Chapter 703


    Chapter 703 A Competitor


    Curtis stayed at the door for some time. He was about to leave when he heard the sound of a


    motorcycle engine revving outside, followed immediately by a sharp rap on the door.


    “Someone is knocking on the door,” Yasmin told Cassidy.


    “I heard it.” Cassidy ced the pack of tissue down and spun around to head downstairs. “Why is there


    so much going on?”


    Back in his bedroom, Curtis went to the window immediately to gaze at the road outside.


    “Is someone here?” Rayna got up from the couch and walked toward Curtis, reaching out to grasp his


    arm.


    “Yeah.” Curtis wrapped an arm around her waist as he fixed his gaze on the superbike underneath the


    streetmp.


    “Did James send him here?” Rayna guessed the person''s identity ahead of Curtis. “I remember James


    has a friend who loves riding superbikes. That engine roar sounded like a bike.”


    Curtis recalled his previous conversation with James and nodded. “I think so.”


    Cassidy donned a pair of stic shoe covers over her shoes before making her way into the courtyard.


    She unlocked the gate to see a male stranger standing outside. “Who are you?”


    “I''m James'' friend. My name is Ricardo,” the man introduced himself. He nced into the courtyard and


    asked, “Are Mr. and Mrs. Faymon around?”


    “Yes, they are upstairs.” Cassidy stepped aside and gave him a pair of shoe covers. “Put them over


    your shoes.”


    The man took them from her and did as told before entering the courtyard.


    As he trailed behind Cassidy, he quietly uttered, “I''m here to collect some samples for research.”


    “What samples? What research?” Cassidy whirled around hastily and cast him a wary look.


    “It''s—” Before the man could exin, he was cut short. “I asked him toe here,” Curtis said as he


    descended the stairs to stand in the middle of the living room.


    Hearing that, Cassidy gave Curtis a look and told the neer, “If that''s the case, I''ll leave you both to


    it.” She was too exhausted and wanted to head straight to bed.


    “Mr. Faymon,” the neer greeted Curtis politely.


    Curtis scrutinized the man carefully, taking note of his grey hair and his casual attire—a T-shirt and


    jeans. He seemed almost too young for the situation, making Curtis question his age and wonder if he


    was of legal age.


    “James asked me toe and evaluate the situation for myself. He wanted to get a better look at the


    thing you sent him a picture of.” The man spoke cautiously as Curtis appeared to be unwilling to


    disclose any details.


    “You must be Vance Zacard, right?” A gentle voice echoed throughout the living room. Curtis turned


    over his shoulder to see Raynaing down the stairs. He went over to her and asked, “Why did you


    come downstairs?”


    “I''m fine. I couldn''t sleep and decided to join you,” Rayna assured him softly. “I only came down after


    Cassidy told me the courtyard is clear.”


    “Yes, I''m Vance.” The tense young man rxed when he saw Rayna.


    Vance was acquainted with Rayna, having encountered her once while in thepany of James.


    “I remember that you majored in biology,” Rayna said slowly.


    Vance nodded. “Yes. To be specific, biochemistry and cytology.”


    “Curtis, bring him upstairs to take a look,” Rayna said as she took Curtis'' arm. “Vance''s father is a


    biologist and a professor. I''m sure that James must have asked him toe and lend us his expertise.”


    “Okay,” Curtis agreed. He then led Vance upstairs with Rayna.


    Vance pulled out his phone in the hallway outside the second-floor sunroom and used the torchlight to


    get a better look at the window. He noticed the slimy residue left by the Serekos and scrunched up his


    brow. “Can I open the window?”


    “I think so. Be careful,” Curtis reminded him. He then watched as Vance slowly opened the window and


    carefully extended a long cotton bud to retrieve some slime. The cotton bud was then ced into a


    container.


    “What does the Serekos look like?” Vance questioned.


    “If you wish, I can show it to you.” Cassidy''s voice rang out behind them. “It''s in the warehouse.”


    Sensing the displeasure in her voice, Rayna patted Curtis'' shoulder and asked, “Is Cassidy upset?”


    Curtis observed Cassidy''s expression. “I believe she''s just tired.”


    Indeed, Cassidy was exhausted. After spending hours trying to clear the Serekos in the middle of the


    night, she had thought she would finally get to rest. Yet, her ns were dashed when an unknown


    person suddenly showed up at her house. As the host, she couldn''t possibly ignore him.


    “Oh, okay,” Vance agreed readily.


    Cassidy turned to look at Rayna and Curtis. “Bring Belle back to get some rest. I will take care of the


    issue concerning the Serekos. By the way, if someone else ising, please inform me in advance as


    this is my house.”


    With that, she led Vance away.


    “Didn''t you tell Cassidy that someone will being?” Rayna asked.


    Copyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    “I didn''t know he''d arrive this soon.” Knowing it was an oversight on his part, Curtis exined, “James


    didn''t tell me he knew someone around here.”


    “Mm, you''re right. I had no idea he knew someone around here, too.” Rayna bobbed her head in


    agreement as they made their way back to their bedroom.


    Back in Norwal City, Theodore and Jeremy were watching the video sent by Curtis in the group chat as


    they talked on the phone. “What the heck is this?” Jeremy was confused.


    “I don''t know. We need to ask Curtis what it is.” Theodore''s interest was piqued as he watched the


    video of the Serekos in his study.


    “I think he''s asleep at this hour. We''ll ask him the next morning. By the way, I think James is on his way


    to Jayfort with someone. Should we head there too?” Jeremy asked.


    “No need. Let''s wait and see,” Theodore replied. He then forwarded the video to everyone in the


    biology research center.


    Jeremy got to his feet, holding a cup in his hand. “By the way, a reporter told me that Glory''s new


    product might cause its users to suffer from e. How are you nning on tackling this problem?” he


    asked.


    “I noticed that Faymon Group and Glory''s share prices are dropping these few days. Even Sanders


    Group has been affected. Did Jasmine mention it to you?” Jeremy wandered over to the window to


    observe the advertisement on the structure across from him, which was disying Glory''s newest


    product.


    “Yes, but I haven''t told Curtis about it,” Theodore revealed with a sigh. “Curtis barely had time to


    contact me for the past two days, so I assume they must be struggling to resolve Rayna''s problem,” he


    said.


    “Oh, by the way, a new enterprise, YL Technologies, has just been founded in Ulmrich,” Jeremy said


    off-handedly. “I''ve already done some digging, and it turns out that it''s a subsidiary of Zeller Group. The


    timing of this seems suspiciously coincidental, doesn''t it?”


    “Technologypany? What does it specialize in?” Theodore had been busy in the research center for


    the past couple of days, so he wasn''t as updated as Jeremy.


    “Like Glory, it focuses on skincare products,” Jeremy answered as he narrowed his eyes at the LED


    screen that now disyed another advertisement. “Besides the previous skincare products, is Glory


    also developing some whitening products?”


    “Yes. Rayna has been nning this for some time now, and we are aiming to make a formal


    announcement to the media at the beginning of next month,” Theodore exined.


    “YL Technologies has a whitening product that they willunch next month,” Jeremy told him. He then


    ced the cup he was holding on the coffee table next to him.


    On the other end of the line, Theodore was taken aback. A whileter, a grim look crossed his face.