Chapter 1178:
In a split second, Kristen made her decision. VS had never seen the Ares heiress in person. This was her chance to make a mark — to prove to her father exactly what she was capable of.
Kristen remembered her father’s constant lesson: real insight emerges only in moments of danger. Now, an unforeseen opportunity to uncover VS’s operations lay directly before her.
The anger drained from her face, replaced by a mask of cool indifference. “Forget it,” she said lightly, zipping her bag. She turned to Frank. “Let’s go.”
Without giving the owner — or a bewildered Frank — time to react, she grabbed his arm and pulled him toward a narrow service door at the far end of the room, leading into an inner corridor.
She kept her head down as they passed the men, her sharp eyes catching the faint outline of holstered pistols beneath their jackets — VS’s signature sidearms.
W𝗲 𝗎𝗽𝘥𝖺𝘁𝘦 𝗲𝘷𝗲𝗿𝗒 𝘸𝗲е𝗄 𝗼ո 𝘨𝘢𝘭𝗻o𝘷𝗲l𝘴.𝖼оm
“Kristen, don’t be upset,” Frank whispered anxiously. “I know another excellent place. I’ll take you there.”
She hauled him through a cramped service hallway cluttered with carts and cleaning supplies — but instead of exiting, she quietly doubled back through a staff-only passageway.
Frank frowned in confusion. “What are you doing?”
“Be quiet!” Kristen hissed, her heart hammering against her ribs.
She cautiously avoided kitchen staff and dragged Frank into a tight storage room packed with brooms and mop buckets. The walls were thin wooden panels; the smell of stale dust and aged wood seeped through the grain.
Kristen leaned in and pressed her ear against the cool wood, holding her breath. Sensing the gravity of the moment, Frank mirrored her, scarcely daring to inhale.
At first, there were only faint sounds — a chair scraping, the soft clatter of tableware. Then a voice broke the silence.
“Do you have what we discussed?” a calm, authoritative voice inquired.
A slightly raspy voice answered, “The complete Obsidian System data — the latest build, including the core algorithm for its active defense framework. All materials are physical, no digital traces, as agreed. Consider this a gesture of our continued cooperation.”
The quiet click of a metal case opening followed, then the muffled rustle of documents and storage devices being examined. After a moment, the first voice spoke again. “Satisfactory. Eshea has demonstrated its sincerity. This is ours in return.” The soft placement of a document on the table was audible.
“Mr. VS guarantees Eshea priority in arms procurement, continuous R&D enhancements, full logistical support, and shared access to our private uranium reserves. You provide the locations; we provide the technology and materials.”
The calm voice replied evenly, “The terms are acceptable. However, several points require clarification: supply priority, the scope of technology transfer, and most critically, the precise timeline and coordinated strategy for operations targeting Ares Global.”
On the other side of the wall, Kristen slapped a hand over her mouth to stifle a gasp.
Frank heard it too, his eyes widening in shock. VS was allying with Eshea?
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