The enemy of my enemy it’s my enemy

After a long night of searching in various gambling dens, the young boy returned to his apartment in Asu Industries. Once here, the day passed without any problems. At the end of his working hours, the young boy began to build a customized mask that he would use in his next missions.

Nice. With this mask, no one will be able to identify me anymore. Thanks to the components I have stolen from Asu, my synaptic, hacking, and physical abilities will increase 10 times more when I wear this mask. I christen you O.N.I. Prepare yourself, Duchess.

The young boy, equipped with his new mask that increases his physical and hacking abilities, set off for the place he remembered and where the duchess could hide.

****

Ano arrived at the joint that was replicated in the Cyber Deep. The sign at the entrance was different, but inside it looked exactly the same. Before entering, the young boy put on his mask and covered his escape by placing several tiny wave disruptors.

If things go bad, with these wave disruptors, I will be able to deactivate the prostheses of the cyborgs inside. This would allow me to escape easily if I needed to.

"One gold edition scotch please." He said as he sat down at the bar.

At that point, he started on his impromptu plan.

People inside this club are not amateurs. They are hackers capable of breaching Asu's security. Something I had not managed to do in 22 months. However, they would never imagine that a ghost would attack them from inside their own base.

Without anyone noticing, he accessed the bar's security system thanks to his mask and wireless connection technology.

Morons. If it weren't for the fact that wearing masks is commonplace around here, I wouldn't be able to access your security system. Good for me! O.N.I, run the rewrite programs Charlie and Omega. Also, bounce the hacking signal in the north point sector, overlap the encryption sequences, and cover the data packages with an anti-spider net.

All these commands were transmitted directly by thought. On the outside he looked like someone drinking a glass of whiskey in a bar, but inside his brain functioned at 10 times the basic human capacity.

*Hacking sequence activated. Execution completed. System completely under control. Enjoy.*

Just as I expected, the bar owners immediately realized they were under attack.

Several security personnel left the premises to try to locate the signal since it was impossible from inside. However, they were unable to find out from where or how they were being attacked. The young boy had done a good job of hiding his footsteps.

Well, this is just what I needed. Now I know where you are, Duchess.

Ano disconnected from the network before he was discovered. And without hesitation, taking advantage of the commotion he himself had caused, he headed towards the room where the duchess was. The young boy, with a white demon mask, identical to the one he wore into the Cyber Deep, hiding his face, and his textile hologram projecting an urban attire, headed towards his target.

Very well, Duchess. Let's see if this ghost gives you a good scare.

****

The young inventor opened the service door of the joint, went up some stairs, and without anyone noticing his presence, thanks to the disruptors of his mask, he began to make his way through the guards of the premises.

Good! Thanks to the mask, their heat and electromagnetic readers can't detect me; I've become a real ghost. So let's test these new projectiles on those pigs.

*ZIP, ZIP*

With a silenced pistol, he knocked several guards unconscious after firing electromagnetic bullets at them that interfered with the frequencies of the cybernetic prostheses. However, before reaching the top floor, three guards saw the ghost.

"HEY YOU!!! FREEZE!!!"

“Shit!!! O.N.I!! Activate synaptic combat sequence!!!”

*Combat synaptic sequence, activated. Enjoy.*

The young boy began to approach the guards at an astonishing speed.

"WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU, MOTHERFUCKER!!???"

*BANG, BANG, BANG, BANG, BANG*

A hail of bullets rained down on Ano as he advanced down the narrow corridor. Any normal person would have been unable to dodge that hail of bullets. However, he was no longer a human.

Incredible. I can see the bullets slowly approaching me. I can dodge them!

From the outside, it looked as if the young boy's body was that of a ghost. It looked as if the bullets were piercing his intangible body. However, he simply dodged the bullets gracefully at the right time.

"Go to sleep." Said the ghost.

With three accurate hits, he knocked out the three guards in a matter of three seconds. Thanks to the disruptors in his mask, his blows were capable of disabling the cybernetic prosthetics of all those he touched.

After a short walk and having knocked out half a dozen guards, after some hand-to-hand combat using the technology of his mask, the young boy arrived at the place where the duchess was. From inside, the voices of people arguing could be heard.

"Some damn ghost hacked us! The connection is not secure! Make him pay for it! We were in the middle of an important deal at the Cyber Deep!!!"

Without knocking, the young boy kicked open the door. There they were. The duchess and several cyborgs full of body modifiers.

"And who are you!" Said one of the cyborgs.

Compared to the rest of the club, that office was very well kept. State-of-the-art Cyber Huts, plush armchairs, an aquarium with glowing fishes, and all sorts of extravagant things adorned the walls and shelves.

"WAIT!!!" The duchess shouted. "What are you looking for, young boy."

The young boy was disappointed. That was the duchess. However, she had nothing to do with the appearance of his avatar in the Cyber Deep. She was an old woman in her 70s, gray-haired and with a body fat index 10 times above the recommended one.

I see, so that's why she didn't need to wear any mask at the Cyber Deep.

"Duchess. I want information about cats."

"I see. So you're in breach of Cyber Deep rule number 3. Get him!"

“Not so fast!!” O.N.I, activate escape plan!!

