Chapter 30 - Unmasking the Ghost
As Julian’s automated threat-hunting algorithms began tearing through the layers of polymorphic code, the AI core finally isolated the hacker's true entry point. On the central holographic display, a high-resolution geographic map of Europe lit up, tracing the digital ping directly back to an abandoned industrial basement on the outskirts of Zurich, Switzerland.
"Gotcha," Julian breathed, a triumphant smirk touching his lips as he initiated a counter-trace protocol designed to breach the hacker's local subnet and extract their personal metadata. "They thought they could hide behind anonymous proxy chains, but they left a micro-signature in their encryption keys—a personal coding style that only one man in the international cyber-underworld uses."
"Who?" Claire demanded, stepping closer to the screen.
"Henrik Vance," Julian replied grimly, pulling up a detailed dossier onto the main monitor. "Richard’s estranged cousin. Unlike Richard, Henrik isn't a corrupt corporate raider or a boardroom politician. He’s a certified black-hat cyber-terrorist who sells corporate secrets to international syndicates. He didn't want to buy Carver Global, Claire. He wanted to paralyze our foundation, ruin our public reputation with falsified embezzlement reports just like Viktor tried, and watch our entire empire collapse from the inside out."
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Augustus slammed his fist down onto the conference table with a resounding crash that rattled the porcelain teacups. "The Vances never learn," Augustus growled, his eyes blazing with lethal intent. "They think our family name is a target they can hunt down piece by piece. Julian, can we lock him out before he executes the payload?"
"Not just lock him out," Julian said, his eyes flashing with brilliant determination as he executed a series of counter-commands. "We’re going to turn his own trap right back against him."
