Chapter 960:

Dudley declared with quiet ferocity, “That blade was no ordinary weapon. It was a damned timed bomb planted in advance. The perpetrator is still lurking among the crew!”

The footage ended with Tommy leaning close to the camera, his voice distorted through a modulator. “We know the government’s lapdogs will crawl out to brand us lunatics, to sneer at our credibility. Let them bark. We challenge any so-called ‘expert’ to face us head-on. Bring your proof. If even a single claim we’ve made turns out false, you can use my head for a football!”

With its bold angle, striking presentation, and rebellious tone that defied the official narrative, the video tore across the internet like wildfire.

Its most explosive moment came in Dudley’s final tirade, a scorching denunciation aimed directly at government authorities.

“Those investigators twist the truth to condemn a man who’s nothing less than a national hero. And you—the people he fought to protect—turn a blind eye to justice, bowing to corruption without question. How blind can you be? Without Brad standing guard along your shores, you’d all be corpses washed up on the beach. Ingrates, every one of you. Pray you still have enough decency left to set things right.”

Brad and Rylie were the first to watch the upload.

Brad mused with a crooked grin, “I get the feeling those pirates have made me their personal idol.”

“Everyone along the coast has heard your name. They know what you’ve done for this country.” Rylie turned toward him, her voice softening. “But people are fickle. Perception splits them, and those with hidden agendas can twist that division to their advantage. Don’t take it to heart.”

Brad gave a quiet nod. “I understand. People can either revere me or despise me. It makes no difference how they choose to see things.”

He lifted his coffee and took a measured sip before continuing. “All that matters is doing my part. I’ve given everything I can. As long as I uphold my duty, that’s enough for me.”

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The Everswell tragedy had shaken him to his core, but once the truth began to surface, he forged that guilt into unbreakable determination.

One day, he swore, he would wipe out every parasite draining the nation’s strength.

Knowing the video would soon ignite public outrage—and expecting someone would try to suppress it—Rylie spent an entire day refining it frame by frame. Then, through a covert route, she took control of the “Everswell Official Forum,” seized the administrator system, and reinforced its security protocols.

Of course, she knew vigilance might not be enough if the other side struck back, so she kept constant watch.

Her foresight proved right. Within hours, the Department of Justice, its pride wounded, issued an official response through a partnered research institute. The statement condemned the video as “preposterous, derived from unverifiable sources, and grounded in unscientific analysis that exploits patriotic emotion to deceive the public.” It stressed that “true judicial investigation demands a rigorous chain of evidence, not sensational theatrics or digital speculation.”

The Investigation Bureau was temporarily without a permanent leader, its operations managed by the deputy director, who held little real power. Most of his decisions were still shaped by Carter, given the Bureau’s long-standing alignment under Carter’s control.

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Message from Noa: Lovely readers, I hope you have a great time these days. God loves you and Noa wishes you all the best. (─‿‿─)

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