I graduated at the top of my class with a bachelor's in ethical hacking, and the moment I stepped out of the university gates, the city felt different.
Morning in Neo-Astra always looked like the future trying too hard to impress itself. Skyscrapers of glass and steel pierced the smog-tinted sky, their sides covered in shifting holographic ads—energy drinks, cybernetic upgrades, virtual vacations to beaches that probably didn't exist anymore. Neon signs were still flickering off from the night crowd, while delivery drones buzzed overhead like metal insects, weaving between skybridges.
The streets were alive in that chaotic, layered way only this city could manage. Kids in light-up sneakers chased a hovering toy drone, their laughter mixing with the rumble of maglev trains beneath the pavement. A couple nearby argued in low, sharp voices—one of them stormed off, the other laughed like it was all a joke. Outside a chrome-trimmed coffee shop, two men in business coats spoke in hushed tones, their augmented lenses glowing faint blue. Inside, students hunched over holographic laptops, fingers swiping through mid-air screens, probably finishing assignments I'd never have to worry about again.
I smiled to myself.
Study life: over.
Real life: loading.
I adjusted the strap of my bag and headed toward the subway. I felt light—like the world had finally opened. I was the top student. Jobs would line up for me, right? Big companies, cybersecurity firms, government contracts… I almost laughed out loud.
That was when someone grabbed me.
A hand shot out from a narrow alley, yanked me sideways with terrifying force, and before I could shout—before I could even process what was happening—something hard slammed into the side of my head.
The world went black.
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When I woke up, everything was darkness.
Not just dim—pitch black.
I tried to move my hands. They didn't budge. Cold metal clamped around my wrists, chained to what felt like a steel armrest. My shoulders ached from the awkward angle. I tried to speak, but fabric pressed tight against my mouth. A gag.
Great. Graduated this morning. Kidnapped by evening. Amazing career start.
A door creaked open somewhere in front of me. Light footsteps echoed on a hard floor.
"Oh, look at this pure soul," a man's voice said, amused. "You're awake, aren't you?"
I froze, then slowly nodded.
"Good!"
"Leonard," the voice called casually.
The door opened again. More footsteps. Someone came close—too close—and fingers tugged the cloth from my mouth. I gasped in air. A second later, the blindfold was pulled away.
I blinked against the sudden light.
The room looked like an abandoned industrial office converted into… whatever this was. Bare concrete walls. Exposed pipes ran along the ceiling, humming softly. One wall was covered in monitors—some showing lines of code, others displaying city camera feeds. A metal table stood in the corner beside stacked crates labeled with fake shipping logos. The air smelled faintly of oil and cheap disinfectant.
The man in front of me—Leonard, I guessed—was tall and painfully thin, like he'd been stretched instead of grown. His dark hair was tied into a low bun, and rectangular glasses slid down his nose as he studied me with bright, curious eyes. He wore a long tech-fabric coat full of pockets, wires peeking out like he'd stuffed gadgets in there and forgotten about them.
Behind him stood another guy—broader, taller, built like he could bench-press a motorcycle. Messy silver-blond hair fell into sharp gray eyes. A faint scar cut through one eyebrow. He wore a sleeveless tactical vest over a black shirt, arms crossed, expression intense—
But his eyes?
Absolutely sparkling.
Both of them stared at me like I was a puppy they'd just adopted.
I flinched.
I cleared my throat. Immediately, Leonard appeared with a glass of water out of nowhere, holding it to my lips like I was a patient.
I glanced down at my tied hands and raised my brows.
"No problem," Leonard said cheerfully.
"We'll make you drink it," the big guy added, equally cheerful.
I panicked. "It's okay," I said quickly, forcing a smile. "I'm not thirsty."
I was. I was dying.
A sharp tap echoed through the room.
"Don't scare him like that, you dumbasses!"
An older man stepped into view, tapping a sleek black cane against Leonard's leg, then the big guy's boot.
"Hello," he said smoothly. "I'm Lorenzo. These two overgrown children are Leonard and Fenris."
Lorenzo looked like he'd walked out of an old mafia movie and into the future by accident. Silver hair slicked neatly back. A tailored charcoal suit. Polished shoes. But one of his eyes glowed faint gold—cybernetic. Thin lines traced from the corner like delicate circuitry beneath his skin.
He dragged a stool in front of me and sat, hands folded over the cane. He smiled warmly, eyes closing.
It was the kind of smile that absolutely belonged to someone who could ruin your life politely.
"Don't worry," he said gently. "We are not here to kill you, dear."
That did not help.
"We're part of an organization that cleans up messes the world doesn't officially admit exist." He tilted his head. "Unfortunately, there's an… infestation."
Leonard spun one of the monitors toward us. Lines of malicious code scrolled across the screen.
"There's an elite hacker," Lorenzo continued. "Joined with a mafia syndicate. He builds malware, covers their tracks, locks law enforcement out of their systems… and helps them traffic and trap vulnerable kids online."
My stomach dropped.
"His name," Lorenzo said quietly, "is 404."
Silence filled the room, broken only by the hum of servers.
"So," I croaked, "what do you want me for?"
Fenris leaned forward, grinning. "Cyber war."
Leonard nodded rapidly. "Hack him back. Break his systems. Free the kids he trapped."
I looked at Lorenzo. "Why me?"
"Because," he said calmly, "you are the top cybersecurity graduate from the best university in the country. And unlike most prodigies… you haven't been bought yet."
I stared at the floor for a long moment.
This morning I was worried about job interviews.
Now I was being recruited into a secret anti-mafia hacker war.
"…Okay," I said finally. "I'll do it."
All three of them froze.
Then they exploded.
Leonard grabbed Fenris in a hug. Fenris lifted him off the ground. Lorenzo clapped once, looking deeply satisfied. I was pretty sure Fenris actually spun in a circle.
"Uh," I said dryly, lifting my chained hands. "Any chance one of YOU unties me?"
They rushed over, apologizing and laughing, unlocking the restraints.
As blood rushed back into my wrists, Lorenzo stepped aside to make a call.
"Prepare the guest room," he said into the phone. "Tomorrow, we take him to meet the Boss."
He looked back at me with that same closed-eye smile.
"Rest well. Your new life starts in the morning."
A silent servant appeared at the door and gestured for me to follow.
I walked out of the room, heart pounding.
I had wanted a job in cybersecurity.
I didn't realize cybersecurity wanted me back.