Location: Bandung Reserve Bunker.
The sterile, blue-tinged light of the secure monitor illuminated Luky Pratama's face, softening the hard edges of his features for a brief moment. On the screen, the anxious faces of his family his mother, Nana, and his younger siblings, Adi and Sisi were a stark reminder of the very reason he was fighting this shadow war from the depths of a mountain.
"…Mom, Adi, Sisi, you should stay there for a while. You're safe there. Trust me," Luky's voice was a gentle but unwavering murmur through the encrypted speaker, a tone reserved solely for them.
"Luky, we're scared. What's really going on?" Nana Pratama's voice was thin with worry, her face pale and drawn on the high-definition screen.
"This is a complicated business, Mom," he replied, choosing his words carefully to inform without terrifying. "There are people who want to harm us because of money and power. But I'm handling it. You just have to do exactly what the security team there says. I promise I'll come and pick you up myself when everything is settled." His eyes locked onto the screen, pouring every ounce of reassurance he could muster into his gaze.
After a few more minutes of comforting words and promises, Luky ended the call. The moment the screen went dark, the gentle expression evaporated like mist, replaced by the granite-hard mask of a commander. The warmth in his eyes cooled into focused intensity. He turned away from the personal terminal and strode back into the heart of the subterranean command center, his presence immediately tightening the atmosphere.
"Status report on the data packet from The Lodge?" he demanded, his voice now stripped of all softness, returning to its natural authoritative and stern timbre.
"Just arrived, Boss," a sharp-eyed intelligence analyst reported from his station, not looking up from his console. "There are three heavily encrypted files. Our decryption arrays are working on them now. Estimated time to breakthrough: two minutes."
"Speed it up. Every second counts. I want that data deciphered and analyzed before Vogel and Xiang even suspect their pet weasel has turned on them," Luky ordered, his gaze sweeping across the room where a dozen of his most skilled operatives worked in synchronized silence.
He closed his eyes for a fraction of a second, turning his focus inward. "System. Give me a comprehensive wealth status update. I need to know our exact financial position down to the last dollar before we launch our offensive."
A series of crisp, digital chimes echoed in his mind, audible only to him.
Ting!
[System Confirming Request.]
[Collecting Data from All Registered Assets and Holdings...]
[Updating Real-Time Asset Values via Global Market Feeds..]
[Compiling Report...]
[Premium Wealth System Elite Status Report: User - Luky Pratama.]
[Time: 08:47 Zulu Time.]
[Total Identified & Liquidatable Assets: $144.8 Billion]
[Note: $500 Million increase logged from successful counter-maneuvers against Vogel's initial assault.]
[Strategic Projection: With the acquisition of new high-value intelligence and the full offensive capabilities of your Level 4 System privileges, projected losses can not only be reversed but converted into substantial profits. Estimated gain $15-20 Milion is achievable within the next 24-hour window, provided the executed attack is precise and multi-vectored.]
"Boss, the Lodge data is deciphered!" the intelligence analyst exclaimed, his voice a mix of shock and exhilaration. "This is… this is a complete treasure trove. It's everything."
"Put it on the main screen. Now," Luky commanded, his eyes narrowing as he focused on the massive central display.
Streams of critical data began to pour across the screen:
A comprehensive list of 23 secret shell companiesused by Eric Vogel to conceal his immense wealth and fund his black operations.
Detailed manifests and secret weapons shipping routes used by Xiang through volatile regions in Central Africa, complete with schedules, types of military hardware, and covert transfer points.
The account number and access codes for Vogel's primary Swiss bank vault, holding a staggering balance of $4.2 billion.
The physical and IP address of the Consortium's core communications server located in a high-security facility in Atlanta, the hub of all their internal coordination.
A slow, cold, and utterly humorless smile spread across Luky's lips. It was the expression of a predator sighting its prey. "Perfect. Flawless. *System!* We now have Level 4 access and the targets. Exploit this data. Launch a multi-pronged attack. Execute the following plan:
Prong one, codename: 'Digital Gold Rush'. Primary target: Vogel's Swiss account. I want it emptied. Every last cent.
Prong two. Compile Xiang's weapons routing data and anonymously send it to the local authorities in the relevant regions and to his top competitors in the arms market. Let them do the work for us.
Prong three. Attack the Atlanta server with the 'Counter-Hack Autonomous' protocol. I want their internal communications completely shredded and disrupted. Create total chaos."
Ting!
[Confirming Command Sequence...]
[Allocating Maximum System Resources...]
[Executing 'Digital Gold Rush' on Target Account: #VGL-CH-42B...]
[Covert Transfer Initiated. Estimate: 8 minutes to complete full $4.2 Billion transfer without triggering standard bank security alarms.]
[Compiling Anonymous Intelligence Package for Designated Authorities and Corporate Entities...]
[Package Sent via Untraceable Nodes. Estimated Time until External Confrontation Engages: 2-4 hours.]
[Launching 'Autonomous Counter-Hack' on Atlanta Server Cluster...]
[Cyber Attack Commenced. Method: Data Chaos Injection and Infinite Command Loop. Target Integrity Compromise Imminent.]
Luky moved swiftly to where Ariawan was coordinating logistics. "Ariawan, get our offensive legal team on high alert. The moment that $4.2 billion is secured in our encrypted digital vault, I want them to file an emergency motion to unfreeze all of our assets. They are to use this new capital as undeniable proof of liquidity and argue vehemently that all accusations are nothing but slanderous attacks from a desperate competitor trying to manipulate the markets."
