Ch. 831..840

Chapter 831 Crisis Resolved

Branden’s account looked like it had just recently been registered, as the level had not even been displayed yet.

There was only one post on his account. Below this post, there were actually thousands of comments.

According to the usual practice, if a company was involved in a scandal, the company’s public relations team would immediately come out to suppress the negative public opinion, lower the heat, and then slowly manage the public relations. However, this time, Branden bucked the trend by opening an

account and posting updates on social media despite rarely making public appearances or speaking in public.

The post was very simple, just one sentence. “The investor is me. I dote on her.”

The simple sentence seemed to confirm the speculations in the post. Branden financed the Styre Laboratory for Catherine, providing financial support to Styre University.

After Branden’s update, the following comments went crazy.

The official account of the Duncan Corporation immediately retweeted this post and listed the schools and charitable organizations sponsored by the Duncan Corporation over the years. One of the most detailed was Styre University. Almost every investment was publicly disclosed.

Seeing a series of numbers, many netizens who were about to type curses on the keyboard were stunned. ‘ Goodness, so much money.’

Later, the post of the president of the Duncan Corporation throwing a fortune for his girlfriend went viral on the internet.

The heat just kept coming in waves. Branden’s post’s heat hadn’t even died down yet, and there was already someone reposting it.

The account of the forwarder had official professional certification and was a contracted professor at Styre University. “That’s great. If there are parents of students willing to provide such support to promote the development of the entire research institute, I fully support it.”

Then, another account of a professor from Styre University made a comment. “The research in the field of science requires not only a large amount of manpower but also substantial funds for support. Although I am not acquainted with the Duncan Corporation, I am aware that their investment this time is the most generous and least intrusive. I hope there will be more companies like this in the future.”

As soon as the two comments were released, self-proclaimed students of Styre University immediately came forward to claim their own professors.

So many authoritative figures had expressed favorable opinions on the donation from the Duncan Corporation, which instantly reversed the public opinion of the event.

Many female netizens had been enamored by Branden’s domineering declaration.

Branden was not only wealthy and handsome, but the key was that he spoiled his girlfriend. He was the ideal partner in the dreams of many women.

The original trending topic was instantly changed by netizens to “How many Earths must be saved in order to win a boyfriend like Branden?”

Public opinion had been led to stray, and the pressure of public opinion suddenly diminished.

The public relations team of the Duncan Corporation seized the opportunity to turn the originally malicious defamation storm around and also brought about a wave of momentum, allowing the Duncan Corporation to be at the forefront of the list of ethical enterprises.

Some even said that this was a wild celebration of women, and some males couldn’t help but jeer at it from below. [ Even if this boss really only donated so much because he spoils his girlfriend, I still think we should give him a round of applause. After all, it’s better than some people who only talk and don’t take action. Some things can be faked, but money cannot be faked.]

The Duncan Corporation not only sponsored research projects in the laboratory but also donated to many underprivileged students. They had established a public welfare scholarship for Styre University, where as long as students had outstanding academic and moral qualities, they could receive the scholarship.

At the same time, the Duncan Corporation also partnered with Styre University to provide a substantial number of job opportunities.

Those students who had benefited from the Duncan Corporation came forward amidst wave after wave of heightened enthusiasm, speaking out for the Duncan Corporation and advocating for the administration of Styre University.

The public opinion had reversed, and the Duncan Corporation emerged victorious in this controversy, all thanks to a single post by Branden.

Catherine finished reading all the related posts, a slight smile appearing at the corner of her mouth.

The seemingly simple gesture actually demonstrated the man’s remarkable abilities. He truly understood the hearts of people.

The reason why the outside world was interested in those fictional posts was because of people’s curiosity. They wanted to know what was happening behind the scenes. The more the public relations team suppressed and kept people in the dark, the more curious they became. This, combined with the deliberate involvement of certain individuals, would only make the situation uncontrollable.

The strategy used by Branden completely exceeded everyone’s expectations. He went against the norm, and while everyone was trying to cover up, he decided just to come clean. Not only did he personally take action, but he also made all donation funds public, completely shutting people’s mouths. He turned a crisis into an opportunity in this way.

The sound of the door being pushed open, Catherine turned around to look.

Branden had changed into his home clothes and slowly entered from the doorway. “Why didn’t you sleep a little longer?”

He saw that Catherine was sleeping very tired and thought she could sleep until dawn, but he didn’t expect her to wake up so early.

Catherine picked up her phone and waved it at Branden.

The screen on the phone showed the latest post on Branden’s account.

“You saw it?” asked Branden.

Catherine nodded slightly and praised, “Very clever!”

He stepped forward and embraced Catherine, pulling her into his arms. ” As long as you like it, that’s all that matters!”

Originally, this matter could have been entrusted to the public relations team to be slowly resolved, and he could have avoided appearing in public.

With the capabilities of the Duncan Corporation’s PR team, this could hardly be considered a major crisis. The PR team could easily handle it. They just needed to put in a little effort.

However, he did not. He chose the fastest and most direct method to completely suppress public opinion so that the other party did not even have the chance to fight back. It was because he didn’t want Catherine to be disturbed by this matter and could focus on conducting experiments in peace.

Branden put his arm around her shoulder, making them face each other. His eyes, sparkling like a galaxy, were shining brightly as he looked at her. ” Since I have performed so excellently, shouldn’t I be rewarded?”

The intense gaze let Catherine instantly understand his intentions. Perhaps only this matter could make this man so tireless.

She did not refuse the man’s invitation and instead followed his lead as she lay down.

As Marshall mentioned, relaxing and getting some moderate exercise could help with falling asleep.

Rylan was so angry when he saw the online praise for the Duncan Corporation that he smashed his phone.

He spent so much manpower and money, originally intended to squeeze out the Duncan Corporation and successfully enter Styre University.

Who would have thought that the situation would be turned around by Branden’s few words? Not only did the money invested go down the drain, but he also lost face.

Thinking of this, Rylan’s whole body was consumed in anger. ‘I’ll have to get revenge on Branden to dispel my resentment.’

He immediately called for his assistant and instructed, “Arrange for those people to act in advance. No matter the cost, I want Branden to be in unbearable pain, do you understand?”

The assistant was scared by his terrifying look and dared not resist at all, obediently nodding. “Mr. Melton, rest assured. I will make the arrangements right now!”

Chapter 832 What Do You Want?

“Exercising” before going to bed really helped with sleep. Catherine had a good night’s sleep, sleeping straight through until morning without any dreams. If it weren’t for Branden waking her up in the morning, she would have been late.

As soon as Catherine entered the laboratory building, she ran into Marshall. Unlike yesterday, he seemed lively and energetic today.

“Professor Hartley,” Catherine greeted him.

Marshall warmly responded, “Hey, come on. Let’s go upstairs together.” Just as they got to his office, they heard a student delivering a message. ”

Professor Hartley, Mr. Farrell wants to see you in his office!”

Marshall had intended to chat with Catherine, but he hadn’t expected Ultan to summon him so early. Guessing it might be about a donation, Marshall had no choice but to go. “You go to the lab first, and find me at noon. We’ll talk then,” he told Catherine.