*Wave disruptor net activated. Enjoy.*

*zzzzzzzzZZZZZZZ!!!!!!!!!*

The young boy activated the wave disruptors he placed outside without hesitation. After a big electromagnetic pulse surrounded the building, all those cyborgs approaching him fell to the ground while still conscious. Conscious but immobile.

"Ha... hahahaha. Well played, Star Ghost! You even disabled the Net Share readers. You really are a good ghost. What do you want? Tell me."

"I see you remember me, Duchess. I wouldn't recognise you looking like that."

"Insolent!!! You come into my home. You disabled my communications and my guards. And on top of that, you create some kind of cybernetic limbo with who knows what device. Tell me what you want at once and get out of my sight!"

"They killed GIA."

The duchess stopped for a minute after hearing the news about one of what she considered a friend.

"I see... It's a shame. He was one of the best hackers I've ever met in my life. There was nothing he couldn't do!"

Ano ignored the words from the duchess and moved to the topic he really wanted to talk about.

"I need you to get back into the cat company and get information from the boss. Emails, calls, meetings, voice memos… everything."

"You don't need to use Cyber Deep jargon here. There's no way I can get what you're asking for, boy. Go away, you're just wasting your time."

The young boy moved his hand closer to where he held his gun. However, he came to his senses and did not resort to threats. This time.

I can't threaten this stuck-up old woman if I want to earn her respect and favor.

"Last time you gave me a piece of information straight from Asu's records, I need you to do the same. I'll pay you the 20 million."

"Aaaah... that was pure luck. I don't think it will happen again. Although, if you do a little work for me, I might be able to get you something better than some emails. And without you having to pay for it."

The boy seemed interested in what the lady was telling him.

"What exactly are you offering me?"

"I can give you the contact of someone who has direct access day and night to Asu's building."

Could it be... The insider who obtained Dr. Tsukino's files? If so, I'll get what I want the same way.

"Tell me what this job is about."

“HOHOHOHOHO!!”

The old woman smiled like a villain from a children's movie. From her desk, she took out a small folder with several papers and a memory disk with hundreds of data.

"Your targets are the Yamada. This is all the information you need."

She pulled out a fan and began fanning herself as the young boy's disruptors had not only disabled the cybernetic prosthetics, but everything stopped working, including the air conditioning.

Star Ghost walked over to the table and picked up the folder and tucked it inside his jacket.

"They live in a mansion in the inner metropolis. They have a daughter and a guard dog. I need you to break into their house and steal some files from their personal Cyber Hut. And I also need you to give Mr. Yamada and his wife a scare."

"You got it."

The young boy left the room. He walked down the stairs, dodging the guards who lay unconscious on the floor. He left the club and without picking up a single one of his disruptors, got into his Z-910 and left the place, heading for his apartment in Asu Industries.

****

Ano was about to enter his apartment. He was eager to read all the information about his new mission and to complete it as soon as possible. He would devise a perfect plan as soon as possible to get the information he needed about the fire. However, in the middle of his apartment, a strange package was waiting for him.

*Happy 18th Birthday, Mi-kun*

A package from Master Akira....

Ano opened the sealed package in a matter of seconds without blinking for a single moment. Inside was a note and a dark bundle.

*HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Mi-kun!!! I know your birthday is next month. Geez, this reminds me of when I gave you the Z-910 early. Anyway, you know, I don't like to beat around the bush. You're already as tall as me and you've become quite the handsome adult!!!! So I give you my precious leather jacket, which you adored when you were a child. I think now it will fit you perfectly. I hope this brings you some happiness in your life.

I really enjoyed spending the day with you again. Please visit me again soon.

Akira.*

The young boy bent down and picked up the black bundle inside the box. Indeed, that was the leather jacket that master Akira always wore. The last gift his master left him before what happened a few days ago.

Master... Why does this happen to everyone who is close to me?

As the boy plunged deeper and deeper into the dark abyss formed in his heart, the purple aura that haunted him began to manifest on his shoulders.

A little less than a week ago, this jacket warmed his body. And now it never will again... Why is life so unfair...?

After a moment of pause and reflection, the young boy calmed down and the evil aura disappeared for the moment. Unlike when he lost Hana, the tears were still not coming out of his eyes. He rested his new jacket on the bed and set about studying his target's information.

I know exactly what I am going to do with your gift, master. The young boy thought coldly. I will wear it until the day I avenge your death!!!!

****

After weighing the information given to him by the duchess, he concluded that tomorrow would be the perfect day to fulfill his mission. Thanks to the fact that someone had already gathered the necessary information on the target, there was no need for the young boy to spend days researching the family.

Their daughter would be at school and the Yamadas would be home two hours before the driver brought their kid home from school. The only thing to worry about are the security systems. I know exactly what to do!!

That night, Ano prepared multiple devices that would help him overcome both cyber and physical security systems.

Wave disruptors ready.

PDA ready.

Synaptic mask ready.

Plastic handcuffs ready.

Climbing claws ready.

Folding gun ready.

Electrocutters ready.

I don't need anything else. This will be a piece of cake.

"All right. Let's do it one more time."

The young boy was still unaware of how terrible that day would become for his future. Had he known, he might have prepared better, or he might not even have accepted the mission.