All of Lewis' items were now neatly packed and placed on the table in front of him: USB drives and some paper documents.Eric continued. "I had people in Phoenix City check. There haven't been any recent academic exchange conferences there, so what were you doing?"Lewis' face fell. He had heard from Kirk that Eric was not someone to mess with and was beyond his league. Now, he truly felt that Eric was an extraordinary figure with unparalleled capabilities.He had done his homework well before going to Phoenix City. Once he was there, it was virtually impossible for people from this side to bring him back. Moreover, they had assured him protection. Yet, it was exactly those people who claimed to protect him that personally put him on the plane."Who exactly are you?" He looked at Eric, feeling fear for the first time. He had been in Phoenix City, breathing the air of freedom. How had he ended up in this situation?!In reality, he might have successfully taken these things out befo
Eric nodded in understanding, having already deduced the situation. To him, Lewis appeared oblivious despite his high level of education. Devoid of independent thought and conviction, Lewis seemed susceptible to manipulation with the right incentives.Eric convened a small meeting specifically to address the issue with Lewis, particularly concerning the direction of online discourse.Ultimately, they decided to unofficially leak information about Lewis' apprehension. Robert would make an official announcement after allowing the news to circulate for a few days.After the meeting, Eric and a few members of the Combat Department prepared to depart. However, as they exited the meeting room, they were met with a commotion."Who's there?" An angry voice emanated from where Lewis was being held, followed by the sounds of a scuffle.Before Eric and the others could rush over, the power in the entire building suddenly went out."Go! Provide support!" Eric exclaimed as he darted forward.
There were three shadow warriors, but one lay dead, leaving two concealed in the darkness. Eric understood their Catellonian origins, prompting him to question the link between Catellon and the virus outbreak.However, Eric couldn't dwell on this. He still had to confront the remaining shadow warriors, whose capabilities were heightened by the darkness.Suddenly, he squinted and swiftly hurled a dagger toward a shadowed corner of the wall. The glint of the blade pierced the darkness, followed by the thud of a body hitting the ground. Yet, even amidst the blackened surroundings, Eric sensed the imminent danger."Bring it on!" he bellowed, channeling his energy into his fist and launching it toward the source of the impending attack.A pair of sounds reverberated through the corridor: one, the impact of his punch meeting its target, and the other, the echo of the body colliding with the wall.Simultaneously, the corridor lights flickered to life, illuminating the scene. Strewn acros
Lewis sighed heavily and voiced his frustration, "I've always envied people like you, born with a silver spoon in your mouth. You're rich, powerful, and seemingly have the world at your feet from the moment you're born."But what about us commoners? We struggle for a lifetime, even for generations, and still can't reach the heights you effortlessly attain! It's so damn unfair! That's why I decided to sell those gene sequences for money! I want to challenge this unfairness! I want to rebel against it!"Eric raised an eyebrow, understanding that Lewis needed to vent his frustrations. However, to him, this venting resembled the complaints of a radical youth. Blaming society simply because one couldn't earn enough money?Considering someone as successful as Lewis, earning a six-figure income, harboring such thoughts, Eric couldn't help but wonder about those earning mere thousands. Did they frequently complain about society's unfairness and blame others for their mistakes?"Do you beli
After a while, Eric felt no need to dwell on the shadow warriors' motives. Nevertheless, he decided to call Ruth.Eric recalled Ruth mentioning that the data from the Dortmund laboratory had almost been stolen. Upon cross-referencing information, Eric's suspicions were confirmed. Those attempting to steal data from Dortmund appeared to be shadow warriors.The Dortmund laboratory had conducted genetic analyses and amassed a large amount of classified data. The Combat Department deemed it top secret, understanding that such data couldn't be compromised."Now it seems someone is targeting this data," Ruth said. "Your decision to prevent unofficial organizations from analyzing this information is correct. We have someone captured here, and it seems we need to apply more force. Additionally, I believe you can leverage the Joint Family Association to gain traction with the Oberdeens.""Alright, I will," Eric agreed.Investigating the Oberdeens openly might raise suspicions, but utilizin
The corporate headquarters exuded grandeur and magnificence, presenting an impressive sight.Clad in a suit, tie, and leather shoes, Eric appeared fitting for such an occasion. Grace's secretary awaited him at the main entrance.Following a brief exchange between Eric and Grace the previous night, she was aware of his visit today. The secretary couldn't help but cast a few more glances at Eric."Madam Montgomery is still in a meeting," she explained. "All members of the Association are here today, and she's presiding over it. She mentioned that when you arrive, she'll join you in the office after the meeting. Of course, if you wish to attend the meeting, you're welcome to do so."She was curious about who Eric really was. As Grace's secretary, she should also be attending the meeting with Grace. However, Grace had instructed her to wait for Eric.Eric nodded and said, "Take me to the meeting room then. I'll wait outside."This piqued the secretary's curiosity even more. She led E
Eric was perplexed about Jessica's abrupt departure. When Grace came out, she noticed Jessica's hurried exit and asked in puzzlement, "What transpired with that poor girl? Let me remind you that Vee is at home caring for our child. You mustn't betray her trust."Eric quickly explained, "Mom, I'm not that kind of person! I don't know what happened to Jessica either. She wanted me to invite her for dinner, but when I suggested another day, she got upset and left."Grace nodded and said, "Alright, alright. I'll have my secretary send the food to the office. We can eat and talk there."Meals at Montgomery Corp. were decent, though Eric found the food at Innova Group preferable. Grace and other employees dined on the same dishes. Even members of the Association who visited Montgomery Corp. ate the same food as the staff.At Montgomery Corp., everyone was treated equally. This was integral to Grace's success—she had earned the trust of her employees.While seemingly straightforward, ach
Initially, Grace was completely unaware of the Oberdeens. To her, they were merely a relatively obscure family. A few years back, the Oberdeens lacked significant renown, especially to someone like Grace. It wasn't until she encountered Queenie during her visit to Salt City that she learned about them.Grace affirmed, "I've recently been keeping tabs on them. I had someone conduct an investigation, and it appears that their influence is on the verge of elevating them to second-tier wealthy family status. However, they are still categorized as third-tier upon assessment."Curious, she asked, "Why this sudden interest in the Oberdeens?"Grace hadn't deeply explored the Oberdeens' background. Initially, she speculated that it might be related to Queenie's marriage into the Williams family, seeking support from the alliance. However, she dismissed this notion, considering that such a trivial matter could easily be resolved with a brief phone call from Eric. There seemed to be no necessi