Chapter 1404
After six long months, Bryson’s eyes brimmed with tears as he saw a flesh-and-blood Bernard return
home. The wrinkles on his aged face seemed to deepen with emotion.
“Mr. Laurence, you’ve finallye back. I feared the worst…”
“I’m fine, Bryson.”
Bernard lifted his hand and patted Bryson’s shoulder with aforting gesture before turning and
heading straight into the study.
Realizing that Bernard appeared preupied, Bryson didn’t dare to disturb him. Instead, heposed
himself and instructed the cook to prepare a feast before heading out to pick up little Nina from school.
Ever since Bernard and Eleanor had left, Nina couldn’t stop talking about them. The ordeal they had
been through was perilous.
To keep the child from worrying, Bryson had told her they were on a business trip. But Nina was a
sharp cookie – she didn’t buy the story that people on a business trip couldn’t even make a call or
video chat.
Just as Bryson was running out of excuses, Bernard returned, allowing Bryson to breathe a sigh of
relief and finally give Nina a proper exnation. Bernard had kept the secret of the chip in his brain
from everyone, including Aidyn. When he noticed Aidyn following him into the study, he frowned
slightly.
“Aidyn, I’m back and safe. You should go home and look after your family.”
During Bernard’s absence, Aidyn had be a father. His newborn and wife needed him, but Aidyn
was reluctant to leave.
“Mr. Laurence, I know you’ll need to strategize with the team to mount aeback. Count me in,
please delegate some tasks to me.”
After a moment’s thought, Bernard walked over to his desk, scribbled the name of the organization
‘Darkness’ and a woman named Pauline on a piece of paper, tore it off, and handed it to Aidyn.
“Find out why they want Pauline dead. Dig deep.”
“Yes, sir!”
With a mission in hand, Aidyn eagerly took the note and left the study.
Bernard watched Aidyn’s retreating figure, then his tall frame slumped into the sofa. The tension he had
been carrying for half a year finally began to ease. But his respite was short-lived. Bernard rose again,
pulled out a chair at his desk, and sat down in front of hisputer, rapidly typing in the chip’s program
he had memorized.
He knew his adversary, Yates, had altered the program. The code he was entering now might not be
effective, but his current goal was to reverse-engineer the updated program from what he knew of the
original.
Bernard was smart and had a photographic memory, but he knew he was outssed by Yates in both
programming and hacking.
He hadn’t wanted anyone to know about the chip, but as he stared at the encryption on the screen, he
realized he had no choice but to call Cedric Laurence.
Cedric was aputer prodigy, known for his hacking prowess and a renowned figure in the
cybersecurity world. With Cedric’s help, Bernard hoped they could rewrite the program.
Meanwhile, Cedric was at home, massaging his pregnant wife Hailey’s legs to ease her varicose veins
when Bernard’s call came through. Recognizing his brother’s unique voice, Cedric leapt up, his
excitement palpable.
“Bernard, you’re back! Hold on, I’ming to you!”
Before Bernard could even exin why he had called, an ecstatic Cedric had hung up the phone.
Cedric put his phone away, looked at Hailey and said, “Honey, are you feeling better? I can finish up
here before I go to him…”
Knowing Bernard was back and that she could let go of her worries, Hailey nced at him, “I’m much
better. Go to your brother. Don’t worry about me.”
With a tender kiss on her forehead, Cedric said, “My wonderful wife, wait for me at home and call me
immediately if you feel unwell.”
Once Hailey nodded her assurance, Cedric grabbed his keys, hopped into his car, and floored the
elerator, racing toward Fiord Roundabout before bursting into Bernard’s study.
“Bernard!” Seeing Bernard safe and working at hisputer just like old times, Cedric’s emotions
surged like a rollercoaster.
!
“I knew you’d be okay!” Cedric, who had never lost faith in Bernard’s safe return, could finally release
all his pent-up worry and fear. He spread his arms wide, ready to envelop Bernard in a bear hug, but
thetter simply raised a slender finger and pushed him aside.
“Spare me the drama. Get over here and work.”
Bernard’s finger moved from his face to the screen, his well-manicured nails flicking through the lines of
code, stopping at the original program.
This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.
“This chip’s program can listen, track, and explode. Can you shut it down?”
Cedric, still eager to ask his brother about his experiences in the shadowy Area Opaca, saw Bernard’s
serious and urgent demeanor and swallowed his questions.
He leaned in, scrutinized the code for a moment, took theptop from Bernard, and got to work beside
him.