Thinking Like A Hacker

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty. It might seem like a shock to you but there was a mass murder in Forest Park last night. The police have locked down the place where you were yesterday. I think you won't be able to collect evidence on the spot. Unless you know a high-ranking police officer, you can probably only stay outside the police line like a bystander."

"Okay, let's talk about something else. The beer I drank yesterday was drugged. It had a large 'L' on it. Can you help me find out where this beer is sold?"

"Wait a minute – That brand was recently discontinued worldwide. Only some hardcore alcohol addicts and slum areas might still be selling it.

"It's one thing for a few companies to hold a social gathering in the park, but they're still drinking such tasteless alcohol. It's crazy.

"Also, I still want to remind you that your current position is a place where the police often hang out. It's very inappropriate for you to appear in public like this.

"But I want to know what's going on inside and see if there are any clues. At least I want to know what kind of opponents we're facing."

"Okay... Let me think. Please look around. Are there any closed-circuit televisions in your vicinity that can capture the scene?"

"Yes... There is one. It's quite high, I think it should be able to capture it clearly."

"Can you tell me its serial number?"

"N5961X. What do you want this for?"

"Please wait a moment..."

After a while, the camera came alive and turned in her direction. 

"Did you just hack that?" Catherine looked a little speechless. Just by telling him a series of numbers, he had actually hacked the camera for himself, in front of so many police officers.

"Please don't be shocked, Your Majesty. The first time I hacked the monitor of this model, it took me a whole half an hour. Later, I found that as long as I hacked one of the monitors of this model, I could have its administrative rights."

"Well done. I like it very much."

"Thank You, Your Majesty. I will contact Zero later to head towards your location. I will send all the clues and the surveillance video from the night of the incident to your work email. Please check it."

"Work email? Are you kidding me?"

"Of course, Your Majesty. But I personally think that your editor, Mr. Johnson, would like you to write a report on this major case and publish it."

"Oh, speaking of the report, I suddenly remembered something. What about the matter of the prosecution dropping the lawsuit."

"Your Majesty, please rest assured. The 'door gift' brought to the prosecution is enough to completely divert their attention from the innocent woman to the unknown group."

"Well, you are indeed steady and efficient. I really don't understand why a talented person like you has to go behind the scenes as a hacker."

"Everyone has their own choices, Your Majesty. It's just that the choices in front of me often seem so unsatisfactory."

Catherine seemed to be moved by the way the other side of the phone spoke.

"You're right, life is often unsatisfactory. We need to focus on public opinion first. We can make the police lose our scent by painting a target on someone else's back. Of course, if necessary, we can also cooperate with the supervisory authorities. After all, everyone likes money, right?"

"Not exactly. For example, the person who took you in is not someone who can be persuaded to stay with money."