The Symbol of IDEA

Isuka, would you mind me asking about what you do in your free time?

What do you want to know about that for?

I kind of find it hard to imagine you ever relaxing, so I was just curious...

Don't be ridiculous. If I never relaxed I'd get overstressed. That would prevent me from functioning properly as the head IDEAlist.

This is outrageous! I paid for that Omnipop with my own hard-earned money!

You're coming with me to EGDP HQ. This isn't an option. When we're there you can confess to your crimes or make your excuses, whichever suits you.

An EGPD officer...

And an IDA student...

Hello, officer. Could you explain on what charge you're arresting one of our students?

There's no need for your involvement, thank you. If you attempt to prevent her arrest you yourself will be indicted.

Wait... Those clothes... An interfering IDEAlist, huh?

Would you respond to my earlier query, please?

......

We at the EGPD shut down anyone engaging in fraudulent economic activity, no matter who they may be. This student attempted to use fake Git when buying a can of Omnipop earlier. I cannot overstate the seriousness of this offence.

I don't see what I did wrong! All I did was go to a GitSwap agency and change over some IDAbit.

Look, we all understand the temptation, but what you did was a criminal offence. You're making things worse with these excuses.

Come on, why would I do that?! I mean sure, Omnipop is good, but not worth going to jail for.

I don't know about that. In any case, you can't get around the fact that fake Git was found in your possession!

I understand, officer. However, you do realize that we IDAites have the right to resolve our own legal issues?

So, if you would be so kind...

No, I won't be so kind. While she may be an IDAite, she was in Elzion territory when she committed her felony. Accordingly, this is a matter for the Elzion police to handle.

Felony?! Just because of some Omnipop?!

......

I concede that this matter extends into your sphere of concern. But don't forget that while IDAite citizens are involved, you have a responsibility to ensure our rights are satisfied. Fail to do that, and you'll have serious consequences to deal with.

......

I expect the Justice Department will bide their time with this one. In the meantime, she'll be put under surveillance in confinement. Inevitably, I suspect you know how this one is going to go. Git scamming is a crime against the honest people of Elzion, and an affront to our ancient currency's venerability.

I'll leave you with that thought.

Come with me.

Git scamming does sound like it merits a harsh punishment... What's IDAbit though?

Okay, listen up. I'll fill you in. Whereas most of the rest of the world uses Git, in IDA City we make transactions using what we call IDAbit. It's officially recognized, by which I mean you can legally exchange from one currency to the other. We need to have our own currency, in order to maintain our independence. We need to be able to perform all the essential state functions without their assistance.

Oh, wow. I got the impression that the IDA school is a bit special, but having your own school currency is really something.

Anyhow, this counterfeit currency issue could be big.

We can't really do much without a lead though.

True, so it's a good thing we have one: she said she exchanged IDAbit into Git at a GitSwap agency. That's where the trail starts for us. I'm not convinced she was telling the truth about that though. We need to investigate more, let's do some asking around.

Good afternoon sir. Could you spare us a moment?

Ah, the head IDEAlist... You'll have another head-scratcher for me, no doubt.

Sort of. What I'd like to know is if you've noticed anything unusual going on around the school?

Hm, it's not something serious enough that I would have thought to report it...

We're all ears, sir.

The kids have been going crazy for those bit-earning missions recently, even those who hadn't cared much for them previously.

Bit-earning?

Students can earn IDAbit by carrying out tasks that the faculty sets. It's kind of like optional homework for the extra ambitious.

Frankly, I'm pleased to see it. I'll always do my utmost to assist those students who are really looking to get ahead. Now please excuse me, I've got to prepare my holoslides for the next lecture.

Yes, thank you so much!

Now we know the bit-earning missions are one of the pieces in the puzzle....

Meh, I don't get why I've had to be left out... This is the pits.

Hey, something the matter?

I don't know what's up with my friend recently. He's been spending all weekend at the cinema, though I've got no idea how he's got the cash for it. There's talk he's won the IDAbillions lottery, or inherited a fortune from a great-great-great aunt.

Actually it seems there are lots of big-spending IDAites these days. Maybe it's just because I'm poor that everyone looks so wealthy to me?

