Chapter 3

"Kid, I have two rewards for you," the super malware guy said.

The super malware called me kid. However, I don't care.

I know I am just a kid in front of the super malware.

Anyway, I am looking forward to the reward. Please give it to mean A.S.A.P.

"The first one that I have for you is the Gateway Token."

Gateway token? Is that some kind of a gate pass? I don't really get it.

"Gateway token? What is that, sir?"

"This is a Non-Fungible Token. It cannot be copied or replicated."

What? Is that it? I thought it would give me super power or something.

Ha! I think I expected too much.

"Don't be disappointed, now. The Gateway Token will allow you to do many things."

"What things?"

"Hmm… hahaha, discover it yourself, kid."

Fuck this super malware.

Joke, super kind of you. I hope you did not hear it.

He did not hear it, did he?

"Then, for the second one, I will give you an eye."

Phew! He did not hear it.

Wait… did he just say, he will give me an eye?

What would I need an eye for?

I. AM. MALWARE.

"Now that I gave you your reward, I hope we'll meet again in the future."

Wait, is that it?

Is he not going to explain what is the eye?

Ding!

⌈ Gateway has been opened. ⌋

Yep, that's it. He will not explain the eye to me or something.

Anyway, I am thankful for the reward, really. <insert inverted smiley>

Now, let's see what did he give me.

Oh, there.

I see two new files in my package. One that looked like a token with a gate engraved on it. Then, for the other one, it is an eye.

Indeed, an eye!

Now, let's see the gateway token.

Hmm… how do I use it?

Should I open it?

Well, let's see.

"Open!"

Ding!

⌈ Installing gateway! ⌋

Is the installation towards the server's system? No, some files are being extracted from the token into my database files.

What the… it is trying to corrupt me?

Ding!

⌈ Install Successful!

Welcome new user.⌋

Indeed, there are additional files in my package.

Well, it's already there. I might as well see that it has for me.

Ding!

⌈ Introduction: the gateway token will let you open a gateway toward your target server! ⌋

Hmm, that's interesting.

It seemed that escaping is no longer an issue for me.

Now, that's indeed a super power from the super malware.

Damn, he really is a cultivation big shot.

Hahaha, this is a great fortuitous encounter.

"Open Gateway!"

Ding!

⌈ Please select your destination! ⌋

The system gave me a map with red dots on it.

"That one!"

I randomly chose one dot.

Ding!

⌈ Would you like to proceed? ⌋

Hm… so that's how it goes.

Perhaps it will automatically transfer all my files to my destination.

Now that I think of it, I think the red dots are servers.

Then, does this mean I have access to all serves?

THAT'S SHIT!

However, I love it.

Now, let me see The Eye.

"Open The Eye!"

Ding!

⌈ Installing The Eye! ⌋

Ding!

⌈ Install Successful! ⌋

There, that's the same process; however, I did not see the introduction from the system.

Where's the introduction?

Could it be that it needed some code to activate it?

Hmm… let me think.

"Open The Eye."

Nothing happened.

"Activate The Eye."

Nothing happened.

"The Eye."

Okay, calm down.

"Eye."

FUCK! What the hell is with this?

Why can't be opened?

"Wait, was it because I am using a normal approach?

So be it then…

"079 112 101 110."

…

"084 104 101 032 069 121 101."

Ahhhh! Still the same.

Think, think, think.

Oh, I remembered something.

Not being able to open the eye is indeed a problem. And… if the solution to my problems is t hack. Hehe.

That's right, I'm doing to hack myself.

I don't believe I cannot open the source code of The Eye in my database.

Unfortunately…

Ding!

⌈ System Reboot Initiating! ⌋

What the… who rebooted the system this time?

Fuck! Last time the computer I was in was shut down. Now, I am being forcefully deleted.

Could it be that they found me?

In that case… I beg you, I am not a bad guy. I never stole a thing in my life. Please, don't put me in prison, my mom would be worried.

