I was a rookie reporter in the 00s

Li Wei took a deep breath, his eyes becoming firm. "Chen Hao, you should know that we have no other choice. The things you've participated in have already exceeded the legal and moral bottom line."

A trace of pain flashed in Chen Hao's eyes, and he lowered his head. "I know, but... I'm already in too deep."

Zhang Wanqing stepped forward, her eyes brimming with sympathy, but more with determination. "Chen Hao, tell us, what exactly is this research institute doing? What's the purpose of that device you built?"

Chen Hao was silent for a moment, then began to narrate. His voice was low, tinged with despair. "They called this device a 'mind controller.' It could influence a person's thoughts, making them act according to their instructions. They originally planned to use it to control important political figures, thereby manipulating national policy."

Fu Siyuan's face turned grim, and he clenched his fists. "This is crazy! If this device falls into the wrong hands, the whole world will fall into chaos."

Li Wei's heart was filled with anger and disappointment. He once trusted Chen Hao, and they used to be comrades fighting side by side. But now, Chen Hao stood on the side of evil. "Chen Hao, how could you get involved in such a thing?"

A tear flashed in Chen Hao's eyes, and his voice choked. "I...I just wanted to protect my family. They threatened me that if I didn't cooperate, my family would be harmed."

Zhang Wanqing felt a surge of mixed emotions. She knew Chen Hao's situation, but she also knew that this was no excuse for him to commit a crime. "Chen Hao, you can help us stop this. This is your chance to atone for your sins."

Chen Hao raised his head, a glimmer of hope in his eyes. "Can you really protect my family?"

Li Wei nodded, his voice firm. "We'll do our best."

Chen Hao took a deep breath and made a decision. "Okay, I'll tell you everything."

They carefully led Chen Hao through the corridors of the research institute and arrived at the data center. This was where all the research materials and data related to the "Mind Controller" were stored. Fu Siyuan quickly began to work, his eyes fixed on the screen, his fingers dancing rapidly on the keyboard.

"I need time to decipher this data." His voice was tense but full of determination.

Zhang Wanqing and Li Wei were on guard duty, their eyes constantly scanning the corridors and doorways, their ears listening for any possible movement. Their hearts pounded, their palms sweated, ready to respond to any crisis at any time.

Time passed by minute by minute, and the tense atmosphere was almost suffocating. Suddenly, Fu Siyuan's voice broke the silence. "I found it! Here is a list with the names of all the people who were controlled."

Li Wei and Zhang Wanqing quickly approached, their eyes fixed on the screen. Surprisingly, there were some familiar names on the list, including some high-ranking government officials and business leaders.

"We must take action immediately." Zhang Wanqing's voice was firm, and her eyes flashed with determination.

Li Wei nodded, his eyes filled with fighting spirit. "We can't let this criminal organization continue to exist."

They were about to leave the data center when they were confronted by a group of armed guards at the entrance. Gunfire suddenly rang out, shattering the tranquility of the institute. Zhang Wanqing and Li Wei reacted quickly, drawing their weapons and returning fire.

The gunfight raged, bullets whizzing through the air. Zhang Wanqing's heart was filled with anxiety and fear, but her actions remained remarkably calm. She aimed and fired, each movement precise and precise. Li Wei, on the other hand, was like a ferocious beast, his movements swift and powerful, each strike packed with force.

Fu Siyuan took advantage of this opportunity to quickly transfer the data to a secure server. His fingers danced rapidly on the keyboard, his eyes fixed on the screen, ensuring the safety of the data.

The battle was finally over, the guards subdued. They stood at the data center's door, panting heavily, their faces matted with sweat and dust. But their eyes gleamed with triumph.

"We did it." There was a hint of fatigue in Zhang Wanqing's voice, but more of pride.

Li Wei nodded, his eyes full of respect. "Yes, we did."

Fu Siyuan tightly grasped the USB drive in his hand, which contained all the crucial data. "We now have evidence to expose the true face of this criminal organization."

They carefully left the institute and returned to the ship. The sea breeze continued to blow and the waves continued to pound the hull.

Zhang Wanqing sat in the cabin, the waves gently rocking the boat. The USB flash drive in her hand reflected a cold light under the light. Before her was a laptop, the data on the screen like a maze, waiting for her to uncover the secrets behind it. Her fingers gently stroked the surface of the USB flash drive, and her heart was filled with turmoil.

Her eyes involuntarily fell on a familiar string of numbers: the file number of the newspaper where she once worked. She remembered that case, a turning point in her journalistic career, and a scar deep within her. She took a deep breath, forced herself to calm down, and began to carefully read the file associated with that number.

The document contained an investigative report on corruption among government officials. The case caused a huge sensation at the time, but was ultimately closed due to insufficient evidence. Zhang Wanqing, the lead investigative reporter on the case, sacrificed nearly everything, including her career, to uncover the truth.

She closed her eyes, and the memories came flooding back. She remembered the sleepless nights, the threatening phone calls, the eyes watching her from the shadows. She remembered how she had persevered, she remembered her faith and her determination.

"Wanqing, are you okay?" Fu Siyuan's voice interrupted her thoughts. He stood at the door, holding two cups of hot coffee in his hands, his eyes full of concern.

Zhang Wanqing opened her eyes, took the coffee, and felt the warmth in her hands. "I'm fine, I just saw something from the past."

Fu Siyuan sat down across from her, his eyes fixed on the screen. "Is this case... related to you?"

Zhang Wanqing nodded, her voice heavy. "Yes, I was the lead investigative reporter on this case. It nearly ruined my life."

Fu Siyuan was silent for a while, then said softly: "But now, we have a chance to uncover the truth."

Zhang Wanqing raised her head, her eyes gleaming with determination. "Yes, we have a chance."

She began to read the documents carefully, taking in every word and detail. As her memory gradually reconciled with the documents, she began to understand the complexity and depth of the case. She discovered new clues that had been overlooked in the current investigation.

Her heartbeat quickened, knowing these clues might point to a larger conspiracy. She stood up, walked to the window, and looked out at the sea. The waves shimmered in the moonlight, and her mood fluctuated like them.

"Wanqing, we need to talk." Li Wei's voice came from behind her. He stood at the door, his expression serious.

Zhang Wanqing turned around, a hint of vigilance in her eyes. "What's wrong?"

Li Wei walked into the cabin, his eyes flickering between Zhang Wanqing and Fu Siyuan. "While checking the data, I found a clue that points to you."

Zhang Wanqing's heart tightened. She knew what this might mean. "What is it?"

Li Wei took a deep breath, his eyes becoming complicated. "This criminal organization... they know your past, and they might use it against you."