Ch. 681..690

Chapter 681 Arrogant

Catherine sat in the quiet and cramped office with an imposing posture, playing games on her phone. Across from her sat the man assigned as the leader of the investigation team at Styre University, Lorcan Fitzpatrick.

As the youngest investigator in the entire procuratorate, Lorcan’s abilities were not to be underestimated.

Returning from studying in Alton, he was a top talent with dual degrees, specially recruited into the procuratorate. Despite his young age, he had an impressive track record and was hailed as a walking lie detector by the procuratorate. His exceptional psychological talent left no room for deception in his presence.

For over half an hour, Lorcan had been sitting face to face with Catherine, but this time, the usually unbeatable Lorcan was failing. He couldn’t read Catherine’s mind at all. In fact, in his opinion, Catherine seemed more like a psychological expert than he did.

Lorcan sighed deeply, hesitated for a long time, and decided to take the initiative, a first in his professional career.

“Miss Swann, don’t you want to talk to me about the leak? Or perhaps you want me to help clear your name?” he asked.

Catherine raised her head leisurely, her eyes cold and devoid of warmth as she replied, “Not interested.” Her face seemed to bear the word “arrogant” at this moment, exuding an overwhelming air of superiority.

Lorcan was furious, not someone who easily lost his temper. But the sense of powerlessness in front of Catherine made him feel extremely frustrated. It seemed that negotiation was futile. Taking a deep breath, he chose to persuade her.

“Miss Swann, I’ve heard you are Professor Hartley’s favorite student. You should be aware of his authority and reputation in the industry. Being his student and entering the lab at such a young age guarantee you a promising future. Don’t let this incident ruin your prospects.”

As Catherine’s game reached its final stage, the persistent annoyance buzzing in her ear tightened her furrowed brow even further. She was getting impatient, wondering why things were moving so slowly. “Do I have to do everything myself, even such a simple investigation?” she asked inwardly.

Tossing her phone aside, Catherine looked up at Lorcan. When their eyes met, a sense of unease arose within Lorcan. He had never encountered someone with such a powerful aura before, leaving him momentarily speechless and forgetting the words he was about to say.

Catherine chuckled. “Humph!” Her low voice brought Lorcan’s drifting thoughts back. Realizing his loss of composure, he felt a tinge of annoyance. He hadn’t intended to treat Catherine this way, but her attitude had affected him.

Lorcan snapped his fingers and slowly began his most powerful hypnosis technique. During his pursuit of a PhD in psychology in Alton, he delved deeply into hypnosis with his mentor. After returning to his home country and joining the procuratorate, he hadn’t encountered a case worthy of employing his hypnosis skills. Catherine was the first.

With little time given from his immediate superior and driven by an inexplicable sense of defeat, Lorcan decided to use hypnosis to control Catherine’s consciousness, aiming to make her reveal the truth in a subconscious state.

“Name, age, place of birth,” he asked.

Once everything was ready, Lorcan joyfully watched Catherine enter the state of hypnosis. He knew he had successfully hypnotized her and could now formally question her about the leaked experimental data, confident that she would speak the truth in this state.

“Catherine, did you leak the experimental data?”

“Yes!”

Upon hearing the affirmative answer, Lorcan felt a sense of triumph. He had ultimately succeeded. To quickly uncover the truth, he moved on to the next question.

“Catherine, who instructed you to steal the data?” he asked.

After a second of silence, Catherine gave an unexpected answer.

“Lorcan Fitzpatrick!”

Upon hearing this, Lorcan was taken aback. It was Catherine’s subconscious response, and she couldn’t be lying, but how could she give an answer like this? “Am I the mastermind behind all this?” he began to wonder. “Am I not?” Both questions raged in his mind, leaving him unable to distinguish which was true.

Bang!

A loud noise rang out, and Lorcan suddenly looked up. He was awake!

When he saw Catherine’s deep gaze, he realized that everything he had just experienced was an illusion created by Catherine. Not only did he not hypnotize her, but she also hypnotized him.

“How did this happen?” he murmured in his mind. “How did she do it?”

Lorcan looked at the man who had kicked the door open and stormed in, and his strong presence made Lorcan furrow his brow slightly.

“Who are you, and how did you get in?”

Branden turned his head to look at Lorcan, and his mocking and cold eyes swept over him.

At that moment, Lorcan felt frozen, and an icy feeling spread through his limbs, rendering him motionless. He had never seen someone with such an intimidating presence before.

“No,” Lorcan said inwardly, “Catherine also has a very domineering presence, and there is a resemblance to this man.

Branden didn’t pay any attention to Lorcan. He went straight to Catherine and looked at her with concern. “Are you okay?” he asked.

The moment Catherine raised her eyes, the coldness in her gaze gradually melted. She could tell Branden must have hurried here, and he had a somewhat disheveled appearance. She reached out and gently patted the hair that had fallen on the man’s shoulder. ” Why are you in such a hurry?”

Branden was always meticulous. He would not appear in public this way unless they were in a hurry.

Branden bent down and sat beside Catherine, saying, “It’s okay!” After receiving the message, he immediately arranged for a helicopter to fly from Casier to Loxton. The moment he got off the plane, without even a moment’s pause, he rushed straight to Styre University.

On Branden’s way here, he made several phone calls. At this moment, it seemed quite peaceful at Styre University, but outside the Loxton area, many things were going on.

Although he knew that Catherine wouldn’t be hurt, he couldn’t bear to see her suffer even a little bit, and he just wanted to come as quickly as possible to stand up for her.

And now, seeing that Catherine was safe and sound, Branden finally felt relieved. “Let’s go, we’re going home!”

he suggested.

Branden took Catherine’s hand, ready to take her away.

Lorcan was shocked. “This man’s tone is too arrogant!” he thought. Even if the mayor of Loxton came, they couldn’t leave without the approval of the procuratorate.

Lorcan immediately stood with his subordinates at the door and sternly rebuked, “The matter hasn’t been investigated yet. You can’t leave!”

Paxton, who had come with Branden, immediately stepped forward, and the atmosphere at the scene became tense.

Chapter 682 Finding It Out

The tension between the two sides was escalating, and it seemed like the situation was about to get out of control.

Suddenly, a cell phone rang, and Lorcan answered the call. Whatever the person on the other end said immediately changed Lorcan’s expression. His subordinates noticed something was off and couldn’t help but ask, “Sir, what’s going on?”

Lorcan didn’t respond but instead fixed his sharp gaze on Catherine. “You can leave Styre University, but you need to cooperate with our investigation. You can’t leave Loxton for the time being. Understand?”

The Duncans didn’t pay any attention to Lorcan’s words. They wouldn’t let anybody get the chance to bully Catherine.

Catherine tilted her chin and stared at Lorcan. She didn’t seem to be affected by his words at all.

Marshall, who had rushed over upon hearing the news, immediately approached Catherine. “Catherine, are you okay?”

