A New Prey

After relentless learning and practice, Max ascended to an advanced level in cyber security, becoming a formidable, albeit secretive, figure in the global hacking community. He mastered sophisticated techniques in penetration testing, reverse engineering, and cryptanalysis. His ability to exploit vulnerabilities in systems and networks made him a top contender in the cyber underworld, adopting the new identity of "Maximus."

Max's reputation grew quickly. He was ranked among the top ten hackers globally, yet he remained anonymous, hiding his true identity behind layers of digital anonymity. His prowess extended to manipulating data flows and bypassing intricate firewalls with ease. In the shadows, Max continued to hone his abilities without anyone's knowledge.

A few days later, Max was watching the news on TV.

"There have been many missing cases in our city lately, many children and adults are going missing," the reporter said.

"The journalist trying to uncover the truth has also gone missing. Is it the same group responsible? What is their goal? Let's ask one of the best psychological doctors, Mr. John Melvin, for his thoughts."

"Hello, Mr. Melvin. Please tell us, what is this group of people trying to accomplish?" the TV reporter asked as the camera turned to the elderly man in a clean black suit.

Mr. Melvin replied, "As you mentioned, there seems to be a group's involvement. From my experience, it's likely this group takes pleasure in killing and torturing people, or they are kidnapping people for organs, or supplying them to someone else for some benefit. I'd bet on the last one. Please be safe. Avoid going out alone at night. Parents, keep your kids safe. We hope our police department handles this soon. Until then, please stay safe."

"What is our city police department doing?" Max's mom asked.

"Max, be careful out there, and make sure to share this with your friends too," she said.

"I'll do that, Mom. It's getting late. I'll get going," Max replied.

He met up with Cedric on the train, and they talked about the missing people case, as Cedric had also watched the news.

As they got off the train and walked toward the school, Max decided to look into the case after school. He didn't want anyone to suffer from this in the future, especially his loved ones.

After a fun day at school, teasing Gwen and chatting with Cedric, Max headed home in the evening. Saying goodbye to his friends.

he opened his laptop and started collecting all the data related to the case from media, articles, and even police servers. With a wide grin on his face, he thought, "Let me see who my next prey is,"

"I'm excited to know who you are and what you've got."