[Accelerating Information Laboratory Research Progress]
[In this mode, your researchers will interact with beings from different dimensions. Please appropriately soothe your researchers' thoughts.]
[Target Technology: ctOS]
[Target Connected World: Watch Dogs]
[Available modes:]
[Text Dialogue: 500 Tech Points]
[Video Game: 1000 Tech Points]
[You have selected Text Dialogue mode.]
[Tech Points - 500]
[Current Tech Points: 1300]
[In 2014, as technology advanced, electronic products became increasingly integral to people's lives.]
[Blume Corporation developed the city-wide smart management system ctOS, responsible for monitoring and managing the entire city. The project was eventually implemented in Chicago.]
[ctOS can indeed assist the government in managing the city, but it also poses significant risks.]
[Every citizen's life trajectory is clear as day within ctOS, leaving no room for privacy.]
[In this context, the hacker group DedSec hacked into ctOS to create chaos, intending to warn citizens of the dangers of this system.]
[Other hackers also infiltrated ctOS to achieve their own goals—for example, the individual you're about to interact with, Aiden Pearce.]
[Your interaction with Aiden Pearce will take place through a certain hacker forum.]
[Aiden Pearce: Bounty for Merlaut Hotel's security network information.]
A string of text appeared on the computer screen, and Skye raised an eyebrow, "So, this Mr. Pearce plans to hack into a hotel? What's he up to?"
Leo shrugged, "The hotel's security is handled by the ctOS system. You can help him out a bit, and then you'll know what he's planning."
Skye looked back at the computer, and sure enough, the screen displayed a series of bundled code and a schematic of the ctOS subnet deployed in the hotel.
This looks too detailed to be made up.
Skye pointed at the computer, "So, boss, if you've already completed the system setup, you could've just sent me the materials. Why make me play a text game?"
"To help you understand the capabilities of the product you're developing, you'll play the role of a hacker trying to breach a fully operational ctOS."
"Alright... I'll give it a try."
After reviewing the data, Skye suddenly felt that ctOS was indeed a very impressive smart city system.
But being a hacker, the more something is touted as secure, the more she wanted to mess with it.
After going over the data, Skye pondered for a moment and replied on the forum—she wanted to see if she could hack into the system herself and find out what Mr. Pearce was up to.
[Skye: I have what you need, but I don't want money. I just need you to share the data with me in return. You know, to learn a bit.]
[Aiden Pearce: If it's just technical data, sure. Deal.]
"Let's see what Mr. Pearce is planning—boss, any spoilers?"
Leo shrugged.
Of course, he knew what was coming next.
Aiden Pearce and his partner Damian were planning to hack the bank accounts of hotel guests, but unfortunately, this hotel wasn't just any hotel.
Ten minutes later, Aiden reappeared on the forum—this time in a private chat, the timestamp showing it was two days later on his end.
[Aiden Pearce: Who the hell are you? Damn it, you set me up!]
[Skye: What are you talking about? Where's the data you promised? Are you even capable?]
[Aiden Pearce: It's all gone to hell! My partner's been marked by a Fixer, and the hotel's full of encrypted videos. There's another hacker watching that place!]
[Aiden Pearce: This was supposed to be a simple job of hacking hotel guests' money, but now we might be exposed!]
Skye was stunned. Fixer?
The text game interface popped up with a small note:
Fixer: Professional hitman, mercenary, and cleanup expert. If you pay them enough, they'll handle any dirty work for you.
Encrypted videos? Fixer?
Leo continued, "The Merlaut Hotel is where the elite go—the mayor of Chicago, councilors, all of them frequent this place."
Leo didn't need to explain further; as a hacker who once dreamed of uncovering secrets, Skye immediately realized these videos were anything but simple.
Right now, she needed to keep Aiden Pearce calm—because the text game had just popped up another window:
Warning: Your contact might sever communications.
Skye's mind raced, and she quickly typed:
[Skye: Listen, I don't know what you're talking about, but if you were caught during the hack, the other hacker could trace all your connections in Chicago.]
[Skye: You should lay low for now. Do you have family? Stay away from them.]
[Aiden Pearce: Damn it, damn it! I never should've taken this job!]
The communication ended abruptly.
Skye's curiosity was fully piqued—Leo's game...felt a bit too real.
Curiously, Skye asked, "This is the first time I've seen a text game that lets you type and interact like this. Boss, what kind of tech is this?"
"Don't worry about that. Your judgment earlier was spot-on. If the other hacker has ctOS access, Aiden's family would definitely be targeted.
Now, you can take a bold guess about what those videos contain and what Aiden's fate might be.
But from my perspective, you might want to start by trying to save Aiden's family."
Skye rubbed her keyboard, "If the hacker really has ctOS access, then they must be with the developers, right? And the developer is Blume Corporation, which is our company?"
"You could see it as a possible direction for the company's development. In any case, although this is a text game, you'll experience a whole world through Aiden's journey.
The game will present the necessary tech, blueprints, and maps on your computer—enjoy."
Leo finished speaking and patted the frowning Skye on the back.
"By the way, don't forget your work. The information in the game is real tech, so don't underestimate it."
Just as he finished, Aiden sent another message.
[Aiden Pearce: You were right. The Fixer came for me. My niece and nephew are in the hospital, and the doctor says Lena might never wake up...]
[Aiden Pearce: I've ruined them. I should've listened to you. I thought you were just trying to lead me astray.]
[Aiden Pearce: Help me. Help me find out who's after me, who's behind all this.]
[Skye: I'm really sorry to hear that, but I'm just an ordinary hacker—if you want to find these things, I suggest you start by hacking into ctOS.]
[Skye: ctOS will have access logs, and if all of this happened because you saw those encrypted recordings, you might want to check what's on those tapes.]
[Skye: Whoever feels threatened by the content will naturally be responsible for all this.]
[Aiden Pearce: Makes sense. I'll find them.]
[Skye: Listen, I didn't expect our partnership to run this deep, but since we're continuing, I need to tell you my demands.]
[Skye: I want to know what Blume Corporation is up to, and what those recordings contain. Deal?]
[Aiden Pearce: Deal.]
The thoughtful look on Skye's face confirmed to Leo that she was fully immersed in the game.
Nice, that's the spirit you need for work—full of energy.
Leo quietly left the workspace.
John had left him a list of tasks to handle, and he still had to get through them one by one.