Chapter 687 New Evidence
The situation between the two sides became chaotic, and Ultan finally couldn’t stand it anymore. “Enough!” he roared, and the scene immediately quieted down.
After the atmosphere calmed down a little, Ultan finally found the chance to intervene. He first glared at Marshall and reprimanded him in a cold voice. ” As a professor, you should set an example for your students. Why are you arguing with a student?”
Marshall retorted, “A student? It’s been two years since he graduated, but he still has no official title or formal employment, just lingering at the school. What’s wrong with me scolding him?”
At these words, Ultan’s face turned grim. Paddy felt extremely embarrassed and wished he could just disappear.
Ultan seemed to realize something. To Marshall, Catherine was just as important as his research projects. Any unjustified accusation of her would touch a nerve.
Ultan turned to Paddy and sternly reprimanded him. “The school’s higher authorities will investigate any leakage of data. Before the real leaker is revealed, no one should be randomly accused as a suspect. Do you know that coming here to cause a scene will result in disciplinary action?”
The threat of disciplinary action instantly made the students causing trouble panic. They had worked hard to get where they were today. What would become of their future careers if they were disciplined because of this incident? Some of them mustered the courage to plead with Ultan to let them off the hook.
“Alright, everybody stop. Considering that you all have the school’s best interests at heart, I won’t pursue this matter further this time. But if it happens again, I will not forgive anyone.”
With Ultan’s command, everyone scattered immediately, leaving the scene in a hurry.
Although Paddy was unwilling, he dared not challenge Ultan’s authority, so he left with his head down. Marshall reluctantly sent his students back to the laboratory at Ultan’s signal.
After these students left, Ultan turned his gaze to Catherine. “Catherine, let’s go to the office and have a chat.”
“Okay,” Catherine replied and followed, with Marshall trailing behind.
The three of them entered Ultan’s office, where he looked disdainfully at Marshall, saying, “I’m here to talk to Catherine. What are you doing here?”
Marshall retorted directly. “You’re talking to my student. Can I not come in?”
Catherine sat casually to the side, watching the two middle-aged men arguing, finding it quite amusing. Unlike the students who were always afraid of Ultan, she seemed completely at ease in his presence.
Ultan argued with Marshall but didn’t win the argument. “Fine, I don’t want to talk to you!” Ultan said, then turned his attention to Catherine. “Catherine, why did you return to the laboratory today? Did the procuratorate tell you anything?”
Not even Ultan could get any information after Catherine was taken away by the procuratorate yesterday. He had to wait for the higher-ups to give him any news. But to his surprise, Catherine was released shortly after being taken away. The video evidence they found made her the prime suspect, even though he believed she wasn’t the one leaking the data.
Ultan was cautious in his questioning, trying not to offend Catherine. However, she seemed unconcerned about the issue. She looked at him and said casually, “I didn’t do it, and they have no evidence. How can they accuse me?”
Ultan was about to speak when his phone suddenly rang. He gestured for Catherine and Marshall to wait before answering the call.
Although Marshall and Catherine couldn’t hear what was being said on the other end, both of them noticed that Ultan’s expression visibly darkened. It seemed that the call brought bad news.
After Ultan hung up the phone, he looked at Catherine with a very unpleasant expression.
“Ultan, why are you looking at Catherine like that? Who called you just now, and why?” Marshall anxiously inquired.
Faced with Marshall’s urgent questioning, Ultan remained silent. His gaze turned cold as he spoke seriously, “Catherine, I’ll ask you again. Are you involved in the leak of data?”
“No!” Catherine replied firmly without a second thought since she wouldn’t admit to something she didn’t do.
Hearing Catherine’s resolute answer, Ultan breathed a sigh of relief, but the weight on his mind still hadn’t lifted.” Catherine, you’re in trouble this time. I just received news that there are suddenly five million dollars in an account under your name.”
Upon hearing this, Marshall snorted.” That’s ridiculous! Do you think Catherine will be bribed by someone with five million dollars? The Swanns don’t lack money, and neither does our laboratory!”
Marshall had the confidence to say this for a reason-most of their laboratory’s projects were worth several hundred million dollars. Their annual salaries were over a million dollars, so they certainly didn’t lack five million dollars. Besides, given Catherine’s family background, she had no reason to do such a thing. The Swann Corporation itself was worth several billion dollars. As the sole heir to the Swann Corporation, why would Catherine be interested in a mere five million dollars? It was ridiculous.
Ultan also thought Marshall’s reasoning made sense, but he added another piece of news. “The procuratorate has apprehended a spy from Rexinheim. According to the spy’s confession, our academy indeed has their accomplices, who were secretly trained in Rexinheim many years ago and were only sent back to Eskana a year ago.”
The procuratorate had looked into Catherine’s background and discovered that the Swanns had abandoned her in the countryside at a young age. She mysteriously disappeared at seven and only returned to Eskana a little over a year ago. All of this aligned with the information provided by the spy.
One piece of news after another came out, leaving Marshall speechless. However, he firmly believed that Catherine could not possibly be a spy.
In contrast to Ultan and Marshall’s troubled expressions, Catherine remained much calmer. There was even a hint of a smile on her face.
“Catherine, why aren’t you the least bit nervous? You’re in big trouble, you know?” Marshall couldn’t help but ask her.
“Professor Hartley, don’t you find it interesting?” Catherine raised an eyebrow and looked at Marshall.
“Interesting?” Marshall was somewhat perplexed.
Catherine nodded. “If the opponent is too weak, the whole thing becomes boring. Obviously, the people lurking in the shadows are quite smart.”
When Marshall saw Catherine’s playful demeanor, his previous worried expression disappeared in an instant. He slapped his thigh, saying, “That’s my student! You are so brave! I like it!”
The scene of the two bantering left Ultan speechless. The students were unruly, while the professors were equally unreliable.
“Alright, if there’s nothing else, you can leave. Leave me alone,” Ultan said.
“Goodbye, Mr. Farrell!” After politely bidding farewell, Catherine left the office. As she stepped out, she encountered the hurried arrival of Lorcan.
Catherine cast a smiling glance at Lorcan and asked in a low voice, “Mr. Fitzpatrick, are you here to arrest me again?”
