CHapter 152


    After dropping off Vincent and the Fullers, Noe’s phone buzzed with an encrypted message that


    seemed like gibberish at first nce.


    Holding her phone, she deftly decoded it, importing the text into a custom app she had developed,


    and quickly extracted the clear message.


    [Boss, we’ve got a situation at theb in Emerald County. Need you here.]


    [Got it.]


    To synergize with ra’s Phoenix Lab, Pris Star had set up its own facility in Emerald County.


    Noe pocketed her phone and navigated through the streets with the mental map she had long


    memorized, arriving at the Pris Star Lab.


    Theb’s exterior was a nondescript suburban house, nothing out of the ordinary. Standing at the


    entrance, Noe passed through a triple security checkpoint – fingerprint, iris scan, and a password


    – before she could enter.


    “What’s the situation?”


    “Boss, the data we sent to Phoenix Lab has been intercepted.” Theb’s supervisor, Mizar, handed


    her a report.


    “Phoenix Lab has ultra–tight security. The documents are supposed to be top secret. This shouldn’t


    have happened.”


    Noe scanned the report indicating that data meant for Phoenix Lab had been maliciously


    hijacked.


    Slipping into ab coat and donning a face mask, she instructed, “Get me some equipment.”


    Mizar, buzzing with excitement at the sight of their boss getting hands–on, quickly assembled the


    necessary tools.


    It had been ages since they saw the boss in action! This was going to be good!


    Five minutester, Noe, examining the data, uttered as she stretched her hand, “Pen and paper,


    please.”


    Mizar handed her the requested items, and noting the mud on Noe’s shoes, she asked with a


    raised eyebrow, “Boss, did you juste from a hike?”


    “Yeah, ran into people from the Fuller family. Gave them a piece of my mind.”


    Mizar listened to Noe’s cool response, seething, “Those pests are still jumping around! You were


    too lenient before!”


    “No need to dwell on that.


    The fall from the giddy heights of potter’s field wouldn’t have killed the Fullers or Vincent and


    his wife – just a few broken bones, a little bedrest. It would do them good toy low for a while.


    After all, whether the Lambert family and the Fuller family would still be around once they recovered


    was anyone’s guess.


    “It’s time to leak the Lambert family’s project ws and Vincent’s tax evasion.”


    “On it!”


    They had been sitting on that information for too long. Vincent had managed to disgust Noe


    enough to not let his family off lightly, despite Old Mrs. Lambert.


    Mizar scoffed, “When that ident happened on Vincent’s project and people died, heined


    about the dy. Heartless.”


    “If he’s heartless, there’s no need for us to care. Spread the word as the Phantom Surgeon: any


    international organization that provides medical aid to Vincent will be an enemy for life.”


    “Got it! But what if they seek typical medical care?”


    Noe replied ndly. “No worries, I have a n.”


    She tapped out a message to Ulrich and hit send. Ulrich’s response was swift.


    [Finally, You remember me, your brother! Don’t worry, I’ve got everything set up. All reputable


    hospitals nationwide, even globally, will cklist Vincent. He can try to get medical attention, but it


    will cost him a fortune, and he still won’t find the right doctor.


    When are youing back? How’s ra? Miss you!]


    are!


    Ignoring the flood of messages, Noe selectively answered before pocketing her phone.


    With Ulrich on the case, Vincent’s chances of a quick recovery were next to none. By the time he


    was well, the Lambert family’s fortune would be all but drained dry.


    After documenting her findings, Noe drafted a misleading report and hit send. Half a minuteter,


    the system gged the message as intercepted.


    Her slender fingers flew across the keyboard, pinpointing the IP address of the interceptor, and she


    frowned slightly. “It’s also in Emerald County. Looks like someone from Phoenix Lab. ra’s got her


    own dramas to deal with, it seems.”


    Mizar shrugged, “Not everyb is drama–free like ours. With ra being so young and brilliant,


    there’s plenty of people waiting for her to slip up. Plenty of them haven’t made any major


    achievement, all biding their time for promotions.”


    They were all eagerly hoping to be promoted, when suddenly a youngdy dropped into their


    midst.


    Noe had heard that ra earned her spot at Phoenix Lab, but the Schnabel family had


    generously funded an entire research base for her. Basically, all the equipment in Phoenix Lab was


    donated by the Schnabels.


    “So, the thing they talk about ra,” Mizar shrugged, “it gets pretty nasty.”


    Especially once they found out ra was only an adopted daughter of the Schnabel family, the


    comments turned even uglier.


    Clutching the notebook with her data, Noe said, “Let’s go have a look.”


    “You bet!”


    Nothing beat crashing a party like this!


    At Phoenix Lab.


    ra frowned at a few middle–agedb technicians in front of her.


    “Ryker, Zack, what’s the deal? If you don’t want to work here, submit your resignations. I won’t stop


    you!”


    Zack, the apparent leader of the group, sneered at ra.


    “Ms. Schnabel, we’ve all been busting our butts on this data research. As the project lead, we’ve


    been out there collecting samples, and what exactly have you contributed?”


    “Right, if anyone should be packing their bags, it’s you, Ms. Schnabel. Isn’t it high time you. settled


    down, maybe got hitched? The Schnabel family are one heck of a n. They wouldn’t stiff you on


    some wedding gifts just because you’re the adopted daughter, right? Haha!”


    Their barbs were as blunt as they were cruel.


    N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.


    ra clenched her teeth, “What are you implying? Those experiments were my doing! As the


    technical head and the one with the signing authority, you’re ountable for all the data!”


    “Oh, we’re not shirking responsibility. But if you want us to take the fall, sure, we can talk about that.


    After all, the data is in our hands, not yours. You, the do–nothing little missy, can take a hike from


    Phoenix Lab!”


    They’d finally let the cat out of the bag. ra could onlyugh in fury!


    The data they imed was theirs had been the result of her countless sleepless nights in theb.


    Had they stolen her work midway just to push her out of Phoenix Lab?


    She knew every nook and cranny here, and although leaving the Schnabel family had been partly


    her own choice, she truly loved her job!


    The other researchers held their breath, caught in the crossfire of a battle of the gods.


    Then, a lilting voice cut through the tension from outside theb, “I remember the head of thisb is


    a Mr. Pock. Where might he be?”


    Ryker hadn’t expected anyone else to walk in. Phoenix Lab was top–secret, off–limits to most. He


    turned to scold the intruder, but then he caught sight of the logo emzoned on Noe’sb coat,


    shining like stars against the daylight.


    Zack frowned, “Who dares to barge into Phoenix Lab? Security! Take these two away!”


    Noe stood calm andposed, her face obscured by a mask and cap, only her bright, clear eyes


    visible. She tossed Zack the pass.


    It read: Distinguished Laboratory Talent, Harmonia Country – authorized for allb levels!


    Everyone was stunned.


    Noe sat downfortably and said, “Can we speak inly now?”