Chapter 14: Ben’s Downfall in the Capital

Before his departure to the capital, Ben took the time to call Pino. He informed him that he was leaving, despite not having permission or blessings from Mr. Rudi. With the belief that the capital would be the start of his success, Ben set off. However, deep inside, he still felt a burden. He recalled how much Mr. Rudi cared for him, how the old man treated him like his own son, and how foolish he had been to go against someone who had always loved him.

On the plane, Ben sat by the window, lost in thought as he watched the white clouds drift by. He imagined his new life in the capital—how he would start from scratch and prove to the world that he was more than just a street kid. Yet, behind all his confidence, anxiety lurked. He gripped his phone tightly, hoping Pino wouldn't break his promise to pick him up at the airport.

Upon arriving at the capital's airport, Ben waited for Pino's pickup. Time passed—hours went by without any word from Pino. Ben began to feel restless. Doubts started creeping into his mind. Had he been deceived? Was his decision to come to the capital a huge mistake? People around him moved with purpose, each heading toward their own destination, while he remained seated, waiting for something that might never come. He was about to decide to return to Mr. Rudi's city when Pino finally appeared, flashing his signature smile.

"Welcome to the capital, Ben!" Pino greeted enthusiastically.

Ben let out a sigh of relief, still trying to shake off the lingering worry.

They took a city bus to the heart of the capital. During the ride, Ben was mesmerized by the city's grandeur. Skyscrapers stood tall, traffic was packed with luxury cars, and the hustle and bustle of the people reflected a life far different from his previous town. Yet, beneath the glitz and glamour, Ben noticed something deeper—the weary faces, people rushing past without a glance, and the hidden corners of the city filled with the homeless.

Upon arriving at Pino's office, Ben was led into a rather luxurious room. Pino sat comfortably in his chair and began speaking at length.

"Ben, you're here now. This is the beginning of your success! I believe in your skills; together, we can achieve great things," Pino said confidently.

Ben nodded, but there was something in Pino's tone that made him hesitant. He felt as if he was being drawn into something much bigger than he had imagined.

"But first, I need to know just how skilled you are. I've heard you have a special talent in technology?" Pino looked at him with excitement.

Without suspicion, Ben began explaining his various abilities, including hacking, breaching security systems, and even remotely tapping into phones.

"For example, if I wanted to access a company's security system, I would first look for weaknesses in their network," Ben explained. "Usually, I start by scanning ports and checking if they have weak firewalls or careless administrators. After that, I can use the right exploit to break in."

Pino leaned back in his chair, clearly impressed. "What about phone tapping?"

Ben smirked. "There are many ways, but my favorite method is social engineering. I can send phishing emails or text messages with links that look official. Once the target clicks the link, their device downloads malware that gives me full access to their data—messages, calls, even their camera and microphone."

Pino's eyes gleamed. "That's incredible, Ben. With these skills, we can expose a lot of corruption."

Ben nodded, unaware that he was giving away valuable information to someone with hidden intentions.

Pino grinned widely. "Amazing, Ben. Skills like yours are rare. I want you to help me. We're targeting a very corrupt individual—someone who has abused power and embezzled a massive amount of money. I need your help to gather evidence and take him down."

Without much thought, Ben agreed. He believed Pino was a good person who wanted to fight crime. But in reality, Pino was manipulating him. Pino had recently been stripped of his position for embezzling state funds. His trip to Ben's city wasn't for official business—it was an escape from the law.

Day by day, Ben worked hard on his tasks. He hacked and sabotaged systems across various departments, even tapping into the phones and computers of high-ranking officials. He did all of it with full confidence that he was doing the right thing. However, one thing started making him rethink his situation—months had passed, yet he had never been paid.

Ben began to realize something was wrong. His savings were dwindling as he had to pay rent, food, and other necessities without any income. Pino even started borrowing money from him frequently. That night, Ben sat in front of his laptop, staring at the lines of code he had been working on. He started noticing oddities he had ignored before. Just as he was about to make a decision, his phone rang. It was a call from Mr. Rudi.

"Son, how are you doing in the capital?" Mr. Rudi's voice was warm, but there was an undeniable tone of concern.

Ben swallowed hard. He didn't want Mr. Rudi to know about his struggles. "I'm fine, sir. Don't worry."

Mr. Rudi was silent for a moment before speaking again. "Don't lie, Ben. I know you're having a hard time. If you need money, just say so, and I'll send it to you."

Ben gave a bitter smile, holding back tears. "I still have some savings, sir. I can take care of myself."

"Alright, son. But remember, if anything happens, you can always come home. I'll always be waiting for you here."

After the call ended, Ben became even more convinced that he had made a huge mistake by leaving his hometown. The next day, he decided not to go to Pino's office. His decision immediately raised Pino's suspicions.

Sensing that his cover was about to be blown, Pino hired some thugs to eliminate Ben. However, Ben had already anticipated his ill intentions. He had tapped Pino's phone and discovered his sinister plan. When the thugs arrived at his apartment, Ben quickly jumped out of the window and ran. A brief scuffle broke out, and one of the thugs managed to slash his arm with a knife. Blood gushed out, but Ben kept running.

With great effort, he made it to the train station. Injured and exhausted, he boarded a train to escape danger. Sitting in the corner of the carriage, he clutched his laptop tightly—inside it was evidence of Pino's crimes. He knew this wasn't over. He was determined to make Pino pay for everything that had happened.

But as the train began moving, his thoughts drifted back to Mr. Rudi. He remembered all their moments together—his advice, his reprimands, and his unwavering love. He felt ashamed to return home. Whether he liked it or not, he had to survive in the capital. No matter what, he had to move forward and take control of his fate.

Ben realized that his journey in the capital was far from over. He had to endure and find a way to take down Pino while clearing his own name. With newfound determination, he swore that this was not the end—but the beginning of his new fight.