Time turned back a few minutes, to when Chen Ze had found the cable extending from the convenience store.
Just like all wired networks of this era, this cable was the sole connection between the store's computer and the external internet—the pathway through which Chen Ze would achieve his intrusion.
"I'll start from here!"
With the awakening of his Digital Core's capabilities, Chen Ze had finally regained a bit of his confidence as a hacker.
Just as he'd done countless times within EDEN's virtual cyberspace, Chen Ze merely swiped his two claws through the air, instantly projecting a fully virtual screen before his eyes.
"This power…it's like bringing a virtual interface straight into reality."
In Chen Ze's memories, even his previous world, with its highly developed internet technology, could hardly produce such vivid AR projections, let alone replicate the scope of his current abilities—which far exceeded simply projecting a virtual screen.
If forced to make a comparison, Chen Ze's newfound power somewhat resembled an experimental "electronic implant" technology.
That is, implanting a miniaturized electronic device semi-permanently within a human body, allowing constant internet access without external terminals.
The ultimate form of this technology appeared frequently in cyberpunk films—where people freely replaced body parts with biomechanical prosthetics.
Yet, unlike those artificial electronic organs, a Digimon's abilities were entirely innate, powered by the advanced computational device within their bodies—the Digital Core.
Without even needing direct contact or damaging the cable, Chen Ze had achieved his intrusion through some unknown electromagnetic signal.
"This power feels like cheating!"
Even though he was performing the intrusion in a way familiar to him, Chen Ze still felt he hadn't fully exploited the potential of this ability.
If his body could intrude into networks via these mysterious electromagnetic signals, perhaps fully converting himself into electronic signals—achieving a kind of "reverse digitization"—wasn't impossible, either?
Recalling how the data stream had previously descended from the Digital World into the human world before transforming into electronic signals and merging with the network, Chen Ze felt that was probably a similar manifestation of this capability.
"It's still awkward to operate, though…"
Still not entirely comfortable with Agumon's body structure, Chen Ze needed quite a while before he barely adapted to using "six claws" to tap on a virtual screen.
"But at least I found it."
Due to the single cable connection, Chen Ze didn't even need to confirm the specific IP address to know exactly which computer he was hacking into.
After all, this cable only connected two "computers": himself and the one inside the store. The surveillance data he wanted would surely be on the other device.
"The password's seriously 123456?"
Staring at the computer interface projected onto his virtual screen, Chen Ze couldn't help but mutter briefly before immediately digging through the surveillance records.
Initially, he had assumed that without any specialized cracking software, he'd need to exploit vulnerabilities in the computer itself to access its main interface.
Who would have imagined he could effortlessly break through its defenses by randomly entering "123456"? This intrusion was by far easier than any he'd done before.
In truth, this simplicity came from a difference in technological eras and mindsets.
In this age when personal computers were still rare, anyone who bothered setting a startup password on their computer was already considered highly security-conscious.
No one even imagined someone might remotely control another computer to steal confidential data.
"Huh?"
Just as Chen Ze tried entering a folder labeled "Surveillance Center," he suddenly found himself unable to open it.
Then, before Chen Ze could even react to what had happened, the screen before him abruptly returned to the login page.
"What's wrong?"
Although Renamon couldn't see the virtual screen projected before Chen Ze's eyes, she sensed something unexpected had happened from his subtle expression shift.
"It seems someone noticed my intrusion?"
Muttering incredulously, Chen Ze refused to believe it and stubbornly typed "123456" once again, only to find the computer rejecting the password.
"Someone detected my intrusion and quickly changed the computer's password."
Although unable to fathom who exactly had spotted his intrusion—and reacted with such shocking speed—Chen Ze couldn't help but admire the other party's sharp security sense.
First, his browsing permissions were revoked. Then, without hesitation, the computer password was immediately changed—clearly the work of someone knowledgeable about computers.
"What's your plan now?"
Renamon unconsciously glanced toward the convenience store, her implicit suggestion already quite obvious—if subtlety fails, just resort to brute force.
"Don't tell me you're planning to rush into the store and physically smash the computer?"
Blinking in disbelief, Chen Ze stared at Renamon, who wore a look clearly indicating "exactly that." For the first time, he realized this creature was essentially a wild beast with zero regard for human laws or regulations.
"No way! Since you're in the human world now, you must follow human rules."
After a brief silence, Chen Ze solemnly declared:
"In the human world, direct violence is always the last resort to solving problems!"
Tilting her head in confusion, Renamon gazed blankly at Chen Ze but eventually nodded obediently under his authoritative stare.
"I understand."
Whether Renamon truly understood or not remained unclear, prompting Chen Ze to inwardly sigh.
"For a true hacker, exposing oneself publicly should never even be an option."
"Smashing that computer directly in the store might seem convenient, but have you considered the consequences?"
"That would only escalate things, maybe even turning human society against us!"
"Quietly deleting the surveillance footage without letting anyone notice—that's the true Hacker's Survival Code."
Nodding half-understandingly, Renamon might not fully grasp Chen Ze's reasoning, yet she realized he had his own considerations.
Especially in this unfamiliar human world, Chen Ze obviously had the final say.
And thus, a creed that would someday be enshrined by countless digital hackers had quietly begun sprouting in Renamon's heart:
—[The Hacker's Survival Code]
—[Rule Number One]:Never expose yourself publicly. The true essence of a hacker is appearing and disappearing without a trace.