Hacker Community

Nestled right by the Lotus River, the Empire Apartment boasted not only a prime location but also an air of exclusivity. 

Securing a unit in this luxurious complex required more than just deep pockets; it demanded sheer determination and a sprinkle of luck. It wasn't a place for just anyone. Even if you were swimming in cash, unless the apartment's developer gave you a nod, it remained an unattainable dream. 

And in Mel's case, luck was on her side. Thanks to her long-standing friendship with Alex Hill, she had secured her own spot within these luxury places.

Stepping out of the taxi, Mel quickened her pace toward the building's entrance. Winter's icy chill wasn't her cup of tea, especially not when she was wearing a party dress that was more suited for a summer breeze. She hustled into the building, eager to escape the biting cold.

In a short time, Mel arrived at the 29th floor. She used the exclusive elevator particularly provided for residents of the 29th and 30th floors. There were only two apartments on those floors. It felt like the floor was her private property; she never even caught a glimpse of her neighbors.

After entering the password and going through a quick fingerprint scan, the door opened, and the room was flooded with light. 

Mel went straight to her computer room. Inside, a row of 15 high-tech computers stood neatly aligned alongside the necessary office equipment. Stepping into this room was akin to entering an airport control center, where she could work while basking in the breathtaking views of the city beyond the window.

Mel settled into the commanding chair without bothering to change her dress. Her mind was consumed by a flurry of codes awaiting her touch. With a swift motion, she pressed the 'ON' button, and like magic, every computer in the room whirred to life. 

And tonight, she wants to complete the program she is working on, called 'AI, Personal Assistant,' which has been delayed for months. Despite the delay, her resolve was burning—she was determined to finish it tonight.

Her fingers danced nimbly across the keyboard, tapping out various codes that played vividly in her mind. She was so absorbed in her work that she was utterly oblivious to the fireworks outside, coloring the sky in bursts of color—a sign that a new year had arrived.

After several hours had passed, a smile finally graced her pale face. Pushing back from her chair, she stretched her hands and gave her stiff fingers a break, all while the computers continued their diligent tasks.

Mel exited the computer room, making her way to the kitchen for a much-needed sip of her favorite juice. After hours of sitting, her thirst and hunger had crept in. Savoring her juice sip by sip, she then stood by the expansive glass window, gazing out at the park nestled next to the River. Empty now, the park still bore the remnants of last night's New Year's celebration: a bit of a mess left behind.

Her attention shifted to the sky. Gradually, the heavens transformed from inky darkness to a gentle light, signaling the dawn of a new day. 

"Happy New Year, Mel!" she cheered, her own voice ringing in her ears. "Let's make this year even better, shall we? Let's give it our all!"

She needed to do so many things this year and felt good just by imagining them.

However...

A wave of drowsiness washed over her a short while later her eyelids grew heavy like lead. Yielding to the weariness, she sank into the soft sofa, her eyes closing swiftly. And before she knew it, she was lost in sleep.

After a while...

"Hello, Boss!"

Mel's eyes were wide open at the sound of a robotic yet male voice. Excitement bubbled up within her as she replied, "You're done?"

"Indeed, Boss."

"Unbelievable!"

Mel jolted to her feet and dashed to the computer room. Settling into her commanding chair without a second's delay, she launched into rapid keyboard typing, eyes fixed keenly on the monitor.

After a few minutes, she rose again. Tension knitted her brows as she paced the room, her face etched with concern.

Before too long, a cheerful "DING" echoed. The sound she had been eagerly awaiting.

"Hey there, Max. From now on, consider yourself my Virtual Assistant," Mel declared with a joyous lilt, her eyes sparkling as they locked onto the computer screen. Finally, the program he painstakingly crafted was completed.

"Thank you, Boss," Max responded, his tone no longer mechanical. Instead, it now held the warmth and inflection of a young man.

"Alright, time to put your system to the test and see if it's flawless," she said, back into her seat in front of the computer.

"Sure thing, Boss!"

"First off, log into the hacker community."

The hacker community site appears on the screen in a blink, and the 'Queen' account logs in automatically.

"Nicely done, Max!" Her grin widened. "Now, initiate a program scan and start the self-learning process. I'll buzz you when I'm in need."

"Absolutely, Boss!"

Mel couldn't help but wear her happiness on her face. The success of creating Max—a formidable AI Virtual Assistant—filled her with boundless joy. From here on out, Max would be right there by her side, wherever she went, to assist her.

...

Mel's gaze was fixed on the Hacker Community on her computer screen. It had been quite a while since she had last visited the site.  Feeling a wave of curiosity about the latest updates, she browses the web. 

Before long, a particular post about Black and Queen grabbed her attention: 'Can Black beat Queen?'

A smile of satisfaction spread across her face, realizing that her name was making waves in the hacker circles. With anticipation, she began delving into the comments under the article...

[Eagle Eyes] I prefer @Queen; she's been at the top of the world's TOP Hackers for a long time.

[SnakeInTheHole] @Black the dark horse. I support you!

[HellMeBaby] Call @Queen ... let's challenge @Black !!

[LostInTheCity] @Queen is old and outdated. She should be retired. The fact that she rarely appears to the world is proof.

"What?! I'm too old?! If only you had known my actual age, you guys would have fainted!" Mel scolds them while shaking her head.

[GrimReaper] @QUEEN FOREVER !! I LOVE YOU, QUEEN !! Please reply to my D.M.!

[Eagle Eyes] @GrimReaper You Wish Man L.O.L.!!

[RainInTheHell] @Black seems more impressive than @Queen; I heard from a reliable source Black has broken into Queen's defense.

[GrimReaper] @RainInTheHell Are you sure? Where is the evidence??? Don't talk BS, Man!

[Maximus] @RainInTheHell, don't spread HOAX!

Mel couldn't help but chuckle at their silly comments. With a slight shake of her head, she closed the post. Her gaze then drifted to the upper right corner of the website, where an envelope icon indicated the presence of over 100 unread messages.

"Why are they flooding my inbox? How on earth do these people have so much time to waste on spam?" 

She clicked on the envelope icon without delay, hoping to find some exciting messages.

Her inbox was usually filled with job offers, though she continuously filters them. Only the legal job offer and those offering top-tier payment captured her attention.

"GrimReaper?" Her eyes locked onto a message from the persistent GrimReaper. This person had an uncanny determination to reach out to her. Usually, she would ignore him, but today, for some reason, she nonchalantly opened the message. To her astonishment, the email was composed in Russian.

"Tsk, this Russian dude's tossing a billion for a job?" A smile appears at the corners of her lips as she types her response to GrimReaper's email, this time in Russian.

***

Hey GrimReaper,

Don't waste my time. Give me the details in one email. I will contact you if I am interested!

Q

***

After sending off her response to GrimReaper, she resumed sifting through her emails. Before long, her eyes locked onto an email with a sender named BLACK.