Ch. 721..730
Chapter 721 Results
In the lounge.
It was almost time for the afternoon entrance, and the Johnville Team next door in the lounge had already started a party to celebrate in advance, the lively noise forming a stark contrast to the lifeless atmosphere of the Styre Team.
Marshall’s team members all looked dejected, with none of the vitality and spirit they had when they first arrived. They appeared as deflated as a punctured ball, slumping on the side.
When it was time to enter the venue, Catherine was the first to stand up, and she walked straight toward the direction of the conference hall.
Seeing Catherine leave, Eamon, who was initially sitting dejectedly on the side, also stood up. “Everyone, rally yourselves, and let’s head to the venue together to wait for the results!”
Eamon’s voice caught some attention, and most of the eyes looking at him were filled with a sense of despair.
These looks made Eamon start to waver in his heart, but thinking of Catherine’s unwavering determination when she got up, his inner belief suddenly became firm. “Don’t look at me with that kind of eyes. You are worrying about being laughed at and looked down upon, and so am I. But have you ever thought about who is laughed at the most and who is mocked the most? Catherine is not afraid. What are we afraid of? On the battlefield, the most incompetent are not the defeated, but the deserters who don’t even have the courage to face the outcome!”
Eamon’s words were like a heavy hammer, pounding in the hearts of the people.
“Eamon is right. Even if we lose, we need to lose gracefully and not be like a shrinking turtle!” one person said.
Seeing Catherine appear alone, many people at the scene couldn’t help but laugh.
Some even went as far as to say that the Styre Team was nothing but a bunch of cowards lacking the courage to face reality.
However, the next moment, they were proven wrong. Eamon led the entire team to enter with high spirits, giving no indication of any sense of discouragement.
Immediately, reporters with cameras surrounded him, not because they didn’t want to interview Catherine but because Catherine’s aura was too strong with a kind of don’t-come-near -me vibe. Just her gaze alone could suffocate people.
They didn’t have the guts to ask her questions. It was no different than courting death.
Now Eamon appeared, and naturally, they had to seize hold of this team representative and wouldn’t let go. 11 Mr. Doyle, weren’t you not interested in attending? Why did you come to the competition venue now?”
Eamon smiled faintly, looking confidently at the journalist who was asking him a question. “Who told you that we don’t want to attend? Aren’t they supposed to announce the results of our competition this afternoon? As participants, how can we not come?”
Upon hearing Eamon’s response, the journalist’s expression changed slightly, and then he threw out an even sharper question. “Why did you all come so late when the entrance was about to close while Catherine arrived much earlier than you?”
Facing the question, Eamon had long ago thought of a countermeasure.
He lifted his hand from behind his back and displayed the coffee he was holding in his hand in front of everyone. ”
Sorry, buying coffee delayed us a bit. Catherine is quite lazy and doesn’t like to move around. We all spoil her and run errands for her, and the flavor she likes is hard to find. We went to a lot of shops before we found it.”
After Eamon finished speaking, several of the group members behind him, in order to justify his words, raised the coffee bags they were holding in their hands.
The reporters were all dumbfounded. They thought the Styre Team would be divided because of the internal conflict with Catherine. They didn’t expect them to be so united.
From their expressions, it could be seen that the affection for Catherine was not just a matter of lip service. They truly liked Catherine.
“Alright, dear journalists. The competition results will be announced shortly. We would like to enter now, and after the competition results are announced, there will be plenty of time for interviews,” Eamon answered without giving anything away, leaving the reporters with no angle to pursue. They could only watch as everyone left.
Marshall stood on the stage and gave a thumbs-up to Eamon, expressing his complete satisfaction with Eamon’s performance. He thought, ‘I didn’t expect the usually silent person to handle it flawlessly.’
Eamon smiled awkwardly, thinking, All this is thanks to Catherine.’
Just before they were about to do so, Ronin stopped them, handed them a batch of coffee, and informed them of the press conference’s questions in advance.
That was why he was able to respond so quickly and handle it with ease.
When it came to being powerful, the mighty one was Catherine.
It was not an exaggeration to say that she had a keen insight into things.
The mentor of the Johnville Team looked at the calm and composed manner of the Styre Team members, feeling somewhat strange. “How do they come back to life?”
Jason sneered. “Ha, professor, you’re using the wrong words. This isn’t called come back to life. This is called a last gasp! They are never going to win. If they do win, I’ll twist my head off and use it as a soccer ball!”
The countdown bell tolled, and the host slowly walked onto the stage.
The competition adopted an elimination system, with a total of three rounds.
The previous champions’ team was exempt from the first and second rounds of the competition and directly entered the third-round finals.
The champion team in every session was almost predetermined, and all participating teams had no objections to this competition format.
In their eyes, the Altonian Team was like a rugged mountain peak to climb.
It was difficult to keep up with them, let alone surpass them. They naturally had the right only to accept challenges from the teams that had advanced to the final rounds.
The first round would eliminate half of the teams, and the winning teams would proceed to the next round of the competition.
The host excitedly began announcing the results, and he announced the list of the winning teams with almost no suspense, similar to what everyone had speculated before.
When the host only had one card left, he suddenly paused.
The large screen clearly recorded the host’s facial expressions.
The audience looked at the host’s silly expression, puzzled as various speculations surfaced one after another.
No one knew why the host showed such a surprised expression, and the whole venue became noisy. “Hurry up and announce. It’s already the final group of winners. What are you hesitating for!
“Simply recite the name of the Johnville Team!”
“Hurry up, you moron. Don’t waste our time!”
Amidst the cursing, the host slowly approached the microphone and tremblingly announced the name of the victorious team. “Congratulations to the Styre Team!”
In an instant, the world seemed to be in a state of vacuum, and the scene suddenly fell silent.
Everyone was stunned for a moment before they reacted.
Soon after, the deafening roar filled the entire stadium.
“What?”
“What a joke! There’s no way the Styre Team could win!”
When Jason’s men heard this result, they even doubted their ears were having issues.
Not only them but even the Styre side were stunned; they couldn’t believe they had won.
Only Catherine, who had been constantly questioned, sat calmly in the seat of the stands.
She just picked up the coffee on the side with graceful movements, took a slow sip, and gently put it down. Her expression didn’t change at all from start to finish.
Eamon finally snapped out of the huge shock and mechanically turned his head, casting an incredulous look at Catherine. “Catherine, are you a goddess?”
Chapter 722 Cheating
Upon hearing the results announced by the host, the Johnville Team couldn’t sit still.
Jason stood up and shouted loudly, ” This is absolutely impossible. Someone must be cheating.”
The students of the Johnville Team also cheered along with Jason. They simply did not believe they would lose.
Faced with the audience’s uproar, the Styre Team’s representative could not say anything either.
Forget about the Johnville Team. Even they found it unbelievable when they heard the result.
Upon seeing the expression of the delegation from the Styre Team, Jason seemed to have realized something, and he pointed at them, shouting loudly, “I see, so you must have bribed the judges in order to win. Is that right? You guys are really shameful, resorting to such unethical means just to win.”
The actual situation was not yet known.
Jason was cursing indiscriminately.
This had really angered the members of the Styre Team, especially Eamon.
The two sides argued fiercely, and Ronin couldn’t stand it when the group from Johnville kept slandering Catherine, so he stood up as well.
He never followed the familiar path in his actions. He directly jumped onto the stage, took the host’s microphone, and pointed seriously at the judges in the judges’ seats. “Have you guys committed treason and colluded with the enemy?”
The sound of the microphone reverberated throughout the venue. Coupled with Ronin’s provocative topic, it instantly captured everyone’s attention.
The several judges being pointed at looked at Ronin in confusion, not knowing what he meant by his words.
“What nonsense are you talking about? How could we possibly commit treason and collude with the enemy!”
