I spent my remaining days researching and meticulously plotting every detail. Countless sleepless nights, three nights and four days, were dedicated to studying technology and unraveling the secrets of Sedes Quantum.
And now, the day has finally arrived. The moment of truth. Today, we will finally meet face-to-face. I will make sure not a single second goes to waste.
I entered the towering building with my three housemates. They were buzzing with excitement, eager for the opportunity ahead. But as for me? My excitement stemmed from something entirely different, bringing her down.
We were instructed to wait in a designated area, where our mentors would come to fetch us. Upon arrival, our eyes immediately fell upon four prominent figures, including her. She stood there in silence, exuding an air of indifference.
The first was Justine Dallas, the Senior Network Engineer.
Beside him stood Denzel Perth, the esteemed Head of the Robotics Department.
Next was Freya Joe, the Senior Data Engineer.
And then, there was her, Ruby.
"Good morning, interns," Ruby greeted us, her tone void of any warmth or emotion. "Enjoy your stay here and make sure to showcase your skills. Donât cause trouble for your mentors. Give it your all, this is an opportunity, so make it count."
Her words were sharp and straight to the point.
Then, her eyes landed on me.
"Ms. Delen, come with me. Your training starts now," she ordered.
I gave a curt nod before following her lead.
It was undeniable, she is a beautiful woman. No wonder so many men were drawn to her. But to me? She was nothing but pure evil.
As we walked through the long corridor, she suddenly spoke.
"Are you absolutely certain that you want to be a part of this empire, Sanae?"
"One hundred percent sure, Maâam," I replied without hesitation.
She stopped in her tracks, turning slightly toward me. "Traitors donât belong in Sedes."
I met her gaze. "And what happens to traitors?"
A brief silence fell between us before she responded.
"They disappear."
With that, she turned back and input an excessively long passcode into a biometric scanner. A soft beep followed, and the heavy metal door slid open, revealing her office.
"This is your designated area," she said, gesturing toward a sleek workstation equipped with a high-performance PC and various tools. "Everything youâll need is here. I will conduct a three-hour class to cover the basics, after which youâll take an assessment. Once thatâs done, youâll start familiarizing yourself with Akioâs work."
She watched as I set my belongings down before speaking again.
"You may ask me anything you want to know about the empire."
I didnât hesitate. "Are you a part of a secret organization?"
"There is no secret organization," she stated firmly. "However, we are under the jurisdiction of the Worldâs Federation of Technology. They are responsible for eliminating individuals who pose a threat to global cybersecurity and data protection. This federation was formed by world governments, billionaire philanthropists, and the brightest minds in technology. Becoming a member is no easy feat, it took years of relentless effort and countless obstacles for this empire to gain entry into the WFT."
I nodded, taking in the weight of her words.
"Have there been many who attempted to challenge Sedes?"
She let out a short, amused breath. "Far too many to count," she admitted. "Countless mice have tried to infiltrate my company⦠and every single one of them failed."
I listened intently, taking mental notes of everything she was saying.
Then, I decided to test the waters.
"Are you single?"
She immediately shot me a sharp look, one eyebrow arched in warning.
"Stay out of my personal life, Delen," she said coolly before lighting a cigarette. The faint scent of strawberries filled the air. Even her cigarette had a distinct, almost delicate aroma. Damn this woman.
"You smoke?" she asked, exhaling a wisp of scented smoke.
I shook my head. "No, thanks."
She didnât respond and instead glanced at the screen of her computer.
"Everything you need to study is already uploaded on your PC. Go through it thoroughly. Once youâre done, inform me, and Iâll take you on a tour."
"Understood, Maâam," I replied firm
As soon as I finished watching the history of Sedes, Ruby stood up, signaling that it was time for the tour.
"I'm going to take you to the most confidential and highly restricted department," she said, her tone unwavering.
I followed her down a long, dimly lit hallway, our footsteps echoing in the silence. Soon, we arrived at the Database Security Management Division a place I had only read about but never imagined stepping foot in.
This department was massive, far larger than I had anticipated. Before entering, we had to pass through two heavily secured steel doors, each requiring multiple authentication processes. All gadgets and accessories were strictly prohibited, meaning we had to leave everything behind. Security personnel lined the corridors, each one armed, clad in uniform, and exuding an air of discipline. No one spoke unnecessarily. Everyone was focused.