Git-splurging IDAites... Hm.

Thanks for your purchase.

Have you got a Git obsession or something? You're always using it recently. It's kinda weird, considering it makes things more expensive in IDA City.

Actually, it sort of doesn't, in a way.

If we were in Elzion then yeah... But we're not, so what are you going on about?

This knowledge isn't suitable for normies, sorry.

Who are you calling a normie?! And what does that even mean?

It means you, tee-hee.

A Git-obsessed IDAite... Hmm...

Bleh, this looks bad.

So you've worked it all out already.

I've got the basic outline down. I've realized now the scale of this case is on another level to what I'd first thought. The fraudulent Omnipop purchase was just the tip of the iceberg.

Still not with you, Isuka.

All right, I'll give you a rundown of the facts, so we're on the same page. You remember I told you IDAbit can be exchanged into Git?

But what that girl at the store said was true, you get a discount in IDA City by paying with IDAbit. Having our own currency protects our financial independence, but only if it's kept in circulation. The discount ensures that it is.

Right, but how does this fit into the bigger picture?

It's obviously strange for anyone to insist on paying in Git when in IDA City... Which is exactly what that girl was doing, and has been doing recently. She made allusions to secret "not for normies" knowledge as well. And it seems there's been similar behavior from other students too, judging from what we heard from that disgruntled boy. His friend must love spending money, since he's been going all the way to a theater in Elzion to avoid the IDA City discount.

Say there's been some high-paying part-time jobs in Elzion recently. With the wages in Git.

A reasonable suggestion. But consider that in light of what we heard from the teacher.

That kids have been going crazy for missions?

The reward for which is paid in IDAbit. If there were some Git-paying job that had been attracting students' attention there would be less students doing missions.

True. I don't get what's going on then.

So now I get to my theory: there's an illicit system online allowing exchange between IDAbit and Git. The exchange rate is set such that a relatively small amount of IDAbit converts to a fortune in Git. That would explain the students keen to earn IDAbit, and their insistence on paying in Git.

Do you think the girl taken away by the EGPD was guilty then? That she might have used a system like that?

Plausible. Anyhow, we have a clear line of attack now, thankfully. Let's get back to the operations room and do some more digging.

Afternoon, Isuka.

Good afternoon! I hope you're not too busy? I have a top-priority case I could use your help with.

I'm on it. What do you want me to do?

We're after an unauthorized Bit-Git exchange system somewhere online.

I'll run a scan. It ought to take a few minutes.

Uh, Isuka, there's one thing that's unclear to me. What would be the objective of the person who created the exchange system? I don't see how they profit.

Are you forgetting the starting point for all of this?

Namely the reason why the girl in Elzion was arrested.

For using counterfeit currency... Oh I see.

She would have paid some legitimate IDAbit into the system in order to get her fake Git. And that IDAbit is now in the account of the exchange system's admin. They'll be making a huge profit, since it's virtually costless to distribute the fake currency.

It's one hell of a scam...

I've got it, Isuka. They'd done a decent job of covering their tracks, but not good enough to deceive an IDEAlist. Site's called "Foolsgit Alchemy."

Okay, there's a lot going on with that name... I'm not even going to try and analyze that.

Can you trace the location it's being operated from?

Quite likely. One moment again please.

Huh... The Industrial Ruins? Apparently.

No way? You don't think the Synth Humans are behind this one as well, do you?

Can't rule it out. It's best if we go to the scene and investigate first-hand.

We could use your back-up on this one. I have a feeling your tech skills could come in handy.

I'll be pleased to make myself useful. Give me a sec to gather up my flashbits and drivebobs.

You'll be a more than able bodyguard, Aldo. Off we go to the Industrial Ruins.

Uh-oh, seems we have company...

It's not actively patrolling the area. That suggests to me that its duty is to guard something specific.

Suspicious moving elements have been detected. Initializing Human-Synth cross-analytical detection module.

Three non-synth life forms detected; at least two of them appear to be human. Alert mode activated!

Priming missiles. Changing modes: stun to killer. Missiles will now explode on contact.

Getting hit by an exploding missile doesn't sound like much fun. Let's bust this thing up.

