Chapter 966:
In the shadows of cyberspace, the Department of Justice and its investigative units were utterly crushed in the unseen digital battle.
The colossal data breach unleashed a flood of restricted documents, sending ripples of panic and outrage across the nation.
Meanwhile, in the Owen family study, Rylie sat before her monitor, eyes following the last traces of hostile code retreating from the firewall.
As the system finally stabilized, she released a long, quiet breath of relief.
Before leaving, Phil had left a message glowing across her screen. “Next time, treat me to something nice, Rylie. You know, the kind with lobster.”
Rylie stared at the line for a moment.
Then she lifted her gaze as Brad walked in, dressed sharply in his formal military uniform.
Her brows drew together, a silent question flickering in her eyes. Why the sudden formality?
Brad stopped beside her, his tone quiet but steady. “Phil Robles. Top hacker on the dark web. He answers to me.”
That revelation neatly explained how Phil had known her name. Rylie inclined her head, her eyes returning briefly to the fading text on the screen. “He’s got quite the skill set.”
Brad’s mouth curved into a small, knowing smile. “Naturally. That’s why he’s my best man in the field.”
“Then next time, dinner’s on us.” Rylie logged out and powered down the computer, the hum of the machine fading as she rose from her chair. “It’s been ages since I’ve seen you in uniform. What’s happening?”
Brad leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to the top of her head. “First, we stop by the Shaw household. Then we grab a meal.”
Rylie blinked in surprise. “The Shaw household?”
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He nodded, his tone matter-of-fact. “Juan and Kailee are under temporary house arrest, with officers keeping watch. There’s an interrogation scheduled today, and the President wants me present.”
Rylie stretched as she stood, a hint of wry amusement in her voice. “What goes around comes around.”
Brad’s smile turned teasing as he handed her a thick file folder. “You’ll be my recorder for this. Help with the interrogation. Go through it and get familiar with the key points.”
Inside the folder were three items: two detailed reports from major enterprises, and a blank notebook for jotting notes. Rylie raised an eyebrow. “Even the Reid family has openly chosen a side.”
Brad nodded, a faint smile playing on his lips. “That’s a smart choice.”
By the time the uproar settled, the online detractors had been completely drowned out by an overwhelming wave of public outrage. Citizens across the nation demanded swift action from the President, urging him to ensure that none of the guilty parties escaped justice.
Even the cabinet, bound by principles of logic and fairness, could not dissuade him from taking command.
Following the massive data breach, the President ordered a comprehensive investigation that swiftly led to the prosecution of several high-ranking figures.
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