52: Chapter 52 The Auction Trap

The night sky was like a piece of ink-soaked velvet, pressing heavily over Los Santos.

The Diamond Casino next to City Hall was brightly lit, its gilded exterior walls gleaming with a cold, hard light in the darkness. Two rows of bodyguards in black suits and headsets stood straight as ramrods at the entrance, their eyes sharp as eagles as they scanned every guest arriving for the gathering. The venue had been fully booked tonight for a mysterious auction circulating only within the top circles of Los Santos, quietly drawing back its curtains.

Lin Fan sat in the backseat of a black Bentley, his fingertips lightly tapping on his knee as his gaze drifted through the car window toward that magnificent building. In the passenger seat, Franklin bit down on a cigar, toyed with a modified pistol between his fingers, and spoke with a tone full of impatience: "I'm telling you, man, this place just feels wrong. Whatever ghost auction those guys are putting on, is it really worth us taking such a big risk?"

“It’s worth it.” Lin Fan’s voice was deep, his gaze carrying a hint of certainty. “After the Snake Fang Gang fell, the Los Santos underworld became a chaotic mess. This ‘Zero’ who suddenly popped up has managed to gather Victor’s remaining forces in just half a month, becoming even more secretive than when Victor was around. This auction is the best chance to figure out his background.”

On the other side of the backseat, Kate wore a well-tailored black evening gown with her long hair pinned up, revealing her slender, fair neck. She had completely shed her usual capable and sharp demeanor as an FBI Agent, adding a touch of elegance and charm. However, the alertness in her clear eyes never faded, and her fingertips quietly pressed against the pistol hidden under the hem of her gown: “Based on the clues I’ve found, this mysterious person ‘Zero’ has thousands of ties to New Era Technology. And New Era Technology has recently been secretly pushing a space colonization project with a massive funding gap. This auction is likely not that simple.”

Lin Fan nodded, images from the previous chapter flashing through his mind—they had intercepted a secret letter from the remaining members of the Snake Fang Gang. The letter repeatedly mentioned keywords like “auction,” “permissions,” and “Lord Zero,” and included an encrypted invitation. After exerting a great deal of effort to crack it, they finally obtained tonight’s entry credentials. What made him even more uneasy was the sentence at the end of the letter: “Those who do not comply shall all become dust,” which exuded a heart-palpitating ruthlessness.

“Remember our division of labor,” Lin Fan turned his head to look at the two of them, his tone serious. “Franklin, you provide support on the perimeter. Keep an eye on the movements around the casino; if you spot anything unusual, signal immediately. Kate, you take the opportunity to slip backstage to investigate the flow of funds and Zero’s identity information. I’ll go inside to attend the auction and test the waters.”

“Don’t worry, leave it to me!” Franklin grinned, stubbed out his cigar in the ashtray, and pushed the door open to get out. He soon blended into the flow of cars and crowds around the casino, his unremarkable outfit making him look like an ordinary street thug.

Kate straightened her skirt and looked at Lin Fan: “Be careful. If Zero dares to host this auction, he’s definitely laid out an inescapable trap.”

“Same to you.” Lin Fan smiled and pushed the car door open.

The bodyguards at the door immediately stepped forward, their eyes warily sizing up Lin Fan as they reached out to signal for his invitation. Lin Fan pulled the gold-embossed invitation from his pocket. After the guard verified it, he respectfully made a gesture of invitation: “Sir, please come inside.”

The moment he stepped into the casino lobby, an aura of luxury washed over him. Crystal chandeliers refracted brilliant light, illuminating the entire hall. The floor was covered with thick red carpeting, making every step silent. A large crowd had already gathered in the hall: famous Los Santos tycoons in custom suits holding champagne and talking in low voices; underworld bosses with fierce glares followed by entourages of bodyguards; and glamorous actresses and socialites with exquisite makeup weaving through the crowd, seeking opportunities to climb the social ladder.

The air was thick with the mellow aroma of champagne, the tobacco scent of cigars, and a faint hint of perfume, all mixed together to create an atmosphere of decadent extravagance. However, Lin Fan keenly sensed that within the seemingly lively hall, countless eyes were hidden. Those guests who appeared to be chatting casually would occasionally scan their surroundings, clearly all there with their own agendas.