As Marshall was about to leave, the student delivering the message awkwardly scratched the back of his head and said, “Professor Hartley, Mr. Farrell instructed that if Miss Swann is with you, she should come along too.”

Hearing this, Marshall frowned. Not only did he have to go, but he also had to bring Catherine along. He glanced at Catherine, who promptly agreed to accompany him. They then walked together to Ultan’s office, where they found not only him but also several well -dressed men.

As soon as Marshall and Catherine entered, Ultan stood up and introduced them, “This is our school’s renowned professor, Marshall Hartley, and this is his best student, Catherine Swann. If you are familiar with our school, you’ve probably heard her name!”

The two men stood up simultaneously and greeted Marshall and Catherine. ” Professor Hartley, Miss Swann, nice to meet you!”

Marshall looked puzzled at Ultan, not understanding what was going on. Catherine, showing no interest in shaking hands, kept her hands in her pockets without any intention of taking them out. She was willing to sacrifice her pride for the sake of others.

The atmosphere instantly became awkward. Marshall, who knew Catherine well, stepped in to defuse the situation. Even though he didn’t think Catherine needed to greet them, considering they were brought by Ultan, he felt obliged to show Ultan some respect.

“Sorry, she’s been focused on her research projects and isn’t accustomed to socializing. She is quite introverted, so please don’t mind,” Marshall said, trying to smooth things over.

The other party didn’t show any discontent, “Professor Hartley, no need to apologize. We’ve heard of Miss Swann’s reputation. It’s quite normal for someone as talented as her to be entirely focused on her experiments.”

With the awkwardness dissipating, Marshall repeatedly signaled to Ultan, urging him to explain the current situation. Ultan then introduced the identities of the two visitors. ”

Marshall, these two gentlemen are the General Manager and the Finance Manager of Reelyne Technologies. They are here today to discuss donating to our laboratory,” Ultan explained.

Marshall’s face immediately darkened, and he had a foreboding feeling.

The General Manager of Reelyne Technologies quickly approached Marshall with a warm smile. “Professor Hartley, we have great respect for a distinguished professor like you. Our company has always been committed to promoting the development of experimental projects in various universities. We have long admired Styre University, and if there is an opportunity to contribute, we would be very willing to do so.”

The General Manager of Reelyne Technologies appeared humble on the surface, but there was an underlying sense of arrogance in his demeanor. When it came to sponsoring schools, it was usually the schools seeking sponsors. Although Styre University had a good reputation, he felt that their company was in a superior position by taking the initiative to offer support.

Learning the purpose of their visit, Catherine stood up. “Mr. Farrell, Professor Hartley, it’s time for the laboratory. I’m leaving now!”

With those words, Catherine left without looking at anyone, maintaining a haughty demeanor. Not only did she leave the two representatives from Reelyne Technologies dumbfounded, but even Ultan was left bewildered.

Marshall immediately spoke up, his gaze fixed on Ultan. “Mr. Farrell, Catherine’s experiment is crucial and cannot afford any delays!”

Understanding the importance of the experiment, Ultan had no choice but to let Catherine go.

Once Catherine left, Marshall had no desire to stay any longer. Instead of putting on a show for the capitalists, he preferred to stay in the laboratory and review reports. “Sir, I sincerely support your company’s dedication to public welfare. However, we have sufficient sponsorship, so you should sponsor another research group. Our group doesn’t need it.”

The representatives from Reelyne Technologies were taken aback. They had expected a warm reception but were now directly rejected. It was no wonder that their president had arranged the task with such seriousness, insisting that they must accomplish it. It seemed to be quite a challenge.

The General Manager of Reelyne Technologies, who had just planned to display a high-handed attitude, immediately softened his tone. ” Professor Hartley, we both know that experimental projects require a substantial amount of funding. It’s better to seek support from a more capable company for long-term sponsorship. In this regard, Reelyne Technologies will be the best choice.”

“Are you trying to threaten me with money?” Marshall thought to himself. ” Not a chance.” He casually remarked, ” If you’ve been keeping up with online news, you should be well aware of the company sponsoring us. If it’s not the best choice, it’s unlikely that we’ll find a more capable company domestically!”

“How dare you claim that you’re better than the Duncan Corporation?” Marshall murmured inwardly. “Are you guys asking for trouble?”

The response left the other party unable to reply, and the atmosphere became awkward again. Ultan had to step in to smooth things over, allowing Marshall to find an excuse to leave. At such a critical time for the experiment, having so many people offering sponsorship wasn’t a good sign. Nothing came without a price. If these people were only here for their gain, that would be manageable. If their intentions went beyond that, that would be troublesome.

After returning to the laboratory, Catherine immediately turned on her computer and had Wantel investigate Reelyne Technologies’ background. Before long, Wantel had gathered all the information and sent it to Catherine’s computer. “Catherine, this company appears to be controlled by Eskanese on the surface, but in reality, they were acquired by a family from Loewe six months ago. Currently, the Meltons from Loewe hold the controlling stake behind the scenes.”

“I see.” Catherine promptly hung up the phone. “The Meltons from Loewe, huh?” She murmured inwardly, dialing a number she hadn’t contacted in a long time. “Tell me what exactly you want to do?”

Chapter 833 Give Me a Reason

Rylan was quite happy when Catherine called him, but his expression turned dark as soon as he answered the phone. Despite her generally cold demeanor, he could tell that this time, her coldness was different. While she was typically aloof, her current tone was laced with hostility, which he found unacceptable. “What do you mean, Catherine? What have I done to make you so angry?” he asked.

Catherine responded in a cold tone, You know what you’ve done. I don’t care about your intentions, but if you interfere with my experiment, you’ll be in trouble.”

Upon hearing this, Rylan realized that Catherine must have found out about his connection to Reelyne Technologies, which prompted her call.

He cursed inwardly the two people he had sent to handle the matter, blaming their incompetence. Since Catherine had known, he understood that denying it wouldn’t change anything. She could see through his lie easily.

“You don’t know how envious I am of Branden,” Rylan said. “I see how he sponsored your school and easily gained access to your lab to spend time with you. I also wanted to get closer to you in the same way. I didn’t mean to make you angry.”

“Is that your only intention?” Catherine asked.

Rylan responded confidently, “What else would I do? And what else can I do? Catherine, can’t you understand my feelings for you?”

After a few seconds of silence, the call ended. Rylan put down his phone, his gloomy expression replaced with a hint of satisfaction.

Catherine hung up the phone and stepped out of the lab, where she ran into Marshall.

Seeing her upset expression, Marshall immediately began to reassure her, ” You don’t need to worry about the sponsorship. I’ve already turned down the offer from Ultan. We have the Duncan Corporation as our major sponsor now. So we don’t need another patron. I’m not that foolish.”

Catherine’s influence played a part in securing the Duncan Corporation’s sponsorship for the lab. Since the Duncan Corporation’s funding came in, they no longer had to worry about financial constraints. The Duncan Corporation was generous, and most importantly, it didn’t interfere with their work, allowing them to carry out experiments as they pleased.

