The official press officer was clearly aware of the delicate situation; if it were revealed that two high-ranking executives had been assassinated, the matter would be far too difficult to explain away.

The timing of this incident was far too sensitive; had those two high-ranking figures died at a different juncture, there would have been no trouble at all.

Humans always prefer to believe what they want to believe. Consequently, the truth can sometimes be harder to accept than a lie.

From the press officer’s demeanor, Yang Ying discerned the true thinking of Caesar Group’s top brass: they likely intended to wait out this immediate storm. Once the dust settled, the official announcement would be that the two executives had perished in an exploration mishap. By then, even if people paid attention, it would be hard to bring the matter up again.

At this point, another reporter stood up and posed a question: “Mr. Press Officer, I also know a little about those two. I’ve never heard of them having a habit of exploring extreme environments. Has the Caesar Group simply hidden them away?”

The press officer immediately denied it vehemently: “Absolutely not. Everything released by the Caesar Group at this press conference is the absolute truth. This particular habit of theirs was highly secretive; even within the Caesar family, very few individuals were aware of it.”

The reporter did not sit down but pressed on: “But isn’t that too coincidental? If their habit was so secret, how did the sinister individuals you mentioned—the ones you kept anonymous—know about it? If they didn't know, how did they manage to select precisely those two as targets for a frame-up? And the timing was impeccable, happening exactly when they were absent.”

The press officer shrugged: “Perhaps the two of them let slip this habit in conversations outside, and it was exploited by others.” Although he appeared composed, he gave the reporter no chance to ask another question. After speaking, he immediately barked, “Next question!”

Yang Ying stood up before the screen: “It looks like they intend to stonewall this until the very end.”

“Isn't that what we expected?” Kalia replied with a knowing look. “If they didn’t act this way, executing the third phase of the plan would be far more difficult.”

The remaining proceedings of the press conference held no further value for observation. Yang Ying informed Kalia, “In twelve hours, we initiate the third phase of the plan.”

Katerina, hearing this, showed a flicker of confusion on her face. However, noticing the number of people around them, she remained silent.

Yang Ying took Katerina’s hand. “Let’s go. There’s nothing more for us to do here.”

Katerina murmured an affirmation and followed Yang Ying out of the hall.

As soon as they returned to the command center, Katerina voiced the doubt that had been troubling her: “Sir, why must we wait twelve hours before starting the third phase?”

“Come here, I’ll tell you,” Yang Ying said. Since she asked, he certainly wouldn't refuse. He guided Katerina to sit on the sofa. “Although that press officer was offering excuses, those excuses can actually serve our purpose. It’s inevitable that when we, as anonymous sources, upload this data, suspicion will arise. The Caesar Group will retaliate quickly, and with their propaganda resources, reversing public opinion won't be difficult for them. We need to launch the third phase before they manage to control the narrative.”

Katerina tilted her head and asked, “If that’s the case, why don’t we initiate the third phase sooner, perhaps now or in an hour or two?”

“Now is also too soon. The third phase requires a solid foundation, which only comes once this data has been widely disseminated. This information has only just been uploaded; many people haven't seen it yet. After twelve hours, the impact will be broad enough,” Yang Ying replied seriously.

“I see now.” Katerina had reviewed the entire plan; Yang Ying’s explanation made it perfectly clear.

Twelve hours later, Yang Ying brought Katerina back to the operations hall, approaching the central console. He addressed the Ghost Agents within the room: “Third phase plan, activate!”

As his voice faded, the Ghost Agents mobilized once more, uploading another set of files onto the network.

Seeing everyone occupied, with only Kalia leaning casually against the wall, Yang Ying inquired, “What is the current public opinion status?”

Kalia respectfully reported, “The public groundwork is sufficient now; the data has basically spread across the entire world. We have supporters everywhere, especially in Santos City on Mars, where many were moved by our information and voluntarily organized investigations in the hotel tower above the secret research facility. They found substantial corroborating evidence that backs up our textual data. The internet has now clearly split into two factions: those supporting us and those opposing us. Of course, there’s also a significant neutral bloc observing the situation.”

Yang Ying’s brow twitched slightly. “Did they find that secret entrance in the hotel?”

Kalia shook her head. “No, the hotel management is refusing everyone access to the lobby manager’s office. However, some geologists used equipment to locate a passage at the base of the building, which led them to that collapsed spatial area.”