Stand back please miss. This is the bit where I protect you.

The final blow's yours, Aldo.

My specialty!

Looks like the Synths have got themselves some new toys. I've never seen them using Guard Bots like this before.

Don't jump to conclusions. If this terminal was being guarded by the Synths, it's much more likely they'd use one of their search bit robots to fulfill the role.

That makes sense I guess. So...

So I think it's more likely that whoever set up the Guard Bots is only using this terminal as a proxy.

It's a good thing IDEA is packing as much brawn as brains, or I'd have been toast.

Can we get a copy of the local data? Let's not try and hack the network though, since it's essential we remain undetected. Having the transaction history for the Foolsgit admin could well lead us to the actual culprit.

On it.

The data copy is done.

Please send it to our operators back at base. Knowing them, they'll have it decoded by the time we're back. Let's go.

What are our findings?

Just compiling everything now.

Unfortunately the key bit of data, the transaction history for the Foolsgit admin, is stored on another server. We made efforts to ID the admin by other means, but annoyingly... They've covered up their operation using a paper company.

Well if anyone is going to make counterfeit currency, it'd be a paper company I guess...

"Paper company" is used for a company that exists "only on paper", one without any staff. They're used to preserve anonymity.

The criminal has been very thorough covering their tracks. This complicates things. I'd preferred to have avoided a direct attack, exposing our involvement. No choice now.

Can you attempt to hack into the server with the transaction history data on it?

I can give it a go. Don't get your hopes up though.

All this talk about servers, paper companies, fake currencies and hacking has got me feeling dizzy.

Basically, the transactions record we're looking for is on another computer. We're trying to forcibly access the data from here.

The key information we need is the accounts of whoever has had a deposit of IDAbit made to them via the Foolsgit platform. In theory, that should leave the culprit with nowhere to hide, since their real-life identity should be tied to their account.

Oh, I see.

Wh-What the...?!

What happened?

I breached their first line of defense, then it started to get complicated. I couldn't escape detection by their anti-hacker blockers. Kinda sloppy of me, sorry. The data is downloading as we speak. I'm not sure how long I can fight off these blockers though!

Give it your all. Every extra bit of data we secure improves our chances of getting those account details.

Doing everything I can here.

Tough fight... That's access blocked for good now.

What did we get?

Looks like...three days' worth of transactions. I hope that's enough.

Excellent work. You did the uniform proud.

Thanks, Isuka.

There's no time to lose. Please start digging straight away.

I'll get to work.

Huh... Now this is unexpected. And unfortunate.

What have you found?

We have the culprits' personal accounts. They've been credited with an enormous amount of IDAbit.

Awesome! You've got their name and everything?

We have...names. Lots and lots of names.

Meaning?

Tens of thousands of accounts have had IDAbit paid into them via the Foolsgit admin's account.

Uh...so are we looking for a needle in the haystack, or is the whole haystack made of needles?

Those will be dummy accounts for sure. It's a diversion.

And we've been diverted, huh... Right into haystack hell.

Urgent news! It's not good! The EGPD have been authorized to carry out an investigation on IDAite territory!

Damn! We're on the right track now, we just need more time to follow it to the end.

......

So we can't stay here and keep searching the databases? Maybe we'd better do some more investigating at the school.

No time for that either.

Okay, I've got it, this shouldn't take long.

And we've got...just a single hit!

Isuka, you're brilliant!

I'll be brilliant once I've brought the case to a full conclusion. You can tell me the suspect's current location?

I can indeed. 10 minutes ago they were on the airtube heading towards Sky Terrace.

That's our haystack blown away, leaving just the needle. Let's go and get him.

Hi there, we need to have a chat.

Sorry, but I'm not the chatty type. Or at least I prefer not to waste my time consorting with the airheaded rabble polluting this city.

I don't consider myself to be part of any "airheaded rabble." I'm Isuka, the head IDEAlist. It's a pleasure to make the acquaintance of the infamous Foolsgit admin. I've been astounded by the work you've done, frankly.

It's him then, the culprit?

Foolsgit Alkademy? Hm, I feel like I've heard of it. If you're looking for the administrator though, I'm not him, sorry. That should be obvious if you look at my IDA rank, it's far from impressive.