In Marshall’s opinion, the Duncan Corporation’s sponsorship was the most satisfying he had received in years. He had no desire to terminate it for anything else.

Catherine nodded. However, inwardly, she remained on edge. No one understood Rylan better than she did. She knew he would stop at nothing to achieve his goals. She hadn’t seen an issue with his methods before, given their shared history of overcoming adversity. She didn’t agree with his actions but chose not to intervene. Her life experiences had taught her that observing from a distance reduced trouble. However, at some point, she found herself increasingly unable to accept Rylan’s way of doing things. Now, she could only work behind the scenes to prevent him from getting involved in this mess.

Flash pushed open the door of the confinement room. Because of the information provided by Ronin last time, Flash was rewarded with a meal. As the door swung open, the fragrant aroma of barbecue greeted Flash.

Ronin sat at the center of the hall, enjoying the barbecue.

“You seem to be enjoying yourself,” remarked Flash, a hint of sarcasm in his voice.

Ronin, seemingly oblivious, looked up at Flash and gestured for Flash to join him. “Hurry. Sit down and eat with me. Barbecue is best enjoyed with company. I used to have it with Catherine every day, but not anymore…” Ronin rambled on for a while before falling silent.

Flash eyed him and coldly questioned, ” Go ahead.”

Ronin shrugged nonchalantly, appearing somewhat resigned. ” There’s no point in talking about it. There’s no chance in the future.” After a pause, he picked up a pepper, stuffed it into his mouth, and swallowed it expressionlessly.

“Is it because you betrayed Catherine, so you can’t face her anymore?” Flash guessed.

Ronin gave him a thumbs-up in appreciation. “Exactly. You’re not as foolish as you look. Catherine despises betrayal the most. Since I’ve betrayed her, I know better than anyone how dire the consequences would be if I were to show my face again.” His icy voice was filled with bitterness and resignation.

Flash, who had originally intended to lecture him, changed the subject. ” When will you continue to retrieve the data? There are only three days left,” he asked.

Ronin glared at Flash. “I’ve already told you, it’s double-encrypted and takes time. I can’t do it right now. If you want me dead, you might as well kill me right now.”

Flash observed Ronin, not missing any of the changes in Ronin’s expressions. Flash had reported the situation to his superiors, and after their investigation, they found that Ronin wasn’t lying to them. Catherine had enlisted Winston to implement multiple layers of encryption. Even if her encryption system were cracked, it would be futile. Only under a double decryption scenario could one access the core area and obtain the experimental data.

“What if Professor Warner is right in front of you?” Flash said expressionlessly.

Ronin, who was having a barbecue, paused in an instant. He squinted at Flash. “What do you mean?” he asked.

“Exactly what I said,” Flash responded coldly.

Ronin went furious and slammed his fist on the table, bellowing, “I warn you. Don’t touch Professor Warner, or I’ll kill you!”

“Humph.” Flash laughed coldly, not taking Ronin’s threat seriously. “What? Is your attachment to Professor Warner deeper than your loyalty to Catherine? You betrayed Catherine, yet you’re afraid of us capturing Professor Warner. Don’t you find that ridiculous?

Catherine not only saved Ronin’s life but also supported him for many years. Their bond was closer than that of siblings. While Winston was just Ronin’s mentor. Flash didn’t believe that Winston was more important to Ronin. However, Ronin’s display of anger seemed almost instinctual, which couldn’t be faked.

Flash was curious about the reason behind it. He fixed his gaze on Ronin -and questioned him, “Give me a reason why we can’t touch Professor Warner.”

Chapter 834 Winston’s Biggest Weakness

Ronin grabbed Flash’s collar, glaring at him angrily. “I said, don’t touch Professor Warner, and I mean it!”

The atmosphere in the room became tense in an instant. Despite Ronin’s anger, Flash, remained composed, pressing on, “Give me a reason!”

This was Flash’s territory; Ronin was merely a prisoner in captivity. The only reason Flash hadn’t laid hands on Ronin was because Ronin had some use left. But that didn’t mean Ronin could do as he pleased. Once Flash found Ronin’s value insufficient, he would get rid of Ronin.

Ronin gritted his teeth and glared at Flash, but he didn’t voice his reason.

Flash didn’t press him further. Instead, he stood up, preparing to leave. ”

Ronin, you may have been enjoying yourself these days, but don’t forget your current situation. Who we target is not for you to decide!”

Faced with Flash’s threat, Ronin retorted, “Even if you capture Professor Warner, you won’t be able to access the core data if I don’t cooperate.

Winston was an expert, but he couldn’t crack Catherine’s security system. The only person in the world who could do that was Ronin, because he was personally trained by Catherine.

Flash coldly stared at Ronin, his gaze conveying a silent challenge.

Ronin chose to give in. He had to submit for the sake of Winston. “You want to know the reason? Fine, I’ll tell you,” he said, causing Flash to give up on leaving. Flash sat back down, looking at Ronin expressionlessly, waiting for the explanation.

“Professor Warner is my mentor; he has been very good to me,” Ronin stated.

“Catherine treats you even better,” Flash retorted, thinking it was a pure excuse.

Ronin lifted his head angrily. “You’re right. No one is more important to me than Catherine. My betrayal only caused her to lose an experimental project. Even if it’s important, it’s just an experiment after all. You don’t understand how amazing she is. I believe she will soon solve the problem. But Professor Warner is different. If you capture him, he will die! He’s the ‘kind of person who would rather die than submit. That’s my reason,” Ronin said with utmost seriousness, looking at Flash.

After a few seconds of silence, Flash got up and left. This time, Ronin didn’t stop him, waiting until Flash was completely gone before returning to his previous state and continuing to have a barbecue.

Night fell. Winston, who was sound asleep, was suddenly awakened by a phone call. He glanced at the caller ID, got up to answer the phone, then tiptoed out of bed and opened the front door. He frowned when he saw the person outside. “Why did you call me in the middle of the night? Do you have something important to tell me?” he asked with a grave expression.

The next moment, a shadow fell over him. Winston immediately went limp and passed out.

A few seconds later, the door of the Wales residence was closed, and everything seemed to return to its previous calm state. Everything remained silent as if nothing had ever happened.

Catherine got up early the next day and headed to the lab. The certification deadline was approaching. If it hadn’t been for Branden’s insistence, she would have slept in the laboratory recently.

Seeing Marshall furrowing his brow and busy with work, Catherine stepped forward to offer her help. “Is it a busy day today?” she asked.

Upon hearing Catherine’s question, Marshall turned around and frowned at her. “It’s all because of Winston. I told him to exercise more regularly, but he wouldn’t listen. He fell ill last night and took a few days off. Now, all his work has been given to me.”

Despite the seemingly complaining tone, there was also a hint of concern in Marshall’s voice. He knew Winston’s personality well. If Winston hadn’t been seriously ill, he wouldn’t have left his work to Marshall. Marshall behaved as if he was complaining, but in fact, he was just doing this to console himself.