“It seems those who came tonight aren't friendly sorts,” Lin Fan thought to himself. He walked calmly to the bar, ordered a whiskey, and discreetly scanned the entire hall.

He noticed a high platform set up in the very center of the hall, covered in black velvet with an exquisite auction podium. It was surrounded by cameras, clearly the main stage for tonight’s auction. On the wall behind the platform hung a massive electronic screen, currently black, likely intended to display the auction items.

“Ding! Special scenario detected—Mysterious Auction. Triggering temporary mission: Uncover the truth behind the auction items and test Zero’s strength. Mission Rewards: Code Energy +100, Hacker Skill Proficiency +50, Random Item x1; Mission Failure: Wanted Level +2.”

The system prompt sounded in his mind. Lin Fan raised an eyebrow; it seemed this auction indeed hid something fishy. Holding his glass, he pretended to wander casually through the hall, his ears tuned to the surrounding conversations.

“Have you heard? Tonight’s auction items are very special. They aren't jewelry, paintings, or antiques, but rather some ‘Special Permissions.’”

“Permissions? What permissions? Could it be some privilege that lets us walk tall in Los Santos?”

“Who knows, but for Zero to go to all this trouble, it definitely won’t be simple. I spent a fortune just to get an invitation; I hope I won’t be disappointed.”

“Hmph, disappointed? If he dares to trick us, no matter how mysterious this ‘Zero’ is, he can forget about having a place in Los Santos!”

Several tycoons in suits huddled together, whispering with tones full of anticipation and doubt. Lin Fan’s heart stirred. Special permissions? Could it be character permissions for the game world? This was close to what he had expected; after all, this world was the game world of GTA5, and such permissions were indeed the most unique “merchandise.”

Just then, the lights in the hall suddenly dimmed, leaving only a few spotlights above the platform to illuminate it. The electronic screen slowly lit up, displaying a line of large golden characters: “Los Santos Special Permissions Auction, Commencing Now.”

The noisy hall instantly fell silent as everyone’s gaze fixed on the platform.

A person dressed in a long black robe slowly walked onto the stage. He wore a silver mask that covered his entire face, leaving only a pair of deep eyes visible. His gaze was icy, exuding an aura that warned people to stay away. His posture was upright and his steps steady, every movement carrying an inexplicable sense of pressure.

“It’s Zero!”

“He finally showed his face!”

A low murmur of discussion rippled through the hall. Everyone stared intently at the masked man, their curiosity tinged with a hint of awe.

Lin Fan’s gaze also landed on “Zero,” his fingertips tightening slightly. The system prompt sounded again: “Special target detected—Zero. Identity: Unknown. Strength Evaluation: S-Rank. Danger Level: Extremely High.”

S-Rank? Lin Fan was startled. Victor’s strength evaluation had only been A-Rank. This “Zero” was actually S-Rank; it seemed he would be even more difficult to deal with than Victor.

Zero stood behind the auction podium, his gaze slowly scanning the crowd below. His icy voice carried through the microphone across the entire hall, devoid of any emotion: “Welcome everyone to tonight’s auction. I am your auctioneer for the evening, Zero.”

His voice had been specially processed, sounding somewhat raspy and making it impossible to distinguish gender, which only added to his mysterious aura.

“Without further ado, let's get straight to the point.” Zero’s gaze fell on the electronic screen. With a light tap of his finger, information for the first auction item immediately appeared: “First Auction Item: Light Bulletproof Permission. The holder of this permission can withstand attacks from ordinary handgun bullets. Duration: Permanent. Starting Bid: 10 million USD, with increments of no less than 1 million USD.”

As soon as the information appeared on the screen, the hall instantly erupted into chaos.

“Light Bulletproof Permission? Is that for real? It can withstand handgun bullets?”

“Permanently effective? That’s way too overpowered! With this permission, you won't have to fear assassination whenever you go out!”