Katerina glanced towards Yang Ying and smiled.

“There’s even better news,” Kalia continued. “Three hours ago, after that space was discovered, many of our supporters immediately resurrected the theory of the Caesar cover-up—that the Caesar Group eliminated everyone in the entire subterranean complex, and also assassinated the two executives, to hide their actions.”

Kalia said excitedly, “This theory is currently gaining the advantage. The Caesar Group’s propaganda department is pouring all its energy into refuting this claim, bringing in numerous experts and professors to debunk it. The war of words between the two sides is escalating rapidly. According to intelligence received just moments ago, some people have already organized themselves and are protesting outside Caesar Headquarters and their major branch offices.”

Kalia produced a remote control and pressed a button on the main screen. The display flickered, showing a scene: in front of a towering building, hundreds of people held banners and electronic placards displaying slogans condemning Caesar Group’s inhumane experiments, such as ‘Stop Human Trials, Caesar Group is Murder!’ and similar messages.

Kalia then switched to several other channels, all showing similar events.

“Additionally,” Kalia continued, “several radical environmental groups have issued death threats against key high-ranking figures in the Caesar Group, demanding they immediately open all their bio-research institutes for government inspection, or face assassination attempts.”

“Good,” Yang Ying said, also feeling a surge of excitement. “This is all within the plan. Starting the third phase right now is perfectly timed.”

Katerina moved behind Yang Ying and began massaging his shoulders. “Once this third phase plan succeeds, we can avenge those children. Let me thank you on their behalf first.”

Yang Ying turned back to her with a slight smile, then turned his gaze back to the protesting crowds on the screen.

The data uploaded in the second phase was merely static evidence. The Caesar Group, however, was a vast political, economic, and military entity composed of legions of elites. Public opinion alone could not crush them.

Even if the authorities sent investigators, the Caesar Group could leverage their political connections to weather the storm, then slowly rehabilitate their public image. They could recover quickly.

After all, the public is often forgetful.

By then, these damning facts would be nothing more than a splash of sewage before their enduring glory. Therefore, the third phase had to be launched before the initial impact faded entirely.

The core of the third phase was the re-uploading of a new batch of data—specifically, the precise locations of all high-ranking executives within the Caesar Group.

Their current planets, cities, and exact coordinates were displayed in this data, constantly updated to reflect any changes, ensuring that anyone in the world wishing to find any Caesar Group executive could do so.

“To shatter the Caesar Group, to make them utterly incapable of recovery, we must eliminate their leadership structure physically,” Yang Ying murmured to himself. “The destruction of the leadership will disrupt command flow within the Group, slowing down their resistance. This extended impact will further drag the attention of other executives, preventing them from reacting adequately to sudden incidents. Furthermore, the enemies Caesar has accumulated over the long term will seize the opportunity to strike them. In this way, we create a situation of absolute termination.”

This was the entire process of the plan.

“However,” Kalia added, “Caesar’s leadership possesses formidable defense forces; ordinary people simply cannot assassinate them. Ultimately, it will require our people to intervene. One of our objectives is to use our own hands to expose Caesar’s atrocities to the world, and then use our strength to render judgment upon their fate.”

As for whether they possessed the right to pass judgment, Yang Ying was absolutely certain: they did!

The courts could not sanction a behemoth like the Caesar Group. The Caesar family possessed far too many resources to resist, influence, or manipulate government power. Even if their human experimentation was universally confirmed, it wouldn't seriously wound the bulk of the Caesar family.

If they simply offered up the two implicated high-ranking officials as scapegoats—sacrificing the pawns to save the king—most of the Caesar family structure would survive, perhaps incurring only fines or some economic sanctions, which would be negligible to such a wealthy entity.

The horrifying scenes within that secret research facility were enough to warrant the deaths of every member of the Caesar family ten times over. Merely sacrificing two scapegoats was not what Yang Ying desired.

“Those with power must simultaneously bear responsibility; this is the creed of the Nian Neng Temple. I believe what I am doing is also a form of bearing that responsibility. I have the power to sanction the Caesar family, and I have the justification to sanction them. Moreover, we have personal vengeance involved. Therefore, from both public and private perspectives, this plan has ample reason to be executed. I shall call this the Judgment Plan.”