Lorcan could tell that Marshall valued Catherine very much. He instantly understood the current situation and realized that only Marshall could persuade Catherine. He repeated what he had just said to Marshall.

Marshall looked at Catherine and said, ” I think it works. We need to investigate the matter thoroughly. It wasn’t us who did it, and no one has the right to slander us.”

Out of respect for Marshall, Catherine nodded slightly. Her agreement made Lorcan breathe a sigh of relief. He was genuinely worried just now. If Catherine hadn’t agreed, they wouldn’t have been able to do anything, and the situation would have once again fallen into a deadlock.

Lorcan stepped aside, making way. Branden wrapped his arm around Catherine’s waist and swaggered out.

Watching their departing figures, Lorcan’s subordinates appeared very annoyed. “Sir, Catherine is the prime suspect. How can we just let her go?”

“What’s that guy’s background? He seems quite powerful!”

Listening to the chatter of his subordinates, Lorcan’s expression grew increasingly grim. “The man just now is surnamed Duncan. Got it?”

“Duncan?” His subordinates couldn’t help but murmur.

In Loxton, who else but Branden Duncan, who recently had a confrontation with the Breens, could have such a brazen attitude?

Their faces turned pale, their eyes full of surprise. As members of the procuratorate, they surely knew the Duncans’ power.

No wonder that man could easily take Catherine away. In Loxton, perhaps no one could afford to offend the Duncans.

Lorcan’s expression was exceptionally grim. He knew Branden’s identity, and he understood that when the Duncans wanted someone, no one could stop them.

However, Lorcan could tell that his immediate superior wasn’t succumbing to the pressure of power, but simply did not believe that Catherine could leak the data. “But why is he so certain?” Lorcan wondered.

At the apartment, Catherine turned on her phone only to find numerous missed calls. Despite the suppression of the news, many people still knew about the situation. They were worried about her.

Catherine glanced at the phone and casually tossed it onto the bed. Branden emerged from the bathroom and saw her sprawling on the sofa. He approached her slowly, his voice gentle and soothing as he asked, “Feeling tired?”

Catherine didn’t even want to open her eyes, responding to Branden with a weak voice, “Nah, just thinking about the data.”

Seeing her spending all her time in the laboratory and the little weight she had managed to gain being worn away, Branden felt a surge of anxiety. He bent down, lifted her from the sofa, and headed toward the bathroom.

“I’ve run a bath for you. Take your time and think. I’ve also made some soup for you. I’ll go tend to the fire. Call me when you’re done soaking!”

Catherine remained silent, her mind still preoccupied with the data. She allowed Branden to place her by the edge of the bathtub. There was no sign of her being affected in her response.

Branden secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He had been worried that Catherine would be upset about being framed, but now it seemed that she didn’t care at all.

Soaked in the warm water, Catherine closed her eyes, feeling relaxed.

In the kitchen, Branden stirred the soup in the pot with one hand while listening to Carlo’s reports on the phone.

“Boss, we can’t find any clues from Styre University! We’ve checked all the surveillance, and there’s nothing suspicious. We also found that Miss Swann’s bank account received five million dollars from an overseas account!”

Upon hearing this, Branden immediately furrowed his brow, his eyes narrowing with a chilling sense of unease. “Five million dollars?” he repeated. “Who do they think they’re dealing with?”

To think that someone would spend five million dollars to frame his beloved, Branden was furious. It seemed that these people didn’t even take him seriously.

Carlo hadn’t initially seen any issue with this, considering that five million dollars was indeed a substantial sum for a student. However, upon hearing his boss’s question, he realized something. Branden spent over 100 thousand dollars every month just on buying fruit for Catherine, and now these people were spending only five million dollars to frame her. It was outrageous.

“Boss, Francis has gone to investigate the team in Rexinheim. There are no leads from Styre University, but we can probably find something by starting there!”

“Sure.” Branden glanced at the time, set down the spoon, and turned off the stove. “Let me know if there’s any news!”

Branden hung up the phone, knowing the other party had come prepared this time, fully intending to put Catherine in a difficult position. If that were the case, he wouldn’t show them any mercy.

Suppressing the murderous intent in his eyes, Branden walked to the bathroom door and gently knocked.

Catherine slowly opened her eyes.

Okay, I’m coming.” Her casual tone carried a hint of hoarseness, tinged with weariness. Immersed in the bathtub, feeling the soothing flow of water, she had unknowingly dozed off.

As the bathroom door opened, Branden approached Catherine and covered her damp hair with a towel. Catherine never liked to dry her hair with a hairdryer, always allowing it to air dry naturally. Since being with Branden, whenever she finished bathing, he would be there with a towel ready for her, drying her hair with a hairdryer after absorbing the water droplets with the towel.

“The soup is ready. Would you like to have some and then rest?”

“Sure.” Since he had spent so long preparing the soup, Catherine didn’t want to disappoint him.

Catherine sat at the dining table, sipping the soup and scrolling through her phone, while Branden worked in his study. Just as she picked up her phone, a call came in. Glancing at the caller ID, she answered and put it to her ear.

A strange man’s voice came through on the other end of the line. “Rest assured. We will definitely give you an explanation for this matter. We won’t let you suffer unjustly.”

The man went on at length, but Catherine responded coldly with just one sentence. “Are you done talking?”

The man hesitated momentarily and then replied, “Yes, I’m done.”

Without hesitation, Catherine hung up the phone. She wasn’t a three-year-old child who needed comfort. She just needed results. Her patience was limited, and if this matter weren’t resolved by tomorrow, she would investigate it herself.

Chapter 683 Piaras’s Protection

Late at night, Lorcan returned to the procuratorate building once again. After much hesitation, he finally knocked on the door of the office.

“Come in!” A steady male voice came from inside.

Lorcan pressed the door handle and entered the office. The man sitting in the chair glanced up at Lorcan and then lowered his head to continue working on the task at hand.

“Coming back so late, do you need something from me?” The man before Lorcan, Piaras Fitzpatrick, was not only the highest authority in the procuratorate but also Lorcan’s uncle. Without their familial connection, it wouldn’t have been easy for Lorcan to see him without their familial connection, given his current position.

Today, Lorcan had received a task to investigate the leaked data from the laboratory at Styre University. However, he ended up receiving a call from his uncle. Piaras, with his higher- ranking status, ordered him to release Catherine. This left Lorcan greatly puzzled, and after much contemplation, Lorcan decided to come and seek clarification.

“Why do we have to release Catherine? Who exactly is she?” Lorcan asked with a tone of deep skepticism, clearly not believing Piaras’s statement.

Without lifting his head, Piaras calmly responded, “Who else could she be? Branden personally went to pick her up, so naturally, she’s his woman.”

“Is it just because of Branden?” Lorcan’s voice was filled with doubt, indicating that he didn’t believe Piaras’s explanation at all. He knew better than anyone that Piaras’s current position was earned through genuine capabilities.

