Episode 1

A computer screen, a command is being typed…

obdo inetstat -tulippn 30.0.0.0 limit 72.0.0.0  | grep LISTEN

With that it starts to list IPs.

At the Cyber Crime Unit, Region 7 of the Dakbayan General Directorate.  Major John de la Cruz sits as the acting commander while his chief was recalled to the Directorate General Headquarters (GHQ).

In front of him is a Community Councilor, with a cyber libel complaint. Robert Tan, in his 50s he looks more in his mid 30s.He would be in his early 20s from a teenage girl’s perspective, a total dream boy.

Major de la Cruz: councilor, how are you doing? How can I be of service?

The major smiles, like one of those customer service representatives.

Robert: I have this problem with one of our staff, who insulted me on social media, I want to get rid of her.

And the smile fades.

Major de la Cruz: Whoah! Get rid?

Realizing his wrong choice of words, Robert corrects himself.

Robert: That didn't go well did it?

The Major shook his head in disbelief. As the country is plagued with murders or assassination of suspected drug peddlers to drug lord levels. Plus, he is a distant relative of the country’s leader called a Supreme Datu. Datu Bulawan de la Cruz, the current Supreme Datu, is his father’s fourth cousin, and all of the murders or assassination of high profile criminals are blamed on him.

Major de la Cruz kept his composure, a training that he received from the Dakbayan Directorate Academy.

Major de la Cruz: We are not your henchmen, councilor, and I am not implying anything, but the way you said it, the language it sounds something else. Would you be more specific?

Robert: I'm sorry, that didn't go well. I want to sue her, for defaming me, she called me inutile, a homosexual. I mean I am a married man and with children. I have a wife and children for crying out loud.

Major de la Cruz: Do you have any evidence to support this? What is the person's name and social media page URL?

Robert: Yeah, but she deleted it yesterday. But we were able to get a screenshot of it. And I have witnesses who can attest to my claims.

Major de la Cruz: Normally I do not talk to complainants at this stage. But you being a politician, I am rather or we do give courtesy to our elected officials.

Robert: Thank you major. I was here earlier with Bobby Herasta who entertained me.

Another wrong choice of words by the councilor. But the major was rather amused, than annoyed.

Major de la Cruz: You mean one of our investigators. Senior Police Officer, or rather Sergeant Herasta.

Robert: Yes, I suppose so.

Major de la Cruz: He left to serve an arrest warrant similar to your issue. These guys are seasoned with these crimes, they'll get your guy… or woman.

Robert: Much appreciated major.

Major de la Cruz: Edwin… Can you hand me the councilor's file please?

Sergeant Edwin Berdin, hands over the complaint sheet. He has a dark skin color with a cropped haircut and a mustache. Unlike cops at his age of 31, he is surprisingly not fat, except for the beer gut.

You'll mistake him for a hitman or from the less educated slum area. Who seems to have only mischief and robbery in mind.

Sergeant Berdin: We won't have any progress on this, it would be best if you can give us the suspect's social media URL.

Robert: I do have it, but the screenshot is rather small and difficult to read.

Major de la Cruz: Sergeant Berdin here is our legal encyclopedia when it comes to your case.

Sergeant Berdin: Sir, would it be possible if you could send her page to me through messenger let me retrieve her actual social media page URL.

Robert: yeah sure.

Robert sends it to the investigator as they both exchange their social media accounts.

Robert: I heard you guys went above the passing mark of arrest and convictions last year 2019. So, I feel confident with you guys.

Major de la Cruz: I hate to burst the bubble if there is. But social media companies are not that cooperative, they are a pain.

Sergeant Berdin: In fact, we could not do much when all you have are social media. They hate law enforcement I think, and prefer to support the criminals.

Robert: What do you mean?

Sergeant Berdin, excused himself to check on the suspect's account.

Major de la Cruz: First of all, you said it was deleted, her post. Right? With that we cannot retrieve the post even if Law Enforcement needs it as evidence for prosecution.

Sergeant Berdin came back to the commander's desk as he was just a cubicle away.

Sergeant Berdin: Excuse me sir, the account of Jenny Lynn Villamar is indeed not a fake account. And indeed, we cannot find her post, based on your screenshot that you printed out.

Robert: Even with a court order?

Both policemen nod.

Robert: What about my witnesses.

Major de la Cruz: I think we will need a sworn statement from them.

Sergeant Berdin: Then we can request an arrest warrant, from the Jukom Man.

Robert: I can work that out, give me time to do that over the weekend and I'll get back to you on Monday.

Major de la Cruz: Just come on over and we'll have Berdin here look at your case.

Robert: Thank you major and sergeant.

What a way to start the New Year, a scandal, political drama, what else. Major de la Cruz thought to himself.

Elsewhere in Forge island…

A youth using a deep web browser searches for drugs online. Using the deep web list of websites. There was one that takes orders and deliveries for the entire country and one specifically for the island of Forge.

Unlike most websites that have an extension of dot com or dot net or other dots. This is a dot hideme.

http://395720482649.hideme

The heading for the site is 'Herbs, Organics, Synths and more.'

The website is designed like it was the early 2000 and late 90s design. But the site goes straight to the point. All of its products are laid out, and payment is in Bitcoin. It also has a shipping price list for the minimum order to the maximum order limit.

There is a filter drop down on top of the product list for product categories. He clicks on the select drop down and the categories are herbal, acids, synthetic and other organics. He clicks the herbs category.

And several pakame product packages are listed. Each with its own nickname or branding, and on the description column the amount of EphC.

He makes a test buy.

Then it gives him a privacy statement.

We recognize your privacy you may not enter your real name when purchasing our specialized herbal tea. But do take note of your name used.

It would be best to use a separate phone number, for your security and privacy.

Please always wait for the courier to text and deliver.

He clicks on ok to the Privacy Statement. Then it takes him to the form payment page.

He types Katok Iskalon, and cell number 09174218601, his current phone number, then he types in his home address and email address. On the form there is a checkbox that says 'This is my first purchase here'. He checks then click the submit button.

He is sent to the successfully purchased page with a message.

'Thank you for the support! Your herbal tea will be delivered. Please wait for a confirmation email.'

He receives an alert from his HyperMail. He opens the email. It says:

It is important that you read all of this.

We truly respect your privacy and thus recommend that you have a burner phone and have a separate and dedicated email apart from your standard business email.

This is to ensure that you will immediately read our alerts.

Not responding to our email in an hour voids your purchase, and is not refundable.

Please accomplish the email address the least. If this is the email address that you desire, you do not need to change anything.

Please take note or print this email as your reference of your account name and password.

Acct Name: iskatok20210108

Password:qw&(op82^!

Click here to go to your account profile.

He drills down on the link and is sent to an account profile page. He confirms the account settings of email address and phone number by clicking on the confirm button below the form.

While he was sent to the confirmation page, another email arrived. After confirmation he is sent to another thank you page.

Seeing another alert from his HyperMail. He opens the email with the subject, 'Delivery Instructions'.

This is your Reference # HRB0002021115mj

A courier will deliver a key for a business box, you can claim your product once the courier has given you the key.

Please read the instructions that come with the key.

Thank you for your support!

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