“I’ll help you,” Catherine offered.

Marshall refused her. “No need. I’ve got this. I’ve organized the work, and I’ll call a few students to help. You can just go do your thing.”

Marshall’s attitude was firm. Catherine didn’t insist, returning to the lab alone. As soon as she arrived, she received a call from Zobber.

“Catherine, I’ve received some news. The Duncan Corporation intends to collaborate with the Breens to develop a project. Today is the signing ceremony, and it’s happening in Casier!

Catherine listened expressionlessly and coldly replied, “Got it,” before hanging up and continuing with her experiments, completely focused as if nothing could affect her.

Soon, the person responsible for monitoring Catherine reported the situation to Flash. Flash had planted his spy in Catherine’s lab. While they couldn’t access her exclusive laboratory, they could track her movements within the laboratory building.

Flash immediately reported it to his immediate superior.

“Are you sure Catherine had no reaction after receiving the news from ‘Zobber?” the superior asked.

“Yes, I’m one hundred percent sure,” Flash affirmed.

The superior’s eyes slightly narrowed. He didn’t believe Catherine would act recklessly due to emotions. Her calm demeanor only indicated the seriousness of the situation. Perhaps they could intensify the situation by turning her against Branden. After all, the worst thing between lovers was suspicion. Once it appeared, it wouldn’t go so easily.

“Keep an eye on her. And how is Professor Warner?”

“We have Professor Warner under control, but he’s stubborn. Even when we threatened him with his wife, he didn’t budge,” Flash reported with frustration. Winston was proving more difficult to intimidate than he had anticipated.

The superior, upon hearing Flash’s report, showed no anger. He looked at Flash with a mocking gaze. “If using his wife to threaten him didn’t work, you can try someone else. Do I have to teach you that?”

Seeing the sinister look in his superior’s eyes, Flash understood something. “Sir, are you referring to Ronin Oconnor?”

The man in black waved Flash off, not answering the question.

People like Winston valued their experiments more than their lives. They were proud and resilient, and these tactics wouldn’t work on them. They disregarded their own lives because they thought their ideals and beliefs were more important. However, they were not without weaknesses- their responsibilities as teachers.

Ronin, Winston’s favorite student, was Winston’s biggest weakness. Utilized correctly, Ronin’s identity could serve as a mutual restraint, because Ronin cared about Winston just as Winston cared about him.

Chapter 835 Make Your Choice

“Professor Warner, have you made your decision?”

Upon hearing the voice, Winston silently raised his head, his face filled with disdain. “You might as well stop wasting your time. I’ve said it before. I will not cooperate with you, never.”

Winston would rather die than betray the school or his friends. He would never go against his conscience and morals. As a professor, he conducted experimental projects with students and knew well the amount of manpower and resources required for a project to come to fruition.

Marshall once said it was the result of his life’s work. If it weren’t for Catherine, the experiment would never succeed.

Now, these scoundrels wanted to reap benefits without effort, and Winston would never let that happen. He stiffened his neck and glared at Flash. ” If you have the guts, just kill me. Since you call me Professor Warner, then you should know my identity. Just because you capture me doesn’t mean you can get what you want from me. My school and my superiors won’t let you off!”

Facing the bound yet unyielding Winston, Flash couldn’t help but feel a hint of admiration. He knew that Winston was different from Ronin.

Winston was a renowned professor, and the experimental project he was carrying out was receiving close attention from relevant authorities. They wouldn’t allow Winston to meet his end, so they wouldn’t pressure him too tightly.

Since coercion and temptation wouldn’t work on Winston, Flash could only choose to try the method provided by his superiors.

Flash turned and left.

Seeing this, Winston felt somewhat strange. He didn’t believe these people would be so kind as to easily let him go. There must be something fishy going on. Just as he was contemplating, however, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in the back of his neck, and then he fell into a deep slumber.

Half an hour later, Flash reappeared in front of Winston. Seeing Winston bowing his head in silence, Flash thought that Winston was using this silent protest to express his disapproval.

Flash exclaimed, “Professor Warner, look who’s here!”

Winston slowly raised his head, and when he saw Ronin being dragged by Flash, his eyes widened in shock. ”

What do you want with me? Let go of him!”

Ronin was initially puzzled as to why Flash had suddenly brought him here. When he saw Winston, he instantly understood everything. Flash was planning to use him to coerce Winston.

Unable to contain his anger any longer, Ronin rushed forward and punched Flash. “You jerk!” However, Flash dodged the punch. His strength surpassed Ronin’s, and he quickly pinned Ronin to the ground.

Ronin struggled with all his might to break free. “Flash, you jerk, how dare you kidnap Professor Warner? I’ll kill you, you asshole!”

Flash watched the expressions of Ronin and Winston, feeling a hint of envy at the genuine emotions they displayed. Ronin was lucky, first encountering Catherine, and later, becoming Winston’s student. The more these two cared for each other, the more advantageous the situation was for Flash.

Drawing a long knife from his waist, Flash pressed it against Ronin’s neck, glaring at Winston.

“Professor Warner, I know you are strong-willed and not easily threatened. But what about your student? Don’t you care about him?” He lifted Ronin’s head, presenting his face more clearly to Winston. “I heard he’s your favorite student. As his teacher, do you not even care about the life of your student?”

“You’re so despicable!” Winston shouted in anger.

Ronin struggled and said to Winston, ” Professor Warner, don’t worry about me. This guy won’t really kill me. He just wants to use me. Don’t agree to him.”

Flash showed no mercy to Ronin’s desperate struggle. He kicked Ronin hard, causing Ronin to vomit blood, leaving Winston pale with fear.

Staring at Ronin lying on the ground, Flash said coldly, “You’re right, I do want to use you. But you have to be useful. If you have no value to me, why should I keep you?” After speaking, Flash ordered his men to drag Ronin to the next room.

Winston, watching Ronin being taken away, became extremely tense. “You bastards, what are you going to do to my student?”

Flash looked at him expressionlessly and said in a chilling tone, “Professor Warner, the decision is in your hands. Your pride or your student’s life, make your choice.”

To avoid the dilemma, Winston bowed his head in agony. Flash signaled his men, and soon, the agonizing screams of Ronin could be heard, indicating that he was being tortured.

Flash carefully observed Winston’s every move. Noticing Winston’s growing panic, he could tell that Winston was on the verge of giving in. Flash admired his superior’s insight into human nature and ability to see through people.

After a long time, the screams from the next room ceased. Winston, who had been trying to remain composed, was now completely distressed. He looked up at Flash with a pale face. “What have you done to Ronin?”

A man in black suddenly entered and respectfully bowed before Flash. Winston noticed that the man’s hands were covered in blood, which made him even more anxious.

Flash signaled the man to speak. The man reported, “Cap, we were a bit heavy-handed just now. That brat is bleeding profusely. If we don’t treat him in time, he might bleed to death.”

Upon hearing this, Flash didn’t immediately give orders. Instead, he walked straight up to Winston, sat down in front of him, and looked at him with a smile in his eyes. “Professor Warner, should I save him or not?”