Piaras was known for his integrity, and regardless of who it was, he didn’t let anyone off lightly for their mistakes. He was a man who could even take action against his own son if his son made a mistake. So how could he possibly let go of a suspected leaker just because of power and authority?

Lorcan didn’t believe it, and that was why he came here. After a long silence, he was still waiting for an answer.

Piaras finished reviewing the documents, set aside his work and then looked up to gaze at his most cherished nephew. Lorcan was very clever and shared some of his traits. His affection for Lorcan even surpassed that for his son.

“Just remember one thing. Put in the effort to do what you need to, and find the real culprit behind the leak. As for Catherine, you don’t need to investigate her!”

Upon hearing this, Lorcan was somewhat angry. He couldn’t understand it at all. He loudly questioned, “Why? The person with the most suspicion right now is Catherine. Why can’t we investigate her?”

Piaras’s eyes darkened instantly, and he stared at Lorcan with a serious expression. “It seems that you’ve been here for too long, and you’ve forgotten the most basic principles of the procuratorate. Is this something you should be asking?”

Absolute obedience was the most fundamental rule of the procuratorate. Things that shouldn’t be asked should absolutely not be questioned.

Lorcan was taken aback. Realizing his rashness, he chose to apologize obediently, “I’m sorry. I overstepped.”

Piaras, with a stern face, waved him off. “Go back.”

Lorcan slowly retreated. Just as he was about to leave, he heard Piaras’s parting words from behind. “Catherine cannot be the leaker. Just keep that in mind and do your job.”

After leaving Piaras’s office, Lorcan’s inner turmoil remained unsettled. This trip hadn’t been without any gains. What he had previously only speculated about could now be considered confirmed.

The reason Piaras released Catherine was not solely due to the influence of the Duncans. The main reason lay with Catherine. He couldn’t fathom Catherine’s true identity, but if Piaras was so certain she wasn’t the leaker, there had to be a reason.

Lorcan was now even more intrigued by Catherine. He planned to investigate her privately and uncover her true background to understand what kind of person she was that warranted Piaras’s protection.

Chapter 684 A Junior Member

Styre University instructed the students in the laboratory to keep quiet and suppressed the news by forbidding anyone from discussing it. However, the truth couldn’t be hidden for long. No one dared to discuss it on the forum, but the students had already been privately arguing about it. Many people had witnessed Catherine being taken away in public, which only added to the already controversial topic and put Catherine in the spotlight.

Rumors even spread that Catherine was not Eskanese but a spy from Rexinheim. The gossip continued to escalate, and even Isabella was feeling uneasy.

When Amelia returned, Isabella immediately stood up, closed the dorm room door, and pulled Amelia aside to sit down.

“Amelia, tell me the truth. Is Catherine really from Rexinheim?” Isabella asked.

Amelia had been asked about it all day. All kinds of people had been pestering her to find out about Catherine. She was getting really annoyed by all the attention. Little did she expect that when she returned to the dormitory, Isabella would also question her.

Amelia rolled her eyes impatiently, saying, “Bella, how can you believe such rumors? How could Catherine possibly be from Rexinheim? This whole thing is completely fabricated. I even suspect that the school couldn’t find the real culprit behind all this, so they just shifted the blame to Catherine!”

Seeing Amelia was getting angry, Isabella didn’t dare to continue asking.

The rumors outside were getting out of hand. They were so detailed and convincing that it seemed like those people had actually experienced it themselves. Gradually, everyone’s suspicions grew stronger.

“I’m just asking. Don’t be mad!” Isabella said.

Right after that, the dormitory door suddenly swung open, startling Isabella.

They turned around and saw Catherine confidently walking in with her backpack in hand. When Amelia saw Catherine, her eyes lit up with both joy and surprise. “Catherine, why do you come back?” she asked.

Since Catherine was taken away yesterday, the news had been completely sealed off, and even Amelia didn’t know Catherine’s situation.

Catherine glanced at Amelia and calmly said, “I was bored at home, so I came back to the lab to work.”

Amelia was stunned for a moment after hearing this. She then looked at Catherine with a surprised expression. ” Catherine, are you going back to the lab?”

Catherine turned her head and raised an eyebrow, looking at Amelia with a questioning expression.

Amelia thought she had misunderstood and quickly explained, “I didn’t mean to doubt you. I think it might be troublesome for you to return to the lab at this sensitive time.”

“It’s not troublesome at all,” Catherine responded calmly. “A clear conscience fears no accusation.” With that, she grabbed the materials on the table and walked towards the laboratory.

Along the way, many people recognized Catherine. They had all heard of her reputation, and no one dared to provoke her directly. Instead, they whispered behind her back.

Catherine made her way back to the laboratory, striding towards the experimental room.

Several members, all Marshall’s students and part of his research group were in the laboratory. Upon seeing her, they stopped their work.

Catherine greeted them with a calm look in her eyes before sitting down at her desk. Her demeanor was precisely the same as before as if nothing had occurred.

Ciaran Johnston, the eldest among them, glanced at Catherine, a faint smile appearing on his lips. He then looked up at everyone and said, “You guys better get busy with your work. Professor Hartley will be here soon, and if he catches you slacking off, watch out for his fiery wrath!”

Everyone laughed and began to focus on their tasks. During Catherine’s time in the lab, they had been in close contact with her. They knew her abilities and trusted her. Regardless of what the outside world said, in their eyes, Catherine was just a junior member of the laboratory.

Chapter 685 In Cahoots

The news of Catherine’s return to the laboratory quickly spread throughout the entire building. No one had expected her to come back.

However, just because the members of Marshall’s research group had no objections didn’t mean that members from other research groups wouldn’t cause trouble. In about half an hour, several people from different laboratories joined forces and gathered at Marshall’s research group’s laboratory entrance.

Leading these people was Paddy McLaughlin, a senior from the neighboring biology department. Their research project had always been one of the hottest projects at the school, second only to Marshall’s project, which they had long been dissatisfied with. However, due to Marshall’s reputation and the fact that their professor wasn’t one to seek fame, they had refrained from causing a scene.

But this time, they couldn’t hold back. They incited several members from other laboratories to unite and confront Marshall’s research group.

The commotion outside caught the attention of the members of Marshall’s research group. Upon hearing the news, Ciaran went out to check what was going on, and the rest of the group followed suit. However, Catherine remained calm, sitting at her desk and working on her experimental data.

As Ciaran stepped outside, he saw the crowd blocking the doorway, their expressions particularly grim. To avoid a conflict, he suppressed his anger and calmly addressed the group. “Why is everyone gathered here? Aren’t you guys busy?”

Paddy stepped forward, glaring at Ciaran. “I heard that your group’s traitor has returned to the laboratory. Is she planning to steal data again? Hand her over right now!”

The manner in which Paddy spoke was quite rude, and the expressions of Ciaran and the others turned particularly sour.

