Love on the Fast Track (Derek and Norah)

Chapter 285:

Norah triumphantly seized the top spot on the hacking leaderboard, dethroning C and reigning supras the

number one hacker. For years before Norah's rise, C had maintained dominion over the leaderboard with

unwavering skill.

Norah, however, paid little attention to the individuals populating the leaderboard. Her routine, upon logging in,

was simple: she perused the forum, stayed updated on the latest hacker community news, and caught up on

global affairs. With nonchalant ease, she'd tackle challenges or devise her own before signing off.

Previously intrigued by C's sudden change in username, Norah found herself compelled to delve deeper into his

background. Unexpectedly, their initial encounter blossomed into an unlikely friendship, leaving their mutual

investigation of each other hanging in suspense. She even offered guidance for C's pursuit of a girlfriend, sharing

her insights and strategies to aid him in his romantic endeavors.

Now that C had finally been with the girl he desired, Norah couldn't help but share in his happiness. Beyond

hacking discussions, their conversations had dwindled. After agreeing to collaborate on a few challenges, Norah

glanced at the time, realizing it was growing late. Gently, she proposed bidding farewell.

With another task demanding her attention that night, Norah swiftly shifted her focus away from their chat.

Exiting the hacker forum, she seamlessly infiltrated the network region of the Breaker, blending effortlessly into

the digital landscape with precision and finesse.

Next, she focused on their chat system, the clandestine website infamous for arms trading. Swiftly breaching its

defenses, she uncovered ongoing discussions regarding the rendezvous point for the illicit transaction.

The deal was scheduled for one o'clock in the morning the following day, set to take place at an abandoned

factory beside the Rushfall River. Norah's brow furrowed in disappointment as she realized her hopes for

executing the heist tonight were dashed. It seemed she would need to exercise patience and wait until the

following day.

Recognizing the skillfully crafted nature of the Breaker's chat system, designed by seasoned professionals, Norah

chose a strategic approach. To ensure a smooth heist for the arms the following day, she discreetly planted a

Trojan virus within the system, intending to address it in the days ahead.

As she navigated through the secretive website, accessible only via specific usernames and passwords, Norah

noted its average structure, observing several system vulnerabilities scattered throughout. With calculated

precision, she injected several of her custom-made worms into the system. These subtle intrusions weren't

designed to cause significant damage but rather to disrupt the programmers’ workflow, ensuring they would be

forced to work overttonight.

The Breaker’s rise and power were deeply intertwined with the shadowy world of arms trading.

Through shrewd dealings, the Breaker had amassed an extensive arsenal and lucratively redistributed it,

accumulating an astronomical fortune in the process. Norah let out a cold snort as she recalled the thirty million

dollars Sean had been swindled out of, her determination hardening.

Intent on exacting her revenge, she plotted to preemptively hijack the batch of arms, delivering a severe blow to

the Breaker. With precision, she swiftly navigated to the international dark web marketplace, a realm where illicit

and highly valuable commodities were traded, setting the stage for her next move.

As she logged in, her eyes were immediately drawn to a prominent post on the homepage, sparking her curiosity

and setting the wheels of her next endeavor into motion.

“High price purchase of Rejuvenation Powder. Lg for $6,000, looking for bulk quantities!” the offer blared across

the screen, hinting at a lucrative opportunity that piqued Norah's interest.

The sight of the post made Norah's eyebrows rise in surprise. Earlier that day, she had discussed the potency of

Rejuvenation Powder with Sean. Now, stumbling upon a post regarding it in the depths of the black market, her

curiosity deepened.

Rejuvenation Powder held an incalculable value. For mercenaries, the ultimate goal of any mission was not

merely success, but survival. Renowned as a miracle drug, Rejuvenation Powder was celebrated for its

exceptional ability to staunch bleeding.

Those wounded who utilized the powder found themselves equipped to either make a swift escape or undergo a

significantly accelerated recovery process. Within the labyrinth of the black market, a plethora of goods

tantalized buyers, yet distinguishing the authentic from the counterfeit proved to be a daunting task in the

online realm. The pervasive risk of falling victim to scams loomed large, adding an extra layer of complexity to

every transaction.

As Norah browsed through the offerings, something caught her eye, stirring a heightened sense of curiosity and

intrigue. The Snow Flower, a prized medicinal herb cultivated in the frosty, snow-clad regions, boasting effects

akin to ginseng, captured Norah's attention. Renowned for its exceptional tonic properties and potent medicinal

benefits, it held the promise of untold potential.

Norah scrutinized the shipping address, noting it was located in Otland, a detail that added an intriguing layer of

context to her discovery. One Snow Flower commanded a staggering price tag of around one million dollars, its

delicate bloom comparable in size to that of a baby’s fist. However, for a specimen as large as a woman's fist,

the price could skyrocket by an additional two million dollars or more, underscoring its rarity and value in the

marketplace.

It dawned on Norah that the Snow Flower could serve a dual purpose, potentially utilized for her pharmaceutical

manufacturing right in Otland, a serendipitous alignment of opportunity that heightened her interest even

further. Without hesitation, she swiftly reached out to the seller, expressing her keen interest in acquiring all the

Snow Flower.