UNIVERSITY ARC
After sunset, the sky grew darker, casting a foreboding shadow over the highway.
On the road, nearly thirty cars raced at breakneck speeds, moving with the force of a gale. The traffic lights along the way were all red, yet no vehicle dared to stop. The convoy barreled forward, heedless of the usual rules that bound others.
Every few miles, police checkpoints had been set up, manned by officers ready for anything. They stood at attention, weapons ready, as if anticipating an imminent threat.
The members of the Phantom Syndicate were in a state of panic. They had tried to flee, their gadgets and plans in hand, but the moment they emerged, nearly thirty vehicles surrounded them, cutting off all escape routes.
Specter, the group's leader, felt a cold sweat trickle down his back.
|"Damn it! We're surrounded."|
He muttered, his voice laced with tension.
Before they could react, the police moved in swiftly, overpowering them in seconds. The entire group was taken into custody without a single shot fired.
In the chief's office, Officer Schneider sat behind his desk, his fingers drumming impatiently. He had been waiting for news, and when the knock finally came at his door, he felt his heart quicken.
His voice steady, though his eyes betrayed his anticipation.
|"Come in."|
The door opened, and a young officer entered, saluting crisply.
|"Sir, the operation was successful. We've apprehended the suspects. They're in route to headquarters under heavy police escort."|
A slow smile spread across Schneider's face.
|"Excellent work. Leave them to me. I'll handle the interrogation personally."|
When the Phantom Syndicate was finally brought into the building, Hermann Schneider wasted no time. He picked up the phone and dialed a number he knew by heart. When the call connected, his previously serious expression melted into one of excitement.
|"Surya, my friend"! The coordinates you provided were spot on. They were hiding right under our noses. The mission is complete."|
Surya Raj's voice came through, warm and appreciative.
|"Hermann, you've outdone yourself. I owe you one. If you ever need a favour, just name it."|
Hermann laughed, the sound full of genuine joy.
|"Come on, Surya. We're friends. No need for formalities. You've helped me more times than I can count. It's an honour to assist you and the Vardhan family."|
|"Thanks, Hermann. I need to go now, but let's catch up soon."|
Hermann put down the phone, a contented smile on his face. Surya Raj's gratitude was the highest compliment he could receive.
I suddenly remembered something I had forgotten to tell Surya raj. Grabbing the phone again, I dialed his number. My anger was beginning to soften into something more akin to pity. When he picked up, I said something and ended the call. I closed my eyes and thought, I'm truly sorry for what's about to happen. Your fate and your sins have forced my hand." The atmosphere in the office was thick with tension. A knock on the door was followed by a tentative voice. |"Sir, may I come in?"| The chairman of the company turned his head slowly, his expression unreadable. |"Yes, enter."| The subordinate stepped inside, his anxiety evident. |"Sir, you summoned me. May I ask why?"| Without warning, the chairman's calm facade shattered, his voice rising in anger. |"Do you remember our company's policies and rules? What were you thinking? They're already on their way, and there's nothing I can do to protect you. Leave the company premises immediately before they arrive!"| The man's face was drained of colour. |"What? Sir, I don't understand. What have I done?"| Before he could plead further, the sounds of police sirens filled the air outside. Nearly ten police cars screeched to a halt at the entrance. Officers, armed and determined, stormed into the building. The lead officer walked up to the man, his tone leaving no room for argument. |"You're under arrest for breaking the law."| The man's protests fell on deaf ears as the officers handcuffed him and led him away. After an hour passed, a young woman burst into the meeting room, her movements frantic. Bodyguards rushed in behind her, trying to restrain her, but she was relentless. One of the guards addressed her sternly. |"Ma'am, we've told you this is a restricted area. You need to leave immediately, or we'll have to remove you by force."| Aarna, hearing the commotion, approached to investigate. She saw the young woman in tears, her desperation palpable. Aarna's voice was gentle. |"Ma'am, Who are you? And why are you here?"| The woman's voice quivered with urgency. |"I need to see Mr. Surya Raj. It's a matter of life and death. Please, I beg you."| How much Aarna tried to convince, she didn't listen and continued her tears. Aarna, seeing no other option, instructed the guards |"Please, let her sit down. Our boss will be here shortly."| The woman, slightly pacified, took a seat, though her hands still trembled. Meanwhile, I received a call. It was Surya Raj. I answered immediately, my voice steady. |"Yes, is everything alright?"| |"Sir, we've captured them. They were hiding far from our country, but I wasn't going to let them slip away. They're now in my old friend's custody."| |"What about the person I mentioned earlier?"| |"He's already in custody as well. Why do you ask, sir?"| My tone is casual, covering my real intentions. |"Just curious. And about those hackers, I'm eager to meet them."| |"Of course, sir. I've arranged for their transport to our country. They'll be here soon."| |"Good work. Keep me informed when they arrive."