Chapter 30: The Agony of Happiness

In the capital of Sakura, the scene of the Tech Summit was in total disarray. Everyone present could clearly hear the violent explosions erupting from the shrines. Before they could even address the hacking of their computer systems, the thunderous blasts from the shrines followed in rapid succession.

The organizers were left with no choice but to abruptly announce the suspension of the Tech Summit. They couldn't afford not to. With explosions occurring one after another, even if they were targeted at the shrines, who could guarantee that the international delegations weren't the next targets? This was a high-profile summit, with each participating nation sending one or two of their top-tier academicians from their respective scientific academies. The consequences of an explosion occurring here were unthinkable. Despite their audacity, the people of Sakura were not reckless enough to risk the safety of so many distinguished scientists. They rushed to evacuate the delegations and brought the now-farcical summit to an immediate, chaotic end.

The delegates were equally bewildered. While the explosions were unsettling, the news that the shrines had been targeted left them with strange expressions. The representatives from the various nations of the East Continent, in particular, recalled the arrogance the Sakura side had displayed earlier while broadcasting their simulated strike video and couldn't help but sneer inwardly. It was clear that Sakura was reaping what it had sown, and the retribution had arrived instantly. Many offered polite platitudes on the surface while secretly reveling in the chaos. For these esteemed academicians, being "first-row spectators" to the bombing of the shrines was an unexpectedly thrilling experience.

But this was nothing compared to the reaction of the netizens in Shangxia.

The domestic netizens were undoubtedly the most delighted by these events. For well-known historical reasons, there was little affection for Sakura, and many had often joked about planning to blow up those shrines, though no one ever possessed the capability to do so. After all, infiltrating such sites was nearly impossible, and evading the subsequent investigation would be even harder.

Yet, to everyone’s shock, the shrines had actually been bombed! And it wasn't just one; every major shrine in the capital had been targeted. The sheer scale of the operation left domestic netizens trembling with excitement.

"We’re getting the day off! My boss says we’re celebrating these two major events!"
"Haha, I really want to know which hero blew up those shrines, but it doesn't matter—I’ll set up a nameless memorial at home to honor them!"
"Hitting so many shrines at the exact same moment—if it was one person, it had to be meticulously planned, but I suspect it was a team effort."
"Who cares if it’s a team or an individual? Regardless of their nationality, anyone who bombs those shrines is a friend of ours!"
"Exactly! Whoever did this is my hero!"
"Heh, first the network hack, then the shrine bombings—the folks in Sakura must be sweating bullets right now!"
"This day will definitely go down in history. The people of Sakura won't soon forget this humiliating day. It feels so good!"

The domestic netizens were having the time of their lives, mocking Sakura with maximum effort, completely indifferent to how the other side might be feeling.

Just as everyone was settling into the joy of the day, an unexpected piece of news suddenly surged to the top of the trending topics: "Breaking News: According to incomplete reports, over twenty homes of wealthy locals and two museums in the capital of Sakura have been burglarized. A large quantity of ancient artifacts originally belonging to Shangxia has been stolen, and their current whereabouts remain unknown!"

Seeing this third trending topic of the day regarding Sakura, the netizens were truly sent into a frenzy, triggering an even more intense wave of discussion.

"Wait a minute! I wasn't sure if the network hack and the shrine bombings were the work of our own national legends, but this artifact theft feels so familiar. This confirms it—it was definitely one of our own!"
"Hahahaha, exactly! If there were any doubts before, surely no one is questioning it now. This technique is identical to the scene of the recent theft in the Eagle Nation!"
"Our legend is too incredible. I’m increasingly convinced this must be a team effort. If it were a single person, it’s hard to imagine what kind of god-like being could pull off so many earth-shattering feats alone!"
"Like I said, team or individual, I’m a die-hard fan of this nameless hero from now on!"
"Indeed. Let’s see if our Cultural Heritage Bureau announces another batch of 'anonymous donations from overseas' in a few days. If they do, the spectacle will be even greater."
"It’ll be more than just a spectacle! If the Bureau confirms it, the people of Sakura might literally cough up blood. A hacked summit, bombed shrines, and stolen artifacts all in one day? This will nail Sakura to the pillar of historical shame for centuries!"
"Centuries? History will never forget this. It’s a day of humiliation for them, but a festival for us!"

Three inconceivable events in a single day left the domestic netizens with no desire to work. It wasn't a public holiday, but the atmosphere was just as festive. Some companies declared a holiday, while some shopping malls played celebratory music and launched massive sales, with discounts as low as fifty percent. It was more lively than the New Year.

At the Bureau of Extraordinary Management, Ye Guhong and his team were stunned beyond belief. Their mood was not much different from that of the netizens. Tang Wenshe, in particular, had suspected from the start that Lin Yang was behind it all, but the first two incidents were hard to verify. However, upon hearing about the theft of the artifacts, he knew for certain it was Lin Yang. The signature style was too familiar.

"That man is truly..." Tang Wenshe looked at the news, unable to help but rub his forehead and smile bitterly. "The surprises just keep getting bigger."

Ye Guhong was equally torn between laughter and distress. "Old Tang, how can you still smile? With these three incidents linked together, all fingers point toward us. Sakura will not let this go, and I’m already worried about how to deal with them!"

Sometimes, having too many surprises is its own kind of pressure. For Ye Guhong, it was a truly happy, yet agonizing, dilemma.