Morning arrived quietly.
Much too quietly.
---
Adeiza was standing by the window, surveying the chaos rising in Lagos with the first morning rays. Traffic density was increasing. Voices were overlapping. Incoherent but coherent activity.
Predictably chaotic.
---
His reflection was gazing back at him through the glass.
Calm.
Neutral.
---
His laptop was still on behind him.
Active.
Observant.
---
> [System Interface]
[Total Nodes: 3]
[Network Stability: 91%]
[External Threat Activity: Increasing]
---
"…Acceleration phase," Adeiza muttered.
---
Feeders were showing changes in their activities.
Not drastic.
But significant enough.
---
Higher frequency data pulls.
More sophisticated targeting.
More assuredness.
---
"They have finally begun to trust the feed."
---
Perfectly according to the plan.
---
Adeiza turned away from the window and sat down.
---
He began typing on his laptop keyboard with light fingers.
Uploading new logs.
---
The false data he had managed to infiltrate—
It worked.
---
The feeders had already started allocating their resources based on it.
Shifting focus from critical systems.
Setting up for the attacks on non-essential targets.
---
"…You are building your downfall right here."
---
However, there was something else he needed to pay attention to.
---
Discrepancies.
---
Minor.
But deliberate.
---
Specifically, a node within the feeder network—
Wasn't conforming to the pattern anymore.
---
Adeiza narrowed his eyes at the screen before him.
---
"…Interesting."
---
Whereas all other nodes had already accepted the feed—
This particular one paused.
Observe.
Think.
---
Not entirely.
But partially.
---
It analyzed.
Checked data.
Delayed actions.
---
"…This one is cautious."
---
Certainly not on the same level as Adeiza.
Not even close.
---
But—
---
Aware.
---
Therefore, dangerous.
---
Adeiza selected the node and examined its behavior.
---
Different coding style.
Alternative timing mechanism.
New algorithmic approach.
---
"…A different operator."
---
Which means—
---
Feeders weren't homogenous.
---
Several actors involved.
With different skills, roles, and abilities.
---
At least one—
Started questioning the provided data.
---
Adeiza leant backwards slightly.
---
"…You have noticed something."
---
Though not enough to find out what the reality was.
Just enough—
To doubt.
To think twice.
If doubts could multiply—
---
The manipulation he created would be undone.
---
"…So you will be my first victim."
---
Adeiza resumed typing.
But now he wasn't guiding any system.
He was isolating it.
---
> [Target: Divergent Node]
[Operation: Silent Severance]
---
Adeiza wasn't attacking the chosen node.
Nor raising alarms.
He simply rewired the connections.
Slowly—
Almost imperceptibly—
Secluding the node from the others.
---
Increased delay in data transmission.
Changed reaction times.
Decreased integrity of connections.
---
To everyone else—
It seemed like some kind of technical malfunction.
To the selected one—
As if it was isolated from its peers.
---
"…Now you are alone."
---
Time passed.
The targeted node reacted.
Attempting reconnect.
Routing messages.
Looking for stability.
---
Everything it tried to interact with—
Gave it a controlled response.
Manipulated.
Limited.
Contained.
---
Adeiza observed silently.
"…Now let's see what you do."
---
Suddenly, a message appeared in the node's console.
Not sent by Adeiza.
From the feeder network.
---
> "Status?"
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The targeted node answered.
> "Connection unstable. Data inconsistencies detected."
---
Adeiza's eyes were narrowing.
"…You are reporting it."
---
The response was fast.
> "Continue operations. Minor discrepancies expected."
---
A lie.
But an assured one.
The node paused.
Then—
> "…Understood."
---
Adeiza's lips were curving upward slightly.
"They have disregarded your findings."
---
This was enough.
Doubts would start growing soon.
Not in regard to the manipulated system.
But to the organization itself.
---
Adeiza made further moves.
> [Phase 2 Initiated]
---
He uploaded the second batch of fake information—
But exclusively to the selected node.
---
This set of data—
Directly contradicted everything else feeders were being informed about.
---
Subtle.
Tactful.
---
No way of knowing—
That there was another layer in front of this one.
---
And that was precisely the idea.
Creating disagreement.
Sowing seeds of doubt.
"…Now think."
---
Minutes passed.
The selected node processed the information.
Made cross-references.
Paused.
Longer.
Then—
Acted.
Did not follow the instructions any longer.
Started analyzing the activity within the main feeder network.
---
"…Excellent."
---
Skepticism had been turned around.
Was not directed at Adeiza anymore.
Inward.
Perfect split.
Adeiza focused on a different task.
Opening a new chat window.
GhostKey.
> Apex Null:
Report.
---
The response was prompt.
> GhostKey:
Outer node mapped. Partial structure confirmed.
They are much more organized than I expected.
---
Adeiza nodded slightly.
> Apex Null:
You hesitated on your actions earlier.
---
Pause.
> GhostKey:
I have adjusted accordingly.
---
> Apex Null:
You were almost discovered.
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Silence.
> GhostKey:
…I am aware of that.
---
Adeiza didn't lower his eyes for a second.
> Apex Null:
Next time, you will not.
---
Another pause.
> GhostKey:
That sounds quite confident in your demands.
---
> Apex Null:
That's because it is an expectation rather than a request.
---
Not leaving any space for misinterpretation.
No reassurances.
Just standard.
---
GhostKey didn't reply for a few seconds.
Then—
> GhostKey:
…Understood.
---
Adeiza closed the chat.
"They will learn."
Or they wouldn't.
Both outcomes—
Were satisfactory for Adeiza's purposes.
He refocused on the feeder network.
Fractures had already begun.
Minimal.
Inconspicuous.
---
But present.
---
There was a node in doubt.
Others oblivious to the fact.
A system tearing itself apart.
"This is how proper dismantling happens."
Not destroying the entity from the outside.
But doing it from the inside.
Adeiza slowly got up from the seat.
For a brief second—
He looked back at his reflection in the window.
Not the young boy wearing the school uniform.
Not the heir of a corporate empire.
Something else.
Quiet.
Dangerous.
---
"You do not have to destroy me," he said quietly.
His eyes were fixed ahead.
"I just have to break you."
---
Behind him—
---
The system was still operating.
Nodes repositioned.
Trust deteriorated.
Fractures formed.
In the middle of which—
---
The initial doubt had already begun spreading.
Slowly.
Inevitably.
Like a crack in the mirror.
And Adeiza—
Was preparing to smash the whole mirror to pieces.