Chapter 1: The Setup

What began as a straightforward task turned into a nightmare. The plan was simple: infiltrate a biotech firm’s database, extract sensitive information, and sell it for a hefty profit. However, everything spiraled out of control.

The hacker, known only as Zephyr, had dedicated weeks to this mission. He meticulously researched the company, identified its vulnerabilities, and assembled his toolkit. With a sense of confidence, he believed he could execute the operation without leaving a trace.

He selected a night when security measures were relaxed and network activity was at a minimum. Setting up on his laptop, he connected via a VPN and initiated the breach. Firewalls were bypassed, passwords cracked, and soon he accessed the server. He located the folder containing the information he sought and began the download.

Just as he was nearing completion, an unexpected message appeared on his screen:

"Hello, Zephyr. I've been anticipating your arrival."

Panic surged through him. Someone was monitoring his actions; someone was aware of his ident