“Starting at 10 million? That’s expensive! But if it’s really effective, it’s worth it!”

Discussions broke out one after another. A fervent light ignited in the eyes of many tycoons; such a life-saving permission had a fatal attraction for them.

“11 million!” Someone soon raised their paddle, taking the lead with a bid.

“15 million!”

“20 million!”

The price soared rapidly, soon reaching 50 million USD.

Standing below the stage, Lin Fan’s eyes narrowed slightly. Light Bulletproof Permission was essentially the effect of body armor in the game, only it had been turned into a permanent permission. This “Zero” was indeed selling character permissions for the game world. It seemed he had a deep understanding of the rules of this world, and might even possess special abilities similar to his own.

Ultimately, this Light Bulletproof Permission was won by an oil tycoon for 80 million USD. The tycoon looked extremely smug, as if he had obtained some peerless treasure.

Zero announced the sale without expression and then continued to introduce the second item: “Second Auction Item: Extreme Speed Running Permission. The holder of this permission has their running speed doubled. Duration: Permanent. Starting Bid: 8 million USD.”

This permission likewise triggered intense competition, eventually selling for 60 million USD.

The next few auction items were similar character permissions, such as “Underwater Breathing Permission,” “High Jump Boost Permission,” and so on. Each one drew fierce bidding from the crowd, with prices frequently reaching tens of millions of dollars.

Lin Fan watched all of this, his doubts deepening. What exactly did this “Zero” want? Selling these permissions was clearly not as simple as wanting money; after all, since he could even have a hand in New Era Technology’s space project, he certainly wasn’t lacking this bit of cash.

“It seems I need to take the initiative to test him,” Lin Fan thought to himself, his fingertips quietly gathering a trace of Code Energy. After his system upgraded, he had unlocked Code Editing capabilities. Although he couldn't yet arbitrarily tamper with the world's rules like Victor could, interfering with some electronic equipment was more than enough.

Just as Zero was preparing to introduce the next item, Lin Fan’s gaze sharpened. The Code Energy at his fingertips was quietly released, surging toward the electronic screen.

A second later, the electronic screen that had been displaying auction item information suddenly flickered. Then the image changed, and it actually began playing the music video for "Gangnam Style." The rhythmic music instantly filled the entire hall, and PSY’s iconic dance moves played on the screen, completely at odds with the luxurious and serious atmosphere of the venue.

“What the hell? What’s going on?”

“Why is this playing all of a sudden?”

“What kind of trick is this!”

The hall instantly fell into chaos. Guests looked at the electronic screen in bewilderment, their faces full of confusion and anger. The wealthy moguls were especially livid; for a perfectly good auction to be interrupted by a viral song was practically an insult to them.

“Silence!” Zero’s voice suddenly turned freezing cold. His gaze swept the room like a sharp sword, finally locking onto Lin Fan. His eyes were sharp as an eagle's, as if seeing through everything, and his icy voice carried a hint of killing intent: “It seems an uninvited guest wants to add a little fun to our auction.”

Lin Fan’s heart jolted. He hadn't expected this “Zero” to be so sharp as to lock onto him instantly. He discreetly withdrew his Code Energy, an innocent expression appearing on his face as if he were just a bystander watching the show.

The guests below also followed Zero’s gaze to look at Lin Fan, their eyes full of curiosity and scrutiny.

“This gentleman,” Zero’s gaze fixed intently on Lin Fan, his tone icy, “I wonder if you are interested in our auction items? Why not come up on stage and tell us your thoughts?”

This was a blatant provocation and a test. Lin Fan knew he had been targeted and that backing down was impossible. He smiled slightly, held his glass, and walked onto the high platform with composure.

“Mr. Zero’s auction is very interesting,” Lin Fan said, standing before Zero and meeting his gaze calmly. “However, these auction items seem a bit too amateur. Light bulletproofing, extreme speed—these permissions are simply not worth mentioning in the face of real danger.”

“Oh?” A hint of amusement flashed in Zero’s eyes. “Then in your opinion, what kind of permissions would be considered valuable?”