Winston stared at Flash, his eyes full of fury. “How can you disregard a person’s life like this? Hurry and save Ronin! Don’t delay any longer. I’m begging you, please!”

Flash said slowly, raising his chin, “I can do that, but you’ll have to pay something for it.”

“I’ll pay! I’ll give you whatever you want!” Winston responded anxiously.

Flash shook his head with a cold smile. “I don’t want money. You know what I want, Professor Warner. As long as you can give me what I desire, I’ll not only treat Ronin but also release both of you. Professor Warner, the choice is in your hands now,” he added.

Winston was still struggling, but Flash could see that the determination in Winston’s eyes had faded. This was the outcome Flash wanted, and he believed that Winston would soon make a decision.

“Professor Warner, take your time to think. We’re not in a rush. But I can’t say the same for Ronin,” Flash said with a hint of threat.

Chapter 836 I Dare Not Move

Flash calmly engaged in psychological warfare with Winston. The more composed he appeared, the more flustered Winston would be. Seeing Winston’s psychological defenses starting to crumble, Flash continued, ” Professor Warner, you’re a professor in the computer science department. Do you know medicine? When a person’s major artery is damaged, how long does it take for that person to die?”

Flash’s sinister laugh caused Winston’s face to turn ashen. He began to plead with Flash, asking him to spare Ronin and to treat Ronin.

Leaning forward with his hands on the table, Flash fixed his eyes on Winston. ” Professor Warner, I’m not the one who can save him; you are. Do you want to save him? Tell me,” Flash said. “He’s not even 19 years old. It’s a young man’s life, right? I remember him telling me that you are his most respected teacher, just like his father. Are you going to watch him die?”

Winston broke down, pounding the table with his hands and shouting madly, “I agree to your demands!”

“Hah!” Flash laughed triumphantly, not hiding his satisfaction. He gleefully told Winston, “Very good! Congratulations on making the right choice.”

“Save Ronin! Now! Do you hear me?” Winston yelled at Flash.

Flash casually spread out his hands, nodding in agreement. “Alright, I’ll save Ronin. But don’t try anything funny. If I can torture him once, I can do it a second time.”

Winston fell silent, sitting there with a helpless expression.

Seeing the blank look on Winston’s face, Flash finally felt assured of his success. Now, all he needed to do was let Winston rest for a while and then have him and Ronin work together to steal the data. “Our victory is imminent,” Flash thought.

“Boss, the car is ready. Are you ready to leave now?” Paxton asked.

Branden put down the documents in his hand and stood up. “Let’s go,” he ordered, and Paxton immediately followed at his side.

They were on their way to Styre University to pick up Catherine. As their Bentley was about to leave the underground garage, a black car suddenly cut across, blocking their path.

The moment the driver saw the road blocked, his face immediately darkened. This was the Duncan Corporation’s building. How could someone be so careless as to obstruct the president’s car?

The driver was about to get out of the car when Paxton quickly stopped him. ” You stay in the car; I’ll go down and check it out,” Paxton said.

Paxton got out of the car and walked around to the front of the black vehicle to investigate. It was a blind spot, and the people inside the car couldn’t see what was happening in front. A short time passed, but Paxton hadn’t returned. Tension filled the car, and the driver cautiously turned to seek permission from Branden, who was sitting straight in the car with his eyes closed, exuding an air of calm.

“Boss, should I go down and take a look?” the driver asked.

Branden remained composed. “No rush. 11

The driver immediately sat up straight, refraining from opening the door. However, his expression remained grim as he focused intently on his surroundings.

Branden slightly furrowed his brow as he heard a lot of noise outside. The unexpected commotion brought a sardonic smile to his lips. “Tom, be careful,” he instructed.

The driver nodded respectfully. He had also heard the commotion outside. He instinctively placed his hand on his waist, saying, “Thank you for your concern, Boss. I vow to protect your safety at all costs.”

“At all costs? Humph!” Branden sneered. “It’s not necessary to go to such extremes,” he murmured inwardly.

A group of figures closed in on the car from all sides, their movements swift and coordinated, all targeting the Bentley ahead. As the sticks in their hands approached the car, Branden calmly pushed open the car door and stepped out, a sharp contrast between the two sides.

Despite the numerical advantage of the opposing group, Branden’s presence was intimidating. As he stepped out of the car, he instantly stunned them.

The leader of the group came to his senses and gave the command. The group of dark-clad men swarmed toward Branden.

Branden unbuttoned his suit, allowing for greater freedom of movement. He carefully removed the tie from around his neck and placed it in his pocket. It was bought by Catherine, and he didn’t want to soil it.

The assailants charged forward, but Branden swiftly retaliated. Despite their numerical advantage, they couldn’t even get within three feet of him. More and more attackers fell to the ground, and it became evident that they were no match for Branden.

The leader of these men became anxious and signaled for everyone to retreat. However, it seemed too late. Francis and his men arrived just in time. When Francis saw Branden standing unharmed in a relaxed posture without even a speck of dust on him, he felt relieved. “Charge!” he then commanded.

The situation quickly turned, and the once aggressive assailants were now all pinned to the ground, unable to lift their heads.

After dealing with these men, Francis ran up to Branden, feeling excited. ” Boss, are you okay?” he asked eagerly.

Branden gave Francis a cold glance that immediately made Francis bow his head and apologize, “Boss, it’s my fault. Please punish me!”

It seemed that Branden could always see through their tricks. In fact, Francis could have arrived earlier, but Carlo said it had been too long since Branden had shown his combat skills. Carlo and Francis then made a bet. Francis deliberately arrived a minute late to catch a glimpse of Branden in a fight on the surveillance footage. It looked amazing. Branden’s movements were so smooth and precise. Although Francis knew he would be punished, he thought witnessing such a scene made it worth it.

“Boss…” Meanwhile, Paxton was brought out. He had been ambushed. The attackers had used considerable force to subdue him. In order to protect himself and to wait for more attackers to appear, he deliberately chose to surrender.

Carlo had been secretly protecting Paxton and managed to save him just as the attackers were about to take him away.

After Branden assessed Paxton and saw his minor injuries, he softened his expression and ordered Paxton to get into the car.

As Paxton was about to comply, he noticed Francis still standing in place and couldn’t help but ask, “Why are you still standing there?”

Francis glanced at Branden’s back with a look of helplessness and whispered, ” I dare not move.”

Knowing Francis must have done something wrong, Paxton smacked him on the head. “You rascal, keep standing here!”

As the others got into the car, Francis became anxious, inwardly screaming, ” Don’t leave me behind!” However, all that was left for him was the lingering smell of exhaust gas in the air.

Chapter 837 I Pay

Sebastian Johnson, the head of the police station escorted Branden to the entrance and said in an exceptionally respectful and amiable manner, “Mr. Duncan, rest assured. We will thoroughly interrogate this group of thugs. They dared to attack you and disturb the public order in our city. It is a vile and egregious example of such behavior.”

After hearing this, Branden gave a polite glance at him and softly said, ” Thank you, Mr. Johnson.”

