On December 2, 2007, at Sami Frasher High School, the teacher was delivering a lesson on literature. However, nobody seemed to be fully engaged in the class, including Omar, who is typically an excellent student but wasn't paying attention on this particular day.
As he gazed out the window, watching the sunset, Omar murmured to himself, "This life is so mundane. I can't endure it for much longer." Once the class concluded, he headed home and reclined on his bed.
Omar switched on the TV and stumbled upon an intriguing news segment. It detailed a hacker organization that had successfully stolen 200 million dollars from Republic Bank. The attackers included both identified bank employees and anonymous individuals. While Omar found the news captivating, he couldn't overlook the fact that they were criminals, and he harbored a strong disdain for criminal activities.
Someone arrived at his house, and it turned out to be his mother. "Did you get your exam results?" she inquired. "Yes, I did," replied Omar, showing her his grades. His mother, looking pleased, exclaimed, "You're going to be the best high school student in Albania!"
Omar, however, expressed his need for solitude. His mother then ventured to ask about his college plans. A bit weary of the questions, Omar responded, "I want to study medicine." His mother nervously smiled and shared her thoughts, "That's great, but I had hoped you would follow in your father's and brother's footsteps, pursuing the same career. Sometimes, you need to heed our advice, even if it's not what you want. We know you better than you think. You're still 18, still a child."
"Alright, Mom, I will," conceded Omar. He retreated to his room, deep in thought about his next steps.
"Why should I always do what they say? I can't remember ever doing something for myself. Anyway, I need to sleep now," Omar thought to himself. As he tried to doze off, an unfamiliar email popped up on his computer: "Black Hacker, 10 drinks for 10 people." Confused by the message, Omar noticed a man wearing a mask and a black costume outside his house. Alarmed, Omar attempted to conceal himself, but the mysterious figure lingered.
In a state of concern, Omar called his brother to come home. Once his brother arrived, the stranger departed. "Something wrong, Omar?" his brother inquired. "Just look at this email," Omar replied. His brother read it and promptly deleted it. "I don't know who this man is, but I hope it's not one of the criminals I've arrested. Not everyone is aware of Black Hacker, the head of C.C.D (Cyber Crime Department). His identity remains unknown, and he was born to secure the internet. He controls the internet and oversees the information people share on social media. I'll just install some cameras in this room, but don't worry, nothing will happen," assured Omar.
Omar's sleepless night persisted, prompting him to venture outside for a brief respite at a 24-hour shop. It was there that the mysterious man reappeared, handing him a letter before swiftly disappearing. As Omar read the ominous contents, his fear intensified – the message demanded $10,000 by the next day, threatening to expose the Chezche case and reveal his brother's alleged crimes.
Feeling cornered and unsure of how to involve his brother, Omar grappled with the decision to handle the situation independently. Determined to protect his family, he returned home and powered up his computer. Navigating the dark web, he procured a gun, formulating a plan to confront the looming threat on his own terms. The weight of the situation hung heavy, and Omar prepared himself for the challenging path ahead.
The next day arrived, and with it came a sense of foreboding for Omar. At Pazari Ri, he once again spotted the man in the black costume and mask, a sinister figure tailing him through the bustling marketplace. Aware of the stalking presence, Omar proceeded to school, keenly observing the stranger's every move.
As the day unfolded, Omar's suspicions grew. During a break in class, he strategically chose an old restaurant, devoid of surveillance cameras, hoping to confront the mysterious man and unravel the mysteries surrounding the threats. Soon enough, the stranger appeared in the dimly lit establishment, confirming Omar's suspicions.
"Come to the bathroom. We need to talk," Omar commanded, revealing his gun. However, he underestimated the stranger's speed, finding himself at gunpoint before he could react. The man taunted him, drawing a parallel between Omar and his infamous brother, a killer.
"You want my money so you can't kill me," Omar retorted, revealing a trap set in the form of grenades in the bathroom. A brief standoff ensued, with the stranger questioning the origin of the explosives. Unperturbed, Omar asserted, "I bought them on the dark web."
As the tension escalated, Omar compelled the stranger to reveal his face, capturing a photo for future leverage. With the photograph in hand, Omar outlined his plan to expose the stranger's identity to his brother and deal with the supposed evidence of his brother's crimes.
"How?" inquired Mr. Stranger with a smirk. Omar, in a serious tone, explained, "By your face, I can find any information about you. About my brother, what crimes has he committed?" The stranger hesitated before divulging unsettling details.
"Your brother has lied to Black Hacker and about 7 children who are murdered in Czech orphanage. That's what I know," admitted Mr. Stranger. Omar, absorbing this shocking revelation, demanded the man's gun and swiftly put an end to the confrontation.
"Now you are finished," declared Omar, taking control of the situation. However, the narrative took a dark turn as he destroyed the entire restaurant, inadvertently causing harm to innocent patrons. Omar, concealing his fear behind a composed facade, returned to class, haunted by the uncertainty of the consequences.
As the school day concluded, Omar was met by both C.C.D. police and his brother, who had been alerted by surveillance cameras.
"Mr. Omar, we have some serious questions about the explosion at the restaurant. Surveillance cameras saw you going there," said a C.C.D. officer, ushering in a new wave of tension and uncertainty for Omar.
Omar found himself at the Cyber Crime Department (CCD), where officials scrutinized the video footage of the perplexing incident. A meticulous individual, Omar had already thoroughly examined every camera in the vicinity of the restaurant. The footage revealed his entrance, but abruptly halted thereafter.
"Omar, you could have faced serious danger there. Why were you even at that location?" questioned one of the police officers. In response, Omar nonchalantly displayed the sandwich he had purchased at the said restaurant, a seemingly innocuous act overshadowed by the mysterious events.
Acknowledging Omar's safety concern, the police officer contemplated, "Alright, I believe there might be more to this situation. The owner of that restaurant has a tumultuous history marked by numerous conflicts. This isn't the first time attempts have been made on his life."
As the discussions unfolded, a newcomer joined the scene. With an air of authority, he stated, "Omar is free to go, but we still need to analyze the details of this incident thoroughly. It appears highly plausible that a hacker was involved; the camera inexplicably ceased recording precisely when Omar had entered the restaurant."
His brother, present during the proceedings, concurred, "That's true." The atmosphere in the room remained tense, with the lingering uncertainty of who orchestrated the peculiar events and the potential involvement of a hacker casting a shadow over the entire investigation. The intricate web of circumstances surrounding Omar's inexplicable experience had only just begun to unravel, leaving a myriad of unanswered questions in its wake.
Alone at his house, Omar wearily entered and stumbled upon the news detailing his recent ordeal in the newspaper. The weight of the situation pressed on him as he retreated to his bedroom. Fueled by a relentless curiosity, he sat before his computer, determined to uncover the truth about his brother and the enigmatic Czech case.
His fingers danced across the keyboard as he delved into the virtual realm, scouring the internet for any morsel of information. Yet, his quest proved fruitless; a digital dead end left him empty-handed. The realization struck him — hacking into the secure CCD system would be a reckless endeavor, fraught with perilous consequences.
Despite the looming danger, Omar grappled with the conflict between prudence and an insatiable desire for knowledge. The forbidden allure of breaching the CCD's defenses to unravel the secrets surrounding his brother's involvement in the Czech case proved to be a formidable temptation. As the night wore on, the glow of the computer screen illuminated the room, mirroring the inner turmoil of a man torn between caution and the relentless pursuit of truth.