“For example, Invincibility Mode Permissions, or Flight Ability Permissions.” Lin Fan said with a half-smile. “Since Mr. Zero can bring out these permissions, surely you can bring out higher-level ones, right?”

He deliberately mentioned these two top-tier permissions to test Zero’s background. If Zero could truly produce these permissions, it would mean his coding abilities had reached a terrifying level.

Zero’s gaze darkened slightly. He didn't answer Lin Fan’s question but instead suddenly raised his hand and pointed at the electronic screen. The screen that had been playing "Gangnam Style" instantly returned to normal, but the image changed to a surveillance feed. In the feed, Michael was tied to a chair with his hands behind his back, his mouth sealed with tape, and his eyes full of anger and anxiety. On the wall behind him, a clear number was printed—E-13.

“Michael!” Lin Fan’s pupils suddenly constricted, and his heart sank. After they had split up in the previous chapter, Michael had gone to investigate the stronghold of the remaining Snake Fang Gang forces. He hadn't expected him to be captured!

“What have you done to him?” Lin Fan’s tone instantly turned icy, and a sharp aura emanated from him.

The corner of Zero’s mouth curled up into a mocking smile: “This should be your friend, right? He tried to break into my stronghold to pry into my secrets; that is a provocation against me. I haven't killed him, which is already an act of mercy.”

“If you want to save him, it’s not impossible.” Zero paused, his gaze landing on Lin Fan, his tone carrying a hint of temptation. “As long as you do one thing for me, not only will I release him, but I can also hand over the Flight Ability Permission you want with both hands.”

“What is it?” Lin Fan suppressed the fury in his heart and asked calmly. He knew that being impulsive wouldn't solve anything right now; with Michael in the other party's hands, he had to act cautiously.

“It’s very simple,” Zero’s gaze became deep. “Help me get something—the ‘Core Data Chip’ from the Los Santos Military Base.”

The Core Data Chip? Lin Fan’s heart stirred. He had heard of this thing; it was said to store all of Los Santos’ military secrets and the underlying code of the game world. It was an extremely important item. This “Zero” was actually targeting the Core Data Chip!

“Why me?” Lin Fan asked.

“Because you have the ability.” Zero’s gaze stared intently at Lin Fan, as if he could see through his background. “Your coding ability, though still green, is enough to infiltrate the military base. Furthermore, you are currently a wanted criminal in Los Santos. Even if the matter is exposed, no one will suspect me.”

Lin Fan sneered in his heart. This “Zero” certainly had a good plan, wanting to use him as a pawn.

Just then, a slight commotion came from below the stage. Out of the corner of his eye, Lin Fan saw that Kate had already quietly slipped backstage and was heading toward a room. His heart eased slightly; as long as Kate could find useful information, even if they gained nothing else today, it wouldn't be a total loss.

[part:gemini-3.1-flash-lite]

"How about it? Have you made up your mind?" Zero's voice rang out again, tinged with a hint of urgency. "You only have three days. If you don't get the Core Data Chip within three days, your friend will become a corpse in Los Santos Bay."

Lin Fan looked at Michael on the screen, then back at Zero before him, calculating rapidly in his heart. Agreeing meant jumping into the other party's trap; refusing meant Michael would be in danger.

"Fine, I agree." In the end, Lin Fan nodded. "But I have one condition: before I get the chip, you must ensure Michael's safety, and you cannot restrict his freedom."

"Agreed." Zero answered readily. "I will have someone take him to a safe place, and once you get the chip, I will let you reunite."

With that, Zero signaled to the bodyguards below the stage. Two bodyguards immediately stepped forward, preparing to "escort" Lin Fan off the stage.

"Wait." Lin Fan spoke up suddenly, his gaze landing on Zero's mask. "I'm curious, Mr. Zero, why do you always wear a mask? Is it because you're too ugly to show your face?"

As these words fell, the guests below held their breath, shocked that Lin Fan would dare to provoke Zero like that.

Zero's eyes instantly turned icy cold, and a terrifying aura emanated from him, as if the temperature of the entire hall had dropped by several degrees. He stared fixedly at Lin Fan, his tone filled with killing intent. "Young man, having too much curiosity is not a good thing."

