What did that mean?

Was this just to embarrass her on purpose?

Coincidence, or was it planned all along?

Herta quickly glanced at Lucian, suspecting that he was up to something to win their bet.

Otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence?

Right after the bet, things suddenly went wrong?

Only a fool wouldn't realize it!

"What are you looking at me for?"

Lucian shrugged, looking completely innocent.

Herta thought about it carefully and realized Lucian had been right under her nose the whole time, with no chance to pull anything.

As a result, Herta temporarily pushed her doubts aside, grabbed a mini computer, and started intercepting the virus herself.

Clack! Clack! Clack!

Herta typed on the keyboard at lightning speed.

Although she was not a hacker, her skills were still on par with the pros, which was what being a genius was all about.

"No way!"

However, the more Herta tried to fight the virus, the more shocked she became, since the hacker's virus acted like it was on drugs!

At this moment, she had already thrown every trick she had at it, but she still could not stop the virus from breaking in.

Herta was utterly surprised and amazed.

Just who was this mysterious expert with such insane hacking skills?

No matter what she tried, she could not stop the virus's advance at all—there was just no way.

'I see... Looks like even the alarms are just weaknesses left on purpose by the hacker.'

For a moment, Herta felt a sense of helpless despair.

'If they actually got serious, my firewall probably wouldn't even have time to sound the alarm...'

'Damn it, the gap is just too big...'

It had been years since she last felt this way.

Beep!

Suddenly, every device—including Herta's mini-computer—went to a blue screen at the same time.

On the screens, a chibi figure of Silver Wolf appeared and started dancing.

"Herta."

"Herta."

"LOLOLOLOLOL—"

All the electronic devices around them, as long as they could make noise, started playing the same audio. Even Lucian's phone was playing it.

"Silver Wolf... you're really something, aren't you..."

Herta stared at the taunting image on the screen, her face turning red with anger.

At this moment, a nameless fury was burning inside her.

She couldn't help but think that the hacker had already invaded from the start, knew she would come to install the firewall, and had waited just to embarrass her.

Herta clenched her fist, veins bulging on her forehead, looking like she was about to go on a rampage.

Fortunately, after two deep breaths, she calmed herself down.

Because the virus broke through the firewall, it started attacking the network terminal, but just then, Herta realized that the virus itself was not actually that strong and, in fact, quite ordinary—even her antivirus program could have wiped it out automatically.

However, if that were the case, why had she been unable to stop its advance?

Just what was going on?

Beep!

A moment later, Silver Wolf's virus was wiped out completely, which was rather effortless.

It was only natural.

In the first place, the virus's original purpose was just to break through Herta's firewall, not to actually destroy Jarilo-VI's network.

Moreover, with Herta handling it personally, the virus was doomed to be eliminated quickly.

As a result, once the virus was gone, all the devices around them returned to normal.

Lucian felt relieved that he had thought ahead.

He had Silver Wolf transfer the virus to another device somewhere else, then set it up so his phone would only have the right to send it.

Thanks to that, Lucian was nothing more than an innocent victim in Herta's eyes—merely used as a pawn.

"Hmph, trying to piss me off on purpose? Fine, just you wait, you little girl! I'll get someone to ban all your game accounts!"

Herta cursed at the mini computer, yelling at Silver Wolf and the mysterious expert helping behind her.

She had completely lost this round of cyberwarfare and lost so badly.

Of course, she also had no more doubts about Lucian, given that he had been right beside her the whole time, not doing anything, not even touching his phone.

Moreover, the virus, while not strong, was able to break through every new safety barrier she put up, which meant the virus user had to be fighting her in real time, so it could not possibly be Lucian.

However, didn't this mean Lucian won the bet?

No matter whether Lucian was involved or not, she had indeed failed to stop the Stellaron Hunters from breaking in.

'Damn it!'

Herta silently cursed in her heart.

'Just wait till I call for backup, let's see how many of you can handle it.'

She was no fool.

If she could not handle it alone, she would just find someone to help.

Screwllum, as an intellitron, was a master of network data.

As Herta was grumbling with resentment, a phone suddenly appeared in front of her face before Lucian's voice sounded in her ear.

"Herta, can you check out this video for me? What's it about?"

What else could it be?

Of course, it was the video of Herta making a vow on their bet.

If the firewall was truly breached by the Stellaron Hunters, she had to work for Lucian for free for a hundred years!

"Hmph, what are you so anxious about? It's not like I said I'd go back on my word." Herta turned away and huffed coldly. "You must be thrilled to have a genius working for you, right?"

"Of course I am." Lucian nodded, then chuckled. "Who wouldn't be happy to have a beautiful genius working for them for free?"

"What do you mean by free? That sounds awful." Herta grumbled again. "A hundred years means a hundred years—I'll keep my word. Come back to the space station with me and I'll fulfill the bet right away."

She stood up, a dark aura of resentment swirling around her.

It went without saying that Herta was really upset right now.

It was only natural.

Someone she had never taken seriously had just embarrassed her in front of someone important, and even taunted her directly to her face.

Who could stand that?

Let alone anyone else, someone as proud as Herta definitely couldn't.

It was just that her strong logic kept her from snapping.

"Oh? You're so straightforward?"

Lucian was a little surprised.

Herta was being this straightforward about the bet?

Something felt off...

"Oh, right, you've got a Stellaron on you, right? Don't forget to bring it."

Herta suddenly turned around and smiled at Lucian.

"Now, you're my bait to get at that little girl."

At this, Lucian nodded calmly, but in his heart, he was complaining.

'She's using the mastermind as bait to catch the mastermind?'

'Seriously?'

'If she ever finds out the truth, she'll probably lose her mind.'