Ronan Flynn, the second youngest member of Marshall’s research group, usually liked to work on experiments with Catherine and had a very good impression of her. Despite Catherine’s young age, she was talented, generous, and willing to teach others. Ronan was the least likely in the entire laboratory to believe she would do such a thing.

Now, hearing Paddy’s slander of Catherine, Ronan exploded with rage and seemed ready to charge forward. ” Paddy, shut the hell up! You are just spouting nonsense!”

Faced with Ronan’s rebuttal, Paddy had a smug and mocking expression on his face. “Oh, are you getting worked up now? So you also think she is a traitor, don’t you? I’ve always wondered how Catherine managed to steal data from the laboratory alone. Could it be that you’re all in cahoots with her?”

The four words “in cahoots with her” immediately stirred up Ronan. “You fucking asshole!” he exclaimed, charging forward.

Ciaran quickly restrained Ronan. While on the other side, Paddy seemed eager for a fight, shouting, “Come on! Come over here if you dare!”

Ciaran, after pulling Ronan away, glared at Paddy. Although he also wanted to teach Paddy a lesson, he knew that fighting wouldn’t solve the problem. It would only escalate the conflict.

“What do you mean, Paddy?” Ciaran asked, his face stern. “The school is still investigating the leak. Without evidence, it’s inappropriate for you to pin the blame on Catherine like this, isn’t it?”

“Inappropriate?” Paddy sneered, saying to Ciaran in a sarcastic tone, She was taken away publicly by Mr. Farrell. Why do you have to ask me for evidence? Are you out of your mind? Or is it true, as I said, that you all are in cahoots?”

“Then tell me, if Catherine really leaked the information, how could she be allowed to come to the lab today? Wouldn’t the school hold her accountable?” Ciaran questioned. “And if she really leaked the data, how could she leave unscathed?” he added.

These two simple questions left everyone stunned. As Ciaran had said, if Catherine were indeed the leaker, the school would be the first to punish her. Moreover, this matter was too significant, and the school might not even have the final say. The research project was led by higher authorities and involved several very important national resources. Otherwise, how could Marshall’s research group be so popular?

After a few seconds, Paddy came back to his senses. Seeing the people around calming down, he began to incite them again. “Don’t listen to his one-sided words. Everyone knows she’s Marshall’s favorite student, always under his protection. After she was taken away yesterday, Marshall rushed out immediately. Who knows what’s really going on?” He paused momentarily before continuing, “And haven’t you heard from the economics department? Catherine is also Shane Breen’s student. So, it shouldn’t be difficult for her to be released on bail, right?”

Paddy’s words caused quite a stir among the crowd. Those who had been wavering were now firm in their beliefs, thinking that Catherine had leaked the data. The commotion started up again.

Ciaran watched the situation unfold, feeling overwhelmed. He was an academic specialist, so solving mathematical problems wasn’t an issue for him. However, dealing with this kind of scheming and plotting was not his forte. He could only secretly send someone to seek advice from the professor, but Marshall had gone to the procuratorate today and was not at the school. It seemed unlikely he would return anytime soon.

Seeing Ciaran’s distress, Paddy felt somewhat smug and continued to incite the situation, escalating the tension. He raised his arm and shouted, demanding that Catherine show herself. “Where is the leaker?” Those who had come with Paddy also shouted.

A sudden interruption occurred as the situation seemed to get out of control. ” Did you call for me?”

Amidst the noisy chaos, the clear, deep voice sounded particularly abrupt. Someone noticed it, but no one paid attention. The shouting was too loud for anyone to notice such a low voice.

Bang!

Suddenly, a loud bang echoed through the room, causing everyone to look over. They saw a chair smashed against the wall, shattering into pieces. The commotion gradually subsided as everyone followed the direction where the chair had been thrown.

Catherine stood with her arms crossed, her expression still as cold as usual. As she noticed everyone looking at her, she slowly raised her eyes, her gaze sharp, sweeping over the crowd like a blade. The scene fell silent, and her intimidating presence left everyone speechless.

In the quiet environment, Catherine’s cold voice sounded particularly clear. ” Sorry, I didn’t speak loud enough. I was afraid you wouldn’t hear me. Ciaran, the cost of the damaged chair will be deducted from my allowance this month.”

Ciaran paused momentarily before realizing his name had been mentioned, nodding in a daze.

After addressing the matter, Catherine turned her gaze to Paddy. “Are you looking for me?”

Her calm, indifferent gaze made Paddy tense up, rendering him unable to speak, feeling a tightening in his throat.

Chapter 686 Who Is He?

The absence of any further action from Catherine finally made Paddy find his voice. He looked at Catherine with a gaze filled with anger. The feeling of being overwhelmed by her presence made him feel extremely frustrated. He didn’t even understand why he felt subconsciously fearful of this girl.

“Catherine, you leaked the data. What right do you have to stay in the lab?” he accused. “Can’t believe you’re shameless enough to come back. You’re planning to steal more data from the lab, aren’t you?”

Catherine turned her head to look at Ciaran, lightly pointing in Paddy’s direction. “Who is he?” she asked.

Paddy was surprised that Catherine didn’t even recognize him. Although not top-notch, he was quite a prominent figure among the students at Styre University. “How could she not know me?” he asked inwardly. “This must be a deliberate attempt to humiliate me!”

Feeling embarrassed and angry, Paddy introduced himself before Ciaran had a chance to speak. “I’m Paddy McLaughlin from the biology department, five years ahead of you. Even if you don’t see me as your teacher, I’m still senior to you.”

He had outstanding academic performance and stayed at Styre University after obtaining his doctoral degree. He was the same year as Ciaran and five years senior to Catherine.

However, Catherine remained indifferent, not bothering to respond to Paddy.

Seeing this, Paddy felt like a clown, filled with indignant anger. “Catherine Swann, don’t be so arrogant. If you confess and make amends for your leak, we might consider showing you some leniency. Otherwise…”

“Hmph!” Catherine coldly snorted, her mocking gaze sweeping over Paddy. ” What makes you think you have the right to show me leniency?”

“You…” Paddy was so angry with her that he just burst out cursing, “You shameless traitor, I’ll…”

Before Paddy could finish his sentence, a swift gust of wind passed by his ear. Then, he was suddenly thrown over someone’s shoulder and slammed to the ground.

“AH!”

A scream rang out, and the crowd finally came to their senses. They hadn’t even seen how Catherine made her move before she knocked Paddy to the ground.

Catherine’s foot arrogantly pressed down on Paddy’s chest, her cold eyes looking down at him with disdain. “If you don’t know how to speak properly, then shut up,” she said in a commanding and powerful tone, sending shivers down Paddy’s spine.

Despite her seemingly petite figure, her step on his chest not only immobilized him but also deprived him of the chance to catch his breath. Ciaran and the others were dumbfounded, never expecting Catherine, who was usually quiet, to be so ruthless when provoked.