"Is that so?" Lin Fan smiled slightly, meeting his gaze without fear. "I think the person who dares not show their true face is the one who is more suspicious."

With that, Lin Fan did not linger and turned to walk off the high platform. He could feel Zero's gaze fixed on him, that killing intent almost swallowing him whole. But he did not look back, walking steadily toward the outside of the hall.

When he reached the hall entrance, Lin Fan caught a glimpse of Kate coming out from backstage, giving him a signal to indicate she had obtained useful information. Lin Fan nodded slightly, understanding.

Walking out of the Diamond Casino, the cool night breeze blew across his face, helping Lin Fan clear his head. Franklin immediately stepped out from the shadows, walked quickly to his side, and asked anxiously, "How did it go? What's the situation inside? I just heard "Gangnam Style" playing inside and thought something had happened!"

"It's complicated." Lin Fan sighed, briefly recounting what happened inside, finally mentioning Michael being captured and the Core Data Chip. "Now Michael is in Zero's hands, and I must get the Core Data Chip to save him."

"What? Michael was captured?" Franklin's face instantly turned grim. "That guy named Zero is too arrogant! No, we can't just agree to him like this; we have to find a way to rescue Michael!"

"I know, but right now we don't know where Zero is holding Michael. Breaking in will only alert the enemy and might even endanger Michael's life." Lin Fan shook his head, his tone heavy. "Besides, Zero is very strong; we are no match for him right now."

Just then, Kate also walked out, her face wearing a look of gravity. "I found some information backstage. The funds from the auction did indeed flow into New Era Technology's space project account. And I found a document that mentions the code 'E-13', which is the same as the code behind Michael on the screen just now."

"E-13?" Lin Fan frowned. "What exactly does this code mean?"

"I looked it up. E-13 is the code for a secret laboratory of New Era Technology, located in an abandoned factory in the eastern suburbs of Los Santos." Kate said. "I suspect Michael might be held there. Moreover, it seems some kind of secret experiment is being conducted in that laboratory."

"An abandoned factory?" A glint flashed in Lin Fan's eyes. "It seems we have to take a trip to the eastern suburbs."

"But Zero told you to get the Core Data Chip. The defense at the military base is extremely tight; getting the chip won't be easy," Franklin said worriedly.

"We'll figure out the military base issue later." Lin Fan waved his hand, his eyes firm. "The most important thing now is to find Michael first and confirm his safety. As for Zero's demands, we can pretend to agree for now, secretly investigate his background, find his weaknesses, and then figure out a way to counterattack."

"That's right." Kate nodded. "Since Zero dares to sell access to the game world, he must have his own goals. As long as we figure out his goals, we can find a way to deal with him."

The three looked at each other, seeing determination in each other's eyes. The trap of this auction was just the beginning; their game with Zero had only just begun.

The night grew thicker, but the streets of Los Santos remained brightly lit and bustling with traffic. Yet, no one knew that a storm concerning the survival of all of Los Santos was quietly brewing. Lin Fan, Franklin, and Kate drove the Bentley toward the eastern suburbs. Their taillights carved two red arcs in the night as they disappeared into the distance.

On the high platform of the Diamond Casino, Zero still stood there, his eyes under the mask cold and profound. He watched Lin Fan's departing figure, a strange smile curling the corners of his mouth. "Lin Fan, I hope you don't disappoint me. The Core Data Chip is the key to opening the new world..."

With that, he turned and walked into the backstage, leaving the guests in the hall still whispering about the incident. On the electronic screen, the E-13 code seemed like a curse, appearing exceptionally glaring in the night.

What Lin Fan didn't know was that Zero's conspiracy was far more terrifying than he imagined. Selling access was just a cover, and getting the Core Data Chip was only the first step. Zero's true goal was to control the underlying code of the entire game world, and then invade the real world to realize his so-called "New Era".

And the Core Data Chip in the Los Santos Military Base was the key to opening the passage between the two worlds. Once the chip fell into Zero's hands, not only would Los Santos be plunged into disaster, but the real world would also face a huge crisis.

