Starting Cultivation in Wasteland

The video Qu Jianlei wanted was not the content of the Scavenger assassinating the Desis family; there was no point in releasing that video.

What he asked Xiaohu to prepare was the video of the Customs Enforcement Team’s search of him on the starship at that time.

The majority of passenger starships have extensive surveillance that can essentially record various situations.

However, when the Customs Enforcement Team conducted their search, their artificial intelligence terminal directly took over the starship’s central control.

So the relevant video footage was in the hands of the Customs Enforcement Division.

When Desis searched Qu Jianlei, his attitude was extremely harsh, and naturally, such indecent video footage was not kept on the starship.

Yet they did not expect that Qu Jianlei also had an artificial intelligence by his side that quietly copied a video.

If Xiaohu were a life form, it would definitely be a bold one.

At that time, it was indeed very nervous and didn’t dare to maintain much contact with Qu Jianlei.

However, just when the Customs Enforcement Division’s AI was analyzing the Vortex, it took advantage of the moment when the other side was overclocking to quietly infiltrate the central control of the starship.

After infiltrating the central control, it silently copied the video, not daring to be too fast and not daring to create abnormal fluctuations.

It was precisely for this reason that when Qu Jianlei tried to contact it at the time, it indicated not to disturb it.

There was no other way; the computing power of the opposing AI was too terrifying, and any slight fluctuation might be detected by the other side.

In Xiaohu’s words—”They don’t need to truly find something; just having suspicions is enough to do a lot.”

It wasn’t until it left the spaceport far away from the other side that it informed Qu Jianlei that it had copied a video.

At the time, Qu Jianlei didn’t think much of it; he wasn’t planning to take legal action, so what use was the video?

However, since Xiaohu had risked copying it, he decided to just keep it.

When Desis was assassinated and he was pushed into the spotlight by public pressure, he realized: this video is useful.

Nevertheless, he wasn’t in a hurry to bring out the video in defense.

This is because the video’s persuasive power by itself was not sufficient; at most, it could only prove the Customs Enforcement Team’s poor attitude.

There’s another crucial point: revealing this video would likely expose Xiaohu.

He wasn’t sure how the Customs Enforcement Division’s AI would view Xiaohu, but generally speaking, it probably wouldn’t be very friendly.

Otherwise, Xiaohu wouldn’t have been so cautious to avoid them.

For these two considerations, Qu Jianlei was not anxious to present the video.

But the blame for the massacre was too big, and public opinion was about to explode, so he had to consider presenting the video in his defense.

If it weren’t for this ace up his sleeve, he wouldn’t have promised Cheng Qingshan to provide an answer within three days.

Three days were almost up, and he had already uncovered a lot of the truth; however, the mastermind had yet to be brought to light.

Moreover, the existence of the Scavenger could not be disclosed to the public—the Guard Captain had already made this very clear.

That afternoon, Qu Jianlei went to see Cheng Qingshan.

The big shot was sitting there, frowning in thought, and when he saw him, he was momentarily surprised, ”You... found evidence?”

He didn’t hold much hope, but as the situation escalated over the past two days, the pressure he was enduring had intensified.

His current gloom was because of this matter.

Qu Jianlei was taken aback for a moment, then shook his head, ”This still needs a bit more time.”

”Tsk,” Cheng Qingshan clicked his tongue helplessly and furrowed his brows again.

”I figured, three days surely wouldn’t be enough. Those capable of pulling off such a crime wouldn’t be simple... how many more days do you need?”

Qu Jianlei furrowed his brow too, ”A few days... I’m not sure.”

”Then we’re stuck,” Cheng Qingshan sighed, gritting his teeth, ”Just go investigate; I’ll hold them off for you as much as I can.”

”No need,” Qu Jianlei shook his head; he was someone who believed in reciprocating respect tenfold.

The big shot gave him this face, so how could he let him down? So he brought out the video, ”It’s been three days. I have something here.”

”Hmm?” Cheng Qingshan raised his eyebrows, took the video, and started watching it on the terminal.

After watching, he sneered dismissively, ”These Customs Enforcement Team members are truly disgusting... practically daylight robbery.”

However, ”daylight robbery” was just his subjective judgment.

Though his judgment was true, the Customs Enforcement Team could indeed cite procedures to justify themselves.

Realizing this, Cheng Qingshan shook his head, ”Panda, forgive my bluntness, this video doesn’t mean much.”

Hearing this, Qu Jianlei smiled indifferently, ”Cyan Mountain boss, it’s just that before, the video’s impact wasn’t much.”

”Now my reputation is already in tatters, and I think... releasing this video might have a pretty good impact reversal!”

”Hmm?” Cheng Qingshan was momentarily startled, then he started laughing.

”Right, let those championing fairness see what kind of people they are actually defending in the Customs Enforcement Team!”

Then he looked at him again, ”You’re impressive, truly patient, only bringing this out now.”

