“This is the following list of people who are suspected of committing crimes against the security system of a large company.”
Alice heard her name mentioned on the list. Even the photo recorded on her ID card was displayed on the news. She didn’t know how many million people were looking at her photo right now. Besides, her photo was the most striking among the others. Because the other suspect was a man, while she was a woman.
Alice swallowed her saliva with difficulty. Luckily, she had changed her identity and her photo in the hotel data that she was currently staying with Hiro. She would be safe there for a while. She couldn’t move, especially after checking the condition of Hiro who seemed to be locked in the game.
Alice moved her body to lock all the doors in the room, then closed the previously open glass window, which directly faced the main building of the Last Shelter Online’s control office. She had to raise her guard or someone would arrest her.
Even though this wasn’t her doing, still if the IT FBI worked hard and managed to uncover the historical record of her android bracelet, she would still be counted as a violator for what he had done for Hiro so far. Whatever the reason, she must not be caught.
“This is a mess.” Alice checked the refrigerator, and she was relieved to find that there was still plenty of packaged food in there. It was enough to last a month. She hoped that the real culprit would be caught within that time.
Alice sat back in her chair, facing the super computer that was still working on processing the data. She recently made modifications to the system she used to break into the Last Shelter Online’s security so that she could temporarily replace the AI ??of Spyro.
Alice realized that the Last Shelter Online’s data had just been scrambled. However, the one who scrambled the data didn’t destroy anything in it. It was so neat that she could guess that a new world had formed in the game. Everything was as easy as turning the palm of the hand. All data was just an array of numbers that could be scrambled to create something new. It was like the evolution that occurred in humans according to Darwin’s theory, only the process was much faster.
“Who did it? It can’t be an ordinary person.” Alice thought while tapping her finger on the table anxiously, waiting for the process to finish. She felt that the assumption of Dr. Jeff Johnson was right. Only the insiders could do that. Only the insider could scramble the Last Shelter Online’s data so quickly without damaging it one bit, as if he had a copy of it.
Alice realized something. There was only one name that popped into her head. And she was very sure that the man was the culprit.
“Gary.”
The reason Alice became one of the suspects was her work history. She used to be a worker in the game’s security development department long before the game was announced to be released to the public. However, Alice resigned shortly after Yuujin’s death. That alone was a solid reason to suspect someone.
There was one person who once asked her to make a deal. He was also an employee of the same company, Gary.
…
That incident happened several months ago. It was before Alice decided to resign and flew to Japan to find someone who could help her uncover Yuujin’s death.
“You’re just going to leave after what happened?” Gary, the young man who became Dr. Jeff Johnson’s favorite because of his intelligence in mastering computers and everything in it, so that they could create their own world using. He came to Alice who had just packed her things that night.
“You think I won’t do anything after everything that has happened? You think I’ll just shut up?” replied Alice in a snarl. She even threw her employee card at Gary who reflexively caught it with his right hand.
“Is this an insult? You don’t know how I struggled to get this employee card?” Gary smacked the empty table in front of Alice. It surprised the girl. The two of them were in a room filled with computer screens of various shapes, from thin, convex, and even sticking to the wall.
Alice closed her eyes to calm herself. She didn’t want to stay in that place any longer. “They killed him. They killed Yuujin,” the girl hissed furiously. Her pupils quivering with hatred as she stared at Gary who stared back at her with a calm and flat gaze.
“Is that the reason you left? Didn’t I warn you not to be with that guy? He doesn’t even care about himself.” Gary’s hand moved to stroke Alice’s hair, which had fallen over her face. His gaze softened again. From the start, he did have special feelings for the girl. Long before, Alice knew Yuujin.
“We’re the murders, Gary. You know that, don’t you? I don’t want to be here just to kill people. I’d rather be unemployed and live on the street than have to do this dirty job.” Alice snapped Gary’s hand away. To her, Gary had always been her best friend. No more than that. Even though she knew Gary wanted more than just friends. Yet, she never returned his feelings.
“Not. I didn’t kill anyone. That’s their business. I just work in front of my computer.” Gary dodged Alice’s words.
“And you let Yuujin die by working in front of that computer of yours.” Alice couldn’t hold back her tears anymore. Her heart was already being pressed hard. She hated herself so much for not being able to do anything.
“He killed himself.” Gary’s reply made Alice look at him in disbelief. She shook her head reflexively.
“They have also brainwashed you, huh? Gary, we were both there. We hear what they’re up to. Now you think it’s all just a suicide? Did you accidentally scramble your own brain memory while working?” Alice walked past Gary, hitting him roughly on the shoulder on purpose. However, Gary still tried to stop her. He pulled Alice’s hand.
“Stay. If you want to take your revenge for Yuujin’s death, you’d better do it with me,” said Gary again, forcing Alice to look at him. He had brought his face closer to kiss the girl forcibly, but the tomboyish Alice couldn’t just stay still. With all her might, she kicked Gary’s genital until the man rolled onto the floor.
“I don’t need you, Gary.” The girl walked back to the door. However, Gary shouted at her just before she passed through the sliding glass door.
“Fine! If you don’t want my help, don’t ask for my forgiveness when I beat you later, Alice! This is my last warning!”
…
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