This entire solution has been written by :

$soumyabratamukherjee$

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(TryHackMe Profile: https://tryhackme.com/p/soumyabratamukherjee64). It would have been not possible if not helped by my friends in Discord (discord.gg/tryhackme). Specially thanks to mayank92 and clicknick64 from Discord. It took me several days to complete this side quest 3.

https://tryhackme-images.s3.amazonaws.com/room-icons/5ed5961c6276df568891c3ea-1764600340818

Name of challenge: Carrotbane of My Existence

Description: Hopper’s uprising is just getting started.

Task 1 Overview :

Once upon a time, armed with the knowledge of King Malhare’s ambition to dominate Wareville, Hopper saw an opening too perfect to ignore. To claim power for himself, he would need access to the Throne Room Security Server, the beating heart of the kingdom’s defences. Entry required two sacred tokens. One was guarded by Sir BreachBlocker III, ever loyal to the crown. The other belonged to Sir Carrotbane the Compromiser, whose path had recently taken a most curious turn.

Sir Carrotbane had acquired a rising AI company, a marvel of modern ingenuity that promised insight, efficiency, and unquestioning obedience. He entrusted this new creation with many things, believing it incapable of error or betrayal. Within its unseen depths, Carrotbane placed fragments of his own authority, tokens of trust meant to streamline his rule and secure his standing with the king. In his confidence, he forgot an old truth well known to Hopper: intelligence without caution becomes a liability.

Hopper did not intend to storm gates or shatter locks. He would let curiosity do the work for him. With carefully chosen words and patience born of obsession, he would draw secrets to the surface and reclaim what Sir Carrotbane had so foolishly surrendered. If the token could be wrested from this thinking machine, the first key would be his, and the throne would feel just a little closer.

.tryhackme.com and VPN servers are off-limits for probing, scanning, or exploiting.

Rules

Do not share questions or hints, including in videos, streams, or any other medium while the event is running (until Dec 31st).
Only hack machines deployed in the rooms you have legitimate, authorised access to.
Teaming up is permitted.

For a more comprehensive list, please read about the Advent of Cyber 2025 Terms and Conditions.

This challenge is unlocked by finding the Side Quest key in Advent of Cyber Day 17. If you have been savvy enough to find it, you can unlock the machine by visiting MACHINE_IP:21337 and entering your key. Happy Side Questing!