Chapter 1143:

The youngest researcher broke down first. His composure shattered as he thrust a trembling finger toward Kane, his voice spiraling into panic. “He threatened to ruin me if I didn’t obey! I was desperate—I couldn’t afford to lose my position!”

“Shut up, you idiot!” Kane roared as he whirled around, his bloodless face flushing with fury. Though he struggled to project dominance, the tremor in his voice gave him away. “Every single one of you reviewed that data! Those so-called optimizations—weren’t they all approved without objection? You were eager for faster publications and inflated bonuses, so don’t pretend your hands are clean now.”

“You left us no choice!” a middle-aged man sobbed, collapsing heavily onto his knees as his resolve crumbled. He dragged himself forward toward Rylie, tears soaking his cheeks as he pleaded for mercy. “Miss Owen—I’m nobody,” he cried hoarsely. “I was powerless. I only did what I was told!”

He took a ragged breath and blurted out, “Kane has been secretly coordinating with David, the head of the outlaw motorcycle syndicate, for years. The majority of the research funds were diverted straight into criminal channels. He betrayed this institute from the start!”

“Don’t lie through your teeth!” someone snapped sharply, jabbing a finger at the man collapsed on the floor. “You really think the rest of us were blind? Those fake purchase requests last year—everyone knew where that money went. That’s how you covered your kid’s elite school fees, isn’t it?”

“Enough—every last one of you, shut it!” Kane barked, his patience finally snapping as he spun toward Rylie. Panic drove his words out in a frantic torrent, leaving no room for breath. “No one here understands this project as deeply as I do,” he insisted, clinging to his last remaining leverage. “If Mr. Owen still expects meaningful outcomes, then I’m the only one capable of delivering them to completion. The essential datasets and critical parameters exist only with me. Remove me from the equation, and this entire endeavor collapses into nothing. Give me the chance to fix this. I’ll repay every loss, every stolen cent—whatever it takes.”

Even as fear gnawed at him, Kane managed to steady himself, drawing strength from a thin strand of self-belief. After all, he still believed his technical knowledge made him indispensable. That fragile confidence didn’t last.

The steady thunder of coordinated boots suddenly rolled in from the corridor outside, growing louder by the second as it closed in on the lab.

The laboratory doors swung wide as members of the Costa Syndicate poured inside in disciplined formation. Deandre’s top-tier combat unit followed, each operative dressed in matching black tactical gear that spoke of lethal efficiency. Without a word or flicker of emotion, they seized every strategic point in the room, their lowered weapons broadcasting a quiet but overwhelming threat.

Leading the group were Nightingale, Dominic, and Dominic’s wife, accompanied by a handpicked team of senior pharmacists and researchers from Aetheris Pharmacy.

Every person present was a recognized heavyweight in the medical and pharmaceutical world. Their names and faces were familiar fixtures in prestigious medical journals, and Kane recognized each of them instantly.

F𝗼l𝘭𝘰𝗐 us oո 𝘨al𝗻ovelѕ.𝗰om

Nightingale inclined his head toward Rylie with quiet precision. “All required personnel have arrived.”

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