Chapter 693 The Sender
After a few minutes, Marshall finally caught his breath. He stared at his student, Ciaran, with a mix of sadness and frustration. Ciaran had been in his lab the longest, almost like a son to him. However, Marshall didn’t expect that Ciaran was the one stealing lab data. He wouldn’t have believed this if it hadn’t been for Marshall catching it on the spot.
“Why, Ciaran? Tell me.” Marshall’s voice choked as he struggled to get the words out.
Ciaran kept his head low and remained silent. It wasn’t until pushed that he responded. He said, “Professor Hartley, please don’t ask anymore. Just hand me over to the procuratorate.”
Marshall was furious and slammed his favorite coffee mug on the table. “Why can’t you tell me your troubles? I’m your teacher. I can help you. Don’t you trust me?”
As the standoff lingered, Catherine, who sat nearby, said casually yet assertively, “It’s not about trust. It’s about the hidden agenda from the start.
Her words instantly drew their attention. Marshall looked at Catherine in confusion while Ciaran was shocked. He couldn’t believe it, let alone confront it. He wondered how Catherine knew. Then he thought he must be overthinking things.
But Catherine’s following words plunged him into despair before Ciaran could fathom it. “Ciaran, you were born in Bateny, Rexinheim. You moved to Eskana at three. You are Rexinish, right?”
Catherine looked up and stared at Ciaran with her sharp gaze, leaving no room for evasion. The silent Ciaran was now utterly rattled.
After hearing Catherine’s words, Marshall finally grasped the truth. He looked at Ciaran in disbelief. His lips trembled as he struggled to speak. He asked, “So, were you approaching me with an ulterior motive from the start?”
Marshall dared not think further. “My God! All these years… It’s terrifying.”
Catherine sneered in disdain. Ciaran hid his identity for so long. Human nature was truly terrifying.
“Ciaran, you’ve endured for years. Why expose yourself now? Are you willing to sacrifice as a pawn?” Catherine asked.
If this data were stolen again, Catherine’s name would easily be cleared. She held the data and could transfer it discreetly without the need for such effort.
After a long silence, Ciaran finally lifted his head after hearing Catherine’s words. His eyes were filled with resignation, and he said depressedly, This project is too significant. Everyone around the world wants it.”
Otherwise, the organization wouldn’t put Ciaran at risk. After all, Ciaran had been undercover by Marshall’s side for so many years. His position was irreplaceable.
Marshall pondered for a while before finally asking the burning question. He asked, “Previously, it was also your doing, and you framed Catherine, right?
Ciaran shook his head. “I stole the data, but I never intended to frame Catherine. Someone manipulated the surveillance to incriminate Catherine.
It’s not my doing!”
Ciaran admitted to the theft, but their original plan was to use a hacker’s identity. Unexpectedly, someone took advantage and pinned it on Catherine. Ciaran’s organization exploited it and made everyone believe Catherine was the leaker.
Marshall looked up at Catherine and sought her opinion. He wasn’t sure if his once-favorite student was lying, so he turned to Catherine for help.
“He’s not lying,” Catherine said firmly. Ciaran indeed stole the data, but he wasn’t the one responsible for framing her. Someone else took the advantage and stirred the trouble.
Marshall looked worriedly at Catherine and was surprised by the complexity of the situation. “Catherine, should we keep investigating?” He couldn’t rest until he found the person behind Catherine’s false accusation.
“No need. Professor Hartley, hand him over to Lorcan. I’ll handle the rest,” Catherine replied.
Catherine made such arrangements because she knew who was stirring the pot behind the scenes. His aim wasn’t the research data but to ruin Catherine’s reputation at Styre University.
With the matter settled, Catherine left Marshall’s office.
Ronin, who had been waiting and listening from the wall, stood up promptly to meet her. “Catherine, where are we heading next?”
“Follow me.”
With Catherine’s command, Ronin didn’t hesitate and trailed behind her.
“I’ll drive. You rest. I’ll wake you when we’re there,” Catherine said.
Concerned that Ronin hadn’t rested for days, Catherine decided to let him take a break. Even just 15 minutes of quality sleep could greatly relieve his exhaustion. They had all been professionally trained to control their bodies for rapid entry into quality sleep efficiently.
Ronin didn’t know what was coming next, but he obeyed Catherine’s order. He prepared himself for whatever lay ahead in his best mental state.
Half an hour later, Catherine parked the car steadily beneath a business building.
“Get out!” Her voice wasn’t loud, but it jolted Ronin awake in the backseat. He swiftly followed Catherine out of the car and toward the building.
At the entrance, the building’s security guards sternly intercepted them. “Who are you? You can’t go upstairs without invitations.”
Ignoring the guards, Catherine glanced at Ronin beside her.
With lightning speed, Ronin swiftly subdued the two guards with precise strikes. He didn’t harm them, but he incapacitated them temporarily.
Then, Catherine and Ronin swaggered into the elevator. With no outsiders in sight, Ronin couldn’t help but ask Catherine, “Catherine, how do you know Ciaran is Rexinish?”
“Check your inbox,” Catherine replied.
Hearing that, Ronin looked puzzled. He pulled out his phone and opened his inbox.
In the inbox, there was a new email. It contained detailed information about Ciaran, even his life before he was three years old, and his parents’ backgrounds. No wonder Catherine wasn’t surprised when they caught the leaker. She had known all along.
“Catherine, who sent this? It’s incredible!” Ronin had been searching for Rexinheim’s confidential information for so long without success, and the sender was so skilled. He provided such detailed information.
Catherine smirked and didn’t answer Ronin’s query.
