2

Castillo cleared his throat, bringing her focus back to the present. "We're moving the operation to the conference room. The team's already assembled." He stood, and Lucy followed suit, her mind racing with the implications of what she'd just read. As they stepped out into the bullpen, a wave of murmurs rippled through the room. The subordinates had gathered, their expressions a mix of anticipation and trepidation. They knew the gravity of the situation, the weight of the specter that loomed over their city.

The conference room was a beacon of order amidst the chaos, its gleaming surface reflecting the serious faces of the team members. Lucy felt a twinge of doubt as she took her seat next to Yang. He looked up from his own case file, his gaze sharp and unyielding. Despite her lack of field experience, she had the confidence that came with her technical expertise. She knew that she could navigate the digital maze that was Spectre's domain.

TitanTech's logo, a titanium titan staring back at her from the projector screen, was a stark reminder of the weight of their mission. The company had been brought to its knees by the ransomware attack, and the clock was ticking on the deadline for the ransom payment. If they didn't act fast, the information Spectre held would be released to the public, sending shockwaves through the tech world.

"We have to assume they've inserted backdoors," Lucy said, her voice firm amidst the murmurs of her colleagues. "The code patterns suggest persistent access, even after the ransom is paid." Her eyes met Yang's, and she could see the spark of understanding in them. He knew what she was saying, and he knew it was more than just a hunch.

But Captain Castillo waved her concerns away, his expression a blend of impatience and dismissal. "We're not here to play detective with the code," he barked. "Our job is to get the ransom paid and keep this under wraps. The tech world doesn't need another scandal." His words hung in the air like a thick fog, chilling Lucy's determination.

Yet, as the meeting progressed, she couldn't shake the feeling that they were missing a crucial piece of the puzzle. Spectre was known for their dramatic flair, but this level of sophistication and foresight was unprecedented. As the team discussed potential ransom drop points and negotiation strategies, Lucy's eyes kept drifting back to the code samples on her screen. There was something almost... taunting about the way the backdoors had been hidden.

The tension in the room was palpable, a silent battle between those who sought the truth and those who feared it. Her colleagues talked over each other, their voices rising in a crescendo of urgency. Yet, it was the silence from Yang that spoke the loudest. His eyes never left the case file, his thumb tracing the outline of a USB drive that could hold the key to the entire operation.

Lucy's thoughts raced as she dissected the code, each line revealing a new layer of complexity. The sophistication was unlike anything she'd seen in her training, a digital labyrinth designed to ensnare the unwary. The backdoors were cleverly disguised, a silent taunt to those who sought to undo Spectre's handiwork. She knew that if she could just find the pattern, the clue to unravel the mystery, she could outsmart the hacker.

"We're not going to get anywhere if we keep playing by the book," she said, her voice cutting through the cacophony. Castillo's eyes narrowed, and the room fell silent. The captain leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled under his chin. "We need to think like Spectre," Lucy continued, her words coming faster now. "If we can anticipate their moves, we might just get ahead of them."

Yang leaned forward, the ghost of a smile playing across his lips. "I think Lucy's onto something," he said, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "We should consider the possibility of a trap. Maybe the ransom isn't just about the money."

Castillo's expression shifted, his gaze shifting between Lucy and Yang. "Go on," he said, the words measured and careful.

"The code suggests they've been planning this for months," Lucy explained, her voice gaining confidence. "They've had time to lay traps, to plant false leads. We can't just follow the money. We need to understand their endgame."

Captain Castillo's gaze flitted between Lucy and Yang, the unspoken tension in the room thickening like a storm cloud. He leaned back in his chair, fingers tapping a staccato rhythm on the conference table. "Alright," he said finally, the word drawn out like a tightly coiled spring. "You've got twenty-four hours to come up with a plan. If you can find something solid, something that gives us a leg up, we'll reassess."

The room emptied out, the murmur of the team dissipating into the background as Lucy and Yang remained, the weight of the mission pressing down on their shoulders. Lucy took a deep breath, her eyes still on the USB drive that had captured her attention. "We need to check every server, every device we have on TitanTech," she said, her voice low and intense. "The pattern has to be there."

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***