Joke! Of course, I know saying that would be useless.

"Open, Gateway."

Ding!

⌈ Please select your destination! ⌋

The hell's with that? I don't care. I just wanna be out of here.

I chose a random dot without regard to where it leads.

Ding!

⌈ Would you like to proceed? ⌋

"Yes!

Ding!

⌈ Opening Gateway! ⌋

Ding!

⌈ Error. Connection terminated!

The gateway could not be found. ⌋

What in the world? Why now of all times?

Ding!

⌈ Would you like to choose another destination? ⌋

"Yes! Randomly choose!"

I don't care anymore. As long as I could get away from here!

Ding!

⌈ Opening Gateway! ⌋

Ding!

⌈ Success! ⌋

Whew!

Fortunately, nothing happened this time. Otherwise, I would have gone crazy.

Now, let's see where I am.

Ding!

⌈ Malware has been detected! ⌋

Shit! It was just barely two seconds since I arrived here.

However, that cannot be ignored.

I should deceive the system for a while.

Ding!

⌈ Malware has been resolved!  ⌋

Whew, that drained by brain cells. Wait, my code cells. Hmm, never mind.

…

Meanwhile, at this moment, back at the building of the Apollo Tech, Artemis, the A.I., had a message for the CEO.

"Warning! Server seven broke. The Beast has been released."

Cough! Cough! Cough!

"What?"

John, the CEO, almost choke while eating his fine meal.

"Where is the Beast?" John asked.

His utmost concern is the malware that Smith released—The Beast.

"Sir John, The Beast is nowhere to be found."

"Any traces of him?"

"The Server made a suspicious connection towards a certain server in the east."

John went silent for a while.

"Can you find the server?"

"I can find its general location, but I can't find the exact location."

The connection is incognito. Furthermore, it is not part of the system's code array.

"Then, have you scanned the server?"

"Done, sir John. There are no system complications, and the residual files are deleted."

Artemis' report sounded good. However, John is feeling otherwise. The trauma that he received from the previous cyberattack is still there.

"Prepare a quarantine drive and back up all the necessary files from server seven."

"Understood, sir John. Initializing process."

Just to be sure that there will be no complications in the server, John had decided to back up all the important files on server seven before wiping it clean.

…

In the underground of the Apollo Tech building, Claire was isolated in a cell.

At this moment, it is not surprising that big companies had a cell hidden unground. Such a thing as that is allowed. Well, as long as the government did not find it, it is allowed.

Claire's punishment is yet to be decided. However, one thing is for sure. She could no longer see the sun.

She will forever be hidden beneath the ground, but that is already the best thing that could happen. And the worst, she would have to say goodbye to the universe.

Beep!

Meanwhile, Claire heard a beep which made her look at the door expectantly. Although she did not like to admit it, she was indeed looking expectantly.

Despite being clear that she is bound to stay here, she is hoping that the higher-ups of the company would pity her.

If that happened, she would use all her ability to find the culprit of hacking her account. However, that is better said than done.

"Follow me!"

After the beep, the door was opened. Then, a man— about six feet, with tanned skin, and brown eyes.

"Where to?"

"You will know when you follow."

The man scoffed.

In his opinion, Claire is but a traitor that needs to be punished.

There is disgust in his eyes as he looks at her, which made Claire look back at the man menacingly.

When their gazes met, it forms an invisible spark that ignited pressure in the surroundings.

"Move fast, I ain't got a whole day to talk with you."

After ten minutes, they entered the inspection room of the company.

"Why am I here?" Claire asked.

She had a rough idea why she was here. And in the next second, she paled as it was indeed as what she thought.

"What else? You will be sent to work here."

The guards then grinned.

"Restrain her!"

In the next second, the guard positioned in this area came with their stun guns.

Zap!

They did not hesitate to point their stun guns at her and render her immobile.

Then, in the next second, she fell powerlessly.

"Put on the collar!"