Dave lounged in his study, flipping through the latest headlines on his tablet. Every news outlet was buzzing about the rise of Infinex AI, praising its unmatched capabilities and the disruption it was causing across the tech industry. Analysts were calling it the "greatest breakthrough in AI technology," while others were warning of the risks of an untraceable entity wielding such power. Everyone was talking about Infinex AI—and by extension, about Dave, though they had no idea who was pulling the strings.
He smirked to himself, satisfied with the progress he had made so far. But something like Infinex AI wouldn't go unnoticed forever. He knew it was only a matter of time before larger forces took notice. And judging by the buzz around the company, that time was now.
"Host, I have an alert," Bella's voice chimed in, sounding more amused than alarmed.
Dave glanced at his watch with mild interest. "What is it, Bella?"
"It appears the government has taken an interest in Infinex AI," she said, her tone light and almost playful. "They're attempting to hack into our servers. But, to be honest, it's a bit… pathetic."
Dave raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What do you mean?"
"It's like watching a group of babies try to solve a Rubik's cube," Bella explained, her voice dripping with condescension. "Their techniques are outdated, their scripts are laughably basic, and—well, let's just say I'm not breaking a sweat here."
Dave chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "Show me."
Bella's display lit up, filling the large monitor on the wall. Dave watched in amusement as the government's hacking attempts played out in real-time. Streams of data scrolled across the screen, highlighting failed attempts, broken scripts, and error messages. Every time they tried to force their way into Infinex AI's systems, they were met with an impenetrable wall.
"Are these seriously their best guys?" Dave asked incredulously, shaking his head. "It's almost embarrassing."
"Apparently so," Bella replied, her tone laced with amusement. "They're trying brute-force attacks, SQL injections, and even a few trojans. It's like they've just Googled 'how to hack' and are throwing everything they can find at us."
Dave laughed out loud. "Well, at least they're persistent. What's their progress so far?"
"Zero percent," Bella responded confidently. "They haven't even scratched the surface of our outermost defenses. I've isolated their IPs, traced them back to their sources, and—would you like me to give them a little 'hello'?"
"Oh?" Dave's grin widened. "What do you have in mind?"
"I think I'll toy with them a bit," Bella said cheerfully. "You know, just to show them who they're dealing with."
On the screen, the government's hacking attempts suddenly froze. Their screens went black for a moment before lighting up with a simple message:
"Knock, knock. Who's there? Not you. Better luck next time!"
"Did you really just send that?" Dave asked, laughing. He could almost picture the chaos it was causing on their end.
"Of course, Host. They're like children playing with fire. I thought a playful response would get the message across," Bella replied, a hint of a smirk in her voice. "And, it appears, they didn't take it well."
The scene on the screen shifted to a live feed from the government's side. Bella had hacked into their internal systems, allowing Dave to see the commotion firsthand. The camera showed a room full of frantic agents and tech specialists, all scrambling to figure out what had just happened.
"Who did this?!" one of the agents yelled, his face flushed red with frustration. "How did they get into our systems?"
"Sir, we don't know!" another agent stammered, typing furiously at his keyboard. "We tried to break into Infinex AI's servers, but somehow… somehow they turned the tables on us."
"What do you mean, 'turned the tables'?" the first agent demanded, leaning over the second agent's shoulder.
"They're inside our network now," the second agent explained, his voice trembling slightly. "It's like they're toying with us."
The lead agent's face turned a deep shade of crimson. "That's impossible! No one can just break into our systems like that. Who are these people?"
Dave watched with satisfaction as the government agents struggled to regain control. Every time they tried to shut down the intrusions, Bella's presence shifted, effortlessly dancing around their defenses.
"This is what happens when you mess with Infinex AI," Bella murmured softly, more to herself than to Dave. "I'm practically babysitting them."
"What's our next move?" Dave asked, his voice low and contemplative.
"I could erase every trace of their involvement, but that would be too easy," Bella suggested. "Instead, I'm going to show them what a real hack looks like. I'll leave behind a little reminder so they know who they're dealing with."
Dave watched as Bella took over, her digital presence spreading through the government's network like a ghost. Within seconds, every screen in the room displayed a new message:
"You have been weighed, measured, and found wanting. Better luck next time. :)"
The agents stared at their screens in shock. Then, just as quickly as the messages appeared, they vanished, and their systems rebooted. It took them several minutes to get their systems back online, and when they did, they found that all records of their attempts to hack Infinex AI had been wiped clean.
"Sir, everything's gone," one of the agents reported, his voice laced with disbelief. "It's like… it's like we never even tried to break in."
The lead agent clenched his fists. "Whoever's behind this… we're going to find them. I don't care what it takes. Mobilize every resource we have. I want a full investigation—now!"
"Good luck with that," Dave murmured, smiling to himself as the feed cut out.
"Host," Bella said, drawing his attention back to the screen. "I've compiled a list of every agent and division involved in the hacking attempts. Would you like to see it?"
"Absolutely," Dave said, leaning forward eagerly.
Bella brought up a detailed report, listing every individual who had tried to break into Infinex AI's systems. There were dozens of names, spanning multiple government divisions, intelligence agencies, and cybersecurity teams. Each name was accompanied by their rank, role, and location.
"This is incredible," Dave murmured, scrolling through the list. "They threw everyone they had at us, and we still came out on top."
"Yes, and it gets better," Bella added. "I've managed to gain access to their internal communications. They're planning a coordinated effort to track down the origins of Infinex AI. They believe it's some kind of foreign entity—a rogue nation or private organization."
Dave chuckled softly. "Let them think that. They'll be chasing shadows for months. I want them to feel like they're making progress, only to find dead ends at every turn."
"Understood, Host," Bella replied. "I'll continue to feed them false leads and redirect their efforts. In the meantime, I've taken the liberty of fortifying our defenses even further. There will be no way for them to penetrate our systems again."
"Good," Dave said, his voice firm. "Let them play their games. As long as they're focused on chasing phantoms, they won't be able to interfere with our real plans."
He glanced at the list one last time, his mind already spinning with possibilities. Each name represented a potential threat—but also an opportunity. With Infinex AI, he had the power to stay one step ahead of them, always in control, always unseen.
"Bella," he said thoughtfully, "I want you to keep tabs on every person on this list. Monitor their communications, track their movements—make sure they're not getting too close for comfort."
"Of course, Host," Bella responded smoothly. "Consider it done."
Dave leaned back, a sense of calm washing over him. The government's attempt to infiltrate Infinex AI had backfired spectacularly, and now he had a clear view of everyone involved. He was untouchable, and they were none the wiser.
"Let's see how far they're willing to go," he murmured softly. "But they'll never find me. Not unless I want them to."
With that, he turned his attention back to the ever-growing success of Infinex AI. He had bigger plans to set in motion, and nothing—no government or organization—would stand in his way.