Under Catherine’s intimidating presence, no one dared to speak. Suddenly, rapid footsteps approached, and everyone turned around to see Marshall, accompanied by several school superintendents, walking sternly toward them. The crowd willingly stepped aside to make way.

Marshall immediately asked Catherine, “Catherine, are you alright?”

Catherine nodded. “I’m fine.”

“Good,” Marshall said, then turned to his students. “Are you guys okay?”

“We’re fine, Professor Hartley,” Ciaran answered for the group. He then gestured to Marshall to look at Catherine’s foot, under which Paddy was still pinned down. With so many school superintendents present, her behavior appeared unseemly.

However, Marshall seemed oblivious to Ciaran’s hint and didn’t even glance at Paddy. The students from the biology department, seeing the arrival of the president of the university, Ultan Farrell, began complaining.

“Mr. Farrell, Catherine is bullying Paddy.”

“She’s too arrogant, Mr. Farrell.”

“Exactly. How could she be so brazen in front of you, Mr. Farrell? She’s utterly disrespectful.”

“Yeah, that’s right…”

Despite the students’ complaints, Catherine’s foot remained firmly planted on Paddy’s chest, her face showing no signs of emotion. Every time Paddy struggled, she increased the pressure, ensuring he had no chance to speak.

Ultan, facing the students’ complaints, seemed at a loss. He had witnessed how Catherine easily walked away from the procuratorate the day before. It was evident to him that not only he, as the president, but the entire Styre University couldn’t afford to offend her.

Ultan wanted to speak, but he silently closed his mouth after Catherine glanced at him. Unable to handle the situation, he had to turn to Marshall, the pleading look in his eyes seeming to say, “Your student, your responsibility. 11

“Hmph!” Marshall snorted, clearly not wanting to get involved. Ultan suddenly pulled at his sleeve, almost tearing his clothes. The surrounding students all saw it, but none dared to speak.

After a brief exchange of glances between Marshall and Ultan, Marshall finally relented, considering Ultan’s usual care for him.

“Catherine, let’s discuss it in a nicer way, but first release him. It’s not proper for a young lady to act this way, “Marshall said.

Catherine, upon hearing this, released her foot. Paddy seemed to come back to life the moment she let go, sitting up and suddenly coughing violently.

Paddy’s classmates from the biology department rushed forward to help him up. As soon as Paddy steadied himself, he immediately voiced out a complaint. “Mr. Farrell, Catherine openly violated school regulations by assaulting me. You can’t just let her off this time, can you?”

Ultan glanced at Marshall, indicating that he should handle it himself. After all, Catherine was his student.

Marshall stepped forward and approached Paddy. His cold gaze made Paddy feel uneasy, causing him to instinctively take a step back and respectfully address him, “Professor Hartley…”

“Biology department, so you are Finbar’s student, right?” The professor in the biology department was Finbar Kavanagh, and Paddy was his student.

Seeing Paddy nod, Marshall immediately scolded him. “Finbar’s teaching is average, and his students are no better. How dare you cause trouble in my lab? Do you think my students need your guidance?”

Paddy never expected Marshall to say such things in public, making him feel like his heart was bleeding.

However, Marshall was the most renowned professor in the entire school, and Paddy couldn’t do anything against him. “Professor Hartley, there seems to be a misunderstanding!” ” Misunderstanding?” Marshall pointed at the students behind Paddy. “Then why did you bring them to my lab? Are you here to steal the data?”

Paddy’s face turned ashen. He immediately explained, “No, how could we do that?”

Marshall interjected, “So you must be here to cause trouble!” His tone was firm, leaving no room for explanation

Chapter 687 New Evidence

The situation between the two sides became chaotic, and Ultan finally couldn’t stand it anymore. “Enough!” he roared, and the scene immediately quieted down.

After the atmosphere calmed down a little, Ultan finally found the chance to intervene. He first glared at Marshall and reprimanded him in a cold voice. ” As a professor, you should set an example for your students. Why are you arguing with a student?”

Marshall retorted, “A student? It’s been two years since he graduated, but he still has no official title or formal employment, just lingering at the school. What’s wrong with me scolding him?”

At these words, Ultan’s face turned grim. Paddy felt extremely embarrassed and wished he could just disappear.

Ultan seemed to realize something. To Marshall, Catherine was just as important as his research projects. Any unjustified accusation of her would touch a nerve.

Ultan turned to Paddy and sternly reprimanded him. “The school’s higher authorities will investigate any leakage of data. Before the real leaker is revealed, no one should be randomly accused as a suspect. Do you know that coming here to cause a scene will result in disciplinary action?”

The threat of disciplinary action instantly made the students causing trouble panic. They had worked hard to get where they were today. What would become of their future careers if they were disciplined because of this incident? Some of them mustered the courage to plead with Ultan to let them off the hook.

“Alright, everybody stop. Considering that you all have the school’s best interests at heart, I won’t pursue this matter further this time. But if it happens again, I will not forgive anyone.”

With Ultan’s command, everyone scattered immediately, leaving the scene in a hurry.

Although Paddy was unwilling, he dared not challenge Ultan’s authority, so he left with his head down. Marshall reluctantly sent his students back to the laboratory at Ultan’s signal.

After these students left, Ultan turned his gaze to Catherine. “Catherine, let’s go to the office and have a chat.”

“Okay,” Catherine replied and followed, with Marshall trailing behind.

The three of them entered Ultan’s office, where he looked disdainfully at Marshall, saying, “I’m here to talk to Catherine. What are you doing here?”

Marshall retorted directly. “You’re talking to my student. Can I not come in?”

Catherine sat casually to the side, watching the two middle-aged men arguing, finding it quite amusing. Unlike the students who were always afraid of Ultan, she seemed completely at ease in his presence.

Ultan argued with Marshall but didn’t win the argument. “Fine, I don’t want to talk to you!” Ultan said, then turned his attention to Catherine. “Catherine, why did you return to the laboratory today? Did the procuratorate tell you anything?”

Not even Ultan could get any information after Catherine was taken away by the procuratorate yesterday. He had to wait for the higher-ups to give him any news. But to his surprise, Catherine was released shortly after being taken away. The video evidence they found made her the prime suspect, even though he believed she wasn’t the one leaking the data.

Ultan was cautious in his questioning, trying not to offend Catherine. However, she seemed unconcerned about the issue. She looked at him and said casually, “I didn’t do it, and they have no evidence. How can they accuse me?”

Ultan was about to speak when his phone suddenly rang. He gestured for Catherine and Marshall to wait before answering the call.

Although Marshall and Catherine couldn’t hear what was being said on the other end, both of them noticed that Ultan’s expression visibly darkened. It seemed that the call brought bad news.

After Ultan hung up the phone, he looked at Catherine with a very unpleasant expression.

“Ultan, why are you looking at Catherine like that? Who called you just now, and why?” Marshall anxiously inquired.