“Absolutely ridiculous!”
Ronin sneered. “You are all citizens of Theisia. Without your support, how did the Styre Team win? Isn’t it because you betrayed your country and sold it out for your own benefit?”
Three of the judges on the judging panel were from Theisia, which constituted a significant portion of the total.
The judges from Alton accounted for half of the total. In recent years, Eskana had risen and was considered the number one rival by Alton, so it was impossible for the team of Eskana to receive any help.
If the Styre Team wanted to bribe the judges, then the difficulty was even higher than winning the championship.
The people who just thought that what Jason said made sense and suspected that the Styre Team had bribed the judges suddenly didn’t know how to come to a conclusion after hearing what Ronin said.
Finally, the chairman of the judging panel, Richard, couldn’t bear to watch any longer, and he stood up voluntarily. “I solemnly declare that the Bide Cup is an international scientific competition with authoritative status in the research community and will absolutely not tolerate any cheating. Since everyone has doubts about this matter, the panel will publicly display the experimental results of the two teams to demonstrate fairness.”
The experimental results needed to be sealed. But it had now sparked controversy. As the chairman of the judging panel, Richard had the authority and obligation to investigate the results to ensure the fairness and rigor of the competition.
If this matter was not handled, both the officials of the Bide Cup and the Styre Team would be questioned.
“Representatives from the Styre Team and the Johnville Team, do you have any objections?” asked Richard.
Upon hearing Richard’s inquiry, the representatives of the Styre Team responded promptly. “Chairman, we have no objections. Please publicly demonstrate the experimental results to prove our innocence.”
Although Johnville’s mentor was somewhat reluctant and unwilling, in order to find the truth, he eventually agreed.
In order to avoid subjective bias, the organizers would showcase the experimental products from both parties anonymously.
The theme of this time was to design a chip. Because specific requirements had been provided, as long as the completed chip could carry out the designated instructions, it could be considered okay.
The first chip was displayed in front of everyone. After the demonstration, the chip was perfect in terms of both speed and smoothness of operation, with a high level of command.
If anyone were to pay attention to the Johnville Team at this moment, he would see the pride that they were currently trying to conceal on their faces.
Their mentor ordered them not to show any sign of their skills, just to take this opportunity to embarrass the Styre Team in public.
Now that their work was being showcased, they were just waiting to humiliate the Styre Team.
The first experimental work had been exhibited, and now the exhibition of the second experimental work would begin.
When the second piece of work was displayed, the doubts in everyone’s mind continued to increase.
From the final performance of the work, it was evident that the smoothness of the second prototype was significantly superior to that of the first work.
‘Is the second work the real result of the Johnville Team?’ the onlookers thought.
However, even so, the strength of the Styre Team was still quite astonishing.
With such a short time, they were able to achieve such experimental results. They definitely showed great potential and could easily rank in the top five. It was a pity to see it get eliminated like this.
After all the experimental works were presented, Richard stepped back to the center of the stage. “Both works have been reviewed by everyone. You are all professionals in the industry. I believe you can judge the quality very objectively. Now, please loudly tell me which work should win, the first one or the second one!”
Almost without hesitation, the crowd announced loudly, “The second work!”
“Very well. Now let’s announce the creative team behind the winning work! “Richard said.
On the large screen, the sealed paper in front of the laboratory equipment was removed.
The words “Styre Team” appeared prominently in front of everyone.
At this moment, the air seemed to freeze as everyone present couldn’t believe what they were seeing.
The whole scene was in an uproar, yet only the beautiful Eskana girl sitting in the corner remained calm and unaffected, casually playing with her phone. “Are you dead? Hurry up and finish him!”
Sitting beside Catherine, Marshall originally thought she was finally going to explode when he saw her frown. However, after hearing what she said, Marshall’s heart almost turned cold.
The Bide Cup competition, eagerly anticipated by many, seemed insignificant in the eyes of Catherine.
The result of this competition was not as important as a game for Catherine.
She did not give the Bide Cup, an international competition, any face. But this was understandable. Catherine was not a normal person, after all.
Just now, Marshall also saw the results displayed by that chip. Honestly, even if he were to go on stage personally, he probably couldn’t achieve those results in such a short time.
‘Catherine actually did it. She’s simply crazy!’ thought Marshall.
“How… how is this possible?” Jason stared in disbelief at the big screen, totally at a loss for words.
The first piece was definitely their team’s experimental result. He could recognize it. He also admitted that the second work was better than the first one.
‘But how could such excellent work come from the Styre Team?’ he thought.
As for cheating… This was the Bide Cup, the most famous research competition in the world. It was almost impossible to cheat in this competition.
‘Even the Altonian Team, who was the host, wouldn’t be able to cheat easily. Let alone Eskana’s Styre Team. Are they really cheating?’ thought Jason.
Chapter 723 The Second Place
Although it had been verified publicly through the judging panel, many people were still unwilling to believe that the Styre Team could win.
There was a commotion on the scene. The strength displayed by the Styre Team was far beyond normal perception, leaving people momentarily unable to accept it.
The members of the Johnville Team, regardless of the circumstances, firmly believed that they had not lost and were still fighting desperately.
“This group of people really are shameless. They were the ones clamoring for validation, but now that they are not as skilled as others, they still stubbornly make trouble,” Zobber was so pissed off and totally annoyed by the behavior of the Johnville Team. ”
With this kind of attitude, no wonder they’re always at the second place!”
Ronin chuckled as he looked at her, quite agreeing with her evaluation. ” You said that they were always at the second place. How do you think they haven’t moved up in so many years?”
Zobber got what Ronin was saying. She laughed and pointed at him.
Originally in a fury, Jason got even angrier when he heard Ronin and his companions sitting in the Styre Team’s viewing seats laughing so loudly.
He took a big leap and jumped over the fence, rushing to the front of Ronin, glaring at him fiercely. “Stinky brat, what are you laughing at? Believe it or not, if you laugh again, I’ll knock out your front teeth.”
Ronin looked at him with a respectful and cautious expression and said carefully, “Sir, we didn’t mean to laugh on purpose. We were just so happy to receive a precious treasure that we laughed for a while.”
Perhaps it was Ronin’s innocent- looking, childlike face that was too deceiving. Jason, who had just wanted to beat him up, felt a little bit of his anger subside after hearing this remark.
Zobber and some other men, who were sitting on the side, couldn’t help but laugh when they saw this scene. No one understood Ronin’s dark side better than them.
‘This kid must be up to something bad, waiting for the right moment,’ they thought. As expected, not long after, they saw Jason’s expression change, which really cracked them up.
Jason was puzzled by Ronin’s cheerful smile, so he asked him about it, “What treasure?”
With a suppressed smile, Ronin continued to maintain a cautious demeanor. “Soccer, we are having a new soccer soon!”
Jason still hadn’t reacted, and Zobber had already burst into laughter.
The laughter that kept sweeping in on Jason’s ear made him a little puzzled, and Ronin reached out and gently touched Jason’s head, then commented on it in a proper manner, “You’re indeed a bit ugly, but we can also play it. This soccer is not bad!”
Jason finally realized. His earlier boast of taking his head off and using it as a soccer ball if he lost had been overheard by Ronin.
He glared with anger, his face turning red with frustration. He gritted his teeth as he looked at Ronin. “Are you fooling me?”
Ronin put away the fearful expression he had before, raised his head, looked arrogantly at Jason, and smiled cynically. “White-skinned pig, so what if I fooled you? You should be grateful when being fooled by me, do you understand?”
In a fit of anger and embarrassment, Jason disregarded the circumstances and directly resorted to physical violence.
He originally thought that Ronin was a little guy and that he could easily crush Ronin to death.
He didn’t expect that Ronin was a martial arts expert. When they fought, Jason was no match for him. Ronin easily subdued him and even ended up sitting on top of him like a stool.