Sebastian’s heart bloomed with joy. He was worried about not meeting performance targets, but he hadn’t expected Branden to deliver such a significant case to him. It was a perfect opportunity to get his subordinates to start a serious investigation.

Sebastian was preparing to personally escort Branden to his car when suddenly Branden stopped and looked back. “By the way, I’ve heard that recently a group of individuals illegally entered from abroad and were brought to the police station. I wonder how they are being handled?”

When Sebastian heard this, his face immediately darkened. Although Branden did not explicitly state it, the rumors from higher-ups when the orders were given made it clear to Sebastian that those people were sent here by Branden.

However, with the suspects released, Sebastian was at a loss regarding how to reply to it.

Sensing Sebastian’s discomfort, Branden didn’t press further. He just simply got into his car and drove off without looking back.

Inside the car, Paxton reported the latest investigation results to Branden. “Sir, we’ve discovered that all those individuals have been let go.”

Hearing this, Branden narrowed his eyes, a hint of danger flickering within. “He’s got some nerve!”

“It’s my incompetence!” Paxton admitted his fault immediately.

Paxton had thought that he could rest easy after bringing those overseas guys in. But he hadn’t anticipated the power and reach of the person behind the scenes.

After only a few days in custody, the suspects had been fast-tracked and deported back to their home country.

It was only upon visiting the police station today that they learned of this development.

However, now that they were aware, it would be much harder for their adversaries to meddle from the shadows again.

Then Branden said, “Paxton, I’ll leave you to handle it. Now, send me to Styre University.”

Branden delegated this matter to Paxton. His trip to Styre University had already been delayed due to this incident, and he didn’t want it to delay his meeting with Catherine.

Upon receiving Branden’s instructions, the driver pressed the accelerator deeper, and the high-performance car instantly gained speed, racing off like a bolt of lightning.

Marshall was snarking about their university with righteous indignation, but when he turned to see Catherine, he found that her face showed no hint of surprise.

Seeing this, Marshall couldn’t help but feel puzzled, and said, “Catherine, here I am, so exasperated. Don’t you care at all?”

This morning, Farrell got in touch with Marshall and was told that after careful consideration, the school had decided to accept sponsorship from Reelyne Technologies.

Learning the news, Marshall was speechless with rage, and he immediately stormed into Farrell’s office to have a fierce argument with him.

However, Ultan also felt quite helpless about this decision. Although he was in charge, he had no final say in anything. Because He had to consider the entire school, not to mention that superiors were putting on the pressure.

Marshall knew the difficulties that Ultan faced, and since this talk made little progress, he could only relay the news to Catherine.

Nevertheless, faced with Marshall’s questioning, Catherine looked at him with a blank expression, and said, ” Care? What’s there to care about?”

Marshall couldn’t comprehend her reaction. “They’re trying to push Branden out. Doesn’t that bother you?”

“People are offering you money to spend, and you think it’s too little?” Catherine said, giving him a sidelong glance, sizing him up.

Marshall paused for a moment as if pondering Catherine’s words.

Then Catherine patted the equipment next to her and said quite seriously, ” These devices have been used for two or three years. It’s about time to replace them.”

Upon hearing these words, Marshall realized something at once and his gloomy expression finally cleared.

“You’re right, Catherine. Now that we have a new, generous sponsor-or should I say benefactor-we don’t have to live so frugally anymore. It’s high time to replace all this outdated equipment.”

Marshall thought, ‘Although these devices have been used for two or three years, they are still relatively new thanks to our meticulous maintenance. But machinery gets outdated quickly, and now with new sponsorship, there is no reason not to take advantage of it.’

“I’ll go to find Mr. Farrell right away!” Marshall excitedly said to Catherine and hurriedly rushed towards Ultan’s office.

Marshall’s urgency now was as great as his disdain had been before; he feared that the new wealthy sponsor might slip away.

Catherine glanced at the surrounding equipment and a cold smile appeared at the corner of her mouth.

‘If there is money to be spent on sponsorship, I would like to help,’ she thought. ‘We’ll see who has the last laugh there.’

By this time, Amelia happened to be passing by and was ready to bring a meal for Catherine. She stood at the doorway, peeking in at Catherine. ” Super Catherine, will you be having dinner in the lab tonight?”

It was then that Catherine realized it was already time for dinner.

The day was drawing to a close.

Thinking that someone might already be waiting at the door, Catherine declined Amelia’s kind offer. “Thanks, but I’m heading back to my apartment.

Hearing this, Amelia then left on her own. After all, everyone knew that Catherine was Branden’s concern.

After Amelia left, Catherine packed up her things and stepped out of the lab. Sure enough, as soon as she exited the school gates, she saw the familiar car parked at the entrance.

When Branden saw Catherine, the car drove straight towards her and came to a steady stop by her side. Then Branden himself opened the door, helping her into the car. “How did the experiments go today?” he asked, passing the carefully prepared fruit slices to Catherine and placing them in front of her.

At that moment, Catherine, in a posture of languid ease, leaned back in her chair in a particularly relaxed manner, nibbling on the fruit that Branden had meticulously cut for her while they chatted idly.

Seeing a laptop set up in front of her, Catherine knew that Branden must have planned to work in the car.

So in this case, Catherine told him to carry on with his work and that she could take the time to rest. “I’m tired. I’ll take a break while you work.”

“Sounds great.” His voice unconsciously carried a hint of doting as he fetched a small blanket to cover her.

After settling everything, he then returned to his laptop to continue with his work.

Just then, Catherine glanced over and saw the saved names of the files on his computer. She remembered the name of the document that Zobber had mentioned to her before-it was the contract for the collaborative project between the Duncan Corporation and the Breens.

Catherine never inquired about Branden’s business affairs, and he, in turn, never put up defenses around her.

Staring at that document, Catherine felt a surge of emotion well up. She couldn’t help thinking, ‘Could it be that Branden was going to enter into an in- depth partnership with the Breens?’

Chapter 838 What Is His Purpose

Rylan was busy with official business when his secretary walked in. “Mr. Melton, here is the list from Styre University.” Without looking up, he replied, “Didn’t I put you in charge of the funding for Styre University? Just allocate the funds. There’s no need to consult me.”

The secretary had indeed received such orders before, but this time, the amount was so substantial that she didn’t dare to decide on her own. “Mr. Melton, the amount involved exceeds our expectations. I think it’s best if you review it yourself.”

Rylan knew that the secretary had worked for him for many years and wouldn’t disturb him unless it was something unusual. So he reached out to take the list from her. However, being a person who was accustomed to dealing with large figures, Rylan was still taken aback when he saw the numbers on the list.

Rylan had thought this lab’s request would amount to a few tens of millions at most, but the number in front of him now was several hundred million dollars.

Noticing Rylan’s expression, the secretary cautiously added, “Mr. Melton, we’ve checked. All these are essential equipment that Marshall’s lab needs to function, and they plan to replace a batch of outdated ones.”

Rylan’s grip on the list tightened. He thought, ‘Why hasn’t Branden updated the outdated equipment before? It seems like I am expected to play the fool and foot the bill. What a cunning guy Marshall is! It is clear Marshall has great admiration for Branden, to the point of risking offending me. What a base move!!