Faced with Marshall’s urgent questioning, Ultan remained silent. His gaze turned cold as he spoke seriously, “Catherine, I’ll ask you again. Are you involved in the leak of data?”

“No!” Catherine replied firmly without a second thought since she wouldn’t admit to something she didn’t do.

Hearing Catherine’s resolute answer, Ultan breathed a sigh of relief, but the weight on his mind still hadn’t lifted.” Catherine, you’re in trouble this time. I just received news that there are suddenly five million dollars in an account under your name.”

Upon hearing this, Marshall snorted.” That’s ridiculous! Do you think Catherine will be bribed by someone with five million dollars? The Swanns don’t lack money, and neither does our laboratory!”

Marshall had the confidence to say this for a reason-most of their laboratory’s projects were worth several hundred million dollars. Their annual salaries were over a million dollars, so they certainly didn’t lack five million dollars. Besides, given Catherine’s family background, she had no reason to do such a thing. The Swann Corporation itself was worth several billion dollars. As the sole heir to the Swann Corporation, why would Catherine be interested in a mere five million dollars? It was ridiculous.

Ultan also thought Marshall’s reasoning made sense, but he added another piece of news. “The procuratorate has apprehended a spy from Rexinheim. According to the spy’s confession, our academy indeed has their accomplices, who were secretly trained in Rexinheim many years ago and were only sent back to Eskana a year ago.”

The procuratorate had looked into Catherine’s background and discovered that the Swanns had abandoned her in the countryside at a young age. She mysteriously disappeared at seven and only returned to Eskana a little over a year ago. All of this aligned with the information provided by the spy.

One piece of news after another came out, leaving Marshall speechless. However, he firmly believed that Catherine could not possibly be a spy.

In contrast to Ultan and Marshall’s troubled expressions, Catherine remained much calmer. There was even a hint of a smile on her face.

“Catherine, why aren’t you the least bit nervous? You’re in big trouble, you know?” Marshall couldn’t help but ask her.

“Professor Hartley, don’t you find it interesting?” Catherine raised an eyebrow and looked at Marshall.

“Interesting?” Marshall was somewhat perplexed.

Catherine nodded. “If the opponent is too weak, the whole thing becomes boring. Obviously, the people lurking in the shadows are quite smart.”

When Marshall saw Catherine’s playful demeanor, his previous worried expression disappeared in an instant. He slapped his thigh, saying, “That’s my student! You are so brave! I like it!”

The scene of the two bantering left Ultan speechless. The students were unruly, while the professors were equally unreliable.

“Alright, if there’s nothing else, you can leave. Leave me alone,” Ultan said.

“Goodbye, Mr. Farrell!” After politely bidding farewell, Catherine left the office. As she stepped out, she encountered the hurried arrival of Lorcan.

Catherine cast a smiling glance at Lorcan and asked in a low voice, “Mr. Fitzpatrick, are you here to arrest me again?”

Chapter 688 Swann the Legendary Detective

Lorcan was very displeased with Catherine’s attitude, but the moment he thought of his uncle’s advice to avoid provoking her, he suppressed his anger.

“Catherine, we suspect you are involved in the recent data leak at the Styre Laboratory. Please come with us to assist in the investigation,” he said.

Catherine had already heard the news from Ultan and knew Lorcan’s purpose this time.

“Let’s go,” Catherine said, walking ahead confidently without a hint of fear.

As Lorcan watched her walk away, he couldn’t help but feel a bit shaken. “Is she just extremely confident and unafraid, or does she feel her connections are strong enough to protect her?” he wondered. This was the first time he had seen someone like her, who would be taken to the procuratorate for questioning but remained so composed.

Regardless of the type of vehicle, it had to stop at the gate of the procuratorate, and one had to get into the building on foot.

After the driver parked the car, Lorcan got out first and then opened the door for Catherine, who got out easily without being handcuffed, given her special status. If she had been handcuffed, Marshall probably wouldn’t have let them out of the gates of Styre University.

As they passed the security office, the security guard greeted Catherine when he saw her. “Oh, hello, Miss. What are you doing here?”

“I’m here for a visit!” Catherine cheerfully replied.

The security guard was momentarily stunned, and the subordinates accompanying Lorcan looked at each other in shock. One of them asked, “Mr. Fitzpatrick, this is unbelievable. Did the Cold-faced Demon just greet Catherine? Are they familiar?”

Lorcan looked at his subordinate, equally puzzled. “You’re not the only one who could see things.”

The security guard was nicknamed the Cold-faced Demon because of his peculiar and uncompromising personality. He had never shown friendliness to anyone during the years he had worked at the procuratorate. It was said that he was a veteran who had been to war. He refused to be idle at home, so he was assigned the job of guarding the gate of the procuratorate.

Due to his peculiar temperament, he had been given the nickname Cold- faced Demon.

Lorcan had been at the procuratorate for three years and had never seen him greet anyone. Today, the Cold-faced Demon greeted Catherine, which was really strange.

Watching Catherine confidently striding ahead, the subordinate who had just spoken couldn’t help but start discussing again. “Sir, why does this feel a bit weird? We don’t seem to be arresting a suspect but rather trailing behind her like her lackeys, aren’t we?”

And it wasn’t just one lackey. It was a whole group of them.

The subordinate’s observation caught Lorcan off guard. As he thought about it, it did seem to be the case. Catherine exuded an intimidating presence, not at all like someone being brought in for questioning, but more like a leader walking in front.

After settling Catherine in the office, Lorcan instructed his subordinate to inform several superintendents from within the procuratorate. Given the seriousness of the recent data leak, it was more appropriate to have them conduct the investigation.

Lorcan had his subordinate bring in Rian Healy, who was known as an expert in polygraph testing. Rian had been at the procuratorate for twice as long as Lorcan, handling numerous cases and never encountering a suspect who didn’t tell the truth under his interrogation.

Last time, Catherine was taken away by Branden. This time, Lorcan intended to have Rian go head-to-head with Catherine and see if she could remain as composed under Rian’s questioning.

Rian arrived at Lorcan’s office soon after. “Lorcan, where is she? Take me to her!” he demanded.

On his way, Rian had already heard from Lorcan’s subordinate about the deeds of this leaker and was itching to meet this formidable opponent personally.

“Mr. Healy, come with me,” Lorcan responded. Having learned much from Rian, he always saw Rian as his teacher.

Lorcan led Rian into the interrogation room and pointed ahead. “Mr. Healy, she’s right there!”

The moment Rian looked ahead and saw the “leaker,” a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, and he stood frozen in place.

Noticing the change in Rian’s expression, Lorcan immediately furrowed his brow. “Mr. Healy, what’s wrong?”

Pointing to the imposing figure sitting in front, Rian asked, “The leaker you mentioned is her?”

Lorcan nodded, not understanding why Rian was so surprised.

Before Rian could respond, a cold voice rang out. “Rian, long time no see!”

Rian snapped out of his daze and stepped forward, shaking hands with Catherine. “Catherine, it’s been a while. I never thought that I would see you again here.”

