The words "hacker" and "cracker" both derive from the root word "hack."
Originally, a hacker referred to someone deeply passionate about computer technology, highly skilled, and regarded by ordinary programmers as an expert capable of almost anything.
With the rise of the internet, however, a new term, cracker, was coined to describe those who break into systems or crack software protections.
At first, it specifically referred to those who broke codes and cracked software.
Crack literally meant to open or smash, since brute force cracking was often easier than technical cracking, these people jokingly said they smashed open a program requiring verification, thus calling themselves crackers.
In its original sense, Hackers were basically good people and geniuses.
Crackers weren't necessarily evil either; many did it just for research or showing off.
But a large number of computer criminals also appeared: planting trojans, stealing bank accounts, game accounts, and more.
Whether these individuals develop their own techniques or obtain them from crackers or hackers, these activities are considered relatively bad within this community.
However, in the eyes of the general media and the public, crackers, hackers, and computer criminals are often viewed as relatively mysterious figures.
And indeed, there are many computer criminals. Getting technology from crackers or hackers, or calling oneself a cracker or hacker.
So the blame was first placed on the word hacker, and then, after the hackers had justified themselves, the blame was placed on the crackers again.
Thus, the word Hacker often carries a negative connotation.
Even in this era, where it wasn't yet fully tied to crime, the fact that Ickshonpe had chosen Hacker as his hunter classification showed something about him.
This man was one of those obsessive, deranged types.
"But it's precisely because of this that he was able to create the network world, isn't it?"
Luke smiled and pressed the button to receive the invitation.
Instantly, he felt a blinding, dazzling light flash before his eyes!
He didn't know how long it took; it seemed like a moment, or perhaps an hour.
As Luke gradually adjusted to the brightness, or rather, as the light gradually dimmed, he slowly opened his eyes.
What he saw was a vast expanse of white. The entire surrounding space was practically blanketed in white.
Even the ground beneath his feet was a blanket of white.
It was as if, in this special space, there was no other color besides white.
"This should be the network space that Ickshonpe had just begun to create, right?"
Luke surveyed the surroundings, not overly worried.
"It really is a bit simple."
The earliest networks had yet to develop into the complex, dazzling landscapes of the future, filled with endless streams of information.
In other words, this was the most primitive, pure form of cyberspace.
As Luke surveyed his surroundings, suddenly, a faint red light flickered in front of him.
When Luke looked over, he saw a thin figure standing before him.
He had no idea when he had arrived, nor how he had appeared.
Just like that, the figure stared back at Luke.
"Sure enough, he's still the same, unchanged from the future."
Looking at that familiar graffiti face, Luke also felt dumbfounded.
Ickshonpe Katocha, a Hacker Hunter.
He first appeared in the Chairman election arc following the Chimera Ant incident.
At that time, some hunters voted for him in their ballots for the new Hunter Association's Chairman.
This resulted in him being on the list and even being invited by the Hunter Association to give a speech.
But this guy never even showed up in person, not even once.
He was dressed in a graffiti face, making it impossible to see his true appearance.
Only the letters Pe were printed on the forehead of that graffiti face.
During the election, in the conference room's live feed, he held up pieces of cardboard, flipping them one after another.
Everything he wanted to say appeared on the cardboard.
What was most impressive was his disdain for the real world.
"You and I are from completely different worlds."
"I have no interest in what happens there."
By that time, he was already living in the network world.
Naturally, he expressed such an opinion.
Luke guessed that as soon as the internet was born, Ickshonpe had immediately set his eyes on it, decisively using some ability or vow to enter this world.
Perhaps through Vows and Limitations, he sacrifices something to fully enter the network world, constructing this realm, and living here permanently.
"Fortunately, it hasn't come to the point where he can only use paper slips to communicate..."
Luke observed the chat boxes floating above Ickshonpe's head, roughly understanding his situation.
"Who are you?"
This was the question that appeared in the chat box above Ickshonpe's head.
"So, his way of expressing himself and his ability are both completely tied to the network?"
Luke pondered: "That's why communication takes this form."
"As the network world develops, his own way of expression and abilities will evolve, and even become exceptionally powerful."
"He might even reach the level of producing and transmitting information instantly in the future."
In other words, Ickshonpe's own abilities are almost inextricably linked to the internet.
At present, he only uses this most basic form of information to convey his ideas.
But in the future, it's very likely that these media will no longer be necessary, and information can be exchanged directly through a single thought.
Ickshonpe is evolving alongside the internet.
This means that he has almost completely tied everything, including his life, to the internet.
This is practically a gamble, a bet on the internet's rise, a bet that it will dominate the next era.
The next one, the 21st century, will become an information society.
Well, only someone this paranoid and radical could become a Hacker Hunter right now.
He staked his entire fortune and life on it, and without a doubt, Ickshonpe won.
The future prosperity of the internet needs no further elaboration.
This is also why he has a certain confidence to look down on the real world.
As for using cardboard to convey messages, there must have been some restrictions involved.
Perhaps he was unable to converse with the outside world directly.
After immersing himself entirely in the network, naturally, his existence had to align with it.
60 more chapters on my Patreon/SweetestDeath