For the next three days, I hardly stepped outside, fully immersed in my preparations. To infiltrate the network of "The Shadows," I needed a flawless virtual identity.
I activated my self-developed program, "Phantom." This software could simulate activities from multiple different IP addresses, creating a complex digital footprint. As I wrote the code, I murmured to myself, "To fool 'The Shadows,' I need them to believe that 'Phantom Hacker' has been active for a long time."
I meticulously constructed a character named "Phantom Hacker." This identity boasted an impressive hacking resume, including several high-profile bank system breaches and government website attacks. Of course, these "credentials" were all carefully fabricated by me.
On the third night, I was finally ready. Taking a deep breath, I entered a string of complex code and began connecting to the Dark Web.
On the screen, the code cascaded down like a waterfall. Suddenly, a skull icon appeared, followed by a complex graphical interface—I had successfully entered "The Shadows'" internal network.
The moment I accessed the Dark Web, I felt as if I had slipped into a digital underground world. There were no search engines, no friendly interfaces—only endless darkness punctuated by flickering data points. Behind each point of light could lie dangerous secrets or deadly traps.
The interface resembled an aerial view of a virtual city, filled with neon-like lines and symbols. I navigated cautiously, fully aware that each step could trigger hidden alarms.
Suddenly, a private chat window popped up.
[Shadow 0259]: New face? How did you get in?
My heart raced as I forced myself to remain calm. This was the first test of my carefully crafted virtual identity.
[Phantom Hacker]: Smart people always find a way. I've heard this is the most thrilling playground around.
[Shadow 0259]: Interesting. But playgrounds have rules; those who break them tend to disappear.
[Phantom Hacker]: Then show me the rules. I brought something interesting that I believe "Shadow" will be interested in.
After a brief silence, the other party sent a string of encrypted coordinates. I quickly decrypted it and discovered it pointed to a location in a corner of the virtual city.
I cautiously navigated to the specified spot, which appeared to be an ordinary data node. I thought to myself, "This could be an important entry point for the 'Shadow' organization."
[Shadow 0259]: So, what did you bring?
Li Ming was well-prepared. He uploaded an encrypted file containing some processed sensitive information. This information was enough to pique "Shadow's" interest without causing any real harm.
[Phantom Hacker]: This is just an appetizer. If you're interested, I have more.
The other party was silent for a moment before replying:
[Shadow 0259]: Interesting. Welcome to the game, Phantom Hacker. Remember, everyone is watching you here.
The chat window closed, and I had successfully caught "Shadow's" attention. Now it was time to slowly infiltrate and gather more information.
Just as I was about to exit the system, the screen suddenly flickered, and an anonymous message popped up:
"Be careful whom you trust. There are no friends here, only interests."
I frowned. Was this a warning? Or some kind of test? I couldn't tell, but I knew I had to be more vigilant.
Before shutting down the computer, I took one last glance at the picture frame on the desk. In the photo, Anna and I were smiling at the camera. "Anna, I will find the truth and seek justice for you," I whispered, my heart filled with determination and a hint of pain. "I will uncover the truth, for you and for myself."
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