Chapter 70

Two days later, Li She drove slowly to the Vogtle nuclear power plant, located about 40 kilometers south of Augusta along the Savannah River, covering an area of 13 square kilometers. In the pitch-black night, the massive complex could be faintly seen. Taking out the package he carried with him, he verified the information once again. The photo marked the location of Unit 1.

Since transforming into the 'Drought Corpse' form, Li She had developed a unique fondness for the night. The faint moonlight and the slight yin energy it emitted made him feel very comfortable.

Parking the car in the woods by the side road, Li She got out of the car and stretched lazily. The drive from Atlanta had taken him a full eight hours. Lighting a cigarette, he took a deep puff, and in the night, the Vogtle nuclear power plant flickered with lights. Across the river, Li She's astonishing vision pierced through the darkness, locking onto the building over 80 meters tall on the opposite bank, which was Unit 1. Taking out a set of black night clothes, he put on a mask and leaped into the air, flying toward the river, which was over a hundred meters wide.

Although the 'Drought Corpse' form did not have wings or the ability to fly, its strength was far beyond that of ordinary experts.

Stepping on the water, Li She leaped across the river in a few bounds. His movements were so fast that they left trails of afterimages. A nuclear power plant is a country's advanced industry, and its defense level is naturally high. The plant has its own security system, but for Li She, entering and exiting was as easy as going in and out of a hotel.

Avoiding the surveillance cameras, Li She leaped up and climbed the 80-meter-high chimney of Unit 1, clinging to it like a gecko. The chimney spewed thick white smoke, and the deafening roar of the machinery was overwhelming. If nuclear radiation was lethal to humans, it could not penetrate Li She's skin. Following the dense smoke, Li She climbed into the chimney by hand.

Now that the 'Thief's Order' had broken through the eighth level of prohibition, it could absorb energy within a one-kilometer radius without direct contact. "Big Brother Spirit, start absorbing energy."

"Haha, the energy here is much more abundant than the last place!" The Spirit said, then activated the 'Thief's Order' to start absorbing energy. The 'Thief's Order' glowed intensely, absorbing energy like a giant vacuum cleaner. The black night sky was stirred, forming a funnel shape, and a spectacular water spout appeared at the top of the chimney of Unit 1.

"What's happening? What's going on?" the engineer at the control panel exclaimed. The reserve power was rapidly decreasing, as if being drained. In a few minutes, the power plant lost over a million volts of electricity. "Big Brother Spirit, don't absorb so much, it's enough!" Li She reminded.

"Okay, I've converted a million energy points," the Spirit said.

Hearing the Spirit's words, Li She said, "That's enough! Absorbing too much will cause trouble!" With that, Li She leaped away, and a black shadow disappeared into the night. The power loss over ten minutes caused panic at the power plant. When Li She left, the power loss stopped. Seeing the power reserves stabilize, the operators breathed a sigh of relief.

The incident was quickly reported to the higher-ups, and it also alarmed the Southern Nuclear Operations Company and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).

However, after thorough investigations, no issues were found, and the incident was classified as a technical fault. But in the following days, as Li She visited various nuclear power plants to charge the 'Thief's Order,' the NRC was kept busy.

The Vogtle and Hatch nuclear power plants in Georgia, and two other plants in other states, all lost over a million volts of electricity. This also alarmed 'Zone D.' The four plants combined lost four million volts of electricity. After investigations, it was found that the affected states did not have any major industrial consumption, so the incident drew the attention of the 'Zone D' ability management area.

Wens Jim, the head of the 'Zone D' ability management area and an S-level lightning ability user, knew that lightning ability users were like batteries, capable of storing electricity but not generating it. The loss of four million volts from the four plants indicated that an unknown lightning ability user was absorbing the energy.

Looking at the data in his hand, Wens was shocked. "Four million volts? What level is this guy?" Wens himself could usually store about two million volts of electricity. But this unknown lightning ability user had absorbed four million volts, "Could it be an SS-level ability user?" Wens wondered.