“Any news from Catherine?” Rylan inquired.

Trembling with apprehension, the secretary told Rylan, “Mr. Melton, half of the list was provided by Miss Swann. 11

Upon hearing this, Rylan felt a surge of irritation. Then he said with his teeth clenching, “Fine, very well. If that’s so, arrange for the funds to be allocated. And from now on, I want to personally review every single expense from the lab!”

“Got it. Mr. Melton.” Then the secretary left, taking with her the list confirmed by Rylan.

Once the secretary was gone, Rylan kicked his desk in frustration and was determined to recoup the money spent, with interest. He thought to himself, ‘I will never be the one to lose out.’

Inside the holding cell, Ronin lay on the ground, exhausted. He had just endured a severe beating for his disobedience, ordered by Flash, who had his men give Ronin a thrashing.

A little later, a sound of boots striking the floor approached, and Ronin looked up with difficulty. It was Flash, holding a syringe, trying to lift Ronin’s sleeve and prepare to inject it into his arm.

Instinctively, Ronin tried to evade, but Flash grabbed him firmly. “Relax Ronin, it’s not poison, but just a painkiller!” Ronin scoffed and turned his head, knowing resistance was futile; he lay still. “I don’t buy it. Come on, what’s your scheme this time?”

As Flash slowly pushed the contents of the syringe into Ronin’s body, Flash then pulled out the needle, not bothering to stop the blood that began to bead and roll down Ronin’s arm.

“Winston has agreed,” Flash said calmly, eliciting an immediate reaction from Ronin. Suddenly Ronin propped himself up, and seized Flash by the collar, glaring at him furiously. “Didn’t I warn you to leave Winston alone?”

In an instant, Ronin’s eyes filled with murderous intent. Flash was certain that if Ronin had a knife at that moment, he would not hesitate to kill him.

At that moment, Flash laughed heartily. “Oh, my god. Ronin, you are amusing to watch.” Flash was used to seeing Ronin’s carefree demeanor and now all he wanted to see was his miserable situation. Finally, he succeeded in stripping away Ronin’s mask and destroying what Ronin held dear, reveling in his pain.

Ronin’s gaze turned icy as he watched Flash’s unrestrained laughter. “Flash, aren’t you worried that I don’t cooperate, leaving you with nothing?”

“No, you won’t,” Flash replied with unwavering confidence. “Ronin, we’ve both suffered. So the saying, ‘It’s every man for himself,’ is seared into our hearts. You understand that you betrayed Catherine, and now, how could you possibly sacrifice your own life for Winston?”

Flash knew exactly that as long as Ronin wished to live, he would obey. Therefore, Flashwas confident in his control over Ronin. “Ronin, you only have half a day. Don’t let me down.” After saying this, Flash dropped a pack of food and left.

Ronin propped himself up on his elbows and, watching Flash’s retreating figure, bellowed bitterly, ” You’d better hope you never fall into my hands.”

After hearing this warning, Flash paused, then turned back to look at him. “That day will never come.”

Flash admired Ronin indeed, but he knew that once the core data was in his hands, Ronin would be dead. Even if he didn’t kill Ronin, the boss would show Ronin no mercy.

“Did you find out anything?” Catherine asked, sitting on the bay window with her hands holding the phone, looking outside coldly.

Then, Zobber’s voice came through the earpiece. “Here we are. It seems Branden did collaborate with the Breens. The project’s amount is in the tens of billions of dollars, and if the Duncan Corporation breaches the contract, that sum could bankrupt them. It doesn’t seem like a bluff!”

Hearing the news, Zobber didn’t know what else to say. She had hoped it was all fake, but the proof was there. She couldn’t deceive herself.

Suddenly, Zobber added, “Catherine, there’s something else I found out.” ” Say it now!” Catherine exclaimed.

“Did you look at the data that Withal risked his life to retrieve last time?” Zobber’s question was abrupt, making Catherine sense something was wrong.

“What do you mean by that?” said Catherine.

“I’ve sent you the data and take a look for yourself,” Zobber responded.

Zobber always had a habit of keeping multiple copies. Although Paxton and his crew had copied her data, she hadn’t disclosed to anyone that she still had a backup. While reviewing the information, Zobber stumbled upon something she surmised Catherine was unaware of. After consulting with Withal, Zobber decided to inform her so that Catherine could handle it herself.

After hanging up the phone, Catherine checked the attachment sent by Zobber, expressionless. That information in it could not be clearer for her. But what puzzled her was why Branden had kept her in the dark. The data Branden had provided differed from what Zobber had uncovered. That meant Branden had only shared a portion with her.

All this made Catherine wonder, ‘What exactly is Branden’s purpose?’

Chapter 839 I Know Who You Are

Branden left the apartment early in the morning and went to the company.

Catherine supposed that If Zobber’s information was accurate, Branden should be en route to signing a collaboration with the Breens. Zobber offered to intervene, but Catherine declined. After all, she knew quite well that one couldn’t keep people who wanted to leave.

Packing up her things, Catherine headed straight to the lab as if nothing had happened. And upon entering, she found Marshall looking distraught, clearly waiting for her. Catherine sat beside him and asked, “Marshall, were you here waiting for me?”

“Goodness, Catherine. What’s caused your delay today?” Marshall replied with a rare look of distress, arising Catherine’s interest.

“Look at you. What’s troubling you so much?” she inquired.

Finally finding someone to confide in, Marshall seized the opportunity. “Do you remember the list you asked me to submit?”

“Yes, did it get approved?” Catherine responded.

“It did,” he said with a mix of relief and worry.

Catherine found this curious, then added, “If it’s approved, why are you upset? That’s good news, isn’t it? If they’re willing to fund it, just enjoy it.”

However, Marshall didn’t seem to think so. He had deliberately inflated the request, seeking to replace equipment that was still functional, aiming to deter Reelyne Technologies. Unexpectedly, they approved it without hesitation, leaving him feeling guilty for the extravagance.

Having been frugal all his life, Marshall now found spending this money unsettling and couldn’t voice his concerns to others, so he turned to Catherine. “Catherine, what’s Reelyne Technologies up to? I don’t know what their real intention is.”

“Marshall, just relax. As long as it benefits the lab, you have nothing to worry about. Their motives don’t matter. With me here, they won’t succeed,” Catherine assured him, calming Marshall’s nerves.

“Really?” he said, reassured.

Catherine then added, “Just focus on our research, someone else will handle the rest.” ‘Reelyne Technologies had the resources, and I would like to help them spend it-it was like doing a good deed, she said to herself.

Flash arrived at the holding cell with the laptop, having secured Winston’s cooperation, on the condition that Ronin join the effort to access Catherine’s system. Both were essential for success.

Meanwhile, Ronin was sprawling on the floor, slowly picking himself up.

Flash saw this scene, admiring his quick recovery after administering just a little medicine. He said to Ronin, ” Look at you. You’re recovering so fast!”