Finally, the committee members stepped in and managed to diffuse the situation.
The Johnville Team had thoroughly embarrassed themselves this time.
In the face of the continuous questioning from the audience, Richard looked calm and composed as he gazed at Catherine.
When the competition results were announced, Richard saw the results and was not surprised.
No one knew how amazing Catherine’s ability was better than him. The only adjective he could think of was ” freakish.”
He didn’t understand how the Styre Team could obtain support from someone like Catherine, and at the same time, he was aware of Catherine’s character and knew that she would definitely have a way to resolve this crisis.
Richard held the microphone and looked in Catherine’s direction.” Participants of the Styre Team, the audience still has doubts about your experimental results. Can you prove it?”
The statement left the participating members of the Styre Team at a loss for how to respond. Not to mention the audience, even they themselves were shocked at the quality of their work.
More precisely, they only worked on the peripheral parts, while Catherine completed the core area alone, and they didn’t have time to touch it.
Marshall completely believed in Catherine and even more so in her abilities. He gently touched Catherine.
Catherine took off her headphones, turned her head to look at Marshall, and asked him with a questioning look what he wanted.
Marshall smiled ingratiatingly and asked in a low voice, “Is the game finished?”
“Speak your mind!” Catherine didn’t like fake polite behavior.
For this junior apprentice, Marshall’s approach had been more about pleasing than reprimanding. “The boss wants you to explain your outstanding achievements.”
Catherine impatiently glanced at the top, then stood up and casually complained, “Troublesome!”
Later, everyone saw the beautiful girl from Eskana walking gracefully onto the stage and standing in the center.
Richard introduced Catherine in a grand manner in front of everyone. ”
Since the representative of the Styre Team has taken the stage, let her demonstrate their experimental results to prove everything for us.”
Catherine took the microphone and stood in front of the camera. She then picked up the competition question given to them by the competition organizers and turned it over.
Her cold gaze looked directly at the entire audience, exuding a powerful presence. “Pay attention and look carefully!”
It turned out that there was an additional bonus option on the back of the competition question.
At that time, time was limited, and no one noticed the back.
The Johnville Team decided not to choose the extra credit topic because they believed that it was impossible for the Styre Team to produce any great results from this experiment.
If facing the Altonian Team, perhaps they would choose to go for extra points, but unfortunately, they underestimated their enemies.
After Catherine finished presenting the rules, she began demonstrating her experimental results.
No one expected that Catherine would not only complete the experimental design within an impossible time but also incorporate the requirements proposed by the bonus question.
After Catherine’s presentation ended, everyone in the audience who understood everything fell silent.
When facing a talented and high-level player, they tried not to raise too many questions and ended up getting humiliated.
It must be acknowledged that the Styre Team’s strength was indeed very high.
Perhaps the only team that could truly compete with the Styre Team throughout the entire competition was the versatile Altonian Team.
Richard took the microphone that Catherine had placed on the table and then turned his gaze towards the mentor of the Johnville Team. “Are you satisfied with this result?”
The usually proud mentor of the Johnville Team suddenly appeared to have aged several years in an instant.
He nodded slightly, though very unwillingly.
However, he must admit that the superb combat power displayed by Catherine was such that even if they went all out, there was no absolute certainty that they could win.
This competition gave them a painful lesson.
After the other party nodded, Richard immediately announced the result, ” Congratulations to the Styre Team for their victory and securing a spot in the next round!”
Chapter 724 Celebration
The recent performance of the Styre Team was impressive and showcased the team’s true strength to everyone.
The Bide Cup this year had been particularly exciting due to the emergence of the dark horse Styre Team, which had brought the competition to a climax.
The gambling outside the stadium was even more intense as Catherine’s comeback led the Styre Team to victory. Many of those who bet against Styre Team ended up losing everything.
Looking at the constantly rising numbers in front of the computer, Zobber couldn’t stop smiling. ” Catherine, look, we’ve struck gold this time!”
Due to too many people losing money on betting against Styre Team, the peripheral market was not open for trading in the later stage.
How could Zobber miss such a good money-making opportunity? She directly invested 100 million dollars to build a new market. Regardless of how much they bet Styre Team would lose, she would still receive the payment.
Those crazy gamblers who couldn’t find a place to bet against Styre Team had all placed their chips on the big market of Zobber.
Zobber really made a fortune this time, but she didn’t keep the money all to herself. Instead, she immediately informed Catherine about the money. ” Catherine, look quickly. This money can be enough for us to squander for a while!”
Zobber finished speaking and found that Ronin and his companions were not excited at all. “What are these expressions on your faces?”
Ronin smirked proudly at Zobber and took out his phone to show Zobber his account.
When Zobber saw a string of numbers on the account, her eyes widened in surprise. “Where did you scam so much money from, kid?”
“I won it with my own abilities!” said Ronin.
Not only did Ronin, but Withal and Connie all bet on Catherine to win, and they also made a huge profit.
However, everyone collectively transferred the money to Zobber’s account, preparing to hand it to Catherine.
“Catherine, your laboratory is essentially a money-burning machine. Let’s just allocate all the funds to the laboratory.”
Catherine didn’t refuse. For them, money was just numbers.
As long as this money could be used in a meaningful way, it was worth it.
“Zobber, donate one-third to the charity for the relief of children and transfer the rest to Rodge!” said Catherine.
“Understood, Catherine!”
Everyone was very supportive of Catherine’s proposal.
Even if Catherine threw the money into the water, they would not have any objections, let alone the money was used for good deeds. After all, this money was originally earned by Catherine.
After resting for a short while, Catherine received a call from Marshall asking her to come over.
After explaining to everyone, Catherine left the room.
Watching Catherine’s departure, Zobber couldn’t help but mutter, “Is Catherine being too kind to Marshall?”
With Catherine’s strength, she was even qualified to be addressed as ” master” by Marshall.
However, Catherine spared no effort and carefully planned everything for Marshall.
Upon hearing these words, Withal chuckled lightly.
Zobber was somewhat displeased by this laughter and glared at Withal threateningly. “Why are you laughing for no reason? Be careful. I’ll make you lose your voice!”
Seeing her threatening to hit him, Withal hurriedly begged for mercy.
“Madam, I am not laughing at you. Don’t you know what kind of a person Catherine is? Professor Hartley genuinely cares for Catherine, and when has Catherine ever mistreated anyone who has genuinely cared for her?” Everyone present knew what Withal meant when he said that.
The reason why they respected Catherine so much was not only because of her strong abilities, which deserved their obedience.
It was also because of Catherine’s kindness toward them. As long as someone was taken under Catherine’s protection, she would do everything to protect them.
Catherine had too many advantages, the greatest of which was protecting her subordinates.
Despite her cold and ruthless appearance, once she considered someone a part of her inner circle, she would fiercely protect him without hesitation.
Withal’s words left Zobber somewhat speechless. After a while, she slowly uttered a sentence, “Marshall is really lucky to have met Catherine!”
Ronin joked with her, “You’re quite lucky too!”
Zobber was not at all angry but rather fully agreed, “Yes, it is my greatest fortune to have met Catherine!”
It was a simple sentence, yet it deeply resonated in the hearts of those present. In their hearts, they all felt that meeting Catherine was their greatest blessing.
Catherine arrived at the conference room, where the team members of the laboratory had already assembled.
At the moment the big door opened, a loud “Bang” sounded.
Champagne and fireworks filled the air as everyone watched Catherine with smiles on their faces.
Eamon walked out with flowers and respectfully presented them to Catherine. “Let your applause fill the room as we welcome our Catherine to the stage!”
Catherine calmly took the bouquet and looked at the crowd with a calm expression.
Then she turned her gaze to Marshall, using her eyes to ask him what exactly was going on.
