Chapter 442


    Dave had barely left the room when Miguel approached Anthony and Benjamin.


    He smiled at the boys and produced two lollipops. “Here, these are for you!”


    He was clearly after something.


    Anthony nced at him knowingly but epted the lollipop all the same. He unwrapped the sweet


    and ced it in his mouth.


    Benjamin, on the other hand, stared at the offering suspiciously.


    “Come on. It''s yummy!” Miguel promptly unwrapped the lollipop and stuck it in the boy''s mouth.


    Benjamin''s face scrunched up in displeasure, though he quietly ate the lollipop since it tasted all


    right.


    By then, Miguel had taken a seat beside the boys. He hemmed and hawed before asking, “Hey


    boys, do you know what Anonymous looks like? Is he handsome? Is he exactly like how the rumors


    on the web paint him out to be?”


    “Rumors? What rumors?”


    Miguel borated, “Well, everyone says he''s cold and cruel and unpleasant. Is that true?”


    His words immediately brought a frown to Anthony''s face, and the boy demanded, “Cold and cruel


    and unpleasant? Who said that?”


    “Everyone! And based on Anonymous'' working style, it''s notpletely unlikely. I mean, he acts


    swiftly and mercilessly whenever he performs a hack.”


    Benjamin turned to look at his brother, whose brows were knitted tightly in displeasure.


    Anthony piped up, “But I heard that Anonymous is super smart, shrewd, talented, and


    knowledgeable.”


    “Really?” Miguel blinked a few times and questioned, “Who told you that?”


    Are we even talking about the same person here?


    Anthony insisted, “Everyone says so!”


    Benjamin tried his best not tough.


    He''s just extolling his own virtues!


    Noticing his expression, Anthony elbowed Benjamin hard in the ribs.


    Benjamin hastily swallowed hisughter and looked away.


    In the meantime, a clueless Miguel scratched his head and muttered, “Really? I''ve never heard


    anyone say that. Are you sure we''re talking about the same person?”


    “Who else could I be talking about? How many hackers out there are called Anonymous?”


    After some thought, Miguel agreed with Anthony''s argument. “That''s true.”


    “If you haven''t heard of it, that just means you don''t know enough!” Then, to back up his statement,


    Anthony asked, “Didn''t you chat with Anonymous before?”


    “How do you know?” asked Miguel defensively.


    Têxt ? N?velDrama.Org.


    “I know much more than you could ever imagine!” Anthony shot Miguel a cryptic look and continued,


    “Don''t worry. I''ll share all these rumors you''ve heard with Anonymous and get his thoughts on the


    matter!”


    Miguel immediately protested, “Please don''t tell him! I was just joking! I swear!”


    Anthony sucked his lollipop quietly in response.


    Just then, Miguel looked at him and asked, “Could you introduce me to Anonymous? I''d like to know


    him better.”


    With nary a hint of hesitation, Anthony retorted, “Whatever for?”


    “I want him to teach me!” Miguel offered shyly.


    Baffled, Benjamin sputtered, “Teach you?”


    “Of course!” Miguel nodded earnestly and added, “Anonymous has been my idol for the longest


    time, and I would be honored if he would pass down his knowledge to me. Well, I''m not sure if he''s


    open to the idea of epting students, so I''d like the two of you to ask him for me.”


    “I can''t deny that you have good taste!” teased Benjamin.


    The sarcasm was lost on Miguel, who dered proudly, “I think so too! Well, will you help me?”


    “I don''t think you need our help...”


    A sharp elbow dug into Benjamin''s ribs once more. After collecting himself, Benjamin smiled weakly


    at Miguel and said, “Perhaps you should ask Anthony. He''s closer to Anonymous.”


    Miguel''s gaze immediately moved to Anthony.


    “Well...” Anthony trailed off as he contemted a suitable reply for his admirer. Just then, Dave re-


    entered the room.


    A lightbulb went off in Anthony''s head, and he said, “You''re from DX Group, and Anonymous is a


    member of Darz. Don''t you know these two groups are enemies?”


    Miguel replied, “I''m under Dave, but I''m not an employee of DX Group. Dave mentioned that he


    would never interfere with our activities outside of work as long as we don''t revealpany


    secrets.”


    Stunned, Anthony stared at Dave and asked, “Is that true?”


    Miguel also looked to Dave for confirmation.


    Dave paused for a moment before nodding at his audience. “That''s right. As long as my


    subordinates perform their jobs properly, I won''t restrict their freedom in pursuing other activities!”


    “Aren''t you worried about losing your subordinates topetitors?”


    “If that happens, it merely shows that I didn''t do enough to retain the talents around me,” exined


    Dave confidently.


    Impressed, Anthony eximed, “Mr. Dave, you''re a great boss!”


    Dave chuckled in response. “That''s not up to me to decide but rather, what my employees think of


    me!”


    Anthony appraised Miguel, who positively exuded youthful energy and motivation.


    In hindsight, Dave''sck of restriction was probably a great incentive for retaining talent.


    Otherwise, Miguel and the rest would not have worked for Dave for so long.


    Still, Anthony asked, “So you don''t mind if he gets in touch with Darz? We can pay a lot for


    talent!”


    Dave arched a brow and challenged, “Be my guest!”


    Meanwhile, Miguel piped up, “I will never leave Dave, no matter how much money anyone offers


    me!”


    “Not even if Anonymous offers to take you in as a student?”


    “That...” Miguel hesitated before dering, “If the condition is to betray Dave, I''d rather give up the


    opportunity.”


    It was clear that Dave had done a good job inmanding his employees'' loyalties, even though


    no one was sure how he did it.


    “Mr. Dave, I guess it''s impossible to steal your men!” Anthonymented.


    Dave remained stoically silent, prompting Anthony to add, “I was just kidding. Darz isn''t in need


    of hackers at the moment. Anonymous is more than enough! As for the matter of making his


    acquaintance, I''ll try to set it up in the future.”


    “Really?” asked Miguel.


    “Of course!” Anthony nodded earnestly.


    Miguel smiled dreamily, already busy imagining how he would ask Anonymous to be his


    teacher.


    Dave stared at him and said, “All right. We should get going now.”


    Anthony nodded in agreement.


    The boys walked ahead. Benjamin turned around briefly and shot Miguel a sympathetic look. “I


    hope... you won''t be disappointed!” Then, he left after his brother.


    Miguel frowned in confusion.


    Night had already fallen by the time they left.


    Dave had just driven them out of the castle when another car zoomed toward them.


    He mmed his foot on the brake.


    The other car stopped abruptly when it was a few centimeters away from Dave''s car.


    Dave frowned and instinctively looked at the boys in the backseat. “Wait in the car. Do not get off.


    There are weapons under the seats. Be prepared to defend yourselves!”