Exploiting Minds

In the crisp October air of 2017, Zack and Karma took their first steps into the world beyond screens, transitioning their friendship from the digital realm to reality. It was during this pivotal meeting that Karma extended an invitation that would irrevocably alter Zack's trajectory.

With determination etched across her face, Karma voiced her proposal, her words ringing with purpose: "I want you as my teammate, Zack. I want you to be my partner in bug bounty hunting. Are you up for it?"

Zack, however, hesitated, his internal turmoil preventing him from revealing the truth about his own hacking skills. "I'm just a 'script kiddie,'" he confessed, vulnerability and self-doubt creeping into his voice. "I doubt I'd be of any real help to you."

Karma remained undaunted, countering Zack's hesitation with boundless generosity. "Come on, dude," she encouraged him. "What's the point of my presence in your life if I can't help you shed that 'script kiddie' title?"

She unveiled her staggering track record, boasting over 700 reported bugs as a bug bounty hunter—all this, achieved at the tender age of 19. Zack was left awestruck, his disbelief evident as he inquired, "How is that even possible at such a young age?"

Karma wove a tale of familial mentorship, claiming that her grandfather had initiated her into the world of hacking from a young age. She spoke of collaborating with her grandfather's friends, seasoned hackers who had imparted their wisdom to her. Zack, captivated by her story, took her words at face value.

Curious about her family dynamics, Zack asked why she wasn't living with her parents. Karma fabricated a narrative about her parents residing abroad for business reasons. Blinded by admiration, Zack didn't question the veracity of her responses, driven instead by his eagerness to learn from her.

As they conversed about their shared interests, Zack revealed a personal triumph: he had been accepted into a training camp with the organization known as "Cyber Detectives." His acceptance, though secured through dishonest means, was a source of immense pride for him, and he couldn't resist sharing his achievement with Karma, who genuinely celebrated his success.

Their city was a cacophony of opulence, showcasing ostentatious displays of wealth, lavish cars, and crowded bars filled with supermodels. While Zack had never aspired to such materialism, Karma's desires began to exert their influence on him. He found himself yearning for the very luxuries he had previously dismissed, and their friendship led him down a path of shifting priorities.

Amidst this transformation, Zack was blindsided by a revelation from Karma: "Our friendship is determined by money." "Our relationship is decided based on money." "Our consumption is determined by money." "Our respect is meted out based on money." "Our character is scrutinized solely based on money." "Our survival hinges on money."

Karma had successfully manipulated him, exploiting the vulnerabilities of his psyche. Her influence extended deep into his core, and he was gradually losing control over his own actions. He had become a puppet ensnared within her strings, unaware that his own commands had been overwritten.

Unbeknownst to Zack, he had unwittingly crossed the threshold into the realm of black hat hacking, entangled within Karma's intricate web of manipulation and influence. Their partnership in bug bounty hunting concealed a more nefarious connection, one where Zack had unwittingly become a pawn in her intricate game.

Yet, their conversations ventured into even darker territories. Karma delved into the exploration of psychological vulnerabilities within humans, musing about the potential for psychological manipulation. She presented Zack with a moral quandary: "If we can discover a psychological vulnerability in a person and exploit it to gain control over them, does it necessarily mean we intend to harm them?"

Zack recoiled from the idea, expressing his aversion to causing harm to others. Karma, undeterred, posited that understanding these vulnerabilities could provide a means of controlling someone without causing harm. She used a seemingly innocuous example—using ice cream to influence a person's choices—to illustrate her point, and Zack found himself drawn into her logic.

Their discussions continued, with Zack becoming increasingly absorbed in Karma's worldview. However, just as he was about to share his thoughts on her psychological vulnerability theory, Karma's demeanor abruptly shifted. A mysterious phone call from an enigmatic figure known only as "Haru" interrupted their conversation.

Karma's countenance tightened, and she hastily excused herself, signaling the abrupt end of their interaction. Before Zack could confront her about her actions, she had vanished, leaving him with a swirling tempest of unanswered questions.

Zack couldn't fathom how Karma had unearthed his hacking skills, a closely guarded secret he had never divulged. She had managed to uncover this hidden facet of his life, and he was determined to unravel the truth. However, Karma remained a master of secrecy, revealing only what she deemed necessary.

With each passing day, Zack's curiosity grew, but he was hindered by the lack of information about Karma's enigmatic past. She had become an enigma, a presence in his life that defied easy explanation. Her secrecy and her powerful influence over him cast a looming shadow of uncertainty, leaving Zack to navigate a labyrinth of intrigue and manipulation.