Don't tell me you airheads are planning to set up me, a middling student, as some sort of criminal mastermind?

Yes, it would be more natural to expect that the creator of the Foolsgit platform to be someone who excels academically too. Their intelligence is more apparent when you consider all the work they had to do setting up the proxy in the Industrial Ruins. Not to mention the paper company and the fake accounts set up to divert pursuers. It's reasonable to conclude that our culprit has intellect worthy of being called a genius.

Okay, so would you quit rubbing that kind of unattainable brilliance in my face? I could only dream of doing such things.

I'm not rubbing anything in your face, I've just come to run through the details with you before your arrest.

You can't pin this on me! You don't have any evidence.

Actually, our investigation is more or less wrapped up now. The proof we've gathered makes it fairly clear you're the culprit.

Okay, I've got it, this shouldn't take long.

Y-Yes?

Please get up a list of IDA graduates.

Oh? I'm not sure what the connection is, but if you say so...

The culprit would have needed an extraordinary amount of time to create the thousands of fake accounts. Much more plausible is that they stole the details of unused accounts. The biggest source of which would be graduates.

We'll soon know whether my theory is right. Compare the account names with the list of graduates, please.

One sec... It's a near-exact match. Woah, so...I guess it can't be that all the graduates are collectively responsible.

As I said, someone would have stolen their accounts' details.

I'll run a search to see who has accessed the registers for now-graduated students in the last month.

......

And we've got...just a single hit!

A record of you having accessed the graduates' register was available to us at IDEA HQ. You did well covering your tracks. It only took one knick in the armor for your whole scheme to come crumbling down, however.

......

I don't suppose you're going to try and keep up the whole "I'm innocent" act any further? Unless there's some obscure reason why you had to access all the old graduates' registers, that you'd care to explain?

Okay...you've got me. *sigh* You'll want to know my motive, right? You've earned the right to know, so fine.

It's this academic credit system, it's absolute trash. How can we have our lives influenced by something so flawed?

Just to confirm: you're confessing?

It's checkmate, I concede. That doesn't mean I don't have a valid point here though! IDA's academic ranking is clearly flawed when it's so incapable of detecting a genius of my caliber.

The system belongs on the scrapheap. And that's where, with my hacking skills, I intended to send it.

One hurdle though! The tech I've got at home is pretty crumby. I'd never be able to outprocess you guys with all your quantum computers.

So you needed money, to build an ultra-high-spec computing system.

It would have been beautiful. Oh well, that dream is in the dust now. Fair play to you, Isuka.

I have another dream. To work alongside you. With me at the helm of your cyberdivision you'd never worry about cyber-attacks again. All the mocking I've endured would be rendered invalid. I'd be completely vindicated!

I can't do that, as much as I'd like to have someone of your ability on board.

We received your urgent message, Isuka. We came running, and now here we are.

You know where EGPD HQ is? Escort this boy over there, please.

Why... No... How could you do this? You really think it's fair that a talent like mine rots in jail?

We don't bend the rules for special talents; that's true fairness. Besides that, we at IDEA pride ourselves on our integrity, we risk sullying it by granting membership to persons of dubious character.

You made the wrong choice. You decry the system as broken, and so it may be... But that doesn't justify making innocent people suffer.

......

We've got word the EGPD has acknowledged the innocence of the IDAite girl. She'll be released from solitary confinement shortly.

That was a pretty complicated case. If you weren't so good at explaining things, I think my brain would have melted.

I really admire you, Isuka. I do wonder where you get your energy from though. (Maybe she's an avid Omnipop-drinker?)

I couldn't allow the EGPD to breach our defenses.

They get permission for an investigation on our territory once, and it's a slippery slope from there.

Any other cases where an IDAite is accused of a crime, they'd need merely point to the precedent, and that would be that.

I won't let our independence erode away. Not without a fight. The IDEAlists' uniform may look elegant, but really it's a warrior's armor: we're the protectors of IDA City's freedom.

We're going to the Industrial Ruins. What's the need for delay...? It's not very reassuring to have a scaredy-cat for a bodyguard.