Light and Night: Across Two Worlds

Chapter 13: Mr. Hat

Alex was attending a strategy meeting with the defense ministry team when Fajar Tanjung returned to the meeting room in a hurry.

"Alex, I need you to do something else," Fajar Tanjung said while giving a code with his head.

Alex followed Fajar out of the meeting room. What's so important that he had to leave the room?

“What’s happened, Sir?” asked Alex, wondering.

"Please accompany Prince White for a while. He came looking for lost items. He also specifically asked you to accompany him," said Fajar.

"Okay, I understand," Alex answered briefly.

“Alex, do you know him personally?” asked Fajar Tanjung.

“No, I don’t. Why do you ask, Sir?” asked Alex, wondering.

“He specifically asks me to find you to meet him. He seems a little bit upset. I’m wondering if you might offend him in the past?” asked Fajar Tanjung curiously.

Alex shook his head. “I don’t know, Sir. Perhaps he saw me when the last time he came here. But I don’t know why he is interested in me personally. I have no idea,” said Alex. In fact, he knew exactly why Prince White was coming for him.

"I have to go back to the meeting room. He is waiting for you in meeting room number one. If Prince White has found the item, hurry back to the meeting room," Fajar said, then rushed into the meeting room.

Alex quietly smiled in a triumphant smirk.

Alex approached meeting room number 1, opened the door, and went inside. Prince White was sitting with an angry face. When Prince White saw Alex, his resentment appeared. Alex smiled happily and clapped his hands slowly.

"You found me. Congratulations," replied Alex.

"Can you return my belongings now?" blurted Prince White.

"Your item? What is that?" asked Alex grinning cunningly.

"You already know what that thing is. Give it back!" shouted Prince White.

"Um ... Sorry, Your Royal Highness. I don't take your belongings. Maybe we can get around this office. You can pick up your items in the same place where you put it yourself," Alex replied, smiling.

"You ..." shouted Prince White.

"Yes, Your Royal Highness? Fajar Tanjung asked me to accompany Prince White to look for lost items. Can we go around now?" asked Alex.

Prince White pissed himself out of the room and walked towards the painting to place a hidden camera. Secretly Alex recorded this conversation. A preventive action that might be needed one day, in Alex thought. The mini camera was still in the same painting. Prince White found no signs that the camera had been removed. That means the camera hardware was not damaged at all.

Prince White returned to the number one meeting room. Alex followed him into the room.

"Return the controls you took from me," Prince White said irritably.

"What control is Your Royal Highness, Prince White? Please be more specific," said Alex enjoying this game.

"You know what I mean! Don't pretend to know nothing!" snapped Prince White.

"I'm sorry, Your Royal Highness, Prince White. I don't understand what you mean, "Alex answered calmly.

"Restore the software control of all my hidden cameras!" Prince White snapped.

Alex smiled quietly. Prince White has revealed his identity as Mr. Hat unintentionally. He didn't even realize that Alex recorded the whole conversation.

"A week ago, the defense ministry experienced a crisis because its digital network was infiltrated by a hacker named Mr. Hat," Alex said as he slowly walked toward the wall and leaned there.

"Then?" replied Prince White.

"At the same time, it was found several hidden cameras which were suspected of being Mr. Hat's surveillance devices. One of them was in the painting that the Prince had just visited," said Alex.

"What do you mean?" snapped Prince White.

"Is the Prince's missing item a hidden camera in the painting?" asked Alex

"If so, then what?" snapped Prince White.

"If the hidden camera in the painting belongs to the Prince, and the software control that Prince intends is to control this camera, then you acknowledge yourself as Mr. Hat," Alex replied.

Prince White fell silent, pale White.

"Are you Mr. Hat, Prince White?" asked Alex.

Prince White remained silent. His face flushed with anger.

"Are you, as Mr. Hat has infiltrated and hacked the Ministry of Defense's digital network, Your Royal Highness, Prince White?" asked Alex again.

Prince White bit his lip, trying to hold back his anger. His hands are clenched, vibrating tremendously.

"If you admit that Your Royal Highness, Prince White is Mr. Hat, I'm sure our team will return everything to its original state," Alex replied with a mocking smile.

Prince White looked away.

"Of course, the legal process will run against the criminal, and Mr. Hat's identity will be revealed in public. Do you acknowledge your identity as Mr. Hat, Your Royal Highness, Prince White?"

Prince White was speechless. His eyes are teary. His fate was on the edge of the horn.

"Of course, that can be avoided. If you are not Mr. Hat, please go in peace. I would assume this conversation never existed," said Alex smiling triumphantly.

Prince White cursed Alex in his heart.

"So what is your answer, Your Royal Highness, Prince White? Are you Mr. Hat? Oh, I forgot to say that the whole conversation was well recorded," said Alex, tilting his head, showing his grin.

Prince White swallowed hard, then cleared his throat.

"I ... I guess ... the item I'm looking for isn't here. Forget this conversation," replied Prince White in a hoarse voice.

Alex nodded while bowing, saluting.

"Of course, Your Royal Highness. Your answer is as I expected. There's no way you are Mr. Hat. "

"Of ... of course! How come I'm Mr. Hat! Don't accuse me, carelessly!" shouted Prince White with eyes getting teary.

"I'm sorry, Your Royal Highness, Prince White. I'm just acting carefully. I don't mean to accuse you," Alex replied diplomatically.

Prince White wiped his eyes, wiping away the tears that had already begun to come out.

"Let's forget this talk. Nice to meet you. Good afternoon" replied Alex.

Prince White was very pissed off. He took the ashtray at the meeting table and threw it hard against the wall where Alex was leaning. Alex swiftly avoided Prince White's tantrums. With his face was blushing red and tears running down his cheeks, Prince White slammed the door of the meeting room loudly and left Alex alone.