Marshall casually shrugged, showing a nonchalant attitude. “Do not look at me. This is the love and care from your senior brothers and sisters for you!”
Eamon immediately jumped out and exclaimed exaggeratedly, “That’s right, Catherine, this is our respect for you. Catherine, your ability is too strong!”
If there were any doubts the team had about Catherine before, they seemed to have completely disappeared after this experiment.
Catherine was so powerful that even Marshall, who was her mentor, couldn’t help but feel inadequate. Let alone the others.
For Catherine, they only had a sense of admiration. “Catherine, please come to the stage and say a few words for us!”
Catherine was pushed onto the stage by someone, hands in her pockets, looking relaxed and casual.
Regardless of the size of the occasion, it seemed that Catherine didn’t take it seriously.
Perhaps this was the true mark of a strong person.
“This time, we have only achieved victory in the first round. The road ahead is long. Let’s work hard together! “Catherine’s words were particularly brief. For the onlookers, it could be considered the first time they had heard their cold and withdrawn junior sister say such a long sentence.
Everyone was very satisfied in their hearts, and they no longer made things difficult for Catherine.
Shortly after, Marshall spoke a few more words and then opened the meeting room to everyone, allowing everyone to enjoy the celebration to the fullest.
Catherine felt indifferent towards such lively occasions. She originally thought that Marshall asked her to come for a meeting, but she didn’t expect it to be a celebration for the senior brothers and sisters.
She sat for a while and then got up to leave.
Just as she walked out of the meeting room, she ran into Fergus Lynch and his team.
Like them, Professor Lynch’s team also smoothly advanced to the next round of the competition in the first round of matches.
Upon seeing Catherine, Fergus took the initiative to greet her. “Oh, Catherine. I haven’t congratulated you yet. You guys have advanced!”
Catherine quietly said, “Thank you,” when she saw Fergus.
After finishing speaking, she just walked away directly.
Standing next to Fergus, Paddy saw this scene and immediately shouted in dissatisfaction, “What’s with the arrogance? Winning one game and acting like you’re on top of the world?”
“Paddy, you are not allowed to speak like that. We are all from the same school, and it wouldn’t look good if this got out, would it?” said Fergus.
Hearing Fergus’s criticism, Paddy was extremely displeased. “Professor, I can’t stand her attitude towards you. She is really disrespectful!”
“It’s okay,” Fergus said lightly, but the smile at the corner of his eyes gradually disappeared.
Chapter 725 Pink Beach
After the first round of power struggles by the Johnville Team, no other team dared to engage in reckless behavior.
Losing the game was a small matter. Tarnishing the reputation of the entire school was the real issue.
No one knew if other teams would have hidden talents like the Styre Team, secretly harboring cheat-type players like Catherine.
Without any shenanigans, the Styre Team had also drawn a strong opponent and was prepared to begin the second round of the competition.
Marshall knew that Catherine was extremely talented, but they could not rely solely on her to participate in the competition.
Last time, it was because the Johnville Team played tricks, and this time, since they drew a team of equal strength, they must show their true level and not just rely on Catherine.
Marshall had discussed this with Catherine and advised her not to rush to take action but instead wait until team members were truly incapable before stepping in to turn the tide.
Catherine understood Marshall’s good intentions. He hoped to give every member of the team a chance to shine.
Taking advantage of the time when team members were preparing, Catherine took time off from Marshall.
Everyone came on this trip, but because she had a competition, her friends stayed inside the hotel and didn’t even go out the hotel doors.
The planned vacation turned into sleep in the hotel. She wanted to go on a trip with her good friend.
With only two days left until the start of the second round of competition, all team members were preparing for battle, except for Catherine, who was casually preparing for a vacation.
This made all of the team members extremely envious.
However, they could only envy it in their hearts because the gap between their abilities and Catherine’s was just too far.
Catherine was able to defeat the Johnville Team on her own easily. They would not be able to reach this level even if they tried their best. This was the source of Catherine’s arrogance.
Members of the group chat were ecstatic when they found out that Catherine could take two days off to accompany them on an outing.
The whole group immediately boiled up after earning a lot of money through Catherine’s strong power in the peripheral competition. They changed the name of the group to “Get Rich Quick” to express their joy.
There was a globally famous beach nearby. The sand on the beach was pink, so it had been evaluated by geographical magazines as the most romantic beach in the world.
Coincidentally, Branden had a yacht on a nearby island, so everyone decided to spend a romantic two-day, one-night getaway on the pink sand beach.
Zobber had packed her luggage early and was waiting for Catherine in the parking lot.
Catherine accompanied Amelia back to the dormitory. They happened to run into Marshall and a few others as they were coming down from the elevator on the first floor after finishing breakfast.
Marshall’s originally extremely serious face suddenly lit up with a big smile upon seeing Catherine. “Are you getting ready to go out?”
“Yeah,” Catherine responded lightly.
Like an elder, Marshall reminded her with a word of advice. “Be careful and come back early.”
“Okay!” Catherine obediently did not argue, then bid farewell to Marshall and walked out of the hall.
As soon as Catherine left, a few school leaders who were eating with Marshall couldn’t help but speak up. “Is Catherine going to play? Isn’t there a competition in two days?”
“Marshall, why did you still let her go out?”
Marshall remained calm, showing no signs of urgency or agitation. “Yes, the competition is coming up soon, so there’s a lot of pressure. Let her relax and wait until the competition to really perform well.”
Everyone looked at the calm Marshall, even though they didn’t know whether he was truly confident or just bold, but they didn’t continue to speak.
Anyway, as the mentor, Marshall was not in a hurry. What were they in a hurry for? Besides, they had already witnessed Catherine’s abilities.
Even though the opponent was so dangerous last time, they still won. Not to mention that this time, the opponent’s strength was far inferior to that of the Johnville Team.
The rest of the people began to chat and laugh again, but no one noticed Fergus’s gloomy face on the side.
Looking at the blue sea and sky, everyone’s mood unconsciously improves.
Zobber held the red wine glass and gently swirled it, and the disdainful expression on her face never disappeared. “This place is really nice. The sunshine is good. The beach is good, and even the seafood is good!”
Withal turned his head to look at her and couldn’t help but tease, “Yeah, look at that belly of yours. It’s so big that you look like a pregnant woman about to enter the delivery room.”
The seafood on the table was all freshly caught by Withal. The taste was extremely fresh and sweet. Even the pickiest eater, Zobber, couldn’t help but praise it and ate a lot, filling up the entire stomach.
Upon hearing this, Zobber immediately darkened her face, picked up the dining knife from the table, and shot it toward Withal.
The shiny sharp knife, fierce and steady, was just a tiny distance away from poking Withal’s eyes.
Thanks to the long-term cooperation between Withal and Zobber, Withal was familiar with her approach, which enabled him to escape this disaster.
Nevertheless, that sharp knife was drawn dangerously close to Withal’s temple.
After dodging the attack of the dagger, Withal excitedly patted his chest and looked at Zobber with a terrified expression of narrowly escaping death. “Old friend, with our so many years of friendship, why are you trying to kill me!”
“Humph!” Zobber coldly snorted, disdainfully saying, “Who gave you the right to speak out of turn? If it happens again, I’ll send you to beg for mercy in front of the King of Hell.”
Withal quickly apologized, “Madam, is it not enough that I admit my mistake?”
Zobber did not argue with him. In order to avoid ruining the atmosphere, she took the initiative to change the topic. ”
Unfortunately, such good wine, such good food, and such good scenery are all wasted as the suppliers are not present.”
The supplier was referring to none other than the owner of the yacht, Branden.
It was said that he did not come together because he had official business to attend to.
At the mention of this, everyone turned their gazes toward the bow of the ship.
Catherine was sitting at the railing of the bow with a huge visor hat on her head, pressed down very low, covering almost all of her face.