“Well.” Ronin scoffed. “It must be because I’m as hard to kill as you.”

Understanding the insult, Flash refrained from retaliating but helped Ronin to his feet and said, “The laptop is ready. When will you start?”

Despite being imprisoned and whipped, Ronin remained composed. He stated, ” I’ll cooperate, but I have a condition.”

Flash was unsurprised by his demand, as Ronin was always assertive. “What’s your condition?” he asked.

Ronin said each word slowly. “I want to see your boss.”

Hearing that, Flash frowned, pausing to scrutinize Ronin, seeking his motives.

Ronin, seemingly reading his mind, clarified, “I want to survive, to escape, but you get no authority out there. I must turn to someone who has it.”

Flash knew it was wishful thinking. Even if he was under orders, he couldn’t command his boss. Yet he couldn’t shatter Ronin’s hope. Without it, God knows what Ronin would do next.

After hesitating, Flash agreed, ” Alright, I’ll do what I can, but I can’t make any promises.””Go ahead and ask. I trust they won’t let me down,” Ronin said with unwavering confidence.

Flash wondered where this assurance came from. Years by his boss’s side hadn’t afforded him such certainty, so on what grounds was Ronin so confident? With doubts in tow, Flash sought permission from his higher- ups.

Soon, he returned to the cell, summoning Ronin. “Get up. Come with me!” Ronin stood, smirking at Flash. ” Curious how I knew?”

Flash waited for his answer. Ronin, smugly, teased, “Do you really want to know? Well, Guess it for yourself!”

Hearing those words, Flash was infuriated and on the brink of violence, reluctantly escorted Ronin out.

A while later, Ronin met with Flash’s boss, a man in black who exuded a very powerful vibe. Ronin had no doubts about the man’s identity as he found Flash become cautious, with a fear impossible to feign.

After looking over the boss, Ronin nonchalantly said, “I know who you are!”

The claim stunned everyone, especially Flash. Silence fell before the man in black ordered, “Ronin, is that really all you’ve got? Tell me who I am, or I’ll kill you.”

Ronin laughed awkwardly. “Lighten up. Come on, it was a joke.”

The man’s voice lowered, a warning laced within. “I never joke.” His eyes conveyed a clear threat. Now, Ronin needed a plausible answer or his life would end there.

Chapter 840 Are You Kidding Me

In the dim interior, tension spiked in an instant.

Flash would bet that his boss wouldn’t hesitate to kill Ronin if he didn’t provide a satisfactory answer. He dreaded this outcome but was powerless to stop it. In any event, Ronin is on his own.

After a moment of silence, Ronin chuckled. “Of course I’m certain you’re the big boss behind him. I had no idea if Flash might send someone to fool me, but after seeing you, I knew you couldn’t be an imposter!” However, his firm tone did nothing to diminish the menacing aura of the man, who now fixed a cold stare on Ronin, demanding, “How did you discern I’m Flash’s boss?”

“Quality!” Ronin declared with unwavering confidence. “Posture and clothes can be imitated, but one’s quality is innate. It is clear at a glance that you have a much higher status than Flash.”

The room fell silent again. Even Flash, who stood by quietly, held his breath, not daring to guess his boss’s thoughts, aware of the consequences of a wrong guess.

The man chuckled appreciatively. “Not bad!”

With the tension easing, Ronin managed a smile, relieved. He had bluffed, and fortunately, he got away with it. Ronin supposed that perhaps the man had never intended to kill him and was merely toying with him.

The man scrutinized Flash and softly inquired, “Well, I heard you want to speak with me first. Do you think you’re qualified?”

Unfazed, Ronin calmly replied, “I may not be, but I’m the only one who can retrieve the data you need from Catherine’s laptop. Is that enough?”

The man approached Ronin, and after a pause, replied, “Good!”

Ronin, seeing his proposal accepted, set a new condition. “We can talk, but he needs to leave,” he said, pointing at Flash with a provocative look as if Flash didn’t deserve to be in the same room.

At the same time, Flash, understanding the challenge in Ronin’s gaze, felt a surge of indignation but dared not show it before his boss.

At the boss’s command, “Get out!”

Flash left without hesitation, throwing a glare at Ronin, who returned it with defiance. Flash couldn’t predict what Ronin would discuss with his boss but was sure Ronin’s provocation was intentional.

On the other end of the line, Zobber sounded anxious, “Catherine, Branden will sign the contract with the Breen Group soon. Are you sure you won’t stop him?” Zobber couldn’t wait to rush into the Duncan Cooperation and she could easily set the building ablaze if ordered.

Catherine, in white coats, just out from the lab, listened to Zobber and decisively said, “No need.”

Zobers didn’t get to finish her plea as Catherine hung up. Soon, Catherine continued her work in the lab, unaware of a sneaky figure watching her from the corridor’s end.

Frustrated by the abrupt call drop, Zobber fumed. “What’s wrong with Catherine? Isn’t she worried at all?”

Withal, nonchalantly played with a lighter. “If Catherine isn’t worried, why are you? She said no need, so let’s head back,” he remarked.

Seeing Zobber still puzzled, Withal gently nudged her, prompting her to think. Zobber quickly came around, realizing Withal’s point, and agreed to return home.

Meanwhile, Paxton, watching two familiar figures on the video feed, headed toward the president’s office. ” Branden, we found Zobber and Withal nearby,” Paxton reported seriously.

Learning the news, Branden remained calm. With his glance, he motioned for Paxton to keep going.

Paxton reported Zobber and Withal’s brief appearance nearby before they left without any further action. Paxton found this odd, for it just wasn’t Zobber’s normal behavior or attitude. So he didn’t believe they did nothing but kept rambling here.

“Where is Catherine?” Branden inquired.

“In the lab, she hasn’t come out,” Paxton replied.

Paxton was relieved he had verified Catherine’s location beforehand. Had she been elsewhere, he wouldn’t know how to answer Branden, which could have spelled trouble for him.

Branden acknowledged the report and continued with his paperwork, indicating he wasn’t concerned with the matter. Taking the cue, Paxton left the office to call off the tail on Zobber.

Just as Zobber and Withal were about to return to Connie’s apartment, they realized someone was following them. Eyeing each other, they prepared to confront these trackers, who unexpectedly withdrew.

Confounded, Zobber still chased after them but lost track, frustrating her. Turning to Withal, she expressed her confusion about the trackers’ behavior. Withal casually shrugged, suggesting, Maybe they got scared of you. After all, your reputation precedes you.”

It took Zobber a moment to catch his implication, and once she did, her anger flared. She gave Withal a fierce look. “Are you calling me a tigress?”

Withal, struggling to contain his laughter, said, “How dare I?”

Realizing his joke, Zobber intentionally drove onto a bumpy buffer strip, much to Withal’s discomfort. Withal realized he had upset Zobber and quickly begged for mercy. “My dear, I’m so sorry.” After some cajoling, Zobers finally relented and they continued on their way.

Once Zobber’s car was back on track, Withal regained his composure. He glanced in the direction the car had departed, his eyes flickering with an indistinct, ominous intensity.