Chapter 692 The Leaker
“Phew…” Ronin breathed out softly and finally shifted his position. He’d been lying on the ceiling for two days without a stir below.
Ronin moved slightly and turned to give his numb thighs a break. A growl from his stomach prompted him to carefully retrieve an energy bar from his pocket to replenish his energy. After that, he settled back into position quietly.
Under Catherine’s orders, he wouldn’t stop until he unearthed who was causing the disturbances.
However, after he stayed there for two days, the office remained eerily quiet. Ronin wondered whether he had misjudged the direction.
Just as Ronin contemplated revising his plan, the office door lock made a slight sound.
A soft click caught Ronin’s attention. He adjusted and barely breathing. He feared detection.
When he spotted the person entering, he rolled his eyes silently.
It was Ciaran, Marshall’s earliest student, who had been working with Marshall. He often frequented Marshall’s office. His entrance was nothing out of the ordinary.
Ronin stifled a yawn and planned to rest a bit. But he noticed Ciaran moving stealthily toward Marshall’s desk. Then Ciaran sat down at the desk and turned on Marshall’s computer.
If it weren’t for Ronin taking a second glance, he wouldn’t detect anything unusual. He noticed that Ciaran’s expressions and gaze were off.
Ciaran occasionally glanced around and looked incredibly uneasy. It was a far cry from his usual relaxed demeanor when helping Marshall. This was seriously problematic.
Sensing something wrong, Ronin immediately opened his laptop. His mini-computer was already linked to Marshall’s. It mirrored every move made on the other machine.
Ciaran probably didn’t anticipate someone monitoring his every move from such close quarters.
As Ronin watched the files open on the computer, he held onto a last shred of hope. While not a student of Marshall, he was well acquainted with Marshall’s team through his connection with Catherine.
Usually, Ciaran was the most amiable and caring. He was akin to a dependable older brother to them all. Deep down, Ronin hoped it wasn’t Ciaran.
However, when Ronin witnessed Ciaran copying files onto his storage card, he realized the matter had been settled. Ciaran might not be able to clear his name.
As Ciaran saw the files finish copying, his face lit up with a smile of satisfaction. He removed the card and meticulously wiped any fingerprints from the computer. Only then did Ciaran stand up and prepare to leave the office.
Just as Ciaran was about to touch the doorknob, a loud bang echoed behind him. It was followed by a cold voice. ” Ciaran, where are you going?”
Ciaran felt a chill down his spine and slowly turned around. As he spotted Ronin, he eased a bit. Then he frowned and stared at Ronin in displeasure. ” Ronin, what are you doing sneaking around Professor Hartley’s office? You shouldn’t be here. Get out and stop causing trouble.”
Ronin sneered and looked disdainfully at him. “Ciaran, that’s an interesting statement. If I’m not supposed to be here, then what about you?”
Unflinchingly, Ciaran began weaving a lie. He replied, “Professor Hartley asked me to get something. Can’t I come in and help him?”
If Ronin hadn’t seen it firsthand, he almost believed Ciaran’s words when he saw Ciaran’s flawless acting.
“Ciaran, you don’t need to keep pretending. Didn’t Professor Hartley inform you his computer was being monitored? Every move you just made has been recorded.”
These words drained the color from Ciaran’s face. He struggled to deny the fact. He shouted, “You’re talking nonsense! What moves? I just came to deliver something to Professor Hartley. Are you going to investigate that?”
Ronin thought inwardly, “Deliver something? As if anyone will buy that story.” Seeing Ciaran’s stubborn attitude without a trace of remorse, Ronin decided not to indulge him anymore.
“Ciaran, if you insist you came to deliver something to Professor Hartley, let’s call him now and have him come over.”
Ciaran felt a pang of fear at Ronin’s words. If Marshall arrived, it would mean certain doom for him.
“Enough, Ronin. You’re not one of us, yet here you are, hiding in Professor Hartley’s office. Out of respect for Catherine, I haven’t come at you. Don’t push your luck.” Soft approaches failed, so Ciaran opted for a harder stance.
Ronin hadn’t expected this from Ciaran. Since that was the case, there was no need for him to dwell on their relationship.
Right in front of Ciaran, Ronin pulled out his phone and prepared to call Catherine.
Unexpectedly, Ciaran lunged for Ronin’s phone and aimed to snatch it away. The sudden move caught Ronin off guard, but his agility saved him. He swiftly deflected Ciaran with a sidekick, which made Ciaran stumble back.
Taking advantage of the moment, Ciaran turned to leave. Before he reached the door, it swung open from outside. Catherine and Marshall appeared simultaneously. Ciaran gave up resistance and slumped to the floor with a paled face. He knew he had no chance and was awaiting judgment.
Catherine glanced at Ronin and noticed the stubble on his chin. She found it somewhat amusing and sympathetic. ” You go rest. I’ll take care of this.”
Rest wasn’t an option for Ronin until he settled this matter. He wanted to clear Catherine’s name. He’d make sure everyone knew she couldn’t possibly be the leak.
“Catherine, I’ll stand guard at the door while you question.” With Ronin there, no one would get in.
Catherine was unable to persuade him otherwise and let him be. “Fine. Then, guard the door.”
After Ronin left, the office was left with just the three of them. Marshall was so angry that he clutched his chest and sat silent.
Catherine didn’t immediately confront Ciaran. She politely invited him to sit and talk. She said, “Take a seat. There’s no one else here. Let’s chat.”
Ciaran didn’t grasp Catherine’s intent. Despite being the youngest in their experimental team, Catherine exuded the most powerful aura among them.
He even found her more intimidating than Marshall. After being discovered, he lacked the courage to meet Catherine’s eyes.
Ciaran slumped on the couch and stared ahead in dismay. “What do you want to ask? Go ahead and ask.”