Lorcan watched as the two familiarly exchanged pleasantries, and his suspicions continued to grow. “Mr. Healy, what’s going on here?” he asked, perplexed by the apparent familiarity between Rian and Catherine, as well as the security guard at the door, who also seemed to know Catherine well.

Rian looked at him with a smile. ” Lorcan, you’ve always wanted to meet Swann, the Legendary Detective, haven’t you? Now that she’s here, why do you suddenly not recognize her?”

“Swann the Legendary Detective?” Lorcan repeated inwardly, instantly stunned, unable to process the information in front of him.

There had always been a mysterious figure within the procuratorate, someone with an enigmatic background and elusive whereabouts but with incredibly astute investigative methods. Particularly, her analysis of suspects’ psychology was remarkable, often deducing the characteristics and mental state of the perpetrator directly from the crime scene. No case she handled was left unsolved; she always brought swift closure.

However, when Lorcan joined the procuratorate, this detective mysteriously left for a more secretive department. Despite her departure, her legend persisted.

There were no records of this detective within the institution, and information about her was classified at the highest level of confidentiality. Lorcan could only gather information about her from the work notes she left behind and from Rian, who had worked with her. They were the only sources of information about her.

Lorcan had admired this detective for a long time, always hoping for a chance to witness her brilliance. But he never imagined that this detective would be Catherine.

“So how could she be the leaker?” Lorcan asked himself in his mind.

Rian couldn’t help but laugh at Lorcan’s dumbfounded expression. ” Hah, Catherine, look at how clueless this guy is. He actually brought you in as a suspect. Why didn’t Piaras tell him? Oh, I forgot to tell you, this guy is not only a member of the procuratorate but also Piaras’s nephew.”

Piaras, the current head of the procuratorate, had previously been Catherine’s immediate superior and had been in constant contact with her.

Lorcan had been skeptical, but upon hearing this, he suddenly understood what was going on. Piaras had warned him, but he had been stubborn, trusting only his own judgment and ignoring Piaras’s advice, wasting all this time.

Chapter 689 Real Purpose

The interrogation room was so quiet that even the sound of a pin dropping could be heard. Lorcan, with a bewildered expression, gazed in Catherine’s direction. When Catherine looked up and noticed him, he immediately lowered his head, avoiding eye contact with her.

Rian, standing nearby, couldn’t help but burst into laughter upon noticing this. It was the first time he had seen Lorcan behave in such a manner. He never expected Lorcan, who was always fearless, to be so cautious.

“Hey, Lorcan, why didn’t you say hello to your idol? Weren’t you always talking about meeting your idol and wanting to learn from her? Why the hesitation now?” Rian teased.

Lorcan glared at Rian, clearly displeased with his mocking words. “If you have nothing useful to say, can’t you just keep quiet for a moment?”

Seeing Lorcan blushing with embarrassment, Rian felt a sense of satisfaction and didn’t argue with hìm.

Rian made a cup of coffee for Catherine. “Catherine, what’s going on? You graduated with a Ph.D. years ago, so why did you return to study at Styre University?” If he remembered correctly, when he worked with Catherine, she was already pursuing her Ph.D. So why would she return to undergraduate studies now?

Catherine just smiled faintly. “Just for fun.”

Rian lowered his head and fell silent momentarily, understanding the meaning behind Catherine’s words. A genius like her had experiences vastly different from those of ordinary people. The hard work and studying normal children had to go through was nothing difficult for her. Having gotten a Ph.D. at the age of fourteen and even completing her studies at the university in just three months, she. had never experienced the typical college life.

Having finished her studies in the shortest time possible, she had missed out on some of the experiences that others took over a decade to complete. Now, she was retracing her steps to appreciate what she had missed. After all, the affairs of a genius were of little concern to ordinary people.

“So, what’s with the leak case?” Rian asked.

Catherine glanced at Rian, who immediately put on a friendly smile. After beating around the bush for a long time, he finally got back to the point.

While Rian had been casually chatting with Catherine, he hadn’t forgotten his duty. He was well aware that he was no match for Catherine. There was no way he could get her to talk if she didn’t want to. That was why he had chosen this indirect approach. First, he would play nice, let Catherine’s guard down, and then move on to the real business.

Actually, there was no need to beat around the bush. As long as Rian went straight to the point, Catherine would tell the truth. Since it had happened, she had no intention of avoiding it. She didn’t trust Lorcan, so she wouldn’t tell him the situation. But Rian was different. They had worked together before, and she trusted him a lot.

“I thought it was about Styre University, but I didn’t expect it was aimed at me!” Catherine casually responded, shocking Rian.

The information contained in Catherine’s statement was significant. Rian absolutely believed that Catherine couldn’t be the leaker based on her skills and abilities. Besides, he knew that even though she hadn’t stayed at the procuratorate in recent years, she had contributed to many cases. If she really were a spy for Rexinheim, how could Rexinheim afford to abandon such a crucial figure? He believed that everything Catherine said was true.

If the other party wasn’t targeting Styre University but rather Catherine, then the trouble was probably more severe than just what was apparent.

“Catherine, do you mean you found something?” Rian asked.

“No, I didn’t.” Catherine shook her head, a mischievous glint in her eyes. I’m waiting for the results of your investigation. With you guys around, why would I need to investigate?”

“Not really! We can’t compare to you,” Rian said with an embarrassed expression on his face. He wouldn’t be so humble if it were in front of others. But faced with Catherine, he knew that arguing was useless. He was no match for her.

Not only did Rian admit that he couldn’t measure up, but he also took the opportunity to belittle Lorcan. “You see, can someone like Lorcan handle it?

Regardless, Rian wouldn’t show Lorcan any respect in front of Catherine.

Upon hearing this, Lorcan was about to defend himself, but when he looked up and saw Catherine, he silently lowered his head. He didn’t need to play tough in front of a genius like her.

“Catherine, don’t beat around the bush, please. Just tell us how to handle this. Don’t let it delay your time experiencing your college life,” Rian urged.

“You’re Lorcan, right?” Catherine fixed her gaze on Lorcan. As soon as he heard her voice, he sat up straight and exclaimed, “Yes!”

His posture indicated that he had been influenced by the military, which Catherine found relatively satisfying.

“Show Rian the information you’ve found so far,” she ordered.

“Yes!” Without hesitation, Lorcan gathered all the information and handed it to Rian.

After reviewing it, Rian finally understood why Catherine had mentioned that the leak case was targeting her. It was a series of interconnected traps, all pointing to Catherine. It couldn’t have been arranged so perfectly without careful planning from the beginning.

However, Rian still had a lingering question. “Catherine, what is their purpose? Have you offended anybody recently?”

Catherine narrowed her eyes slightly, a hint of intimidation in her gaze. She then casually tapped her fingers on the table. “Perhaps it’s to delay my research at Styre University.”