There was a fishing rod in front of her, patiently waiting for a fish to take the bait.
“You guys keep drinking. I will go bring some seafood to Catherine.” After Zobber finished speaking, she walked toward Catherine’s direction.
She placed the grilled prawns beside Catherine and said, “Catherine, have a bite.”
Hearing the voice, Catherine slowly sat up and raised the brim of her hat slightly, revealing her stunningly beautiful face.
Catherine didn’t like noisy places, but she never stopped her friends from having fun around her.
She enjoyed sitting quietly on the side, admiring their joyful smiles. She reached for the large prawn that Zobber handed her, deftly picked up a piece of it, and slowly chewed on it.
Watching her actions, Zobber couldn’t help but swallow hard. ‘Was Catherine still human? She was so beautiful even when eating.’
Catherine finished her prawn and looked up at Zobber again.
Zobber understood that Catherine was waiting for her to speak. Sure enough, no matter how she tried to hide, she couldn’t escape Catherine’s scrutiny.
Chapter 726 Withdrawing
Zobber had a secret hidden within her; she had just boarded the ship when she received a piece of news involving classified information, something she hadn’t mentioned to anyone. She was waiting for the right moment to brief Catherine in private. Little did Zobber expect that Catherine knew her so well that she almost didn’t need to say anything. Catherine already knew Zobber had something to share.
“Catherine, I don’t think Branden is on this trip for business,” Zobber said.
Hearing this, Catherine raised an eyebrow. Zobber knew she had piqued Catherine’s interest. The look Catherine gave almost made Zobber feel a shiver run down her spine.
“Why does the conflict between these two big shots have to involve me?”
Zobber wondered. “Living between these two big shots was pure torture!”
Zobber then reported, “Catherine, the Duncan Corporation placed an order with the Hacker Alliance, specifying that they want you to handle it. After being refused, they placed an order with Wantel, requesting a meeting scheduled for today.”
Wantel was one of the four captains of the Hacker Alliance, and his position within the alliance was second only to Catherine, similar to Zobber and Withal. However, he was not keen on meeting people, spending his days secluded in his research facility, unlike Zobber and Withal, who took on tasks for the Hacker Alliance all over the world.
Zobber couldn’t understand why Branden wanted to meet Wantel. But then again, it was probably for the best. If he met her or Withal, things would get complicated.
“Wantel?” Catherine’s brow furrowed upon hearing this news. She never inquired about Branden’s work matters unless he brought it up himself. This sudden request from Branden to engage the Hacker Alliance, specifically asking for the presence of the alliance leader, caught her off guard. She hadn’t yet figured out Branden’s true intentions.
Branden probably didn’t know Catherine’s identity within the Hacker Alliance yet. Still, he might have sensed her connection to the alliance, hence trying to avoid her and directly contacting the Hacker Alliance as if he didn’t want to make things difficult for her.
The fishing pod nearby trembled slightly, and Catherine swiftly grabbed it. She didn’t rush to pull the fish up; instead, she engaged in a tug-of-war with the fish, loosening and tightening the line until the fish in the sea had no more strength left. She then calmly pulled up the fishing rod. The fish she had just caught was now exhausted, almost giving up struggling.
It was a beautiful grouper. Zobber couldn’t help but swallow at the sight of the fish, but she was left dumbfounded the next moment.
After Catherine caught the fish, she removed the hook from its mouth and tossed it back into the sea. With a crisp splash, the grouper, which was about to be cooked, regained its freedom.
“Notify Wantel. Cancel the deal,” Catherine ordered abruptly, catching Zobber off guard.
However, as one of the four captains of the Hacker Alliance, Zobber was smart. She quickly grasped the situation and looked at Catherine with surprise. ” Catherine, are you worried that the Duncan Corporation will go after Wantel?” she asked.
Catherine didn’t respond, but her expression made it clear to Zobber what the answer was.
“Catherine, Wantel is a core member of our Hacker Alliance. If the Duncan Corporation targets him, aren’t they afraid of offending the Hacker Alliance? “Zobber asked.
“Humph!” Catherine scoffed, her cold gaze landing on Zobber. “Do you think Branden is afraid of anyone?”
Zobber was left speechless by this statement. She couldn’t recall ever hearing about Branden being afraid of anyone. Moreover, Catherine had always been insightful. “Perhaps…” she murmured inwardly. She didn’t dare to speculate further and immediately took action. “Catherine, I’ll go and give Wantel the order!”
After Zobber left, Catherine’s eyes remained fixed on the azure sea, her thoughts as deep as the ocean, impossible to fathom.
Wantel had just disembarked from the helicopter and was about to light a cigarette when he received a secret message from Zobber. As soon as he saw the message, his brow furrowed. ” Withdraw?” he murmured in his mind. “What does she mean by this?”
To ensure Wantel complied, Zobber added a line in the secret order, saying, [It’s Catherine’s command.]
Wantel wanted to refuse. After all, he had already arrived, so how could he not meet the legendary head of the Duncans? However, upon receiving the second secret order from Zobber, Wantel immediately turned back and boarded the helicopter. “Let’s go back! “he commanded.
The pilot was somewhat puzzled. He knew these big shots were all wealthy, but this flight incurred considerable expenses. “Does this big shot intend to take a helicopter sightseeing tour or something?” he wondered.
“Hurry up!” Wantel urged, and the pilot immediately took off.
When Francis and his men arrived at the airport, they didn’t even see Wantel’s helicopter. “Wasn’t Wantel’s plane supposed to land at 10 o’clock?” one of his men asked, and after checking the airport’s information, they discovered that a helicopter had landed at 9:55, but it took off immediately after landing.
This intelligence caught Francis off guard. They had arranged to meet Wantel at the designated location at 10: 30, so they arrived at the airport half an hour early to avoid Wantel’s retreat. Little did they know that the situation had changed. Wantel had left in advance.
Francis quickly contacted Paxton, asking him to find Wantel.
“Could it be a leak of our intelligence?” Paxton asked as he pondered, finding the situation rather peculiar.
Francis rolled his eyes in silence. “So, do you think you leaked it, or did I?” Apart from Branden, the only ones who knew about the plan were the two of them. No one else could have leaked it.
Paxton hung up the phone in frustration, then repeatedly called Wantel but received no response. The messages seemed to vanish into thin air with no sign of a reply.
Paxton immediately reported the intelligence to Branden, kneeling in the dimly lit study, his back covered in cold sweat. He had never expected that after so much preparation, the plan would still fail to materialize. Moreover, Branden had personally taken action to capture Wantel, even turning down the opportunity to accompany Catherine for a leisurely outing. With things having escalated to this point, he feared that even if Branden didn’t kill him, he would be in big trouble.
“Anything wrong with the plan?” Branden’s chilling voice, like a cold wind, made Paxton tremble all over.
“Boss, we’ve checked. There’s nothing wrong,” Paxton replied.
In the dim light, Branden’s handsome face appeared even more stern and resolute, like a sculpture. At this moment, no one could see into the heart of this big shot.
Paxton trembled slightly. “Boss, after Wantel arrived, he immediately asked the pilot to leave. Could it be their alliance leader? It’s said that the leader of the Hacker Alliance is exceptionally intelligent and has never made a mistake in all these years.”
Paxton secretly admired the leader of the Hacker Alliance. If it were indeed this leader’s decision, they would be the second person Paxton admired, the first one being Branden.
Branden narrowed his eyes, and a dangerous glint shone in their depths. ” Find an opportunity to meet with him.”
Chapter 727 She’s Always Right
The yacht was slowly moving forward in the azure sea, following the waves of the current.
Withal and Ronin were playing a game on their cellphones when Withal suddenly noticed something ahead. He immediately put his phone away.
Seeing that something was wrong with Withal’s expression, Ronin looked in the direction Withal was staring at.
