Chapter 691 His Sore Point
Zobber had heard about what was going on at Styre University, but she shrugged it off as nothing much.
She thought a tiny matter like that wouldn’t bother Catherine. So, she ignored it. She just focused on the tasks Catherine had assigned her.
“Catherine, Branden just put in an order for Hacker Alliance again. This time, he jacks up the price by tenfold! He is so generous!”
For a regular order, even double the commission would’ve been a big deal. The Duncans were loaded, but no one expected them to jack up the price by tenfold. Even the seasoned members of the Hacker Alliance were taken aback by the Duncans’ extravagance.
Hearing that, Catherine was unfazed as ever.
Branden had always been like this- anything he set his mind to could be accomplished. Money was just a number for the Duncans.
She simply replied, “I told you to take the order. Any issues?”
Zobber wouldn’t have bothered making this call if it were a regular order. The demands were so high that Zobber couldn’t make the decision herself. So, she turned to Catherine.
“Catherine, the Duncans specifically want the chief of the Hacker Alliance to take the order. They won’t accept anyone else.”
Hearing that, Catherine frowned.”
They want me to take it?”
“Yeah. Specifically, you!”
The Duncans upped the reward tenfold precisely because they demanded the chief of the Hacker Alliance to handle it. It was something unheard of in the industry.
Zobber hesitated for a moment before voicing her thoughts. She asked, ” Catherine, what if the Duncans just want to confirm your identity? Maybe Branden’s bluffing, and they’re actually looking for you!”
“No way!” Catherine decisively dismissed Zobber’s speculation.
She and Branden had kept plenty of their identities hidden from each other. It wasn’t that they deliberately avoided sharing. Rather, they felt it unnecessary.
They believed what needed to be known would surface naturally without explicitly stating it. It was an unspoken understanding between the two of them.
If Branden truly believed she was the chief of the Hacker Alliance, he’d ask directly, not beat around the bush like this.
“Zobber, tell them that if they want the Hacker Alliance to take the order, they’ll have to abide by the Hacker Alliance’s rules.”
The Hacker Alliance had been around for a while. Although they didn’t take many orders, every one of them was significant.
Despite this, they upheld their rules strictly. Once an order was with the Hacker Alliance, the employers had no right to interfere until the result was out. They had to trust the Hacker Alliance unconditionally.
The Duncans’ attempt to specify the person taking the order was meddling with the Hacker Alliance’s internal rules. It was something Catherine wouldn’t allow, even if it involved her boyfriend.
Zobber understood Catherine’s stance. Catherine was the chief and respected the rules of the Hacker Alliance more than anyone else. Otherwise, she couldn’t lead the Hacker Alliance.
“Okay, Catherine. I’ll turn down the Duncans later. Anything at the lab needing my help?”
“Not necessary. Ronin’s on it,”
Catherine replied before ending the call.
Paxton knocked on the study door with the latest news.
“Come in.”
Inside the room, Branden sat at his desk and was engrossed in his work.
Paxton hesitated, wearing a troubled expression.
“Something wrong?”
Hearing the cold tone, Paxton looked up and saw Branden still working away without even glancing up. He was a bit surprised. “Mr. Duncan, how did you know I wasn’t bringing good news?”
Branden paused and set down his papers. He looked up and stared at Paxton.
Without delay, Paxton relayed the rules from Hacker Alliance that had come through.
“Mr. Duncan, the Hacker Alliance says for them to take the job, we must abide by their rules. They don’t have a tradition of assigning tasks and won’t set a precedent for us.”
They had offered a staggering one billion dollars, yet the Hacker Alliance still refused. Paxton wondered what was going on in their minds. He wondered if they really did not need the money that badly.
Hearing the bad news, Branden didn’t even furrow his brow. He calmly said, ” Increase it.”
Paxton thought inwardly, “Increase it? “They had already offered an astronomical sum. It was beyond anything the industry had seen.
“Mr. Duncan, should we consider reaching out to Catherine…”
Before Paxton could finish, Branden suddenly looked up with his cold eyes. It sent shivers down Paxton’s spine and left him breathless.
Realizing his mistake, Paxton immediately knelt before Branden. ”
Mr. Duncan, I’ve erred!”
He knew Catherine was a sore point for Branden. Proposing involving her was self-destructive. No wonder Branden was angry.
Even if it was just seeking Catherine’s help, in Branden’s eyes, it was using Catherine. Branden couldn’t agree.
“Get out!”
“Yes!” With command, Paxton didn’t hesitate. He stood up and swiftly left. He feared any delay might result in severe punishment.
Outside the study, Paxton breathed a long sigh of relief. He felt as if he had narrowly escaped a disaster.
He might not have walked out of that room if he had uttered a few more words just now. The next day, Catherine got up as usual and headed to the school’s laboratory.
When she appeared, Marshall looked surprised. “You’re diligent. Why not take a half-day break at home?”
Although Marshall was teasing Catherine, deep down, he was genuinely shocked by her presence.
With so much evidence emerging, he thought Catherine might face some constraints and not show up at the procuratorate so quickly. However, she was back in the laboratory the next day. She was seemingly unaffected by whatever had happened.
It appeared he had underestimated Catherine. She was much more formidable than he had imagined.
“The second phase of the experimental project is almost done. I came to make the final adjustments. If everything goes well, I’ll send the data to your email later.”
After Marshall heard Catherine’s words, his eyes lit up. “Really? Don’t use this to joke with me!”
“I never joke.” Catherine’s expression was somewhat serious.
Ciaran, who was nearby, couldn’t help but approach. “Professor Hartley, what did you say to Catherine? Why are you so happy?”
Marshall looked at him excitedly and said proudly, “Catherine said her experimental project’s second phase is almost complete. She’ll be able to send me the data tonight.”
“Really?” Ciaran was excited, too. ”
Well done, Catherine! You’re amazing!”
“I’ll go work on the experiment. You guys chat,” Catherine said. Then, she turned away and headed toward the laboratory.
As Catherine left, Marshall watched her with excitement in his eyes.
Ciaran had a happy expression on his face. However, there was a hint of loss in his eyes. It made his expression somewhat peculiar and difficult to decipher.