"Understood, Boss! Consider it done!" Ariawan responded instantly, grabbing a secure headset to relay the commands to their team of high-powered attorneys.
Tense minutes ticked by, the only sounds the hum of servers and the frantic tapping of keyboards. Then, like rolling thunder, the reports began to arrive.
"The cyberattack on the Atlanta servers is a complete success!" the head of the cyber team shouted, punching the air. "Their internal network logs are showing complete and utter chaos! Communication channels are jammed with garbage data and recursive loops!"
Then, the report he was waiting for. "Vogel's fund transfer… we're at 50%... now 75%... Transfer Complete! The full $4.2 billion has been secured in our vault! It's ours!" a financial analyst exclaimed, a massive grin on his face.
Ting!
[Total Identified Assets Updated: $149.0 Billion.**]
[Increase of $4.2 Billion logged.]
A unified, triumphant "YES!" erupted from several people in the command center, a release of pent-up anxiety.
"Save the cheers!" Luky scolded, though a undeniable edge of satisfaction sharpened his voice. "This is just the first move. System, phase two. Now that we have the money, activate 'Wealth Phantom'. I want you to create a flawless, fake financial trail that makes it appear as if Vogel's 'stolen' funds were actually diverted to one of Xiang's shell companies in the Cayman Islands. Let them turn on each other."
Ting!
[Confirming...]
[Executing 'Wealth Phantom' Protocol...]
[Generating Fake Transaction Histories, Digital Receipts, and Transfer Orders...]
[Trail Successfully Planted within the partially compromised bank server logs. Credibility: 98.7%.]
"Boss, we're actively monitoring the Consortium's comms, what's left of them," the intelligence analyst called out, a laugh in his voice. "There's… there's screaming. Vogel is on a rampage! He's directly blaming Xiang for the heist! He's convinced Xiang betrayed him and stole his money!"
"Perfect," Luky whispered, the word a venomous sigh. The plan was working better than he had hoped. "Now, time to press the advantage. *System*, activate 'Oracle Protocol'. Analyze Vogel's patterns and predict his next move. Will he try to withdraw funds from another account to cover his immediate losses?"
Ting!
[Activating 'Oracle Protocol'...]
[**Analyzing Vogel's Historical Behavioral and Financial Patterns...]
[Monitoring Real-Time Activity Across His Financial Network...]
[Prediction: With a 93% Probability, Eric Vogel will attempt to move $1.5 Billion in reserve funds from his private account in Liechtenstein within the next 30 minutes to cover immediate operational and payroll obligations.]
[Recommendation: Prepare a second 'Digital Gold Rush' operation to intercept the transfer at the point of initiation.]
"Do it. Set the ambush. Let's take his emergency reserves too. Leave him with nothing," Luky ordered, his voice cold and steady.
He stood up, walking to the center of the room to stare at the main screen, which glowed with the proof of their success. His fortune wasn't just recovering; it was growing exponentially with every passing minute. The cracks in the Consortium's foundation, which he had carefully engineered, were now widening into devastating chasms.
"Ariawan, send a secure message back to The Lodge. Keep it simple: 'The first bounty has been received. Vogel is licking his wounds. Prepare the next data package. Primary target: Xiang.'"
"Message is away, Boss."
Luky took a deep, steadying breath. His emotions were a turbulent mix of euphoric triumph and deep, ingrained wariness. He walked to the reinforced glass wall that looked out into the deep, dark tunnel of the bunker, his own reflection a ghost over the abyss.
"System," he thought, his internal voice quiet and serious. *"Run a final analysis. Is there any possibility that this is an incredibly elaborate trap orchestrated by Lodge? A double-cross of this magnitude would be their style."*
Ting!
[Performing Deep-Level Probability and Integrity Analysis...]
[Cross-Referencing Provided Data with Independent Intelligence Feeds...]
[Conclusion: The Data Provided by Lodge is Genuine and has been Verified through External Action.]
[The Enemy's Reaction is Assessed as Organic, Chaotic, and Authentic.]
[Calculated Probability That This is a Deep-Cover Trap: 11%.]
[Recommendation: Remain at Maximum Vigilance. Continue to Exploit Their Internal Conflict for Maximum Gain. However, Prepare Full Blocking and Counter-Intrusion Protocols for All Lodge Communication Channels should any sign of treason be detected.**]
Luky gave a barely perceptible nod. An 11% risk was acceptable more than acceptable for the rewards on the table. It was a calculated gamble he was prepared to manage.
He turned back to face his team, his men and women who had followed him into the depths. "We've just won a major battle tonight. A decisive one. But never forget the war is far from over. They will try to rally. They will be angry, desperate, and therefore unpredictable. I am raising our vigilance condition to its highest level. I want every possible move they could make monitored, modeled, and prepared for. We will not give them a single moment to breathe, to think, or to recover."
The command center echoed with a determined, unified response. "Ready, Boss!"
Luky Pratama's eyes found the countdown timer displayed on a secondary screen: 18:32:05. It was still ticking down, a remnant of when he was counting the seconds to his own ruin. But now, it felt different. It felt like a countdown to the enemy's annihilation. He was no longer the hunted, the target hiding in a bunker. Armed with the secret arsenal of the Level 4 System and aided by allies from within the enemy's own ranks, he had become something else entirely.
He was the executioner.
"Operation Revenge has officially begun," he murmured to himself, and for the first time that night, a thin, cold, and truly terrifying smile finally graced his lips. "And this... this is only the beginning."