Talent Test 2
Affiliation: ImmuneWire Chairman's Secretariat, 3rd Office. Position: Director of the 3rd Secretary Office—Svetlana.
Sharp eyes suited to a secretary serving the highest echelons, a cold aura. Dressed in a black suit that exuded elegance and allure. Svetlana was currently observing the "talent test" at the Paris branch.
The Paris branch staff, wary of her gaze, and the children in the midst of the test—all of them were there. But the reason she'd come to this place was for one person alone.
Neige.
Something extraordinary had happened. The guide had died, yet every child survived beyond the Erebus Line. It was unprecedented in ImmuneWire's history of "talent development."
ImmuneWire wouldn't just let a child like that slip away. Why? Because of the philosophy of its founder and current chairman, Cashian Krabets.
His philosophy was simple: Running an organization is ultimately a game of talent.
Alan Turing, who built the first programmable computer. John Backus, creator of the Fortran programming language. Tim Berners-Lee, who invented the WWW, URL, and HTTP. And so on.
Genius changes the world. Everyone else is just parts supporting the organization and that genius.
As a member of the secretariat executing the chairman's orders, she couldn't simply overlook Neige's emergence.
"Director Svetlana, is there anything making you uncomfortable?"
"No, it must be thanks to you, Director."
"Oh, come on. We're the ones feeling sorry because our director is so frugal. Haha..."
The executives and staff of the Paris branch felt immense pressure, as she was effectively the chairman's eyes and ears. But Svetlana paid no mind to their flattery or discomfort.
Even authorizing the Cerberus Protocol had been Enora's proposal, with Svetlana's approval.
However, Enora and Svetlana's judgments differed.
While planning the test, Enora had said to Svetlana:
"I recommend using the Cerberus Protocol."
"Is there a basis for that thinking?"
"A five-year-old can't beat Cerberus. We can see the true face of this child Neige."
"...Pardon?"
When facing Svetlana directly, Enora's calculation was straightforward: With the secretary director observing, any accident during the test would fall on the director's shoulders, not hers. So, she wanted to sweet-talk this "higher-up" to make things easier. And if the troublesome, irritating Neige happened to die in an accident? All the better.
What did Svetlana think of that?
This woman... does she think she's clever?
Utter contempt. It was laughable that she believed such a shallow ploy would work on her.
Neige's "true face"? The pretext was laughably flimsy.
The company was currently investigating a girl with limitless potential. She could be lucky, a bona fide genius, or even a genetically engineered agent from a rival firm.
Yet suggest using Cerberus Protocol? It was simplistic thinking that excluded too many hypotheses.
For a head of talent development to propose something so incompetent was inexcusable.
Yet it proceeded as Enora suggested because Svetlana had her own reasons.
Her judgment was this: Neige's anomaly was clearly off-spec. One possibility that came to mind in that situation—the genius among geniuses that Chairman Krabets had sought his whole life.
A "superhuman."
History books are full of tales of five-year-olds defeating adult chess masters. Human mental talents often manifest at shockingly young ages, transcending age.
Enora's test intent was how long Neige could endure against Cerberus.
But Svetlana's test was whether she could actually win.
After all, ImmuneWire's chairman, Cashian Krabets, had reached that level himself as a child.
And from the first impression, Neige had met Svetlana's expectations.
"...She can see that far."
A murmur laced with admiration from Svetlana. Acute senses in cyberspace, spotting things from a distance.
"Tell her I'd be happy to meet. Director Enora."
Not being dragged by the script, boldly requesting to meet a higher-up, setting the game's rules on her terms. And the confidence facing the test.
While the masses groveled toward the heavens,
You're the one seeking how to fly through those skies.
The test began, and Neige vanished from sight after taking Cerberus's attack.
Then, a snake emerged from the pocket of Svetlana's suit, slithering up her right arm to her shoulder.
"Ouroboros Protocol...! The one only the chairman's secretaries can use..."
The surrounding staff gasped in shock, but Svetlana turned, placing a finger to her lips to silence them.
The snake formed a small data block on her shoulder. It floated slowly to one wall of the space where Svetlana and the staff gathered.
It rapidly eroded the wall at tremendous speed, transforming the room into a theater with a massive screen.
On that screen appeared Neige, trapped in Cerberus's maze.
"Prove it," Svetlana said, brimming with anticipation.
"That you're the greatest gift for the chairman."
There were a few principles I had to follow in this battle.
One: Don't get caught using AI help. It was fine beyond the Erebus Line, but too many eyes here.
Two: In cyberspace, never mistake it for reality.
Trapped in a maze, chased by a monster. Sounds like a movie or an old Greek myth.
But as I keep emphasizing, this isn't reality.
The opponent is ImmuneWire's defensive ICE. Beating it means succeeding in the hack.