The video surveillance from the four power plants was reviewed, but only a blurry black shadow was seen, and no face was captured. This confirmed Wens' suspicion that the shadow was the unknown SS-level ability user.

Wens immediately convened an emergency meeting of all A-level and above ability users in the 'ability management area.' "This situation is very tricky! Everyone, take a look." Wens distributed the report on the power loss at the eight nuclear power plants.

The sixty A-level ability users and thirty S-level ability users present were all shocked by the information.

"Could it be an SS-level ability user?" everyone thought, as only an SS-level ability user could absorb so much electricity.

Wens marked the locations of the power plants on a map, and the 'Zone D' think tank began analyzing Li She's next target.

"Based on the intelligence, the first power plant to experience power loss was the Vogtle nuclear power plant in Georgia. The next most likely target is the Palo Verde nuclear power plant."

Looking at the analysis, Wens said, "The mission is to capture the target. All personnel must be mobilized to apprehend this individual. If we can recruit him, our entire Zone D will be greatly strengthened."

Since the end of World War II, SS-level ability users had become extinct. Generally, a regular SS-level ability user could defeat five S-level ability users. If ten S-level ability users were involved, even an SS-level ability user would have to retreat. This time, Zone D mobilized thirty S-level ability users and sixty A-level ability users, making it a formidable force, capable of destroying a medium-sized city.

Wens confidently arranged the task of capturing the unknown SS-level ability user. Once captured, with the lure of freedom and high-ranking positions, the individual would surely submit. This method had always been effective, and Zone D had recruited many high-level ability users this way.

As the think tank predicted, Li She was driving to the Palo Verde nuclear power plant. The four power plants had converted a total of 400,000 energy points. Just one more trip to the largest Palo Verde nuclear power plant in the U.S., absorbing another 100,000 energy points, would be enough for him to travel to a high-level world.

At the Palo Verde nuclear power plant, security was tight. Ninety ability users were disguised as plant staff, distributed throughout the plant. Wens was in the central control room, directing the operation. To capture this mysterious SSS-level ability user, the plant was equipped with over a hundred high-speed cameras.

"No abnormalities in Area A. Report complete."

"No abnormalities in Area B. Report complete."

"No abnormalities in Area C. Report complete."

"No abnormalities in Area D. Report complete."

Every thirty minutes, the personnel in the four areas reported on the public channel of the walkie-talkies.

Wens looked at his watch. The power loss always occurred just before dawn, indicating that the individual acted when people were most fatigued. The Palo Verde nuclear power plant was divided into four areas, each guarded by twenty A-level ability users and ten S-level ability users. If an issue was detected in one area, the others would immediately provide support, ensuring that even an SS-level ability user could be delayed with a significant advantage. With the ability users' incredible speed, they could reach other areas in less than five minutes. If they could hold off the individual for five minutes, the SS-level ability user would face attacks from sixty A-level ability users and thirty S-level ability users.

Li She drove slowly to the Palo Verde nuclear power plant, the largest power plant in the U.S. by annual power generation, covering an area of nearly 30 square kilometers. The plant consisted of three main parts: the nuclear island (mainly the nuclear steam supply system), the conventional island (mainly the turbine generator set), and the plant's supporting facilities.

Although it was night, the massive outline of the plant loomed like a giant, with lights flickering.

Although Li She did not turn on the car lights, his 'Drought Corpse' form's powerful vision allowed him to see in the dark. The old Beetle was parked in the woods by the side road but was still detected by the 'Zone D' intelligence personnel.

"Report to Eagle Nest, report to Eagle Nest, suspicious vehicle detected, suspicious vehicle detected."

Wens, who had been waiting for a long time, immediately said, "Switch to the suspicious vehicle's view."

The two operators next to him entered commands on the computer, bringing up the surveillance footage of the road near the Palo Verde nuclear power plant.

An old Beetle appeared on the screen, driving steadily despite the lack of headlights in the dark night.

Wens narrowed his eyes and said, "Hehehe, I've been waiting for you for days, and you finally showed up! Little guy, come over and feed!"

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