| I ended the call, then turned my attention to more immediate matters. I had come to my villa to search for some old blueprints, linked to a key that held great importance. After finding what I needed, I made my way back to the hotel. Upon arriving at the hotel, I took the elevator to the top floor. As the large doors opened, I was greeted by my bodyguards and staff, all congratulating me on my success. The girl from earlier noticed me, her eyes widening in a mix of surprise, relief including disbelief. I stepped onto the stage in the dimly lit room, the curtains drawn tight against the outside world. Taking the microphone, I began my speech. |"I'm proud to announce that we are completely safe. From now on, no one will dare to challenge us because I am here to protect you."| The room erupted in cheers. People hugged each other, their relief and happiness palpable. Seeing them so elated filled me with a deep sense of satisfaction. As the cheers died down, I continued. | "I'm also proud to announce that I am now officially the CEO of our company. I will do everything in my power to improve and develop our business."| Aarna stood nearby, her eyes glistening with tears of joy. |"Sir, our chairman—your grandfather—was so proud of how you handled this situation. He congratulated you during a video conference earlier."| Her words hit me like a wave. For the first time, my grandfather had acknowledged my efforts. I felt a surge of emotion, one that I struggled to contain. Just then, a voice called out from the crowd. | "Sir, can you explain how you discovered the password? I'm dying to know!"| I looked towards the speaker, surprised to see Mr. David. |"David, you're still here? I thought you'd left already."| David smiled awkwardly, clearly uncomfortable. |"Please forgive me for doubting you earlier. It was a tense situation, and I couldn't imagine how a student could help us."| I waved his apology away. |"It's alright, David. But if you'd listened to me sooner, you'd have seen the solution instantly."| The room erupted in laughter, and David's face turned red with embarrassment. Another person stood up, curiosity evident in his voice. |"Sir, please explain what happened. I'm still trying to wrap my head around it."| I nodded, understanding their eagerness. | "Alright, everyone. Let me explain in detail."| The room fell silent, every eye trained on me, waiting for the anwer. |"I'll explain in simple terms to understand. As many of you know, I'm still a student in computer science. The person who discovered the way to crack this protocol is none other than me."| All are surprised including Mr. David. By laughing inside, I continued. |"You see, this type of AI technology is part of our curriculum. One day, I read an article claiming that our AI system was one of the most secure in the world. That got me thinking—why not try to find its weaknesses?" I paused, letting my words sink in. The room was still, the audience hanging on my every word. |"I spent nearly ten months on this project, coding a key that could access any database. I knew the potential dangers, so I created a highly encrypted password to protect it. The interesting fact is, if anyone tests the key before use, it could pass their test without a single doubt and even that password is hidden in the coding. The encryption of the password was so strong that no one could hack it within five seconds. If anyone tried to crack, the time countdown would automatically start and of course definitely time would run out. Then, it would automatically reveal their IP address and location."| The audience was visibly stunned, processing the implications of what I had just revealed. Aarna, ever sharp, asked the next logical question. |"But how did your key end up in their hands? How could they use it?"| I hesitated, the weight of the truth pressing down on me. But I knew I couldn't keep this secret any longer. |"It's my fault. Indirectly, I allowed it to be taken from me."| Aarna's brow furrowed in confusion. |"Sir, I don't understand!"| I took a deep breath and continued. |"Coding the key was no easy task. It took a lot of time and effort, and I spent countless hours in the lab. My plan was to present the key as my project to a large multinational company. I figured that someone from the Vardhan family would recognize its importance and address the bug. But before I could do that, a classmate of mine, Rahul, stole my project report. It contained the coding procedure and every detail about the AI. By the time I realized what had happened, it was too late to stop him. I had no evidence to prove the theft."| I paused, letting the gravity of the situation sink in. |"If I had exposed him, my entire plan would have failed. So, I kept quiet. But when I heard about the recent attack, I knew that the key had already fallen into the wrong hands. That's why I was confident we could resolve the situation."| I looked around the room, meeting the eyes of those who had been with me through this ordeal. |"I hope I've answered your questions. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to explain. It's getting late, so please go home and rest. I'm declaring tomorrow a holiday. You all deserve a break."| Just as I was about to step off the stage, Raksha came running into the hall. I recognized her immediately. I asked, my concern evident. |"What's wrong?"| She approached me quickly, her face flushed with urgency. | "Brother, you're in trouble. She's here. You need to talk to her, or your cover will be blown."| I frowned, not understanding. Aarna then chimed in, suddenly remembering something. |"Sir, a young woman came by earlier, asking to see Mr. Surya Raj. She was very upset and wouldn't leave. I had no choice but to let her stay."| Aarna quickly scanned the room and found the woman. She brought her to me. The moment I saw her, I felt a cold chill run down my spine. I muttered under my breath |"Oh no! What is she doing here?"|