Story 1. "The Black Violin Effect"
Plot:
At an elite conference in Prague dedicated to advancements in artificial intelligence and quantum technologies, the leading minds from across Europe gather. In one of the halls of the prestigious Grandior Hotel Prague, Anna Bon is preparing for her performance, which is meant to be the evening’s climax. However, her arrival in Prague is not related to music. Among the audience, behind the scenes, and even among the waiters, there are agents from various countries, each with their own goal. Anna is aware that the technology presented by a group of Czech nuclear physicists could change the balance of power in the world. The algorithm, named “Compression of Infinity,” supposedly allows any information to be compressed into unimaginably small sizes while retaining its integrity and quality. Imagine a 10GB 4K movie being compressed to 5MB without losing quality. But here’s what few know — the technology has a strange side effect. When set to certain configurations, the algorithm causes inexplicable changes in the psyche of those around it, making them vulnerable to manipulation.
Meeting with Mr. Lanek
Anna hides her concern, playing the role of a modest diva immersed in the world of art. However, she’s actually here to find out which scientist has already sold the technology to the criminal circles of Eastern Europe and to retrieve the key data before it falls into the hands of criminals. At the conference, she manages to arrange a casual meeting with the lead physicist of the project, Dr. Lanek, an intelligent middle-aged man whose nervous gaze gives him away. They meet in the hotel lobby, where Lanek, looking at her concert poster, passes her a flash drive with a trembling hand. “This is for you, Anna. It’s all I managed to save… You must stop it,” he whispers, glancing around. Anna understands that the flash drive contains partially compressed information on the algorithm’s effect on the psyche, which could be used as a weapon. Lanek, it seems, is not just afraid for his work — he’s been threatened before.A Tangled Web
The next morning, Anna is woken up by loud voices. Lanek is found dead in his hotel room. Officially, it’s an accident — supposedly he slipped and fell in the bathroom. But her trained eye notices a dark mark on his arm, a strange blue bruise resembling a needle puncture. She has no doubt now: Lanek was murdered, and she’s the next target, especially if anyone finds out she has the flash drive with his research. That same night, after hours of studying the data, Anna notices a strange effect: as soon as she connects the flash drive, she feels an overwhelming sense of anxiety, as though someone is watching her closely. She even notices that her thoughts are becoming muddled, as if influenced by some kind of suppressing signal. Only her self-control allows her to yank the flash drive from the computer, and her mind clears.The Concert in Prague
On the day of her performance, Anna notices several strange individuals entering the hall. Among them is a tall, pale man, who, according to her data, is linked to an underground East European mafia organization. He is carrying a black case. She knows that he might be one of the intermediaries involved in selling the algorithm to turn it into a virus for mind control. Anna decides to act. As she steps onto the stage, she notices this man staring intently at her, and something in his gaze betrays impatience — he’s waiting for the transfer to begin. Anna realizes that they might be tracking her computer and have seen that the flash drive was connected to her device. Her performance begins, but instead of the usual melody, she uses a special technique, a hidden musical code created by her agency. To the sound of her violin, the audience is lulled into a meditative state, and her team secretly infiltrates the suspect’s room. This time, Anna uses her abilities not only for music but also to deceive her enemies. The concert becomes a cover, providing the time needed for her team to take the case and neutralize the spy equipment.Resolution: A Signal to the World
After the concert, she is summoned by a certain Mr. Dragoslav, a face Anna recognizes from international wanted lists. He invites her to a small office in the back of the hall, where a dark figure leans toward her, offering to buy the data from the flash drive for an incredible sum. His voice carries a threat, but Anna remains calm. Her composure throws him off. She hands him the flash drive, and as soon as he connects it to his laptop, the device displays the data, followed by a hidden virus she prepared with Lanek. The screen flashes the message: “Information deleted. Project halted. Your data has been sent to the police.” Dragoslav is furious, but before he can do anything, Anna’s team, disguised as hotel staff, enters the room and arrests him.