At this moment, Lin Fan was still immersed in the anxiety of saving Michael, not realizing that he had already been dragged into a massive conspiracy capable of overthrowing two worlds. Waiting for him at the abandoned factory in the eastern suburbs was not only Michael's safety, but even more terrifying traps and crises.

The car drove on the road in the eastern suburbs, the surrounding lights becoming fewer and the road conditions worsening. Franklin gripped the steering wheel tightly, observing the surroundings vigilantly. "This place is too remote. The abandoned factory is right ahead. We have to be careful; Zero might have laid an ambush there."

"Don't worry, I've already scanned it with my hacking skills, and there are no abnormal signals around for now." Kate said while operating the tablet in her hand. "But we still can't let our guard down; we can never guess Zero's methods."

Lin Fan leaned back in his seat, his fingertips tapping gently on his knees, his mind replaying the scenes from the auction. Zero's eyes, tone, and that E-13 code were all swirling in his mind. He always felt that this E-13 code must hide some important secret.

"Kate, is there any other information in that file you found about the E-13 laboratory?" Lin Fan asked.

"The file mentions that the E-13 laboratory was established by New Era Technology ten years ago and was initially used to research artificial intelligence, but for some reason, it was suddenly abandoned later. However, in the last six months, a large amount of funds and personnel have flowed into the laboratory, and it seems like they are restarting some project." Kate said. "The file didn't mention exactly what project it is; it must have been encrypted."

"Ten years ago..." Lin Fan fell into deep thought. Ten years ago was exactly when he first encountered the GTA5 game. Could this just be a coincidence?

Just then, Franklin suddenly stopped the car and pointed to a pitch-black area ahead. "We're here. The abandoned factory is right ahead."

Lin Fan looked up and saw that the area ahead was desolate, with a few dilapidated factories standing in the night. The walls were mottled, the windows broken, exuding an eerie and terrifying atmosphere. The factory was overgrown with weeds, with not a single light visible, and it was terrifyingly silent.

"This is it." Kate put away her tablet, looking at the abandoned factory with a vigilant gaze. "Let's get out of the car and proceed with caution."

The three opened the car doors and walked silently toward the abandoned factory. The weeds under their feet rustled, sounding exceptionally clear in the silent night. The surroundings were terrifyingly quiet; they could only hear the sound of the wind blowing through the weeds and their own heartbeats.

When they reached the factory gate, Lin Fan signaled for the two to stop, and he stepped forward to observe it carefully. The factory gate was made of iron and was rusted, with a large lock hanging on it. Lin Fan took a piece of wire from his pocket, skillfully inserted it into the keyhole, turned it gently a few times, and with a click, the large lock opened.

"Let's go." Lin Fan pushed open the gate and walked in first. Franklin and Kate followed closely behind, the three of them stepping as lightly as possible, fearing they might alert anyone inside.

The inside of the factory was pitch black, filled with the smell of rust and dust. Lin Fan turned on his phone's flashlight, and the weak light illuminated the path ahead. The factory was piled with abandoned machines and parts, covered in spiderwebs everywhere; it looked like it had been abandoned for a long time.

"Be careful, don't bump into anything and make any noise." Lin Fan reminded in a low voice.

The three cautiously groped their way forward in the factory, the flashlight beam swaying in the darkness, illuminating everything around them. After walking for about ten minutes, they arrived at the depths of the factory and saw a tightly closed iron door.

"This should be the entrance to the laboratory." Kate said in a low voice. She examined the iron door carefully and found a combination lock on it.

"Leave it to me." Lin Fan stepped forward, his fingertips gathering a trace of Code Editing energy, which surged toward the combination lock. His hacking skills had reached a proficient level; cracking this kind of combination lock was not difficult for him.

A few seconds later, the combination lock gave a soft "beep," and the iron door slowly opened.

Behind the iron door was a long corridor. Surveillance cameras and many motion-sensor lights were installed on the walls on both sides of the corridor. After the three walked into the corridor, the motion-sensor lights automatically turned on, illuminating the entire corridor.