“What research?” Rian asked.

Catherine didn’t answer but instead took out her phone and tossed it to Rian. He checked the phone and instantly widened his eyes, immediately understanding the severity of the situation. This experiment was much more important than the leak case Catherine was involved in.

“Catherine, this is huge. I need to report to Mr. Fitzpatrick and have him take charge personally!” Rian took out his phone to make the call, but Catherine stopped him.

“No need. He already knows,” she said.

“He knows?” Rian’s hand holding the phone paused for a moment.

“Yes.” Catherine nodded. “Next, I will investigate and expose the mastermind behind this. I’ll keep you updated.”

It would be a significant achievement if Catherine could uncover the mastermind behind this. Rian was elated and gave Lorcan, who was in a daze, a slap on the back.

“Silly boy, snap out of it. Get to work and follow Catherine’s orders. Do whatever she tells you to, understand?”

Lorcan realized that the situation was not simple. No wonder Piaras had advised him not to ask, as it involved higher-level secrets.

“Yes, Sir, I will obey her orders,” Lorcan affirmed.

Chapter 690 Evil Spirits

The ringing of the phone woke Ronin from his deep sleep. He reached for his phone with an impatient expression on his face and glanced at the caller ID. After seeing who was calling, he immediately sat up and answered the phone. “Catherine, you finally decided to call me!”

Ronin was well aware of the recent events at Styre University and was very angry. Those fools dared to slander Catherine, which was simply absurd. But without Catherine’s orders, he couldn’t act on his own. He had been waiting for her call.

“Ronin, help me with something,” Catherine said coldly.

Ronin was excited. “Catherine, please command me!” He had been waiting for this opportunity for so long, so how could he miss it?

“The lab is haunted. Find out which evil spirit is causing trouble.”

Catherine’s words made Ronin feel confused. Although he had abilities, they could only be used on humans, not evil spirits. How could he handle a haunting laboratory? But he couldn’t disobey Catherine’s orders, and he couldn’t fail to accomplish them.

“Catherine, don’t worry. I’ll take care of it. I’ll find the best exorcist in the world to deal with the haunting in the lab!”

“Who told you to hire an exorcist? There are no evil spirits in the world. They only lie in those evildoers.”

Upon hearing this, Ronin understood what Catherine meant. “Catherine, are you saying someone is playing tricks and causing trouble in the lab?”

“Go and find out,” Catherine said before hanging up the phone.

After hearing the beeps from the other end of the line, Ronin hung up the phone and got out of bed to change his clothes. Whether the other party was a person or an evil spirit, as long as Catherine had given the order, he was determined to expose them.

Catherine hung up the phone, ready to leave the procuratorate. Seeing she was about to leave, Lorcan decided to see her off.

Catherine glanced at him and said coldly, “Don’t follow me.”

Lorcan’s steps halted, and he watched Catherine leave with a furrowed brow. He had offended his idol; it was his fault for being so foolish as to suspect his idol of leaking the data, and he deserved it.

Rian walked over and patted his shoulder, seeming to comfort him.

“Well, looks like I’ve completely offended her,” Lorcan said helplessly.

Rian hesitated momentarily before smacking Lorcan’s shoulder, saying, ” Silly boy, what are you thinking? She is protecting you!”

“Protecting me?” Lorcan repeated in his mind, clearly not understanding what Rian meant, and he looked at Rian with a puzzled expression.

Rian had to explain it once again. ”

You’ve just brought her here from the school in broad daylight, and now you’re seeing her off with a respected look on your face. If someone is really watching you, Catherine’s identity will be exposed!”

Before leaving, Rian couldn’t resist teasing Lorcan, “Look at you. With that shy look on your face, anyone would think you have a crush on Catherine, even though she’s not interested in you.

“Why not?” Lorcan retorted inwardly, furrowing his brow. He walked towards the restroom with a displeased look on his face. After seeing his own appearance in the mirror, he thought of Branden.

“Yeah, she won’t be interested in me…” he said to himself.

Catherine walked out of the procuratorate. She was planning to chat with the security guard for a moment when she heard the sound of screeching brakes. She and the security guard both looked up outside.

A black Hummer, imposingly parked at the entrance of the procuratorate. The security guard raised his eyebrows at Catherine and casually asked, “Your friend?”

Catherine strolled out of the security office, waved her hand without turning back to the security guard, and said, See you next time!”

The security guard glanced over and saw a man getting out of the car and walking straight towards Catherine. He took a careful look at the man. The man was good-looking and quite suitable for Catherine.

After seeing the man’s appearance, the security guard turned back to his seat, preparing to rest, only to catch sight of a pack of cigarettes and a bottle of wine on his desk.

They weren’t very expensive brands, but they were indeed his favorite. The cigarettes had been discontinued for years, but Catherine still remembered his favorite.

Catherine knew that Branden would come to pick her up. When Lorcan took her away, Professor Hartley was definitely the most worried. He would find a way to help her, and the first person he would notify was Branden. She just hadn’t expected Branden to come so quickly.

The moment Branden approached, Catherine said slowly, “Didn’t you say you were going to Casier? Why did you come so quickly?”

“Are you okay?” Branden’s first concern was Catherine’s well-being. His eyes were like a CT scanner, continuously checking her all over.

“Don’t worry. I’m fine,” she replied.

Having confirmed that Catherine was indeed fine, Branden finally relaxed and pulled her into the car.

Catherine knew Branden cared about her, so she immediately explained the situation to him. “I know the procuratorate. I worked with them a few years ago,” she said.

This statement relieved Branden, as he understood the meaning behind Catherine’s words. The procuratorate was on their side, so there was no need to worry about her safety.

Branden’s eyes darkened slightly, a profound look in his eyes. Without Catherine’s explanation, the person who forcibly took her away from Styre University would have to disappear from Loxton tomorrow.

“What are you going to do next?” he asked.

“Ronin will fix it,” Catherine replied. After that, she casually leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes to rest. With the time left for the experimental project getting shorter and her daily workload increasing by an hour, her body was becoming overloaded, and she needed more rest.

Branden stopped dwelling on these matters. Since she wanted to handle it herself, he would just assist her by handing the information he found to Ronin.

Seeing her exhausted expression, Branden reached out and pulled her over, allowing her to rest her head on his thigh comfortably. “Didn’t sleep well last night?” he asked.

Catherine murmured with her eyes closed, “Got up too early!”

As Branden looked at the dark circles under her eyes, a worried expression appeared on his face. If he could act faster, she would be more at ease and wouldn’t have to work so hard for the experiment.

“Rest for a while, and I’ll tell you when we get to the apartment.” His gentle hand massaged Catherine’s sore arms, making her even more drowsy.

Catherine nodded with her eyes closed. When she woke up, she was already in the apartment’s bed, with her phone buzzing by her side.

Catherine answered the phone and put it to her ear. Zobber’s excited voice came from the other end. “Catherine, I have something to report to you!”