> *"A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won: the hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man."* — Joseph Campbell, 1949, p.28, The Hero and the God; see: [[Structure of the Quest]]) <div style="background-color:rgb(0, 7, 68); padding: 25px; border-radius: 15px; border: 3px solid #1e2a47; box-shadow: 0 0 30px rgba(0, 0, 139, 0.5); margin: 20px 0;"> <h3 style="text-align: center; color: #B0E0E6;">The Region of Supernatural Wonder: <br> Cybercrime Investigation</h3> <p style="color: #B0C4DE; text-align: justify;">In cybercrime research, the "region of supernatural wonder" represents the complex digital environments where cybercriminals operate: darknet markets, encrypted communication channels, criminal platforms. Researchers, unlike traditional heroes, must often adopt unconventional and ethically ambiguous methods to understand their subjects. The "fabulous forces" include advanced attack methodologies, evolving criminal techniques, and the ethical dilemmas researchers face when studying illegal activities. The "bestowed boons" are double edged, as research outcomes can be exploited by malicious actors, making the researchers' findings both beneficial and risky.</p></div> The research process involves technical complexities and methodological challenges, but also significant ethical considerations unique to studying illegal activities. Researchers must develop an understanding of the complex relationships between technology, criminal behavior, and social systems. The knowledge gained contributes to broader efforts in cybersecurity and digital crime prevention, though the path to these contributions is rarely straightforward. PhD advisors and the broader cybersecurity research community function as mentors, helping researchers navigate these complex ethical landscapes. Senior researchers, industry professionals, and law enforcement contacts provide guidance on maintaining research integrity while studying criminal phenomena. ## **Deviations from the Classical Hero Quest: the Anti-hero Quest** The Anti-Hero Quest framework better captures the experience of cybercrime researchers. Researchers typically begin their work motivated by specific research questions or societal concerns—what Campbell would call the '**call to adventure**.' However, this adventure requires them to venture into morally ambiguous territories, studying criminal behavior patterns while maintaining ethical research standards. Unlike Campbell's model where "a decisive victory is won," cybercrime researchers operate in a fundamentally different paradigm characterized by constant, evolving challenges without clear endpoints or definitive victories. Rather than Campbell’s linear journey, researchers iteratively and incrementally develop our understanding of complex cybercriminal networks. This represents several critical deviations from the traditional hero quest structure (see [[Cybercrime and deviations to the Hero Quest]]).