"It seems there really is someone here." Franklin said in a low voice, looking at the surveillance cameras around him with a vigilant gaze.

"Don't worry, I've already hacked the surveillance system. Now the surveillance footage is showing a still image." Kate said.

The three continued to walk forward along the corridor. At the end of the corridor was a spacious laboratory. The laboratory was filled with various advanced instruments and equipment, forming a sharp contrast with the dilapidated factory outside. In the center of the laboratory, there was a huge glass container, which seemed to contain something, but it was shrouded in fog and could not be seen clearly.

And in the corner of the laboratory, Michael was tied to a chair with his hands behind his back, his mouth taped shut. Seeing Lin Fan and the others enter, a light of hope immediately ignited in his eyes, and he struggled desperately.

"Michael!" Franklin called out in a low voice, stepped forward quickly, untied the ropes on Michael's body, and tore off the tape on his mouth.

"Lin Fan! Franklin! You're finally here!" Michael gasped for air, his tone full of excitement. "That guy named Zero is too cunning; I fell into his ambush and was brought here!"

"Let's not talk about this now; let's get out of here quickly." Lin Fan said, observing the surroundings of the laboratory vigilantly, always feeling that there was something wrong here.

Just then, the lights in the laboratory suddenly went out, and the entire laboratory was plunged into pitch blackness. Immediately after, a piercing alarm sounded, and the red warning lights flashed continuously, illuminating everyone's terrified faces.

"Oh no! We've been discovered!" Kate's expression changed, and she said anxiously. "Zero must have realized we are here!"

"Hahaha..." A cold laugh came from all directions; it was Zero's voice. "Lin Fan, you really came. Since you're here, don't be in such a hurry to leave. Stay and take a look at my 'masterpiece'."

As Zero's voice faded, the fog in the glass container in the center of the laboratory slowly dissipated, revealing what was inside. When they saw clearly what was inside the glass container, the three of them were stunned, their faces showing expressions of disbelief.

Inside the glass container was actually a person who looked exactly like Lin Fan! That "Lin Fan" had his eyes closed, floating in the nutrient solution, with countless tubes connected to his body, looking as if he were undergoing some kind of experiment.

"This... what is this?" Franklin's eyes widened, his tone full of shock.

"This is my masterpiece—a clone." Zero's voice rang out again, with a hint of smugness. "I collected your genetic data and cloned this perfect 'Lin Fan'. Once I get the Core Data Chip, he will replace you and become the new master of Los Santos. And you will disappear from this world completely."

Lin Fan's pupils contracted sharply, a stormy sea rising in his heart. He never expected that Zero had actually cloned him! This conspiracy was truly terrifying!

"Zero! You madman!" Lin Fan roared, an intense aura radiating from his body.

"Madman?" Zero's voice carried a hint of mockery. "I'm just creating a new world. Lin Fan, give up the resistance; you are no match for me. Hand over the Core Data Chip obediently, and I might let you die quickly."

"In your dreams!" Lin Fan's eyes were firm. "If you want the Core Data Chip, you'll have to kill me first!"

With that, Lin Fan did not hesitate, his fingertips gathering a large amount of Code Editing energy, which surged toward the surrounding instruments and equipment. He wanted to destroy the experiment here and stop Zero's conspiracy.

Franklin and Michael also reacted, pulling out their weapons and observing their surroundings vigilantly. Kate took out her tablet and operated it rapidly, trying to hack the laboratory's system and turn off the alarm.

An intense battle was about to break out in the laboratory. Lin Fan knew that this battle concerned not only his and his partners' lives but also the survival of the entire Los Santos. He had to win, and he could only win!

The red warning lights were still flashing, and the piercing alarm echoed in the laboratory. Lin Fan looked at the clone in the glass container, his eyes cold and firm. He would never let Zero's conspiracy succeed; even if it meant paying any price, he had to protect the people he cared about and protect this world he had gradually become familiar with.

The Code Editing energy surged wildly at his fingertips. Lin Fan took a deep breath and released all of his Code Editing energy toward the direction from which Zero's voice came. At this moment, there was only battle and victory in his eyes!