The Trap

Lassen was sprawled on his couch, a novel in hand, while the system buzzed in his mind. A sarcastic voice broke the silence.

[Host, we have a problem… or rather, a potential source of entertainment. A hacker group known as "Shadow Code" has decided to uncover your identity.]

Lassen furrowed his brows before raising an amused eyebrow.

"Shadow Code? Seriously? These guys go after politicians and millionaires, and now they're interested in me?"

[Apparently, your sudden fame has piqued their curiosity. They tweeted their intentions an hour ago.]

The system projected an illusory screen displaying a message from Shadow Code's official account:

"We accept the challenge. Monsieur X, prepare yourself. Shadow Code will uncover who you are."

Lassen burst out laughing.

"Oh, this is too good. These guys think they can intimidate me? System, tell me we can mess with them."

[It would be my pleasure. How about a series of absurd false leads?]

Lassen set his book down and sat up. "I love it. Pitch me your idea."

[We'll make them believe that Monsieur X is an illiterate old man living in a secluded cabin in France. IP addresses, metadata, everything will be falsified to lead them astray.]

Lassen let out a boisterous laugh. "That's perfect. Imagine their faces when they proudly announce to the world that a grandpa who can't even read is behind all this."

[And you call this maturity? Very well. Allow me to set the stage.]

---

Two days later, Shadow Code went live to reveal their "discovery."

The video began with dramatic graphics and a deep voiceover proclaiming:

"The mystery of Monsieur X has finally been solved."

The group's leader, known by the pseudonym "Cipher" stepped into the frame, wearing a black mask with red patterns that concealed his face.

"After a thorough investigation, we have determined that Monsieur X is neither a lone genius nor an AI. He is a man named Jean-Pierre Dupont, living in a remote village in France. Here is the proof" Cipher declared confidently.

On screen, they presented:

Fake logs and IP addresses pointing to a small house in a French hamlet.

"Incontrovertible" metadata.

A blurry photo of an elderly man in a beret, smiling innocently outside a wooden cabin.

Cipher concluded with dramatic flair:

"Monsieur X is not a genius. He's just an ordinary man being manipulated by others. The truth is always more mundane than we think."

---

The revelation immediately went viral. Sensationalist media outlets picked up the story without question.

"Mystery Solved: Monsieur X is an Elderly Frenchman," read one headline.

"Jean-Pierre Dupont: A Hidden Genius or the Biggest Fraud of the Century?" speculated another.

Social media erupted with reactions. Some users were outraged, calling it a conspiracy, while others mocked Shadow Code mercilessly.

One user posted: "Jean-Pierre Dupont, the new hero of rural France. Coming soon to Netflix."

Memes flooded the internet.

One image depicted "Jean-Pierre" with complex equations scribbled on the walls of his cabin, captioned:

"When you solve Collatz between rounds of pétanque."

Another showed Shadow Code with their heads bowed, captioned: "When your big reveal becomes the joke of the year."

---

Alex, seated at his desk, looked over at Lassen with a smirk. "Master, Shadow Code just destroyed their own reputation by going after… Jean-Pierre Dupont."

Lassen, still laughing, grabbed his phone. "System, open Twitter. I'm going to teach them a lesson."

The system complied, and Lassen dictated his message:

"So, according to Shadow Code, I'm an illiterate old man? Fascinating. Imagine what I could achieve if I learned to read. Congratulations on your brilliant investigation."

Within seconds, the tweet went viral. Thousands of reactions poured in.

"I'M CRYING WITH LAUGHTER."

"Monsieur X, king of the clapback."

"Shadow Code, you just got roasted on a global scale."

The hashtag #ShadowCodeFail shot to the top of worldwide trends.

The media quickly changed their tune, publishing articles mocking Shadow Code:

"Shadow Code Fooled by Monsieur X: A Lesson in Humility."

"The Tweet That Humiliated Famous Hackers."

On TV talk shows, experts dissected the debacle.

One analyst remarked: "Shadow Code clearly underestimated Monsieur X. That tweet demonstrates sharp wit and unshakable confidence in the face of scrutiny."

Even celebrities joined in the ridicule.

A popular comedian quipped: "Shadow Code spent a week tracking down an old man. Monsieur X should teach masterclasses on how to humiliate your enemies without lifting a finger."

---

Back at the studio, Lassen was still laughing as he scrolled through memes and reactions. Alex, ever the professional, said

"Master, you've just dismantled the reputation of a globally renowned hacker group."

Lassen shrugged. "Not my fault they fell for it. Honestly, it was too easy."

[Host, you have officially mastered the art of creating chaos without lifting a finger] the system chimed in with its usual mocking tone.

Lassen smiled, satisfied. "I know. Now, find me another playground to have fun in."