Then, Ronin saw a speedboat racing in the sea not far ahead. He could tell at a glance that it was moving toward their yacht. From a distance, however, he couldn’t see the people on the speedboat clearly.
Ronin noticed that Withal’s chilling aura was intensifying, so he also put down his phone and stood up.
When the speedboat got close, everyone except Catherine, who was resting in the cabin, stood up.
“We’re here, Boss!” said Paxton as he stood up from the driver’s seat and prepared to connect to the opposite yacht.
It turned out to be Branden who had arrived.
Withal pursed his lips and sat back. He had thought it was someone looking for trouble, but it turned out to be Catherine’s man, so he lost interest.
Branden, agile and elegant, stepped onto the yacht.
Ronin was a little surprised to see Branden. “Branden, aren’t you supposed to be busy with your work? Why do you come here?” he asked.
Amelia, sitting on the side, rolled her eyes at Ronin with a look of disdain. ”
Can’t you tell that Mr. Duncan is here to see Catherine? He won’t come to see you, anyway.” Then, she added, “To meet Catherine, Mr. Duncan finished his work at the fastest speed possible. That’s what an excellent man should do!”
Facing Amelia’s angry retort, Ronin disdainfully refuted, and the two began to argue.
After learning that Catherine was resting in the cabin, Branden headed towards the cabin.
No one noticed that Zobber, who usually liked to join in the fun, was sitting silently on the side like an outsider. She didn’t know if Branden’s rushed arrival was because he really missed Catherine or if he had discovered something. She had just received a message from Wantel that he had already retreated. At the same time, the people they had left at the airport sent the latest surveillance footage, showing that five minutes after Wantel left, a large group of the Duncans’ people rushed to the airport, making quite a scene.
If there were no hidden agenda, Zobber would be the first not to believe it. She just hadn’t expected that Catherine could predict it so accurately, knowing that Wantel would be in trouble and immediately getting him to evacuate.
Now, Branden had appeared. Zobber was genuinely worried that Branden might have noticed something.
After thinking it over, Zobber couldn’t come up with an answer. Annoyed, she downed the drink in her hand in one gulp. Anyway, Catherine was more capable than her. If it were something even Catherine couldn’t solve, she definitely wouldn’t find the solution.
Instead of overthinking, it was better to leave everything to Catherine to take care of.
Inside the cabin, Catherine, who had been resting, instantly woke up upon hearing the faint sound of the door opening. The familiar scent made her let down her guard and close her eyes peacefully.
Branden took off his coat and lay down next to Catherine. He embraced her with one arm, and Catherine didn’t resist. The small bed seemed somewhat spacious, with the two of them embracing.
“Let’s sleep for a while, shall we?” Branden knew that Catherine was already awake.
Catherine didn’t mind. If it weren’t for Branden’s sudden appearance, she could have rested a while longer. Since that was the case, they could rest together.
It wasn’t until late afternoon that the two slowly woke up and came out of the cabin, walking to the deck. Withal was steering the yacht in the control room, while the others were passing the time playing cards on the deck.
Seeing Catherine and Branden coming out, Zobber immediately discarded the cards in her hand. “I’m not playing anymore. You guys go ahead. I got something to discuss with Catherine!”
Zobber went straight to Catherine, about to pounce on her, but then a sidelong glance made Zobber freeze in her tracks. Zobber then stopped a few steps away from Catherine, saying, ” Catherine, I have something to ask you about.”
Catherine let go of Branden’s hand and walked towards the stern. Zobber quickly followed, and the two stood facing the sea breeze, quietly discussing the situation.
“Catherine, Wantel has safely returned to the base. He originally wanted you to give him an explanation. And when I showed him the airport footage, that kid admitted defeat, saying that, fortunately, he had unwavering faith in your wise decisions.”
When Zobber heard Wantel’s words, she almost burst out laughing. She didn’t know what Wantel’s reaction would be if he knew that the big shot from the Duncan Corporation was Catherine’s man. It would surely be quite funny.
“Catherine, how did you figure out that Mr. Duncan was going after Wantel?” Zobber asked.
Catherine gazed ahead, expressionless. There was no particular reason why she knew it because if it were her, she would use this method to lure out the chief of the Hacker Alliance. Branden spared no expense to find Wantel, which meant there had to be something fishy going on.
Seeing Catherine’s silence, Zobber changed the subject. “Catherine, what should we do next? You taught the Duncan Corporation a lesson this time, and they definitely won’t take it lying down!”
“That’s what I’m waiting for!” Catherine declared confidently without a hint of hesitation.
Zobber stood in place, watching Catherine’s slender figure, her confusion only intensifying. “What are these two big shots up to?” she wondered. “I just don’t quite understand…”
But then again, Catherine had never been easily understood in her actions, yet the final results always proved her right, and that was enough.
The sea breeze was pleasant, while on the other side, the atmosphere at the hotel was tense. Since learning that Catherine had gone on vacation, Paddy had become so angry that he smashed almost everything in the hotel room. In front of his teammates, he criticized Catherine and Marshall harshly. ” We’re restricted even to the convenience store at the entrance, yet they can go on vacation as they please. It’s not fair!”
It was indeed unfair. Their team had been working day and night to prepare for the competition, with Fergus personally supervising, leaving everyone exhausted. But they all knew it was for the competition, so no one complained. They all understood the significance of the ongoing competition.
What was originally a normal situation now seemed quite irritating when Paddy brought it up this way. Seeing no reaction from the others, he felt even more resentful. “Are you all just going to take this? Do you really think this is fair? Did you guys see the shop over there? It’s the world’s largest duty-free shop, a shopping paradise within reach, but we don’t even have the chance to go and take a look!”
These words seemed to strike a chord with some, triggering their inner restlessness. They had heard about this “shopping paradise” and had planned to visit, but the school’s strict regulations didn’t even allow them to step out of the hotel.
Finally, someone couldn’t hold back and looked at Paddy, asking, ” Catherine has good grades, and her professor favors her. What can we do about it?”
Chapter 728 Paddy’s Apology
Paddy couldn’t stand hearing this. Now, everyone was praising Catherine’s talent and saying that her success had elevated the entire Styre University in the academic field. He had no idea how Catherine managed to win against the Johnville Team. Speaking of which, he thought the Johnville Team was nothing but a bunch of losers. They always boasted about themselves, but when it came to a major competition, they actually lost to a team like Catherine’s. It was simply embarrassing.
Hearing some of his teammates whispering nearby, Paddy scoffed in disdain. “Catherine has a close relationship with the chairman of the competition as well.”
Hearing this, a junior student nearby couldn’t help but sigh. “I really envy Catherine. She’s so young, yet she knows such influential people. Mr. Goodman was someone I could only see on TV and in magazines. I never thought Catherine would know him.”
“Exactly, I’m both envious and jealous! “someone chimed in.
Paddy’s original intention was to make people doubt the purity of Catherine’s relationship with Richard and then suspect that Catherine’s success in the competition was achieved through cheating. But he never expected that these people not only didn’t doubt it but also started to envy Catherine. Inadvertently, he ended up promoting Catherine’s power again.
Thinking about this, Paddy stomped in frustration. Unable to bear people’s envy towards Catherine, Paddy stood up and left the room, unwilling to associate with such foolish people.
As Paddy stepped outside and breathed in the fresh air, he finally felt alive again. He couldn’t understand what those people were thinking, actually envying and being jealous of Catherine, an opportunist. “What’s there to envy or be jealous of?” he thought. “If it hadn’t been for her somewhat good- looking face, how would she have gotten the chance to succeed?”
The more Paddy thought about it, the angrier he became. Just as he was worrying about not finding an outlet for his frustration, he received a text message on his phone.
