Getting A System In A Modern World

305  Vs Black Hand (III), A Small Victory

The sprawling Mediterranean mansion was usually a sanctuary of calm and control, a symbol of the Black Hand's dominance over the world.

But tonight, the conference room within its hidden depths was thick with tension and panic.

Some members of the Dark Council, the highest echelon of the Black Hand, were gathered and seated around the long obsidian table, their faces ashen and tight with anger.

Multiple screens displayed the ongoing chaos. Global protests had grown larger and more volatile. Headlines scrolled across news channels:

"The Black Hand Exposed: Evidence of Global Conspiracy Emerges."

"Silicon Valley Under Fire: G00gle, Arpple, and Microsuft Implicated."

"Leaked Documents Tie World Leaders to the Black Hand."

Even world leaders—the President of the United States, the British Prime Minister, and the Chinese Premier—were now being questioned about their alleged involvement.

Each one had denied the allegations, but their faces were plastered across every major news outlet, under scathing accusations of corruption and complicity.

In New York, protesters swarmed G00gle's towering headquarters. In Beijing, Arpple's flagship store was vandalized by furious demonstrators. In London, Microsuft's iconic offices were under siege from activists demanding answers.

"It's spreading too fast," Selena hissed, her voice tight with fury. "This isn't just some random leak. This is coordinated. Someone has access to everything—our corporations, our governments, even our private communications!"

Cortez slammed his fist on the table, his voice a thunderclap in the tense room. "We are being dismantled piece by piece. Whoever this is, they have declared war on us. If we don't strike back now, we lose everything!"

Damian, the Council's cyber warfare specialist, cleared his throat. His thin, sharp features betrayed none of the nervous energy rippling through the room. "We can still shift the narrative. If they want chaos, we'll give them chaos on our terms."

He stood, pointing to a map of global infrastructure systems projected on one of the larger screens. "Power grids, financial systems, transportation networks—these are our targets.

If we disrupt key systems in the countries with the largest protests, we can create enough confusion to divide public outrage. They'll be too busy dealing with the fallout to focus on us."

Selena frowned, her usually composed exterior cracking. "You're suggesting we sabotage the very systems we rely on? Are you insane?"

Cortez interrupted, his voice low and deadly. "Do you have a better idea, Selena? Damian, proceed."

"Good," Damian said as he glanced at Selena, before leaving the the conference room and the building.

He immediately put a call through to his trusted people and the mission began in the earnest.

Within the hour, Damian's team of elite hackers deployed the Black Hand's greatest weapon—its control over the world's most critical systems.

In New York, power grids failed across Manhattan, plunging the city into darkness. Subway trains screeched to a halt, stranding thousands.

Emergency services scrambled to contain the growing panic as looters took advantage of the blackout.

In London, global banks connected to the Black Hand's network were hacked, wiping millions of accounts clean and creating mass financial hysteria.

It was shocking when the citizens of London saw massive and widespread debit alerts from their banks. It felt like a joke and someone spamming these messages to create more chaos buy when they checked their accounts and saw it empty, they blew their tops.

In Beijing, airports were grounded as air traffic control systems went offline. Flights were canceled, stranding tens of thousands of travelers.

The chaos was deliberate, a smokescreen to divert attention from the leaks. Black Hand-controlled media outlets quickly pivoted, pushing narratives of "foreign cyberterrorism" and "coordinated corporate sabotage."

****

Far below the surface in his fortified underground facility, Silas watched the chaos unfold across dozens of holographic displays.

Each attack, each disruption, and each attempt to shift the narrative appeared in real-time.

"They're running out of options," Silas muttered, his expression calm yet cold.

{Master, the attacks are targeting critical infrastructure in high-protest zones. They are escalating rapidly. Do you wish to engage the countermeasures?} Luna's voice was steady, free of concern.

"Engage," Silas replied, his eyes sharp as they darted across the displays. "Reroute the compromised systems through our secure networks.

Let's stabilize the situation before it spirals further. And while you're at it, trace the origins of the attacks."

{Understood. Activating fail-safes now. Countering Black Hand's infiltration... tracing origin nodes... complete. Locations identified.}

In moments, Luna's precision dismantled the Black Hand's carefully orchestrated chaos.

Power grids in New York were rerouted, restoring electricity within minutes. Bank accounts in London were encrypted and restored, with Luna issuing automated messages to account holders apologizing for the "technical glitch."

Beijing's air traffic systems were brought back online, with Luna locking the Black Hand out of their own malware. n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Luna was done with everything but Silas wasn't finished.

"Luna, expose the source of the attacks. I want every hacker working for the Black Hand identified. Let the world see who's pulling the strings."

{Deploying data now. Done. High-priority targets had already been exposed to global intelligence agencies and is being broadcasted around the world.}

Within hours, news outlets around the world were broadcasting the identities of the Black Hand's top hackers.

Photos, locations, and incriminating evidence flooded the airwaves. Interpol issued arrest warrants, and governments launched raids on Black Hand operatives.

---

The chaos only added to the desperation in the Mediterranean mansion. The Dark Council reconvened, their earlier confidence shattered.

Damian's chair was conspicuously empty; news had just broken of his arrest in a covert raid by French authorities.

Selena glared at Cortez, her voice trembling with anger. "Our best hackers are being arrested, our assets are frozen, and our operations are falling apart. We are losing control, Cortez! We need to fight back!"

Cortez clenched his fists, his jaw tightening. "What do you think I'm trying to do, Selena? This isn't the time for panic. We have—"

Another notification flashed on the screen before him. He froze, reading the headline with growing dread:

"Global Humanitarian Funds Surge as Black Hand Offshore Accounts Seized."

---

In his command center, Silas stood with his arms crossed, watching as Luna executed the next phase of his plan.

{Master, phase two is complete. Offshore accounts totaling $50 billion have been frozen. An additional $20 billion has been rerouted to global aid organizations. Black Hand shell companies have been exposed and seized by regulators.}

"Excellent," Silas said, his voice steady. "Release the documents detailing their money-laundering schemes. Let the banks and governments see just how deep their corruption goes."

{Releasing documents now. The financial impact will escalate.}

The effects were immediate. Governments worldwide froze Black Hand assets, while global banks severed ties with implicated corporations. Charitable organizations began receiving anonymous donations from the seized funds, further enhancing public goodwill toward the anti-Black Hand movement.

---

At the mansion, Cortez sat slumped in his chair, his face pale and drawn. Selena had stormed out, her fury barely contained, while the remaining council members avoided eye contact.

"We're finished," one of them muttered, his voice barely audible. "This... this is the end."

Cortez refused to accept it. Slamming his fist on the table, he growled, "No. This isn't over. Whoever's behind this, we will find them, and we will make them pay."

---

Back in his facility, Silas leaned forward, his expression calm but resolute. On the screens before him, the Black Hand's empire crumbled in real-time. Their assets were frozen, their operatives exposed, their influence dismantled.

"This is what happens when you overreach," Silas murmured to himself. "No one is untouchable. Not even the Black Hand."