Even this place had its own private pantry, where employees could take a short break from their intense, around-the-clock operations.
As we ventured deeper inside, my eyes locked onto a massive monitor, an interactive world map.
"This is the global threat detection system," Ruby explained.
I studied the screen carefully. According to my research:
Green meant there were no potential threats in that region.
Blinking indicators signified that someone was attempting to breach a database.
Red meant a hacker had successfully infiltrated the system.
I noticed that everyone inside the room was wearing masks, an added layer of security to ensure anonymity, even among colleagues.
"We have access to every countryâs database security," Ruby continued. "If a sector starts blinking red, our white hat hackers take immediate action to neutralize the threat. We report directly to the head of security in that country, and afterward, we present them with improved cybersecurity solutions. In my company, we have sixty elite white hat hackers, thirty on the day shift, thirty on the night shift. My empire operates 24/7, so there are days when I sleep here just to ensure everything runs smoothly.
"We provide transparent reports. We donât overstep. We only offer the exact solutions they need."
Her efficiency was terrifying.
Curious, I asked, "How do you trace a hacker who attempts to breach a database?"
A smirk played on her lips. "Lincoln," she called, and a man wearing a sleek black mask turned to face us. His nameplate read Lincoln.
"Yes, maâam?"
"Pull up the live tracing protocol on the recent breach attempt," she commanded.
Lincoln nodded and swiftly entered a series of commands. Within seconds, a secondary screen popped up, displaying a real-time tracing sequence.
"Watch closely, Delen," Ruby said, her voice laced with confidence.
On the screen, a complex network of data points appeared, strings of encrypted IP addresses rapidly shifting as the system worked to track the hackerâs location.
"They think theyâre invisible," Ruby mused, crossing her arms. "They use multiple proxy servers, reroute their signals, and mask their digital footprints. But what they donât realize is⦠we're always ahead of them."
I watched in amazement as the system broke through the hackerâs encryption layer by layer, peeling away false trails and misleading coordinates.
Then, a direct location appeared.
Coordinates locked. Hacker traced.
A profile flashed on the screen, full name, face, country of origin, and criminal record.
"They think they can breach our databases without consequence," Ruby continued. "But by the time they even realize theyâve been caught, their identity is already in the hands of the world government."
I turned to her, stunned.
"We don't just track them," she said, her voice calm yet firm. "We watch them in real-time. By the time they even sense danger, theyâre already on international watchlists, marked as wanted criminals."
I could only stare at the screen, watching as authorities moved in on the hackerâs location in real-time. Within moments, a live feed showed agents storming the hackerâs hideout.
"Game over," Ruby muttered before turning to me.
"Welcome to my playground, Delen."
I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms as frustration boiled inside me. I hated how effortlessly she displayed her skills, how she could unravel a personâs entire life with just a few keystrokes.
She made it look so easy. Too easy.
Her intelligence was undeniable. The way she commanded the room, how she traced the hacker in mere minutes, and the sheer power she wielded over information, it was infuriating.
And yet, despite my anger, I couldnât ignore the truth.
I was amazed.
Even I, who had just entered here and started studying technology, couldnât deny that she was a genius. Her methods, her execution, her precision, it was something I had never witnessed before. No wonder she was idolized by many, enemies of multiple.
But no matter how skilled she was, no matter how powerful she appeared to be⦠I could never admire her.
Not after what she did.
I reminded myself to remember the real reason I was here. The real reason why I had entered Sedes Quantum. The real reason why, no matter how impressive she was, I would never forgive her.
Ruby was the woman who killed my brother.
She may stand here, proud and untouchable, acting as if sheâs some master of cybersecurity, some savior of the digital world⦠but to me, she was nothing more than a murderer, a cold hearted bitch.
And the worst part? She didnât even care, she is proud of it.
For Ruby, money was everything. Power was everything. As long as she was at the top, as long as she got what she wanted, the lives ruined along the way meant nothing to her.
She had no remorse.
I felt my blood boiling. I wanted to wipe that smug look off her face, to tell her that one day, she would pay for everything she had done.
But not yet.
For now, I had to play my role. I had to endure this burning rage inside me and wait for the right moment.
She may think sheâs untouchable, but she has no idea that her end is coming.