Opening the message, Paddy was a bit puzzled. But after he read it carefully several times, a smile finally appeared on his face. He knew that the truth always belonged to a few. He was not the only one who hated Catherine, who was so ostentatious. The person who sent the message must also strongly dislike Catherine.
Paddy replied to the sender and then contentedly put away his phone.
After the vacation ended, Catherine returned to the hotel with the others. The next day was the second round of the competition, and Marshall messaged her to join the team in the hotel dining area for a meal and discussion before resting. Marshall had given Catherine enough freedom, so she was willing to respect some of his decisions. She arrived at the dining area on time.
It was dinner time, and there were still a lot of people. Upon seeing Catherine, Eamon quickly raised his hand and greeted her, “Catherine, over here!”
The name “Catherine” was like a thunderclap, instantly capturing everyone’s attention. Many people looked towards the entrance, but Catherine remained composed, her expression unchanged despite their scrutiny.
Catherine walked towards them, and Eamon had already arranged the seating. As she approached, he pulled out a chair for her to sit. “Catherine, I heard you went out to sea for fun. Was it enjoyable?” Eamon inquired.
“Not bad,” Catherine replied nonchalantly. To outsiders, she seemed cold and unfeeling, but Eamon and the others knew she was already showing them respect. If it were someone else, Catherine wouldn’t even bother looking at them, let alone answering questions.
Catherine hadn’t eaten dinner yet, so Marshall prepared a meal for her. ” Let’s eat. After we finish, we’ll return to the meeting room to discuss tomorrow’s arrangements.”
“Got it,” the group replied in unison.
“Catherine!” A sudden voice caught the attention of many. Eamon and the others turned to see Paddy approaching Catherine with a glass in hand.
Eamon looked at Paddy with disdain. ” Paddy, you always despise Catherine. And now you’re acting so affectionately. What are you up to?”
Paddy glanced at Eamon with contempt and angrily retorted, “Get lost! I’m here to apologize to Catherine. Professor Lynch taught me a lesson, and I’ve come to make amends. I genuinely apologize to you, Catherine. You have a competition tomorrow, so I won’t offer you alcohol. Let this drink serve as a substitute, and I hope you can forgive me.”
Catherine casually ate the food on her plate, showing she didn’t take Paddy’s presence seriously.
Paddy stood with his drink in hand, the atmosphere becoming increasingly awkward and his expression turning darker by the moment. The surrounding atmosphere instantly froze, the air pressure dropping to an icy point. Many felt embarrassed for Paddy, while Eamon and the others thought that Paddy deserved it. If it were them being treated the same way by Paddy, they wouldn’t bother with him either. They all supported Catherine’s attitude toward him. After all, it was Paddy who provoked her in the first place.
The awkward atmosphere prompted Marshall, who usually didn’t want to get involved, to intervene. “Catherine, we’re all from the same school. Just show Professor Lynch some respect.”
Marshall wasn’t afraid of Paddy or his mentor, Fergus. With Marshall’s age and experience, he had already weathered many setbacks. He didn’t insist that Catherine should yield, but he didn’t want her to make too many enemies. Even if she was impressive enough, encountering too many bad people would be detrimental to her.
Due to Marshall’s persuasion, Catherine turned her head, finished the drink in one go, and then placed the glass on the table without saying a word.
Seeing this, Paddy didn’t ask for anything else. He just respectfully said, “Thank you, Professor Hartley,” before leaving.
The moment Paddy turned around, his face revealed a strange smile.
After Catherine finished eating, Marshall suggested going to the meeting room. Just as they were about to leave, Catherine suddenly stopped in her tracks. “You guys go ahead. I’ll go to the restroom and be right back.”
Upon hearing that Catherine was going to the restroom, Marshall and the others didn’t think much of it and left her to it.
Catherine felt a sudden discomfort in her abdomen and then headed towards the restroom. As soon as she entered the restroom and closed the door, the previously bright restroom suddenly lost power, plunging into darkness. Even more frightening, a dizzy spell hit her, making it almost impossible for her to stand.
Chapter 729 Neurotoxins
With their night vision goggles, the two men in black could see clearly in the pitch-black environment. Their boss had warned them that the woman not only had good combat skills but was also very clever, so they had to be extra cautious. Quietly, they pried open the door of the restroom. In the pitch- black interior, their target lay motionless next to the toilet.
One of the men gestured for his companion to drag Catherine, who had been rendered unconscious by drugs, out of the restroom. However, as his companion bent down to pull her up, he suddenly froze in place.
“Alpha, what’s going on? Pull her up!” The man found it strange and called out several times, but his companion remained unresponsive. In frustration, he reached out to pull his companion, trying to figure out if he had suddenly gone deaf or something unusual had occurred. To his surprise, when he gently pushed his companion, the latter suddenly collapsed.
The unexpected turn of events shocked the man. He didn’t have time to assess his companion’s condition and instinctively looked up to check on Catherine. In that instant, their eyes met. The chilling coldness in her icy gaze sent a shiver down his spine. Before he could react, he felt a gust of wind, and in an instant, everything went black as he collapsed to the ground.
Watching the two men on the ground, Catherine slowly stood up, leaning against the wall. Her head was still spinning, and she didn’t know what kind of drug they had used on her to produce such a strong effect. These two were not to be underestimated. If they had attacked her simultaneously just now, given her current condition, she might not have been able to escape unscathed. That was why she had pretended to be unconscious, deliberately letting down their guard, and only then had she been able to subdue them both.
When Ronin and the others arrived, Catherine was still standing there, leaning against the wall for support. Seeing this, Branden rushed forward and embraced her. “How are you?” Catherine tried to speak but found her throat constricting, rendering her unable to produce any sound. Sensing her distress, Branden immediately scooped her up and carried her away from the scene.
Glaring at the two men on the ground, Ronin rushed forward to deliver a few kicks. “Damn bastards! How dare you ambush Catherine? I’m gonna skin you alive!”
Withal quickly intervened to stop Ronin from causing further harm. Ronin struggled furiously, almost coming to blows with Withal. “Withal, why are you stopping me? These bastards dared to attack Catherine. I gotta kill them!”
Withal held Ronin back. “I know you’re angry. You can do whatever you want to them, but we need to keep them alive, understand? This situation is not that simple; we must find the mastermind behind this!”
Withal could tell that these two men were skilled in combat. However, no matter how strong they were, they were no match for Catherine. They couldn’t hurt Catherine; there had to be a reason for the unusual situation, and there must be something fishy going оп.
Withal’s words gradually restored Ronin’s lost composure.
“Zobber, you stay here with Ronin and take them away. Connie and I will go to the hospital!” Withal instructed.
Zobber nodded; she was also worried about Catherine’s condition, but she understood that the most important thing at the moment was to find the mastermind. “Ronin, let’s go!” she said.
Zobber and Ronin were about to leave with the two men in black when they were intercepted by a group of people led by Francis.
“What do you want?” Ronin looked disdainfully at Francis. He was in an extremely bad mood right now, and if these people wanted to cause trouble, he would make them regret it. After all, Catherine was the most important one to him.
Ronin’s attitude was not friendly, and Francis didn’t back down either. It seemed like a confrontation was about to happen, but fortunately, Paxton arrived just in time.
Paxton stood between the two men, patting Francis’s shoulder. After Francis took a step back, Paxton slowly said to Ronin, “Calm down. Boss has ordered us to take care of these two guys. Trust me. I will give you a satisfactory answer later! Maybe your friends at the hospital need your help. You two are among Miss Swann’s most trusted people. You can help them!”
Although Zobber was also on the verge of throwing a fit, she understood that Paxton was right. They were angry, and Branden was even angrier. They wanted to find the mastermind, and Branden would also take action to catch them.
The Hacker Alliance’s influence in Alton was not suitable for exposure at the moment. Zobber murmured a few words to Ronin.
