Upon his return to the geothermal node, Li Fang relayed his findings to Xie Ruolan.
"They have physical surveillance teams near the data markets, actively scanning. They might have an informant feeding them more than just names."
Xie nodded as she tapped the data-case she was still securely hugging to her chest. "Our 'Chaff Cloud' and network scramblers will only do so much against direct observation. But if they're staying in one place, we wouldn't need to worry about them."
Before Li Fang could respond, a priority communication request flashed on the Lilypad-01 interface.
He checked it right away. This time, it's not from Xun, and not an alert telling him they're about to be uncovered again. Instead, It was flagged as originating from one of their borrowers. IronOx_7.
Li Fang exchanged a glance with Xie Ruolan.
This was unexpected or maybe not? He did his due diligence earlier to get him out of his predicament whether it succeeded or failed was still not confirmed.
That's why he couldn't help but be cautious. After giving the QFS a directive to trace IronOx_7's location through it and confirming that he was alone somewhere far from any Crimson Abacus operative, he cautiously opened the encrypted channel.
IronOx_7's voice. sounding a little grainy on top of being strained through the encryption. filled the chamber.
"Honored Investor... apologies for this intrusion. First… I express my gratitude to the distraction you set off. I used it to erase my trace and run away without being followed... I think I have information you might need."
Li Fang and Xie Ruolan looked at each other, a hint of relief on their faces from knowing the boy managed to run away.
"Speak," Li Fang replied, maintaining a cold, unfeeling tone.
"Yes! After my breakthrough... the energy surge... it attracted attention," IronOx_7 stammered. "Not just Muni-sensors. Collectors. Crimson Abacus goons. They roughed me up and asked questions about where I got the Qi boost. I told them nothing, but I overheard them talking. They seemed to be looking for those like me. Those who received a direct Qi from out of nowhere. They left me alone, thinking they already got me cornered to go after another location given by an informant. It appears to be someone feeding them data on independent cultivators who might be looking for 'alternative financing'."
An informant. Sure enough, his suspicion was spot on. That explained the bounty and their persistent search.
"Do you know who?"
"No name," IronOx_7 replied. "Just that they operate out of the Sector Gamma data markets. They mentioned paying him for leads. I thought... I thought you should know. Your investment... it changed things for me. I owe you."
"Thank you, IronOx. Stay safe. Maintain radio silence unless absolutely necessary. When things cool down, I'll contact you again. Work on your cultivation. If you need another boost, we can modify your contract." Li Fang instructed before handing him another lifeline.
"A boost… I just broke through. It would be wasted…" IronOx_7's voice tightened as if he were truly contemplating whether to take that offer.
"Right. It'll just dissipate. Don't put yourself in too much debt. If you need work. I can give you some but not at the moment."
"I understand. I'll go radio silent until the dust settles."
With that, the connection was cut off. Li Fang found Xie Ruolan staring at him with a complicated expression. Partly in disbelief and partly in awe. Nevertheless, she didn't say anything about it and summarized what they gleaned from IronOx_7's report.
Xie's eyes narrowed. "The Gamma markets are a cesspool of information brokers, data thieves, and disgruntled Sect employees selling secrets. Finding one informant there is like finding a specific grain of sand on a toxic beach."
"Indeed. But Miss Xie. I have this versatile associate," Li Fang shrugged as he heard the soft chime of the QFS as though acknowledging his praise.
Xie Ruolan also couldn't help but break a small smile. Because he was out for close to an hour, she somehow revert back to only relying on her know-how without the assistance of the extremely perverse rogue AI associate of Li Fang.
"System, cross-reference Crimson Abacus financial transactions linked to Sector Gamma data markets within the last 72 hours. Look for recurring anonymous payments consistent with informant fees, factoring in the physical surveillance patterns I observed." Li Fang ordered.
[Acknowlledged. Analyzing Available Dark Net Financial Logs (Limited Access)...]
[Cross-referencing Crimson Abacus known shell accounts…]
[Incorporating visual surveillance data from Host reconnaissance…]
[Identifying Anomalous Micro-transactions originating from Sector Gamma Node G-773…]
[Pattern Match Found: Recurring payments of 20-50 Qi-Credits to a shell account named 'DataWeasel'.]
[Probability of 'DataWeasel' being Crimson Abacus Informant: 85% (Increased due to corroborating surveillance data).]
"DataWeasel," Li Fang relayed. "Probability increased. Can we… neutralize this asset?"
"Neutralize?" Xie raised an eyebrow. "Assassination invites too much heat. But perhaps… discredit? Frame? Or simply buy their silence? A counter-offer might be cheaper than ongoing defense upgrades."
"Y-yes. That's what I meant!" Li Fang corrected as he almost stuttered.
[QFS Recommendation: Financial Neutralization.]
[Initiate targeted market manipulation affecting DataWeasel's known investment portfolio (Analysis indicates holdings in volatile Synth-Kelp Futures).]
[Estimated Cost for inducing portfolio collapse: 70 Qi-Credits.
[Probability of Success: 65%.]
[Alternative: Direct Bribe (Estimate: 100-200 Qi-Credits, risk of betrayal: High).
[Alternative: Submit an anonymous tip regarding DataWeasel's activities with rival information brokers (low cost, unpredictable outcome).]
Market manipulation. Using their fledgling financial power offensively. It was elegant, impersonal, and fit the system's ruthless logic.
"Let's crash his portfolio," Li Fang decided, closing his eyes as he parted with another 70 Qi-Credits.
His heart ached but it's another necessary expense. It's both cutting off their intelligence and revenge for trying to cull his fledgling enterprise.
Unfortunately, he cannot just drain DataWeasel's account and transfer it to him. It will be draped with karmic bindings that could be used to trace him. Besides, it would also trigger the Celestial Revenue Bureau's alarm for market manipulation. It's only possible this way and only on small targets like this informant.
It had to be seamless as if it happened naturally. And that's something the QFS could accomplish.
[Executing Targeted Market Destabilization: Synth-Kelp Futures Contract SKF-4B…]
[Injecting forged sell orders via anonymous proxies…]
[Triggering localized panic sell…]
[Cost: 70 Qi-Credits.]
[Monitoring DataWeasel account…]
[Portfolio Value Collapsing…
[Success! DataWeasel's financial status has been reduced to Near-Insolvent.]
[Probability of continued cooperation with Crimson Abacus significantly decreased.]
Li Fang felt a cold satisfaction. They'd struck back, silently, financially. It cost him a chunk of his capital, but it addressed the root of the intelligence leak, at least for now.
But the clock was still ticking and his balance, while not critical, wasn't growing fast enough or rather, his spending was at the same level as his earnings, leaving him no surplus but a gradual deficit instead.
The defensive measures and the counter-attack had eaten his arbitrage profits and the Ghost Candle income.