Building a Business Empire with my Technological System

Chapter 118: Shadow's Realization

On September 28th, 2025, at CinkoSolar Headquarters in Beijing.

Li Hua, Wei's personal secretary, briskly entered Wei's spacious office carrying a folder. Her expression was serious.

Wei, seated behind his desk surrounded by multiple screens displaying various operational metrics, looked up, signaling her to proceed.

"Mr. Wei, we've received a detailed response from SolaraTech," Li Hua stated, placing the folder on his desk. "It includes their cease-and-desist letter along with purported evidence of our alleged cyberattacks."

Wei nodded, motioning for Li Hua to remain as he began to carefully read the documents. SolaraTech's response was thorough, comprising technical descriptions of the cyber intrusions, complete with timestamps, IP addresses, and even fragments of code allegedly tracing back to CinkoSolar.

Accompanying the technical data were legal arguments framing CinkoSolar's actions as deliberate and malicious attempts to undermine SolaraTech's competitive edge.

As Wei absorbed the contents, his expression grew contemplative. SolaraTech had clearly invested significant resources into compiling its case, presenting a narrative of CinkoSolar as an aggressive competitor resorting to underhanded tactics to maintain its market dominance.

Finishing the review, Wei looked up at Li Hua, his mind racing through potential counter-strategies. "They've compiled a compelling narrative against us, complete with technical 'evidence.' However, this is a game of perception as much as it is of facts. We need to dissect their evidence, challenge its authenticity, and question its direct linkage to CinkoSolar."

Li Hua nodded, understanding the direction Wei was heading. "Shall I call Shadow about this? Help us out?"

"It's his fault, so we will give him a chance to fix this," Wei said, picking up his phone, and contacting Shadow.

"Shadow here, what can I do for you, Mr. Wei," Shadow said.

"Shadow, I have a document here from SolaraTech with evidence claiming our involvement in cyberattacks against their systems. It's detailed and technical, including timestamps, IP addresses, and code snippets. I need you to look over this and tell me how they could have traced this back to us," Wei explained, his tone serious but controlled.

"They do? As expected, Mr. Wei, there are skilled people out there," Shadow responded.

"I don't have time to hear you getting so impressed by the skills of the rival company, you messed up your hack and they managed to trace back the attacks to us. Now, you need to figure out how they did it and how we can counter their claims. Can you do that?" Wei's frustration was evident, even as he tried to keep his voice even.

Shadow paused for a moment before responding, "I understand, Mr. Wei. Let me review the materials you've got. It might be a combination of factors that led them to trace back to us. Give me some time to analyze their evidence thoroughly. I'll look into every detail of their claim and see where the vulnerabilities lie."

"Make it quick, Shadow. Time is not on our side," Wei pressed, emphasizing the urgency. "And keep this information between us. I want minimal exposure until we know exactly how to proceed. Surely you can do something as basic as that huh?"

"Understood, Mr. Wei. I'll begin immediately and ensure our communications are secure," Shadow replied.

Wei ended the call and sat back in his chair. As the days passed, it seemed the inevitable clash between SolaraTech and CinkoSolar was drawing nearer, each moves critical in the high-stakes game they found themselves in. The detailed response from SolaraTech, combined with the evidence they provided, marked a significant escalation in their dispute.

It wasn't just about cyberattacks anymore; it was about reputation, market dominance, and the future of renewable energy development. Wei knew the importance of managing this situation delicately yet decisively.

***

Meanwhile, in Shadow's headquarters, near CinkoSolar headquarters.

Shadow received the letter from the CinkoSolar and saw the proof of SolaraTech.

As he dove into the technical evidence, Shadow employed a variety of cybersecurity analysis tools. He cross-referenced the IP addresses with known databases, used code analysis software to dissect the snippets provided, and employed timestamp correlation techniques to verify the timing of the alleged attacks.

It was a deep dive into digital forensics, looking for any possible oversight or inconsistency in SolaraTech's claims.

However, as he sifted through the data, Shadow's initial confidence began to wane. The evidence was detailed and technically sound, pointing to a sophisticated understanding of cybersecurity.

"This level of detail...they must have had help," he muttered to himself. The realization hit him; SolaraTech's evidence was too precise, too incriminating. It was as if they had inside knowledge of the cyberattacks.

Shadow paused, considering the implications. "If they traced this back to us...they might have had assistance from someone with in-depth knowledge of our operations. Perhaps someone with access to our network infrastructure or, even more concerning, a mole within our ranks."

No, not particularly a mole, a predator that haunts prey, the one who dominated the food chain of cybercrime in China.

"The Architect!" Shadow exclaimed as he realized the potential involvement of one of the most elusive and skilled cybercriminals in the region. Known for his sophisticated attacks and ability to cover his tracks, The Architect could have easily orchestrated a scheme leaving breadcrumbs leading back to CinkoSolar, especially if motivated by a competitor or for personal gain.

Shadow began compiling a list of potential indicators that could link The Architect to this situation. He analyzed patterns of previous attacks attributed to him, cross-referencing them with the evidence provided by SolaraTech. He focused on unique coding styles, specific malware signatures, and the methods used to obfuscate the origin of the attacks.

At this point, it is becoming obvious that Architect was the one who provided SolaraTech intel about their hack.

With that, Shadow contacted the Architect in an encrypted and secure manner, using a dedicated communication channel known only to a select few in the cyber underworld.

"Architect, it's Shadow. We need to talk."

The Architect responded almost immediately, a sign of his constant vigilance. "Shadow. I wondered when you'd come calling. What's this about?"

Shadow didn't mince words. "SolaraTech has detailed evidence of our operations. It's too accurate, too precise. It points to your involvement. Did you feed them information?"

"Took you so long to notice, Shadow. You truly are falling behind," The Architect's voice was calm, almost amused. "Yes, I provided SolaraTech with the information. They made an offer I couldn't refuse. It was business, nothing personal."

Shadow clenched his fists. "Is that so…that's how they get information, by buying it from you. Well thanks to you, I know how to counter your client."

"So you have noticed that too huh?" Architect scoffed softly. "Then feed it to your boss already."