Ronin, feeling somewhat resentful, threw the men to the ground and provocatively looked at Paxton. “You’d better do your best, or don’t blame me for looking down on you.”
“Don’t worry!” Paxton assured with a serious expression on his face, and Ronin reluctantly left with Zobber.
As soon as they left, Paxton handed the men over to Francis. The situation at the hospital was still unclear; he had to go and help Branden.
Catherine was very important to Branden. Right now, all Paxton could do was pray that nothing would happen to her, or else the world would be in chaos…
The hospital was suddenly flooded with a group of important figures, which frightened the director into personally leading the medical team to provide support.
“Mr. Duncan, why have you come in person?” The director nodded and smiled obsequiously, but Branden didn’t even spare him a glance.
Paxton stepped forward and kept the director a few steps away. “It’s Mr. Duncan’s fiancée who’s injured. We hope you will cooperate with us.”
“No problem, we will do everything we can to save her. Please rest assured,” the director assured.
Then, the door of the treatment room was pushed open. Leading the way was Connie, dressed in a white coat, and behind her were the experts from various departments of the hospital.
Branden furrowed his brow and took a step forward, his sharp eyes locked onto Connie. The terrifying gaze sent shivers down her spine. “Catherine’s fiancé is a tough man,” she thought.
“What’s the situation?” Branden’s cold voice brought Connie’s wandering thoughts back. She furrowed her brow and shook her head despondently at him, saying, “I can only confirm that Catherine was poisoned with a neurotoxin, but I’ve never seen it before. It will take some time to detoxify her.”
This response was undoubtedly unacceptable to Branden. His brooding face went darker, and the surrounding atmosphere suddenly became oppressive. The people present were so frightened that no one dared to take a deep breath.
Marshall, who had just arrived, overheard Connie’s words and quickly spoke up. “Neurotoxin? Should we ask Professor Lynch for help? Many of his research projects are related to neurotoxins.”
Connie was sure that Marshall wouldn’t harm Catherine, so she said, ” Perhaps it’s worth a try.”
Branden glanced at Paxton, who immediately received the signal. “Boss, I’ll bring Professor Lynch here right away.”
Chapter 730 Catherine’s Safety
Fergus immediately rushed to the hospital when he received the message. He had conducted extensive research on neurotoxins, but upon examining the virus sample extracted from Catherine’s body, he said he had never seen this type of virus before. “Even a slight change in any value can affect the toxin. To wake Catherine up and neutralize the poison inside her, it is crucial to study its structure and components, and then we can find a way to counteract it,” he explained.
“How long will that take?” Marshall appeared impatient, extremely concerned about Catherine’s safety.
Fergus pondered for a moment before providing an answer. “Three days, at least!”
“Three days!” Marshall furrowed his brow, his eyes reflecting worry.
Eamon, who had rushed to the hospital with Marshall, muttered, “What about tomorrow’s match? Catherine’s going to miss it.” To Eamon, the Bide Cup was a dream for many, and it would be regrettable if Catherine couldn’t participate due to this unexpected situation.
“Alas…” Marshall sighed helplessly. There’s nothing more important right now than her health. Let’s focus on waking her up first!!”
Marshall looked ahead, his intense gaze fixed on Fergus. “Fergus, she’s my best student. You have to do your best this time. Consider this a debt I owe you. If you need any help from me in the future, feel free to ask.”
Marshall had never asked for anything in his life, but he was willing to do anything for Catherine.
“Marshall, we’ve been friends for so many years. There’s no need to say something like that. Besides, Catherine is also my student. Don’t worry. I will do my best!”
After their conversation, Marshall wanted to visit Catherine in the ward but was stopped by several men in black. Although they blocked his way, their attitude was very polite. “Sorry, Professor Hartley, Mr. Duncan has given orders. No one is allowed to enter the ward while Miss Swann is unconscious,” one of them said.
Eamon became furious upon hearing this, wanting to argue with the other party, but Marshall stopped him. “It’s not the time for this. Let Catherine take a good rest. Go back and train with your teammates. No distractions, understood?”
Although Eamon felt angry, he didn’t disobey Marshall’s command. He just nodded obediently. “Yes, Professor Hartley!”
Marshall sighed deeply and turned away. He knew that Catherine’s being poisoned was suspicious. It happened at the critical moment of the competition as if it was deliberately aimed at the competition.
Initially, it was Marshall who persuaded Catherine to participate in the competition, though she was unwilling to. Now, seeing Catherine in such a state, he felt distressed. If Catherine suffered any harm because of this, how was he supposed to face her in the future?
With his hands behind his back, Marshall walked forward slowly, his hunched posture making him appear as if he had aged several years in an instant, evoking a sense of heartache in those who saw him.
In the hospital room, Branden gently stroked Catherine’s forehead, smoothing out her hair. Catherine lay peacefully on the hospital bed, her face unusually rosy and adorable, showing no signs of being poisoned. Yet she remained unresponsive no matter how many times he called out to her.
When Paxton entered the room, he saw Branden looking at Catherine with nothing but affection in his eyes. This sight made Paxton feel a pang of sadness. Branden, the man who had endured to the point of bleeding dry without making a sound, was now on the verge of tears.
Paxton struggled to contain his emotions and cautiously reported the situation. “Boss, we have received some news.”
Paxton’s abrupt sound finally elicited a reaction from Branden, who turned towards Paxton. His once gentle eyes now turned fiercely menacing. “She needs to rest. Take this outside!”
The two of them left the room, and the surrounding people were all cleared out. All the wards on this floor were empty except for Catherine’s room.
“Boss, Ronin has caught Paddy McLaughlin. He admitted to poisoning Miss Swann, but someone else provided the toxin. The other party used a text message to transfer it to Paddy, instructing him to make Catherine drink it!”
Paddy had been made a scapegoat and didn’t even know it. He was truly foolish.
“The two assassins confessed that they had been paid to do this, and the mastermind who hired them warned them that Miss Swann was highly skilled and they must be careful!”
All signs indicated that the person who targeted Catherine was very familiar with her, possibly someone close to her. Otherwise, they couldn’t have known that Paddy held a grudge against Catherine and that ordinary poison would not work on her, necessitating the use of a neurotoxin. As a precaution, after poisoning her, they even arranged for assassins to ensure a double layer of security. This plan was genuinely malicious, as they were only willing to stop once Catherine died.
Branden swallowed his anger, ordering, “Find that guy!”
Despite the simple statement, Paxton could tell how much pain Branden was enduring at that moment. The surrounding atmosphere turned thick with tension.
Despite Paxton’s efforts to hold back, his feet couldn’t help but tremble. ” Boss, rest assured. We will definitely find the culprit who harmed Miss Swann!”
Connie emerged from the laboratory and walked into the corridor outside the ward, where she saw Branden speaking with Paxton. Sensing the intimidating hostility emanating from him, she couldn’t help but shiver. “Mr. Duncan, I’ve come to deliver medicine to Catherine. We haven’t developed a drug that can counteract the neurotoxin in Catherine’s body yet, but we can use some medication to prevent its further damage!”
After hearing Connie’s explanation, Branden nodded slightly. Paxton then stepped forward and opened the door to let her in.
After coming out of the ward, Connie returned to the laboratory. Fergus was still busy at the workbench. Seeing her return, he set down what he was working on. “Has the medicine been delivered?”
“It’s already loaded into the syringe. Professor Lynch, can we speed up our research progress?” Connie asked.
Fergus shook his head helplessly. “It’s difficult. The experiment needs some time to show a reaction. Three days is the limit I can give. It’s really hard to shorten it any further.”
“Well…” Connie sighed helplessly, understanding what Fergus’s words meant. “Professor Lynch, thank you!”
Fergus gave a faint smile. “It’s okay, as long as Catherine can get better!”