Robert watched as Ella hung up the phone. his eyes-once clear as water befitting a technical genius-now openly revealing wariness and hostility for the first time.

"I don't trust him," He said.

He was referring to Austin.

"What Janice feared most was the Sprout Initiative falling into the hands of these politicians who manipulate capital and power games. They would inevitably transform the purest technology into the filthiest weapon."

Ella didn't contradict him.

Because what Robert described was exactly who Austin used to be.

"But what he just said is correct," Ella said, looking at Robert, her voice as cold and matter-of-fact as if stating a physical law.

"Derek has set a trap for me using rules. I should counter with rules of my own. This isn't a technical problem, Dr.Adler,but a war."

She picked up her phone andcalled Orville Kidd back.

"Mr. Kidd, in principle, I agree to the Alliance's goodwill oversight."

Orville audibly sighed with relief on the other end.

"However," Ella's tone shifted sharply.

"As my mother's sole legal heir. I demand that Diamond Tech Solutions retain 51% controlling interest in this newly established supervisory committee, along with veto power over all final resolutions."

"That's impossible!" Orville's voice instantly rose in pitch, as if he couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Ms. Brooks, you're essentially asking the Alliance to place its throat under your blade."

"I'm merely reclaiming what rightfully belongs to me. My technology,and my rules. Mr. Kidd, the ball is now in your court. Until you reach a decision, I don't believe there's any need for me to travel to Solaris."

She hung up, each word preciselytargeting the chess game Derek had constructed.

Solaris, Azure Valley.

A private jet pierced through the cloud layer, landing smoothly on the airport's private runway.

Austin descended the stairs, squinting slightly at the glaring sunlight.

His assistant hurried over,handing him an encrypted satellite phone.

"Mr. Raymond, Philip Jackson, the director of Azure Waters Bank,is waiting for you."

"Tell him I'll be ten minutes late," Austin replied, sliding into a black,bulletproof Maybach and closing the door.

Instead of immediately signaling the driver to depart, he dialed another number.

"Grandmother."

On the other end came Karen's weak,coughing voice.

"You've arrived in Solaris?"

"Yes."

"I won't interfere with whatever you're planning to do," Karen's voice carried bone-deep exhaustion. "I just want you to remember one thing,Austin. Don't let her get hurt again. We owe her too much already."

Austin gripped the phone in silence for a long moment.

"I understand."

He hung up, massaging his throbbing temples as the memory of Ella looking down at him from the balcony of Azure Sea Castle flashedbefore his eyes.

She was probably the last person in the world who needed anyone's concern right now.

The car slowly pulled away, driving toward the streets of Azure Valley.

Half an hour later, in the private reception room on the top floor of Azure Waters Bank, Austin met Philip, the man who wielded tremendous influence in Solaris's financial world.

"Austin! What brings you here?" Philip greeted him warmly with an embrace.

"I need a favor," Austin said, cutting straight to the point as he pushed a stack of documents across the table.

"Derek, the new honorary director of The Ironbridge Technology Industry Alliance. I need to know the source and destination of every cent of that five billion dollars he's using for his investment."

Philip's smile froze momentarily.

"Austin, you're really giving me a difficult task here. Client financial privacy is Azure Waters Bank's lifeblood."

"His money comes from dubious sources," Austin said, each word deliberate and precise.

"I suspect this money is connected to the Iron Order faction within the Alliance from twenty-six years ago."

The term "Iron Order" struck like lightning, shattering the carefully maintained cordiality in the room.

Philip's expression instantly turned grave.

"You're certain?"

"I need your help to confirm it."

Austin placed a black USB drive on the table.

"This contains aIl the leads I've gathered. Once this is done, all of Raymond Group's offshore assets in Solaris will be transferred to your management."

Philip's breathing suddenly quickened.

That represented asset management rights worth hundreds of billions of dollars-a weight pressing heavily on his mind.

He gave Austin a long, searching look. "I'll need three days."

"I look forward to your good news."

Austin stood, not wasting another word, and left the reception room.

His intention wasn't merely to aid Ella, but to step personally into this chess game, wielding his own brush to paint his unique colors.

If Derek wished to be the hunter, then Austin would be the hunter who broke his weapons.

Drakmoor, Vanguard Technologies.

Ella had just booked her return ticket to Ironbridge when Robert's assistant burst in, panic evident on his face.

"Dr. Adler! Ms. Brooks! We've got serious trouble! They're seizing all our servers, and until their investigation concludes, you, Ms. Brooks, cannot leave Drakmoor!"

Robert's face turned ashen.

"It's him!" He exclaimed.

This was no ordinary commercial investigation. This was Derek's backup plan.

He had anticipated that Ella would counter his move using the rules,so he simply flipped the board, using a sovereign nation's enforcement machinery to pin Ella firmly in place.

The laboratory doors swung open.

Several men in black suits with cold expressions walked in. The lead mnan displayed his credentials.

"Ms. Brooks, according to the law, we have reason to believe that the Sprout Initiative technology you possess qualifies as restricted export, dual-use civilian-military technology."

"Until our technical assessment report is complete, you must remain in Drakmoor and cooperate fully with our investigation."

His tone carried no emotion whatsoever.

"And if I refuse?" Ella asked calmly, looking straight at him.

"Then we'll have no choice but to classify you as an unwelcome foreign agent and take enforcement measures."

The lead man waved his hand, and the technical personnel behind him immediately produced various equipment, preparing to forcibly take control of the laboratory's servers.

"Stop!" Robert shouted, positioning himself in front of the server cabinets."

This is private property! You have no right to do this!"

"We have a search warrant from the court." The man coldly slamnmed a document onto the lab bench.

This was a ruthless, overwhelming show of force that left no room for reason.

Ella slowly exhaled, knowing that any resistance would be as futile as an ant trying to shake a tree.