In his heart, Panda was no longer just associated with ”strong capabilities,” ”mysterious background,” and ”expert in research,” but now also bore the label ”deeply strategic.”

It’s really impressive for someone so young to have such deep scheming and strategy. Luckily, I’ve always been unwavering in my support for him!

If Qu Jianlei knew what he was thinking, he could only smile wryly.

I never even intended to bring it out; I really had no choice...

However, this video’s timing was impeccable, and the reversal effect was extraordinary.

Before this, when Qu Jianlei responded to the investigation through his wristwatch, he accused the Customs Enforcement Division of wanting to forcibly seize the Vortex.

This conversation video had long been posted online by the college.

But his accusation was quickly drowned out by a flood of voices: That’s just your imagination, trying to tarnish the Customs Enforcement Division!

Some even argued that this young Panda is just an assistant lecturer; how could he afford to buy the Vortex?

They called for the Engineering College to check this person’s accounts—there might very well be a corruption case!

After all, this sentiment of resentment towards the wealthy crosses borders and ethnicities.

To such noise, Qu Jianlei wasn’t interested in responding, the college was too lazy to refute, and Hoyel Mansion, who helped with the purchase, would stay silent.

Since no one defended, public opinion unanimously concluded that this clumsy excuse was indeed to defame the Customs Enforcement Division.

In such an environment, the college suddenly released the search video from that day, leaving everyone stunned.

The matter, already thought to be settled, was suddenly magically reversed, causing a significant impact on everyone’s perception.

Public opinion, when manipulated, isn’t difficult, but once out of control, it can yield surprising effects.

Immediately, someone stood up and said that when the Customs Enforcement Team checked, they were indeed very rough, and this video was actually mild.

If Panda didn’t have an A-level Awakened by his side, the Customs Enforcement Team’s behavior would’ve been even worse!

Someone in the Customs Enforcement Division was monitoring public sentiment and, seeing the unfavorable situation, immediately arranged for people to do damage control—also started by their complaints.

However, at this point, damage control was really ineffective.

More and more people stepped forward with their testimonies, using personal experiences to prove: the Customs Enforcement Team has always been like this!

These people hadn’t spoken out before mainly because they didn’t want trouble, and those who occasionally defended were quickly silenced and started questioning themselves.

But now that they were speaking out, there was no need for any concerns.

Even some unknown small accounts were frantically slandering the Customs Enforcement Division.

To the extent that someone from the Customs Enforcement Division directly contacted the Fourth War Zone and said, ”You in the Military are defaming the Customs Enforcement. Could you conceal the address?”

The military personnel, however, responded, ”It wasn’t us. Have you no idea how many people you’ve offended over time?”

In short, since the video was released, the pressure on Cheng Qingshan had greatly reduced.

More than one person even apologized to him—”I was a bit impulsive earlier!”

Qu Jianlei also secretly rejoiced; indeed, letting the bullet fly for a while was the right way.

If he had hastily brought out the video earlier, the effect definitely wouldn’t have been this good.

Yet, simultaneously, he didn’t forget to urge Xiao Hu, ”Stop using small accounts to post all the time; keeping an eye on Blitz is the proper way!”

”Don’t worry!” Xiao Hu replied with full confidence.

”Multi-threading operations are too simple for me... the only limitation is hardware!”

Qu Jianlei reminded it again, ”Be wary of the Customs Enforcement Division’s AI, that guy harbors ill intentions towards you.”

”Always vigilant,” Xiao Hu replied casually, ”you know, I have a poor sense of security.”

However, things feared often come regardless, and related comments finally appeared online.

”Not to hype or shade, just a passerby curious, where did this video come from, anyone else wondering?”

”Speaking of... I’m a bit skeptical too, could it have been software-generated?”

”Production is unlikely; I recognize that A-level female, a Pioneer with a short temper, no one would dare impersonate her.”

”That’s what I’m curious about; the Customs Enforcement Team had already boarded the starship for inspection, how could they not take over the starship’s central control?”

”Perhaps this Panda is a network genius, able to bypass permissions.”

”The comment above is really doing damage control, the terminal of a certain department—how terrifying its computing power is... those in the know, know.”

”I know a bit, the terminals of a certain department, should be able to dominate all central controls in the Star Realm.”

”So, Panda also has an AI not inferior to a certain department’s? No wonder the luxury of using the Vortex.”

”I don’t buy it; although the Vortex is powerful, let me just ask... isn’t a mainframe appealing?”

Gradually, more and more people became curious about where exactly this video came from?

Seeing this, Qu Jianlei actually felt reassured, ”Leading the conversation? Go ahead, it’s better than scheming in the dark!”

As long as it’s not that thing from the Customs Enforcement Division in action, he has the confidence to handle most potential threats.

But just then, Xiao Hu issued an alert.

”Master, master, many from the Blitz team are very interested in this video.”