In Beijing China, at the CinkoSolar Holdings Headquarters.
"Sir...our hack failed," the hacker, a specialist hired by Wei for this very purpose, announced hesitantly.
Wei ran a hand over his face, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. The walls of his office, adorned with accolades and commendations, seemed to mock his current predicament.
"Failed? How could you possibly fail?" Wei's voice was low, simmering with frustration. "We're talking about a company in the Philippines, not some global tech giant with impenetrable defenses. Their infrastructure should be weak, vulnerable!"
The hacker shifted uncomfortably, aware of the gravity of his failure. "We underestimated their capabilities, sir. It appears that SolaraTech has significantly advanced their security measures. They've implemented multiple layers of defense that our initial analysis didn't account for."
Wei slammed his fist onto the desk, causing a decorative item to tremble slightly. "This is unacceptable. SolaraTech, a company led by a mere college student, thwarting our efforts? We are CinkoSolar Holdings, for heaven's sake! We should be light-years ahead in terms of technology and resources."
The room fell silent, the tension palpable. Wei's reputation for leading with an iron will and his ambition to dominate the solar energy market were well-known. Yet, this setback represented a direct challenge to his authority and plans for expansion.
"Wei... what should we do next?" the hacker finally broke the silence, his voice cautious.
"Hack their system goddamn it! I need to know the schematics of their solar panels."
"But sir doing it again—"
"I don't care! I paid you to do this job, and I expect results," Wei interjected sharply, cutting off any further objections. His eyes were cold, leaving no room for debate. "If you have to, find a new angle of attack, exploit any minor vulnerability you overlooked before. Use everything at your disposal. We cannot afford to be outdone by SolaraTech."
The silent went silent, but Wei continued.
"Are you going to let some Filipino beat you in your own game? That would be very embarrassing for your reputation. Like I paid you hundred of thousand of dollars and this is what I'll hear? You failed to hack a Filipino IT infrastructure?" Wei scoffed.
The hacker's face flushed with a mixture of shame and renewed determination. He understood the weight of Wei's words, the challenge not just to his skills but to his pride as well.
"How was it sir?" Juliet asked.
"Well...it was tough, but we have a general location of the hackers, they are in China," Michael said.
"China? So unfortunate," Juliet said.
"Explain," Michael said, flickering his gaze to her.
"Well first and foremost, we can't expect the Chinese Government to cooperate with us if the origin of the hack came from one of its companies. They are in the safe place and there is nothing we can do about it directly.
Our best course of action is to strengthen our defenses and ensure that any future attempts are met with even greater resistance," Juliet explained, showcasing her understanding of international cyber law and the complexities involved in such situations.
She added. "Though I might ask, why would someone from China hack into our systems?"
"I am thinking of competition," Michael responded, pacing the room thoughtfully. "Our solar panel technology has been making waves internationally, and it's possible that a rival company sees us as a threat to their market dominance. If they could steal our technology or even just disrupt our operations, it would give them a competitive edge."
Juliet nodded, understanding the implications. "That makes sense, sir. In that case, we should also consider enhancing our counterintelligence measures, not just our defensive cybersecurity. We need to be able to anticipate these attacks before they happen, identify potential threats more effectively, and take proactive steps to protect our intellectual property."
"Well, I think I'm going to be busy all day. I have to implement new software that will protect us against future hacking attempts," Michael continued, turning his attention back to the computer. "We'll need to update our encryption methods and possibly invest in more advanced intrusion detection systems."
Juliet agreed, "Shall I coordinate with the IT department to schedule these updates?"
As Juliet asked, the same employee who barged in and reported that there was an attack, arrived in his office with the same expression he wore earlier.
"Sir...they are attacking us again."
"Oh give me a break," Michael sighed, his frustration evident.