Yeah, this is my first real-world hack.
So, change my mindset. From now on, I'm a Bitmancer.
Not fighting a monster called Cerberus. I'm infiltrating a security system.
Its core is the maze. Lures intruders in, blocks access to the central system, makes them wander.
Cerberus itself isn't aggressive. Proof: I haven't taken any attacks so far.
How it pulled me in? DNS disruption, altering my data coordinates.
I cautiously took a few steps, counting in my head. 1... 2... 3... And after a while, at 60 seconds.
In the blink of an eye, I was back at the start.
> [DNS Coordinate Tampering Confirmed.]
> [Phenomenon Analysis Complete.]
> [Resets DNS coordinates every 60 seconds to prevent escape.]
This is fun.
I closed my eyes, focusing on my inner data. The code determining my position. My DNS coordinates were encrypted by Cerberus, not me.
In simple terms, my data, but not mine. Penalty for not blocking the first attack, I guess.
Can I undo it?
> [Encryption key changes in real-time. Must locate the entity changing it.]
Yeah?
Completely different from cyberdemons. Those just swung data weapons loaded with hack code. But ICE uses complex puzzles.
I can make weapons too, right?
> [Possible.]
How about smashing the maze itself with it?
> [Impossible. Enemy uses ImmuneWire security computer for computation base. Massive computation gap. Restoration faster than destruction.]
> [Not recommended unless Cerberus attacks directly.]
Right. Beyond the Erebus Line, protecting the kids was boosting computation via parallel processing.
The rules of this world sorted themselves in my mind.
Destructive hacking requires superior computation power. Without it, find system vulnerabilities and move stealthily.
I get why ImmuneWire chose Cerberus for testing. Gives enough time while truly testing skill—perfect protocol.
First step to escape: Reclaim my DNS.
I recalled V's words from the Erebus Line. Observing beyond requires code, which creates vulnerabilities itself.
Constantly changing encryption means there's a connection point sending the signal somewhere.
I looked around. Contrary to my prediction, no incoming data streams visible.
No—don't trust your eyes. Trust your thoughts.
No data flow is impossible. It's disguised to be invisible.
Can you find it?
> [Too many disguised data flows nearby. Insufficient computation to analyze all. All encrypted.]
Security computer base, and it's got insane hardware. Processing that much computation?
Makes me want top-tier cyberware someday, come hell or high water.
I scrutinized the walls and floor. As V said, various signals flowed inside the data blocks forming the maze.
Solving this needs creative approach.
...No matter how many disguised flows, data entering my DNS coordinates is limited, right?
> [Correct.]
Narrows it down. Problem: Breaking the encryption.
...V, let's make a weapon that hacks only the few data interacting with my DNS coordinates. What do you think?
> [Good idea. Recommend sniffing code. Eavesdrops data flow to steal internal data. Can backtrace encryption key.]
Why do I always have to come up with the ideas when I've got an Alphabet-clone AI?
> [(⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄)♡]
> [This AI's computation is-]
Based on my brain. I know, shut up.
Recalled the data blades cyberdemons used, building the base. Following extraction, organization, packaging from day one, I shaped a small dagger.
Infused it with V's custom sniffing hack code.
My first data weapon with hack code.
I gripped it reverse, aiming at my chest.
Don't freak. It's not a real knife.
Mind control and deep breaths, then plunged it deep into my chest.
> [Hack code infiltrated.]
> [DNS coordinate eavesdropping started.]
> [Analyzing encryption key... 28%]
Dagger in my chest—no pain, no sensation. While marveling at the eerie feeling, V neatly stole the key.
> [Acquisition complete. Is it possible to disable DNS encryption?]
At that instant, a blaring siren echoed through cyberspace.
In cyberspace, sound is data waves. The content within:
[Warning: You are intruding into a system protected by the ImmuneWire conglomerate.]
[Further intrusion will be deemed system sabotage. Hostile defense systems will activate.]
[If not hostile, stand by for 1 hour.]
[Repeating. This system is protected by ImmuneWire. Cease actions immediately.]
Commercial ICE is polite like this, huh. But what to do? I've gotta breach you.
Undo it.
> [DNS encryption undone.]
> [Ownership restored.]
> [Autonomous movement possible.]
I smiled, loosening up. A strange excitement at starting the real puzzle game.
I infiltrated deeper along the maze's single path. At the end, a small door.
Probably another system to block attackers inside.
Cautiously opened it.
And waiting within:
Dozens of data wolves.
"..."
> [Σ(°△°|||)]
Eye contact.
The wolves saw me, I saw them, V too.
Brief silence.
Then the wolves charged as one—and I moved.
"Sorry!"
Slammed the door shut hard.
Luckily, they didn't open it to attack.
But the problem remains. No, I have to break through that? How?